20demayo Chapter 1973 The weak and the strong
Chapter 1973 The weak and the strong
Chapter 1973 The weak and the strong
Inside the Linyuan Pavilion, the aroma of tea wafted through the air, yet it could not dispel the somber atmosphere.
The conditions proposed by the various forces on the primordial continent that were willing to accept beings from the lower realms were far more than just "not low"; they were practically heavy shackles.
It profoundly and starkly illustrates the iron law of this primordial continent: the survival of the fittest!
Some forces require that all those who are accepted must swear an oath to the Heavenly Dao, pledging eternal loyalty to their sect, and that their descendants must not leave.
Some require that at least one-tenth of one's own divine soul essence be offered up and placed under their control.
Some are even more demanding, requiring the recipient to sign some kind of bizarre bloodline contract, transferring part of their cultivated power to the core disciples of their sect, essentially making them "resources" for others' cultivation.
Even those with relatively "lenient" conditions mostly require the recipient to fight and explore secret realms for them unpaid for a long time to come, and may be sent to perform extremely difficult tasks at any time.
Most of these forces weren't really taking over; they were clearly taking advantage of the chaos!
An indescribable sense of suffocation surged in Chen Fei's chest!
Fortunately, not all forces are like this, but those are all forces that are significantly weaker, and no one can say for sure whether there are other hidden dangers among them.
After a long silence, Chen Fei slowly shifted his gaze from the suffocating light screen.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down, and looked at the old man opposite him who remained calm, asking a question that had been lingering in his mind for a long time.
"senior……"
Chen Fei's voice had a slightly hoarse quality that was barely perceptible:
"I have a question. Is it possible to take only one powerful being from my plane away? And then have him take all the other beings that need to be taken into his own refined dimensional cave? Would this greatly reduce the source points required? Or..."
Chen Fei paused, his gaze flickering slightly: "Could we skip coming to this Primordial Continent and instead head directly to some other relatively peaceful planes of the sixteenth rank or higher? Would that be better?"
The old man listened to Chen Fei's words without showing any surprise. Instead, he revealed a knowing, faint smile. That smile seemed to carry a hint of world-weariness and a sense of accustomedness to the similar thoughts that young people often have.
The old man had seen far too many cultivators like Chen Fei, facing various problems because their world was about to be invaded by demonic cultivators.
For Chen Fei, this was the first time a plane had been invaded by demonic cultivators, but for the old man, this was nothing new. In fact, it could be said that at this very moment, countless planes on the Primordial Continent were experiencing the same thing.
This was true in the past, it is true now, and it will most likely be true in the future!
"Young hero, you want to ask..."
The old man's voice was calm, yet his words hit the nail on the head: "Is it possible to avoid consuming most of the Origin Points in this way? And is it possible to avoid the harsh conditions imposed by the major powers of the Primordial Continent and find a better lower-level plane?"
"Your wisdom is profound!"
Chen Fei nodded, frankly admitting, "This junior does indeed have this doubt, after all..."
Chen Fei glanced at the many harsh conditions on the light screen and said with a wry smile, "The conditions that the forces in the Primordial Continent are willing to accept are really too harsh."
"If the beings of the Xuan Yu Realm could directly travel to other planes of the sixteenth rank or higher, they could temporarily avoid the wrath of those demonic cultivators and continue their cultivation in a relatively normal environment. Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"
After all, these are the Source Points earned through the Life and Death Arena, which are related to future cultivation resources and survival capital, so we should save them as much as possible.
Upon hearing this, the old man smiled slightly, but instead of directly answering Chen Fei's question, he asked in return:
"Before answering your question, young hero, let me ask you a question first. Do you know why, once a plane is completely invaded and devoured by demonic cultivators, all the power that all living beings in the plane have painstakingly cultivated vanishes in an instant, or even dies and their cultivation is extinguished?"
Chen Fei paused for a moment, then nodded and said, "I wonder if it's because the power cultivated by all living beings in the plane originates from the plane itself?"
From the absorbed spiritual energy of heaven and earth to the refined spiritual materials, everything bears the unique 'mark' of this plane.
Once the plane's origin is devoured, the source of this mark will naturally absorb other powers, and the power within living beings will be forcibly stripped away and dissipated!
