Chapter 1273

Chapter 1273: It should have gone to the land of reincarnation and cultivated the army of the Absolute Heavenly Extinction

Cen Shuang struggled to believe it, but reality forced her acceptance. The terrible adversary she thought was long gone and was still alive. Across the ages, his power had not waned. He stood atop mountains, overseeing countless sentient beings.

In the current Immortal Domain, where even Immortal Kings are rare and hold command over the universe, Gu Changge remains overwhelmingly powerful. He could effortlessly crush Immortal Kings and even the ancestors of imperial clans from foreign lands. Cen Shuang grappled with the impossibility of seeking revenge against such a formidable opponent.

Her heart brimmed with unwillingness, refusing to accept this harsh reality. Yet, here stood Gu Changge. The formidable adversary, right before her, and she couldn’t summon the courage to confront him. Her self-loathing grew, fueled by her sense of powerlessness and weakness.

It seems to have stirred up unpleasant memories.

Gu Changge murmured, a faint smile playing on his lips as he looked away from Cen Shuang. She stared at him resolutely, her beautiful eyes bloodshot, bearing her internal turmoil.

Enduring the turmoil within, she refrained from taking action, not wanting to jeopardize the City of No Return. The spear in her hand was on the verge of shattering. She would have disregarded consequences in a different setting and rushed to confront Gu Changge.

The other elders, excluding the old city lord, Gui Lao and Granny Yao, fell into a contemplative silence. Most of them were survivors from the Forbidden Era, initially having little to do with Cen Shuang. They were unaware of her hatred toward Gu Changge and the true culprit. For many, the feelings toward Gu Changge were more of awe and fear than hatred.

Gu Changge, however, paid little attention to these sentiments. His purpose in coming to the Floating Realm was to confirm the whereabouts of Qing Yi. After her return from the Upper Realm to the Immortal Domain, she hadn’t come to the Floating Realm or sought the survivors of the Immortal Palace. There was only one possibility left.

It seems she might have gone to the land of reincarnation, aiming to initiate the cycle of rebirth so that those individuals from the past will reappear.

Gu Changge speculated on Qing Yi’s purpose. This was the only explanation that made sense for her current absence. There was no trace of her aura in the vast Immortal Domain, and there were suspicions that her true spirit might dissipate, disappearing from the world.

Without the protection of her true spirit, the mortal world became like a lit lighthouse in the boundless sea, attracting all manner of creatures and powerful ent.i.ties. A terrifying vision of the sky hinted at imminent destruction, drawing the attention of beings from the boundless sea.

Within the next hundred years, these creatures would follow the light in the darkness, converging like sharks sensing blood. They would consume the entire world of mountains and seas, leading the world behind them in a descent.

Gu Changge pondered, “She must have noticed this as well, planning to return in the shortest possible time and restore everything.” This reasoning made sense. Before the arrival of the second calamity, Qing Yi had likely made preparations, dispelling the notion that she indiscriminately slaughtered all living beings.

In the battle, she guided the souls of those who perished to a specific location to avoid catastrophe. When the time was right, the vast world from the past would be reflected back from the land of reincarnation.

Amidst the current Immortal Domain, various rumors circulated, leading many creatures to speculate that the departed powerhouses would return. In reality, those returning were the heroic spirits who slumbered in the land of reincarnation. Some survivors from the first calamity and later veterans from the era after Qing Yi established the Immortal Palace. Countless creatures and cultivators who met their demise in the forbidden era would also return.

For this, Qing Yi paid a heavy price. Her genuine spirit ident.i.ty as the embodiment of the mountains and seas allowed her to bear this formidable cause and effect and hide the truth.

“What is that place?” Gu Changge inquired, directing his gaze toward the majestic, deep mountains. An endless fog emanated from that area, threatening to engulf everything.

Gui Lao responded respectfully, “That’s the Cangming Realm. It was originally a splendid place that existed harmoniously with the Floating Realm, but s.p.a.ce cracks emerged over time, leading to its erosion by demonic energy and occupation by countless demons. For years, our generations have been combating the demons emerging from the Cangming territory.”

Upon hearing this, Gu Changge turned away from the City of No Return and swiftly headed to where he had sensed yin energy permeating. Gui Lao and the other elders, who hadn’t returned to the city, were surprised by his actions, not fully comprehending his intentions but following him nonetheless.

Cen Shuang tightly gripped her spear, her eyes displaying stubborn determination. She transformed into a stream of light, closely following Gu Changge. Having battled demons in the secluded land, she honed her cultivation and combat skills for a day she hoped would come.

In the City of No Return, she was undoubtedly the most familiar with this place. A constant stream of seemingly invincible and inexhaustible demons surged from the vast brilliance. If it weren’t for the continuous efforts of the City of No Return’s residents in fending off these demons, the place would have long fallen under demonic occupation, and no living creatures would remain.

Many elders from the City of No Return also rushed to the scene, their expressions growing grave.

