Chapter 252: The Primordial Desolate Domain

“How is that accomplished...?”

Faced with Li Shun’s question, Ying Wuxiu merely smiled mysteriously, offering no direct answer. Clearly, such a core secret was already beyond the level Li Shun could currently reach.

“The profundity and unpredictability of the Visiting Ancient Past Illusionary Realm are in no way inferior to the Primordial Wilderness Illusionary Realm. Yet the price required to open it, as well as the danger of backlash, is far less than the latter. It is one of the most supreme creations Great Qian possesses. Since you will be heading to the Taixue Academy for further study, you should have an opportunity to experience its wonders for yourself.”

Ying Wuxiu casually steered the conversation away from the subject.

After speaking, his expression shifted slightly, as though he had sensed something. He then reminded Li Shun, “I still have some time. I can answer one final question.”

Li Shun pondered for a moment before asking in a solemn voice, “In the four directions of Great Qian lie four absolute forbidden regions: the Heavenly Dao Severance Sea in the east, the Withered Sands of Ages in the west, the Frozen Wasteland of Oblivion in the north, and the Blood Miasma of Interminable Hell in the south. What exactly are the fundamental natures of these perilous forbidden lands? Could they also be part of the so-called Zhoutian Grand Formation?”

“I once heard that many years ago, the imperial court dispatched a great army deep into the Blood Miasma of Interminable Hell to expand its territory. Yet afterward, they vanished like a stone sinking into the sea, without leaving behind the slightest trace.”

“How is such an undertaking any different from crossing into an external foreign world directly with one’s physical body?”

Ying Wuxiu swept his voluminous sleeve through the air.

Ripples immediately spread out before the two of them, and a dazzling expanse of starlight emerged.

Amid the swirling, drifting radiance, the magnificent mountains and rivers of Great Qian’s thirteen provinces appeared and disappeared intermittently.

“The Zhoutian Grand Formation was formed by taking Great Qian’s one hundred and eight commanderies and matching them to the number of the Heavenly Cycle, forcibly condensing together celestial phenomena, terrestrial ley lines, and the destiny of humanity.”

“Only by relying on the vast might of this formation can Great Qian’s realm and state remain standing amid a world filled with dangers.”

“As for those four forbidden regions you mentioned, they naturally have nothing to do with the Zhoutian Grand Formation. Quite the contrary. They are the erosion and assimilation of Great Qian’s world by all manner of indescribable and bizarre forces from beyond the realm.”

Ying Wuxiu’s expression became exceedingly solemn.

“You should understand that even after the Primordial Wilderness shattered, Great Qian, as one of its fragmented remnants, was not directly exposed to the boundless Chaos. Instead, it continued to enjoy a certain legacy of protection left behind by the ancient Primordial Wilderness.”

“Only, as the years have passed, that protective power has grown increasingly faint.”

“As for the territorial expansion you mentioned, it is fundamentally different from crossing into another realm with one’s physical body or soul.”

Ying Wuxiu explained patiently, “Nowadays, we generally refer to the entire vast domain formed after the Primordial Wilderness shattered as the Primordial Desolate Domain. Within this ancient domain, Great Qian occupies no more than an insignificant fraction.”

Ying Wuxiu swept his sleeve once more.

The stellar reflection before them changed again.

The magnificent image of Great Qian’s thirteen provinces suddenly contracted inward, transforming into an insignificant speck of light within a vast and gloomy nebula.

“I, of the Directorate of Celestial Observation, can employ a certain supreme secret art to observe the stars and perceive the flow of destiny, allowing us to glimpse other foreign worlds within the Primordial Desolate Domain. However, the various worlds are separated by immense distances, with countless dangers lying along the way. Unless one possesses divine abilities capable of reaching the heavens and earth, it is absolutely impossible to cross the distance directly with one’s physical body.”

“Thus, we found another path. Directly between two worlds, we open a passage and form a gateway.”

Ying Wuxiu lightly pointed into the air.

Two tiny points of light, distantly facing one another within the dark nebula, were instantly connected by a brilliant thread of spiritual light.

