"A gamble…" Immortal Master Yin fell silent, absorbing the Sacred Emperor's words.
"It is nothing to be concerned about," Li Ping reassured him, his voice calm, steady. "I have made plans. Win or lose, the true legacy of the Xuanhuang World will be reborn. You and Xu Ke, just focus on the task I've given you."
"But…" Immortal Master Yin hesitated.
"When Legacy Transmission reveals himself, that is when the Great Qi army will launch its final assault against the Alliance headquarters," the Sacred Emperor explained. "You and Xu Ke will use the chaos to infiltrate the Divine Repository of Wonders and retrieve Master Bai's skull. At this point, victory hinges on a clash of destinies. Your strength, while formidable, will not be decisive in this conflict. Besides, the Divine Repository is guarded by the True Illusion Sage lineage. Keeping them occupied will be a significant contribution."
A flicker of disdain crossed Immortal Master Yin's face. "They are nothing more than lingering remnants of the Xuanhuang World's ancient beasts. If Di Yi were still around, perhaps I would be concerned. But Di Sanmo…"
"He is no threat to me," he scoffed.
"Do not underestimate them," the Sacred Emperor cautioned. "The True Illusion Sages wield the power of the [Epoch]. Even the most mundane of their simulations, after countless iterations, can yield miracles."
His words carried weight.
Immortal Master Yin fell silent, his mind churning.
As he pondered his mission, a familiar sensation crept across his scalp—a rustling, like silkworms wriggling beneath his skin. The flesh rippled, as if something was trying to claw its way out of the crack in his skull.
Irritation flared, and the Sacred Emperor, sensing his distress, moved to his side.
He placed a hand on Immortal Master Yin's head, soothing starlight seeping into his body, calming the turbulent energy within.
"Your true self is resisting," the Sacred Emperor observed. "Simply suppressing it is not a solution."
Immortal Master Yin sighed. "My path… it's… unconventional. Starting cultivation anew at this stage… there are bound to be… complications. I thought, once I consumed my old, flawed foundation and rebuilt it with the 'Self as Foundation' technique, everything would be fine. But when I heard your sermon in the Star Sea… I realized my understanding of my 'true self'… it was incomplete. My foundation is unstable, and it needs to be… realigned."
"Rest assured, I'll resolve this issue before the final battle."
"See that you do."
The Sacred Emperor's voice lingered as his form vanished.
Immortal Master Yin glanced around, then froze, his eyes widening in surprise. The phantom text that had been solidified by the Sacred Emperor, the incomplete "New New Law," was back on the table, as if it had never left.
He understood. This was a gift. He picked up the book, eagerly scanning its pages.
"Impressive…"
Despite being a fabrication, a tool of deception, the principles outlined in this half-completed "New New Law" were profound, almost indistinguishable from a genuine cultivation technique.
He was quickly engrossed, his mind captivated by the intricacies of this new path.
…
Within the Great Qi Sacred Dynasty, within the Five Elements Great Grotto-Heavens, in the Fire Grotto-Heaven, a vast sea of flames raged. Waves of fire, reaching for the sky, crashed and roared, their heat intense enough to melt mountains.
The flames danced and swirled, consuming everything in their path.
Yet, at the heart of this fiery inferno, a single golden Glazed Flower bloomed, its petals unblemished, unaffected by the surrounding heat.
Within the heart of the flower, the image of a world shimmered, ethereal and dreamlike.
Golden light streamed from the Glazed World within the flower, intensifying the flames, their heat increasing exponentially.
From above, one could see Daoist Hundred Flowers, her form surrounded by golden light, meticulously guiding and shaping the Fire Grotto-Heaven.
Since her arrival, both the Fire Grotto-Heaven and the entire Five Elements Great Grotto-Heavens had grown significantly, their power and scope expanding. Her efforts had played a crucial role in this transformation.
The Sacred Emperor, Li Ping, materialized beside her, his form shimmering into existence.
The raging flames around him subsided, cowering as if in awe of his presence.
