The spiritual energy of the Fu Li Immortal Realm mainland scattered, and the earth’s energy churned and rolled. Countless tides of water rushed in from all directions, leaving only the Western Continent, an isolated island enveloped by a dome of sword energy. Looking up, the airflow stirred up by the fractured earth’s crust rose towards the firmament, converging into a mighty, rolling wave of air that rushed towards the profound vortex filled with chaotic mist. Within it, lightning streaked, and thunderbolts leaped, covering tens of thousands of miles.
“What is happening?” In Buzhou Mountain, Shi Wufang was channeling her spiritual energy, causing her magic artifacts to descend one by one, intending to pull the entire Western Continent into the mist. But with such a massive riot of spiritual energy, the energy meridians of heaven and earth suddenly changed. The mobilized spiritual power was completely chaotic. The spiritual light on the magic artifacts dimmed, and they fell from mid-air one after another. Shi Wufang drew the magic artifacts into her sleeve and looked at the scene before her with a mixture of shock and fear. “The spiritual veins of the three continents are rioting, spiritual power surging to follow the momentum, vast water tides covering the land. Is, is that True Monarch Luo’s Dharma Manifestation?!”
“So that’s how it is, so that’s how it is.” The Phoenix Lord was also alarmed by the strange phenomenon. She looked up at the sky filled with chaotic mist and a profound vortex and laughed with sorrow. “We no longer need to fear the people from the Shang Qing Divine Realm. Although the immortal realm has been pulled back, all four lands have been destroyed by ‘Heaven and Earth United in Chaos’.”
“You knew what she was going to do?” Yan Danwo turned her head, looking at the Phoenix Lord in astonishment.
The Phoenix Lord was silent for a long time, then raised her hand to brush away the tears of laughter from the corner of her eye. She met Yan Danwo’s gaze and said, “I thought she was going to shift the four spiritual veins and destroy the entire Fu Li Immortal Realm. I didn’t expect her to leave a pure land for Buzhou.”
“Besides waiting, there’s nothing we can do,” the Phoenix Lord left her last sentence and turned to leave.
Northern Continent.
After Shi Wufang and her party left, Yong He had no intention of pursuing them. The people from the Shang Qing Divine Realm were about to arrive. Although she had a contract, with only herself left, she felt deeply uneasy. Buzhou and the others could be dealt with by the people from the Divine Realm; she would call back Chao Ling, Ji Jun, and the others. But just as she used her spiritual energy to wear away the sealing talisman, that majestic power that stirred the universe suddenly poured down. After hearing a series of explosions, all she saw was a vast and murky swamp. Within it, lightning streaked, containing a terrifying power that could obliterate everything. Yong He’s face was filled with astonishment. In just a single breath, she was submerged by the swamp, her consciousness instantly dissipating. In a short time, it would not be easy for the five primordial demons to recover.
The terrifying momentum swallowed the Eastern Continent, Southern Continent, Northern Continent, and the Dustless Sea. Under the might that extinguished all things, no living being could survive.
Above the extreme heaven.
The moment the brilliant river of void was swallowed by the chaotic mist, the Heavenly Sky Synchronous Flying Palace also, with the help of some force, passed through the profound vortex, completely crossing that boundary and entering the Shang Qing Divine Realm. Ran Xiuyun did not release the restrictions on the flying palace. The previous scene had left her extremely panicked. Looking at the others who had also rushed out, they all looked at each other, no one clear on what had just happened.
“What did True Monarch Luo do? Can we not go back?” Chi Fengchao asked bitterly.
“What about True Monarch Wei?” Jiang Jiuxiao followed up.
As soon as their words fell, a figure in white appeared in the corridor and slowly walked towards them. Her collar was stained with mottled blood, and though her face was pale and bloodless, her expression was calm and composed, her eyes as bright as stars. She did not ask anything, but let her gaze fall outwards and whispered, “Have we arrived at the Shang Qing Divine Realm?”
“Fellow Daoist Bo?” Xie Zhichao looked at Wei Yunshu, her expression filled with doubt.
“Junior Sister Xie, what’s wrong?” Wei Yunshu met Xie Zhichao’s gaze and asked warmly.
Xie Zhichao had a gut feeling that something was wrong. After all, Wei Yunshu had never called her “Junior Sister.” She exchanged a look with Ran Xiuyun, silently communicating for a while, and after a long time, she asked, “Fellow Daoist Bo, do you know what happened to True Monarch Luo? What did she do? Will she come over? Should we wait for her here?”
Wei Yunshu’s brow furrowed, a genuine confusion on her face. “Which True Monarch Luo?”
