Chapter 1299: Some Resemblance After All? Clues to the Pool of Creation
Chapter 1299: Some Resemblance After All? Clues to the Pool of Creation
However, even if Gu Changge hadn't forcibly altered Chen Jin-han's fate, she wouldn't have died in the Abyss of Ten Thousand Demons.
Now, she had merely returned to her original fate. Due to Gu Changge's interference, a minor turning point had been added to her destined path. Now that she had passed that juncture, Chen Jin-han had once again reclaimed the script that belonged to her.
Inside the Heaven-Slaying Shrine, which towered like a celestial palace, Chen Jin-han remained standing in a daze, as if she hadn't yet processed what had just happened.
Ethereal white mist once again drifted through the shrine, and a faint glow seemed to flow over the divine statue, which had previously been covered in fine cracks.
The shattered fragments were healing, and countless strands of faith power surged like rivers and seas, converging into an immense tide.
"The statue is healing... but I can no longer sense the presence of the deity."
"I have been forsaken by the divine."
Chen Jin-han murmured, her slender hands clutching tightly at the scattered pieces of her robes on the ground.
She didn't know what had been going through her mind in that moment, but an almost instinctual, desire-driven impulse had compelled her to commit that sacrilegious act.
Now that she had regained clarity and seen what she had done, she was filled with regret and terror, unable to comprehend why she had done such a thing.
Even if she knelt before the divine statue now, repenting and lamenting her blasphemy, it would be futile.
Gu Changge watched Chen Jin-han prostrate herself before the statue, his gaze utterly indifferent.
No matter what, Chen Jin-han was nothing more than an insignificant figure to him—just one among his countless believers.
No matter how unique she might be, she could not affect him in the slightest.
What Gu Changge was more concerned about now was the Ancestral God Taixuan, who had left a mark on Chen Jin-han.
The Divine Dao Civilisation system was beginning to emerge, and with it, the entire vast expanse of the Boundless Expanse would soon undergo unforeseen changes and upheavals.
Before leaving, a wisp of pale golden immortal light descended, settling upon Chen Jin-han as well.
Hum—
In the void, specks of golden radiance scattered as his figure dissipated without a trace.
Back in the quiet courtyard of the Immortal Spirit Civilisation, Gu Changge opened his eyes once more. He paid no attention to Mu Yan, who was watching him with curiosity, and instead continued contemplating his next moves.
Mu Yan didn't disturb him either, turning her gaze back to the chessboard before her, resting her chin on her hand as she studied it.
Gu Changge had told her that the moment she solved the puzzle of this chessboard, the opportunity for her to achieve the Immortal Emperor Realm would arrive. Yet, after all these years, Mu Yan had made no progress, still pondering how to break the game.
To an ordinary person, this might seem like nothing more than a simple chess match. But in her eyes, it contained the myriad Daos of the heavens, constantly evolving and shifting with every passing moment.
Decades passed in the blink of an eye.
Deep within the Imperial Immortal Palace of the Primary Hope Civilisation, Ling Yuling rose from the peak of a mountain. Her presence was ethereal and serene, transcendent and dazzling, with countless Grand Runes swirling around her, dancing and evolving between her slender fingers.
After thousands of years of recuperation, she had finally recovered seventy percent of her peak strength.
Though this seventy percent was still insufficient to contend with Path's End-level figures, it was more than enough to stand at the pinnacle of the current Primary Hope Civilisation, towering above all others.
"It's about time I made my move. Given the Heavenslayers Alliance's momentum, if left unchecked, the entire Primary Hope Civilisation will be gradually consumed."
Ling Yuling murmured softly.
Though she had never left the Imperial Immortal Palace, she was aware of everything that had transpired in the Primary Hope Civilisation during this time—including the terrifying speed at which the Heavenslayers Alliance was expanding.
After forces like the Beast Court and the Jing Family successively submitted to the Heavenslayers Alliance, even behemoths like the Purple Sky Mountain had chosen to bow and become part of it.
Even within the territory of the Imperial Immortal Palace, many ascetics had begun spreading the teachings of the Heavenslayers Alliance. Numerous factions and clans had even invested vast resources to construct Heaven-Slaying Shrines.
