Chapter 560: Exchanging Life for Life, He Must Be Killed!

Chapter 560: Even if it means trading life for life, he must be killed!

Since Sheng Nu spoke thus, combined with the answers of others, Qi Yuan had a guess in his heart.

Perhaps the blind girl truly does not exist in this world, merely a reappearance of a mental fantasy.

But... how to explain that night of boundless charm?

Qi Yuan's heart still harbored a faint doubt.

Qi Yuan's gaze fell on Shangguan Qingteng and Shangguan Qingmiao: "Last time you two said that if I came to the Tai Star Domain, you would let me see the original of 'The Arcane Origins'."

Under Qi Yuan's gaze, the two tightened their hearts.

Yuan then stepped forward, replying on behalf of Shangguan Qingteng and Shangguan Qingmiao: 'Lord Realm Master, please follow me.'

"Good," Qi Yuan responded.

However, before leaving, he seemed to think of something, his gaze piercing through the clouds, falling on the Old Man and Long Qi.

"They are craving some immortal brew; lend me some to give them."

The Old Man and Long Qi tensed up; they had never been stared at by so many powerful beings at once. This feeling of being the center of attention was both unsettling and thrilling.

The Old Man's thoughts were complicated.

Long Qi's joy was barely containable.

"Little Qi... no, Big Qi still remembers them!"

...

In the Cloud Palace, countless ancient texts were vast as smoke and clouds.

Some were inscribed on stone tablets, some carved on bamboo slips, some printed on paper.

The sea-like library almost represented the historical and civilizational development of all domains and worlds in the Divine Wood Universe.

The original of 'The Arcane Origins' was in the deepest part of the library.

"The original of 'The Arcane Origins' uses divine wood as its carrier, recording various secrets of the Divine Wood Universe.

However, the ages are too distant, and many chapters of the original are missing."

Yuan handed the original of 'The Arcane Origins' to Qi Yuan.

It was more like a wooden stele, a wood carving, than a book.

But this wooden stele had endured countless years of washing, and many of the characters on it were indistinct.

"Good, let me take a look first."

Qi Yuan said.

His attention fell upon 'The Arcane Origins'.

Yuan's figure retreated, leaving the library.

Before 'The Arcane Origins', only Qi Yuan remained.

"At the dawn of the universe, the first ancient god was Pan, with a towering form, splitting heaven and earth with a giant axe?"

"This... is related to the story I casually told to the Soundless Sound."

"Heaven and earth collapsed, the land shattered, the goddess appeared... mending the earth with stones."

"Did my story influence the Soundless Sound, or... can my words turn decay into magic?"

Qi Yuan recalled the special ability he had awakened.

Without this special ability, he could not have communicated with the Soundless Sound.

His voice could be transmitted at will to any corner, and then... undergo special changes, causing unknown effects.

Qi Yuan speculated secretly.

Perhaps it was his voice that influenced the Soundless Sound, leading to the birth of the Divine Wood Universe.

"It seems... my mouth is quite formidable, able to make the universe pregnant," Qi Yuan murmured to himself.

In 'The Arcane Origins', the record concerning the Divine Wood Abyss only mentioned that it was the beginning of the world, a place of nothingness.

"Pity, news about the Black Heaven is not mentioned in 'The Arcane Origins'."

The understanding of the Black Heaven by Renqi Huiyuan and other ancestral gods might be inferior to that of Qi Yuan, who had slain many strange gods and swept across the Chaotic Star Domain.

After sitting in meditation for half a day, Qi Yuan finished reading 'The Arcane Origins' from beginning to end.

The first half of 'The Arcane Origins' was very similar to the mythological story Qi Yuan had told to the Soundless Sound.

As for the later content, it covered various events of the invasion by Black Heaven and Black Earth.

And the Void Paradise and the Radiant Universe were also mentioned in 'The Arcane Origins'.

"This is..."

Qi Yuan's gaze moved to the final chapter of 'The Arcane Origins'.

The writing there was completely different from the preceding text, bearing a woman's delicate elegance.

"And... the handwriting on the stone tablet before Sunset Cliff... comes from the same person."

Qi Yuan was slightly surprised.

He did not expect to encounter such a thing.

"But... most of the characters are indistinct."

Qi Yuan carefully discerned, and could only make out the eight characters: "Clouds have rain and drizzle", "Thunder serpent without sound".

As for the rest, they were illegible.

"Cloud, rain, thunder... a method of artifact forging?"

Qi Yuan thought of the eight methods of artifact forging given to him by the blind girl.

"Alas... the game is about to be cleared, and if I can't find you anymore, I may not be able to help make eyes for you."

Qi Yuan sighed.

He was a man who valued gratitude above all.

What he promised, he would deliver.

Now, the game of this world was also nearing its end.

The character he played was also about to be completely finished.

When it ends, that will be the day of his departure.

...

"Yuan... giving him all seven pieces of Human Enlightenment Radiance... isn't that too bold?"

The irritable bearded man was somewhat anxious.

Human Enlightenment Radiance had exhausted the efforts of the Divine Wood Universe.

