Chapter 482: Arrangements

Huangting Cave Heaven.

A blazing sun hung high in the sky, a gentle breeze blowing, the mountains, rivers, and grasses presenting a serene and vibrant beauty.

This seemingly ordinary scene had become increasingly precious for the people of the Western Regions of Great Zhou who had just experienced an “apocalypse.”

“Just…”

Wu Ming arrived beside the blazing sun. The intense heat had no effect on him whatsoever. Instead, his pupils gleamed with an unusual color. “This is not the real sun, but merely an external projection… Indeed, without reaching a true world, even a cave heaven cannot sustain itself independently?”

Whether one could exist independently and draw nourishment from primordial chaos to grow was the key distinction between a true world and other cave heavens, blessed lands, or demi-planes.

The original Temple of the Main God also had this ability, but now it seemed to lack some crucial components, greatly diminishing its power. Wu Ming still had to plunder the essence of other worlds to barely make use of it.

“If I could recover some of the missing parts of the Temple, perhaps I could restore part of this King of Artifacts’ former glory…”

Wu Ming mused for a moment, then shifted his consciousness and located several individuals.

In the midst of a range of high mountains.

Spiritual energy was abundant, converging into the cave halfway up the mountainside, transforming into wisps of thin mist. If cultivators saw this, they would likely go mad with desire.

The people Wu Ming had materialized into the Huangting Cave Heaven were all the best spiritual veins from the Western Regions of Great Zhou. This mountain already possessed a slight sentience; if given millions of years, it might even develop its own consciousness and birth a naturally enlightened mountain deity.

“This mountain has rich spiritual energy. Borrowing its power, I have already returned to the Foundation Building Stage. However…”

Deep within the cave, three people sat cross-legged. Two were beautiful women, and the third was a middle-aged man exuding a noble, imperial aura. They were Linglong, Miaoyi, and Haotian Jade Emperor.

“What is it?”

Upon hearing Linglong speak, Miaoyi opened her eyes and asked expectantly.

“This world is indeed different from our original one… Some of our cultivation techniques and rituals will need to be revised, though this is a minor issue…”

Daojun Linglong said slowly.

Although there were still some refugees from the Western Regions below, these three were of such high status that they naturally disdained to associate with them. They had directly chosen a spiritual nexus, tested their techniques, and only now fully regained their composure.

“…”

Upon hearing Linglong’s words, the others fell silent for a moment.

“The spiritual energy of this mountain is abundant. At least before reaching the Core Formation Stage, there won’t be any problems…”

Daojun Miaoyi said, “Once we cultivate our spiritual power, we will at least have some ability to protect ourselves!”

Though they were once Supreme Daojun, now powerless, the fact that the three could still maintain their composure showed their extraordinary mental fortitude.

“That’s right… Even if our previous world was false, we have gained this opportunity to take on real forms. It’s not impossible for us to ascend once again to the rank of Daojun!”

Linglong spoke with ambition, then turned to Haotian Jade Emperor, “Honored Deity, what are your plans? Would you like to study the Dao techniques with us?”

“I follow the Divine Path. I remember a few immortal cultivation methods, but they are not suitable for me…”

Haotian Jade Emperor touched the rock wall, a strange expression appearing on his face. “If I wish to ascend, I must re-traverse the Divine Path. This mountain has spirit, yet no mountain deity—it suits my needs perfectly.”

“Haotian Fellow Daoist’s Divine Path indeed progresses quickly at first…”

Miaoyi and Linglong exchanged glances. “We should support each other now. Once we have mastered our cultivation methods, we can immediately subdue those refugees, which could provide Haotian Fellow Daoist with a source of faith.”

“Thank you!”

Even Haotian Jade Emperor’s face softened slightly at this. “Those refugees are our own people, very important indeed… However…”

As he spoke, a look of confusion crossed his face. “As Haotian Jade Emperor, I have a sense of familiarity with the mountains, grasses, trees, and rivers within a hundred miles around me, as if they were all part of the Great Zhou territory. Yet there also seems to be something different… Could it be that during the great calamity, a powerful being rescued us and part of our world, bringing us here?”

At this mention, even Daojun Linglong and Daojun Miaoyi’s faces turned heavy.

The scene back then felt like a distant dream now, a nightmare they dared not recall.

“Judging from later events, since the Primordial Purple Dragon appeared, it should have been the Creator using creation techniques to save us… But then, who was that Purple Luo Daojun—or rather, the impostor pretending to be our friend Purple Luo?”

The more they pondered, the more mysteries they uncovered. They also realized that even if they learned the truth, they were mere ants before the shadowy mastermind behind it all. “We can only plan carefully!”

“Carefully plan for what?”

A flash of light, and a young man dressed in feathered robes and a star-adorned crown appeared in the cave, smiling as he asked.

“Who are you?”

Daojun Linglong instinctively raised her hand. Immediately, a feeling of weakness came over her. The omnipresent divine prohibitions and spiritual techniques that once obeyed her every command had all vanished. She sighed bitterly, recalling her current predicament.

“Who am I?”

Wu Ming smiled, his body radiating purple qi, transforming into the appearance of Daojun Purple Luo, his voice also aging slightly. “Does this help jog your memories?”

