Chapter 236: Good and Bad

Amid the endless chaotic drift, your friendship with the Empress grows ever deeper.

In the past, when the Living World was in a dire plight, you entrusted life and death to each other, and at the brink of life and death snatched the Holy Light Seed from the hands of the Dragon Phoenix Qilin Three Tribes, turning the tide.

Since then, your attitude toward each other has already changed.

Even more so now.

Even without Chuan, the relationship between you two merits the term "Close Friend".

After a long while.

At some insignificant moment in the fleeting years, you and the Empress simultaneously lit up your eyes, gazing at each other.

"Empress, did you feel it?"

"Hmm!" she nods heavily, "I feel it—a massive Living World! Just like our Great World!"

Joy shines unmistakably in your eyes, "The destiny Chuan bears is right there!"

You both soar toward that Star River.

Standing in the Chaos Void, you see clearly the shape of that Living World, formed by the fusion of many heavens and earths.

There are two Living Realms and two Special Realms, whose structures differ entirely from the Great World you inhabit.

Here there are also the Human Race, the Fox Clan, the Dragon Race, many familiar races, and also beings you have never encountered.

You wish to enter that world, yet you sense rejection from Heaven's Will.

Although all roads lead to the same goal, after ascending the Immortal Realm many paths converge, yet this world's Heaven's Will still does not recognize you.

If you force entry, you and the Empress may be attacked by native cultivators.

You do not wish to disturb this world's peace.

You fear affecting Chuan's destiny.

The Empress says, "Sangyu, I will negotiate with Heaven's Will."

The Nine-Tailed Fox Clan excels at mental communication and can better comprehend this world's Heaven's Will.

You wait silently.

After a long while, the Empress opens her eyes, shakes her head, "Heaven's Will refuses to accept us, fearing that foreign Immortals would disrupt the balance of Heaven and Earth."

"Unless we can abandon our Immortal Body and cultivation, entering this world in True Spirit form to train again."

"No!" you refuse outright, "It's too dangerous."

Even with your heart tied to Chuan's destiny, you remain absolutely rational.

Abandoning the Immortal Body and cultivation? That's inviting slaughter.

Heaven's Will might guide native cultivators to devour you and the Empress.

Even though Heaven's Will lacks independent consciousness, it instinctively seeks to become stronger, to devour more.

Every Living World's development includes this step, relying on devouring and merging the Universe Origin and wonders of the Chaos Universe to enlarge itself.

"No need to be impatient."

You smile, "Since we've already found Chuan, we can simply wait for his rebirth; after all, we lack no time."

The Empress nods and does a brief deduction.

You deduce the traces of Chuan in this world.

Now Chuan is only a wisp of True Spirit, drifting in the world, perhaps needing a long time before reincarnating for cultivation again.

After discussion, you choose to temporarily reside with the Empress on a nearby Dead Silent Planet.

You chat casually, enjoying the rare leisure.

The Empress smiles, "Sangyu, how was Chuan in this world before?"

You think and say, "He was probably also a very responsible, dependable person, who made great contributions to this world?"

"Just as in our world, Chuan led the Human Race step by step to rise, sparing no life to protect all."

"Empress, what do you think?"

Chuan shed much blood and tears for the Human Race of the Great World; in this world, he should also be shining brightly.

It seems Chuan's existence will be unforgettable to the beings of this world.

Now, Chuan is about to return!

The Empress smiles warmly, "Looking forward to seeing Chuan again in this world."

You and the Empress decide to wait for Chuan's self‑emergence.

When the day comes that he recalls the past, he will come looking for you.

For you, that time will not be far off.

You also believe that with Chuan's talent and resilience, he won't keep you waiting long.

In the years to come, you and the Empress will occasionally venture into the nearby Chaos Void to seek Heaven and Earth Wonders, or sense the Universe Origin for cultivation, striking higher levels.

Even Immortals have strengths and weaknesses.

This has already been proven on the Human Ancestor.

In the final battle of the Great World, Chuan and the Ten Great Ancient Gods guided the Bizarre Black Mist away from the Great World, with only the Human Ancestor reaching the end.

But the Immortal's Breaking Realm leaves no trace.

You and the Empress have cultivated in the Chaos Universe for so long that your advancement is extremely limited, lacking any sense of a Breaking Realm.

To breakthrough, perhaps only special means can help.

For example, merging rare wonders of the universe, or, like the Human Ancestor, comprehending the Dao to achieve the astonishing feat of creating a Pre‑Heaven Form.

Whether the former or the latter, both are encounters rather than guarantees.

Time flows endlessly.

During a seclusion, you sensed the turbulence of Chuan's destiny.

Lin Chuan's True Spirit received a mysterious Guidance, apparently ready to reincarnate and cultivate again, perhaps related to the destiny he carried in his previous life.

"Finally, are we about to begin?"

You could wait for Lin Chuan forever, but seeing him a little earlier is always a joy.

Meanwhile, the Empress returned from roaming the nearby Chaos Void, bringing bad news.

Her expression was more solemn than ever before.

Your brows knit tightly, a bad premonition in your heart, "Empress, what's wrong?"

"Black Mist! I saw Black Mist!"

It had been a long time since the Empress's face showed such panic.

Your expression was equally heavy, "Are you sure?"

"Hmm."

The Empress nodded cautiously, "Even though I haven't seen Black Mist with my own eyes, I have approached that Forbidden Zone; the scent of Black Mist, I will never forget!"

Bizarre Black Mist is a disaster of the Great World, the prime culprit that separated you and Lin Chuan; you trust the Empress's judgment.

"Could Human Ancestor have carelessly brought Black Mist into this Starry Sky?"

Your mood is complicated.

If Bizarre Black Mist truly intends to corrupt this world, with this world's strength it would be unstoppable.

Even adding you and the Empress wouldn't change that.

"Take me there to see."

You decide to go yourself and take a look, harboring a sliver of luck, perhaps the Empress misread it.

"Let's go."

The Empress did not hesitate, leading you to a spot in the Starry Sky, where in the far‑away Chaos, a patch of Bizarre Black Mist was slowly writhing.

"Indeed, it's the scent of Black Mist."

You furrowed your brows, "But it doesn't seem as strong as imagined? Perhaps it's not the Black Mist that Human Ancestor and its kind encountered?"

"Or perhaps this Black Mist has undergone something? Become weaker?"

This discovery, for you and the Empress, is undoubtedly a ray of hope's dawn in the Darkness.