Xie Zhichao: “…” What’s going on? Why doesn’t Fellow Daoist Bo remember at all? A monstrous wave of shock crashed in her heart, almost knocking her out. An invisible hand was tightly gripping her heart. She secretly exhaled a breath of turbid air, looked at Wei Yunshu with a furrowed brow, and changed her words, “Senior Sister Bo, do you still remember our mission?”
“Of course I remember.” Wei Yunshu found it somewhat amusing and said as a matter of course, “Senior Sister Wufang and the others are still waiting for us to return.” She did not dwell on the previous matter but said cautiously, “We have already arrived at the Shang Qing Divine Realm. This place is different from the immortal realm. We must first find a quiet little place to settle down and then gather some information.”
Xie Zhichao’s eyelids drooped, her heart not at all at ease. She certainly hoped that Fellow Daoist Bo could cast everything aside and truly be free and at ease, but this kind of “forgetting” was different from letting go. When her memories returned one day, it would probably be endless pain. Furthermore, it was Fellow Daoist Bo who had been with Luo Lingfeng before; only the two of them knew what had happened. But should she tell her? Xie Zhichao looked up at Wei Yunshu’s relaxed and clear-eyed face and suddenly felt a bit of reluctance.
But if Xie Zhichao didn’t say it, someone else would. At this moment, Jiang Jiuxiao was gazing at Wei Yunshu and asked, “True Monarch, have you forgotten my sister?”
Wei Yunshu was confused, “Who is your sister?”
Jiang Jiuxiao said quickly, “Your deceased Dao companion.”
Wei Yunshu furrowed her brows and thought for a while, indeed finding a trace of “Dao companion” from the fragmented memories. But for some reason, she didn’t ask, nor did she want to ask. She laughed and said seriously, “Right now, we have a more important matter, which is to find a glimmer of hope for survival.”
Jiang Jiuxiao carefully observed Wei Yunshu’s expression, trying to distinguish the true emotions from the false on her face. She opened her mouth, about to utter those three words, but Chi Fengchao was quick to act, clamping a hand over her mouth and pulling her down. In that instant, Xie Zhichao, Ran Xiuyun, and the others also made their decision: let the past go with the wind.
Those who have lost their memories are certainly pitiable, but those who are clear-headed suffer even more. After the ambush in Cloud City, although Fellow Daoist Bo had renounced everything, how could the burden in her heart truly be lightened? Perhaps True Monarch Luo had done something at the last moment, or perhaps she no longer wanted to remember. Then let her forget, cast aside those heart-wrenching past events, cast aside the love and hate that could not be untangled, and embrace that fleeting happiness.
Xie Zhichao thought this, but deep in her heart, there was a vague sense of sadness. She reached out and touched the wine gourd at her waist. When she was happy, she wanted to drink heavily, and when she was in pain, she also wanted to drink heavily. But what could wine truly bring? The wine of her hometown was no longer there.
Wei Yunshu looked at Xie Zhichao’s changing expression and guessed that her craving for wine was acting up. She said, “Junior Sister Xie, would you like a drink?”
Xie Zhichao shook her head, her face suddenly becoming serious. A storm of conflicting emotions warred across her features, twisting her expression. She reached out and took down the wine gourd, throwing it fiercely onto the ground. Her voice was powerful and resonant, as if taking an oath, “From today onwards, I will abstain from alcohol. As long as the troubles of the Fu Li Immortal Realm are not resolved, I will not drink a single drop of wine!”
Wei Yunshu felt a pang of sadness upon hearing this. She said slowly, “Good. When we return to Buzhou, I will find the best wine in the world for my junior sister.”
Ran Xiuyun sighed silently. The previous scene was still replaying in her mind. True Monarch Luo’s love and hate were so deep, all emotions mixed together, like a raging fire and a storm intertwined, creating extreme turmoil. But even with such intense emotions, such a vivid and colorful person, she had vanished so lightly. The forgotten past was like dust that fell with a light flick, traceless.
Although they had arrived at the Shang Qing Divine Realm, they were unfamiliar with the place and the people. What they should do next still required careful discussion to form a plan.
Let alone what to do in the future, there was a huge problem right in front of them, which was the path of “Severing All Selves.” If they wanted to truly integrate into the various forces, “Severing All Selves” was an unavoidable hurdle. After repeatedly “Severing All Selves,” what remained would no longer be the original “self.” How could they remember their own mission?
Ran Xiuyun brought this matter up with great worry. “If we don’t cultivate ‘Severing All Selves’ and only rely on our own strength to overcome obstacles, I don’t know if they have a way to find out.”