Though the Immortal Chu Vast Land had fallen, an even more terrifying power was rising from its ruins.
She had harbored these concerns from the very beginning, and what she saw now only confirmed that her fears were justified.
If no one intervened, within the next few thousand—or even tens of thousands—of years, the Primary Hope Civilisation would truly become the domain of the Heavenslayers Alliance.
If the Heavenslayers Alliance truly upheld its proclaimed ideals—to oppose the heavens and uphold the Dao of humanity—she naturally wouldn't stand in its way.
But judging by its rapidly expanding scale and structure, it was clear that this alliance sought to revive the ancient Heaven’s Proxy Group, unify the Boundless Expanse, and plunge all worlds into darkness once more.
Ling Yuling still didn't know Gu Changge's true origins or identity. But before the fall of the Immortal Chu Vast Land, he had stirred the attention of the Land of Truth on the other side and seemed to be evading something.
From these clues alone, Gu Changge was undoubtedly connected to the Heaven’s Proxy Group of the past.
In fact, Ling Yuling harbored an even more terrifying and inconceivable suspicion.
Soon after, the elders and disciples of the Imperial Immortal Palace received news that their founding ancestor was about to emerge and make a proclamation to the world. Everyone was overwhelmed with joy and excitement.
Divine rainbows streaked across the heavens, traversing immortal mountains and divine islands as they carried this news to the outside world.
Without a doubt, the news immediately caused a sensation throughout Primary Hope Civilisation.
The Founder of the Imperial Immortal Palace was a figure who had once participated in resisting the Master of the Source of the Black Disaster—one of the most ancient Progenitors of Primary Hope Civilisation.
And yet, she still existed in this world?
On another mountain peak, Ling Yuxian also received this news. Connected by heart and mind with her elder sister, she faintly guessed Ling Yuxian's intentions, her emotions slightly complicated.
The Heavenslayers Alliance's momentum of development in recent years had been too terrifying, enough to make her sister uneasy.
This public proclamation was likely intended to curb the Heavenslayers Alliance's expansion and establish alliances with various orthodox forces.
Though she could understand her sister's reasoning, she found it difficult to accept.
The Heavenslayers Alliance had not committed any acts harmful to Primary Hope Civilisation. While they had been expanding their territory, absorbing many factions and clans into their ranks, there had been no large-scale massacres or wars.
What exactly was her sister so worried about?
If she feared that Gu Changge would act against Primary Hope Civilisation or the myriad worlds, then why had she accepted his favor in the first place?
"Senior Brother Gu, where have you been all these years? What exactly are you doing?" Ling Yuxian murmured, her heart in turmoil.
Within the Primary Hope Holy Church, above the mirror-like surface of the lake, the Primary Hope Saintess sat cross-legged before the Mirror of Reincarnation, her entire being immersed in it as if she had stepped into a vast, mist-shrouded cosmos.
"The Founder of the Imperial Immortal Palace has emerged into the world. That matter Ling Yuxian mentioned back in the Immortal Chu Vast Land—was it referring to this?"
Her eyes suddenly opened, their clarity like moonlit radiance, shimmering with a faint glow.
"Master has yet to return. If she were here, she would surely be overjoyed—after all, this is a figure from the same era as her." Xi Yin's voice sounded from afar as she approached, shaking her head lightly.
They had learned of the outside news almost immediately.
Now, both of them were speculating about the true intentions behind the Imperial Immortal Palace's Founder emerging at this time.
Could it also be related to the Heavenslayers Alliance?
"As the current master of the Mirror of Reincarnation, you must know something. What do you think?" Xi Yin turned to the Primary Hope Saintess, her gaze falling on the ancient, crystalline mirror, her expression somewhat complicated.
She had once nearly been recognized as the mirror's master, but in the end, she had failed by the narrowest of margins.
Yet she was still aware of some of the mirror's profound mysteries—its ability to vaguely predict and deduce future movements, even allowing one to personally experience the future and make the most correct decisions.
