The Great Brahma Temple’s Main Altar.
In the secret hall located deep within the main peak of the sect’s rear mountain, a long-dormant summoning formation finally reactivated today, bursting forth with dazzling, colorful light.
Miao Xin, resplendent and dignified, along with over a dozen high-ranking members of the Buddhist sect, knelt on the ground, reverently greeting the imposing figures that had just emerged from the time-space passage.
A rough sense of their auras revealed that these figures’ cultivation levels surpassed that of ordinary Quasi Holy Emperors. Although they still couldn’t compare to Qingyao Immortal Venerable, who had recently returned to Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace, their presence was enough to significantly elevate the Buddhist sect’s influence in The Great Void.
Miao Xin’s eyes sparkled. With these ancestral masters as their backing, the Great Brahma Temple’s ambition to form a strategic alliance with Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace seemed almost certain. Perhaps she could also… achieve her own desires?
Thinking of the mysterious and majestic young man in purple she had once met, Miao Xin couldn’t help but feel a surge of emotions. She wondered how he was now. Perhaps he was in seclusion, cultivating with his senior sisters? Or maybe he was helping the elders of his sect cross their tribulations?
Such extraordinary opportunities shouldn’t be monopolized by Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace alone; they must be shared with allies. Only then would it align with the long-term interests of The Great Void.
The leading figure looked down at the group of disciples and spoke indifferently, “Stand up and speak. Among you, who is the current Sect Master?”
An elder of the Buddhist sect responded, standing up to explain, “Honored Ancestor, I am Mo Xuan, currently overseeing the sect’s affairs. This is my direct disciple, Miao Xin, whom I am grooming to be the future leader of our sect.”
“Oh, I see,” the figure nodded slightly. “What is the current situation within the sect? And how is the power structure in The Great Void? It’s been a long time since we returned; tell us in detail.”
…
In the vast expanse of the void, a starship sped through the brilliant starry sea, occasionally performing long-distance spatial shifts, leaving countless star regions behind in an instant.
On this day, the starship finally entered a formless, yellowish cloud of light. According to Qingyao Immortal Venerable, this was the boundary membrane of The Great Void, millions of miles thick, and the only way to enter the chaos of the vast void.
Passing through the boundary membrane, they entered a serene and tranquil space, filled with a pervasive, shimmering light, somewhat resembling egg whites.
“This is the transitional area between The Great Void and the chaos of the vast void. At the end of this transitional area, there’s another boundary membrane. Occasionally, strange creatures from the chaos of the vast void break in, only to be annihilated by the laws of The Great Void,” said the stunningly beautiful woman in the hot spring pool, massaging Qing Muling’s shoulders and brushing her black hair behind her ear.
“Is it a defense mechanism similar to heavenly tribulations?” Qing Muling immediately understood. These chaotic creatures, tainted by the aura of the vast void, were likely too ferocious. As soon as they broke in, they triggered the laws of The Great Void, which then unleashed terrifying heavenly tribulations to annihilate them, preventing any threat to the world’s inhabitants.
“Exactly, and the power of these tribulations is incredibly formidable, far more terrifying than those faced by Quasi Holy Emperors, enough to obliterate most chaotic creatures.”
“What about the few chaotic creatures that can’t be obliterated?” Qing Muling realized he had asked a redundant question as soon as the words left his mouth.
If a chaotic creature was too powerful and broke into the world, it would be an unmitigated disaster. The strongest members of various Dao Lineages would have to unite to hunt it down, inevitably incurring casualties. Such events were not uncommon in The Great Void.
Of course, hunting down these chaotic creatures would yield substantial heavenly merits, and their corpses were invaluable materials for crafting top-tier pills or Spirit Treasures.
Therefore, the various Dao Lineages were highly motivated for such hunts. After all, reaping such benefits without venturing into the perilous depths of the chaos of the vast void was a highly profitable endeavor.
“In that case, I also came from the chaos of the vast void. Why wasn’t I targeted by the laws of this world?” Qing Muling asked.
“You were just a seed back then, brought back by someone from the Origin Star Palace. She likely shielded your aura and sealed your presence, preventing any issues.”