Wei Yunshu said, “I have read the Daoist scriptures of Shang Qing. The Daoist methods of the Fu Li Immortal Realm can be said to be of the same origin. The most essential difference between the two lies in ‘overcoming obstacles.’ In terms of aura alone, it is impossible to distinguish between the two. The more one cultivates ‘Severing All Selves,’ the thinner the ‘true self’ becomes, while the ‘heart-cultivating Dao’ is to recognize one’s own true heart, and the more one cultivates, the thicker the aura becomes.”
Xie Zhichao’s eyes lit up upon hearing this. “Does that mean they can’t actually tell the difference? As long as we act with a low profile, we won’t be discovered?”
Wei Yunshu did not give a definite answer. She said softly, “The situation is currently unclear. We must first see what the Shang Qing Divine Realm is like before making a decision.” They only knew about the six major heavenly domains now; they didn’t even have a single map.
As they were discussing matters, the Little Tai Sui emerged from the spiritual pet bag, its small eyes darting around. It flapped its wings and flew onto Wei Yunshu’s shoulder, using its furry little head to push away the long, annoying hair that fell, and said excitedly, “This Divine Lord has finally returned!” Everyone’s face was quite solemn, the atmosphere heavy. The Little Tai Sui’s lively voice seemed somewhat out of place. It was stunned for a moment, pecked Wei Yunshu, and then called out, “Go to the Wu Xiang Heaven domain!”
Xie Zhichao raised her eyes and carefully examined the Little Tai Sui, her mind beginning to calculate.
The Little Tai Sui was a local bird, and it was the envoy of the Emperor Wu Xiang. It didn’t need to cultivate any methods and could travel freely in the Shang Qing Divine Realm based on its identity as an “envoy.”
Wei Yunshu’s brow furrowed slightly. “I heard that the Wu Xiang Heaven domain has been sealed for thousands of years.”
The Little Tai Sui said dismissively, “It’s just seclusion, not complete isolation.” It raised its wings and patted its furry chest, “When the time comes, you all follow this Divine Lord to my residence. As my servants, you will naturally have food to eat.”
Xie Zhichao chuckled upon hearing this, “Is it a bird’s nest?”
The Little Tai Sui became angry from embarrassment. Like a black bolt of lightning, it charged fiercely towards Xie Zhichao.
Xie Zhichao let out a cry of “Ouch” and hurriedly dodged.
“Senior Sister Bo.” Ran Xiuyun also changed her address like Xie Zhichao. She looked at Wei Yunshu, her eyes holding a hint of expectation.
Wei Yunshu pondered for a moment, called out “Little Tai Sui,” and said, “Alright, we’ll go to the Wu Xiang Heaven domain. It’s just that we’ve come here, and we’re unfamiliar with the place and the people, so we don’t know the way.”
Upon hearing that it could return to the Wu Xiang Heaven domain, the Little Tai Sui was overjoyed and promised Wei Yunshu, “Leave everything to this Divine Lord!”
At this moment, in the Wu Shi Palace.
A female cultivator wearing a Dharma robe embroidered with snake patterns was sitting on a meditation cushion. In front of her was an incense burner, the smoke curling and lingering in the hall. Not long after, a clear sound of golden bells rang. She suddenly opened her eyes, stood up, and walked towards the outside of the hall. As she moved, the magnificent palaces and lush trees around her gradually faded, and the pavilions and towers disappeared without a trace. Thousands of brilliant rays of light descended, converging at her feet into a long river like a starry jade belt, with the occasional sound of rushing water.
A few breaths later, on this winding long river, hazy, ethereal Daoists exuding boundless pure energy appeared one by one. Including the female cultivator, there were a total of five, the leaders of the five major forces of Xuan Qing, Tian Yuan, Wu Shi, Wu Shou, and Tian Nu.
The female cultivator spoke first, “The Realm of Ruin has returned.”
A charming laugh accompanied the sound of bells, “Then everything can be restored to its appearance six thousand years ago.”
The female cultivator shook her head and said, “But that land has been completely shattered.”
“Was it those five who did it?” a voice from the other end of the long river was somewhat ethereal.
The female cultivator said, “No.” After a pause of a few breaths, she sighed, “Very few Daoists my Wu Shi Palace sent out barely returned. The survivors said that the spiritual veins of the three continents rioted and rushed into the sky, forming a void mystic cave. Now we cannot enter the ‘Realm of Ruin,’ and the ‘non-selves’ we have severed cannot flow into it.”
“Then doesn’t that mean all our efforts have been futile?” the speaker was very dissatisfied.
