Chapter 431: The Dreadful Truth

**The Truth is Too Terrifying?**

Everyone shuddered at these words. What kind of calamity could make even the Celestial Race so fearful that they wished to flee immediately?

“You must have guessed it—the coming cataclysm. The Desolate Wastelands will descend into chaos, sweeping across heaven and earth, far more horrifying than we imagined,” Yun Xi said, the rosy hue on her cheeks fading.

“Can’t we escape beyond the borders? Many sects and ancient divine mountains have already shattered the barriers between realms, and most have already left,” Huo Ling’er countered. She knew the truth—over the past year, every clan had been in motion, even the highest echelons of the Fire Nation had held secret discussions and taken action.

“This…” Shi Hao was stunned. He had thought the Venerable Ones had sealed their mountains and gone into hiding. He never imagined so many had already fled across realms—just how dire was the situation?

“Indeed, eighty percent of the Venerable Ones have already fled the Desolate Wastelands. The land has never been so empty. The rest will likely leave soon as well,” Yun Xi sighed, her beautiful face etched with worry.

“What exactly is recorded in the Celestial God Mountain’s bone scriptures?” the Nine-Headed Lion asked eagerly.

“Escaping beyond the borders is futile. The stronger you are, the greater the danger. In the end, you will vanish, never to return,” Yun Xi said.

“What?!” The group felt a chill. What kind of power could unleash such terror, dooming even Venerable Ones?

“In truth, those beyond the borders are optimistic now, but they will eventually suffer the same fate. The calamity will sweep across all realms—it is only a matter of time,” Yun Xi said gravely.

“You’re certain this is true?!” Huo Ling’er’s expression darkened. If so, even her father, the Fire Emperor, would not escape unscathed.

“It is. There is no escape. That’s why, upon discovering that ancient formation, my clan grew desperate to leave quickly,” Huo Ling’er pressed, her gaze fixed on Shi Hao.

“I can’t help but feel you’re exaggerating to scare me,” Shi Hao said skeptically.

“This is a cycle,” Yun Xi murmured, as if trapped in a nightmare.

“What cycle?” The others felt a creeping dread.

“Such disasters have happened before—in the ancient and archaic eras. In the end, even the divine fell like weeds, dying or vanishing without a trace…” Yun Xi explained.

“What?!” Their hearts pounded violently. The coming chaos would be far worse than they had imagined.

“And the most terrifying part? After each calamity, all truth is erased. The great clans remain ignorant, lost in confusion.”

Nothing was more horrifying than this—not just the disaster itself, but the fact that its cause and truth were wiped away, leaving no record.

Their first reaction was disbelief. How could such an absurd thing happen? How could all truth vanish after a cataclysm?

Yet Yun Xi swore solemnly that it was no lie.

“I can tell you with certainty—after the calamity, ninety percent of Venerable Ones will disappear, never to be seen again. Not dead, but erased from existence!”

What kind of power could do this? Since ancient times, the truth had been buried—that was the true horror.

Some ancient lineages knew of the coming disaster, but none understood its true nature or how to escape it.

“Some say the Desolate Wastelands are a prison, holding the key to becoming a True God. They claim foreign sects will come to claim it—but that’s only half the truth,” Yun Xi said.

In reality, those beyond the borders would suffer the same fate. Whether Venerable Ones or higher beings, none would escape—only the timing differed.

Conversely, those below the Venerable level would not be targeted. Any suffering they endured would be due to the chaos of the era, not some unseen force.

“This makes no sense. There’s no logic to it,” Shi Hao frowned, unable to comprehend it.

“Could there truly be a power that conceals everything, ensuring the truth never surfaces?” Huo Ling’er asked.

They realized the Celestial God Mountain’s knowledge was incomplete. At the very least, they didn’t know the root cause or the force behind it.

“Perhaps some know. Our bone scriptures mention an outsider’s theory—the ‘Medicine Field’ analogy,” Yun Xi said.

The theory likened the world to a medicinal field. The mature—the divine—were harvested, while the young—the weaker cultivators—were left to grow.

The group shuddered. What kind of analogy was this? It sent chills down their spines.

“This is just one theory. The truth may be far beyond our grasp,” Yun Xi said.

The weight of today’s revelations pressed heavily on them.

