Upheaval in the Star Sea

"To risk everything on one throw..." Having received his answer, Master Yin fell silent. "There is no need to fret; I have already laid my plans. Win or lose, the Xuanhuang Orthodoxy will certainly be reestablished. You and Xu Ke need only do what you wish to do," Sacred Emperor Li Ping said calmly. "Yet..." Hearing this, Master Yin still seemed somewhat hesitant. "The moment Chuanfa reveals himself will be the exact moment the Sacred Dynasty's great army launches an all-out assault against the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals headquarters. You two will take advantage of the chaos to infiltrate the Museum of Divine Curiosities and retrieve Mr. Bai's skull. At this stage, victory or defeat is a struggle over the overarching trend. Though the two of you are not weak, you cannot sway the overall situation. Furthermore, the Museum of Divine Curiosities is governed by the lineage of the Illusory True Sages of the Alliance. If you can pin them down, it will already count as a major contribution." A gloomy gleam flickered across Master Yin's eyes. "They are merely the lingering, unvanquished ghosts of the Xuanhuang Realm's ancient exotic beasts. Had Di Yi still been around, I might have shown him a measure of respect. But with only Di San Mo left..." "Nothing to fear!" Master Yin scoffed. "The Illusory True Sages wield that formidable instrument, 'Era.' Even the most mediocre existence can bring forth miracles after hundreds of millions of simulated deductions. Do not underestimate the enemy!" Li Ping said solemnly. The Sacred Emperor's words carried considerable weight with Master Yin. Ceasing his arguments, Master Yin instead narrowed his eyes in contemplation. As he pondered, a rustling sound like silkworms crawling came from his scalp once more. His scalp rose and fell, as though something might burrow out from the cracks on the crown of his head at any moment. Master Yin instantly grew somewhat vexed, but Li Ping flickered across the room and appeared beside him. With a gentle brush of his palm, points of starlight seeped inward, and the abnormal disturbance gradually subsided. "This is the recoil of the true self. Constantly suppressing it by force is not a viable strategy," the Sacred Emperor observed at a glance, offering his advice. A helpless expression appeared on Master Yin's face. "Changing paths midway through is ultimately not the same as cultivating from scratch. Various aftereffects are bound to linger. Back then, I thought that as long as I consumed my imperfect Dao Foundation and re-cultivated through 'Self as Foundation,' all would be well. But a short while ago, when I listened to your sermon in the star sea, I attained new insights. Only then did I realize that the 'complete self' of my prior understanding was not truly complete. With my foundation shaken, it indeed requires further realignment." "Rest assured, I will set things right before the decisive battle arrives," Master Yin promised. "So long as you are mindful of it." While the Sacred Emperor's voice still lingered in the air, his figure had already vanished. Master Yin glanced around, only to discover with astonishment that before the long table where the Sacred Emperor had been sitting, the incomplete "new new method"—which had earlier coalesced from illusion into reality and been taken away by the Sacred Emperor—had somehow reappeared. Knowing the Sacred Emperor had intentionally left it for him, Master Yin made no polite pretense. He picked it up on the spot and began to study it intently. "Brilliant..." Even though it had merely been compiled to mislead the world, in Master Yin's eyes, this half of the new new method still contained infinite profundity, hardly distinguishable from genuine divine arts. Before long, he was completely engrossed. *** The Sacred Dynasty, Five Elements Great Cave Heaven, Fire Attribute Cave Heaven. A boundless sea of fire roared as towering waves of blazing flames erupted from time to time, surging straight toward the firmament. The scorching flames tore through everything within the cave heaven like wild horses. Yet deep within this purgatorial scene, a golden colored-glaze flower blossomed. No matter how wildly the surrounding flames raged, the flower remained as clear and pure as before, completely undisturbed. In the center of the colored-glaze flower, the reflection of a world appeared faintly, now visible, now vanishing. From time to time, a wisp of golden light drifted out from that glazed world within the flower. When the surrounding flames came into contact with this golden light, they combusted with sudden ferocity, burning with even greater vigor. Viewed from high above, one could see Daoist Baihua using the golden glazed light as a conduit to continuously comb through and refine this fire cave heaven. Compared to when it was first captured and brought here, not only the fire cave heaven, but the scale of the entire Five Elements