The will of the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao was not entirely clear, but the Sacred Emperor, Li Ping, understood its essence.
"The position of Grand Celestial Venerable…"
"…is about to be filled? And the new Grand Celestial Venerable… might not be aligned with me?"
Li Ping frowned, lost in thought.
"No one has inherited the mantle of Grand Celestial Venerable for millennia, and now, at this critical juncture… who could it be?" He sensed a conspiracy, a hidden hand at play. His control over the Xuanhuang World was limited, vast swathes of the realm hidden from his view. Faces flashed through his mind, but he couldn't pinpoint a suspect.
"In theory, anyone who passes the Grand Celestial Venerable's trials should be on my side, opposing Legacy Transmission. But…"
He sent a reassuring message to the Heavenly Dao, his expression hardening with resolve.
"It seems… I need to accelerate my plans."
"I need to force Legacy Transmission to reveal himself before the Star Sea's transformation."
A beam of starlight shot out from the Sacred Emperor's throne.
The Great Qi Sacred Dynasty, a machine primed for war, sprang to life.
…
Sun Erlang, overseeing the final tests of the Sacred Army puppets' defenses, was surprised by the Sacred Emperor's sudden summons. But as he gazed upon the seemingly endless ranks of puppets, neatly arrayed across the vast training grounds, excitement surged through him.
"We've been preparing for this day," he murmured, a predatory gleam in his eyes. "It's time to show those corrupt fools in the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance the true might of the Great Qi Sacred Dynasty."
As he was about to depart, he remembered something. He made his way to the deepest level of the training grounds.
Thick, churning earth energy, almost viscous in its density, pulsed and throbbed, its usual earthy brown replaced by a fiery red, like molten lava. It swirled around a large, black stone, its force relentless, its power immense.
The stone remained unmoved, its surface gleaming, its aura growing stronger with each impact.
A beam of starlight, emanating from a swirling vortex in the simulated sky above, bathed the stone in its celestial light.
The black stone pulsed, as if breathing, absorbing the starlight, its surface shimmering.
The Ingenious Craftsman hovered nearby, his gaze fixed on the stone, his mind racing as he meticulously adjusted the flow of earth energy and starlight, fine-tuning the balance, seeking the perfect harmony.
"Master Craftsman," Sun Erlang said, approaching cautiously, "the war… it seems it will begin sooner than anticipated. Senior Tian Yang…"
The Craftsman, seemingly aware of the change in plans, didn't turn, his gaze fixed on the stone. "Don't worry. I'll give the Alliance a surprise they won't forget. Those bastards… they stole a significant amount of Source Power Essence from me years ago. I intend to collect… with interest."
"And now that war is upon us… perhaps we can find a use for those Heavenly Spirit Sect fools." He paused, then closed his eyes, sending a message to the Sacred Emperor. A moment later, he sent another message, this one directed towards the Jiushan Region.
A smug smile touched his lips as he refocused his attention on Tian Yang, his greatest creation, bathed in the combined power of the earth and the stars.
He could feel the immense power building within the black stone, a power that would shake the very foundations of the Xuanhuang World.
His hands trembled, a feverish excitement in his eyes. "This puppet… this is my masterpiece. Even in the Heavenly Mechanism Realm, there was nothing like it. Shangguan… you will see. The disciple you discarded… he will surpass you. He will surpass you all!"
He muttered these words, lost in his own world, his hands moving in a blur as he adjusted the flow of energy, refining the puppet's form.
Sun Erlang, seeing his master's… eccentricity, quietly excused himself.
…
While the citizens of the Great Qi Sacred Dynasty prepared for war, two figures slipped out of the small world, returning to the Xuanhuang World.
Xu Ke and Immortal Master Yin.
Immortal Master Yin squinted, shielding his eyes from the unfamiliar brightness of the Xuanhuang sun.
Xu Ke, his gaze sharp, focused on their destination.
Their mission was to infiltrate the Divine Repository of Wonders before the war began.
"That Di Sanmo… he's a curious one," Immortal Master Yin said, a sneer twisting his lips. "One of the Three Venerable Beast Emperors, yet he joined a human cultivation sect. And when the Tribulation arrived… he betrayed them, siding with the newly formed Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance…"
Xu Ke shook his head. "Third Grandpa is… enigmatic. No one truly understands his motivations. Even his decision to remain in the Xuanhuang World after Di Yi led the others away… it was baffling. And I wouldn't call it a betrayal, not really. The Beast Taming Sect owes its prosperity to the techniques he provided. He was their benefactor, not the other way around."