"Excellent!" The old man nodded approvingly: "What you said, young hero, has touched on the core issue, that's exactly right."
The old man picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and continued to explain:
"Therefore, to ensure the safe departure of the beings in the plane where you are, it is not simply a matter of taking them out of the plane barrier."
The most crucial step is to completely strip away the Heavenly Dao imprint that is closely connected to the origin of the Xuan Yu Realm from them as they leave.
"However……"
The old man's tone became more serious: "This process of peeling off the mark is itself an extraction of the Xuan Yu Realm's primordial power. Because the spiritual materials you use for cultivation and the laws of heaven and earth you comprehend are themselves part of the Xuan Yu Realm's celestial and territorial status. What you are taking away is its foundation."
“Even if the Heavenly Dao of the Xuan Yu Realm has no intelligence and only instincts, it will still frantically try to stop you. Because your large-scale departure means a sharp decline in its own power, and it may even fall directly to a lower plane level.”
"And the 'Source Point' of the Martial Arts Arena of All Heavens and Myriad Realms has an important function: to 'pay' for the rule cost required to remove the imprint and resist the instinctive obstruction of the Heavenly Dao of the plane!"
The old man's words were like a thunderclap, exploding in Chen Fei's mind and instantly enlightening him. They also completely dispelled the last glimmer of hope that had just risen in his heart.
I was oversimplifying things.
Cultivators above the tenth rank, especially those in the Sovereign Realm, have all refined a massive amount of spiritual materials of high rank. These spiritual materials are all manifestations of the rules of the Xuan Yu Realm and are part of the Xuan Yu Realm's origin.
No matter how vast the dimensional cave of Venerable Tianxuan is, it can only contain the physical bodies and souls of living beings, but it cannot sever the deep-rooted primordial connection between them and the Xuanyu Realm.
This mark is etched deep within the very essence of their being.
To leave safely, this connection must be severed. And severing the connection requires consuming Source Points to suppress the Heavenly Dao instincts of the Xuan Yu Realm.
It turns out that the seemingly expensive thirty-two Origin Points were not just the cost of a simple boat ticket, but also the price of a Blade of Severing Bonds, used to sever ties and gain a glimmer of hope.
"It seems that young hero has already grasped the key to it."
Seeing Chen Fei's bewildered yet grave expression, the old man smiled slightly and continued, "So, regarding your question, young hero, about whether it's possible to choose another plane of the sixteenth rank or higher instead of the Primordial Continent..."
"The answer is, of course, yes."
The old man's words made Chen Fei's eyes light up slightly, but his next words made Chen Fei's heart sink again.
"But I do not recommend that you do so, young hero."
"Why?" Chen Fei asked, frowning.
"There are three reasons."
The old man extended his finger and calmly stated:
"Firstly, the Heavenly Dao rules of those planes above the sixteenth rank are already relatively complete and exclusive. As 'outsiders' who intrude, even if you are not regarded as 'intruders' and directly eliminated, you will inevitably be subjected to great suppression and rejection."
The price to pay for obtaining permission to reside and cultivate is no less demanding than that of the major powers in the Primordial Continent, and may even be more so.
Furthermore, powerful beings from other planes will come specifically to kill you, hoping to gain rewards from the Heavenly Dao.
"Secondly, and most importantly."
The old man's gaze turned serious: "Once you enter those planes and begin to absorb their spiritual energy and comprehend their laws, you will soon be branded with the 'Heavenly Dao Imprint' of that plane again."
"At that time, your life and death will be deeply tied to that plane, sharing both glory and loss. If that plane encounters any calamity in the future, you will also be affected, and may even face the same predicament as today again."
The old man refilled Chen Fei's teacup, his voice softening as he said, "Rather than entrusting your fate to someone else's roof and enduring repeated upheavals, it's better to choose the Primordial Continent from the very beginning."
"This place is the center of all the heavens and myriad realms, the source of all rules, and the oldest and most primordial existence."
It doesn't belong to any individual or power, and no entity can truly dominate it. Here, although the competition is fierce, as long as you have the ability, there are limitless possibilities; at least you won't suffer the tragedy of losing your entire foundation due to the destruction of the plane.