"You have done well. The Five Elements Great Grotto-Heavens are thriving," he said, his voice calm and even. "As are the other Grotto-Heavens."
His gaze pierced through the dome of the Fire Grotto-Heaven, reaching out into the void beyond.
The Five Elements Great Grotto-Heavens, like a powerful engine, propelled the Great Qi Sacred Dynasty through the void, their speed impressive.
Around it, a cluster of smaller worlds, over a hundred in total, moved in unison, their movements synchronized with the Sacred Dynasty, forming a loose formation. They resembled a massive, otherworldly fleet, their combined aura awe-inspiring.
"It was my duty, Sacred Emperor." Daoist Hundred Flowers bowed her head respectfully. "I wouldn't have achieved this without the Nourishing Myriad Spirits Nectar you provided."
She followed his gaze, her eyes widening as she beheld the spectacle before her.
"It's… incredible," she murmured, a hint of awe in her voice. "To think I played a part in this…"
"Most of these worlds are larger than my own homeland."
"Your next task awaits," the Sacred Emperor said, his voice drawing her back from her musings. "You will return the Five Elements Great Grotto-Heavens to the Xuanhuang World."
Daoist Hundred Flowers was startled.
The Sacred Emperor smiled. "The time for hiding has passed. Now… it is time for a direct confrontation. And this will be our vanguard."
His words seemed to invigorate the surrounding flames, their intensity increasing.
Daoist Hundred Flowers noticed something else. Something unsettling. Beneath the surface of the raging flames, a deeper shadow moved.
A presence that filled her with a primal dread.
The Sacred Emperor extended his hand, and the shadow flowed towards him, taking the form of a small, tiger-like creature with large, innocent eyes.
It looked harmless, almost cuddly, but Daoist Hundred Flowers knew better.
The Fire Grotto-Heaven, even the entire Five Elements Great Grotto-Heavens, were merely extensions of this creature's will.
All these years, she hadn't been tending to the Grotto-Heavens, she had been nurturing this creature, a creature known as Dao One.
"With Dao One's assistance, returning the Grotto-Heavens will be far less arduous than before," the Sacred Emperor said, placing the creature into her hand. "Just guide them back to their rightful place. Dao One will handle the rest."
As he spoke, starlight streamed from his palm, enveloping Dao One.
The creature, as if preening, nuzzled against the Sacred Emperor's hand, then eagerly consumed the starlight, its form solidifying, its aura growing more potent.
"Go."
The Sacred Emperor gave the creature a gentle pat, and Dao One, though seemingly reluctant to leave, obediently transformed into a shadow, merging with the surrounding flames.
The intensity of the flames surged once more.
Daoist Hundred Flowers felt it then, the shift, the sudden awareness that the entire Grotto-Heaven was alive, a single, gargantuan creature. And she was within its belly.
A primal fear, a sense of impending doom, washed over her, making her skin crawl.
The Sacred Emperor, sensing her distress, took her outside the Five Elements Great Grotto-Heavens, into the vast emptiness of the void.
With a flick of his finger, he severed the connection between the Five Elements Great Grotto-Heavens and the rest of the Sacred Dynasty's fleet.
"Do not worry. Dao One will obey my commands without question."
Reassured by his words, Daoist Hundred Flowers nodded. Suppressing her fear, she transformed into a streak of golden light, flying towards the Five Elements Great Grotto-Heavens.
The five interconnected Grotto-Heavens shimmered, their edges outlined in gold.
Then, with a muted rumble, they began to move.
Shrouded by the Sacred Emperor's formations, they moved silently, their passage unnoticed even by those who might have been in their path. They were a force of nature, vast and unstoppable.
As he watched them depart, the Sacred Emperor smiled.
"Dao One, in its current state, is more than capable of altering the spiritual energy of the entire Xuanhuang World without anyone noticing."
"Not only will it create an environment favorable to our troops, but it will also stimulate the Xuanhuang World, triggering its recovery."
