The brief moment of peace after suppressing the curse was shattered by the terrifying vision that the Karma Heavenly Eye spontaneously opened! The slight warmth brought by the revival of the spiritual realm vanished. This wasn't the previous vague and uncertain fragments, but a shockingly clear, yet even more suffocating, scroll of the future.
Above the vast and boundless East Sea, leaden clouds hung low like the veil of death. Surging waves roared, crashing towards the sky. At the center of the firmament, an enormous, unimaginable lightning vortex was slowly gathering. Its scope and power were a hundred times more terrifying than the Golden Core Tribulation he had previously experienced! Deep within the vortex, purple lightning danced like dragons and snakes, black thunder surged like ferocious beasts. The aura of destruction filled every inch of space, intending to crush the sea into nothingness.
And directly below that doomsday-like lightning vortex, a tiny yet incredibly familiar figure was desperately holding something up—it was himself! What chilled Chen Changqing to the bone even more was that within the layers of overlapping tribulation clouds, in a dimension beyond mortal sight, there hung a pair of cold, indifferent, and unchanging eyes. Across endless time and space, they coldly watched everything, watched him struggling in the tribulation lightning. That gaze was the indifference of a god towards an ant, the scrutiny of a creator towards an experiment, devoid of any warmth!
A chill ran down Chen Changqing's spine. The heartstrings, which had slightly relaxed due to the suppression of the curse by the Merit Golden Wheel, instantly tightened to the extreme! "Dharma-Ending Curse!" It didn't disappear! Destroying the altar, eliminating the Demon God, activating the Merit Golden Wheel—all of this was merely delaying his death, or even… completely enraging it! This wounded beast had gone into hiding, accumulating power, waiting for the next time to descend with a more violent and unstoppable posture! The East Sea lightning tribulation was the irrefutable evidence!
What was that peering from the depths of the thunderclouds… Was it the manifestation of the Heavenly Dao's will? Or was it some even more ancient and terrifying existence that had been alarmed by his entanglement with the Dharma-Ending Curse, being an "anomaly"? Countless thoughts swirled in Chen Changqing's mind, and the heavy pressure he felt after the life-and-death struggle returned.
A glimpse of the future had been revealed. The path ahead, far from becoming smooth due to the resolution of the altar crisis, had become even more perilous and unpredictable. His Karma Heavenly Eye seemed to have been enhanced to a certain degree because of the activation of the Merit Golden Wheel and the stimulation of the spiritual realm's revival. Besides the core lightning tribulation scene, he also captured some scattered future fragments. In these fragments, there were Western figures wearing luxurious robes and holding dark scriptures; there were evil cultivators piloting hideous bone ships, exuding a cold, corpse-like aura; and even some mysterious forces hidden behind the twinkling starlight… Their targets, whether overt or covert, were all directed at him, or rather, at the Sea-Stabilizing Divine Pearl and the fragments of the Four Seas Spiritual Seals! New enemies were lurking in the shadows. Greater crises were waiting in the future.
"Hoo…" Chen Changqing exhaled a long breath, forcing himself to calm down. The more dangerous it was, the more he needed to stay steady. The threat of the "Dharma-Ending Curse" still loomed, and the enemies of the future were endless. He had to improve his strength quickly and master more trump cards to gain a chance of survival in the coming storms. The path of caution wasn't just about hiding. True 'great stability' was to fortify the dikes in advance, prepare boats, and even learn to steer through the waves when the storm was destined to arrive!
He composed himself, no longer dwelling on the worries of the future, and began to carefully examine his own condition. The Merit Golden Wheel resided within his body, like a warm light source, continuously emitting a gentle power, suppressing the agitation of the "Dharma-Ending Curse" imprint. His meridians and dantian, nourished by both merit and spiritual energy, were rapidly repairing, and he even showed signs of breaking through and establishing anew! The "Sea-Stabilizing Divine Pearl," after this battle, was even more closely connected to him, almost like an extension of his arm. His control over the power of water had also become more refined. Overall, his strength had significantly improved, but it was still just a drop in the bucket compared to dealing with the terrifying lightning tribulation of the future.
"It's time to leave," Chen Changqing said, glancing at the revitalized Earth Vein Spiritual Realm. Although this place was rich in spiritual energy and suitable for cultivation, it wasn't a place to linger. His junior sister was waiting outside, and he also needed to inform Sect Master Xu Yang of everything that had happened here as soon as possible to get more information and guidance.
He took a final look at the place where the altar had disappeared. It was completely empty, with only pure spiritual energy flowing. The aura of the Extinction Demon God had completely dissipated. Without the slightest hesitation, Chen Changqing turned and walked towards the entrance of the spiritual realm.
Light flowed, and space shifted. When Chen Changqing once again stood on solid ground, he was back in the familiar bamboo forest behind the Yin Xuan Sect's mountain. Almost the instant he appeared, a beautiful figure rushed towards him with a sob, practically crashing into his arms.
"Senior Brother!" Lin Wanqing's eyes were red, her voice choked with sobs, and she anxiously sized up Chen Changqing. "You're finally out! You scared me to death! What…what exactly happened in there? Are you hurt?"
Seeing his junior sister's genuine concern, Chen Changqing felt a warmth in his heart, and his tense nerves relaxed a little. He raised his hand, instinctively wanting to rub her head, but then he noticed the dry blood and ash still on his hand, and his movement paused.
Lin Wanqing, however, didn't care at all and grabbed his hand, carefully examining it. Seeing that although his face was pale and his clothes were damaged, his breath was stable, Lin Wanqing's heart relaxed a little, but the fear and worry in her eyes did not diminish in the slightest.
