Cloud Dream Marsh

At the side, Duobao saw Bai Ze's baffled expression, pursed his little lips, and raised his brows at Bai Ze.

"Little brother, you don't know this, do you?"

Bai Ze tilted his head toward Duobao. "You know?"

"Heh!"

Hearing Bai Ze's question, Duobao immediately grinned smugly.

"Of course I know! But I'm not telling you!"

"Heh, I'm just not telling you!

"Unless you beg me!"

"..."

Bai Ze looked at Duobao speechlessly. Was this guy an idiot?

There were three people here. It wasn't as though he had to ask Duobao!

"Senior Brother Guang Chengzi, where is Cloud Dream Marsh?"

"My homeland," Guang Chengzi said calmly.

His homeland?

Bai Ze was somewhat surprised. Cloud Dream Marsh was actually the homeland where Guang Chengzi had been born?

It was no wonder Bai Ze was surprised. In the Primordial World he knew, there were no clear records of the birthplaces of innate sacred beings such as Guang Chengzi.

Moreover, the times were ancient and written records exceedingly scarce. Most accounts had been passed down by word of mouth, then embellished by later generations.

As a result, even fewer people paid attention to the homelands of these innate beings.

After all, people always asked, what happened afterward?

They never wished to know what had once happened.

Bai Ze looked at Guang Chengzi, somewhat puzzled. Could this journey to Cloud Dream Marsh be because Guang Chengzi wished to reminisce about the past?

He looked at Guang Chengzi and saw him standing calmly with his hands behind his back, gazing at the fiery clouds on the horizon as though lost in memories, mourning the past.

"Senior Brother, what are we going to Cloud Dream Marsh to do?"

Guang Chengzi turned to Bai Ze and smiled faintly. "Junior Brother Bai Ze, do not overthink it."

"Cloud Dream Marsh is the only place in the south that was not affected by Yuanfeng's birth.

"Thus, spiritual plants cover the land, mineral resources are abundant, and there are not many powerful cultivators. It is the best place for us to search for heavenly treasures."

Bai Ze understood at once. Guang Chengzi had previously said that they needed to replenish some heavenly treasures. He had simply been overthinking things.

He gave an embarrassed laugh. "I thought you were going to visit old friends, Senior Brother. I was overthinking it."

Guang Chengzi chuckled and looked at Bai Ze.

"Of course, if I happen to meet a few old friends, I would not mind settling some karma."

"Hm?" Bai Ze was dumbfounded. Did Guang Chengzi have enemies in Cloud Dream Marsh?

But Guang Chengzi merely smiled and did not explain further.

Seeing this, Duobao raised his brows. Knowing his chance had come, he immediately leaned forward with a grin.

"Little Brother Bai Ze, I know! I know! You can ask me!"

Bai Ze shot a sidelong glance at Duobao, who was impatient to show off, and asked speechlessly, "Would you tell me if I asked?"

Duobao's eyes lit up as he nodded vigorously, swearing earnestly, "Ask me, and I'll tell you!"

"Then tell me about Senior Brother Guang Chengzi's past," Bai Ze asked expressionlessly.

"Beg me. Beg me, and I'll tell you." Duobao lifted his chin, the upward curl of his lips impossible to suppress.

Bai Ze rolled his eyes at Duobao. "I knew you weren't holding in anything good.

"Forget it. I'll know when the time comes anyway!"

Duobao's face fell. He had never expected Bai Ze to pull something like this, and he immediately grew anxious.

"Ask me! Aren't you curious about Senior Brother Guang Chengzi's past?"

Bai Ze glanced sideways at Duobao, who could no longer hold it in, and gave a cold laugh. "I'm not curious. Not even a little."

Duobao's eyes widened as he cried, "You can't do that! I'm telling you, this is a particularly juicy piece of gossip. You'll regret it if you don't listen!"

"Not listening, not listening—the turtle chants scriptures." Bai Ze turned his face away, refusing to listen no matter what.

He truly was curious, but when he thought of having to beg Duobao, then watch Duobao put on airs before him with that smug face—

He suddenly was not curious anymore!

You want to show off in front of me? No chance! I'll weld the windows shut too!

