Chapter 912: Myriad Phenomena Star Domain

Chapter 912: The Myriad Manifestations Star Realm

Emperor Kumu could naturally sense the trap hidden within this demonic husk, which was clearly intertwined with Luochuan.

Yet what of it? An offense was an offense, whether committed once or multiplied, and no one could resist the allure of a Paramita demonic husk. If anything, the husk served to remind Emperor Kumu that this couple was Luochuan's enemy, and if he wished to eradicate the threat of Luochuan once and for all, collaborating with them was the finest course of action.

Compared to this, the loss of face before the gazing multitude was but a triviality among trivialities; at the very least, they had offered a treasure and maintained an excellent demeanor.

In an instant, the atmosphere transformed entirely, and the two parties who had been locked in combat just moments before suddenly seemed like friends of many years. A remarkably radiant smile broke across Emperor Kumu’s withered, aged face as he barked an order: "Go and fetch my ten-thousand-year celestial dew. Today, I shall share a cup and drink to my heart's content with Fellow Daoist Zhao and his lady."

With those words, he familiarly took Zhao Changhe by the hand, leading him down toward the mountain peak. "To tell the truth, I have not entertained a guest for at least thirty thousand years... I hope Fellow Daoist Zhao does not find my abode too crude."

"A spiritual mountain cave-dwelling possesses its own unique charm; how could it be crude?" Zhao Changhe replied with an elegant grace, carrying himself entirely like a refined scholar wandering through an immortal mountain.

Ye Jiuyou followed beside him with a faint, inscrutable smile, observing their surroundings as well.

The mountain peak was draped in swirling clouds and mist, making one feel as though they stood in a celestial realm. By the cliffside sat a stone table, upon which nineteen intersecting lines were carved, resembling a chessboard. A green pine tree stood beside it, its slanted branches extending to shroud the table from above, forming a delightful, cool canopy of natural shade.

The three took their seats, and Zhao Changhe whispered to Ye Jiuyou, "The likes of Yuxu and Guichen would probably love a place like this and this kind of cultivation."

Ye Jiuyou leaned in close and whispered back, "Why don't you mention that Tang Wangzhuang would love it too?"

"Wangzhuang loves wherever I am."

"Bah."

"The meaning is different after all. Look at this Emperor Kumu; though he bears the title of Emperor, he actually prefers solitude."

Ye Jiuyou nodded. Perhaps for someone like him, for whom a single meditative seclusion could span a thousand years, it was difficult to maintain friends or family. The camaraderie of a so-called team was merely a brief convergence during a secret realm exploration, forgotten once the matter concluded. This vast stretch of mountains belonged to the Emperor's domain, resembling a sect on the surface, but in truth, he likely knew very few people.

Longevity was a lonely road.

But they were lonely no longer.

Seeing the young couple whispering into each other's ears, Emperor Kumu laughed in spite of himself and reached out to pour wine for them. "For cultivators of your level to still accompany one another as Dao companions in such a manner is truly a rare sight."

Ye Jiuyou asked, "Why so? Does your esteemed region not believe in the harmony of Yin and Yang?"

Emperor Kumu shook his head, his gaze serene. "Time dilutes too many things. No matter how perfectly matched a pair of Dao companions may be, after tens of millions of years, longing ceases to exist. The pursuit of the Great Dao is an endless journey."

Zhao Changhe said, "Hence, a heart like withered wood?"

Emperor Kumu paused, then chuckled softly. "There is indeed a bit of a connection there."

These words caused Zhao Changhe and Ye Jiuyou to exchange another glance, sharing the same thought: this Emperor Kumu was actually a sentimental man, and his Daoist title was a form of remembrance.

A collaboration with a sentimental person offered a sliver more peace of mind than the cold calculus of a dark forest; at least it would not be entirely driven by naked interest. Even if their friendship would fade with time, that was a matter for the future.

Emperor Kumu sighed, "Dao companions who still love each other so deeply after reaching such heights in cultivation... such devotion is hard to come by. Seeing the two of you fills me with quite a bit of sentiment."

Ye Jiuyou spoke in a sour tone, "It is not just the two of us."

