The Corridor of Lost Realms.
In a dazzling expanse of space, chaotic currents of energy swirled like ribbons of vibrant color. A figure of Dongbo Xueying stood amidst the spectacle, admiring the breathtaking scenery. “So beautiful,” he murmured. “Even after trillions of years in the Corridor of Lost Realms, the void remains endlessly enchanting.” Then, without a sound, his avatar dissipated, its energy returning to the cosmos. Simultaneously, another avatar seated in meditation within a sealed space also silently dispersed.
…
The Void City was one of the thirteen Chaos Cities of the Voidsky Palace, constructed only after Dongbo Xueying had ascended to the Chaos Realm.
Heavily guarded, this city was under the constant watch of one of Dongbo Xueying’s avatars, which remained in deep slumber, ready to awaken and fight at the first sign of trouble.
Yet now, this slumbering avatar too dissolved into motes of light, scattering back into the universe.
“The avatar of Lord Dongbo has dispersed!”
“The avatar of Lord Dongbo has dispersed!”
The guardian spirit of the Void City’s defensive array was alarmed and immediately reported the incident.
The inexplicable dissipation of a high-ranking Pavilion Master’s avatar was no small matter. The news swiftly reached the two Palace Masters of the Voidsky Palace—Ancestor Tianyu and the Swordmaster.
“What?”
Almost simultaneously, Ancestor Tianyu and the Swordmaster teleported into Dongbo Xueying’s abode, where Yu Jingqiu stood frozen, staring blankly ahead. Just moments ago, Dongbo Xueying had smiled at her before dissolving into radiant particles. Despite the vast expanse of time they had spent cultivating together, Yu Jingqiu felt as though her heart had been torn apart.
Soul annihilation…
Even for a Cosmic God, this meant certain death. Her husband had spoken of the “Heartworld Token,” claiming it would allow him to reincarnate into another vast world. But was it true? Would he return? Her thoughts were in turmoil, and unbidden tears welled in her eyes.
“Yu Jingqiu, where is Xueying?” Ancestor Tianyu pressed urgently, the Swordmaster equally anxious beside him.
“Dead,” Yu Jingqiu replied.
“What happened? How?” Neither Ancestor Tianyu nor the Swordmaster wanted to believe it, though the dissipation of the avatar guarding the Void City had already given them an inkling. But Dongbo Xueying was immensely powerful, equipped with life-preserving treasures—how could he have perished? In their eyes, he was the most promising Pavilion Master of the Voidsky Palace, mastering two Ninth-Level techniques in such a short time. They had been certain he would become the third Cosmic God of their sect, eagerly anticipating his rise.
Yet now, everything had shattered in an instant, leaving them both stunned.
“He was captured alive by the Sacred Master, who sought to coerce him. Xueying possessed a soul technique and chose to end his own life, scattering his soul.” Yu Jingqiu produced a storage bracelet and handed it to Ancestor Tianyu. “Elder, this is what Xueying left for you.”
Ancestor Tianyu took it and swiftly inspected its contents.
Dongbo Xueying had left a message attached to the bracelet, which Ancestor Tianyu immediately received upon probing. Soon, he understood everything.
“…With the right treasure, one can sense spatial markers at a moderate distance and observe their surroundings, easily locating the three Golden Armor Nests. Please forgive my selfishness, Elder, for keeping the ‘Voidbreaker Teleportation’ technique a secret. My comprehension was insufficient—of the four legacies left by Senior Ninecloud Emperor, I only mastered the first. The other three remain beyond me, and thus I cannot pass them on. The ‘Voidbreaker Teleportation’ must not be lightly shared. The Sacred Master has long coveted this technique…”
The message pained Ancestor Tianyu deeply.
Selfish?
The Dao was not to be carelessly transmitted. Hadn’t the Lord of Ten Thousand Realms and Crimson-Browed Mountain Master guarded their own legacies just as jealously? Dongbo Xueying possessed few supreme techniques, and even if he were invincible, he would not recklessly share them.
