Volume One: The Calamity of the Lich Chapter 131: Blessed Abode Beneath the Earth, Inscribing One's Name in the Book of the Land

"Is it done already?" Ancestor Aoki asked cautiously upon hearing this.

Zhenyuanzi turned to look at Wuyun beside him.

Wuyun, however, did not look at Zhenyuanzi but at Ancestor Aoki. "It’s basically a success. From now on, this place will be as it once was."

"But what about that newly formed Blessed Land and Cave Heaven?" Ancestor Aoki pressed further.

"It’s done as well, but it does not yet belong to you."

"Why not? Wasn’t it created using my own cave-dwelling, and didn’t you use the ley lines and other aspects of this land?" Ancestor Aoki’s voice grew agitated.

"If you want, just write your name upon this object, and you will have full ownership of this cave heaven," Wuyun replied, spreading out the Earth Register and presenting it to Ancestor Aoki.

"Why should I?" Ancestor Aoki exclaimed in frustration.

"Why? You ask why? Didn’t you refuse to let us establish a Blessed Land here at the beginning?" Wuyun retorted without mercy.

In the end, to claim the newly established Blessed Land, Ancestor Aoki inscribed his name in Zhenyuanzi’s Earth Register.

Because he could sense that from the moment Zhenyuanzi and Wuyun succeeded in founding the Blessed Land, the environment here had changed dramatically.

As soon as Ancestor Aoki imprinted his soul mark upon the Earth Register, a title appeared: The Celestial Abode of Aoki: Master Aoki!

From that moment, he felt an even deeper connection to this place.

Though he might reside within the Blessed Land in the future, if any issues arose in the original Spiritwood Valley, he would now be responsible for managing them.

But he also discovered many benefits. Now that he was the lord of this land, the space within Spiritwood Valley had suddenly expanded, and the low mountains had grown taller.

This was due to both his influence and the creation of the Blessed Land.

What Zhenyuanzi and Wuyun hadn’t told him was that, though the Blessed Land appeared rooted in the Primal World, it was already connected to Chaos itself, constantly drawing in the aura of Chaos and nourishing the Primal World in return.

Though faint at first, this energy would steadily accumulate over time. The Blessed Land itself would also grow, a mutually reinforcing process.

As its master, cultivating within the Blessed Land would allow Ancestor Aoki to comprehend the Great Dao more clearly. While it might not compare to the ancient Primal World, it was far superior to the present conditions.

At the same time, as Zhenyuanzi and his companions were establishing the Blessed Land, in the Outer Heavens, within the Palace of Purple Clouds—

"A new Celestial Abode! I did not expect such a change, more variables in the world!" In the end, Hongjun did nothing but sigh helplessly and fell silent within his palace.

"Even an incarnation now possesses independent thought and has reached the level of a Hunyuan Daluo Golden Immortal. Old friends, have you truly left this poor Daoist far behind?"

Neither Qingxuan nor his incarnation had any inkling of Hongjun’s musings.

At that moment, Qingxuan was leading Houtu and the others, accompanying Yangmei as they carried the World of Life toward the Primal World.

And now, throughout the Primal World, countless beings once again heard Hongjun’s voice: "In one hundred thousand years, there will be another lecture in the Palace of Purple Clouds. All with fate may come!"

"At last, the time has come!" Such thoughts filled countless minds. Unable to make further progress in cultivation, many found the wait almost unbearable.

Spiritwood Valley.

"You need not worry. As long as you fulfill your duties, there are only benefits for you and no harm," Wuyun reassured Ancestor Aoki after returning the Earth Register to Zhenyuanzi.

"Rest assured, Dao Sovereign, I will carry out my responsibilities faithfully!"

The moment he left his name and soul mark in the Earth Register, Ancestor Aoki comprehended many things. The tasks required of a Celestial Abode’s master were now clearly imprinted upon his soul.

"The second lecture in the Palace of Purple Clouds is approaching. If you wish to attend, go; if not, it is your choice," Wuyun said, leaving the decision entirely to Zhenyuanzi.

"I will not go this time. I have already found my path; those lectures would not aid me much," Zhenyuanzi replied, then turned to Hongyun.

"However, Hongyun, you should go and listen."

At these words, Hongyun hesitated.

"No need to decide now. Besides helping you establish this Blessed Land, I am here to offer you some guidance for the road ahead," Wuyun said, pointing to Zhenyuanzi’s brow. Instantly, the aura of the Five Elements enveloped them, the laws of the Dao descending.

Within Zhenyuanzi’s soul, five Dao marks were left behind.

At first, Zhenyuanzi thought they represented the five great Daos—Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth—but upon sensing them more closely, he realized all five were pure Five Elements Dao marks. This puzzled him even more.

When Zhenyuanzi regained his senses, Wuyun was gone.

"Senior has already departed," Hongyun reminded him, sensing Zhenyuanzi’s wistfulness.

Zhenyuanzi then instructed Ancestor Aoki to pay more attention to the mountains and rivers here and to regularly tend to the ley lines.

Having been born from the primordial Spiritwood, Ancestor Aoki was now the first Celestial Abode’s lord, and his control over ley lines and earth energy was now even more adept.

Afterward, Zhenyuanzi continued on his journey, searching for the next location in need of a Blessed Land.

"Zhenyuanzi, perhaps I should not attend the Dao lecture and stay to accompany you instead," Hongyun offered, just as Zhenyuanzi was about to speak.

To his disappointment, Zhenyuanzi refused without hesitation. "Hongyun, this concerns your own Dao path—how can you be so careless? The world has changed greatly; my cultivation experience will not help you, so you must attend the lecture."

Hearing this, Hongyun could only agree. And so, after countless years together, one set off for the Outer Heavens, while the other roamed the mountains and rivers of the Primal World.

Meanwhile, in the chaos beyond the Primal World, separated by countless dimensions—

A colossal being was speeding toward the Primal World.

"Yangmei, do you know, at our current speed, how long it will take to reach the edge of the Primal World?" Qingxuan asked, glancing at Yangmei nearby.

Of all beings, none understood the chaos as well as Yangmei, the former Space Demon God.

"Conservatively, it will take a few great kalpas at least. Why, are you anxious to return? Is something urgent?" Yangmei asked, noticing the worry on Qingxuan’s face.

"Yangmei, must you ask when you already know the answer? I don’t believe you can’t guess what I want to do!" The longer Qingxuan knew Yangmei, the more he realized how unfathomable he was.

Yet recalling Yangmei’s origins, Qingxuan felt at ease. Whether as a Child of the Dao, a master of space, or an ancient being whose age was beyond reckoning, compared to Yangmei, Qingxuan knew there was still a gap between them, even if Yangmei called him friend.