"I, too, have tried to trace his origins, following the faint threads of connection," the Sacred Emperor said, his voice thoughtful, his gaze fixed on the swirling energies of the Star Sea. "But my efforts have been… fruitless."
The Star Sea's resurgence, its struggle against the lingering remnants of True Immortal power, was a protracted process.
In mortal terms, it would last for over a decade.
Until this cosmic storm reached its peak, he could resume his battle with Legacy Transmission at any time. This truce, this temporary alliance, wasn't a reconciliation.
He glanced at the distant Xuanhuang World.
The growing number of Self as Foundation cultivators were slowly eroding Legacy Transmission's power base.
And the Stele and Ruo Tree's plan to restore the Xuanhuang World's rightful dominance was progressing smoothly, accelerated by the Sacred Dynasty's recent territorial gains.
Delaying the final confrontation, waiting for the Star Sea's power to reach its peak, was to his advantage.
Since Legacy Transmission had proposed this… collaboration, he would gladly accept.
Besides, the Fishing Pond continued to yield its treasures.
Perhaps, within this period of uneasy peace, he would acquire another artifact, another weapon that could turn the tide of the war.
As his mind raced, issuing orders through the Star Sea Network, he extracted a drop of blood from between his eyebrows, offering it to Legacy Transmission.
Legacy Transmission coughed, his hand moving to restore the crown that had been severed during their battle. A golden light enveloped him, mending the smaller wounds on his body.
The Sacred Emperor observed this, his eyes narrowing. "Is he stalling? Is he trying to comprehend my 'when the real is made to appear fake, the fake becomes real' principle?"
He wasn't concerned. He sensed that this technique… it wasn't something that could be easily replicated, not even by someone with Legacy Transmission's exceptional comprehension.
As he pondered this, Legacy Transmission, his crown restored, his wounds healed, his form once again that of a benevolent elder, began to weave a series of hand seals, enveloping the Sacred Emperor's blood in a sphere of pale yellow light. The light shifted and shimmered, its color almost identical to that of the Xuanhuang World.
Legacy Transmission's expression changed, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
But he continued, his movements precise, his focus absolute.
The blood within the sphere of light pulsed, as if struggling against its confinement.
Two tendrils emerged, extending outwards.
One pointed towards the Xuanhuang World.
The other…
…pointed towards the vast expanse beyond the Star Sea.
And it was spinning, its direction changing rapidly, erratically.
"What's…" The Sacred Emperor's voice was laced with concern, mirroring Legacy Transmission's growing unease, but he didn't finish his question.
The space around them erupted, the energy swirling, not with the revitalizing power of the Star Sea, but with something… different. Like something… trying to break free, to claw its way out of the void itself.
They retreated, their movements swift, creating distance between themselves and the pulsing sphere of light.
The spinning tendril extending from the blood droplet slowed, then stopped, its direction fixed.
A moment later…
…ripples spread through the void, faint, almost imperceptible, as if a single drop of water had fallen into a vast, still pond.
They couldn't see it, couldn't sense it with their divine sense, but they both knew.
Something had arrived.
Legacy Transmission's eyes narrowed, a flicker of… recognition in their depths.
He glanced at the blood droplet, then back towards the source of the ripples, his brow furrowed in confusion.
"Interesting," he murmured. "The manipulator… they've revealed themselves."
The blood droplet within the sphere of light dissolved, consumed by the pale yellow energy.
But the tendril, still pointing towards the void, remained.
"The Celestial Barge…" Legacy Transmission whispered.
The Sacred Emperor's eyes narrowed.
He, too, had seen it. The sword light, the message sent from beyond the Xuanhuang World.
"Could it be… the Celestial Barge is involved in this?" He felt a shiver of unease.
"But… their timing is… too convenient." He stared into the void, his hand instinctively reaching for the white ring. He held back, waiting.
"The Celestial Barge," Legacy Transmission explained, "it's a remnant of the ancient Xuanshang Celestial Barge. Hidden within the ruins beneath the Wall…"
The Sacred Emperor's gaze drifted towards the distant Wall, its massive form a stark contrast to the vibrant, chaotic energies of the Star Sea. He had experienced the boundless nature of this realm, its infinite potential, during his brief encounter with its primordial essence.
And that knowledge only served to amplify the Wall's oppressive presence, its power to constrain, to limit, to control.
