Chapter 164 - 142: Preparing to Seize the Initiative

Chapter 164: Chapter 142: Preparing to Seize the Initiative

A spacetime rift is simply a natural channel that forms when two worlds briefly make contact in the course of their movements.

However, the void storm within this channel has not dissipated entirely. It has only slowed down. Without external intervention, it is impossible for it to come to a standstill in a short period.

The substance in the void is the most primitive, most chaotic form of matter. To describe it from a layman’s perspective, it’s like an uncondensed cloud of interstellar dust particles. ℯ

It permeates the entire void, constantly spiraling and coalescing around sources of immense gravity until, in this process, it forms one world after another.

This process of spiraling and coalescing is what creates void storms.

The particles within travel at incredible speeds, capable of easily annihilating most forms of matter.

Generally, only Super S-class beings—that is, [SS]-class lifeforms—can manage to survive within one.

And any being that reaches the Super S-class is, without a doubt, a cosmic-level lifeform.

They can casually destroy a planet’s continents, and annihilating an entire planet isn’t too difficult for them either.

Normally, to traverse a spacetime rift without gambling on the infinitesimal odds of survival, one must rely on external aid.

For instance, the Starship that the Celestial Essence Realm is most likely repairing at this very moment.

Or, for that matter, the [Ship of Hope] that Zhang Ji once obtained on Buci Island...

-----------------

Celestial Essence Realm.

In the 3,572nd year of the Celestial Essence Calendar, a "Spiritual Qi Siphon" phenomenon suddenly occurred in the East Sea Islands. Within seventy-two hours, the purity of the surrounding Spirit Veins plummeted to grade two.

Shennong Biotechnology issued a public statement, attributing the event to natural depletion.

Within a celestial abode in the Primordial Heaven, on the highest level of the Floating City—the Thirty-Three Heavens.

The leaders of the four great powers of the Celestial Dao Alliance were gathered here.

They represented the Celestial Sword Group, Shennong Biotechnology, Nine Nether Deep Technology, and Celestial Secret City Technology.

These four organizations controlled over ninety-nine percent of the Celestial Essence Realm’s resources, making them true monolithic powers.

"We’ve finished our investigation of the East Sea. It’s an extra-domain space. The Spiritual Qi is leaking into another world."

The first to speak was Dugu Yunfeng. Dressed in black, he appeared to be only in his twenties. There were no obvious signs of Spiritual Technology modifications on his body, but his left eye had, in fact, been replaced. It was a Spiritual Prosthetic Eye that aided his observation.

He had reached the Divinity Transformation Stage at the young age of just over 2,400. A top genius of the Celestial Sword Group, he was now considered the number one Sword Cultivator in the entire Celestial Essence Realm. He carried five hundred million Spirit Swords in his personal Sumeru Space. If he were to unleash his Sword Sea, he alone could steamroll the world, provided the other Divinity Transformation masters of the Celestial Essence Realm did not intervene.

"Another world... The last records of such a thing date back over a hundred thousand years, if I recall correctly," lamented Nangong Zhiqing of Shennong Biotechnology. "Back then, the Celestial Essence Realm still had many cultivators at the Tribulation Crossing Stage. I’ve even heard tales of Immortals who shattered the void to ascend to the Upper Realm. Now, the Spiritual Qi tide is in its final wane. In this End of the Dharma Era, it’s a struggle for us to even reach the Divinity Transformation Stage."

She wore a long green dress and appeared to be about thirty years old. Her entire olfactory and digestive systems had been reconstructed, allowing her to better identify Spiritual Materials and consume medicinal elixirs.

One could say her current cultivation level was built entirely on a foundation of such elixirs.

Still, reaching her level of power through that method was a feat in itself.

Most people wouldn’t even be able to digest the elixirs, let alone benefit from them.

"The Spirit Veins can’t possibly withstand our current rate of consumption," said Mo Ye of Nine Nether Deep Technology, shaking his head. "The Profound Nether Sect underwent its reforms about twelve thousand years ago. Today, the Spirit Stones burned by Celestial Secret City’s Nine-Turned Quantum Furnace in a single day exceed what all the cultivators of the old Profound Nether Sect would have used in several hundred years."