"He joined the Alliance for one reason, and one reason only. Survival."
"I don't care about his reasons," Immortal Master Yin scoffed. "If he interferes with our mission, if he tries to stop me from retrieving Master Bai's skull… I won't hesitate to eliminate him. What about you, Xu Ke? Will your loyalty falter?"
Xu Ke's expression hardened. "Rest assured, Daoist Yin. I have made arrangements. Qing and Hong have been sent to the Lingxu World. With the replica of the Beast Taming Wheel, and with the cooperation of the current Beast Taming Sect… we should be able to lure him away. And even if that fails…"
"…I will not hesitate."
"Good." Immortal Master Yin smiled, reassured by Xu Ke's words.
They continued their journey, their movements swift and silent, their auras masked. They finally arrived near the Tianyu Celestial City, within the Tianyu Region.
"This is it," Xu Ke said, surveying their surroundings. "The Heng Clan."
"Why this clan? Couldn't we have chosen any family with access to the Divine Repository?" Immortal Master Yin asked, scratching his head impatiently.
"That was the original plan. But the Sacred Emperor sent a message. There's been a… shift within the Alliance. Security at their headquarters has been tightened. The number of individuals with access to the Divine Repository has been reduced significantly. The Heng Clan… they're our best option."
"A prominent family, known for their weaving techniques, but not particularly powerful. They keep a low profile. They're… unremarkable."
Immortal Master Yin's gaze pierced through the Heng Clan's defensive formations, a predatory glint in his eyes. "The easiest targets… would be those two females, wouldn't they? A mother and daughter…"
"Precisely," Xu Ke said. "Heng Ruoshui and He Xinxin. We'll capture them during an outing, then assume their identities."
"The Sacred Emperor has instructed us to avoid unnecessary violence."
Immortal Master Yin grimaced. "Those delicate little morsels wouldn't satisfy my hunger anyway. But us… transforming into females? Can't we find a different target?"
Xu Ke chuckled. "Are you still attached to such superficialities?"
Immortal Master Yin waved his hand dismissively. "Fine, fine. Let's just get this over with. I'm eager to see Master Bai's skull."
They didn't have to wait long.
A day later, He Xinxin, the daughter, slipped out of the Heng estate, seeking amusement in the city. She was apprehended swiftly and silently.
Two days later, Heng Ruoshui, seemingly responding to an invitation, left her residence. She too was captured without incident.
Immortal Master Yin studied the two unconscious figures, bound and gagged. "The Sacred Emperor's techniques are truly impressive. That Dao Script Compass within the child… it's quite remarkable. Capable of predicting fortune and misfortune. A minor Heavenly Wonder. Perhaps a fragment of an ancient Celestial Artifact, reborn."
"Yet, even with that," he continued, his voice laced with amusement, "she was completely oblivious to our approach, despite the Sacred Emperor's Hand That Covers the Sky technique."
Xu Ke smiled. "Perhaps it's because we harbor no true malice towards them. Let's proceed."
They each extracted a drop of blood from the foreheads of their captives.
Xu Ke pressed his drop against his brow.
Immortal Master Yin, less refined, opened a fissure in his skull, allowing his true Dao Foundation to consume the blood.
With a sickening squelch, their bodies shifted, their forms changing, their auras morphing. In the blink of an eye, Xu Ke and Immortal Master Yin had transformed into Heng Ruoshui and He Xinxin, their appearances, their auras, even their soul fluctuations, perfectly replicated.
"The Sacred Dynasty's techniques are truly extraordinary," Xu Ke murmured, a hint of awe in his voice.
Immortal Master Yin closed his eyes, savoring the transformation, the feeling of his true self merging with another's form. "The true self is the self that follows one's heart. Ever-changing, unpredictable… a mystery even to the gods and devils."
They hid the unconscious mother and daughter, ensuring their safety, then, disguised as the Heng Clan women, set off towards Tianyu Celestial City.
To visit the Divine Repository of Wonders, cultivators had to submit a request to the local Administrative Hall, which would then forward it to the Alliance headquarters for approval. Only then would a Summoning Cultivator be dispatched to escort them.
In Tianyu Region, Heng Ruoshui's status guaranteed swift approval.
And for a mother to take her child to the Divine Repository… it was a perfectly normal, unremarkable occurrence.
Their request was processed quickly, sent to the Alliance headquarters.
The Alliance, however, was less efficient. It took seven days for a response.
