Chapter 1311: The Inescapable Fate of the Epoch Cicada Clan—Doomed to Perish and Turn to Ashes
Chapter 1311: The Inescapable Fate of the Epoch Cicada Clan—Doomed to Perish and Turn to Ashes
"Master..." Not far away, a silver-haired girl ran toward the green-robed woman with uncontainable joy, her steps light and buoyant.
"Ninth Sister, you've emerged from seclusion?" The coldly beautiful woman in black robes looked at the green-robed woman with slight surprise, though her expression quickly returned to normal. "Greetings, Ninth Princess." The other white-robed figures in the vicinity all bowed respectfully to the approaching green-robed woman.
"I have." The green-robed woman nodded slightly, her gaze shifting to the slowly descending black feathers burning in the distance. "The root of this calamity stems from me. I've evaded it for countless epochs—now, it's time for me to face and resolve it."
"Are you certain? Back then, you fled on the day of the sacrifice, humiliating the High Priestess before all the clans. If not for her fear of the power within our Ancestral Court, she would never have let the matter rest so easily. If you go to visit her now, you'll likely suffer her humiliation." The black-robed woman spoke solemnly.
"Third Sister, don't worry. I've made up my mind. Whatever the consequences, I must bear them."
"Because of me, Eldest Sister was forced to sacrifice herself and cross over to the other side. For countless years, she has endured loneliness and silence, with no one to confide in. If I can't even endure this much humiliation, how will I ever face Eldest Sister again? How will I face Mother and the others?" The green-robed woman shook her head gently, her voice soft but resolute.
Hearing this, the black-robed woman and the others exchanged complex glances.
"The Ninth Princess has truly grown up at last," the elderly figure murmured, his voice filled with relief.
Over the years, the High Priestess of the Ancient Treasury Civilisation had continuously dispatched experts to track down the green-robed woman. Her escape on the day of the sacrifice had not only humiliated the High Priestess before all the clans but also provoked the wrath of the Land of Truth, leading to terrifying consequences.
Though the Epoch Cicada Clan's Eldest Princess had later stepped in as a substitute, offering herself as the sacrificial offering to appease the fury of the Land of Truth, the High Priestess had never forgotten the humiliation she suffered. Petty and vindictive by nature, she had never ceased sending forces to hunt down the Ninth Princess, determined to capture her.
Had it not been for the Epoch Cicada Clan's relentless efforts to conceal the Ninth Princess's whereabouts and aura, she would have been discovered long ago.
Now, it seemed the Ninth Princess had finally matured, making their years of protection and care worthwhile.
"Third Sister, I don't know what will come of my visit to the High Priestess. If I don't return safely... I must ask you to look after the True World I once created with that spark of the Immortal Dao Civilisation."
"Come to think of it, as the True Spirit of that world, I failed to protect them when foreign enemies invaded and the Great Tribulation descended. I wonder how they fare now." The green-robed woman sighed faintly, a trace of nostalgia flickering in her eyes.
But the emotion vanished as quickly as it had appeared, her expression returning to calm.
The black-robed woman nodded. "I understand. You needn't worry about this. Though I never set foot in that True World, I could sense its flourishing Fortune. It won't face any upheavals for a long time."
"For a Nascent True World to ascend into an Ancient True World, it requires not only vast time and accumulated heritage but also the endurance of multiple Great Tribulation Reckonings. Ninth Sister, don't dwell on it too much. In the Boundless Expanse, countless Nascent True Worlds perish every day."
"By bestowing that spark of the Immortal Dao Civilisation upon that world, you've already granted it immeasurable fortune."
The green-robed woman nodded slightly and said no more. Then, she turned and walked away, preparing to leave.
Seeing this, the silver-haired girl hurried after her, calling out loudly, "Master, wait for me! I'm coming with you!"
The green-robed woman seemed slightly exasperated, letting out an almost imperceptible sigh. "Had I known, I should've just left you with him back then. Staying by my side does you no good now."
But the silver-haired girl clearly didn't hear her murmured words. She skipped forward cheerfully, looping her arm around the green-robed woman's with affectionate familiarity.
Watching from afar, the black-robed woman shook her head helplessly before a faint smile tugged at her lips.
When she had first encountered this Little Wang Yue outside the Dao Chang True World, she had sensed a trace of Celestial True Blood within her and believed she could be nurtured into something extraordinary.
Yet after bringing Little Wang Yue back to the Epoch Cicada Clan, she quickly realized just how lazy and gluttonous the creature was. Aside from eating and sleeping, she showed no interest in cultivation whatsoever.
Though the green-robed woman, Qing Yi, had always vehemently denied being Little Wang Yue's true master—claiming that title belonged to someone else—the black-robed woman suspected Qing Yi simply found the association too embarrassing to admit.
