Chapter 1266
Chapter 1266: Maybe she is preparing something, a hope for all of us
The origin of the Nine Heavens, in essence, preceded even the existence of the mortal world of mountains and seas. Initially known as the heavenly tomb, it functioned as a celestial burial ground.
True “heaven” could not be extinguished. Therefore, the ent.i.ties interred in Nine Heavens were akin to a distinct species, each with diverse origins.
These celestial beings might ascend to become the embodiment of heaven through sheer strength. Alternatively, after an extended period, they could spontaneously acquire wisdom.
Some could be tainted by high-level substances, giving rise to spiritual wisdom, complete with senses and emotions resembling living beings. Yet another possibility was the introduction of life by a higher power, making them its subordinates.
The actual “heavens and myriad domains” seemed like an omnipotent powerhouse, culminating in profound laws, uniting all timelines, and achieving self-unification. It projected its influence across countless worlds, mirroring endless years and rivers of time.
These billions of “heavens” were essentially identical shadows cast by the actual “heaven.” The authentic “heaven” resided in the original world, governed by the genuine progenitor.
“Nine Heavens exist not only in the world of mountains and seas but also in other realms, the nine days… The Nine Heavens in the Realm of Mountains and Seas is just one of them,” Gu Changge explained with a slight shake of his head.
However, pondering Nine Heavens led him to contemplate a grand scheme of his own, one with an extensive timeline, intricate design, and implications so profound that even the world of mountains and seas appeared somewhat trivial in comparison.
“Since we can’t pinpoint the whereabouts of the Immortal Palace survivors, we should search all suspicious locations,” Gu Changge declared, shifting the focus away from the matter of the Immortal Palace survivors, which, in truth, held lesser importance.
Gu Changge’s primary objective was to locate Qing Yi. As the true spirit of the natural world of mountains and seas, her presence signified the sustained prosperity of their realm. If she were to vanish, it could lead to a swift depletion and decline of their world, potentially even before the arrival of the third calamity.
The perplexity for Gu Changge lay in the fact that Qing Yi, who left the upper realm centuries ago, had seemingly disappeared over the intervening years. Despite his attempts at deduction, there were no traces or auras of her in the immortal domain. Gu Changge wondered if she had lost her true spirit and wholly faded from existence.
In light of this, he contemplated abandoning the world of mountains and seas and choosing another reality. A world where the true spirit had entirely dissipated held no practical value for Gu Changge and would only result in wasted time.
Although the vest of the demon lord finally stirred after a prolonged period, Gu Changge remained uncertain whether Qing Yi was deliberately concealing herself. He expected her to reveal herself if she was aware of his presence in the Immortal Domain.
Throughout countless epochs, the Immortal Palace had once ruled the Realm of Mountains and Seas. Now, after numerous epochs, Qing Yi had established forces to govern it, a plan they had agreed upon in advance. The primary motive behind this arrangement was to avert disaster during the second calamity measurement.
The demon lord’s action in collapsing the heavens and the real world of mountains and seas eliminated the need for a significant reckoning. In return, the demon lord’s vest was “accidentally” noticed by a specific true ancestor in the primordial world, who sought to erase it.
Qing Yi played a crucial role in helping the demon lord retain a vital fragment of the true soul during this process. This fragment was then sent to the land of reincarnation, where it underwent reincarnation, leading to the creation of Gu Changge’s present life.
All these plans seamlessly led to the establishment of the enigmatic vest of the demon lord.
In that case, Qing Yi might also be in the land of reincarnation, perhaps preparing something.
Gu Changge speculated suddenly. However, finding the land of reincarnation in the real world of mountains and seas, hidden deeply by Qing Yi, posed a challenging task.
As Gu Changge prepared to issue orders, all the immortal kings in the Immortal Domain promptly deployed large numbers of individuals to search the area where the cultivators had disappeared.
After a thorough search across the universe, the target was eventually narrowed down to a specific star field. However, locating the entrance to the deliberately concealed small world within this vast star field was challenging.
“If that’s the case, then destroy those star fields. I don’t believe they haven’t come out yet,” Gu Changge responded dismissively to King Luo’s and others’ reports. The collapse and demise of these star fields held little significance for him.
In the expansive immortal domain, countless star fields naturally perished daily.
“Yes, but should we evacuate the creatures in the star field in advance?”
