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Chapter 546: Traversing the World, Understanding the Earth
Chapter 546: Traversing the World, Understanding the Earth
Li Xuan and his three martial brothers, along with the Canghai Turtle pretending to be dead and shrunk inside its shell, hid in the mountains for two days.
"So it's not a battle for the Hongze Heaven and Earth?"
Li Xuan looked towards Hongze Heaven and Earth and saw no signs of any powerful beings. The surroundings were hazy and desolate, devoid of any life.
"Let's go to Hongze Heaven and Earth!"
Assured that there were no powerful beings nearby and that the unknown battle had nothing to do with Hongze, Li Xuan decided to stop hiding.
Meng Chong, Fang Hao, and Jiang Buling also stepped out of the flying boat.
"Old Turtle, you stay here for now. If you sense anyone approaching, send us a message immediately!"
Li Xuan kicked the turtle's shell gently as he instructed.
Canghai Turtle poked its head out and nodded. "Don't worry. I'll keep a close eye on our surroundings. I'll let you know right away if anyone comes close."
The turtle seemed to heave a sigh of relief.
Hongze Heaven and Earth was a source of terror for it. Just being in sight of it made it struggle to control its fear.
If it were to step into Hongze Heaven and Earth, it might collapse on the spot, only able to crawl and move slowly, just as it had taken a long, long time to escape from Hongze in the past.
If not for its extreme fear and the lengthy escape, its injuries would not have been so severe.
Li Xuan and his martial brothers cautiously approached Hongze Heaven and Earth. Although they detected no imminent danger, they remained vigilant.
"Hongze Heaven and Earth is dead and silent. It's as if an ominous aura hangs over it, or perhaps the aura of death. Be careful, there may be unknown dangers lurking."
Li Xuan transmitted his concerns to Meng Chong and the others.
"In this area of Hongze Heaven and Earth, there isn't even a single true spirit. Either the desolation of Hongze has frightened them away, or there's a powerful true spirit lurking within," Jiang Buling said gravely.
"That's a possibility we can't rule out," Li Xuan nodded. "With my Minor Eye of the Heavenly Dao, I can't peer into the entire Heaven and Earth, nor what's beneath the deep underground."
The group proceeded with caution, suppressing their auras as they drew closer to Hongze Heaven and Earth. The closer they got, the more they felt a suffocating gloom washing over them.
That desolate and silent aura seemed to subtly affect their minds.
"If other Supreme Realm warriors were to enter, I fear it wouldn't be long before their mental state is affected," Meng Chong said solemnly.
"A silent and dead heaven and earth—this is the first of its kind, at least as far as we know. We can't predict what might happen, or what strange things might be born from it," Fang Hao added, frowning. "I wish we had asked Master about this before we left."
"The unknown is what makes exploration worthwhile. Master must want us to discover these things for ourselves," Li Xuan smiled.
"Big brother makes sense!" Fang Hao nodded, realizing the truth in his words.
Finally, the group arrived at the edge of Hongze Heaven and Earth. Instead of rushing in, they stood quietly, observing the scene before them.
Normally, a Heaven and Earth would have its own set of rules, creating a barrier, attracting spiritual energy and unrefined qi, enveloping the entire realm like a massive ball of spiritual energy.
But the silent Hongze Heaven and Earth had no such rules or barriers, and there was no sign of the spiritual energy that should have surrounded it.
Although it lacked the enveloping spiritual energy, the violent spiritual energy of the Unrefined Land swirled around it. After all, the Unrefined Land's fierce spiritual energy was everywhere.
Looking down, the terrain was uneven, with a large, sunken area that seemed to be the domain of the Hongze Sea.
Hongze Heaven and Earth was a water-based realm, with water making up more than ninety percent of it. The slightly sunken land was where the lakes and oceans used to be.
The entire realm was intact, but the surface was covered in mottled cracks, broken peaks, and faint traces of past battles.
It was desolate and silent, devoid of any signs of life.
"Let's go in and experience this silent heaven and earth. We can also try to understand it and see if there's a way to restore its vitality. This was the heaven and earth opened up by Hongze, so we can also try to understand it and see how it differs from our own," Li Xuan said in a low voice.
"Sister Meng is skilled in the Dao of Alchemy Medicine. When it comes to restoring vitality, she might have a better idea. Maybe she can figure out a way to save this heaven and earth," he added, turning to Meng Chong with a smile.