The Primary Hope Saintess's choice not to aid the Immortal Chu Vast Land, allowing it to fall, was likely because she had foreseen its fate through the mirror and wished to avoid drawing disaster upon herself.
That was why, when they had gone to rescue her, she had remained so calm and composed, showing no fear—clearly knowing she would not be in danger and that someone would come to save her.
Moreover, the Primary Hope Saintess had likely expected Gu Changge to be the one to rescue her, not them, which was why she had shown a trace of surprise at the time.
This had left Xi Yin wondering ever since—just what kind of relationship existed between the Primary Hope Saintess and Gu Changge?
"The Founder of the Imperial Immortal Palace is a Progenitor of the same standing as Master. Since she has chosen to make a public proclamation, she must have something important to announce to all. As juniors, we should pay her a visit."
The Primary Hope Saintess flicked her sleeve lightly, and a dazzling silver light emerged. Within the ancient Mirror of Reincarnation, indistinct scenes began to manifest.
Her bright eyes remained fixed on the images within.
"Primary Hope Civilisation in the coming days may become even more chaotic than it was a thousand years ago..."
She spoke softly, and the previously still surface of the lake suddenly rippled faintly. Standing amidst it all, she appeared transcendent and serene, peerlessly elegant, as if draped in moonlight and veiled in mist.
Xi Yin remained silent for a moment before nodding. "Ever since the fall of the Immortal Chu Vast Land, I've felt a growing unease. Recently, I've been investigating matters related to the Ardent Ruins Cave. The words of White Brow Star King are likely not mistaken."
"The Immortal Chu Vast Land never actually colluded with the remnants of the Black Disaster. It was simply that Chu Gucheng's ambitions were too great, and someone seized the opportunity to strike him down in a single blow."
White Brow Star King was still imprisoned within the void cage of the Primary Hope Holy Church.
Xi Yin and the others had not mistreated him, intending to wait until their master, the Saintess, returned before deciding his fate. Perhaps their master would know the origins of the Ardent Ruins Cave.
The Primary Hope Saintess gave a slight nod but said nothing further. Only the shimmering light in her eyes betrayed the thoughts swirling within.
Outside, the news of the Imperial Immortal Palace's Founder's return sent shockwaves through Primary Hope Civilisation.
Many factions and clans were stirred, utterly astounded.
Among them, the most ancient existences, upon hearing this news, also chose to emerge from seclusion.
Since the Imperial Immortal Palace had made this proclamation, it was undoubtedly preparing to summon all clans and orthodoxies to discuss matters of great importance.
Though Primary Hope Civilisation appeared calm on the surface, undercurrents surged in the shadows.
Many factions secretly worried—just what method had the Heavenslayers Alliance used to so swiftly subjugate Immortal Forces such as the Beast Court, the Jing Family, and Purple Sky Mountain?
Many cultivators even suspected that the Heavenslayers Alliance possessed some secret method—perhaps brainwashing—that could make people unknowingly submit and pledge allegiance.
The Heavenslayers Alliance was growing stronger, rapidly devouring the surrounding cosmic worlds. This left neighboring clans and factions in a state of constant unease.
Meanwhile, deep within the chaotic Spacetime Sea, an endless, vast floating island stood amidst the turbulence.
Strong winds howled, and pine forests swayed like waves—a magnificent and boundless primeval woodland.
Gales swept through the misty rain, rolling like smoke over the pine-covered mountains, drifting among the peaks before crashing against the sheer face of a towering mountain.
Upon the mountain stood majestic structures, stretching endlessly, shrouded in immortal mist. At its summit, three bold and ancient characters were inscribed—iron strokes and silver hooks—exuding an indescribable Daoist charm.
Holy Ancestor Mountain.
Ling Yuling set foot here once again. A slender, cold-faced woman in green robes, as pure as bamboo, seemed to have anticipated her arrival. She was already waiting amidst the mountain, brewing tea, gently fanning the rising steam with a palm-leaf fan.
"What you told me before has indeed come to pass, one by one," Ling Yuling said as she approached, taking a seat at the stone table.
"So, you wish to stop all this? With your current strength, you cannot do it."