The old man's words, like a resounding bell, echoed in Chen Fei's mind.
Chen Fei's eyes flickered as he rapidly weighed the pros and cons in his mind.
Compared to the potential risks and uncertainties of other planes, the harsh conditions imposed on the original continental forces seem to offer a clearer path and a more secure future, even though they are difficult.
Moreover, once he enters those planes above the sixteenth rank, they probably won't allow Chen Fei to freely enter and exit the martial arts arena of all realms like this anymore.
"call!"
After a long while, Chen Fei exhaled a long breath, and the hesitation in his eyes gradually faded.
Chen Fei picked up the slightly cooled cup of tea on the table and drank it all in one gulp.
Immediately, Chen Fei stood up, bowed respectfully to the old man, and said in a deep voice, "Thank you for your guidance, senior. I now wish to exchange for the power to lead the beings of my Xuan Yu Realm away, however..."
Chen Fei hesitated for a moment, then said, "Could you please temporarily condense that power in my hands, senior? After I return to the Xuan Yu Realm and discuss it with everyone, we can then decide which faction to go to."
This was an extremely important decision, concerning the future of hundreds of millions of lives, so Chen Fei naturally had to discuss it with others.
"Of course you can!"
The old man nodded with a smile, as if he had expected this, and then he gently waved his sleeve.
"Buzz!"
Chen Fei clearly felt that his stored source points had instantly decreased by thirty-two points.
Immediately afterwards, an indescribable, immense power seemed to be drawn from the depths of the rules in the dark. In the next instant, a dazzling, milky-white beam of light, containing endless mysterious runes, crashed down from the depths of the sea of clouds outside the pavilion and shone directly in front of Chen Fei.
Within the pillar of light, the immense power of rules began to rapidly condense and compress, eventually transforming into a palm-sized, warm, and smooth jade marrow with what appeared to be a flowing river of stars inside, which slowly floated before Chen Fei.
Chen Fei reached out and solemnly took the jade stone in his hand.
The chalcedony felt warm to the touch, as if it were alive, and it formed a subtle connection with his mind. Chen Fei knew that this was the hope for saving the billions of lives in the Xuan Yu Realm.
Chen Fei turned around, ready to leave, but stopped abruptly after taking just one step.
A thought suddenly flashed through Chen Fei's mind: he remembered the Yuan Demons within the Xuan Yu Realm.
Chen Fei turned around again, looked at the old man, a complex expression on his face, and asked:
"Senior, there is one more thing. If there are cultivators in my plane who are similar to demonic cultivators but are not invaders, what would happen if they also went to those cultivator forces?"
After all, they are allies, and the key is that in the recent battle with the Heavenly Demons, these Yuan Demons did not hold us back.
Upon hearing this, the old man smiled knowingly, seemingly unsurprised that Chen Fei would ask such a question.
"The Way and the Demon are inherently opposed; this is the rule, and also destiny!"
The old man's voice was calm yet firm: "If a demonic cultivator steps into the territory of a cultivator's territory, there will only be one outcome: they will be immediately detected, regarded as a threat, and eliminated without exception."
Chen Fei's brows furrowed slightly.
"but……"
The old man changed the subject: "Young hero, you don't need to worry about this, nor will you need to spend any extra source points. When you activate this Boundary-Breaking Jade Essence, you only need to clearly match those demonic cultivators with suitable demonic cultivator forces, and they will be accepted."
"After all, the power of the demonic path is equally vast on the primordial continent. They are also very willing to accept 'fresh blood' from the lower realms."
The old man's last words carried a profound meaning.
"I see. Thank you for your explanation, senior. I will take my leave now!" Chen Fei bowed deeply to the old man again. This time, without any hesitation, he turned and strode out of Lin Yuan Pavilion.
Chen Fei's figure quickly became blurred in the clouds and mist outside the pavilion, and eventually disappeared completely.
Inside the pavilion, tranquility returned once more, with only the lingering aroma of tea.
The old man looked in the direction where Chen Fei had disappeared, a faint smile appearing on his lips. He slowly picked up the teapot, poured himself a cup of fresh tea, took a gentle sniff, and then slowly began to sip it.
