Free Web NovelChapter 2107: Chapter 2105: Weathering the Storm Together
Under the gentle glow, everyone began recounting their own experiences one by one.
Everyone was mostly scattered, although there were some coincidences where they gathered together, such as Bewitchment and Water Fairy entering the same stronghold, and Su Wan and Chong Yue, who always acted together.
However, they all only operated at the battlefield’s periphery, and although they sensed the changes at the center of the battlefield, they weren’t too clear on the specifics, because during these days, they were all in seclusion, impacting the Dao Realm, and rarely left their secluded places.
Once everyone finished speaking, Lu Ye began to recount what happened to him, selecting stories that could be shared and omitting those that were better left unsaid to avoid being too astonishing.
A moment later, Zi Ji nodded slightly, "It seems it is just as I thought."
"Fellow Daoist Zi Ji, did you notice something?" Chong Yue asked.
Zi Ji said, "Initially, when we were captured by the Spectral Sedan Chair, everyone speculated it would bring us to the Star Abyss, but instead it took us to the Cover Armor stellar space. This is quite perplexing."
Although Zi Ji was not quite in agreement, this mystery was also something Lu Ye couldn’t figure out.
Why did the Spectral Sedan Chair initially not take them to the Star Abyss, but then bring them there the second time?
"Moreover, according to what you all just said, various battlefields shifted almost simultaneously, and then the Spectral Sedan Chair appeared, gathering all eight of us." Zi Ji spoke slowly, his voice low, "Additionally, the battlefield’s upheaval is likely caused by the expansion of the Star Abyss Gate. The Cover Armor stellar space has been invaded by the Star Abyss for three hundred years, yet the Star Abyss Gate has shown no substantial change. However, the Star Abyss ambience invasion might trigger a qualitative transformation at a certain moment!"
Chen Li’s face changed, perhaps understanding what Zi Ji was saying: "Fellow Daoist Zi Ji, you mean..."
"If my predictions are correct, then the Cover Armor stellar space is likely to completely fall within a very short time, and when that happens, there won’t be a single Pure Land in the universe, and the Star Abyss ambience will fill every corner of stellar space, and unfortunately, even the Yiyuan stellar space might become part of the Star Abyss!"
Everyone fell silent.
Even though the Cover Armor stellar space wasn’t their birthplace, the thought of the Yiyuan stellar space falling so thoroughly still weighed heavily on their hearts.
"There is more than one stellar space, and looking at it this way, many might have already been eroded by the Star Abyss. Our own stellar space..." Chong Yue looked worried, observing that such signs were already evident at the All Phenomena Ocean stellar space; the situation would just worsen in the future. When that time comes, can cultivators from our stellar space do better than those from the Cover Armor stellar space?
"Our own stellar space has been invaded before," Lu Ye spoke.
The words startled everyone, and they turned their heads to look.
Bewitchment asked, "Fellow Daoist Lu, from where did you get this information?"
Lu Ye glanced at him, "You all must have heard of the Blood Ancestor, a terrifying formidable being who can shatter the supreme treasure of Mount Fangcun. Which stellar space do you think could birth such a formidable being?"
Chen Li’s expression shifted, "You mean..."
"The Blood Ancestor was birthed in the Star Abyss, and the Insect Race were also native to the Star Abyss. That Insect Race High Priest likely knows some secrets unknown to others, which is why previously, at the All Phenomena Ocean, the Insect Race could utilize certain methods to open the Star Abyss Gate! They connected with the Blood Race, probably intending to return to their ancestral roots after the Star Abyss invasion."
Everyone fell into deep thought, and after a while, Chen Li nodded, "Makes sense!"
Water Fairy’s eyes lit up, "Given this, the Star Abyss invasion is not unsolvable. Since our stellar space has dealt with such events before, there must be a solution."
"Unfortunately, there is no record in any race’s texts regarding this matter, likely due to the passage of time being too long."
"If talking about the most knowledgeable being in the universe, there is only one, and this being has a long lifespan, born alongside stellar space. He surely experienced the previous Star Abyss invasion, and if seeking this being for insight into Star Abyss matters, one might gain some understanding."
As people conversed, the path gradually opened, and unbidden, a name popped into their minds.
"Reincarnation Tree!"
Lu Ye blinked, suddenly his expression shifted, and he looked down at the back of his hand, a bold idea flashing through his mind.
While everyone was excited, Zi Ji spoke slowly, "Currently, we are drifting in the Star Abyss, utterly clueless on how to return, how can we seek out the Reincarnation Tree for intelligence?"
Chong Yue turned his head, looking at him wryly, "Fellow Daoist Zi Ji... perhaps say less."
Su Wan glanced around, "Spectral Sedan Chair... Even though it took us to the Cover Armor stellar space and then to the Star Abyss, perhaps one day it may suddenly appear again and take us back."
"Here’s hoping."
Such is the hope, ultimately...
"The situation is generally understood, and as we are now in the Star Abyss, the first thing we need to do is to secure the power of self-preservation. And to have sufficient self-preservation power in such a place, we need to forge our Dao foundation and enter the Dao Realm!" Zi Ji spoke while slowly looking at everyone, "Besides myself, is there any fellow Daoist who has forged their Dao foundation?"
Although everyone had speculated before, when Zi Ji personally confirmed his success in forging the Dao foundation, they couldn’t help but feel envious.
"Isn’t there a single one?" Zi Ji looked at everyone and sighed, "Since this is the case, then I ask all of you to retreat and cultivate diligently in the coming days, entering the Dao Realm as soon as possible. During this time, I will protect you all, and if you have any doubts or difficulties, come find me. I will share without reserve!"