Still, in recent years, the arrival of Qing Yi and Little Wang Yue had breathed new life into the otherwise dull and rigid Epoch Cicada Clan. Even their mother, who was nearing the end of her lifespan, often wore a rare, comforting smile.
"It's a shame Eldest Sister can't see any of this..."
The thought darkened the black-robed woman's mood, her smile fading.
Then, she turned to the elderly figure and asked, "Elder Qing Cang, how goes the investigation I entrusted to you?"
As she spoke, she waved her hand, dismissing the others.
"Third Princess, there have been some developments regarding the matter you asked me to look into. But forgive this old man's confusion—why have you suddenly taken such an interest in that blasphemous faction, which is doomed to face reckoning sooner or later?"
The elderly figure, Elder Qing Cang, was a revered elder of the Epoch Cicada Clan, deeply respected by its members.
His expression was one of bewilderment, unable to comprehend her motives.
After all, he dared not even utter the name of that faction aloud, nor dwell on it in his thoughts, for fear of drawing the attention of unseen forces and incurring unimaginable Karma.
Unlike the Primary Hope Civilisation or the Dawnbreak Civilisation, the Ancient Treasury Civilisation served as an outpost for the Land of Truth, receiving its summons and decrees directly.
However, in the eyes of the black-clad woman, this was clearly a sign that even Qingyi, her master, found it embarrassing and wanted to recognize Bai Ji as her new master.
Yet, over the years, the once dull and monotonous Epoch Cicada Clan had gained much liveliness due to the arrival of Ninth Sister Qingyi and Xiaowangyue. Even their mother, who was nearing the end of her lifespan, often wore a comforting and gentle smile.
"Unfortunately, all of this... Yin Yang can no longer see it."
The black-clad woman's mood darkened again as she thought of this, and the smile on her face gradually faded. She then turned to the elderly figure and asked, "Elder Qing Cang, how goes the matter I entrusted you to investigate?"
As she spoke, she waved her hand, dismissing the attendants.
"Third Princess, the matter you asked me to investigate does have some leads now. But forgive this old man for not understanding—why have you suddenly taken such an interest in that blasphemous faction that will inevitably face reckoning?"
The elderly figure, known as Elder Qing Cang, was a highly respected elder of the Epoch Cicada Clan, revered by all its members. His expression was one of confusion, unable to comprehend her motives.
After all, he dared not even speak the name of that faction aloud, nor even think of it in his mind, fearing that doing so might attract some unfathomable gaze and incur unimaginable karma.
The Ancient Treasury Civilisation was different from supreme civilisations like the Primary Hope Civilisation or the Dawnbreak Civilisation—it served as an outpost for the Land of Truth, receiving summons and decrees from that realm.
Of course, the Ancient Treasury Civilisation was not the only such outpost stationed at the edge of the vast Boundless Expanse, bordering the Land of Truth. Many of the Great Tribulation Reckonings were initiated upon receiving edicts from these forward bases.
In fact, ancient rumors persisted within the Ancient Treasury Civilisation that deep within its core, supreme beings from the Land of Truth slumbered. These beings, said to carry the bloodline of unfathomable existences from that realm, would awaken before the Great Tribulation Reckoning and lead countless reapers in harvesting the Boundless Expanse.
It was precisely because of this that civilisations like the Ancient Treasury Civilisation held far greater understanding and reverence for the Land of Truth compared to others.
"It's fine. Just tell me everything you've uncovered."
The black-clad woman's voice interrupted Elder Qing Cang's thoughts. Her cold, beautiful face showed little emotion.
Elder Qing Cang hesitated for a moment before finally speaking.
"Recently, a major event has also been unfolding in the Primary Hope Civilisation, one that happens to be related to this faction. Various orthodox forces have allied with the Progenitors who once resisted the Heaven’s Proxy Group to draft the Primary Hope Covenant, aiming to suppress the expansion of this faction."
"However, this old man believes that even with the Primary Hope Civilisation's heritage, it may not be enough to curb its growth. In fact, disaster may befall them. The founder of this faction is terrifying—unfathomable and impossible to measure."
"Many civilisations and nations are closely watching the developments in the Primary Hope Civilisation, including some factions within the Ancient Treasury Civilisation. If the Primary Hope Civilisation truly signs the Primary Hope Covenant, it will serve as valuable experience for all other civilisations."
The black-clad woman listened quietly, not interrupting. Only at the end did her gaze deepen, becoming unfathomably profound.
"I understand. Thank you for your efforts, Elder Qing Cang."
Countless thoughts flashed through her mind, and her jade-like fingers unconsciously tightened.