“Through this gateway, we can ignore the obstruction of the countless distances between us and descend directly into the other world.”

“As for territorial expansion...”

The changing scene before them once again drew closer, the view refocusing upon the nebula where Great Qian resided.

“That means finding another fragmented world within the realms neighboring Great Qian.”

“Then, with the momentum of heaven collapsing, we forcefully swallow it and merge the two together!”

Under Ying Wuxiu’s control, the nebula representing Great Qian suddenly erupted with dazzling, resplendent radiance of the Great Dao.

Like a giant whale swallowing the sea, it violently engulfed a dim point of light drifting along its edge.

By the time the brilliant radiance faded and the nebula returned to tranquility, the point of light that had originally floated nearby had completely disappeared.

It had been utterly transformed into an inseparable part of Great Qian’s nebula.

Watching Ying Wuxiu’s remarkably straightforward demonstration, Li Shun finally understood.

Yet at that moment, Ying Wuxiu let out a long sigh.

“It is easy to send one’s spirit wandering beyond the realm. Swallowing heaven and expanding one’s territory is difficult.”

“In the past, Great Qian truly did lock onto a nearby realm and sought to devote the strength of the entire empire toward swallowing it.”

“Yet the final outcome...”

He slowly shook his head, a trace of sorrow quietly flashing deep within his eyes.

“For a great army to cross between realms is already an undertaking of nine deaths and one life. Even if they successfully set foot in another world, when faced with an army of wolves and tigers descending upon them, how could the beings of that realm simply surrender? They would inevitably gather the strength of their entire world and fight back to the death.”

“Even taking a step back, supposing Great Qian ultimately achieved a bitter victory, how would we truly incorporate that world into Great Qian’s territory? That would involve the Heavenly Dao, destiny, terrestrial ley lines, and countless other karmic factors belonging to Great Qian. The complexity would be utterly astronomical.”

“Originally, the imperial court’s plan was to use the Zhoutian Grand Formation as the furnace and driving force, forcibly propelling the entire world of Great Qian forward through the ancient domain.”

“But later, we were horrified to discover...”

Ying Wuxiu’s voice faltered slightly.

After a brief silence, he continued.

“The movement of the entire world of Great Qian created far too great a disturbance. It was like raising a blazing torch without the slightest concealment in the midst of an endless night.”

“It was also like suddenly stirring up enormous waves beneath a silent, deathly deep sea.”

“Far too conspicuous!”

“Taiyi Xuanpin, cast its cold gaze across the endless void precisely because of Great Qian’s attempt to relocate its entire world.”

“In the end... it descended and manifested.”

“After that catastrophe, everyone throughout the imperial court and the common realm became as silent as cicadas in winter. From then onward, no one dared mention swallowing other worlds or expanding Great Qian’s territory again.”

After falling silent for a moment, Ying Wuxiu seemed unwilling to accept the outcome and continued, “Actually, if Great Qian had truly succeeded in swallowing that world back then and used it to nourish its own Heavenly Dao, it would undoubtedly have brought enormous benefits. It would have been an unparalleled achievement that could benefit countless generations.”

“It is just a pity that we fell short at the final step...”

Ying Wuxiu sighed and said nothing more.

“Enough. The time has come. This old Daoist should also be on his way.”

“For now, remain here in the Weishi Palace and wait in peace. When you return after completing your studies at the Taixue Academy someday, you and I shall meet again here within the Directorate of Celestial Observation.”

Ying Wuxiu swept his voluminous sleeve and stepped forward.

His figure shattered and disappeared.

Immediately afterward, an invisible force of repulsion swept over.

In the next instant, Li Shun felt the heavens spin around him. He had already been expelled from the empty grand hall.

An attendant dressed in the standard Daoist robes of the Directorate of Celestial Observation immediately hurried forward.

With an extremely respectful and courteous demeanor, the attendant escorted Li Shun to a quiet side room where he could rest.

While waiting for Dong Chunqiu to come and receive him, Li Shun silently pondered Ying Wuxiu’s words just now.