Dead silence.
Chen Changqing stood on the ruins, his brows tightly furrowed. This place was far from the celestial, mist-shrouded paradise he had imagined; instead, it was a hellish abyss. The gray sky hung low, pressing down on his chest. Decay and dust mingled with a faint but acrid, stale blood smell that permeated the air. Everywhere he looked was desolation. Palaces had collapsed, and broken walls and remnants sketched out the outlines of a giant beast's skeleton under the dim light. Broken pillars leaned against the rubble, and the array bases, devoid of spiritual light, were covered in dust. Dry grass struggled to emerge from the stone cracks, radiating a sense of death. The spiritual energy here far exceeded that of the outside world, but it was chaotic and violent, like a wild horse that had broken free, colliding and annihilating everything. What shocked him even more was that the spiritual energy was permeated with a cold and eerie energy that actually triggered the [End of Dharma Curse] within his dantian!
"This [Earth Vein Spiritual Realm] was struck by disaster later on." Chen Changqing looked around, his [Karma Heavenly Eye] operating at its peak, capturing fragments of time. Broken images flashed by: celestial music, resplendent light, and finally, a catastrophic disaster that buried everything. This place was a small world opened by an ancient sect, which had encountered an unknown horror and become a dead, silent place! No wonder the spiritual energy at the entrance was pure; it was the remaining origin of this realm, barely maintaining contact with the outside world.
His gaze finally settled on the center of the ruins. There, a giant stone statue stood. Despite the erosion of countless years, it was still in ruins, but the statue itself still exuded majesty and ancient sacredness. The statue was of a blue-robed man with a stern and compassionate face, holding a peculiar scepter. His eyes seemed to penetrate through the ages, overlooking this silent desolation. Even though it was broken and covered in dust, Chen Changqing still sensed a faint but extremely pure divine fluctuation. He approached the statue, and the palpitation in his heart became increasingly clear. Standing before the statue, his [Karma Heavenly Eye] penetrated its core, where a dim spot of light flickered like a candle in the wind, likely to extinguish at any moment.
"A remnant soul?" Chen Changqing's heart skipped a beat. It was the remnant soul of the statue's owner, an ancient existence, nearing the end of its life. At this moment, a weak stream of consciousness intermittently entered his mind: "…Outsider…" The voice was old and tired, filled with vicissitudes. "…Drought Demon…Defilement…Spiritual Vein…Danger…" Chen Changqing's expression became solemn, and he responded with his spiritual sense: "Senior, are you the master of this place? What is a Drought Demon? Why is it attacking the Spiritual Realm?" "I…Water God…This realm…Former master…" The transmission of the consciousness was extremely difficult. "…That Drought Demon…Born of the world's malicious energy…Evil creature…Its power is most foul…Defiles the source…It wants to seize…The core…If it succeeds…This realm will be destroyed…The outside world…Will also suffer a great disaster…"
The Water God?! Chen Changqing's heart was shaken! The ancient Water God, a being from mythology, actually existed, but had fallen to such a state? He instantly understood that the Drought Demon's fire rain attack on the outside world was aimed at the core source of this place! "Senior, how do we stop the Drought Demon?" He suppressed his shock and urgently asked. "…Repair…Spiritual Realm…" The remnant soul's consciousness was weak. "…Gather…[Four Seas Spiritual Seals]…Suppress the core…" [Four Seas Spiritual Seals]! This matched what Pavilion Master Xu Yang had said! Was the Water God related to the seals? "…The core…[Sea Stabilizing Pearl]…I used my last strength…Sealed it in a secret chamber…Go retrieve…It can temporarily stabilize the Spiritual Realm…Resist the Drought Demon…" The voice was as thin as a thread, about to dissipate.
Chen Changqing said resolutely, "Senior, please rest assured, this junior will do his best to retrieve the Pearl and repair the Spiritual Realm!" This was not only a promise, but also for self-preservation, for the sect, and for his junior sister! "…Good…I will pass on the remaining Water Essence Insights…to you…" Before the words were finished, a torrent of cool and vast information surged into Chen Changqing's mind! The Water God's life of controlling water and purifying water was condensed into essence. Even though it was incomplete, it was still broad and profound, directly pointing to the Great Dao! Chen Changqing groaned, his mind was in excruciating pain, and he clenched his teeth, accepting it with all his might. Moments later, the torrent stopped. The light spot within the statue completely extinguished, and the Water God's remnant soul dissipated.