“After so many cycles, how can the truth always be erased? How can all lineages remain ignorant?” Shi Hao still struggled to believe it.

“Perhaps a few lineages are exempt—immortal, eternal. They may be connected to that unseen force, or even serve as its agents,” Yun Xi speculated.

Silence fell over them.

The death of Venerable Ones was not the true horror. The horror was the endless cycle—the fact that this had happened before, yet each time, the truth was erased.

What kind of power could do this?

Shi Hao’s thoughts turned to the Willow Deity. The old village chief had once spoken of a divine willow, descending from the heavens, its branches like chains of order, battling thunder and lightning.

“Can the Willow Deity escape this calamity?” Shi Hao wondered. It had promised to shield Stone Village—what was its origin?

Then he thought of the woman who had folded the black paper boat by the Kun Peng’s nest, her words steeped in loneliness.

*”Only I remain…”*

What had she felt, writing those words in blood?

Next, his mind drifted to the Divine Demon Wall beneath the Fire Clan’s ancestral lands. To pass through its 108 trials was to step onto a mysterious path—but where did it lead?

And what of the valley beyond Medicine Capital, guarded by countless formations? Even gods perished within. At its heart grew a herb—not of this world. Who had planted it?

The gray-clad woman, the undefeated myth of antiquity—why did she remain? Did she not fear the coming calamity?

Shi Hao’s thoughts raced. If the ancient Dual-Pupiled One had not left, could she survive? Had she fought in the last cataclysm?

For a long moment, he stood frozen, staring at the sky.

“Now that you know everything, will you return my armguard? We will allow you and your clan to escape with us,” Yun Xi said, her beautiful face tense.

She laid everything bare—the Celestial Race’s Venerable Ones had not left, fearing exposure. They believed the calamity had already marked them.

The best course was to lie low, recover the key, and activate the ancient formation in secret—to flee this prison realm forever.

“Thinking about it… it’s tragic. The name ‘Prison Realm’ fits too well,” the Nine-Headed Lion muttered.

“Yes. Not just the Venerable Ones, but all life in this realm—it’s all a cage. Who knows what awaits?” the Fire Crow added grimly.

Silence returned, heavy and oppressive.

Finally, Shi Hao asked, “You said some lineages know the truth and remain untouched. Does the Celestial God Mountain know which ones?”

“Uncertain. But the Everlasting Mountain may be one,” Yun Xi said.

“What? They stand above it all?” the Nine-Headed Lion growled.

Shi Hao’s heart churned. No wonder they acted so arrogantly, striking down any who defied them.

A cold laugh escaped him. Despite suspecting a blood tie, he felt only hostility. Would they become enemies?

“Have you made your decision?” Yun Xi pressed. In such circumstances, she believed he would choose wisely.

“If what you say is true, how can I refuse? I want to see where that formation leads!” Shi Hao said, curiosity burning within him.

Beyond this prison realm, the truth would surely reveal itself.

“Then come with me to the Celestial God Mountain,” Yun Xi urged, gripping his arm in her agitation. Her curves pressed against him unnoticed—her mind was too unsettled.

“Is there still time?” Shi Hao asked.

“Yes, but not much,” she replied, her flawless face alight with urgency.

“I can’t leave just yet. There are things I must do.” He thought of Stone Village, his parents beyond the borders, and his grandfather, the Great Demon God.

“But any delay risks missing our chance,” Yun Xi said. If necessary, her clan would resort to force—they could not afford to wait.

“This is too grave. I won’t go to the Stone Nation’s capital yet. I must consult the Willow Deity. Come with me—let it hear everything,” Shi Hao decided.

“To your village?” Not only Yun Xi was surprised—even Huo Ling’er’s eyes gleamed with interest. The Nine-Headed Lion and Fire Crow also perked up.

There was still time. They trusted Shi Hao and the Celestial God Mountain would not abandon their clans now that they knew the truth.

“I’d like to see where you grew up,” someone said.

Shi Hao grinned. “The village chief and Uncle Lin Hu always nag me to bring back a few plump beauties. This time, I’ll bring two—plus some followers. That should satisfy them.”

“Go die!” The group glared, the girls rolling their eyes.

With the heavy discussion over, a faint sense of relief settled among them.