Emperor Kumu: "..."

Zhao Changhe lowered his head and sipped his wine.

Emperor Kumu had no leisure to savor the jealousy and awkwardness of the young couple, though his expression shifted slightly. He thought to himself that he cared little how many companions they had—the Demonic Path was full of those who had engaged in dual cultivation with tens of thousands—but if their so-called 'more than two' all possessed a similar level of cultivation, that would be truly terrifying.

He hoped it was merely a matter of numbers rather than an entire legion of such powerful figures. Otherwise, the arrival of such a faction would surely upend this star realm, which had remained stagnant like ancient, dead water for ages... In fact, they didn't even need to be that strong; this couple alone was enough to cause massive ripples in this stagnant realm.

Then again, if your faction is truly so powerful, why was Luochuan fighting you, and how did he have the ability to hunt you down?

At this thought, Emperor Kumu asked probingly, "Not long ago, it seemed Fellow Daoist Zhao had not yet reached the Paramita realm? I wonder how you managed to heal your injuries and make a breakthrough in such a short time... Ah, if this involves your privacy, please forgive my presumptuous question."

Zhao Changhe had no intention of exposing the fact that he was merely a fledgling who had just broken through, having fought his very first Paramita-level battle just moments ago. He answered naturally, "Naturally, I was already at the Paramita realm, but I was simply ambushed by Luochuan. When the Emperor saw me, I was already grievously injured, making it appear as though my cultivation realm had dropped."

Emperor Kumu nodded, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Zhao Changhe added, "In truth, we are confident in our own ability to slay this scoundrel. Our primary reason for seeking out the Emperor this time is our unfamiliarity with this place. We hope a local power like the Emperor can help us design a plan to see if there is a chance to eradicate this menace once and for all."

Emperor Kumu's eyelids twitched. "It seems you are indeed not from this star realm. May I ask where you hail from?"

Zhao Changhe asked, "Has the Emperor ever heard of Planet Namek?"

Ye Wuming: "..."

"There is no need for the Emperor to probe," Zhao Changhe said. "The universe is boundless, and dimensions are infinite. Separated by an unknown distance, we merely arrived here by chance, and our two worlds will not intersect. Our only intersection lies with Luochuan. As a Paramita cultivator, does Luochuan also possess a galactic domain like yours?"

"Certainly not on the surface," Emperor Kumu replied. "This star realm is known as the Myriad Manifestations Star Sea. It was once a chaotic tapestry of factions, and Demonic Path cultivators like Luochuan ruled over powerful, fragmented star systems. Tens of millions of years ago, it was said that Luochuan obtained a supreme treasure and was attempting to subdue and refine it. He intended to use it as a foundation to unify the star realm, throwing everyone into a state of panic."

Zhao Changhe and Ye Jiuyou lowered their heads and sipped their wine.

We understand this part; that battered little book was likely the treasure in question.

Emperor Kumu continued, "In the end, it is unknown whether something went wrong during Luochuan's refinement of the magical treasure, but he suffered a backlash and was injured. Several other Paramita fellow daoists and I seized the opportunity to cooperate, driving out the Demonic Path and carving up the star sea. That battle is known as the War of the Three Sovereigns, which ultimately established the tripartite balance of power in the Myriad Manifestations Star Sea, of which I am one."

At this point, he smiled faintly. "This place is known as one of the three great forbidden lands... To be frank, an illusion array is deployed outside the planet; ordinary people cannot even see it, let alone approach. Of course, this might not pose a challenge to Fellow Daoist Zhao, but out of all the places you could have fled to, you escaped directly here, which can be considered a stroke of destiny. Had you fled to any other planet, there might not have been anyone qualified to help you withstand Luochuan."

Zhao Changhe laughed as well. "My luck has always been quite excellent."

The one with the best luck here is probably you, Emperor Kumu. The time Luochuan encountered that setback must have been when the previous era of the Heavenly Book world collapsed—that was Ye Wuming's chessboard, and the heaven-shattering war fought by Lie and the others. The heroes within that realm rose en masse, pointing their wrath at the Heavenly Dao. For a world-ending tribulation that was of paramount importance to the Heavenly Book world, it turns out that you star realm cultivators were the ones who reaped the spoils.

