One light-year inward from their original location lay a long trench, dozens of light-years in length and over a hundred million kilometers wide. It was bottomless, its depths jagged with strange rocks. It had once marked the boundary with the Mist Mountain Range. Since the range stood at a higher elevation, the moisture from the inner region was trapped here by its towering peaks. Over time, thick layers of cumulonimbus clouds formed above the trench. Mountain winds raged along its bottom, howling like monstrous beasts. The gales swept up rocks, minerals, and all manner of debris, moving at terrifying speed. Though lifeless, the place was exceptionally dangerous—but it was also rich in strange materials.
Suddenly, a streak of sword light flashed through the darkness. A massive stone pillar split apart, revealing a cyan stone inside. It spun continuously atop a stone platform. "Sister Fang, come quick! Just as I thought—there's a Void-Splitting Wind-Calling Stone!"
The Void-Splitting Wind-Calling Stone was an important material for crafting wing-type treasures. It was light and agile, and incredibly fast. "This one's pretty good. It's so big—it should be worth several hundred billion Hunyuan!"
Yao Rao's eyes crinkled into a smile, and the silver mark on her forehead lent her an extra touch of charm. She had just stowed the stone away when both women's expressions shifted. They exchanged a smile, then turned and flew toward the bottom of the trench. After finding a hidden cave and carefully covering their tracks, they vanished, leaving behind a scaled-down White Jade Palace. The two entered the main hall and saw Chen Qing standing with his hands behind his back. "You little rascal, you've finally come out of seclusion!"
After more than eight hundred years in seclusion, Chen Qing had now succeeded in cultivating the fifth stage, reaching the Ten Thousand Times Gene level. He was only 81 times short of perfection.
"Sisters, don't go out for the time being. Something unexpected might happen."
Looking at the two familiar faces, Chen Qing couldn't help feeling a deep sense of contentment. His family was by his side when he succeeded; all his effort had been worthwhile. It should have been a wonderful time for their reunion, but unfortunately, he couldn't quite focus.
"What happened? Is something wrong?"
Jiang Fang frowned slightly and walked over to Chen Qing, studying his eyes. In the past, that brat would have already made a move on her, but he was acting strangely this time.
"Sister Fang, it's a good thing. It might just cause a bit of a commotion, so don't worry. There's absolutely no problem!"
There had been no mishaps with this breakthrough; it was only that the Green Lotus was emerging ahead of schedule. At most, nine years remained. Chen Qing could also clearly feel the Primal Universe Will beginning to stir.
"You're not going to punch a hole through the Primal Universe, are you?"
Yao Rao came over and put an arm around Chen Qing. As he enjoyed her softness, Chen Qing mused that punching a hole through it was unlikely, but flipping it upside down might be possible. "What about the teacher...?"
"Tell him. That senior is probably the first to know anyway, and it'll save him from making wild guesses. He does have a history of that."
Seeing the look in their eyes, Chen Qing understood their doubts. "Just treat him with the respect due to a senior. It's best not to learn anything else about him for now."
After reassuring the two women, Chen Qing didn't fool around this time. He sat cross-legged in the hall and immersed his mind completely in the Lotus Seed. Rather than comprehend the laws, he entered a state of meditative stillness.
The nine years passed quickly. At some point, Chen Qing felt as if he were trapped in a chaos with no idea where he had come from or what he was supposed to do. He had only one instinct: to open up the chaos and experience the world!
In the Virtual Universe, Original Ancestor watched the cocoon of light on the screen with curiosity. This was the sort of phenomenon that occurred when a Special Lifeform was being nurtured. "About when did it begin?"
Not long ago, they had suddenly sensed the Origin gathering. When they came over, a will had trapped them, though it hadn't harmed them.
Jiang Fang and Yao Rao stood beside their teacher. Chen Qing hadn't asked them to keep it secret, so they had naturally gone straight to their teacher as soon as they noticed something unusual. That was how they had come to this moment. Original Ancestor looked toward the void outside, his expression growing more solemn. "Ever since Chen Qing was born, the Primal Universe Will has been by his side. It's finally happening..."
"Look!"
Yao Rao's voice interrupted Original Ancestor's reflection. A river of light appeared in the void, its colors flowing like silk as it gently connected to the cocoon. A cyan root then drifted back into the void with the current.
As Original Ancestor sensed the pressure from the Origin Land, he suddenly felt much more at ease. It was as if the Primal Universe Will no longer had time to bother with him. Another nine years passed. Then the void suddenly trembled, and a majestic sound rang out in their minds like a bell. Every living being in this cycle felt it, whether in the Primal Universe or the Universe Ocean.
At the Giant Axe Meeting, eighteen of the nineteen leaders opened their eyes at once—all except Biluo. Giant Axe grinned broadly. "It's begun!"
At the same time, in a distant starfield, the Three Ancestral Gods of the Ancestral God Palace opened their eyes in a Five-Colored Lake. "We've been together for less than two thousand years, and already this is happening!"
An aged voice sounded through the hall. Two thousand years might not even be enough time for a Universe Master to take a nap. "It's just that we don't know what the Primal Universe Will is trying to do..."
Hearing the Young Ancestral God, Double-Faced Ancestral God cut him off. "There's no need to investigate. Just wait patiently!"
"Mm!"
On a special mountain in the Primal Universe, a humanoid Special Lifeform sat examining the materials in his hands. The sudden voice in his mind startled him, and he crushed the object in his hand. Only after a long moment, when he realized nothing else had happened, did he calm down. "What's the Primal Universe up to? Should I hide in the Universe Ocean for a while?"
In the end, curiosity won and kept him there. What could possibly make him uneasy? This was one of the Three Thousand Dimensions. What did he have to fear?
"Investigate! We must investigate, no matter the cost!"
It wasn't only Lord of Sky Wolf who was roaring. The Bug Race and the Machine Race were doing the same...
Whether they belonged to the six great pinnacle races or stood alone, the powerful were all trying to find out what was happening. Countless beings in the Primal Universe discussed it!
"Dong!"
Nine years later, just as the discussions had begun to die down, the bell rang in the hearts of every being in the Primal Universe once more. Even the Universe Ocean was stirred into action. Some Universe Masters out on expeditions began hurrying back. Everyone felt that, whatever was happening, it couldn't hurt to return.
After the third toll, the Primal Universe's rhythm of absorbing chaotic energy began to change, even forming tides of chaotic energy. The Two Great Holy Lands also began paying attention. Universe Masters from countless factions set out for the edge of the Primal Universe to observe.
At the fourth toll, the souls of every being within the Primal Universe trembled. A tranquil mood rose from the void. Things they hadn't been able to figure out before now seemed to offer new ideas. There weren't many, but they could tell their minds had become sharper. The weaker someone was, the more clearly they felt it.
When the seventh toll rang out, a faint fragrance spread through the Primal Universe. Everyone seemed to catch a glimpse of their own path. It was blurry, but at least they could sense it. Giant Axe and Chaos City Lord exchanged a glance. The City Lord's expression was astonished and delighted, as if he couldn't believe it. Giant Axe was shaken. "Chaos?"
"Giant Axe Founder, this is a good thing. It proves that my path is viable!"
When news of the other races' experiences spread, Demon Ancestor Zhen and the other powerful beings still in the Universe Ocean—and unable to make it back—went wild with excitement. At their level, even the slightest improvement could save them countless eras. But how could they make it back in just a few decades?
Only the Human Race had most of its powerful members gathered, thanks to Original Ancestor. Once they returned, few of them would leave again for several eras.
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