Bloodlight stained the Firmament, crimson spreading everywhere.
But when that sea of blood was reflected in Chen Cuo's eyes, he fell into a daze. His gaze seemed to pierce layer upon layer of obstruction, cross the Five Aggregates Mist, and settle upon the Starry Sky.
Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom!
Muffled thunder rolled through the vast Starry Sky.
Three stars flickered in the depths, then fell as meteors, passing through a thick expanse of Auspicious Clouds.
Those clouds stretched on like brushwork laid down by someone painting freely, stroke after stroke. Though boundless, they seemed a single whole.
But after the three stars passed through, three holes appeared in the unbroken cloudbank.
Through each opening, a path became clear.
Above the openings lay the stars of the night sky; below them stretched the vast earth.
Seven towering trees stood upon the earth, joining sky and ground, each bearing its own strange Image.
Dao Tree!
The seven trees seemed to have stood since time immemorial, unchanged through ten thousand years.
But at that moment, the great trees trembled!
Lights of every color, phantom images, cracks, and more appeared across the seven trees in succession!
Ripple after ripple spread outward toward the Eight Directions.
Around the seven trees, a river flickered in and out of sight.
As its waters flowed, several figures seemed to flash past. Then a branch of the river descended to the earth, circling and churning like a whirlpool!
The three stars fell into it!
Rumble!
At the whirlpool's center, a great tree wreathed in Azure and violet qi grew with the wind. It swelled rapidly and surged up from the earth!
As it grew, the many saplings and small trees around it were affected. Their essence was seized by the Azure and violet tree, and they gradually withered...