Nan Qing glanced up at her, her delicate jade-like fingers toying with the teacup, her tone carrying a hint of something inscrutable.
"But I still want to try. If left unchecked, I fear that within less than ten thousand years, the entire Primary Hope Civilisation will fall under the Heavenslayers Alliance's control."
Ling Yuling's voice was stubborn, her gentle yet peerlessly beautiful face etched with an unshakable resolve.
"If that is your choice, then you should not come here again. This floating island is a rare sanctuary of peace. I do not wish for you to bring calamity upon it."
Nan Qing shook her head as she spoke, lifting the teacup and lightly blowing away the steam. Her clear, tranquil eyes remained utterly calm, devoid of any ripples, as though discussing something utterly inconsequential.
Ling Yuling sighed almost imperceptibly.
She had visited this floating island many times over the past days—sometimes to peruse ancient texts and records, other times to reminisce with Nan Qing about the past.
For this daughter of an old friend, she felt a genuine closeness, even treating her as her own junior, hoping she would call her "Aunt Ling."
But for reasons unknown, Nan Qing had consistently refused her requests for an alliance, unwilling to leave this floating island.
In Ling Yuling's eyes, Nan Qing either wished to avoid further entanglement in worldly affairs—or perhaps, having learned too much, she feared the terrifying power lurking in the shadows.
Of course, it was also possible that she truly only wished to quietly guard this sanctuary, protecting the living beings here.
"You have at least survived eight Decay Tribulations. Strength like yours is among the very pinnacle of the current Boundless Expanse. With your help, our chances of success would be far greater."
After a moment's thought, Ling Yuling spoke softly, "Your mother paid a terrible price to resist the Black Disaster back then. But for those of us who were her allies, even giving our lives would have been worth it. Everyone fought without regard for their own survival, sacrificing themselves for righteousness. Even on her deathbed, your mother sought ways to rescue captured allies..."
"I will always uphold my mother's final wishes. But for now, I only wish to quietly guard this sanctuary, undisturbed by anyone."
Nan Qing seemed to understand Ling Yuling's intent but still shook her head gently, refusing once more.
Ling Yuling sighed inwardly but did not press further.
"In a few days, I will unite the various factions of the outside world to establish the Primary Hope Covenant, using it to restrain the Heavenslayers Alliance. If the covenant succeeds, the situation may improve. But if it fails... I fear the Imperial Immortal Palace—and the entire Primary Hope Civilisation—may follow in the footsteps of the Immortal Chu Vast Land..."
Her gaze swept over the verdant, rolling mountains, her eyes unable to conceal her worry.
"Are you gambling?"
Nan Qing set down her teacup at these words, looking at Ling Yuling with slight surprise.
"You wish to test the Heavenslayers Alliance's ambition and greed? And if you lose this gamble... are you prepared for war?"
Ling Yuling nodded.
"There is no more time to wait. If we allow the Heavenslayers Alliance to continue expanding unchecked, allowing it to dominate the entire Primary Hope Civilisation... then the Boundless Expanse may face the greatest trial it has seen in countless epochs..."
Nan Qing fell silent for a moment, her eyes flickering with something akin to admiration.
"Even if it means dragging the entire Imperial Immortal Palace down with you... you would not hesitate?"
Ling Yuling smiled gently.
"Just as you have your own convictions and stubbornness, this is mine. For a cultivator, a clear Dao heart leads to clear thoughts. Your mother and I once swore an oath together."
Nan Qing sighed faintly, as though slightly exasperated. She raised a slender, jade-white hand to rub her temples.
"If that is the case... then take this journal of notes. It contains some records regarding the First-Generation Civilisation Supreme Treasures. With the Mirror of Reincarnation, you may stand a better chance. Consider this the last help I can offer you."
As she spoke, she retrieved an ancient, gray-bound journal from her robes and handed it to Ling Yuling.
"Why do you always have so many ancient texts and journals on you?"
Ling Yuling was surprised but accepted it with a faint smile.
"But the way you speak and carry yourself... it suddenly reminds me of someone. There's an inexplicable resemblance."