The privilege of a regional power meant little to the Alliance's Summoning Cultivator.
The cultivator, dressed in black, his expression impassive, gave them a perfunctory list of rules to be observed within the Alliance headquarters, then escorted them to Tianshu Celestial City, in the central Tianshu Region. There, within a hidden chamber in the Administrative Hall, he opened a portal.
As they stepped through the shimmering gateway, they were assaulted by a torrent of illusions.
Even with their combined power, Xu Ke and Immortal Master Yin couldn't resist.
But Xu Ke recovered almost instantly. Heng Ruoshui, after all, had visited the headquarters before. The illusions held no power over her replicated memories.
He Xinxin, however, trembled, her eyes closed tight, her body shaking as the illusions assaulted her senses. After a moment, she opened her eyes, her gaze distant.
The Summoning Cultivator, following standard procedure, explained the nature of these illusions, then asked, "What did you see?"
Following the Sacred Emperor's instructions, Immortal Master Yin replied, "The Celestial Venerable, his form vast and majestic, preaching the Dao to the masses."
The Summoning Cultivator nodded, satisfied with her answer.
As they journeyed towards the Divine Repository of Wonders, Xu Ke and Immortal Master Yin exchanged messages.
"Interesting," Immortal Master Yin said. "I saw Legacy Transmission… floating in the void, beyond the Xuanhuang World. Looking down upon it. The world… it was smaller than it is now. This must have been shortly after he achieved Dao Integration."
"What did you see?"
Xu Ke transmitted an image.
A chaotic, formless void. Two figures, their features obscured, facing each other.
"Who are you?"
"I am you."
"You… are me?" The voice was hesitant, filled with doubt. Then, after a moment of silence, "No. We are… different."
The other voice chuckled, a mocking sound. "This is your destiny. You cannot escape it. Accept it. One day… we will be one."
"I told you, I am Xuanyuan Tuo. Not…"
The image shattered.
Immortal Master Yin frowned, glancing at Xu Ke.
Xu Ke shrugged. "That's all I saw. The rest… it's gone."
Immortal Master Yin replayed the scene in his mind. "Intriguing. We'll need to inform the Sacred Emperor. He might know something."
They reached the Divine Repository of Wonders.
It stood on a floating island, its black walls imposing, its aura radiating ancient power.
Its massive, narrow gates inspired awe in all who approached.
After another round of identity verification, the Summoning Cultivator led them inside.
The first exhibit, a mandatory stop for all visitors, was a massive sphere of light, shimmering and pulsing with life.
Within, countless worlds seemed to bloom and wither, their lifecycles compressed into fleeting moments.
"This is the [Epoch]," the Summoning Cultivator said, his voice droning with practiced recitation. "Powered by a Dao Transformation Stone, it simulates various eras throughout the Xuanhuang World's history."
"In these simulated worlds, the survival rate of cultivators is far lower than it is today."
"Hence the name – Epoch. A reminder of how fortunate we are to live in these… blissful times."
…
Xu Ke and Immortal Master Yin exchanged glances, their expressions carefully neutral. They nodded politely, hiding their disdain.
"As is customary, you may each experience a simulated lifetime within the Epoch."
"Don't worry," the cultivator added, a hint of amusement in his voice. "A lifetime within the simulation is but a fleeting moment in reality. And in most cases, you won't survive more than a few years."
Under the Summoning Cultivator's guidance, they each projected a sliver of their consciousness into the shimmering sphere.
The cultivator's expression shifted, a flicker of confusion in his eyes.
Something unexpected had happened.
One had been placed in an era of flourishing cultivation, the golden age of immortality. The other had been thrust into a world of chaos, an era of endless war and strife.
And yet, both had not only survived, but thrived. The first, blessed with exceptional luck, had embarked on the path of cultivation at a young age, encountering numerous fortuitous encounters, rising through the ranks to become a core disciple of a powerful sect, eventually dying peacefully of old age.
The second had been even more… remarkable. She had carved a bloody path through the chaotic world, becoming a feared demoness, notorious for devouring the souls of her enemies. Her reign of terror had ended only when the combined forces of the cultivation world, unable to tolerate her atrocities any longer, had finally managed to defeat her.
"The other eras... they seem quite interesting as well," Xu Ke and Immortal Master Yin said as they emerged from the simulation, their voices laced with a strange excitement.
The Summoning Cultivator stared at them, dumbfounded. He double-checked their identities. Heng Ruoshui. He Xinxin.