"They appear… just as we are about to clash…"
"Let's see how much they've learned," Legacy Transmission said, a cold glint in his eyes.
He didn't move, didn't attack. He simply… observed.
The ripples in space, caused by the Celestial Barge's arrival, subsided.
Then, as if frozen in time, the space around the vessel solidified, becoming still, silent, a desolate void, devoid of life, devoid of energy.
"His power… it's truly remarkable." The Sacred Emperor observed this, his eyes narrowing, his mind racing, simulating countless scenarios, searching for a countermeasure.
The absolute stillness, however, didn't last.
Just as it was about to solidify completely, a force, raw and untamed, erupted from within the frozen space, shattering Legacy Transmission's control.
The image of the Celestial Barge flickered, then vanished.
But its power lingered, resonating with the True Immortal remnants within the Star Sea, drawing them inwards, like moths to a flame.
The Sacred Emperor's earlier trap, a carefully orchestrated diversion, had been a mere trickle, a small stream of True Immortal energy.
This… this was a flood. A raging torrent.
The True Immortal remnants, already agitated by their ongoing conflict with the Star Sea's resurgent power, sensed the presence of two Supreme Beings, two… potential vessels.
They converged upon them, their hunger insatiable.
Both Legacy Transmission and the Sacred Emperor were forced to evade, their movements swift, their senses on high alert.
Though they had both reached the pinnacle of this reality, the so-called Supreme Being realm, the limit of the Star Sea's current potential, they were still wary of the True Immortal remnants, their power far greater, their nature… unpredictable.
Especially now, with their uneasy truce, their temporary alliance. A serious injury could be disastrous, weakening them, giving their opponent an advantage in their inevitable final confrontation. And unlike ordinary wounds, those inflicted by True Immortal remnants were difficult to heal, their corrosive energy lingering, festering.
They each relied on their unique abilities to survive.
The Sacred Emperor, thanks to his connection to the Star Sea, could see the incoming waves of energy, predicting their movements, dodging their attacks with practiced ease. And when he couldn't avoid them completely, his starlight robe shimmered, the prayers of his people, the potent energy of the Source Power Essence, flowing into him, purging the True Immortal remnants from his body.
Legacy Transmission's method was more… direct.
He summoned the World Fragment Arm, its countless shattered worlds acting like sponges, absorbing the True Immortal remnants, their power fueling its growth.
Some of the world fragments, unable to withstand the influx of energy, crumbled, their forms dissolving into nothingness. But they were quickly replaced by others, drawn from Legacy Transmission's vast reserves.
It was a terrifying display of power, a testament to the countless worlds he had consumed, their remnants now serving as his… shield.
The Celestial Barge, its initial attempt to sow discord having failed, tried a different approach.
A simple, unassuming talisman, made of yellow paper, floated down from the void, its descent slow, almost… lazy.
But its speed was deceptive.
One moment, the Sacred Emperor and Legacy Transmission sensed its presence.
The next, it was upon them, landing on their foreheads simultaneously.
It was a unique talisman, seemingly capable of replicating itself, ensuring both targets were affected.
"A True Immortal script…" They both had the same thought, the same flicker of recognition, of dread.
They felt its power instantly.
The Sacred Emperor's connection to the Star Sea… it was severed.
Not by the talisman itself, but by the Star Sea, its primordial essence rejecting him, pushing him away. He even sensed a flicker of… hostility.
His home field advantage, the subtle support he had received from the Star Sea, was gone, replaced by a heavy, oppressive resistance, as if he were moving through thick mud.
And Legacy Transmission… his supposed ally… he now radiated a chilling malice.
In an instant, he was surrounded by enemies.
And his connection to the Sacred Dynasty, the source of his power… it was weakening. It wouldn't be long before even his own people, his own world, turned against him.
He had never experienced such… isolation.
"This is… the power of a True Immortal script?"
"Not a mere fragment, a remnant… but a complete, unbroken expression of a True Immortal's will…"
He tried to recall the symbol on the talisman, its intricate pattern.
But his mind was blank.
As he struggled against the growing hostility of the Star Sea, his gaze turned towards Legacy Transmission, who had drifted further away, the distance between them increasing, fueled by the talisman's power.
Legacy Transmission's crown shimmered, its surface reflecting the images of the countless statues erected in his honor throughout the Xuanhuang World.