Chen Changqing opened his eyes and bowed deeply to the statue, inheriting its legacy. After the inheritance, Chen Changqing followed the Water God's vague guidance and searched for the secret chamber in the ruins. This place was vast, and the chaotic spiritual energy and the remaining restrictions interfered greatly, limiting his spiritual sense. He cautiously moved forward, his [Karma Heavenly Eye] constantly open, both to find his way and to be on guard against unknown dangers. After the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, he stopped behind a ruined palace. The spatial fluctuations here were unusual, and his [Karma Heavenly Eye] captured a faint restriction energy. He went forward to examine it carefully, his gaze locked onto an inconspicuous slate, where there was a barely visible gap at the seam. He thought for a moment, mobilized the Water God's power he had just comprehended, and condensed the Water Element True Essence to press against the slate.
Buzz!
The stone slab lit up with a soft blue light, silently sliding open to reveal a dark hole. Even purer, yet colder, Water Element spiritual energy poured out from within. Chen Changqing flashed inside. Beyond the opening was a stone staircase leading downwards, not very long. At the end of the passage, the space opened up into a ten-yard-square stone chamber. The layout was simple, with a foot-long water pool floating in the center. The water in the pool was not liquid, but rather a condensation of pure Water Element origin, clear and transparent, emitting a soft blue light. At the very center of the water pool, a fist-sized pearl floated, completely transparent, radiating endless blue light, slowly rotating.
Inside the pearl, it seemed to contain a real ocean, with countless profound runes rising and falling, and the vast and majestic divine power of the Water Element origin, which suppresses the Four Seas, filled the stone chamber. Upon approaching, Chen Changqing's Water Element True Essence boiled, resonating strongly with it, like a fish returning to the ocean! [Sea Stabilizing Pearl]! This was the key to repairing the Spiritual Realm, the Water God's last hope! A flash of excitement passed through Chen Changqing's eyes, but he forced himself to calm down. He felt that the pearl's spirituality was powerful, almost like a living innate spiritual treasure, and could not be forcibly taken. He reached out, attempting to touch the pearl. His fingertips were about to touch it—
Buzz!!!
[Sea Stabilizing Pearl] erupted with dazzling blue light, and a vast repulsive force burst forth, violently pushing his hand away! The coldness that froze the soul and chilled the bones spread wildly, the temperature in the stone chamber plummeted, and thick frost condensed on the walls, as if turning into an ice cave! The pearl was resisting! Rejecting him, an outsider. Chen Changqing had anticipated this and did not resist head-on. He retracted his hand and sat cross-legged, circulating the Water God's Dharma, guiding a wisp of Water Element True Essence with a trace of the same origin, gently releasing it like a trickle, attempting to communicate with the pearl, rather than conquer it.
He conveyed his thoughts: entrusted by the Water God, to repair the Spiritual Realm, stop the Drought Demon, and protect this world and the outside world! Time passed. The blue light of the pearl and the halo of Chen Changqing's True Essence intertwined. Gradually, the pearl's resistance weakened, and the coldness subsided. It sensed the Water God's aura in Chen Changqing's True Essence and understood his intentions: steadfastness, protection, and no malice. The pearl's rotation slowed, the blue light became gentle and approachable, with curiosity and tentative probing, and it actively drifted towards Chen Changqing.
Chen Changqing was delighted, having initially gained recognition. He reached out again. This time, the [Sea Stabilizing Pearl] obediently landed in his palm. It was cold to the touch, yet also gentle and moist. The vast power of the Water Element origin surged into his body, perfectly merging with his own True Essence. In an instant, he felt the illusion of becoming the vast ocean, controlling all waters! Chen Changqing's heart was stirred, and he was about to refine the pearl—
Swish! Without warning!
The space behind him was violently torn apart! A black fissure twisted grotesquely! A blood-red figure stepped out, its killing intent soaring, the stench of blood overwhelming! The figure was gaunt, with dark red skin and eyes filled with venomous madness. Xue Tu, a late-stage Golden Core Hall Master from the Bloodfiend Sect! He had, at the cost of everything, forcibly broken through the Spiritual Realm to enter! The moment he appeared, his greedy eyes locked onto the Sea Stabilizing Pearl in Chen Changqing's palm, and a look of wild joy spread across his face!
"Heh heh heh... Sea Stabilizing Pearl! Indeed, it's here! You little bastard, you're courting death! Hand over the pearl!" Xue Tu cackled, his withered, blood-red claws moving like lightning, tearing through the air and lunging for the Sea Stabilizing Pearl in Chen Changqing's hand!
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