"That child… such a bloodthirsty nature…"
He was about to suggest they try another simulation, eager to reinforce the "blissful" nature of their current era, when they brushed past him, eager to explore the rest of the repository.
He hesitated, then shrugged, deciding not to press the matter.
He led them through the various exhibits – Heroes and Prodigies, Shifting Sands of Time, Contending Schools of Thought – his voice a monotonous drone as he recited the prepared explanations.
"We'd like to explore the rest on our own," Immortal Master Yin interrupted, feigning impatience.
The Summoning Cultivator nodded, relieved to be free of his duties. He handed them a jade token. "Contact me when you're ready to leave. And remember, silence is to be observed within the Divine Repository."
He gave them a few more perfunctory instructions, then vanished.
Xu Ke and Immortal Master Yin exchanged a knowing glance, then, maintaining the appearance of casual visitors, slowly made their way towards the central chamber, their true destination.
After what felt like an eternity, they finally saw it.
Master Bai's skull, resting on a simple pedestal, bathed in soft, ethereal light.
Xu Ke trembled, taking a deep breath to steady himself.
Immortal Master Yin, too, had to exert considerable effort to maintain his composure.
They stood before the skull, their gazes fixed on its smooth, bone-white surface.
"I'm about to lose control," Immortal Master Yin muttered, his voice low and urgent.
"Patience," Xu Ke replied, his voice equally low. "The war hasn't begun yet. And… I can sense Third Grandpa's presence within the repository. He's still here. And as members of the Heng Clan, we have unlimited access. We can afford to wait."
Immortal Master Yin nodded, his gaze fixed on the skull, lost in thought.
After a while, another figure approached the skull.
He stood there for a long time, his gaze fixed on the relic, a mixture of awe and sadness on his face. He sighed softly.
Xu Ke and Immortal Master Yin, startled by his arrival, turned to observe the newcomer.
A middle-aged cultivator with a long beard. His reaction to the skull mirrored their own – a barely contained excitement.
"That's him…" Immortal Master Yin muttered, a sneer twisting his lips.
"You know him?" Xu Ke asked.
"Hmph. Shangguan Shiquan. We… competed for Master Bai's rib bone, years ago. He still has it, you know. And a leg bone as well…" His tone was laced with resentment.
"Once we retrieve the skull, the most important piece," Xu Ke said, his eyes glinting dangerously, "we'll collect the rest."
"Indeed," Immortal Master Yin agreed.
"Grandpa, what's so interesting about this?" a childish voice called out. "I want to see the ancient artifacts!"
A young girl, no older than three or four, ran up to Shangguan Shiquan, tugging at his robes, her face scrunched up in a pout.
"This, my dear," Shangguan Shiquan said, picking up the child, "is the skull of one of the greatest cultivators in the history of the Xuanhuang World."
The girl's eyes widened, her earlier complaints forgotten as she stared at the skull, a mixture of curiosity and awe on her face.
Immortal Master Yin and Xu Ke, intrigued by his words, observed the interaction in silence.
After a moment, the little girl pointed a trembling finger at the skull, her voice filled with alarm. "Grandpa! Look! There's someone inside!"
Her words were like a thunderbolt, jolting the three adults.
They stared at the skull, their senses on high alert.
But there was nothing. No sign of life, no flicker of movement.
Shangguan Shiquan patted the girl's head. "Don't be silly, child. There's no one there."
The girl pouted, her eyes filling with tears. "I'm not lying! There's someone inside! Inside the skull! Can't you see them?"
Her insistence, the earnestness in her voice, gave Shangguan Shiquan pause.
He studied the skull again, more carefully this time.
Still nothing. He chuckled to himself. He had visited this skull countless times. How could someone be hidden inside?
Dismissing it as a child's fancy, he told her to stop being silly.
But the girl persisted, her voice rising in protest.
Finally, exasperated, he decided to take her elsewhere.
Xu Ke and Immortal Master Yin were alone once more.
"What do you make of that?" Xu Ke asked, his voice low, his gaze fixed on the skull.
"Impossible," Immortal Master Yin said, shaking his head. "I'm certain Master Bai is truly gone. There's no trace of his consciousness on this skull."
"And Di Sanmo… he's not a fool. He would have sensed it. If there were any lingering consciousness, he wouldn't allow this skull to be on display. Especially not… a fragment of the Grand Celestial Venerable's will…" He paused, his expression hardening with conviction. "There's nothing there."
"But…" Xu Ke hesitated, his gaze fixed on the skull, a flicker of doubt in his eyes. "I didn't notice anything before… but after she mentioned it… I can't shake the feeling that… there's something there."