Great Cave Heaven had expanded by almost a full ring. One could truly say that Daoist Baihua had rendered immense meritorious service. The figure of Sacred Emperor Li Ping manifested beside the golden glazed light. The raging flames instantly wilted. They did not even dare draw near, merely swaying timidly in the distance in a fawning manner. "Well done. The Five Elements Cave Heaven has been tended to exceedingly well." "As have the other cave heavens," Li Ping said nonchalantly. His gaze pierced through the canopy of the Five Elements Great Cave Heaven, reaching directly into the void beyond the realm. The Five Elements Great Cave Heaven acted like a robust navigator, leading the Sacred Dynasty of Great Qi swiftly through the void. Surrounding it, nearly a hundred different pocket worlds of varying sizes were swept along in unison. With the Sacred Great Qi as their core, they faintly formed an array formation, resembling a colossal warship that inspired awe and dread. "It is merely my duty. Had the Sacred Emperor not bestowed the Myriad Spirits Nectar, I could never have reached such a level." Baihua stepped before Li Ping and bowed her head. She, too, looked in the direction of Li Ping's gaze. After a brief silence, she could not help but sigh with emotion. "I can hardly believe that such a magnificent spectacle was actually fashioned by my hands." "The vast majority of them are no smaller than my homeland." "Next, I must trouble you with another journey. You are to return this Five Elements Great Cave Heaven to the Xuanhuang Realm proper," Li Ping's voice came at just the right moment. Baihua stared blankly for a moment. The Sacred Emperor smiled and explained, "The time for evasion has passed. The moment has come to cross blades. Let it serve as the vanguard for this first battle!" As the Sacred Emperor uttered those words, the surrounding flames seemed to receive some form of encouragement and surged violently upward. Daoist Baihua could see even more clearly that within the billowing flames of this entire fire cave heaven, apart from the fire itself, a profound shadow flowed deep beneath. It was a terrifying entity capable of threatening her very existence. The Sacred Emperor extended his palm. The shadow flowed forward, quickly gathering upon his hand and transforming into a plump, endearing little insect with a tiger-like head. It appeared chubby and harmless to humans and beasts alike, but Baihua knew all too well just how terrifying this little creature was. The fire cave heaven they currently inhabited, and indeed the entire Five Elements Great Cave Heaven, was nothing more than an incarnation of this black insect. Over these years, rather than saying she had been tending to the cave heaven, it was more accurate to say she had been nurturing this insect named "Dao-One." "With Dao-One aiding you, dragging the cave heaven back will not be as arduous as when you brought it here." "You need only return the Five Elements Cave Heaven to its original position; Dao-One will handle everything else properly," the Sacred Emperor instructed. As Li Ping spoke, streams of starlight emanated from his palm. The Dao-One Worm seemed rather pleased with itself, rubbing its plump body affectionately against Li Ping's palm before greedily devouring the points of starlight. Its black body seemed to turn even more solid. "Go on." Li Ping patted it gently. Though somewhat reluctant, the Dao-One Worm was exceedingly obedient. The shadow dissolved, returning into the surrounding cave heaven. The surrounding inferno instantly flared with even greater intensity. Baihua could sense that the entire cave heaven seemed to come alive in a flash. Standing inside felt like standing within the belly of a colossal beast. The steadily rising sense of crisis in her heart left Baihua unsettled and restless. Li Ping noticed her unease as well, bringing her out into the void outside the Five Elements Cave Heaven. With a light tap of the Sacred Emperor's finger, the Five Elements Cave Heaven detached from the void fleet array of Great Qi. "Do not worry. Dao-One will only faithfully execute my orders." Since the Sacred Emperor had said so, Baihua could only nod. Forcibly suppressing the terror within her heart, she transformed into a streak of golden light and flew toward the Five Elements Cave Heaven. In an instant, the five-ring cave heaven seemed to be coated in a gilded border. Rumble! After the initial rumbling sound, the cave heaven's departure proceeded in absolute silence. Shrouded beneath the Sacred Emperor's array, even if someone were standing right beside the drifting cave heaven, they might not necessarily detect this moving behemoth. Watching the Five Elements Great Cave Heaven on its homeward journey, Li Ping mused inwardly, *With Dao-One's current state, it is sufficient to silently alter the spiritual energy of the entire Xuanhuang Realm.