"You flatter me, Third Princess. If there's nothing else, this old man shall take his leave."
Seeing that the black-clad woman had no further requests, Elder Qing Cang shakily leaned on his cane and departed.
After standing in silence for a moment, the black-clad woman lifted her head to gaze at the vast cosmic expanse before turning and walking toward the magnificent palace complex nestled deep within the tree's canopy.
"The Heavenslayers Alliance, is it?"
"If they truly succeed... wouldn't this be the perfect opportunity for our Epoch Cicada Clan to break free from our fate?"
She murmured to herself, her eyes flickering with a chilling determination that would unsettle anyone who saw it.
For the many factions of the Ancient Treasury Civilisation, the mere mention of the Heavenslayers Alliance was enough to make their expressions change in fear.
If anyone knew of her thoughts now, they would surely think her mad—that she was courting an indescribable catastrophe for the entire Epoch Cicada Clan.
"Second Sister, I must leave the clan for a time. I leave the matters here in your hands."
Deep within the palace complex, a woman in multicolored robes sat cross-legged, her eyes closed, enveloped in a mist of seven-colored qi.
Tendrils of chaotic mist swirled around her, exhaled and inhaled through her nose and mouth. Within them, the illusory forms of countless small worlds flickered in and out of existence—a breathtaking and magnificent sight.
The black-clad woman stood silently in the grand hall, her expression as cold as ever.
"Where are you going?"
Hearing this, the multicolored-robed woman slowly opened her eyes. Her crystalline pupils seemed to reflect the myriad scenes of the heavens.
Her voice was ethereal, like celestial music, enchanting enough to make any man lose himself in it, unable to awaken.
"I'm going to the Primary Hope Civilisation."
The black-clad woman's tone was calm.
The multicolored-robed woman stared deeply at her, as if seeing through every thought in her heart.
She did not stop her, only asking one question.
"Are you certain?"
"Any consequences will be borne by me alone. The Epoch Cicada Clan will not be implicated."
The black-clad woman's voice was resolute.
The multicolored-robed woman sighed softly.
"Very well. If you insist on going, I cannot stop you. But what of Ninth Sister's request? How will you handle that?"
"Isn't that what Second Sister is here for?"
For the first time, a faint smile appeared on the black-clad woman's perpetually frosty face.
The multicolored-robed woman shook her head slightly and said no more, closing her eyes again as if returning to her cultivation.
The black-clad woman bowed slightly before turning and striding out of the hall without looking back, transforming into a streak of black light that vanished into the depths of the cosmos.
"The fate of the Epoch Cicada Clan is not so easily changed. Countless Progenitors and ancestors have tried and failed. Third Sister, you're so intelligent—how could you not see this?"
"I only hope you do not do anything foolish. The power of the Ancestral Court can no longer protect us for much longer."
The multicolored-robed woman watched the departing figure of the black-clad woman, unable to suppress another sigh.
She could easily guess Third Sister's intentions—she had been gathering information about the Heavenslayers Alliance all this time, and now she intended to go to the Primary Hope Civilisation.
But could the Heavenslayers Alliance truly "slay the heavens"?
To the vast Boundless Expanse, the Land of Truth was the heavens. To speak of slaying the heavens was not only blasphemy against the Land of Truth but an unimaginable provocation.
The terrifying consequences and reckoning that would follow were beyond even her comprehension.
The Epoch Cicada Clan was an extremely unique race within the Boundless Expanse, named for their role as the "Cicadas Bearing Epochs."
A single flutter of their wings signified the demise of all living beings. Since ancient times, wherever the Epoch Cicadas passed, eras shifted, cycles repeated, and all things began anew.
The relationship between the Epoch Cicadas and the Tree of Epoch was akin to that of the phoenix and the parasol tree.
The Epoch Cicadas sought out the Tree of Epoch to roost upon, coexisting in symbiosis.
The Tree of Epoch nurtured all living beings and gave birth to countless universes. It was also known as the World Tree, the Ancestor Tree, and the Source Tree—and this was the very fate that the Epoch Cicada Clan had been bound to since antiquity.
For generations, their clan had diligently abided by this destiny, revering, worshipping, and fearing the heavens.
Yet the Epoch Mother Tree, upon which they had relied for so long, was ultimately severed by a supreme existence from the Land of Truth. The clan's fortune and destiny collapsed entirely, reducing them to sinners of the entire Ancient Treasury Civilisation.
To say that they did not resent the heavens, did not curse them, and did not wish to break free from this fate would be a lie.
But what could they do, even with their resentment?
All living beings of the Boundless Expanse were like fish in a river, struggling to leap ashore. But in the end, what awaited them?
Only annihilation and ashes.