“Later, you were nurtured in the Thousand Petal Merit Blue Lotus Pond for countless years, becoming assimilated with the world’s aura. Now that you’ve taken human form, there’s no longer any risk.”
Qingyao Immortal Venerable explained. To protect the Harmony Spirit Seed and ensure its maturation, the master of the Origin Star Palace had made immense sacrifices.
Unfortunately, just as they were about to reap the rewards, the Dao Lineages of The Great Void raided their Dao Court, leaving it in ruins. The Harmony Spirit Seed escaped into the void, and the master of the Origin Star Palace became the ultimate victim.
Qing Muling remained silent. He realized he owed a great debt to the master of the Origin Star Palace. No matter what, her sacrifices for him were unparalleled, far beyond what Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace or the female cultivator alliance could compare.
If not for her finding and bringing back the Harmony Spirit Seed from the chaos of the vast void, it would have been devoured by the ferocious creatures there.
Perhaps he would find a way to repay her in the future…
Qing Muling sighed inwardly. Although he had secretly helped the senior sisters of the Origin Star Palace once, it was far from enough.
“Junior Brother, what are you thinking about?”
At some point, Qingyao Immortal Venerable’s voluptuous and enchanting body had leaned closer, her beautiful eyes gazing at Qing Muling as if trying to see into his heart.
“Nothing,” Qing Muling stared deeply at her. “If she really returns one day, can you stop her? She will surely have powerful allies.”
Qingyao Immortal Venerable’s expression grew serious. After a moment of contemplation, she carefully said, “There are many Quasi Holy Emperors in the upper realm’s sects. While their number and quality may not match the Origin Star Palace, as long as you help me, she won’t stand a chance!”
If necessary, she could request the Grand Palace Master of the Phoenix Palace to intervene, but that would mean sharing the Harmony Creation Blue Lotus with them, a last resort she preferred to avoid.
“Alright, I understand.”
Qing Muling closed his eyes, recalling how Mu Yinghua had solemnly asked him about his stance towards the Origin Star Palace, foreseeing this day.
Qingyao Immortal Venerable’s unusual closeness and attention to him since her return, treating him like her senior sisters, was likely due to this consideration.
Otherwise, with her esteemed status, when had she ever needed to please anyone, especially a male cultivator? Even the Grand Palace Master of the Phoenix Palace in the upper realm hadn’t warranted such attention.
Qingyao Immortal Venerable bit her lip, embracing the beautiful young man tightly. “Actually… if you want to reunite with her, it’s not impossible. But you must wait until you become a Quasi Holy Emperor, preferably with cultivation equal to mine, to ensure your safety.”
Even Qingyao Immortal Venerable wasn’t sure about the intentions of the master of the Origin Star Palace. If she had nurtured the Harmony Spirit Seed to use it as a supplement for her own path to sainthood, she would devour it upon maturity, regardless of its human form.
Of course, this was just one possibility. If her intentions were more benign, similar to the female cultivator alliance, there might be room for reconciliation.
Qing Muling was momentarily stunned, then looked at her. “Would you be willing?”
Qingyao Immortal Venerable sighed, her hand gently caressing his face. “Someone like you can’t be forced to stay if you don’t want to. If our fate ends, just remember the kindness of your senior sisters.”
“…”
Qing Muling was silent for a long time before finally saying, “I once promised my master that wherever she is, I will be there. That promise still stands.”
Qingyao Immortal Venerable’s statement, whether sincere or not, was something Qing Muling decided to believe.
The path of a sage is judged by actions, not intentions. Perfect intentions have never existed.
“That’s the best outcome!”
Qingyao Immortal Venerable, who had been anxious, finally breathed a sigh of relief, hugging him tightly. As long as she treated him well and didn’t anger him, there was nothing to worry about.
Outside, the starship sped through the outer world’s boundary membrane, plunging into the boundless, unimaginably vast chaos of the vast void.
The environment here was entirely different from The Great Void. Endless chaotic tides surged from all directions, inescapable, crashing against the starship’s azure light shield with terrifying force.
