How vast is the universe, and how many secrets does it conceal? What kind of secrets are hidden within? What is the true relationship between the Three Realms and the universe? And what exactly is this so-called origin of the universe?
Many questions stood before Shui Miao, and he was eager to uncover more.
The Immortal Realm was a world straddling the line between reality and illusion. Except for the Heavenly Gate, it had no connection to the real world.
What was the origin of life, and what was the origin of the universe?
With many doubts in his heart, Shui Miao, together with Wenchang Dijun, Tianyi Dejun, and Shuitianyi Shengmu, used the Run-Heaven Talisman to reach outside the Ninth Heaven’s Heavenly Gate, then flew together into the depths of the boundless universe… Of course, strictly speaking, they weren’t just four individuals. Wenchang Dijun had sealed 365 heavenly gifted individuals into his spatial treasure, while Shui Miao’s inner realm contained tens of thousands of wandering immortals. The others had also brought companions.
The Hongyu Chessboard soared through the universe, and Shui Miao stood upon it, gazing at the endless starry sky, his heart filled with awe.
This was the real world, and the sensation of reality stirred his soul with excitement and passion.
For some reason, Shui Miao always felt the Immortal Realm was too artificial, as if it were a colossal spatial treasure forged by some supremely powerful being.
But here, in the real universe, he finally felt a sense of authenticity.
“Incredible!”
Soaring like lightning through the sea of stars, watching distant planets shrink behind him while countless unfamiliar worlds drew closer, Shui Miao couldn’t help but exclaim in astonishment.
At this moment, everyone stood on the Hongyu Chessboard, marveling at the cosmic spectacle.
Hearing Shui Miao speak, Shuitianyi said, “I feel this is the true Immortal Realm. It’s absolutely breathtaking!”
“It truly is beautiful… but also perilous. I’ve heard the universe holds countless dangers—black holes that devour everything, twisted spatial tunnels, super-powerful magnetic storms, and scorching solar energy…” Wenchang Dijun, who had once traveled through the cosmos, knew much. Unfortunately, he had encountered a terrifying magnetic storm and had barely escaped by activating the Run-Heaven Talisman.
Tianyi Dejun smiled and said, “It’s precisely because of these dangers that there are treasures to be found. Long ago, if the Buddha Tathagata hadn’t discovered the Origin Spirit of the Universe, he wouldn’t have forged his physical body into a later-born spiritual treasure.”
“Indeed! His success inspired many immortals to take risks. Take the Battle Saint Buddha, for example—he set out in search of the cosmic origin but never returned. He likely perished long ago.”
“Don’t worry. Shui Miao is protected by the Purple Fortune. We will surely find the cosmic origin smoothly.”
“It won’t be easy. It’s like searching for a needle in the ocean. Let’s hope we can ride on Shui Miao’s good luck…”
They began exchanging stories and knowledge.
Meanwhile, Shui Miao was multitasking—listening to their conversation while recalling the memories he had received from the Star River Immortal Emperor.
The Star River Immortal Emperor often traveled the universe, but unfortunately, he was a coward. At the first sign of danger, he fled, leaving Shui Miao with very little valuable information.
The universe was simply too vast, and their speed of flight seemed agonizingly slow.
After aimlessly gazing around for a while, Shui Miao realized that compared to the boundless cosmos, the speed of the Hongyu Chessboard was no faster than an ant crawling.
After much discussion, everyone gradually grew tired and fell silent.
Some time later, when Shui Miao looked back, he could no longer see Earth. Only a blazing sun shone with intense heat in the void… The adventure had barely begun, yet Shui Miao couldn’t help feeling a vague sense of fear, afraid of being completely lost and never returning.
Because in the universe, there was no concept of direction.
But Shui Miao knew the Run-Heaven Talisman could guide him back to the Immortal Realm.
※※※
Not long after Shui Miao’s departure, Leibu Fazun Chongyuanzi, urged repeatedly by Xingtian Fazun, hurried to the Second Heaven.
Xingtian Fazun believed the ancient immortal puppets were weak. He was confident that together with Chongyuanzi, they could restore the heavenly order.
However, after a fierce battle, all the ancient immortal puppets were destroyed!
But to their frustration, the puppets were endless. Just as they killed one batch, another identical group appeared, wave after wave, and each time the puppets grew stronger!
They had no idea that this was due to a Puppet Replication Treasure crafted by Xuankong’er.
That treasure was extremely powerful, capable of endlessly replicating and producing countless puppets.
Chongyuanzi and Xingtian Fazun fought their way through, eventually reaching the South Gate of the Ninth Heaven.
But to their great surprise, as soon as they stood at the South Gate, Xuankong’er arrived with five hundred Yang Jian puppets!
Each of these Yang Jian puppets possessed a Saintly Body, with boundless magical power!
The heavenly soldiers and generals at the South Gate were powerless to resist and were quickly scattered. Chongyuanzi and Xingtian Fazun found themselves surrounded. Xuankong’er then used his Soul-Confusing Mirror to shine on them, instantly leaving the two in a daze.
“Hahahaha!”