* *Not only will this target the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals, but it will also seize the opportunity to stimulate the Xuanhuang Realm, driving it to further awaken its signs of revival.* Ever since his enlightenment in the center of the star sea, the interior of the Xuanhuang Realm had briefly unleashed a force of resurgence. However, it had ultimately been water without a source; as time passed, those signs of revival had gradually ground to a halt. The tender sprouts newly grown on the branches of Ruomu were already withering and turning yellow once more. Transformed by the Dao-One Worm, the insectified Five Elements Great Cave Heaven acted like a potent remedy. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth was an extremely vital component of the Xuanhuang Realm. If it suffered corruption, it would inevitably provoke a fierce, instinctive reaction from the realm itself. *Aside from creating a battlefield environment suitable for the warriors of Great Qi, the Dao-One Worm's mission is primarily to insectify and devour as many of the foreign cultivation realms stitched onto it over the past several millennia as possible.* *Once the great war concludes, the Dao-One Worm will perish. The spiritual energy will return to its proper course, and the corpse of the Dao-One Worm—namely those foreign realms—will turn into nourishment for the Xuanhuang Realm.* *Passing through this insect tribulation will leave the Xuanhuang Realm far sturdier. Combined with the arrangements I previously laid down for the Xuanhuang Orthodoxy, regardless of who wins or loses between Chuanfa and me, the Xuanhuang Realm will occupy an absolute advantage in future realm fusions.* Within the Sacred Emperor's mind, scenes of the impending great war were continuously deduced. Gazing into the distance, piercing through layer upon layer of space-time barriers, he saw Daoist Baihua smoothly dragging the insectified Five Elements Cave Heaven back into its original position. Amidst the noiseless rumblings of heaven and earth, the Five Elements Great Cave Heaven that had returned to Tianling Province began gushing forth abnormal spiritual energy into the outside world. The concentration of spiritual energy in the Xuanhuang Realm would experience a slight rise in a short span of time. Cultivators would find it difficult to discern anything abnormal about this newborn spiritual energy; only when the insectification was activated would they be caught completely unprepared, losing their authority to draw upon the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Seeing that his plan was proceeding smoothly, Sacred Emperor Li Ping finally withdrew his gaze. With a step, he returned to Great Qi. *** Deep within the Holy Emperor Throne. This was the core of the Grand Formation of Heaven and Earth Myriad Spirits. Superimposed upon it were numerous other formations, such as the All Living Souls Refining Spirit Formation. Even the consciousness of the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao, which was closely connected to the Sacred Emperor, had its connection severed here. This ensured that all outside prying eyes were thoroughly shut out. The Sacred Emperor's disciple, Lin Ling—once the spirit wood incarnation of the Spirit Wood Realm—had manifested his true form here. Strangely, the tree was suspended upside down, with its crown positioned at the very bottom. Its dense, intricate root system was at the very top. Structures scattered across Great Qi—such as the Seat of Heroic Spirits, the Sacred Medical Clinic, the Sacred Academy, the Sacred Heart Hall, and the Sacred Surveillance Court—were all linked to the roots of this inverted spirit tree. At the tree's heart, every scene transpiring throughout Great Qi surfaced in perfect synchronization. Once a sequence of light and shadow played out, it turned into green light and was absorbed by the inverted spirit tree. Sacred Emperor Li Ping looked upon the inverted spirit tree before him, a rare trace of hesitation flickering in his eyes. "As the saying goes, before plotting victory, plan for defeat! This deed of the Sacred Emperor could only be conceived through great wisdom!" Beside Li Ping, a yellow paper man with a woebegone countenance lavished praise without the slightest restraint. It was none other than Daoist Yijue of the Crossing Adversity Sect. He sat atop the Book of Crossing Adversity, his eyes fixed firmly on the inverted spirit tree ahead. "Furthermore, Your Imperial Majesty's planning this time is also for the sake of the Xuanhuang Realm. It is not an escape route left for yourself, so it can hardly be said to blunt your sharp edge or determination," Daoist Yijue continued. The Sacred Emperor remained silent. He merely formed hand seals from time to time, causing the roots of the inverted spirit tree to sway accordingly. At the tree's heart, the speed at which the images of Great Qi were absorbed seemed to quicken by a few degrees. Only after a long while did the Sacred Emperor cease his