King Luo inquired anxiously. Many of these star fields belonged to the immortal kings there.
Gu Changge, however, calmly suggested their destruction, showing no inclination to expend too much time on the matter. Despite being an immortal king, he acknowledged the vast difference in status between himself and ordinary creatures. Nonetheless, deciding the fate of a star field involving millions of living beings took a lot of work.
If they wish to move out, they can do so. If not, they’ll face ruin. Time is of the essence, and I don’t want to waste extra time on such matters.
Gu Changge murmured. If he couldn’t locate the survivors of the immortal palace, he would swiftly prioritize the land of reincarnation.
In the Floating Realm territory, a tall, heroic woman stood atop the high platform of the City of No Return, observing the gradually thinning and dimming light curtain in the distance. Draped in a fiery red war robe that billowed in the wind, she exuded a commanding presence.
Her furrowed brows betrayed the sadness on her face as the light curtain approached complete extinction. The imminent exposure of the City of No Return to the Immortal Domain meant confronting numerous immortal kings and the formidable devil that instilled fear in everyone.
While the city could escape before the light curtain vanished, the countless creatures in the Floating Realm couldn’t. Despite the city’s size, it couldn’t accommodate the entire population. After lengthy discussions with the old city lord and many elders, a unanimous decision was reached to stay and face the impending challenges.
“At most, half a year before the curtain is extinguished. Immortal Domain creatures are already searching, likely indicating that Immortal Kings have sensed the Floating Realm’s presence,” remarked an old man in a gray robe with a tortoise-like face and numerous scales, standing beside Cen Shuang.
Observing the distant screen, the older man sighed, expressing a complex mix of emotions. Cen Shuang turned her gaze towards him, seeking his thoughts.
“As the old turtle sees it, is the Floating Realm on the brink of destruction?” she inquired.
Withdrawn from the screen, the older man, one of the genuine immortal kings among the City of No Return’s elders, pondered the question. Some time ago, they attempted an attack on Gu Changge by using ancient bones to reflect the dao avatars of several immortal kings and a.s.saulting the Moon King Palace.
Back then, Gui Lao had overseen the altar formation from a distance without making an appearance. However, the ancient bones used in the attack were irreparably shattered, causing significant loss to the City of No Return’s heritage.
“With one of the foreign lands imperial clan ancestors dead, what power does the Floating Realm have to resist all of this?” Gui Lao responded with a wry smile, expressing a deep sense of powerlessness.
Cen Shuang fell into a sudden silence. Despite diligent practice, she still needed to reach the Immortal King’s threshold. Even if she achieved that status before the curtain was extinguished, it would likely be insufficient to alter the impending fate.
“Do you want to use what your father left behind? But what change can be brought about with this?” Cen Shuang couldn’t help but feel a tinge of despair.
During this period, the Cangming Realm also witnessed significant changes with the emergence of numerous demons. The City of No Return’s great commanders were engaged in battles with the demons in the land of Biyou. Strange mist emanated from the cracks, threatening those with weaker cultivation bases.
“Didn’t Qing Feng leave the City of No Return for the outside world? Perhaps he can find a solution. I recall that the city lord had shared many things with Qing Feng,” suggested Gui Lao, his posture reflecting the weight of his age and the helplessness on his face.
Hearing this, Cen Shuang felt a glimmer of hope. The old city lord had mentioned Qing Feng’s unique background, hinting at a potential source of significant support.
The sea of no return at the base was home to ancient ferocious beasts, some beyond the Immortal King’s prowess and potential threats. No one knew the sea’s end, and when Qing Feng was discovered on its sh.o.r.es, he displayed no injuries.
From the sea’s distant end, where he had wandered for an unknown number of years, he had drifted to the City of No Return, his past forgotten. Despite the uncertainties, his innate fighting instincts and rapid mastery of divine powers and spells marked him as an exceptional genius.
“Indeed, perhaps Senior Brother Qing Feng will bring us hope. We await his return,” Cen Shuang nodded, antic.i.p.ation evident in her eyes.
Rumble!
Suddenly, a rumble echoed from the far end, causing the dim curtain to shake violently. It seemed as though a formidable earthquake had struck outside, making the already faint brilliance appear even more ominous, as if on the verge of vanishing. All the Floating Realm’s creatures sensed the sky’s trembling and focused on the disturbance.