After his enlightenment at the heart of the Star Sea, the Xuanhuang World had briefly experienced a resurgence of vitality. But it had been a fleeting moment, a surge of power without a source to sustain it. The nascent recovery had stalled.
The new buds that had sprouted on the Ruo Tree were withering.
The Five Elements Great Grotto-Heavens, transformed by Dao One, would be a catalyst. A potent dose of medicine.
Spiritual energy was the lifeblood of the Xuanhuang World. Its disruption would trigger a powerful reaction, a desperate attempt by the world to heal itself.
"Dao One's purpose," he continued, his thoughts turning to the creature he had unleashed, "goes beyond simply creating a battlefield favorable to our troops. It is to consume. To assimilate. To devour the remnants of those foreign worlds that have been grafted onto the Xuanhuang World over the millennia."
"When the war is over, Dao One will perish. Spiritual energy will flow naturally once more. And Dao One's remains, those foreign worlds… they will become nourishment for the Xuanhuang World."
"This trial, this tribulation… it will make the Xuanhuang World stronger. And with the measures I've already put in place to reassert its dominance… regardless of whether I succeed or fail against Legacy Transmission, the Xuanhuang World will be poised to dominate the inevitable merging of worlds. It will be ascendant."
The Sacred Emperor's mind raced, simulating countless scenarios, anticipating every possible outcome of the upcoming war.
He peered across the vast expanse of space, his gaze piercing through the veil of reality, watching as Daoist Hundred Flowers expertly guided the transformed Five Elements Great Grotto-Heavens back to their rightful place.
With a muted, cosmic roar, they settled back into their designated region – Tianling Region – their strange and potent spiritual energy spreading outwards.
The concentration of spiritual energy within the Xuanhuang World would increase slightly, subtly, almost imperceptibly.
Cultivators wouldn't notice anything amiss, not at first. Not until Dao One activated its true purpose. Then, they would realize, with horror, that they had lost control.
The Sacred Emperor, satisfied with the progress of his plan, turned his attention elsewhere.
…
Deep within the heart of the Great Qi Sacred Dynasty, within the inner sanctum of the Sacred Emperor's throne room, he stood at the core of the Grand Formation of All Creation, a complex and potent web of energy that pulsed with life.
Layered upon this already formidable formation were numerous others – the Myriad Manifestation Divine Refinement Formation, and many more. Even the consciousness of the Xuanhuang World's Heavenly Dao, so closely linked to the Sacred Emperor, was blocked from this sacred space.
No prying eyes could penetrate these defenses.
Lin Ling, the Sacred Emperor's disciple, once the Spiritwood Avatar of the Spiritwood World, now stood before him in her true form.
Her appearance, however, was unsettling. The tree stood inverted, its crown at its base, its roots reaching towards the heavens.
Countless delicate tendrils, extensions of her roots, spread throughout the Great Qi Sacred Dynasty, connecting to its most important structures - the Hall of Heroic Spirits, the Sanctuary of Healing, the Sacred Academy, the Palace of Hearts, and the Imperial Court.
At the heart of the tree, images flickered, scenes from across the Sacred Dynasty.
Each image, after playing out, transformed into a pulse of green light, absorbed by the inverted Spiritwood.
The Sacred Emperor regarded this strange, unsettling tree, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes, a rare display of uncertainty.
"To plan for victory," he murmured, "one must first plan for defeat. This is true wisdom."
Beside him, a yellow paper figure, its face contorted in a perpetual frown, spoke, its voice surprisingly loud for its size. "Indeed, Sacred Emperor. This is a wise precaution, a testament to your foresight."
It was One Absolute Daoist, from the Calamity Crossing Sect.
He sat atop the Calamity Crossing Tome, his painted eyes fixed on the inverted Spiritwood.
"Furthermore," he continued, "you are doing this for the sake of the Xuanhuang World. This is not a selfish act, a path to escape. It will not diminish your resolve."
The Sacred Emperor remained silent.