movements. He spoke abruptly. "In this decisive battle against the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals, your Crossing Adversity Sect does not need to take the field." "Just as I said before, hide yourselves in secret and see..." "Whether there are other prying gazes," the Sacred Emperor said in an inscrutable tone. "A war between the Sacred Dynasty and the Alliance is a monumental shift unseen in Xuanhuang for ten thousand years. If that hidden force monitoring the Xuanhuang Realm is still operating, it will inevitably oversee this and transmit information. I do not demand that you track down the ultimate destination of the information. You only need to verify whether the event takes place," the Sacred Emperor instructed, pausing distinctly between each word. The tightly knit brows of Daoist Yijue finally smoothed out. He clapped his hands in praise. "This move by the Sacred Emperor truly coincides with the Grand Dao of our Crossing Adversity Sect. If the Sacred Emperor is willing, I could even relinquish the position of sect master..." Before Daoist Yijue could finish, the Sacred Emperor cut him off. "Regardless of who wins or loses between Chuanfa and me, you must report the outcome to the victor. As for after completing the mission... do as you please." Daoist Yijue felt no joy at his impending freedom; instead, he looked somewhat stunned. The paper man's indistinct little hand pointed at the inverted spirit tree ahead. "I am not going along with it?" The Sacred Emperor gave a soft laugh. "The only living being within this 'Tree Beyond the World' is Lin Ling, who serves as its core. Even I am not leaving any escape route on it, yet your Crossing Adversity Sect still wishes to tag along?" Daoist Yijue's face instantly twisted in sorrow. "Sacred Emperor, think twice! What can rely solely on a tree spirit that was born not long ago? The star sea is vast and boundless; it might encounter some disaster and perish midway. Wouldn't the Sacred Emperor's escape method be abandoned halfway through...?" Li Ping waved his hand, cutting him short. Staring at the inverted spirit tree, he corrected, "This is not an escape method, but the preservation of information." Daoist Yijue let out a long sigh. "Is there any difference?" Li Ping narrowed his eyes and offered no reply. Within this Tree Beyond the World, not only were recorded visual materials preserved of every event since the founding of the Sacred Dynasty, but even the true spirits and memories of those who had fallen during this period—originally resting within the Seat of Heroic Spirits—would be transferred here upon its activation. Inspired by the Taiyan Sect's theory of the indestructibility of information, this was a fallback measure the Sacred Emperor had prepared for the entire Sacred Dynasty. Or rather, describing it with the word "proof" was far more fitting. If Li Ping won, there would naturally be no need to mention it; the Tree Beyond the World would not be activated at all. Yet if Li Ping lost, then upon the downfall of Great Qi, this Tree Beyond the World would wrap around the true spirits of the Sacred Dynasty's subjects and soar into the depths of the void. Were it a physical entity, it would never escape Chuanfa's obstruction. Yet if it were merely information, Chuanfa might not necessarily pay it any heed. Moreover, the Crossing Adversity Sect would create interference at that time. It was not that the Sacred Emperor was wavering over the decisive battle. After all, this Tree Beyond the World had no place reserved for any living person. Rather, the Sacred Emperor wished to leave a final proof of existence for the countless subjects who followed and believed in him. Li Ping knew that throughout the thousands of years the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals had ruled half of Xuanhuang, Great Qi was not the first to raise the banner of rebellion. Five hundred years ago, there had already been an instance where multiple realms united and rose up in defiance. Yet after their failure, all information regarding them had been erased and sealed by the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals. It was as though those defeated souls had never existed at all. Li Ping's action was meant precisely to prevent such an outcome from happening again. *Even if we fall, our existence will never be erased!* *If, many years from now, the Tree Beyond the World returns to Xuanhuang and inspires future generations, that would be all the better.* Numerous thoughts flashed through Li Ping's mind. Faint stirrings of emotion surfaced, only to be calmed once again. *Heavenly Venerable Chuanfa.