Chapter 1606: The Origin of Ling

He saw a cosmic struggle planned across ages.

A hand was driving the evolution of the universe, exiling Earth and Wandering Dragon Star respectively into the past and the future.

It was also this hand that removed the Vast Sea from Dragon Star, creating a sanctuary for the Wounded Immortal.

Yang Yan's heart was shrouded in fear.

He saw it!

He saw the existence manipulating everything behind the scenes!

Yet, he never expected the mastermind behind everything to be himself!

No, it should be said that the person was an existence identical to him.

He seemed like a lofty god, with the entire universe in his hands as a toy, driving its evolution as he pleased.

Upon seeing that person, Yang Yan was greatly shaken, and a mouthful of blood spurted from his mouth.

Unable to continue deducing the Heavenly Dao, Yang Yan reluctantly stopped.

Yet unexpectedly, Ling's silhouette emerged from his sea of consciousness once again.

She looked at the dispirited Yang Yan and sighed softly: "You've reached this point, have you seen anything?"

Yang Yan remained silent, watching Ling cautiously.

After a long time, Ling's gaze sharpened, and she said coldly: "Back then, did you hear the conversation between the Demon God and me?!"

Yang Yan still remained silent, staring coldly at Ling.

Ling's expression turned cold as she shattered Yang Yan's body into pulp.

However, Yang Yan's recovery ability was extremely resilient, and in moments, he formed again.

This continued repeatedly with Ling destroying Yang Yan's body again and again, while Yang Yan restored it each time.

After countless repetitions, Ling finally stopped.

She looked at Yang Yan, now resembling a skeleton, and asked calmly: "Do you know why I'm doing this?"

Yang Yan stayed silent, and once his body recovered again, he asked softly: "What I saw was myself. Who is he?"

Ling gazed approvingly at Yang Yan, sighed gently, and said: "He is the one I selected previously. Red Crow Immortal Emperor. The now missing Heavenly Dao Controller."

At the same time, she puzzledly asked: "Aren't you curious why I kept destroying your body over and over?"

Yang Yan replied calmly: "Because of the dark hand that Burial of the Void left within me, right?"

"Back then, when he severely injured us, he left a Power of Origin. Within it was Demonic Qi capable of making even the Immortal Monarchs lose their senses."

"His aim was to use my hand to sever your Eternal Path. Or, perhaps, use my hand to seize eternal opportunities."

Ling nodded lightly and praised Yang Yan: "Indeed! If it weren't for your near-mortal deducing of the Heavenly Dao just now, I wouldn't have sensed that deeply hidden Power of Origin from your aura. Otherwise, I wouldn't have uncovered this secret either."

Yang Yan calmly looked at Ling, waiting for her to continue.

Ling spoke with resignation: "I know you have many doubts, but I cannot solve all of your puzzles. I can only tell you that I am the Ancient True Immortal, Chensi."

"Back then, I was indeed chosen by the World Tree to possess the power to kill Ancient True Immortals, and I did so. Besides me, all Ancient True Immortals fell. And I..."

Ling suddenly showed a self-deprecating smile and said quietly: "I also perished while pondering the eternal enigma."

Gazing at the expressionless Yang Yan, Ling sighed inwardly and continued: "Ancient True Immortals are immensely powerful. If the universe hadn't been destroyed, they wouldn't have died."

"But the existence of Ancient True Immortals was like parasites on a big tree; even if they did nothing, just living would corrode the universe."

"And I killed them for they intended to combine the power of three thousand True Immortals to re-evolve the universe and live forever."

Though shocked by these words, Yang Yan was still clear-minded.

He thought for a moment and then asked seriously: "If that's the case, wouldn't they be bringing about their own demise? If their aim was to live, why make a move that would lead to their destruction?"

Ling shook her head: "They weren't as simple as you think. All who achieve Ancient True Immortal status are ruthless individuals."

"They evolved Chaos to blood sacrifice all souls, seeking vast vitality for themselves, prolonging their existence."

Saying this, a sad glint appeared in Ling's eyes, seemingly contemptuous of the True Immortals who did such things.

She continued: "In the Ancient Era, everything had reached its end, destined for a new world to evolve under the Heavenly Dao, making their actions somewhat desperate."

"The higher a being's cultivation, the more they value their life. But just when they initiated the blood sacrifice, the World Tree Spirit chose me, giving me the power to kill them."

"At the same time, it informed me that the World Tree contained the eternal enigma. If I killed those True Immortals that plagued the universe, it would grant that eternal mystery to me."

Yang Yan coldly replied: "So you killed all those True Immortals for the eternal enigma? You're nothing more than a heartless butcher trying to survive."

"Even if you slayed those True Immortals and protected the universe, it doesn't change the fact you're a butcher."

Yang Yan coldly stared at Ling, silently falling into brooding.

Ling gazed at Yang Yan helplessly, eyes tinged with bitterness, and sighed:

"What you say is true, I am that kind of person too, seeking personal gain even at the cost of saving all beings, a truth unchangeable."

"Perhaps this is my retribution, forever bound within the World Tree!"

The starry sky was silent.

In the cosmic starlit expanse, Ling narrated the mystery behind the demise of the True Immortals in the Ancient Times.

As Ling revealed everything gradually, Yang Yan understood Ling's dilemma and the causes and effects of the Ancient True Immortals' downfall.

The blood sacrifice of the world was led by Burial of the Void, who wielded the power of destruction.

And Chensi, now Ling, was chosen by the previous World Tree Spirit, tempted by the eternal mystery to confront the Ancient True Immortals.

With the World Tree containing Eternal Power, Chensi flawlessly slaughtered all the other Ancient True Immortals.

However, those Ancient True Immortals were not so easily slain.

Led by Burial of the Void, five Ancient True Immortals had already grasped an inkling of the Eternal Truth, and even with the eternal divine artifact of the World Tree, Chensi couldn't completely obliterate them.

These five Ancient True Immortals, though killed by Chensi, managed to rebirth a fragment of their True Spirit with the help of Eternal Power during the Ancient Era.

Chensi did not expect to be duped by the World Tree Spirit.

While attempting to explore the eternal mystery within the World Tree, the World Tree Spirit detonated its Primordial Spirit, causing a riot of Eternal Power and resulting in the demise of Chensi's True Immortal self.

However, how could Chensi, capable of opposing many Ancient True Immortals, be a weakling?