Chapter 420: Steps of Heaven and Earth

Chapter 420: The Stairway Between Heaven and Earth

“The destruction of an epoch is no child’s play. Do not think that a treasure shielding a space works like a protective barrier, keeping those inside safe and sound… It’s not that comfortable. Even the master who forged the treasure perished—what right does the treasure have to such power? In truth, most treasures shattered during the cataclysm; those that remained intact were merely fortunate.”

Zhao Changhe’s mind stirred. That was true; he hadn’t thought it through so finely before. No wonder this Corpse Demon, dwelling in this “Vacant Homeland” without a care, was still gravely wounded and awaiting recovery.

The Blind Woman continued: “The destruction of an epoch is the end of the world—the entire cosmos explodes, space shatters into fragments, and devastation scatters everywhere. Hardly anyone can survive such an environment, and even those who do are left at death’s door. It’s like a bowl shattering into pieces; the fragments themselves have no special defense.”

“That analogy makes it easy to understand…”

“As for a treasure protecting a space, that happens after the explosion ends and everything stabilizes. Because of the treasure’s existence, that small fragment remains isolated, never merging with the main world. It doesn’t protect the space from the start. So even the top experts who survived owed something to luck. All were weak and severely injured, and over the long ages, they never woke. Even if a few did, they only rested and recovered, lacking the strength to venture out. That’s why this age sees no gods or demons.”

Zhao Changhe said: “Now, with time passing, more have awakened—even this not-so-powerful remnant soul of a Corpse Demon?”

“Indeed… But don’t underestimate this one. In his day, as a great demon, he was captured by the top Buddhist and Daoist masters and imprisoned in the back mountain, where they tried to cleanse his demonic intent with a lotus pedestal. That’s no treatment for a nobody; he had some status.”

“But compared to you, he’s like a firefly against the bright moon.”

The Blind Woman laughed: “Oh, you’re praising me? That’s rare, rare…”

“…Strength is strength—why can’t I praise it? Do you think I’d speak so meekly to you if you weren’t so strong?”

The Blind Woman: “…”

After a moment’s thought, she stopped dwelling and said cheerfully: “Of course, his so-called status wasn’t that high. Those truly lofty wouldn’t have been captured.”

“Mm… I roughly understand. By this age’s standards, he’s like a wanted demon on the Human Roll. You’re at least on par with Old Cui.”

“Cui Wenjing? Hah…”

“…” In truth, Zhao Changhe had long equated her with Xia Longyuan, but he wouldn’t say so directly. Testing it this way, it seemed about right. He silently mourned his father-in-law’s dignity for a moment, then asked: “So, in ancient times, were there such rankings?”

“The Heavenly Dao records them, but they weren’t made known to the world like now.”

“Good. That news broadcast, once in a while, gives the world some amusement; otherwise, it’s too dull.”

The Blind Woman said: “Is it because it praises you that you’re so pleased? That’s fair—I’d be happy too.”

Zhao Changhe tucked his hands into his sleeves and said nothing.

“I know what you’re driving at… The reason the Heaven, Earth, and Human Rolls don’t include them is either because they haven’t shown themselves, or because the rolls have nothing to do with them…”

“If they were originally recorded, the Heaven Roll should have been dominated by names no one has heard of…”

“If dimensions are cut off, they’re no longer part of this world—how could they be recorded?” The Blind Woman said: “This battle broke out of the secret realm and entered this world’s domain. If it had stayed within the secret realm, the Chaos Chronicle might only have recorded the fight between Vermilion Bird, Tang Wanzhuang, and Maitreya. Remember when you were in Kunlun, impersonating Wang Daozhong and fighting Yan Que, the Blood Demon’s hand? That was a Hidden Dragon versus an Earth Roll—did the Chaos Chronicle say a word?”

Zhao Changhe narrowed his eyes at her, feeling it wasn’t that simple. She herself, the Blind Woman, had once acted outside Kunlun, facing a god or demon. And this Corpse Demon had also acted in Xiangyang—not in a secret realm, but squarely in this world’s domain—yet the Chaos Chronicle said nothing.

At the Yang family, the Chronicle’s dry battle reports had no mention of the sea clan’s yin energy.

He sensed there was an unspoken understanding that kept the Chronicle from broadcasting matters of gods and demons to the world.

The reason for this announcement wasn’t that the battle had spilled out of the secret realm, but that too many knew of it to hide—better to be frank.