"Not Master Bai's will. Something else…"
"When I was a child," he continued, his voice dropping to a murmur, lost in memory, "we used to play hide-and-seek. And whenever Master Bai was around… we would hide near him. His presence… it was like a… a shield. It was difficult for others to find us when we were close to him…"
His words gave Immortal Master Yin pause.
"That Summoning Cultivator… he mentioned something about a lost soul. A fragment of consciousness that escaped from the Epoch simulation… and vanished."
"What if…" Xu Ke's voice was barely a whisper.
"A lost soul from the Epoch?" Immortal Master Yin narrowed his eyes, staring at the skull.
"We've been here too long. Let's move."
They made their way to a different exhibit, the Hall of a Myriad Forms.
"Master Bai's remains…" Immortal Master Yin began, his voice low, "though they appear no different from those of a mortal, he was, after all, the Grand Celestial Venerable. There must be… something unique about them."
"Something… difficult to detect." He paused, lost in thought. "I once… acquired a mutated dog, a creature formed from fused human hands. It despised all bones. All except for Master Bai's rib, the one in my possession. It was drawn to it, as if it offered… protection."
Xu Ke's eyes widened. "Which means… perhaps Master Bai's skull can protect a lost soul. We just… we haven't figured out how."
"Hmph. The Alliance's protective formations… they're interfering with our senses. Once we have the skull, we'll know the truth."
Xu Ke nodded in agreement, then added, "But if we couldn't sense it… and that little girl could…"
"That child… she's not ordinary. What was her name? Shangguan Nihong? We'll need to inform the Sacred Emperor…"
Had Li Fan been present, he would have realized the truth. The power that shielded the lost soul, the power emanating from Master Bai's skull… it was Eternal Remnant Will, the very substance that sustained his true self, the very energy he craved.
That was the reason he sought the skull.
But the Sacred Emperor, having severed his connection to Li Fan during his enlightenment in the Star Sea, would never receive this information.
…
As Xu Ke and Immortal Master Yin continued their exploration of the Divine Repository, a wave of unease spread throughout the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance.
The theft of a portion of the power from the imprisoned cultivators, the violation of the Eternal Wall, had enraged the Alliance's leadership.
They had launched a massive, clandestine investigation.
They gave no explanation, simply rounding up every cultivator who had been in the Tongyan Region on the day of the incident, subjecting them to intense scrutiny.
The existence of the Eternal Wall, after all, was a secret they couldn't afford to reveal.
But their secretive methods only fueled the growing paranoia.
Rumors spread like wildfire, amplified by agents of the Sacred Dynasty, whispers of an impending war between the Alliance and the Council of Five Elders growing louder with each passing day.
And as tensions rose, another disaster struck.
The Heavenly Spirit Sect, within the Jiushan Region, had rebelled.
With inside help, and with the support of the Council of Five Elders, they had seized control of the entire region.
The loss of the Jiushan Region sent shockwaves throughout the Alliance.
They declared a state of emergency, mobilizing their forces, sending troops to the border to establish defensive lines, desperate to prevent the Council of Five Elders from gaining further ground.
Travel restrictions were imposed, confining most cultivators to the safety of the Celestial Cities.
While the Alliance scrambled to reclaim the Jiushan Region…
…the armies of the Great Qi Sacred Dynasty, hidden within the Universal Worthy Vessels, concealed by the White Mist Barrier, were already in position, poised to strike.
"Senior Brother, when do we attack?" Ou Shangtian asked, his voice vibrating with barely contained excitement. He peered through the swirling white mist, his gaze fixed on the unsuspecting city below. "I can't wait any longer!"
"Patience," Sun Erlang replied calmly. "We wait for the formations in the four central regions to be completed."
"Master Craftsman's plan… to divert the Alliance's attention, to scatter their forces… it was a stroke of genius. With their troops deployed to the border, our task will be much easier." Wang Xuanba, idly stroking a small, snake-like beast, nodded in agreement.
"Do not underestimate them," Sun Erlang cautioned, his voice sharp. "Master has warned us. The Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance… they are more dangerous than they appear. Those cultivators we've observed, their movements, their deployments… it's all a façade."
"Do you think our Sky-Surveying Arrows and Sacred Army puppets are unique? Do you think the Alliance doesn't possess similar weapons? True victory is earned through blood and sacrifice."
His words were a sobering reminder, and the other disciples fell silent, contemplating the upcoming battle.
(End of Chapter)