However, perhaps it was a win-win situation... Luochuan remained silent for an entire era after that battle, showing no sign of life until Zhao Changhe rose to prominence... The blank space in between was likely spent being hunted down by Emperor Kumu and the others, leaving him with no time to spare.

Sure enough, Emperor Kumu continued, "Although the demonic forces were destroyed back then, it was difficult for us to completely eradicate them. There are still quite a few demonic disciples roaming about, and managing these loose ends alone has left us with no peace. That battle depleted the powerhouses of the Myriad Manifestations Star Sea, and some of our own fellow daoists perished in that conflict. To this day, countless people in the star sea are still searching for his lost cave-dwelling."

Ye Wuming: "..."

We probably understand this part too; we might have actually visited that cave-dwelling. Furthermore, we were intercepted upon our return, and that person was likely a roaming demonic cultivator just like Luochuan... Come to think of it, since such individuals still exist, it is highly possible that Luochuan could rally a faction of his own, perhaps even operating in the shadows right now.

Emperor Kumu said, "After all these years, the balance of power has largely stabilized. These demonic remnants dare not do anything flagrant for fear of falling into our encirclement, nor will they openly gather forces. And we dare not push them too hard. Once a top-tier Demonic Emperor like Luochuan is driven to desperation, there is no telling what chaos might ensue... Thus, we maintain a mutual peace. When he intruded into this place last time to pursue Fellow Daoist Zhao, to be honest, I was immensely surprised. It is evident how urgent his intent to kill you truly is."

Zhao Changhe pondered as he sipped his wine.

Hearing it put this way, Luochuan's urgency and unwillingness regarding the reclamation of the Heavenly Book became all the more understandable.

Emperor Kumu spoke euphemistically, but he still revealed his wariness toward Luochuan; that three grand factions at their peak would not dare to "drive a top-tier Demonic Emperor to desperation" spoke volumes. This indicated that the boss was indeed a true boss, holding that status even within the entire star realm.

It was evident that none of the three great forbidden lands could match Luochuan in his peak condition if taken individually; back then, they had only swept away the demonic aura by taking advantage of the backlash he suffered from the Heavenly Book. Now, while those factions were at their peak, Luochuan was a solitary exile who dared not rashly stir up trouble, maintaining a delicate, mutual balance of peace. But if he were to regain control of the Heavenly Book, the boost to his combat power might become the key to shattering this equilibrium, making it entirely possible for him to turn the tables on the three forbidden lands and even unify the star realm under a reign of demonic terror once more.

This was the pivotal treasure capable of breaking the balance, the core of all storms, just as it had been from antiquity to the present.

From another perspective, the three great forbidden lands currently possessed comparable strength, maintaining a balance that had lasted for millions of years. But if Emperor Kumu were to gain the alliance of Zhao Changhe's faction, he might very well possess the capital to unify the star realm... No wonder the old man was being so hospitable.

Arriving at these conclusions, Zhao Changhe let out a long breath.

What he had feared most initially was that the so-called Paramita cultivation would be insignificant within the greater universe, making him merely a mediocre player upon stepping outside. Now it appeared that while the Paramita realm was not a solitary tier that crushed all living beings, there were still plenty of powerhouses of the same level, yet it undeniably sat at the apex of the pyramid. If higher-dimensional existences truly existed, they did not seem to be a factor in this upcoming battle.

Speaking of which, the Paramita realm that Ye Wuming had personally named turned out to be called exactly that by the outside world... That beautiful blind woman was not only physically alluring, but her cultivation insights were indeed top-tier, leaving no room for criticism.

"Therefore..." Zhao Changhe pondered for a long while before finally speaking, "If we wish to cooperate with the Emperor to deal with Luochuan, what are your thoughts?"

Emperor Kumu said, "First of all, finding him will be immensely difficult. The star sea is vast and the universe is boundless; how easy can it be to locate a single person?"

"If we can resolve that issue, what else do we need to look out for?"