It's as if what one is savoring is not just the taste of tea, but also the countless similar twists and turns of fate in this world, and the cause and effect cycle that was predetermined in the dark.
The Martial Arts Arena of All Realms, in its vast and bustling central square.
Chen Fei's figure emerged silently from a barely perceptible ripple in space.
His expression was solemn, and a gloomy atmosphere hung over his brows, forming a stark contrast with the excited, thoughtful, or expectant cultivators of various races around him.
Without pausing for a moment, Chen Fei's mind stirred, and the power of space enveloped his entire body like a gentle stream of water. The next moment, his figure began to blur and become transparent, as if he had merged into the invisible void.
The scene before my eyes changed rapidly. It was no longer the magnificent buildings and bustling crowds of the martial arts arena, but a bizarre and distorted time tunnel.
Countless dimensional barriers flashed past like a revolving lantern, bringing an indescribable sense of traversal and alienation.
However, in the blink of an eye, the spatial fluctuations around him suddenly subsided.
A familiar scent of air, carrying a faint aroma of fire and metal, filled my nostrils.
Chen Fei looked closely and realized that he had returned to the familiar Heart Forging Abode secret room. The defensive runes engraved on the surrounding walls were emitting a faint but stable light.
Everything was exactly the same as when he left.
But Chen Fei felt no relief; instead, his heart felt even heavier.
The palpitation that originated from the depths of his soul did not diminish upon returning to the Xuan Yu Realm; on the contrary, it became clearer and more urgent.
It was as if an invisible bronze bell was ringing frantically in his ears, urging him on.
Without the slightest hesitation, Chen Fei's figure vanished from the Forging Heart Residence in an instant. The next moment, he appeared on the other side of Forging Peak, outside the ancient stone hall where Chang Xiwen usually forged weapons and cultivated in seclusion.
Outside the stone hall, a wave of heat emanated from within, mixed with the strange fragrance of various divine materials being smelted. Clearly, Chang Xiwen was busy inside the hall.
As soon as Chen Fei appeared, the heavy doors of the stone hall, engraved with flame patterns, emitted a deep hum and slowly opened inward.
A figure, accompanied by a scorching yet steady aura, stepped out from the door. It was Chang Xiwen, the peak master of the Forging Peak, dressed in a simple gray robe, with a ruddy complexion and piercing eyes.
With a hint of doubt on his face, he looked at Chen Fei, who had suddenly arrived, and said in a deep voice, "Chen Fei, what brings you in such a hurry?"
Chang Xiwen could clearly sense that although Chen Fei's aura was steady, there was an undisguised urgency and seriousness in his eyes.
This was completely different from Chen Fei's usual calm and composed demeanor, which remained unchanged even in the face of a collapsing mountain.
Chen Fei looked at Chang Xiwen and, without any pleasantries or formalities, went straight to the point: "Senior Chang, I have an extremely urgent matter to attend to and must pay my respects to you."
Upon hearing Chen Fei's words, Chang Xiwen's expression immediately turned serious.
His gaze lingered for a moment on Chen Fei's extremely solemn face. Although Chen Fei did not explicitly state what it was about, Chang Xiwen could already sense the seriousness of the situation from his tone and expression.
Chang Xiwen had absolute trust in Chen Fei. Since Chen Fei said it was "extremely urgent," it must be a matter of earth-shattering importance concerning the survival of the Xuan Yu Realm.
"Okay, come with me!"
Without the slightest hesitation or question, Chang Xiwen gave a crisp and decisive reply. With a surge of Yuan energy, he transformed into a streak of light, soaring into the sky and heading straight towards the main peak.
Chen Fei immediately followed closely behind. The two streaks of light, one after the other, tore through the sky at an extreme speed, disappearing in the blink of an eye above the Forging Peak.
Tianxuan Sect, main peak.
This place is the core of power and authority in the entire Xuanyu Realm, and it is also the most fertile cultivation ground with the richest spiritual energy and the clearest laws.
At the summit, a secluded courtyard, shrouded in a misty aura and light clouds, sits quietly.
At this moment, Venerable Tianxuan was sitting cross-legged on a futon in the courtyard, his eyes closed, his body emanating a faint yet profound fluctuation of law. His face was still noticeably pale, and his brows revealed an undisguised weariness and weakness.