One of the statues stepped out of the crown, its form solidifying, turning from illusion to… something more.
The moment it materialized, it was attacked. By the Star Sea, by the True Immortal remnants, even by Legacy Transmission himself.
It shattered, exploding in a burst of energy that washed over the Sacred Emperor, its trajectory shifting, its target now… him.
He neutralized the attack, his expression grim, then continued to observe Legacy Transmission.
Another statue emerged from the crown, meeting the same fate.
And with each shattered statue, the Sacred Emperor sensed the power of the True Immortal script on Legacy Transmission weakening, ever so slightly.
"He's… using the statues as… proxies? Sacrificing them to… absorb the talisman's power?" He quickly grasped Legacy Transmission's strategy.
He focused his will, and a hazy image of himself emerged from his starlight robe.
As he had anticipated, the moment it appeared, it was attacked. By the Star Sea, by the True Immortal remnants, and even… by himself.
He felt a flicker of… satisfaction as he struck his own illusory self, a sense of… vengeance.
The feeling vanished as the illusion dissipated, but the experience… it was unsettling.
Both he and Legacy Transmission, Supreme Beings, at the very limit of this reality's power, were being manipulated by a single talisman, a fragment of a True Immortal's will.
They were forced to resort to such… crude methods to counter its effects. They couldn't directly oppose its power.
"Perhaps… once I manifest the Eternal Xuanhuang World fully, once I master the 'when the real is made to appear fake' principle… I can resist it."
"But my other techniques…" He mentally reviewed his arsenal, his options… and found nothing comparable.
It was a strange, almost comical, sight. Two Supreme Beings, the most powerful cultivators in this reality, trapped, immobilized by a single talisman.
And the Celestial Barge, having observed this confrontation from a safe distance, finally made its move.
A message, its tone surprisingly polite, reached the Sacred Emperor.
"We, the Celestial Barge, seek only the resources necessary for our survival."
"Perhaps… we can cooperate."
The Sacred Emperor was taken aback.
Seeing that he didn't respond, the Celestial Barge sent another message. "We can help you defeat Legacy Transmission. In return, we ask only for… a place to call home. A safe haven."
"Rest assured, there are only a hundred thousand of us. The Xuanhuang World is vast. Our presence… it would be insignificant."
…
Their words were sincere, their offer… tempting.
But the Sacred Emperor was suspicious.
Had it not been for the blood divination, the tendril that had pointed towards the Celestial Barge, suggesting their involvement in this… conspiracy, he might have been swayed.
But now…
He couldn't shake the feeling that they were hiding something.
"They've seen my… truce with Legacy Transmission. They're trying to… drive a wedge between us."
He didn't respond.
And the Celestial Barge, sensing his hesitation, his distrust, sent another message.
One that shocked him to his core.
"Do not trust Legacy Transmission!"
"Years ago, he infiltrated our Celestial Barge, stealing valuable treasures under the guise of a… friendly visit."
"He disguised his appearance, but… we haven't forgotten."
A torrent of information followed, details, evidence, memories.
The Sacred Emperor was silent, his mind reeling.
"If you're interested… use this method to contact us." Seeing that he still didn't respond, the Celestial Barge transmitted a secret communication technique, a hidden frequency.
Then they vanished.
The chaotic energy caused by the True Immortal script dissipated, the hostility of the Star Sea receding, his connection to it slowly being restored.
But the distance between him and Legacy Transmission remained, a gulf of suspicion and distrust.
"They've escaped, for now. But with your blood, we can track them," Legacy Transmission said, his voice calm.
"They're elusive. Can't you track them yourself?" The Sacred Emperor didn't offer more of his blood. He was still wary.
Legacy Transmission chuckled softly. "It seems they've made some… progress. Their understanding of the True Immortal script… it's… impressive, in a way. Though misguided, of course. But I must admit…"
He glanced towards the swirling energies of the Star Sea.
"They can be… troublesome."
"Small amounts of True Immortal remnants… they are nothing to be concerned about. But a concentrated burst, like the one they just unleashed… that can be dangerous."
"If you're not careful, you could be… marked. And those marks… they're difficult to remove. They can even… affect your future cultivation."
The Sacred Emperor pondered his words, his gaze sweeping across the Star Sea, searching for the lingering traces of True Immortal energy.