From this perspective, once they began acting openly in this world, they would truly appear on the rolls.

Those gods and demons, secretly using proxies and avoiding direct action, weren’t just recovering from incomplete restoration—they likely didn’t want to draw the Chronicle’s attention. Once on the rolls, they’d become targets for everyone—not just this world’s people, but also their peers. No one knew who else was alive; all were acting in secret, gathering strength. Which fool would rush to announce to the world, “I’m here!”? That would be asking for trouble.

Outside Kunlun, that god or demon, when struck by the Blind Woman, exclaimed in shock: “You! You couldn’t resist acting yourself…”

If the Blind Woman were the Chronicle’s spirit, the scene would be quite amusing… Others feared being exposed by the Chronicle, only to find the Chronicle itself had beaten them up. The absurdity was overwhelming.

And now, a fool had stepped forward as a vanguard, proving that surfacing could lead to being listed, and that once surfaced, a swarm of this world’s top experts would gang up and beat him to death—even uniting righteous and demonic forces, setting aside past grudges. How would other gods and demons see this?

They’d be even more reluctant to show themselves. So why did the Blind Woman say this would stir up waves?

Seeing Zhao Changhe lost in thought, she knew he understood, and said: “In theory, this has a deterrent effect, making some restless gods and demons suppress their urges again. But from another angle, it also reveals this world’s cultivation level—needing so many Heaven and Earth Roll experts to hunt down a mediocre remnant soul. Those who think themselves stronger than this one might become bolder.”

Zhao Changhe nodded: “True…”

“Moreover, this one had nearly fully recovered… Though thanks to the lotus pedestal’s power, others might have treasures too. If he’s almost recovered, how far have others gotten? When they feel confident, the great chaos will fully arrive.”

Zhao Changhe was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked: “Which gods and demons is Xia Longyuan challenging?”

“In your eyes, probably the Barbarian God, the lord of the Eternal Heaven.” The Blind Woman smiled enigmatically: “Though his original intent wasn’t to protect the nation, the Barbarian God’s existence was indeed discovered by him, as a Central Plains emperor, during campaigns against foreign tribes, and he once suffered a loss. After that, his mind was set on the path of gods and demons… Objectively, his actions do protect China. That’s why he believes everything he does is right.”

Zhao Changhe: “…”

The Blind Woman stretched lazily: “Of course, if you say I’m among the gods and demons he challenges, that’s also true… In fact, the Barbarian God is just a hurdle; his ultimate goal is to deal with me… His son-in-law is smarter than him—he clearly wants me dead, yet calls me the bright moon.”

Zhao Changhe: “…”

Was this woman starved for praise? She remembered that so vividly.

If she were in the modern world, sitting in a fortune-teller’s hut, wouldn’t she have plenty of sycophants?

He ignored her, thinking that stirring up waves wasn’t so dire. The Blind Woman always liked to speak mysteriously, as if saying something profound, only to reveal it was nothing much. Instead, Zhao Changhe thought of something else to ask: “That lotus pedestal—what’s its origin? Can it heal Wanzhuang’s injuries?”

“That’s the Lotus of Life. The Buddhist concept of the World-Expounding Lotus comes from it. Yuan Cheng might drool over it, but it’s of little use to Tang Wanzhuang—her problem isn’t a lack of life force; it’s not the right remedy. Still, its applications are broad. Anything related to life and flesh benefits from it—for instance, your Blood Asura Body can be consolidated and evolved with it. And also…”

“What?”

“Those blood-and-flesh-related sorceries, like the Flesh and Blood Deity, or raising gu.” The Blind Woman smiled slyly: “It wasn’t the time before, but now it feels right. There’s something I should tell you…”

“Don’t be cryptic.”

“The next page of the Heavenly Book is with the Ancient Spirit Tribe.”

“None of my business.”

“The Jun Tian Blood Jade, which your Blood Asura Body needs next, is also with the Ancient Spirit Tribe.”

“…”

“Ying Wu’s investigation into Yunyang Ye has found leads. When you see him tomorrow, he’ll likely tell you that Yunyang Mountain is also in the Ancient Spirit Tribe.”

“…”

“On another level…” The Blind Woman’s smile faded, and she grew serious: “You yourself once said that these secret realms are the stairway between this age and the last epoch—the bridge between heaven and earth. You’re not yet fit to ascend to heaven, but you’re more than capable of climbing these steps. Your second hidden treasure isn’t to be found here—how long do you plan to stay on the Human Roll?”