"Sister Meng's abilities are impressive. Even if she can't restore vitality to the entire heaven and earth, she should be able to bring life to a small area, causing grass and trees to grow," Fang Hao agreed.
As they spoke, the four of them finally set foot on the land of Hongze Heaven and Earth, feeling the desolation and aridity as they looked out at the lifeless landscape.
Like the shattered boulders, it seemed that the collapsed mountain in the distance had fallen from there.
"Could this gloomy aura in Hongze Heaven and Earth be related to that person from the Unchanging Temple?"
Xu Yan suddenly spoke up, deep in thought.
The injuries on Tai He and Tai Kun also carried a sinister aura, as if portending something ominous.
The aura on the two of them originated from the master of the Unchanging Temple!
According to Canghai Turtle, Hongze was killed within the heavens and earth by that person from the Unchanging Temple, who then devoured everything, including all the vitality and essence of this realm.
Could the lingering gloomy aura shrouding Hongze Heaven and Earth be the remnant of the Unchanging Temple master's aura from that time?
"If it really is the remnant aura of the Unchanging Temple master, this person is quite sinister, and their strength is terrifying. For the aura to remain until now and continue to affect this dead realm is truly frightening!"
Jiang Buling said in a low voice.
After all, Hongze Heaven and Earth was located within the Unchanging Land, and since it had already fallen silent, it was constantly swept by the violent spiritual energy and unchanging aura of the Unchanging Land. Even if there were remnants of aura, they would have dissipated quickly.
For it to linger until now and influence the dead realm, one could only imagine how formidable it was!
"This gloomy aura is different from the one on Tai He and Tai Kun. The changes in Hongze Heaven and Earth, combined with the dead aura of the silent realm, must have merged with the remnant aura of that person," Xu Yan said thoughtfully.
Looking out at the vast and silent realm, Xu Yan spoke again, "Although this realm is dead, it is still intact. Perhaps we can find traces of Hongze's creation of this heaven and earth, and also try to understand its structure and wonders."
"Let's split up and explore. This realm is vast, and we can each seek our own place of enlightenment. Although it seems unusual that the realm is dead, we haven't discovered any dangers yet. Moreover, if we do encounter an unbeatable threat, we still have Master's jade talisman," Meng Chong said, looking around.
"Second Senior Brother is right!" Fang Hao and Jiang Buling nodded in agreement.
"Be careful, all of you. Try to conceal your auras as much as possible. Although we have Master's jade talisman and won't face life-threatening situations, we must remain cautious. We can't be careless just because of Master's protection," Xu Yan said solemnly.
"Rest assured, Senior Brother. We understand!" Meng Chong and the other two said solemnly.
"I'll go to that area with more mountains over there," Fang Hao said, pointing to the left front.
"Since Fourth Senior Brother is going there, I'll explore this area then," Jiang Buling said, choosing his direction.
The four martial brothers parted ways and began their exploration in different directions.
Xu Yan watched his three junior brothers leave before continuing on his way. With each step, the invisible sword intent beneath his feet merged with the heavens and the earth, moving silently as if it were a part of the realm itself.
The sword intent transformed into rivers and mountains, blending with the dead land, and the mountains and rivers formed by the sword intent also took on a desolate appearance.
Xu Yan walked slowly, exploring and comprehending the realm, as well as his own realm, and the sword intent continued to change.
Gradually, a hint of death seemed to emerge from the sword intent, as if it were the sword intent of death, embodying the essence of mortality.
Wherever he passed, the land seemed to grow even more desolate.
Xu Yan was immersed in his enlightenment, walking step by step through the realm, comprehending it and his own realm, and understanding his sword intent.
"The Creation Realm is about creating the heavens and the earth. If I were in the Creation Realm, I could bring vitality back to this dead realm and make it flourish once more..."
Xu Yan thought to himself.
The realm was vast, and Xu Yan didn't walk fast, as if he was measuring the land with his footsteps and comprehending the differences in various parts of the realm.
Although he had traveled across the Tai Cang Heaven and Earth in the past, it wasn't the same as traversing an entire realm, nor was it the same as truly understanding it.
Moreover, due to the existence of the Dao Rules and the presence of countless creatures, the Tai Cang Heaven and Earth was too complex to truly grasp its essence.