He simply continued channeling his power into the inverted Spiritwood, its roots trembling with each pulse of energy.
The images at the heart of the tree seemed to be absorbed at an even faster rate.
Finally, he stopped, his gaze still fixed on the Spiritwood.
"The Calamity Crossing Sect… you will not participate in the upcoming battle against the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance."
"As we discussed, you will remain hidden, observing…"
"For any signs of interference." His tone was flat, emotionless.
"The war between the Sacred Dynasty and the Alliance… this is an event that has not occurred in the Xuanhuang World for millennia. If that unseen force, that entity that has been observing our world, is still active… it will surely be watching, recording, transmitting information." He paused, his next words measured, precise. "I do not require you to discover the ultimate recipient of that information. Simply confirm whether or not such a transmission occurs."
One Absolute Daoist, his brow perpetually furrowed, finally relaxed.
He clapped his paper hands together, a surprisingly loud sound. "This aligns perfectly with the principles of our Calamity Crossing Sect, Sacred Emperor. If you are amenable, I would be willing to relinquish my position as Sect Leader…"
"Regardless of the outcome," the Sacred Emperor interrupted, cutting him off, "you will inform the victor. And once your task is complete… you will be free to do as you wish."
One Absolute Daoist, however, wasn't overjoyed by the promise of freedom. He pointed a stubby paper finger towards the inverted Spiritwood, his frown deepening. "We… we're not going with you?"
The Sacred Emperor chuckled softly. "Only one living being can inhabit this [World Beyond the World]. Lin Ling, the Spiritwood. I will not leave a path for myself, let alone for the entire Calamity Crossing Sect."
One Absolute Daoist's face crumpled. "Sacred Emperor, please reconsider! That tree spirit… she's barely matured. What if something happens? What if she encounters some unforeseen danger, perishes in the vastness of the Star Sea? This… this escape plan… it will all be for naught!"
The Sacred Emperor silenced him with a wave of his hand.
"This is not an escape plan," he corrected, his gaze fixed on the inverted Spiritwood. "This… is a record. A testament."
One Absolute Daoist sighed. "What difference does it make?"
Li Ping said nothing, his eyes narrowed.
The [World Beyond the World] contained more than just images of every event that had occurred within the Sacred Dynasty since its founding.
Even the souls of those who had perished, the memories stored within the Hall of Heroic Spirits, would be transferred to this vessel.
Inspired by the Everlasting Information theory of the Taiyan Sect, the Sacred Emperor had created this as a safeguard for his people, a last resort.
Or perhaps, a testament was a more fitting term.
If he triumphed over Legacy Transmission, this vessel would never be activated. It would remain dormant, a potential that never needed to be realized.
But if he failed, if the Great Qi Sacred Dynasty were to fall… then this [World Beyond the World] would carry the souls of his people, their memories, their very essence, into the depths of the void.
A physical vessel would never escape Legacy Transmission's grasp.
But information… that he might overlook.
Especially with the Calamity Crossing Sect creating a distraction, drawing his attention elsewhere.
The Sacred Emperor's decision to activate this plan wasn't borne out of doubt or fear. After all, this vessel held no place for him, no path to survival.
It was an act of defiance, a final, desperate attempt to preserve the legacy of those who had believed in him, who had followed him, who had built the Great Qi Sacred Dynasty with their blood, sweat, and tears.
He knew, during the millennia of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance's reign, the Great Qi Sacred Dynasty wasn't the first to rebel.
Five hundred years ago, a coalition of smaller worlds had risen up in defiance.
They had failed. And after their defeat, all records of their existence, every trace of their rebellion, had been erased by the Alliance, scrubbed from history.
It was as if they had never existed.
This was his way of preventing such an atrocity from happening again.
"Even in defeat," he vowed, his eyes hardening with resolve, "our existence will not be erased. And if, in time, this World Beyond the World returns to the Xuanhuang World, carrying the memories of our struggle… and inspires others to rise up… then it will all have been worth it."