It was also the only reliance of the Human Enlightenment Society against Black Heaven and Black Earth.

Though Qi Yuan was a realm master and a native of this realm, the members of the Renqi Assembly were all unfamiliar with him.

Who could say whether he might be another "One"?

"If the realm master wants it, why wouldn't you give it?" said the white-bearded old man.

Regarding the Renqi Radiance, most were reluctant to hand it over to Qi Yuan at first sight.

But who could deny Qi Yuan's formidable strength, that of a realm master?

If Qi Yuan acted alone, even if they joined forces, they would be no match.

"Yet giving it to him so easily still stirs some unease in my heart," said the hot-tempered bearded man.

"As the saying goes, if you doubt someone, don't employ them; if you employ them, don't doubt them. Since the Renqi Radiance is already in the realm master's hands, what we need to do now is trust him," said Sheng Nu.

The others nodded. What else could they do but trust, now that things had come to this?

"Right, instead of fretting over this, we should focus on how to deal with the Black Heaven and Black Earth?"

Many ancestral gods discussed among themselves.

The Black Heaven and Black Earth were advancing with a ferocity greater than their last assault.

The line drawn by the Radiant Path Lord still existed; based on the speed of its fading, the Divine Wood Universe had ten thousand years left.

But this invasion by the Black Heaven and Black Earth was still not to be underestimated.

Perhaps... it would be like before, with half a great domain falling.

"This time, the realm master shall be the main force... we... shall provide him with intelligence support," said an ancestral god.

Since the Renqi Radiance was all under Qi Yuan's control, they could hardly enter the Void Sea themselves.

They could only offer Qi Yuan intelligence support.

"May this battle pass smoothly, without unexpected troubles!"

"Yes, once this battle is over, we'll have more breathing room, and the other seeds can grow. The Renqi Radiance... will also be forged in greater numbers," someone said with a gleam in their eyes.

"Rest assured, back when there was only half a Renqi Radiance, Yuan could hold the enemy at the Void Sea. Now... with seven pieces, and the realm master taking action, what could go wrong?"

...

Time flew like a shuttle.

Qi Yuan's arrival was a shot in the arm for the people of the Imperial Star.

Now, everywhere, people talked of Qi Yuan, discussing this realm master.

At that moment, the moonlight was serene, and all around was silent.

The old man had moved into a large mansion; on the table sat celestial brew. He sipped the wine, his expression dazed. "Sigh, that fellow, how did he suddenly come to his senses? Tomorrow he heads to the battlefield. I wonder if he'll get hurt," the old man fretted over Qi Yuan.

He even feared Qi Yuan might fall in the Void Sea.

But such words could not be spoken—they were unlucky.

"Old Man Liu, rest assured, the realm master should be fine this time," said Ancestral God Qin.

The secret of the line drawn by the Radiant Path Lord could not be revealed to the lower ranks, lest it cause panic and breed trouble.

But Qin could secretly hint at a little.

Hearing Ancestral God Qin's certainty, Old Man Liu breathed a sigh of relief: "It's good that nothing will happen."

Long Qi sat beside him, drinking as a companion, cautious and reserved, yet the sparkle in his eyes could not be hidden.

Xiao Qi's leap to realm master had greatly affected Old Man Liu and him.

Their house had been exchanged for a large mansion.

Every day, divine-level experts, even ancestral gods, came to visit.

This was unimaginable in the past.

During that time, Qi Yuan had returned once, leaving everyone with endless sighs.

"I hope Brother Qi unleashes his might this time and cuts down all the Black Heaven and Black Earth!" Long Qi said through gritted teeth.

"A toast to the realm master!" Ancestral God Qin raised his cup.

Across the entire Imperial Star, all the people were tense.

Tomorrow was the day Qi Yuan would head to the front lines, the day the war would officially begin.

Some worried, some were excited, others felt adrift—their thoughts varied.

...

In the Void Sea.

A majestic warship patrolled, ancient and somber, stained with blood.

Voidless Realm Master's expression was unreadable: "I hear that this time, that realm master will come to the Void Sea to face us?"

The other Black Earth clansmen nodded in agreement.

"Yes, that realm master from the Chaotic Star Domain has slain many of our strong ones," said a Yang God at the Great Principle realm, his face full of dread.

"For a realm master to appear in the Divine Wood Universe—this person is very strange," said Voidless Realm Master.

"Hmph, in this battle, the Renqi Radiance can return, but this Qi Yuan must remain in the Void Sea!" At this, a man wreathed in flames spoke, his voice dripping with killing intent.

"Flame Realm Master, are you avenging your nephew?" Voidless Realm Master eyed Flame Realm Master.

Flame Realm Master had a nephew named Qihuang.

He doted on him greatly, even arranging for Qihuang to be placed in the safe Chaotic Star Domain for a gilded tour.

But who would have thought Qihuang would die, slain by Qi Yuan's hand?

How could Flame Realm Master not be enraged?

"He is a realm master, not so easy to kill," Voidless Realm Master said flatly.

Both were at the realm master level, with similar strength—how difficult it was to slay one!