The earth-shattering, mutually destructive battle with the Destroyer Venerable left Venerable Tianxuan with extremely severe injuries. Not only were his physical body and Yuan Power depleted, but his origin and Dao foundation were also damaged, which would not be able to recover in a short time.
At this moment, Venerable Tianxuan was fully utilizing his cultivation technique, absorbing the essence of heaven and earth from the Xuanyu Realm, and slowly repairing the injuries within his body.
Suddenly, Venerable Tianxuan's brows twitched slightly, and a look of surprise appeared on his face.
"Hmm? Xiwen and Chen Fei?"
Venerable Tianxuan sensed two familiar auras approaching the main peak at an extremely fast speed.
Why are they all here at this time, and why are they breathing so rapidly? Has something unexpected happened outside?
A bad feeling quietly crept into Venerable Tianxuan's heart.
"Whoosh!"
Two streaks of light descended, revealing the figures of Chang Xiwen and Chen Fei.
Chang Xiwen strode forward to the tightly closed wooden door of the courtyard, straightened his robes, bowed, and said, "Your Excellency, Chang Xiwen and Chen Fei have important matters to discuss with you!"
Chen Fei also stood behind Chang Xiwen with a bow, his expression solemn.
After a moment of silence in the courtyard, Venerable Tianxuan's slightly weary yet still steady voice slowly rang out: "Come in."
"Squeak!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the wooden gate to the courtyard opened silently inwards without any wind.
Chang Xiwen and Chen Fei exchanged a glance and stepped inside.
Inside the courtyard, the scenery is serene and elegant, with exotic flowers and rare herbs emitting a faint fragrance.
Venerable Tianxuan remained seated cross-legged, but he had opened his eyes. His gaze fell on the two of them, especially lingering for a moment on Chen Fei's extremely solemn face.
"What happened?"
The Heavenly Profound Venerable's voice was calm, but his eyes held a hint of inquiry and solemnity. He could sense the unusual tension emanating from the two of them.
Chang Xiwen did not answer immediately, but turned slightly to look at Chen Fei beside her.
Chen Fei stepped forward, bowed solemnly to Venerable Tianxuan once again, and said in a deep voice, "Reporting to Venerable, I have not been in seclusion within the sect recently, but have gone to a place called the 'All Heavens and Myriad Realms Martial Arts Arena'."
"The Martial Arts Arena of All Realms?"
Upon hearing this, Venerable Tianxuan's face, which had been carrying a gentle smile, suddenly froze, and his pupils involuntarily contracted slightly.
Venerable Tianxuan had heard of this name before, and not long ago at that.
The envoy from the ancient Heavenly Court, Di Tianling, had mentioned this mysterious and terrifying place when he spoke with him.
According to Di Tianling, it was a supreme place that transcended countless planes and was located in the core area of the primordial continent. It was a stage where true peerless geniuses and ancient prodigies fought to the death and competed for heaven-defying opportunities.
There, the strongest beings from all the heavens and myriad realms gather, and the competition is far more brutal than imagined.
However, the corresponding rewards are also incredibly generous, even including mysterious powers that directly enhance one's comprehension and talent.
It was precisely because he knew what this martial arts arena of all realms represented that Venerable Tianxuan felt so shocked and incredulous at this moment.
Chen Fei actually went there? How did he get there? What did he experience there?
Chang Xiwen, standing to the side, looked blank and confused when he heard the name "All Realms Martial Arts Arena".
He had never heard of such a place in the Xuan Yu Realm, but when he saw the expression on Venerable Tian Xuan's face, his heart skipped a beat.
An astonishing thought flashed through Chang Xiwen's mind in an instant.
Could it be that this Martial Arts Arena of All Realms is not a secret realm within the Xuan Yu Realm, but is located outside the Xuan Yu Realm? On that vast and boundless primordial continent?
The moment this thought came to mind, Chang Xiwen's eyes widened involuntarily, and her breathing became somewhat rapid.
The things beyond the realm have always been mysterious and unattainable legends for cultivators of the Xuan Yu Realm. How could Chen Fei have already set foot there?