One elder commented, “The demonic energy is stronger, and these demons are even more frenzied than before. Even without additional complications, I fear we won’t be able to hold them off for much longer.” They voiced their concerns in a somber tone.

King Luo, Xue Xiao, Immortal King, and the others appeared visibly surprised. It was the first time they had encountered such a substance. Attempting to probe with their divine thoughts, their expressions suddenly changed as they heard a burning sound in the nothingness.

“What is this substance that can corrupt our spiritual sense?” wondered an Immortal King. Their usually formidable spiritual senses proved fragile against the thick green fog.

The Absolute Heavenly mist, but of a higher level than the fog in the Upper Realm.

Gu Changge, observing the situation, raised his eyebrows.

Appearing from a distance like a green lake, it revealed itself as dense green fog upon closer inspection. While different from the dark mist in the Upper Realm, it held the same essence—capable of corroding the souls of cultivators and living beings, occupying their bodies, and instilling a murderous intent.

The demons in the fog were once living beings, corrupted and turned into enemies by the mist. Gu Changge stepped into the fog, revealing hidden void cracks, causing demons to collapse and explode mid-air. The other Immortal Kings hurried over, eager to understand Gu Changge’s intentions.

Cen Shuang, expressionless, pierced through a roaring demon with her spear, venting her hatred and anger. The edge of her spear hinted at a blood-red hue, seemingly stained by blood and a testament to countless struggles.

On the other side of the cracks lay the Cangming Realm, once coexisting with the Floating Realm but now devoid of vitality. Barren landscapes, blood-colored lakes, and terrifying deep pits dominated the scene. Demons roared and fought tirelessly, corroded by the mist.

Gu Changge realized there must be a pa.s.sage behind the Floating Realm, and the Absolute Heavenly mist wasn’t a chance occurrence. Creatures in a remote location were using the Absolute Heavenly source to raise an army of genuinely immortal zombies.

The so-called Cangming Realm was a small s.p.a.ce for cultivating an army of the dead.

In Gu Changge’s memory, there was a group of ethnic forces that once exploited the origin of Absolute Heavenly Extinction. They used the vast ancient universe as a captive breeding ground to cultivate an army of the dead. However, such practices were detrimental to the harmony of the universe and had been banned long ago, even in the original world.

The discovery of a substantial amount of Absolute Heavenly mist in the Cangming Realm violated this prohibition. Some ethnic groups were using the substance of Absolute Heavenly Extinction to cultivate an army of the dead, secretly channeling the original substance through the channels of flesh and blood.

In addition to the supreme three ancestors in the original world, each True Ancestor had dependent ethnic groups and subordinates. These groups were given immortal life and rights and would be expropriated from the heavens and actual worlds in the order of the calamity. Luck was the most crucial aspect of the collection, while resources and other factors were secondary.

These ethnic groups responsible for expropriation had grown over the ages. Some became among the oldest ethnic groups in the original world, possessing vast territories and ruling over numerous real worlds.

There were nine such groups. When the True Ancestor of Origin awakened early and sought to carry out the great reckoning of the heavens, several ethnic groups would preside over the grand sacrifice.

Apart from the three original ancestors, these ethnic groups were considered the original world’s most ancient and terrifying powers. Born in the original world and protected by actual ancestors, even if they were wiped out outside the original world, they could be resurrected, embodying the true sense of immortality.

Standing by the lake’s sh.o.r.e, Gu Changge refrained from entering. He wasn’t concerned about which ethnic group was cultivating an army of Absolute Heavenly Extinction there.

“For countless years, it has been cultivated into a renowned school,” Gu Changge remarked faintly. Upon entering the Floating Realm, he sensed an ancient and immortal power pervading the s.p.a.ce. This force allowed the city of no return to operate freely, preventing its fall.

Gu Changge was familiar with this power, having swallowed it with the vase of the great Dao-building expert in the upper realm. It was the origin of Absolute Heavenly Extinction. However, this origin was mixed with other substances and energies, known as the core of demons in the City of No Return. The ancient altar on the high platform held a ma.s.sive original core that sustained the city’s operation.

He suspected that the Cangming Realm might hold surprises for him. As he distanced himself, a deafening roar echoed, and the dark green fog dispersed rapidly, demons collapsing and disintegrating like sand washed by waves.

A terrifying portal appeared, and as Gu Changge stepped into it, ripples spread, causing time and s.p.a.ce to stagnate. He entered a desolate world filled with endless killing and chaos. The ground split open, and crazed demons rushed toward him.

Some demons were colossal, resembling ancient sacred mountains, while others had a human-like appearance or characteristics of other races.

“Behind this is the Cangming Realm,” Gu Changge explained. Those unaware of his purpose gritted their teeth and followed. Immortal Kings would typically avoid the Cangming Realm because they feared being corroded by the mist and turning into demons. However, Gu Changge’s entrance compelled them to follow.

The monstrous mist enveloped the area, obscuring the sky. The immortal kings of the City of No Return set foot there for the first time, feeling an unnatural sensation all over their bodies. A surge of aura made them uncomfortable, and they seemed to tremble slightly.