* Li Ping repeated the name silently in his heart. In truth, with his current strength, he already had a thirty percent certainty of facing Chuanfa without defeat, or even achieving victory. After all, having gained enlightenment in the star sea, he understood where the current limits of this Pitch-Black Star Sea lay. Even if Chuanfa had held dominion over Xuanhuang for nearly ten thousand years, he certainly had not broken the star sea's current limits. Yet what caused Li Ping a faint unease was the shadow standing behind Chuanfa. The Heavenly Physician. Though Li Ping knew little of this figure, a vague premonition told him that this person must never be underestimated. To be capable of conspiring alongside Chuanfa, his strength could hardly be lacking. *Chuanfa alone I can still contend with. But if we add the Heavenly Physician into the mix...* Though the outlook was not optimistic, the Sacred Emperor's decision to launch the general offensive in three years was by no means an impulsive whim. Three years from now would be an exceedingly peculiar juncture. The peculiarity did not lie within the Xuanhuang Realm, but across the entire Pitch-Black Star Sea. According to his perception of that grand, primordial intent of the star sea, three years from now, the star sea would erupt with the power of primordial revival once again. At that time, the reviving power originating from the star sea would wage a large-scale clash against the lingering calamitous power scattered throughout the star sea. Under the collision of these two immense forces, as long as the cultivators within the star sea had not reached a realm capable of contending with either of them, all would inevitably be affected. Whether cultivators who had attained enlightenment through the star sea or devotees of the calamitous power, none would be exempt. As for how this impact would manifest in individual cultivators, the upper limit of their strength would be severely curtailed. Just as larger vessels encountered greater waves upon the open ocean, the higher a cultivator's cultivation realm, the deeper the influence of the star sea and calamitous power would be within the Pitch-Black Star Sea. Chuanfa and the Heavenly Physician—these two beings standing at the pinnacle of the star sea—would be dragged down temporarily and by force. Though the Sacred Emperor's strength would likewise be diminished, a major portion of his combat prowess stemmed from the Sacred Dynasty's destiny. So long as the Sacred Dynasty did not fall, the strength he could unleash would consistently remain at a relatively stable level. Furthermore, he shared an ethereal bond with the star sea's primordial intent. Sheltered by it, he would only need to confront the collateral impact of the calamitous power, unlike the other entities across the star sea. *Through my brief communion with the star sea's primordial intent, I have confirmed that no cultivator had made contact with it before me. Though I know not why Chuanfa and the others failed to discover the revival of the star sea's primordial intent over these ten thousand years, it is undoubtedly a great fortune for me.* *Not only does it narrow the gap between us to a certain extent, but I can also borrow the power of this vast star sea to some degree.* *However, unlike the Xuanhuang Realm, which has no other choice, this star sea is currently flourishing with new life, while my power is far too minuscule. I will have only one opportunity...* Standing before the inverted spirit tree, the Sacred Emperor deduced the various scenarios that might unfold in the great war three years from now. No matter how Daoist Yijue of the Crossing Adversity Sect pleaded, he remained unmoved. *If I could also borrow the calamitous power, perhaps my odds of victory would increase further,* the Sacred Emperor could not help but muse. Yet he could never have imagined that on the far side of the star sea, a faction striving to harness the star sea's calamitous power had likewise discerned the upheaval due to occur three years later. *** Profound Immortal Vessel, Broken Immortal Tower. Zhao Xian—who was none other than the Sacred Embryo Li Fan—was summoned in haste while in seclusion. At a plenary assembly of the Broken Immortal Tower's core members, Ai Tianjue took the floor, announcing an event that could exert a monumental impact on the Immortal Vessel. "The lingering power of calamity across various parts of the star sea is steadily intensifying, and it is projected to peak within three years?" "Influenced by this, the True Immortal power clinging to the Sea of Relics will resonate as well. Its usual fluctuations will intensify drastically, presenting us with a splendid opportunity to search for viable apocalypse relics. Such an opportunity comes once in a thousand years!" "If all goes smoothly, we might gather enough relics in one stroke to last us for the next century!" Upon hearing Ai Tianjue's report, everyone grew exceedingly excited. Presently, owing to the scarcity of apocalypse relics, the Broken Immortal Tower's research into True Immortal seal characters had proceeded at a sluggish pace. Often, several cultivators had to share a single relic. Only the true figures of authority and their direct disciples had the privilege of enjoying one