Chapter 578: The Passage of Time

Within the Three-Headed Divine Mountain, inside the treasure world of the cave abode…

Dongbo Xueying sat cross-legged on the grassy plain, with three items laid out before him: a crimson wristband, a black long whip, and a massive axe. These were all obtained when he discovered the frozen corpse of the mysterious ‘Dustcloud Venerable’ at the heart of the island lake. The deceased Venerable, whose identity remained shrouded in mystery, was exceptionally skilled in the aspects of ‘time and space.’ The three supreme-grade World Divine Weapons he had forged were all related to these domains.

“Let me carefully study these three World Divine Weapons,” Dongbo Xueying mused silently.

Though he had received detailed guidance from his master, the Bloodblade Divine Emperor, regarding the ‘Heart of Time and Space,’ Dongbo Xueying still wished to examine these three artifacts, contemplate the workings of heaven and earth, and compare his insights with his master’s teachings—combining them to further his cultivation.

“This crimson wristband excels in trapping enemies,” Dongbo Xueying carefully sensed the formations within. It was capable of drawing enemies inside and confining them, employing time and space in a manner so profound that it even surpassed the scope of the ‘Heart of Time and Space.’

“This whip is also quite unique.” Dongbo Xueying picked up the black long whip, which also contained formations. When attacking, it would naturally manipulate the surrounding time and space, creating a domain to bind and entangle foes.

“The axe is the most domineering.” Dongbo Xueying glanced at the massive weapon. When striking, it would fracture time and space, unleashing terrifying power. However, his current comprehension of time and space was too shallow. Even if he fully mastered the Heart of Time and Space, truly grasping the mysteries within the axe’s formations would be exceedingly difficult.

Clearly, the deceased Venerable had intended these three special weapons to be forged into ‘True Divine Weapons.’ Yet, due to material limitations, they remained supreme-grade World Divine Weapons—though still extraordinary in their own right.

“Let’s begin.” Dongbo Xueying immersed himself in studying these three unique World Divine Weapons, devoting his full attention to unraveling the mysteries of time and space.

—

While Dongbo Xueying secluded himself in cultivation, the Abyssal Monarchs found themselves at a loss. The ‘Qi Water World’ remained perilous for them, and only a handful of the strongest dared to venture inside. Faced with the vast, dark-red membrane spanning millions of miles, they eventually gave up. Their exploration speed was too slow—even after hundreds of millions of years, they would barely cover a fraction of the area. And in that time? Given Dongbo Xueying’s cultivation speed, it was entirely possible he would transcend and become a mighty figure.

With self-awareness, the Abyssal Monarchs gradually abandoned their search.

As time passed…

Dongbo Xueying remained in hiding! The Abyssal Monarchs gathered at the Three-Headed Divine Mountain found no trace of him. Worse, six of them perished due to the inherent dangers of the ancient ruins—though only their clones were lost. In the Dark Abyss and the Divine Realm, while conflicts among the highest echelons were frequent, most losses were limited to clones. True deaths, like that of the Red Dust Sacred Master, were rare.

“He still hasn’t been found?”

“Dongbo Xueying is hiding in the Three-Headed Divine Mountain within the Dark Abyss, and the Abyssal Monarchs can’t locate him.”

“How intriguing.”

“His Highness Dongbo is quite the master of concealment.”

“But he can’t hide forever. Once he emerges, he won’t escape.”

News spread to the Divine Realm, where mighty figures and Four-Heaven World Deities discussed the matter among themselves.

Regardless…

The Three-Headed Divine Mountain gradually quieted. Most Abyssal Monarchs departed from this layer of the Abyss, returning to their own territories. Only a stubborn few remained, unwilling to give up.

Attention from both the Divine Realm and the Dark Abyss waned over time.

—

Fifteen thousand years passed in the blink of an eye.

At the Yin Stone Villa within the Bloodblade Divine Court, inside Dongbo Xueying’s cave abode, Yu Jingqiu, the Snowy Peak Monarch, and others now resided. Dongbo Yu and Dongbo Qingyao visited only occasionally.

“Mother.” Dongbo Yu and Dongbo Qingyao stood side by side.

Yu Jingqiu and the Snowy Peak Monarch sat nearby.