The female cultivator did not answer. She said faintly, “I’m just informing everyone that if you want the ‘Realm of Ruin’ to return to normal, then you must find a way to disperse the void mystic cave that envelops the Realm of Ruin.”
“If it’s just that, sending a message would suffice. Why did you have us come to discuss it?” a flat voice sounded, with a hint of accusation.
The female cultivator let out a light laugh, her eyes turning into the vertical pupils of a great demon, chilling and sinister. “There’s one more thing that all of you fellow Daoists will surely be interested in.” She paused for a moment, and seeing the spiritual energy on the long river rise and fall like a tide, she slowly uttered four words, “Wu Xiang opens its sect.” Unlike the other five heavenly domains, the Wu Xiang Heaven domain, although it had various mixed forces, had never had a sect or academy that unified everything. But this time, the heavenly bell of the Wu Xiang Heaven domain rang, and the Emperor Wu Xiang, who rarely appeared before people, did not use the White Tai Sui to transmit a message, but personally issued a Dharma decree. The opening of the Wu Xiang Heaven domain’s sect also meant that it was no longer in seclusion.
The female cultivator asked again, “Have any of you received a Dharma decree from above?” Their sects were all established with the Emperor’s consent, but in reality, for ten thousand years, the Emperor had rarely shown his face, almost never giving guidance to the sects. This time, she also had not received a decree from the Wu Shi Venerable.
Someone asked, “What is the Daoist friend worried about?”
The female cultivator said, “We five heavenly domains have all eliminated the traces left by the Gan Yuan traitors, but the Wu Xiang Heaven domain may not have. The Emperor Wu Xiang has always maintained a ‘let it be’ attitude. If she had not had the White Tai Sui act, with just the cultivators in the domain, it would not have been possible to completely clean it up. I fear the opening of the Wu Xiang sect will bring variables.”
“Then Daoist friend should go and advise, to have the Emperor Wu Xiang go back into seclusion?” a light scoff was heard, “The Emperor Wu Xiang opened the sect, the divine venerables probably received the news at the first moment. Since there are no instructions, we need not worry. Let’s send some disciples to gather information first.” As his voice fell, the Daoist’s figure disappeared with the rushing water tide. Immediately after, the other figures also dispersed.
The female cultivator did not speak. It was not until the long river at her feet disappeared that she flicked her sleeve, turned, and returned to the hall to continue her secluded cultivation.
A few days later.
A black shadow sped through the wilderness like lightning. Upon glimpsing the suspended flying palace, it crashed into it with a bang. However, it entered the flying palace unharmed. The spiritual fruit it held in its beak instantly burst into pulp, staining its entire body. The Little Tai Sui’s face fell. It cast a spell, removed the stains on its body, used its beak to comb its feathers, and then turned to find Wei Yunshu.
“You’re back?” Wei Yunshu looked at the Little Tai Sui with a smile and, as usual, took out a spiritual fruit to feed it.
The Little Tai Sui was not polite and quickly ate the spiritual fruit. Then, from the gap in its feathers, it pulled out a jade slip. It was too lazy to inquire about those things and used the dan jade it had gotten from Wei Yunshu to exchange for a jade slip that comprehensively introduced the customs and people of the divine realm.
Wei Yunshu reached out and wiped her hand, dispelling the spiritual energy on the jade slip. She sent her divine sense into it and scanned ten lines at a glance. At the very front was a map. The six major heavenly domains, with the Wu Xiang Heaven domain at the core, had the Xuan Qing Heaven domain in the east, the Tian Yuan Heaven domain in the southeast, the Wu Shi Heaven domain in the north, the Wu Shou Heaven domain in the west, and the Tian Nu domain in the south, all with clear boundaries. Among them, besides the Wu Xiang Heaven domain, the map also marked the major and minor forces, the great sects established by the order of the divine lords. After reading the distribution of forces, Wei Yunshu went on to look at the situation in the Shang Qing Divine Realm. She had originally thought that without the Realm of Ruin, all forces would be troubled by the demons born from the “non-selves,” but in reality, it was not so. There were indeed demons in the Shang Qing Divine Realm, but they were not the main target of attack for the various major sects. The biggest threat in the Shang Qing Divine Realm was actually a force called “Xuan Tian Ji.”