These thoughts, a whirlwind of hope and despair, flickered through his mind, then subsided.
He focused on the task at hand.
"Legacy Transmission Celestial Venerable…" He repeated the name silently, a mixture of anticipation and apprehension filling him.
He was confident. With his current strength, he had a decent chance of defeating Legacy Transmission. Perhaps even… winning.
His enlightenment at the heart of the Star Sea had shown him the limits of this world. The boundaries of what was possible within this reality.
Even Legacy Transmission, despite his millennia of dominance, hadn't broken through those limits.
But there was something else, a nagging unease that lingered in the back of his mind.
The Healer.
He knew very little about this mysterious figure. But something within him, a primal instinct, whispered that this individual was not to be underestimated.
He had conspired with Legacy Transmission. His power couldn't be insignificant.
"Legacy Transmission… I can handle. But if the Healer joins the fight…"
Despite these concerns, the Sacred Emperor's decision to launch the attack in three years wasn't an impulsive one.
Three years from now, a momentous event was about to occur.
Not within the Xuanhuang World, but within the Star Sea itself.
He had felt it, a faint tremor in the fabric of reality, a whisper from the very essence of this vast and desolate expanse.
Three years from now, the Star Sea would experience a surge of power, a resurgence of its primordial essence.
And when that happened, the revitalized essence of the Star Sea would clash with the remnants of the catastrophic power that had crippled this realm, a battle of cosmic proportions.
This clash, a collision of two immense and opposing forces, would affect every cultivator within the Star Sea, their powers suppressed, their abilities limited.
Those who had achieved enlightenment through the Star Sea and those who had embraced the power of the tribulations would all be affected.
Those who possessed great power would be affected the most, like a massive ship battered by the full force of a storm.
Even Legacy Transmission and the Healer, standing at the pinnacle of this reality, would be temporarily weakened, their powers suppressed.
The Sacred Emperor, though also affected, had a crucial advantage. A large portion of his power came from the fortune of the Great Qi Sacred Dynasty. As long as his dynasty endured, his strength would remain relatively stable.
Furthermore, he possessed a connection to the primordial essence of the Star Sea, a bond forged during his enlightenment. He would be shielded, to a certain extent, only facing the indirect effects of the clash.
"I've confirmed this with the essence of the Star Sea," he mused. "No one before me has ever forged such a connection. I don't know why Legacy Transmission and the others haven't noticed the Star Sea's resurgence… but it is a boon for me."
"Not only will it help me bridge the gap between us, but it will also allow me to… borrow its power."
"But unlike the Xuanhuang World, which has no choice but to accept whatever fate awaits it, the Star Sea is in a state of flux, undergoing a volatile rebirth. My power is… insignificant. I only have one chance to influence its trajectory."
The Sacred Emperor stood before the inverted Spiritwood, his mind simulating countless scenarios, each one a possible outcome of the upcoming war.
He ignored One Absolute Daoist's attempts to persuade him, his resolve unshakeable.
"If only I could utilize the power of the tribulations…" he thought, his gaze distant. "Then my chances of winning would be… significantly higher."
He had no idea that, on the other side of the vast and desolate Star Sea, a group of individuals, their ambitions reaching towards the heavens, were also anticipating this momentous event, their plans already set in motion.
…
Within the Celestial Barge, within the Severing Immortal Tower, Zhao Xian, the Sacred Embryo – Li Fan's other self - was abruptly summoned from his secluded cultivation.
He joined the other core members of the Severing Immortal Tower, a sense of unease settling over him as he entered the grand hall.
Ai Tianjue, the leader of the Tower, addressed the assembled cultivators, his voice grave.
"The remnants of the catastrophic power that crippled our world… it is growing stronger, spreading. We estimate it will reach its peak within three years."
"This surge of power will resonate with the True Immortal energy that clings to the Relics of Worlds Lost, causing significant fluctuations. It will be the perfect opportunity to search for relics, a chance that only comes once a millennium."