As soon as he spoke, several people looked at him with extreme astonishment, never expecting that the number one Great Demon Venerable of Zixuan would act with such frankness and generosity.
Bewitchment Shadow was the first to shout, "Fellow Daoist Zi Ji, high virtue!"
The others also expressed their gratitude one after another.
Zi Ji replied calmly, "We, having fallen into such dire straits, should indeed help each other. Perhaps in the future, I might have places where I’ll need to seek help from you all."
"Absolutely!" Chen Li nodded continuously, "To this vast Star Abyss, we are now but guests; we must huddle together for warmth. The Star Abyss ambience here is intense, and for us, forming our Dao foundation should not be an issue—it’s just a matter of time. When the time comes, the eight of us in the Dao Realm can join forces and venture through this vast Star Abyss."
"Then I shall await good tidings from Fellow Daoists." Zi Ji gave a slight bow, then his gaze turned toward Lu Ye: "Lu Yiye, we need to have a good talk."
Lu Ye met his gaze: "I have the same thought!"
The originally warm atmosphere suddenly froze; everyone more or less perceived the grudges between Zi Ji and Lu Ye, and Bewitchment Shadow and Chong Yue were even more aware of the specifics.
Chong Yue frowned immediately: "Fellow Daoist Zi Ji, weren’t you just advocating mutual assistance? This is the Star Abyss; can we set aside starry grudges temporarily?"
Water Fairy also gently advised, "Yes, Fellow Daoist Zi Ji, as the saying goes, it’s better to resolve enmities than to make them. Although I don’t know what grudges exist between you two, when will the cycle of retribution end?"
Zi Ji gave them a faint glance, waving his hand: "Don’t worry, if I wanted to kill him, I would have done so long ago, I wouldn’t wait until now. It’s just that some things... must be discussed to avoid having thorns in our hearts, making future interactions unpleasant!"
Hearing this, Lu Ye was somewhat surprised. He had originally thought Zi Ji would take this chance to seek revenge, but now it seemed he had no such intention?
During the battle in the Jade Conch Galaxy, Zixuan had lost ten Demon Venerables and ten thousand demon cultivators—a grudge so deep, could Zi Ji really let it go?
After pondering for a moment, Lu Ye looked toward Chong Yue and Water Fairy, smiling slightly: "Thank you both for your kind intentions. I also want to have a good talk with the Demon Venerable. The Demon Venerable’s word is golden; if he says he won’t kill me, naturally he won’t act. You two needn’t worry."
Chong Yue and Water Fairy both nodded.
In this situation, Zi Ji had no need to employ means that would sow discord internally.
Soon everyone dispersed, each seeking a place to cultivate; even Jiu Yan left.
Only Lu Ye and Zi Ji remained seated across from each other at a distance of a few yards.
With eyes meeting, Zi Ji slowly spoke: "You have quite the courage; no wonder you caused such a stir in the All Phenomena Ocean!"
He didn’t sense any vigilance or worry from Lu Ye.
"Demon Venerable over-praises!" Lu Ye replied calmly.
"Do you know why I don’t kill you?" Zi Ji asked.
"I invite the Demon Venerable’s guidance!"
Zi Ji didn’t respond immediately, instead fell silent for a moment before continuing: "Regarding the attack on the Nine Provinces, I was unaware. For the past hundreds of years, I have been in secluded cultivation, indifferent to worldly matters, thus the affair with the Nine Provinces has nothing to do with me. However, the loss of so many elites from Zixuan is a fact. By rights, I should kill you to honor the spirits of those young lads who died."
As he said this, a hint of killing intent flashed in his eyes, but it quickly subsided.
"If you were alone, killing would be easy! But now you are the master of the All Phenomena Ocean, with a vast force under your command. If I were to kill you here, once the news spreads back to the All Phenomena Ocean, the forces between you and me cannot coexist. With Star Abyss’s invasion, all forces in the Cover Armor stellar space should unite, casting aside sect differences, achieving internal harmony, yet still failing to withstand the great tide. If our home stellar space’s forces were to fall into conflict, it might fare no better than the Cover Armor stellar space."
"Demon Venerable sees clearly!" Lu Ye now truly praised. After understanding the various aspects of the Star Abyss invasion, he too did not want to escalate conflicts with Zi Ji, otherwise even if Zi Ji really forged a Dao foundation, he could still be killed.
Before the descending great tide, grudges in the stellar space no longer mattered.
He understood this point, and so did Zi Ji.
Shifting the topic, Lu Ye then said: "Is the Demon Venerable certain we can return to our home stellar space?"
Zi Ji’s gaze was deep: "There will always be a chance. At worst, during a Star Abyss invasion, a Star Abyss Gate will connect through; once the corresponding Star Abyss Gate is found, naturally we can return." His eyes became sharp, intently watching Lu Ye: "Today, I don’t kill you, am even willing to shelter you, but you must agree to one condition of mine!"
Lu Ye raised an eyebrow: "Please tell, Demon Venerable."
"The descending great tide is unstoppable. When that day comes, if we have the chance to return to our home stellar space, I hope when Zixuan faces difficulties, you can lend a helping hand! Don’t say you lack the capability; I know someone under you controls a stellar space supreme treasure; against such a treasure’s might, no matter how strong the Star Abyss cultivators are, it’s useless."
Lu Ye immediately understood, this was the main reason Zi Ji was willing to set aside grudges. No matter how grandly he spoke before, it was all a prelude.
"No problem!"