Seeing Bai Ze like this, Duobao's already overflowing urge to talk immediately jammed up like a stuck gear, leaving him with a fishbone caught in his throat.

Duobao's face turned green from holding it in, as though he were constipated.

But asking Bai Ze to lower his head? He would never do that!

"Little Brother Bai Ze, are you really not going to ask?"

Bai Ze silently turned around and showed Duobao his back.

This sight immediately made Duobao scratch at his ears and cheeks in frustration. Though dejected, he still gritted his teeth and struggled to restrain his desire to spill everything.

Seeing the two standing back to back, neither willing to yield, Guang Chengzi found it rather amusing.

Yet he said nothing, instead thoroughly enjoying this rare tranquility.

Above the sea of clouds, mist coiled and drifted. Sun and moon revolved, stars glimmered, and brilliant streaks of light flashed past from time to time.

The scenery below sped backward, dazzling the eye.

Several months later, Guang Chengzi rose to his feet and said flatly, "We're here."

Hearing this, Bai Ze and Duobao awoke from their cultivation at the same time and opened their eyes to look ahead.

Before them, a seven-colored radiance shot straight into the heavens.

Its width was immeasurable, its length immeasurable, stretching endlessly. Only after Guang Chengzi rose higher could they see its full form.

That seven-colored radiance resembled an inverted bowl, covering the land below and sealing off everything.

Many cultivators had already gathered around it.

As Bai Ze's group of three approached, Duobao released his pressure, instantly drawing the attention of many cultivators.

They promptly flew away one after another, and before long, the area around them had become much emptier.

"Senior Brother, this... is Cloud Dream Marsh?" Bai Ze asked, turning toward Guang Chengzi as he looked at the dazzling, multicolored barrier before him.

Guang Chengzi nodded slightly. "Correct. This is Cloud Dream Marsh, the only place in the south that was not affected by Yuanfeng and can still produce countless resources!"

"I heard you mention it before, Senior Brother, but what exactly did Yuanfeng do to the south?"

Bai Ze was somewhat puzzled. This was not the first time he had heard Guang Chengzi describe Cloud Dream Marsh this way.

Guang Chengzi looked at the sight before them and slowly said,

"When heaven and earth first opened, when Yuanfeng was born, she drew upon the fire essence of the entire south in order to be born safely.

"But that act completely severed the chance of birth for the countless beings that had originally been meant to arise throughout the south.

"From then on, the entire south became the most barren and impoverished region of the Primordial World.

"Although Yuanfeng's actions left the south barren and desolate, heaven never seals off every road. The miasma naturally formed in Cloud Dream Marsh seems capable of isolating all things, so it was not affected.

"Instead, Cloud Dream Marsh became a place that many cultivators had to explore when traveling abroad."

Bai Ze looked at the gorgeous seven-colored radiance, light shimmering in his eyes, and thought,

The Great Dao has fifty; Heaven's evolution has forty-nine, with one that escapes.

The entire south had declined because of Yuanfeng, yet a thread of life still remained!

Thus, Cloud Dream Marsh had become a place many cultivators in the Primordial World had to visit!

For a moment, countless emotions welled up within him. The transformations of heaven and earth, the evolution of all things—every sip and every peck had its predestined course.

"Senior Brother, let's go in!"

Guang Chengzi shook his head. "No hurry. This seven-colored radiance may appear magnificent, but it is highly poisonous miasma. Even mighty experts risk falling if they are the slightest bit careless."

Understanding dawned in Bai Ze's eyes. No wonder so many cultivators were meditating outside the barrier.

This seven-colored radiance, which seemed so full of vibrant life, was actually a deadly poison that could cause even mighty experts to fall!

He hurriedly took two steps back.

"Then, Senior Brother, since this place is so dangerous, how are we supposed to enter?"

Bai Ze watched the seven-colored miasma, beautiful in appearance yet extraordinarily dangerous, and asked warily.

Guang Chengzi glanced at the sun hanging high in the sky and said softly,

"Wait!"

"When the sun and moon converge, clear qi descends and turbid qi rises—that will be the time for us to enter!"