“Daojun Purple Luo!”

Haotian Jade Emperor took a couple of steps back. “No! You’re an impostor!”

“What do you want from us?”

Daojun Miaoyi frowned, her brows furrowed. If not for Wu Ming, she would still be the revered Daojun in the Western Regions of Great Zhou, holding the highest rank—how could she have ended up in such a state?

Even if it was just a dream, compared to the harsh reality, perhaps most people would choose to waste away in pleasant dreams.

“Don’t speak so harshly. After all, the Western Regions of Great Zhou was merely an illusion. Even if I hadn’t pushed it a bit, it was about to enter reincarnation. You were destined to perish regardless… In fact, it was I who saved your lives. Is this how you treat your savior?”

Wu Ming smiled slightly.

“Saved our lives?”

Daojun Miaoyi, Daojun Linglong, and Haotian Jade Emperor were stunned. “You… you are the Primordial Purple Dragon, the Creator?!”

“Could there be any doubt?”

Wu Ming flicked his sleeve, his aura suddenly changing, like clouds high in the heavens. That fundamental presence filled Haotian Jade Emperor and the others with reverence.

They had all once been Seventh-Level Golden Immortals who controlled world rankings. Although they had now lost their positions, they could never mistake such a fundamental presence.

The three exchanged glances, feeling somewhat embarrassed. Miaoyi and Linglong even performed a respectful bow. “We pay homage to the Creator!”

“Hmph, forget it!”

Wu Ming waved his hand carelessly. “I saved you Daojuns and ancient gods without any ulterior motives. You may rest and recuperate here and watch over the refugees outside… Compared to the Western Regions of Great Zhou, this is a real world where you can live and multiply freely…”

As the master of the cave heaven, if the refugees from the Western Regions of Great Zhou developed and even re-established kingdoms or empires, it would greatly benefit him. Naturally, he was more than happy to see it happen.

“We dare not be addressed so grandly by the Creator…”

Linglong and Miaoyi said, “Please just call us Linglong and Miaoyi…”

“Indeed, I am no longer the Jade Emperor. I do have a secular name though—Zhang Hao. My Lord may call me as you please…”

Haotian Jade Emperor was flexible and did not attempt to maintain his former dignity.

“Very well!”

These few individuals were all elites who had survived countless calamities among the billions of people in the Western Regions of Great Zhou, extremely intelligent individuals. When faced with unfavorable circumstances, they immediately adapted, which secretly earned Wu Ming’s approval.

His current mindset no longer regarded these former Daojuns and ancient gods as threats.

Even if they harbored resentment, they would only pose a threat if they grew strong enough. Considering their current weakness, it would take a long time before they could even reach the Grandmaster level. And even if they did, there were still the two layers of restrictions—the cave heaven and the Temple of the Main God.

Who would care about ants’ inner thoughts?

Wu Ming was now in such a mindset.

As for the three ancient deities, they were shrewd and experienced. Entrusting them with the refugees meant Wu Ming no longer needed to concern himself with affairs inside the cave heaven.

…

For Wu Ming, this time of creating a virtual paradise brought significant gains.

However, for his subordinates, they had no idea how their leader was faring.

Even Ji Fu merely felt a tremor from the Temple of the Main God, then everything went silent.

He hesitated for a moment, then opened the door.

Suddenly, time and space shifted. When he regained his senses, he found himself standing in a large plaza.

The plaza was surrounded by chaotic mists and a layer of starlight, radiating immense power, impossible to cross.

“Master!”

Soon, he heard a delighted cry. It was Zhu Si, who upon seeing Ji Fu, had tears in his eyes: “I thought I would never see you again!”

“Never mind, never mind…”

Thinking back to the perilous final moments, even Ji Fu still felt uneasy. He waved his hand. “Come here… Let me try how this trading function works?”

Immediately, he pulled Zhu Si to one side. The two Revenants tried for a long time and finally understood the function of this trading market.

Firstly, the most basic function was that Revenants could spend certain merits to conceal their appearances and serial numbers.

Then, there were stalls in the plaza, which required merits to rent, and the Temple of the Main God would take a commission from each transaction.

This immediately made Ji Fu curse a few times about how money-grubbing it was, experiencing the pain of senior Revenants.

However, since the Temple of the Main God charged fees, it naturally provided notarization services, being fair and impartial.

Ji Fu and Zhu Si first concealed themselves, then wandered around the market. It had to be said that these Revenants were quite clever. Several stalls had already begun displaying items, drawing crowds, though transactions were rare.

“It seems they are all products from the Western Regions of Great Zhou, and some are even selling intelligence…”

Ji Fu looked around at the people, pondering silently.

These Revenants were all newcomers who had returned before the apocalypse and had no idea that the Western Regions of Great Zhou had already been destroyed. Otherwise, the prices of these intelligence reports would certainly plummet.

“Master, I heard a piece of news… It seems we are all newbies here!”

Zhu Si flattered, “There must be a group of veteran Revenants above us. We might even encounter them in the next mission…”

Upon hearing this, Ji Fu’s eyes immediately darkened slightly.