"Is there… no way to… eliminate them completely? Aside from waiting for the Star Sea to purge itself?"
"Do you know why my progress in repairing the Xuanhuang World has been so slow?" Legacy Transmission asked, his tone almost… weary. "Finding suitable materials… it's like searching for a needle in a haystack. True Immortal remnants… they are incredibly resilient. Unless you possess the power of a True Immortal yourself…" He shook his head.
The Sacred Emperor remained silent.
"I… don't have much time," Legacy Transmission said suddenly, his tone cryptic.
The Sacred Emperor was startled. He looked at him, his brow furrowed in confusion.
Legacy Transmission, however, didn't elaborate. "What will you do now?" he asked, changing the subject.
"Continue pursuing the Celestial Barge? Unmask this… manipulator?"
"Or… fight me?"
"They contacted you, didn't they?" he added, seeing the flicker of uncertainty in the Sacred Emperor's eyes.
The Sacred Emperor didn't deny it. He nodded. "Did you… visit the Celestial Barge?"
"I did," Legacy Transmission admitted readily. "And I… acquired a few things. Things I needed."
The Sacred Emperor stared at him, surprised by his candor.
"Just as you wish to save the Xuanhuang World," Legacy Transmission continued, his voice softening, almost… confessional, "I, too, have something I must protect. Something I believe in."
"And to achieve my goals… I will do whatever is necessary."
The Sacred Emperor neither agreed nor disagreed.
Legacy Transmission pointed towards the distant Xuanhuang World, his gaze distant. "Have you… visited the Immortal Ruins?"
"No."
"There is… a True Immortal there. Lost in meditation. He… he is one of the primary causes of this Star Sea's… current state. Have you considered… even if you defeat me… how will you escape him? How will you protect the Xuanhuang World?" He chuckled coldly. "Time is running out."
The Sacred Emperor remained silent.
"I have a plan," Legacy Transmission said, his voice laced with a quiet confidence.
"To sacrifice the future for the present… is that… truly the act of a 'Sacred' being?"
The Sacred Emperor's resolve didn't waver. "If you can find a way to save this world… so can I."
"But to abandon my people, to give up without a fight… I cannot do that."
Legacy Transmission chuckled, then sighed, his earlier arrogance fading. "You don't understand… what I've been through all these years…"
After a moment of silence, his expression turned serious. "I do not wish to fight you. And I do not fear your… delaying tactics."
"If you wish to fight… I am ready."
"The choice… is yours."
The Sacred Emperor considered his words, his mind racing. He was about to speak when…
…ripples spread through the void.
The Celestial Barge had returned.
This time, they didn't unleash a True Immortal script. They simply… taunted him.
"The great Legacy Transmission, always so eloquent. So convincing. Tell me… when do you intend to return the treasures you stole from our Celestial Barge?"
"And the Xuanhuang World's continued existence beneath the Immortal Ruins… I believe our… contributions… played a significant role in that, wouldn't you agree?"
Their words dripped with venom, their hatred for Legacy Transmission palpable.
Legacy Transmission didn't respond.
The Sacred Emperor, however, was intrigued. What treasures had he stolen?
Two Supreme Beings, and an ancient Celestial Barge, faced each other in the vast emptiness of the Star Sea.
The conflict between Legacy Transmission and the Sacred Emperor stemmed from their opposing ideologies, their conflicting methods of ensuring the Xuanhuang World's survival. A conflict that seemed… irreconcilable.
The Celestial Barge, however, shared an ancient grudge with Legacy Transmission, a hatred that transcended even the current crisis.
Logically, the Sacred Emperor and the Celestial Barge should have allied against their common enemy.
But the blood divination, pointing towards the Celestial Barge, had unsettled the Sacred Emperor.
And beyond that divination, he, too, had sensed a… familiar aura emanating from the Celestial Barge.
If they had come from beneath the Wall… why did they resonate with… him?
It was a puzzle, a mystery he couldn't solve. And Legacy Transmission's words, his warning about a hidden manipulator, had given him pause.
"Elder Gan chose your hiding place well," Legacy Transmission said, his voice calm, though a cold glint flickered in his eyes as he addressed the Celestial Barge. He had recognized the voice. "A little further out, and even with the protection of True Immortal scripts, your survival would have been… uncertain."