Yu Jingqiu’s aura had grown increasingly extraordinary, carrying a terrifying sharpness as she continuously exchanged energies with the divine sword nurtured within her body. After years of cultivation, she had successfully refined the True Divine Weapon. Her grasp of the laws of heaven and earth had deepened, and through cross-referencing, she had unlocked many mysteries related to the sword. Her mastery of the fragmented *Heart Sword Diagram* had also improved, greatly enhancing her strength. Though still slightly inferior to the Snowy Peak Monarch, she was now very close. With the True Divine Weapon in hand, she might even surpass him—such was the terrifying power of a True Divine Weapon.

“Qingyao.” Yu Jingqiu smiled approvingly. “Well done. Reaching World Deity at your age without relying on faith stones is quite impressive.”

“I still pale in comparison to you and Father,” Dongbo Qingyao replied gracefully, though her demeanor was humble in her mother’s presence. Her words were not false—both Dongbo Xueying and Yu Jingqiu in her past life had ascended to World Deity swiftly.

“Hmph.” Dongbo Yu snorted beside her. “No need for modesty. I know you’re gloating about advancing first.”

Dongbo Qingyao, who had been acting demure, couldn’t help but smirk slightly, casting a triumphant glance at her younger brother.

Dongbo Yu scowled but had no retort.

Yu Jingqiu watched them with amusement.

The siblings, born together, shared an unbreakable bond. Whether in the Xia Clan World or during their trials in the Red Stone Mountain World, they had always been side by side. Though years of tempering had honed their temperaments, their habit of playful bickering remained unchanged.

“Yu, cultivation cannot be rushed. Patience is key,” Yu Jingqiu advised. The Snowy Peak Monarch added, “Yu, perhaps relaxing your mindset might prove beneficial.”

“Yes, Grandfather.” Dongbo Yu nodded.

Driven by his deep admiration for his father, Dongbo Yu trained diligently.

Now aware of his mother’s true identity—since Yu Jingqiu resided in the Bloodblade Divine Court, she no longer hid it from her children—he awaited the day Dongbo Xueying returned as a Four-Heaven World Deity to settle the grudges between his wife and the Golden Firmament Patriarch.

“Mother, Father hasn’t appeared in so long,” Dongbo Yu sighed.

“He’s in seclusion. Be patient,” Yu Jingqiu reassured him. Fifteen thousand years had passed since Dongbo Xueying retreated into the Three-Headed Divine Mountain. By now, his total cultivation time exceeded two hundred and ten thousand years—far surpassing the record for the fastest ascension to Four-Heaven World Deity, held by the master of the Spacetime Island at just over one hundred and eighty thousand years.

“I wonder how far Xueying has progressed in his cultivation,” Yu Jingqiu mused with concern. Even his true self in the Red Stone Mountain remained in long-term seclusion, leaving her unable to visit or disturb him.

—

Inside the treasure world of the Three-Headed Divine Mountain…

Dongbo Xueying stood atop a towering peak, holding the crimson wristband. With a flick of his wrist, the band shot into the sky, its inner formations subtly manipulating time and space. It began absorbing a distant mountain range, which trembled violently before being uprooted entirely. The massive range shrank as it flew toward the wristband, eventually vanishing inside as a tiny speck. The wristband then returned to Dongbo Xueying’s hand.

“Finally, I can activate it.” A faint smile crossed his lips before he immersed himself once more in studying the wristband’s formations.

Of the three special World Divine Weapons, the crimson wristband was the easiest for him to comprehend. Though it contained mysteries of time and space, it also incorporated aspects of world manipulation, making his study slightly less arduous.

After fifteen thousand years, he had finally unlocked a sliver of the wristband’s spatial-temporal formations. Though far from mastery, this small breakthrough had already granted him profound insights. Delighted, he continued his research.

Moments later…

A faint, hazy gray shadow emerged around him. The surrounding mountains and plains distorted, revealing countless phantom images—echoes from different points in time.

Dongbo Xueying, standing atop the peak, snapped out of his contemplation of the wristband, suddenly realizing that while studying the formations, he had unknowingly grasped the Heart of Time and Space.

“I’ve mastered it?” A smile finally curled at the corners of his mouth.