He had the look of a haggard young man who had pulled too many all-nighters, his face etched with weariness. In truth, this was because he specialized in cultivating his Divine Soul at the expense of his physical body. His powerful Divine Soul exerted immense pressure on his flesh, causing it to over-draw his physical essence.

"Times are changing, and the reforms benefit us," said Zhuge Mingyuan of Celestial Secret City Technology. "If we still followed the old cultivation methods, in this End of the Dharma Era, we’d struggle to even reach Foundation Establishment just by relying on the thin, ambient Spiritual Qi, let alone Divinity Transformation."

He appeared to be a young man of about twenty, his features so perfect they seemed unreal. When he circulated his Spiritual Power, his body became covered in the tell-tale marks of Spirit Patterns. His flesh had been so excessively modified that it was now a unique Spiritual Artifact, capable of transmitting and executing the commands of his Divine Soul with the utmost speed and precision.

"This isn’t the time to debate the reforms," Dugu Yunfeng said grimly. "We need to decide how to handle the spatial rift leading to the outer domain."

"This is an opportunity," said Nangong Zhiqing. "The Celestial Essence Realm is nearing its end. Perhaps we can try exploring it to see if we can find a new path forward."

"You’d need the power of the Tribulation Crossing Stage to survive crossing the void. If we go over there now, how is that any different from suicide?" Mo Ye retorted.

"There are other ways," Zhuge Mingyuan stated calmly. "The museum in Celestial Secret City still houses a Starship our predecessors used to explore the outer domains. It has fallen into disrepair from a lack of Spiritual Qi nourishment, but it could probably be repaired in a few years."

"Then let’s do that," Dugu Yunfeng said, sighing. "Hopefully, we can find a solution to the problems of our era over there... Alas..."

"Uploading our consciousness to the Void Illusion Realm to wait for the return of the Spiritual Qi tide is a viable option," Zhuge Mingyuan said, looking at Mo Ye. "We’ve run the numbers with the Nine Luminaries Profound Pivot Array. The Spiritual Qi tide will recover in just ninety thousand years. The Divine Souls of anyone at the Golden Core Stage or higher could easily last that long if maintained in a minimal consumption state."

"Ninety thousand years... The probability of something going wrong during that time is far too high," Mo Ye said, shaking his head. "We can’t possibly resort to such a measure."

"If we account for all relevant error margins, ninety thousand years isn’t that long. The ancient grand formation, after all, was maintained for over a hundred thousand years," Zhuge Mingyuan countered.

"There’s no reasoning with you. In any case, your plan is too extreme. The Void Illusion Realm will not be handed over to you to carry it out," Mo Ye said.

"Putting that aside, I’m more concerned about the Celestial Sword Group," Nangong Zhiqing said, turning to Dugu Yunfeng. "Dugu Yunfeng, has the matter with Ling Xuzi been dealt with? Is he really dead set on siding with that group of primitive cultivators?"

At her words, both Mo Ye and Zhuge Mingyuan turned their gazes to Dugu Yunfeng.

"The Celestial Sword Group will handle its own affairs. You needn’t concern yourselves," Dugu Yunfeng said, rising to his feet. "Our priority should be dealing with the immediate problem at hand."

As his voice faded, his form transformed into a streak of sword light and vanished into the distance.

"Don’t dwell on it. There’s no turning back for him," Mo Ye said to Nangong Zhiqing. "Ever since the Nine Heavens Sword Mound incident, he was fated to stand in opposition to us."

Nangong Zhiqing said nothing, ultimately closing her eyes in silent acceptance of this outcome.

"I’m off. We’ll speak in the Void Illusion Realm if needed," Mo Ye said.

As his voice faded, his figure dissipated. It turned out that the one participating in the meeting had only been an avatar formed from his Divine Thought.

"I will send you a list of the materials required to repair the Starship," said Zhuge Mingyuan.

Then, his figure also vanished into the void, disappearing from the celestial abode and leaving Nangong Zhiqing alone.

"Is there really no turning back...?" Nangong Zhiqing murmured.

Companions who had once walked the same path were now adversaries due to their differing philosophies. It was a truth she found difficult to accept.

But in the end, all that was left was her helpless sigh, echoing through the celestial abode.