He refrained from attacking, however, seemingly wary of… something.
The Celestial Barge ignored him, focusing their efforts on persuading the Sacred Emperor to join their side.
"Do not concern yourself with the Xuanhuang World's safety, fellow Daoist. We, too, have found a way to save it."
"Observe…"
Images flooded the Sacred Emperor's mind.
Countless obelisks, erected across the Xuanhuang World's surface, pulsed with light, their combined power pushing the world away from the Immortal Ruins.
He recognized the source of their power - the Sea of Gloom, hidden deep within the Xuanhuang World.
"It… could work." He ran a quick simulation, his astonishment growing.
"How do they know about the Sea of Gloom?"
As if sensing his question, the Celestial Barge offered an explanation. "We visited the Xuanhuang World many years ago. We… exchanged information."
Their words, however, only deepened his suspicion.
He felt a growing unease.
Legacy Transmission, initially dismissive of the Celestial Barge's claims, was surprised by the Sacred Emperor's reaction, his sudden shift in demeanor. He, too, regarded the Celestial Barge with renewed interest.
Too many things had happened recently that he couldn't explain, events that defied his understanding, occurrences that were… unprecedented.
But he believed that by capturing the Celestial Barge, by unraveling their secrets, he could find the answers he sought.
He couldn't attack them here, not with the Xuanhuang World so close, not with the meditating True Immortal within the Immortal Ruins.
But he didn't believe the Celestial Barge would remain in this location for long.
His gaze drifted towards the depths of the Star Sea.
A familiar aura was rapidly approaching.
"Once they arrive… we can fight. Here. Now."
He closed his eyes, his attention focused on the Sacred Emperor and the Celestial Barge, their conversation continuing, the tension between them palpable.
Then, a sudden surge of energy, emanating from the Xuanhuang World, drew their attention.
The Xuanhuang World, weakened by its earlier efforts to support the Sacred Emperor, was now pulsing with life, its aura growing stronger.
A deep, resonant thumping, like a giant's heartbeat, echoed through the void.
The cloud representing the Xuanhuang World churned and pulsed, as if something was… gestating within.
The Celestial Barge was confused.
The Sacred Emperor's face paled. He felt his connection to the Xuanhuang World fading, the bond weakening. Though the… affection remained, its power, its support, was gone.
Legacy Transmission's initial surprise quickly turned to disbelief, then… understanding. His eyes lit up with a sudden, intense focus.
Ignoring the Sacred Emperor and the Celestial Barge, he turned and flew towards the Xuanhuang World, his speed incredible.
A moment later, the Celestial Barge, their initial confusion replaced by a sudden, overwhelming excitement, followed.
"Celestial Spiritual Qi! Such a potent concentration! This…"
"At least two or three Celestial Artifacts! The Xuanhuang World… it truly is a treasure trove!"
They transformed into a streak of light, pursuing Legacy Transmission.
The Sacred Emperor, through the Star Sea Network, through the eyes of his troops within the Xuanhuang World, understood.
"The true Grand Celestial Venerable of the Xuanhuang World… has been chosen."
He felt no resentment, no sense of loss at being… replaced. Only a deep, unsettling premonition.
Events were spiraling out of control.
A hidden hand, manipulating them all.
Legacy Transmission, the Celestial Barge, himself, the Sacred Emperor, and now… the newly chosen Grand Celestial Venerable of the Xuanhuang World…
They were all… pawns in a larger game.
"What's going on?"
His heart heavy with foreboding, he turned towards the Xuanhuang World.
It had changed.
Something ancient, something powerful, had been awakened. A hidden mechanism, dormant for millennia, now active. Strange energies, old and potent, emanated from its depths.
"This is…" A look of shock, of dawning horror, filled his eyes.
"Celestial Spiritual Qi?"
He saw Legacy Transmission, his expression grim, confronting the Celestial Barge.
Tendrils of Celestial Spiritual Qi, its source unknown, seeped out of the Xuanhuang World.
Its power, though ancient and divine…
…was lethal to the inhabitants of the Xuanhuang World.
Cultivators, their faces filled with an ecstatic bliss as they absorbed the Celestial Spiritual Qi, exploded, their bodies unable to contain its raw, untamed power.
Mortal flesh couldn't withstand the touch of a True Immortal.
(End of Chapter)