"It's fine, it's all resolved," Chen Changqing said, trying to sound casual, and glossed over the dangers of the spiritual realm. "Just a little trouble, and it's all cleaned up."
"Little trouble?" Lin Wanqing pouted, clearly not believing him, and pointed at the blood on his mouth. "Senior Brother, you're lying again! The mountain behind was shaking so violently just now, and that feeling that made my heart race... it must have been very dangerous, right?"
"Cough, a minor situation, I've got this." Chen Changqing avoided his junior sister's inquisitive gaze, turning his eyes towards the depths of the bamboo forest. "Where's Pavilion Master Xu?"
Before the words had even left his mouth, a figure silently appeared before them. It was Xu Yang, the Heavenly Dao Pavilion Master. Xu Yang's gaze fell on Chen Changqing, a hint of surprise flashing in his deep eyes before returning to calm.
"It seems you succeeded," Xu Yang said, his tone even but with an air of seeing through everything. "The tumor in the Earth Vein Spiritual Realm has been removed, and the Merit Golden Wheel has initially manifested. Not bad."
Chen Changqing's heart tightened slightly; this Pavilion Master was indeed unfathomable. He didn't hide anything, briefly recounting his experiences after entering the Spiritual Realm: encountering the altar, the Extinction Demon God, the curse's backlash, the protection of the Merit, and finally, seeing the future through the Karma Heavenly Eye.
After listening to Chen Changqing's account, Xu Yang was silent for a moment before saying, "The Extinction Demon God is an ancient scourge, born from the same source as the Dharma-Ending Curse and intertwined with it. That you could obliterate its will and destroy the altar is already a stroke of fortune. As for the Merit Golden Wheel, it's the accumulation of your own good deeds. It can manifest at critical moments to protect you, with infinite uses."
He paused, looking at Chen Changqing, his expression becoming serious. "However, you must understand that the Dharma-Ending Curse hasn't truly been lifted. While the power of merit can suppress it for a time, it's not a long-term solution. It's like a maggot on your bones, already tightly entangled with your fate, and even the fate of this world! The future lightning tribulation you saw is irrefutable proof!"
"Then... is there a way to completely eradicate it?" Chen Changqing asked in a low voice; this was the most important question for him.
"Eradicate?" Xu Yang shook his head. "The root of the Dharma-Ending Era lies in the imbalance of the world's laws, the tides of cosmic energy. The curse is merely the embodiment of this imbalance in an individual. How easy is it to eradicate? Unless... you can defy the heavens, find the source of the imbalance, and complete these incomplete laws!" He turned his gaze eastward, distant and profound. "The Four Seas Spiritual Seals were left by the ancient Water Gods, containing the original power to stabilize water veins and harmonize yin and yang, perhaps related to completing the laws. According to the Heavenly Dao Pavilion's secret records, the Four Seas Spiritual Seals have four main seal fragments, scattered across the four seas. The Sea-Stabilizing Divine Pearl in your hand, while the core of the Spiritual Realm, also has countless connections to the East Sea Spiritual Seal."
"The Pavilion Master means…" Chen Changqing's heart skipped a beat.
"Go to the East Sea." Xu Yang was concise. "Find the other fragments of the Four Seas Spiritual Seals. Firstly, gathering the seals might give you the capital to face the future lightning tribulation. Secondly, the East Sea is the former territory of the Dragon Clan, with numerous ancient ruins. Perhaps you can find more clues about the truth of the Dharma-Ending Curse."
"This is both your opportunity and your mission." Xu Yang added finally, "The Heavenly Dao Pavilion will provide you with the necessary support and intelligence."
The East Sea! Chen Changqing silently recited this place name, which coincided with the future scenes seen by his Karma Heavenly Eye. It seemed this trip was unavoidable.
"Senior Brother, I'm going too!" Lin Wanqing immediately jumped out, clenching her fists, her eyes unwavering. "The East Sea is so dangerous, I don't feel at ease with you going alone!"
Chen Changqing looked at his junior sister's serious little face, somewhat helpless. Taking her along would undoubtedly increase many variables and risks, but he also didn't feel at ease leaving her alone at the Yin Xuan Sect. Moreover, with his junior sister's current Azure Frost Sword Vein strength, plus that strange ability to occasionally sever the threads of karma, perhaps she could really help in certain situations…
"Alright." Chen Changqing finally nodded. "But, when we get to the East Sea, you have to listen to me, no acting on your own."
"Mmhmm!" Lin Wanqing immediately nodded obediently, but a hint of a successful curve secretly rose on the corner of her mouth.
Xu Yang looked at the senior brother and junior sister pair, a strange light flashing in his eyes. Without saying much, his figure flickered and disappeared again into the depths of the bamboo forest.
Chen Changqing and his junior sister, Lin Wanqing, packed their belongings simply. After bidding farewell to the elders of the Yin Xuan Sect who were staying behind, they embarked on their journey to the East Sea. The hustle and bustle of Fog City was left behind; ahead, the East Sea held unknown waves, hidden crises, and the hope of finding answers.
Chen Changqing stood at the bow of the flying ship, gazing at the distant view where the sky and the sea met as one, silently operating the Primal Calculation Rods, deducing the fortune of their journey. However, the divination remained vague, filled with variables. What he didn't know was that as they left Fog City, at the same moment, whether it was the azure waves of the East Sea, a Western castle, or a dark, secluded corner, pairs of eyes, drawn by the name "Chen Changqing", by the "variables" and "treasures" he possessed, suddenly lit up! An invisible net, targeting him, had been quietly cast.
The East Sea would be the center of the storm!
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