Now, as Xu Yan walked through the silent and desolate Hongze Heaven and Earth, devoid of any life, he was truly comprehending the realm and seeking to understand its fundamental structure.
Although this realm had died, it was also easier to understand without the complexity and the presence of living beings. One could more readily grasp its fundamentals and construction.
"So this is the true nature of the heavens and the earth," Xu Yan thought.
In his mind's eye, a pattern of the rules governing the heavens and the earth emerged, albeit a rudimentary one and only a fraction of the full picture.
It was a gradual realization, pieced together step by step from the traces left by the heavens and the earth.
These rules of the heavens and the earth were integrating into his own understanding, and Xu Yan, who had already perfected the Heaven Realm, felt his strength slowly increasing at that moment, on the verge of a breakthrough to the Dao Establishment Realm.
Dao Establishment, establishing one's own Dao, and the Dao of the heavens and the earth.
Xu Yan sensed that the opportunity for his breakthrough was at hand.
As he walked through the silent Hongze Heaven and Earth, it was as if he was measuring the land, comprehending its structure, and he lost track of time, unaware of how long had passed.
At one point, Xu Yan stopped. The image of mountains and rivers appeared, and his sword intent formed a small world, unveiled without any concealment.
Then, Xu Yan sat cross-legged within this world of sword intent, with a radius of a hundred li centered on him.
Moreover, this world was constantly changing, sometimes with a gentle breeze, sometimes with the frolicking of creatures, and sometimes with a golden dragon soaring...
In the vast expanse of the heavens and the earth, Xu Yan's meager hundred li radius of sword intent seemed insignificant and did not stir any reaction from the surroundings. The heavens and the earth remained dead silent.
Meng Chong also walked through the silent Hongze Heaven and Earth, his footsteps carrying him across the desolate land. As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but barrenness.
With each step, it was as if he became one with the heavens and the earth.
He cultivated the Bodily Martial Dao, and his physical body was his connection to the heavens and the earth. His meridians were like mountains, lakes, and oceans within the domain.
But these meridians also resembled stars, reflecting the lakes, oceans, and mountains of the heavens and the earth.
Meng Chong, too, was immersed in his insights, exploring the essence of the heavens and the earth, and seeking to understand its structure to mirror it within his physical body.
He walked for an unknown distance, covering an unknown expanse, and an unknown amount of time passed.
Then, with one step, Meng Chong's body seemed to resonate with the heavens and the earth. The trembling of his muscles caused the surrounding area, with a radius of nearly a hundred li, to ripple gently, as if the heavens and the earth themselves were quivering.
At that moment, Meng Chong was unaware of the ripples he had caused. He only felt his muscles trembling slightly.
With each step, his muscles quivered, and he had complete control over even the subtlest of these tremors.
His command over his physical body had reached an incredibly delicate level.
Meng Chong, engrossed in this peculiar state, had no time to consider potential threats. He had to suppress his aura and refrain from making any noise.
Even if he did realize the potential danger, Meng Chong would not have held back. Such opportunities for insight were too precious to pass up.
As for any possible dangers, they had their master's jade talisman for protection, so there was no need to worry. If a crisis arose, they could always rely on the talisman to get out of harm's way.
Meng Chong's physical body resonated with the heavens and the earth, and his insights deepened. He began to understand the concept of the physical body as the heavens and the earth on a deeper level.
He was not far from achieving perfection in the Heaven Realm of Bodily Martial Dao.
Fang Hao walked upon the land, his insights into the Qimen Martial Dao allowing him to sense the earth veins, terrain, and the ley lines of the heavens and the earth.
He contemplated how to utilize these ley lines and terrain to construct a Qimen formation of the heavens and the earth, further refining his own Qimen world.
With his own Qimen world, he could set up heavenly Qimen formations, where life and death were but a thought away.
Jiang Buling walked, and then suddenly dispersed, merging with the heavens and the earth. He cultivated the Extreme Soul Martial Dao, and at that moment, he seemed to have infused his soul into the heavens and the earth, seeking to understand the "soul" that might have existed within them.
Walking within the heavens and the earth, merging with them, and pursuing the pinnacle of the soul—how could he make his soul's world even more exquisite, indestructible, immortal, and unchanging? Even if the heavens and the earth died, the soul would remain!
(End of Chapter)
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