"Even if it costs me my life, I will kill him!" Flame Realm Master roared furiously.

The Yang Gods present were all somewhat moved.

Though the Cursed Source allowed them to revive,

at their level, they all tried to avoid using the Cursed Source for resurrection.

Who knew... whether the resurrected self was still oneself?

"It seems this nephew means a lot to you," Voidless Realm Master said with a smile.

He had also heard some rumors.

Qihuang had many uncles.

Flame Realm Master was one of them.

Could it be that these so-called uncles... were all avatars of Flame Realm Master?

And Qihuang was the key for Flame Realm Master to step into the Myriad Things Realm?

Now that he has been slain by Qi Yuan, it is only natural for anger to stir in his heart.

This is the enmity of blocked paths!

Yet... to trade life for life, in the eyes of the Void Sky Realm Lord, is profoundly unwise.

“Void Sky Realm Lord, help me slay Qi Yuan!” the Flame Realm Lord said, fixing his gaze upon the Void Sky Realm Lord.

The Void Sky Realm Lord hesitated: “I have no desire to throw my own life away.”

The Flame Realm Lord was willing to trade life for life, but he was not.

“Assist me from the sidelines, and once the deed is done, I will open my divine sea and let you comprehend the laws of flame!” the Flame Realm Lord roared in fury.

Hearing this, the Void Sky Realm Lord was taken aback: “Truly?”

For a realm lord of laws, the most important thing was the law itself.

The law each realm lord had comprehended was his hidden card, his greatest reliance.

For the Flame Realm Lord to open his divine sea and allow the Void Sky Realm Lord to comprehend his own law was an exceedingly dangerous act.

During this time, if the Void Sky Realm Lord suddenly harbored ill intentions, the Flame Realm Lord would perish instantly.

But... with the Mysterious Source, even if he fell, he would be resurrected.

Yet for the Void Sky Realm Lord, a resurrected self was no longer his true self—such a fate he too must avoid.

Now, to hunt down Qi Yuan, the Flame Realm Lord was offering such a reward—how could the Void Sky Realm Lord not be tempted?

“Very well, I will certainly lend my aid.” The Void Sky Realm Lord’s heart burned with desire.

If he could gain mastery over another law, it would be a great boon to him.

In the future, it was not impossible for him to ascend to the Myriad Things Realm, or even the Heaven-Opening Realm.

In the Black Heaven Black Earth of today, there were realm lords of the Myriad Things Realm, but not a single one of the Heaven-Opening Realm.

If he broke through to the Heaven-Opening Realm, he would become the foremost figure in the Black Heaven Black Earth.

“If that is the case... then our battle plan must change.” The Void Sky Realm Lord lowered his head in thought.

The Black Heaven Black Earth was invading the Divine Wood Universe.

For the Divine Wood Universe, the war was exceedingly brutal and intense.

But for the Black Heaven Black Earth, without the supreme directive from the Black Heaven, everything was merely... probing and playing.

Thus, last time, Yuan had entered the Void Sea with half a piece of Human Enlightenment to resist the Black Heaven Black Earth’s great army.

They had ten thousand ways to slay Yuan.

Yet in the end, no one made a move.

Because half a piece of Human Enlightenment was enough for Yuan to trade one life for one realm lord.

No realm lord was willing to die, even if they could be resurrected by the Mysterious Source.

But this time was different—the Flame Realm Lord was willing to die, willing to be resurrected by the Mysterious Source.

Since someone was willing to pay the price, leaving Qi Yuan behind... was simplicity itself.

…

“So this is the Void Sea?”

Qi Yuan entered the Void Sea alone, feeling as though he had stepped into a quagmire.

The Void Sea... was a special space born from the collision of two universes.

Even ordinary Yang Gods found it difficult to walk within the Void Sea.

It felt as though they were constrained at every turn, unable to take a single step.

Only realm lords and those above realm lords found this restriction greatly diminished.

Of course, if one held a luminous treasure, then even ordinary divine-level beings, or even celestial-level beings, could enter the Void Sea.

“Half a day’s journey ahead lies the fleet of the Black Heaven Black Earth.” Yuan’s voice came through the communication artifact. “Realm Lord, you need only hold the Human Enlightenment and block the fleet’s advance!”

Last time, Yuan had done exactly this, confronting the Black Heaven Black Earth for over a decade.

In the end, the fleet retreated and did not advance another step.

“Good.” Qi Yuan nodded.

On his person, besides the seven pieces of Human Enlightenment, he also carried five special communication artifacts.

These artifacts relied on the Human Enlightenment, allowing Qi Yuan to still receive news from the Divine Wood Universe while in the Void Sea.

“What if they attack me?” Qi Yuan asked. “Am I allowed to strike back?”

“Under normal circumstances, the Black Heaven Black Earth will not rashly attack you in the Void Sea,” Yuan explained.

The realm lords of the Black Heaven Black Earth all cherished their lives; none were willing to trade one for one.

“But if someone does attack you, Realm Lord, you are naturally free to retaliate,” Yuan answered earnestly.

“And if I wish to strike first?” Qi Yuan said.