"If we are successful, we might be able to gather enough relics to last us a century!"
Excitement rippled through the assembled cultivators.
The scarcity of relics had severely hampered their research into the True Immortal script.
Cultivators were forced to share, to collaborate, their progress agonizingly slow.
Only those in positions of power, and their favored disciples, had access to enough relics to conduct independent research.
Every cultivator within the Severing Immortal Tower believed they possessed the talent to unlock the secrets of the True Immortal script. They simply needed the resources.
"What interests me," Chi Gongdao's voice echoed through the hall, "is the cause of this phenomenon."
He wasn't physically present. His voice emanated from a strange object – a writing brush, its handle formed from flesh and bone, its bristles a tangle of hair and sinew.
The brush danced in the air, its movements erratic, almost frantic. "We have meticulously recorded the fluctuations of the catastrophic power for centuries. Never before have we observed such an anomaly."
"And anomalies… they can be opportunities. Or they can be harbingers of…"
"Disaster."
The brush wrote the word in the air, its strokes large and forceful.
A strange wave of energy emanated from the character, sending a chill through the assembled cultivators, a primal fear, as if they were standing at the edge of an abyss.
"Gongdao, enough of that." An elder, his hair as blue as the sky, his voice deep and resonant, spoke, his tone brooking no argument.
With a glance, he absorbed the character into his eye, its power dissipating.
It was Gan Jingda, the Second Elder of the Severing Immortal Tower, and the moderator of this gathering.
Having put a stop to Chi Gongdao's theatrics, he continued, his voice grave. "However, there is merit to your concerns. We have been discussing this amongst ourselves."
"This event... it's different from the previous Star Force surges. We believe the source of this disruption lies within the Star Sea itself."
Silence descended upon the hall.
The cultivators contemplated the implications of his words.
They understood. Their power came from the remnants of True Immortal energy that lingered within the Star Sea.
But to the Star Sea, this energy was a foreign contaminant.
Something to be purged.
And judging by current trends, fusion, coexistence… it seemed unlikely.
What would happen when this imminent change occurred?
Would the catastrophic power surge out of control? Even for the Celestial Barge, barely clinging to survival, that could be disastrous. While it might mean more access to True Immortal energy, the risks would increase exponentially.
This was the price they paid for wielding power meant for beings far beyond their comprehension.
But if the Star Sea itself were to prevail… then the future looked bleak indeed.
They, the remnants of the True Immortal lineage, would lose their edge, their power diminishing.
Unless… they were willing to change their ways, to return to the traditional path of cultivation, the path of enlightenment.
But…
An uncomfortable silence settled over the assembly.
Having tasted the power of the True Immortal script, the ability to command forces beyond their understanding, how many would be willing to return to the slow, arduous path of traditional cultivation?
Ai Tianjue cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "All this… it is speculation. We have no concrete evidence."
"The Celestial Barge has weathered countless storms. I believe we will survive this one as well."
His words were met with a wave of applause, though the apprehension in their eyes remained.
"However," Gan Jingda added, his voice firm, "this is a serious matter. We have decided to put the Celestial Barge on high alert."
"Prepare for war."
Though no one voiced any objections, their expressions were grim.
Then Zhao Xian spoke, drawing their attention.
"If this change occurs… will it affect… that force? The pull?"
He continued, his voice gaining strength. "I've heard stories… of another world. A world beyond the Star Sea. The Xuanhuang World. A world where cultivation still thrives. A world rich in resources. We dismissed it as a possibility… the distance too great, the pull too strong, the journey not worth the risk. But now…"
His words had the desired effect. Hope flickered in their eyes.
Gan Jingda, Ai Tianjue, and the other leaders exchanged glances, silently debating.
Then, Gan Jingda spoke, his voice carrying a hint of optimism. "We will evaluate the feasibility of this… relocation. The council will discuss it thoroughly."
"And if it is possible…"
"Perhaps… perhaps we can find a new home. A place to rebuild. In the Xuanhuang World."
(End of Chapter)