exclusively. Nearly every cultivator within the Broken Immortal Tower was confident that their innate talent was inferior to no one. If every person could have ample relics to study, the difficulty of their research would certainly plummet. "What concerns me more is why such a phenomenon would occur," Chi Gongdao's voice rang out. He had not attended the meeting in person; the one speaking was merely a brush woven from flesh, blood, and hair. The brush of flesh and blood danced continuously through the air, gesturing and tracing: "The Immortal Vessel has always maintained meticulous records of the calamitous power's fluctuations. Never before has such an abnormal phenomenon occurred." "And an abnormality signifies either opportunity or..." "Disaster!" The brush of flesh and blood boldly penned a large character in midair. A wondrous fluctuation emanated from the character. All the cultivators present could not help but feel a chilling dread welling up from their hearts, as though standing beside a bottomless abyss. "Gongdao, cease your antics," a blue-haired elder said in a deep voice. With merely a glare from him, that character was drawn into his eyes. The speaker was none other than the Second Elder of the Broken Immortal Tower and the host of this assembly, Gan Jingda. Having put an end to Chi Gongdao's mischief, Gan Jingda said gravely, "However, what you said is not without merit. In truth, several of us analyzed this beforehand in private." "This disturbance is different from the previous roars of starlight turmoil. In all likelihood, the root of this upheaval still stems from this star sea itself." The moment these words fell, the entire chamber went dead silent. Every cultivator was pondering the deeper implications behind those words. None of them were fools; they knew all too well that the source of their current power stemmed from the remnant True Immortal power within the star sea. Yet to the entire star sea, this True Immortal power was an alien substance—a heresy. It was an entity that had to be purged. Judging by current trends, there was no possibility of mutual harmony between the two. With an upheaval on the horizon, what could the potential outcomes be? The calamitous power running amok? For the Profound Immortal Vessel, which was already struggling to survive as if treading on thin ice, that might not necessarily be a good thing. Even if the True Immortal power available for their use increased in the future, the dangers they directly faced would inevitably mount in tandem. Such was the price of mortals scheming for the power of True Immortals. And if the star sea gained the upper hand, the prospects for the Profound Immortal Vessel would be even less promising. As remnants tied to the True Immortal power, once they lost the sharp tool they once wielded, their strength would certainly suffer a steep decline. Unless they were willing to switch allegiance and return to the path of meditating on the Dao and cultivating step by step. Yet... A subtle atmosphere rippled through the gathering. Having once tasted the ability to command True Immortal power with a wave of their hands, who among them would ever be willing to slowly cultivate in an orderly, plodding fashion? Ai Tianjue cleared his throat, breaking the silence in the room. "Everything right now is still mere deduction without any substantive evidence." "Since ancient times, the Profound Immortal Vessel has weathered countless tribulations. I believe that we will safely weather this upheaval just the same." The cultivators responded with applause. "Nevertheless, this upheaval is of paramount importance after all. We have resolved that starting today, the Immortal Vessel will enter a state of emergency combat readiness." "Prepare to enter a wartime state at any moment," Gan Jingda announced, stating the purpose of this assembly. Though no one voiced an objection, the solemn expressions on their faces were unmistakable. Right at this moment, Li Fan spoke up, drawing everyone's attention. "When this upheaval occurs, will that suction force within the star sea be affected as well?" "I have heard before of the existence of the Xuanhuang Realm on the other side of the star sea. Compared to our Immortal Vessel, that cultivation realm remains relatively well-preserved, and its resources are far more abundant. Previously, considering the journey was excessively far and affected by the star sea's suction, making the trek would have yielded more loss than gain for the vessel. But now..." Following Li Fan's words, everyone's eyes lit up. Gan Jingda, Ai Tianjue, and the others exchanged glances, seemingly conferring with one another. Then, under the expectant gazes of the crowd, Gan Jingda said, "Regarding the feasibility of this matter, the Council of Elders will conduct an evaluation after proper research." "If it proves feasible..." "Our Immortal Vessel might well find a sanctuary to settle down on the far side of the star sea."