Moreover, the ‘Voidbreaker Teleportation’ was of paramount importance. Even if taught to only a handful, the risk of the Sacred Master learning of it would skyrocket. Once discovered, Dongbo Xueying would have faced certain death.
And yet, despite his caution, it was precisely this technique that had ultimately cost him his life.
“So your previous discovery of the Golden Armor Nest was no coincidence—you had been searching all along. Now, after scouring most of the Corridor of Lost Realms, you’ve found three more?” Ancestor Tianyu’s heart ached.
He had always been fond of this young disciple.
Cultivators came in all forms.
Take the Demon Ancestor, who hailed from the same homeland as Dongbo Xueying. He had created the Dark Abyss, preaching absolute survival of the fittest. Were it not for the Voidsky Palace’s restraints, he would have become an even more ruthless fiend. The Swordmaster, though less extreme, was aloof and solitary. Though he had lived in the same era as the Demon Ancestor, he had only restrained him, never slain him.
The Swordmaster spent most of his time in secluded cultivation, focused solely on his own strength.
Dongbo Xueying was different—he resembled the Void Primogenitor.
Ever since attaining the ‘Heart as the Heavens’ realm, he had never shirked his responsibilities.
He could have devoted himself entirely to cultivation, yet he had dispatched avatars to hunt Golden Armor Nests and track the Annihilation Demons… This had undoubtedly slowed his progress, and few were willing to undertake such tedious tasks. How long had Dongbo Xueying even been alive? Nearly ninety-nine percent of his time had been spent on these efforts.
If…
If he hadn’t done this, he wouldn’t have cast illusions in countless places or performed long-range teleportations so frequently. He wouldn’t have been discovered by the Crimson-Browed Mountain Master. Given the vastness of the Chaos Void, by the time the Mountain Master found him, Dongbo Xueying might already have become a Cosmic God!
“Look,” Ancestor Tianyu handed the bracelet to the Swordmaster, who immediately probed its contents.
…
Meanwhile, in another place.
Hidden within a remote fissure of the Chaos Void lay a peculiar mountain, its interior crisscrossed by golden streams of light.
A gaunt old man stood upon a boulder, surrounded by faint green liquid that caused the rock to undulate slightly.
“After searching for so long, I’ve finally found the Throne Peak. I thought it might have been destroyed in the last Source World cataclysm,” the old man chuckled, his skeletal frame trembling with mirth. “The Throne Peak is the most suitable of the opportunities I planned for Dongbo. His mastery of illusions means he’ll surely reap great rewards here!”
“With the Throne Peak secured, the next step is the ‘Source Dreamland.’ I once devised the Dream Cultivation method there, but after the Primordial Sacred World shattered, entering has become difficult. I’ll need to find a way.” The old man mused before grinning. “Hmph, for this disciple of mine, I’ve gone to great lengths. Dongbo, you’d better repay me someday.”
The old man held Dongbo Xueying in high regard.
Over the years, he had secretly tested the young man multiple times. Though he found Dongbo’s kindness toward the weak somewhat excessive—making his own path unnecessarily arduous—he was overall quite satisfied. At least the boy revered his masters and wasn’t an ingrate. His standards weren’t high; even the Demon Ancestor’s teachings had spawned countless devouring fiends, which he hadn’t cared about.
Dongbo Xueying’s compassion for the weak didn’t bother him—he merely felt his soon-to-be disciple was making life harder for himself.
This was the only disciple in his long existence who had achieved great success in the ‘Vermilion Nightmare Inheritance,’ the only one truly gifted in soul arts. He had taken this teaching seriously. Training the Black Emperor and the Demon Ancestor had been far simpler, given his own mastery of physical cultivation. Yet he held high hopes for this new pupil.
Then—
The old man’s expression suddenly twisted.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage