"So this is the origin of the Six Supreme Treasures of the First Civilization?"
Within Sacred Ancestor Mountain, rosy light surged, ancient trees were verdant, mist wreathed the cliffs, creating a scene of sacred haziness.
Fairy Qing, her gaze pure and clear, held a white porcelain teacup, sipping tea lightly, her eyes flashing with a strange light.
Beside her, Ling Yuling nodded and continued, "As far as I know, that is indeed how the Six Supreme Treasures of the First Civilization came to be. In later eras, many other Civilization Supreme Treasures appeared, but they were all forged in imitation of those first six. Their power is far inferior to those original treasures..."
It was the appearance of that blueprint that gave the beings of the Black Calamity Era a glimmer of hope. Everything began to turn around from that moment.
Of course, these secrets were things Ling Yuling only learned later on.
At that time, any news about Civilization Supreme Treasures was top secret, impossible to leak easily. After all, this was the secret weapon against the Heaven's Proxy Organization.
Thus, it was around that time that many sages from various orthodoxies, cosmic spacetimes, and civilization kingdoms began to spontaneously gather, forming an alliance to resist the Heaven's Proxy Organization.
Both Ling Yuling and Nan Zun, the mother of the Fairy Qing before her, were members of that alliance.
She and Nan Zun became acquainted during that time.
"So that's how it was..."
After hearing this, Fairy Qing's expression also changed slightly, seeming to carry a hint of admiration. "My mother did mention matters concerning the allies from back then. She also said how heart-stopping and magnificent that battle to besiege the Heaven's Proxy Organization was. Countless heroes and sages, fearless as moths to a flame, only to blaze a path of life for future generations..."
Ling Yuling also reminisced, "Yes, it's a pity those comrades-in-arms from back then are all gone. After that battle, I was heavily wounded, and my sister was almost destroyed in body and dao. To save her, I took great risks to seize the Gate of Eternal Life. Little did I know the Gate of Eternal Life had long been tainted by the blood of the Lord of Heaven's Proxy, corrupted by dark aura..."
She briefly recounted how she was trapped for countless eons in a dark space after being schemed against by the Gate of Eternal Life's artifact spirit, only escaping recently.
"Before coming here, I never imagined your mother had already passed away," Ling Yuling sighed slightly, feeling a mix of helplessness and sorrow.
"Before her passing from illness, my mother left behind a token. She said it could sense her former allies. It was precisely because of this that I dared to conclude you were not some 'Shen' or 'Shadow' and let you enter," Fairy Qing said, shaking her head slightly as if unwilling to dwell on this topic.
Ling Yuling could tell there seemed to be some conflict between Fairy Qing and her mother, which was why she showed little emotional fluctuation when mentioning her.
Afterwards, Ling Yuling spoke of her purpose in coming here.
She had a premonition that the Prime-Origin Civilization would soon face a terrifying calamity, perhaps related to the not-yet-annihilated Heaven's Proxy Organization.
After all, some factions within the Prime-Origin Civilization were founded and left behind by sages who once resisted the Black Calamity together, such as the Imperial Immortal Palace and the Xiyuan Sacred Hall.
Since a terrifying force lurked unseen in the shadows, attempting to eradicate the descendants of those former sages root and branch, then the Imperial Immortal Palace and Xiyuan Sacred Hall would certainly become targets. The entire Prime-Origin Civilization would likely be unable to escape disaster.
Ling Yuling still suspected whether other civilizations had already been infiltrated and controlled by that terrifying force, hence the lack of any related news.
If she hadn't accidentally come here today, she probably still wouldn't know these things, wouldn't know the descendants of those former allies had been hunted and forced into hiding all this time.
Therefore, Ling Yuling wanted to find those former allies, join forces once again, and establish a new covenant to resist this impending calamity.
This wasn't just for herself, but for all living beings in the vast expanse.
"This calamity will inevitably sweep across the Vast Expanse. If we don't want history to repeat itself, don't want the former Black Calamity to return, then we must find a way to stop it in advance. Otherwise, no one will be spared," Ling Yuling said with a serious expression.
"I never imagined you, fellow daoist, harbor such great aspirations. I admire that."
However, upon hearing this, Fairy Qing's expression remained unperturbed. She merely shook her head and said, "Preventing the Black Calamity from descending again is indeed our unshirkable duty. But I must apologize, my heart is truly willing but my strength is lacking now."
Ling Yuling was stunned, not expecting Fairy Qing to refuse outright.
"Why? Do you intend to keep hiding in seclusion within this chaotic Sea of Time and Space?" she asked, puzzled.
Fairy Qing said calmly, "My abilities are limited; I know my own limitations. If this calamity truly descends, it is not something my power can prevent. I am the guardian deity of this floating continent. I need to protect the beings here. I cannot leave this place with you."
"You could bring them all with you. The Imperial Immortal Palace I founded long ago is now a supreme orthodoxy within the Prime-Origin Civilization. Sheltering them would naturally not be a problem. This calamity certainly cannot be resisted or stopped by our strength alone. But water drops form rivers; having one more person's strength is always good," Ling Yuling continued to persuade.
Fairy Qing shook her head. "They bear marks. Once they leave this place, they will be discovered by 'Shen' and 'Shadows'. The endless pursuit that follows is beyond your imagination."
"All these eons, it has only been by relying on the relics my mother left behind that they have been safely sheltered. The light screen you saw earlier not only defends against external attacks but also conceals the heavenly secrets and aura of this place."
Hearing this, Ling Yuling fell silent.
If that were truly the case, then she didn't know how to persuade further.
But to come all this way and return empty-handed?
Recently, she had been feeling a strong sense of urgency and unease, as if some great disaster was imminent.
At her level, such premonitions were never baseless whims.
"Don't waste your effort. Back when all you allies were at your peak, you couldn't completely destroy the Heaven's Proxy Organization. After countless eons, some have passed away in meditation, some have vanished, some have been killed. Even you are no longer at your peak strength. What can you truly accomplish?"
"And what kind of enemy will you face? Surely you understand that?" Fairy Qing spoke calmly, but her words were brutally frank.
"So we can truly do nothing? Accomplish nothing?" Ling Yuling indeed felt a wave of powerlessness.
The remnants of the Heaven's Proxy Organization had actually been hiding somewhere within the Vast Expanse all along, lurking quietly, wanting to resurrect and bring back the Lord of Heaven's Proxy.
"Could it be that even the seal at the Land of the Dark Source has long been broken?" Thinking of this possibility, Ling Yuling felt another chill.
Fairy Qing sighed, seemingly somewhat helpless, then turned and walked towards a certain area.
"Follow me," she said.
Ling Yuling was slightly taken aback, then rose and followed her. Behind the main hall was a cliff face, with clouds and mist billowing, and spirit fungi and vines entwined. Within it was a cave dwelling bathed in rosy light, steaming with immortal intent.
"This is the cave dwelling where my mother used to cultivate in seclusion. Some of her journals and records are kept inside," Fairy Qing said, casually dispelling the restrictions within the cave and walking in.
Ling Yuling followed behind her, hesitated for a moment, but still entered.
The cave was extremely clean, without a speck of dust. Rows of bookshelves lined the surroundings, filled with many ancient scrolls, jade slips, handwritten notes, and other items.
Fairy Qing walked over, waved her jade-like hand, and a journal wreathed in clear light floated over. She handed it to Ling Yuling behind her.
"This is?" Ling Yuling was puzzled but took it and began to read carefully.
At first, she was still somewhat confused, unsure of Fairy Qing's intention. But as she read further, she became shocked, stunned, and incredulous, finally falling into a complete daze.
"This... how is this possible?" Ling Yuling murmured, her eyes full of disbelief.
"This is a journal handwritten by my mother. I discovered it only after sorting through her belongings following her passing from illness," Fairy Qing said calmly.
"This is indeed Nan Zun's handwriting. I wouldn't mistake it," Ling Yuling said, clutching the journal tightly. Her heart felt extremely heavy, suddenly feeling as if she couldn't breathe, as if a hundred thousand mountains had abruptly descended upon her head.
She had thought that after that battle, peace and tranquility had been restored to all realms. But it was not so. Instead, the undercurrents in the shadows had grown even more turbulent.