"The other demonic cultivators who were not eliminated back then," Emperor Kumu said. "On the surface, they each walk alone, perhaps fearing a knife in the back from one another. But once a matter of life and death is at stake, they will inevitably reinforce each other, for when the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold... It is highly possible they have long formed an organization in the shadows. Therefore, though Luochuan appears to be a lone individual, he cannot be treated as one."

Zhao Changhe nodded. "What else?"

"The other two forbidden lands." Emperor Kumu smiled faintly. "If you and I cooperate to eradicate Luochuan or even the other demonic cultivators, my Tianxuan star system's influence will expand. How could the other two factions not grow wary? Furthermore, who among them does not fear having their fruits stolen while the battle is locked in a stalemate? The primary reason we have never been able to completely purge the demonic remnants is that this mutual wariness and fear of a third party reaping the rewards from behind has always been the key factor."

Ye Jiuyou said calmly, "If Luochuan is left to us to handle, and the Emperor is only responsible for managing these peripheral matters, would that be feasible?"

Emperor Kumu shook his head slightly. "The implications are immense and require more meticulous consideration; I cannot give a direct answer. Furthermore..."

"Furthermore what?"

"Regardless of success or failure, one must be prepared to completely fall out with the other factions." Emperor Kumu looked at Zhao Changhe meaningfully. "Luochuan and we have ultimately maintained a long-term mutual balance, and there will be no direct conflicts. If it is merely to eliminate a future threat, is it truly necessary for me to make such a desperate, bridge-burning resolve?"

Zhao Changhe gave a faint sneer: "If Luochuan intends to unify the star domain, who does Your Majesty think he will seek out first?"

The Withered Wood Emperor took a light sip of wine: "Whether first or last, it makes no difference. Besides, Luochuan cannot accomplish it."

Zhao Changhe sneered: "Then I'll speak bluntly—if he disposes of us, he will certainly succeed."

The Withered Wood Emperor stared at Zhao Changhe in silence.

Zhao Changhe continued: "When that day comes, others may simply surrender and still remain lords of their domains... But I fear Your Majesty will find it impossible to preserve your cave and keep yourself untouched."

The Withered Wood Emperor said calmly: "This matter arose because of you, Daoist, yet you speak these words without a change in expression."

"Since the matter has already arisen, dwelling on its cause is not the mindset of an emperor. Seizing this opportunity—different from the other two forbidden lands—and considering how to maximize the outcome is what Your Majesty ought to ponder."

The Withered Wood Emperor gazed at Zhao Changhe for a long moment, then suddenly said: "Daoist, you possess an exceedingly rich aura of mountains and rivers—have you once been an emperor?"

Zhao Changhe said: "No, I am merely a paramour... a paramour shared by the lords of the three realms."

The Withered Wood Emperor glanced at Ye Jiuyou; Ye Jiuyou's face was expressionless.

If the Heavenly Book world had an underworld, she, Ye Jiuyou, would be the Netherworld Lord; the human realm belonged to Xia Chichi—indeed, he was a paramour to both.

And the one in the heavenly realm? Have you reserved her?

Yet the Withered Wood Emperor knew full well—what paramour of three realms? If anyone could truly be the shared man of the three realm lords, he would not be a paramour but the lord of all under heaven.

"Therefore..." the Withered Wood Emperor said word by word: "How can you guarantee, Daoist, that in our cooperation I will not suffer backlash?"

"I have already said that in the future we will have no further dealings, but I do not know how to give a guarantee, nor am I willing to cut open my belly to prove it. Your Majesty must judge for yourself... You must understand that I do not necessarily have only one choice for cooperation." Zhao Changhe drained his cup and set it heavily on the table: "Advance, and there is a chance to unify the star domain; retreat, and hand that chance to others to gamble. I think any emperor would prefer to be the banker rather than pass the dice to someone else."

The Withered Wood Emperor looked at the dregs of wine on the table, his gaze rippling with a dark light.

After a long while, he slowly rose: "To the left is Liuke Peak, which has not hosted guests for nearly a million years. The environment is serene, the spiritual energy rich. Might I suggest that the esteemed couple rest here for a night? Tomorrow, I shall stroll arm in arm with you both."