Xuankong’er laughed wildly, putting away the mirror and flying toward the two. He sneered, “You two are too weak. Why do you enjoy being Shui Miao’s vanguard so much?”
“Xuankong’er, don’t get too cocky. Shui Miao will definitely destroy you!” Chongyuanzi quickly regained his senses and shouted at Xuankong’er.
Xingtian Fazun roared, “Demon child, don’t be so arrogant! Your time is near!”
“Hahahaha… Speaking of Shui Miao, I should actually thank him. Without his improvements to my Yang Jian puppets, I wouldn’t have been able to forge such perfect creations. Now, just one Yang Jian puppet is enough to eliminate you two. All thanks to your beloved hero, Shui Miao! Hahahaha…”
Yang Jian had acted impulsively, hoping to return and kill Xuankong’er, but instead, his soul was confused by the Soul-Confusing Mirror. Xuankong’er then carefully studied Shui Miao’s tactics, improved the puppets, and forged even more perfect ones.
At this moment, Xuankong’er was extremely excited and proud.
Seeing Xuankong’er’s arrogance, Xingtian Fazun couldn’t help but shout angrily, “Xuankong’er, you’re celebrating too early! Shui Miao is no match for someone like you. He anticipated you would forge more puppets, so he has already gone deep into the universe to find ways to defeat you. Just wait with your neck clean for him to come kill you!”
“What? He went into the depths of the universe!?”
Upon hearing this, Xuankong’er’s heart jolted, and his smile vanished instantly.
“Xingtian, how could you say such things!?”
Revealing Shui Miao’s location was a grave mistake. Chongyuanzi shook his head in frustration at Xingtian Fazun. He activated his mind intent, preparing to trigger his self-destruct divine artifact to fight Xuankong’er—even if it meant mutual destruction, he couldn’t allow Shui Miao to face more trouble.
“Want to use self-destruction against me? No way!”
Xuankong’er feared the self-destruction of supreme divine artifacts the most, so his vigilance was extremely high. He quickly activated the Soul-Confusing Mirror again, trapping Chongyuanzi and Xingtian Fazun in confusion. “Hmph! I’ve long anticipated Shui Miao’s trick. That’s why I’ve been hiding here forging the Soul-Confusing Mirror. This mirror is a later-born spiritual treasure. Not only can it confuse you two, but even the spirit within supreme divine artifacts won’t escape its influence. Now, let me see what memories Shui Miao has shown you!”
At once, Xuankong’er channeled his magic power to probe Xingtian Fazun’s memories.
Compared to Chongyuanzi, Xingtian Fazun had a simpler mind and weaker spiritual power.
In no time, Xuankong’er’s eyes flew open, his emotions wildly excited as he exclaimed, “So Shui Miao really isn’t someone to be underestimated! He actually thought of forging a later-born spiritual treasure to fight me. What a clever guy! My life just got more interesting. Just wait, I’ll find you, capture you, and then… hehehe…”
“Hu!”
After a few sinister chuckles, Xuankong’er flew out through the South Gate, directly heading into the depths of the universe.
“Huhuhuhu!”
Five hundred Yang Jian puppets followed him into the cosmic abyss.
Xingtian Fazun and Chongyuanzi exchanged glances…
Feeling guilty for his mistake, Xingtian Fazun suddenly shouted, “Brother, I’ve wronged Shui Miao. I’ll go fight him. I’ll go find him and self-destruct. You stay in the Immortal Realm and manage things!”
“Xiu!”
Without another word, Xingtian Fazun flew into the starry void.
“Ai!”
Wasn’t this practically suicide? Chongyuanzi sighed deeply, feeling helpless. For the sake of all beings in the Three Realms, he had no choice but to remain behind and maintain order alone.
※※※
In the vast cosmic void…
The Hongyu Chessboard flew in one direction at maximum speed for dozens of hours. Eventually, everyone began sitting in meditation.
Staring at stars for too long became dull.
Worse still, the universe was simply too immense. It stretched infinitely, boundless and endless. A planet might appear close, but reaching it could take five or six hours of flight—this waiting was unbearably tedious. Even more boring was the discovery that upon landing, the planet was nothing more than a gigantic lifeless rock, devoid of any spiritual energy.
Thus, Shui Miao could only continue guiding the Hongyu Chessboard forward, searching endlessly.
This was like searching for a needle in an ocean, with nearly zero chance of success.
“No good! This speed is too slow. I must forge a super-fast treasure, or I’ll never find anything in this endless universe!” Frustrated, Shui Miao frowned and attached the Hongyu Chessboard to a meteorite. Then, with a thought, he entered the Time Tower to begin researching a treasure capable of ultra-fast flight.
“I found him!”
Xuankong’er grinned wickedly. With five hundred Yang Jian puppets, he suddenly appeared several thousand meters behind the Hongyu Chessboard, hidden among scattered meteorites.
After leaving the Demon Realm, he had roamed the universe for thousands of years. Compared to Shui Miao, he was far more familiar with the cosmos.
“How should I play with him?”
Xuankong’er rubbed his chin, and one sinister idea after another sprang from his twisted little mind…
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