Fortunately, the starship’s innate Spirit Treasure-level defense held firm, withstanding the chaotic tides’ crushing impact, continuing its high-speed journey into the depths of the chaos of the vast void.
“So, this is the chaos of the vast void? The origin and ultimate destination of all worlds and beings…”
Qing Muling murmured, feeling a latent instinct awakening within his Divine Soul. The chaotic tides outside seemed strangely familiar.
“Are you remembering something?” Qingyao Immortal Venerable asked with a smile.
Qing Muling shook his head. “Not really, just that this environment doesn’t seem to affect me much, like a fish returning to the sea.”
“That’s normal. As an innate being, it’s natural to feel at home in the chaos of the vast void.”
Qingyao Immortal Venerable said. She had ventured into the chaos of the vast void multiple times, encountering many intelligent and ferocious creatures, and had interacted with other innate beings in the upper realm, so she was well-versed in this.
In the chaos of the vast void, time and space concepts became blurred for immortals from The Great Void. The scenery remained the same, with endless energy tides sweeping everything, occasional massive explosions, and boundless light and heat obliterating everything into nothingness.
At this moment, Qingyao Immortal Venerable’s innate Spirit Treasure’s extraordinary nature became evident. No matter how violent the chaotic tides were, the azure light shield surrounding the starship only rippled slightly, showing no signs of breaking.
Suddenly, there was a rapid vibration outside the starship, accompanied by sharp, eerie howls, as if something was furiously hammering the starship with unprecedented force.
“What is it?” Qing Muling looked up in surprise. The beautiful woman behind him raised her hand, and a large magical projection mirror appeared, showing the outside scene.
Amidst the turbulent chaotic tides, a massive, pitch-black jellyfish-like creature with countless long tentacles and a ferocious aura hovered above the starship, attacking it madly.
The tentacles, though only as thick as a human arm, extended for thousands of miles, striking the starship like countless whips, causing it to shake despite the chaotic tides.
Its aura, estimated by Qing Muling, was roughly equivalent to a newly ascended Quasi Holy Emperor, a formidable existence. Given its home-field advantage, it would take someone at Qinghuan Emperor’s level to easily repel it.
However, to kill it and prevent its escape would require a seasoned Quasi Holy Emperor who had severed two corpses.
“A mere beast.”
Qingyao Immortal Venerable waved her hand, and a blazing golden sun suddenly appeared in the chaos, enveloping the jellyfish-like creature. The intense heat incinerated it into a burning fireball.
The tentacles recoiled, spewing cold black mist to counter the heat, but to no avail.
In just over ten breaths, the chaotic creature was reduced to ashes by Qingyao Immortal Venerable, without a chance to escape.
Only a fist-sized, translucent bead with a radiant glow remained, which she easily retrieved and handed to Qing Muling.
“A decent item. Keep it, Junior Brother.”
Qing Muling examined the bead. It was the last essence of a Quasi Holy Emperor-level chaotic creature, containing pure and abundant energy, suitable as a core material for a Postnatal Spirit Treasure. In the top auction houses of The Great Void, it would fetch a high price.
Holding it for a few moments, Qing Muling felt a resonance, and a giant blue lotus phantom appeared around him, enveloping the hot spring pool.
The bead quickly melted and shrank like snow under the sun, disappearing into the blue lotus phantom.
Moments later, the blue lotus phantom glowed brighter, becoming more solid, clearly benefiting from the bead.
“Oh? It works like this?” Qingyao Immortal Venerable was surprised. “That’s great. There are countless powerful creatures in the chaos of the vast void. Let’s catch more and nourish you well, Junior Brother!”
“Thank you, Senior Sister.”
Qing Muling nodded. He couldn’t handle these powerful creatures, but with Qingyao Immortal Venerable’s strength, it was no problem.
If they could hunt enough chaotic creatures, the Harmony Creation Blue Lotus could devour them, accelerating his growth and bringing him to maturity sooner.
After eliminating the attacker, the starship continued its rapid journey through the chaotic tides. Qing Muling estimated that the chaos of the vast void was the ideal environment for this innate Spirit Treasure.
Before long, there was more movement around them.