The atmosphere in the courtyard became extremely quiet for a moment, with only the soft rustling of the wind through the flowers and plants.
After all, Venerable Tianxuan was a supreme being of the Xuanyu Realm who had weathered countless storms. He quickly recovered from his shock, took a deep breath, suppressed the turmoil in his heart, looked at Chen Fei, and said in a deep voice, "Could you explain in detail?"
"nature!"
Chen Fei nodded, gathered her thoughts, and began to narrate in a steady yet clear voice:
"By chance, I condensed a canopy of fortune and tried to make a wish with it, hoping to find a way to quickly improve my cultivation and deal with the current crisis in the Xuan Yu Realm."
"In the end, the Qi Luck Canopy connected with the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Ranking, guiding the junior to the martial arts arena of all the heavens and myriad worlds. It is not a specific plane, but more like a special arena and trading place opened up by supreme power, connecting all the heavens and myriad worlds."
"There, cultivators can participate in life-or-death duels and fight against demonic cultivators of the same level..."
Chen Fei's words, concise yet profound, struck like thunderbolts into the hearts of Venerable Tianxuan and Chang Xiwen, giving them a glimpse into a magnificent new world.
"I was fortunate enough to win several matches in a row."
Chen Fei continued, his tone still calm, but the content was becoming increasingly astonishing: "Perhaps because of the power of the martial arts arena, my spiritual senses have become exceptionally sharp. Not long ago, I suddenly felt a strong sense of alarm."
"This junior dared not delay and immediately spent Source Points to ask the spirit of the training ground to calculate the result..."
Chen Fei's voice suddenly became extremely heavy: "Calculations show that a powerful figure is setting up a formation called 'World-Suppressing Formation' outside the Xuan Yu Realm. Their goal is to forcibly open a stable passage to my Xuan Yu Realm."
"Based on calculations, this formation will be completed in a few days!"
"This junior suspects that the strength of the powerful figure who has come is probably no less than that of the Destruction Venerable, and may even be stronger!"
The last few words, each one like a heavy hammer, struck the hearts of Venerable Tianxuan and Chang Xiwen.
"This……"
Chang Xiwen, who was standing to the side, could no longer suppress his shock, and his face turned deathly pale.
Only now did Chang Xiwen fully understand why Chen Fei's strength had advanced to such an astonishing level in such a short period of time.
It turns out that Chen Fei was fighting in such a cruel place, and every increase in strength was probably accompanied by unimaginable risks and life-or-death tests.
But now, none of that matters anymore.
The key point is that another powerful figure is coming, someone whose strength may be even more terrifying than the Destroyer, and it will be arriving within the next few days!
"Chen Fei, has the exact date been calculated for the martial arts training ground?" Chang Xiwen asked urgently, her voice trembling slightly.
Venerable Tianxuan did not speak. He slowly lowered his head, his gaze falling on his still somewhat pale hands.
A deathly silence fell over the courtyard.
An indescribable sense of heavy pressure and despair permeated the entire courtyard.
A single Destruction Venerable has already forced the entire Xuan Yu Realm to exert all its strength, and even required him to sacrifice a portion of his own essence to barely manage a draw and temporarily force the opponent back.
Now, another being has emerged whose strength may even surpass that of the Destroyer...
Moreover, this was under the circumstances that he was severely injured and his strength was greatly diminished!
What can the Xuan Yu Realm use to resist?
Should we seek help from Di Tianling, the envoy of the ancient Heavenly Court? Request that the forces behind him intervene?
But will the other party agree?
Even if they agree, what price would they have to pay? Could the Xuan Yu Realm afford it?
Thoughts flashed through Venerable Tianxuan's mind like a revolving lantern, only to be rejected by him one by one. It seemed that no matter how he thought about it, he had already fallen into a complete dead end.
Finally, Venerable Tianxuan slowly raised his head. His deep, star-like eyes were filled with weariness, heaviness, and a profound sense of powerlessness.
Venerable Tianxuan's gaze passed over Chang Xiwen, whose face was full of anxiety, and finally landed on Chen Fei, who, although his expression was solemn, still maintained a calm and firm look in his eyes.
"Chen Fei, besides informing me of this matter, have you come up with any countermeasures?"
(End of this chapter)