The True Nature Sword had not mentioned it, nor had the Phoenix Mountain ancestor. It was very likely a new force that had emerged in the past six thousand years. Wei Yunshu thought, her gaze sweeping downwards. Indeed, “Xuan Tian Ji” appeared three thousand years ago, but its earliest appearance was six thousand years ago, its predecessor being “Xuan Qing Tian Ji Fu.” Xuan Qing Tian Ji Fu belonged to Xuan Qing Mountain and specialized in the art of refining and creating things. After the “Realm of Ruin” disappeared, the cultivators were troubled by the lack of a place for the “non-selves” to flow, fearing that it would brew great disaster. So they came up with a “Controlling the Selves” method. They used the art of refining to create a “Created Being with Intelligence,” pouring all the severed “non-selves” into the “Created Being with Intelligence,” and then controlled it with a special method. In this way, not only did the “non-selves” have a place to go, but they also gained a puppet assistant in the “Created Being with Intelligence.”
But the Created Being with Intelligence was infused with “non-selves,” and they spent their days and nights with the “true self.” Besides their temperament, they were no different from the “true self.” The “Severing All Selves” method caused cultivators to change constantly. The Dao was in a state of constancy, but “temperament” was always in a state of “movement.” Until three thousand years ago, in the Xuan Qing Tian Ji Fu, a certain great craftsman was pointed out to no longer be a human, but a “Created Being with Intelligence.” This immediately caused great panic in the Shang Qing Divine Realm. They suddenly realized that they could no longer distinguish who among the people around them were real people. After nearly a hundred years of chaos, the various major sects finally refined a “Spirit Distinguishing Ritual” and began to investigate the Created Beings with Intelligence. Originally, they planned to kill them upon discovery, but the “non-selves” were on them. Once the Created Beings with Intelligence collapsed, the “non-selves” would flow out again. In the end, they had no choice but to imprison the captured Created Beings with Intelligence.
But not all Created Beings with Intelligence were captured. Those who escaped established a force called “Xuan Tian Ji,” constantly harassing the major sects, wanting to rescue all the Created Beings with Intelligence.
The major sects of the Shang Qing Divine Realm were also in a dilemma, facing a great problem. They did not want the severed “non-selves” to give rise to uncontrollable demons, so they could only continue to work on the created beings. But after suffering a loss, this time, besides placing restrictions on the created beings, each person was assigned more than one “Created Being with Intelligence” to store the “non-selves,” giving them no chance to replace themselves. Besides suppressing the created beings, the rest was to find the “Realm of Ruin.”
After reading these things, Wei Yunshu finally understood why the Shang Qing Divine Realm would cooperate with the primordial demons to pull the Realm of Ruin back. But this was just a temporary solution and could not solve the real problem. Perhaps when the six divine venerables opened the Dao, the ancient people were simple and did not have so many “non-selves” to sever. Coupled with the existence of the “Realm of Ruin,” it could resolve the danger. But times had changed. She keenly sensed that the Fu Li Immortal Realm had a glimmer of more hope. In such chaos, their “heart-cultivating Dao” could be transmitted!
The Little Tai Sui circled Wei Yunshu. “I have another piece of news.”
Wei Yunshu withdrew her divine sense from the jade slip. She raised her hand and caught the Little Tai Sui, rubbing its soft belly, and then said, “Tell me.”
The Little Tai Sui pecked Wei Yunshu and said cheerfully, “The Wu Xiang Heaven domain has opened its sect! The master has awakened from meditation. When the time comes, we will surely be able to resolve the contract on our bodies!” After a pause, it glanced at Wei Yunshu and said reluctantly, “If you want to be my servant, I suppose it’s fine. Remember to use the best things to support me.”
Wei Yunshu was stunned.
The Wu Xiang Heaven domain opened its sect? How could it be so coincidental? The golden pattern on her forehead became hot, with a faint hint of pain. Wei Yunshu raised her fingers and pressed her brow. At this moment, an ethereal silhouette walked out from her body, transforming into a mature and steady female child. It was the True Nature Sword that had set out with Wei Yunshu and her party.
The True Nature Sword did not pay attention to Wei Yunshu. Her eyes were fixed on the Little Tai Sui, and she asked with a stern face, “Did you just say Wu Xiang Heaven?”
The Little Tai Sui did not like the True Nature Sword and let out a cold snort, not answering her.
Wei Yunshu asked, “Do you remember anything?” The True Nature Sword was the sword of the Buzhou ancestor, and it came from the Shang Qing Divine Realm. It also had the Emperor’s Seal of the Wu Xiang Heaven melted into it.
The True Nature Sword did not answer Wei Yunshu’s question. She turned her head and gazed intently at Wei Yunshu. After a long while, she said seriously, “Sang Buwei lived in the Wu Xiang Heaven domain for a long time. When you reach Wu Xiang Heaven, you can search for traces related to her.”
“Why search for Sang Buwei? Don’t listen to that broken sword’s nonsense!” before Wei Yunshu could answer, the Little Tai Sui shouted.
