[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-after-the-sky-fell":3,"chapter-after-the-sky-fell-after-the-sky-fell-chapter-886":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","After the Sky Fell",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2281742,4462,"Chapter 886: Pollution and Sealing","after-the-sky-fell-chapter-886",886,"\u003Cp>Li Yi wasn’t particularly interested in the death of this Hua Qing’s lingering soul; though he knew the man had once been formidable, reduced to this state, there was nothing more to say—he only wanted to uncover the secret of the knife coin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough with your story about being dug up and dumped back then. You were clearly a powerful figure once—how pitiful to end up like this. Tell me about the knife coin instead: why does it keep absorbing cosmic energy after being repaired?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the aid of incense power, his primordial spirit manifested, scanning the surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though this place brimmed with terrifying energy, it still devoured everything from outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Qing’s lingering soul said: “Precisely because that bald man repaired the knife coin, it now continuously absorbs cosmic energy to fill the void left behind. Your Earth calls anything that emits an energy field a ‘curious object’—you should know such fields aren’t infinite.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Energy cannot be created from nothing, only transferred. Originally, the knife coin broke into two pieces, causing its energy to leak out and form a field. Over time, its energy dwindled until it finally deteriorated completely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now that it’s been repaired, the energy that leaked away must be reclaimed. Thus, it requires vast energy to restore itself to its peak. You’ve seen the aura glowing around you, haven’t you? That’s the sign of its recovery. When the aura fills the entire space, the knife coin will shed its shackles and regain its true brilliance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So that’s how it is. Given your reasoning, I’ll temporarily believe you.” Li Yi nodded slightly, finding it perfectly logical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Qing continued: “Moreover, this thing isn’t called a knife coin—that’s merely your name for it. It can transform endlessly, with no fixed form or fixed name. It can become a knife coin, a weapon, armor, or even a living being.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It currently appears this way because, before I died, I deliberately shaped it thus—to conceal its true nature and prevent it from falling into evil hands.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So miraculous?” Li Yi’s expression shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This tiny knife coin could transform into countless forms—even evolve into living beings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If this object fully recovers, how powerful will it be?” Li Yi asked again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Qing’s lingering soul said: “With a single ripple of its aura, it can obliterate you completely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So powerful?” Li Yi was startled, then asked: “If that’s true, why did it break into two pieces?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Qing’s lingering soul fell silent for a moment: “Even the most powerful magic treasure isn’t indestructible. Know that beyond the heavens lie higher heavens, beyond people lie greater people.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So you encountered a powerful enemy who shattered your treasure and killed you?” Li Yi rubbed his chin, speculating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Something like that,” Hua Qing’s lingering soul replied weakly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi laughed: “I bet you just got too reckless and killed yourself. The knife coin’s power could shatter space and tear open interdimensional gates—if you faced a strong enemy, even if you couldn’t win, escaping should’ve been easy. You were just too weak, so even with a treasure, you were useless.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How dare you, this evil Earthling, slander my honor!” Hua Qing’s lingering soul snapped: “The enemy I faced was beyond anything you could imagine in a lifetime. Others would’ve been reduced to dust instantly. Only I managed to preserve a lingering soul, hoping to rise again someday.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Weak is weak—don’t make excuses. You’ve crossed dimensions countless times—most were weak worlds. Suddenly stumbling into a realm of powerful beings? Of course you got crushed. Bottom line: you’re both weak and reckless. After all, if you walk by the river often, you’ll get your feet wet.” Li Yi spoke bluntly: “When I first entered the Wildlands, wasn’t I crushed too? Almost sold as a slave?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who hasn’t had a fall? Falling isn’t shameful—what matters is whether you can rise again. Clearly, you can’t.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Qing’s lingering soul sighed: “I never expected that after a while, you, this evil Earthling, had grown stronger—and your tongue sharper. But victory and defeat are clear: I lost, and I admit my failure and shortcomings. Yet the knife coin’s secrets go further still. When its transformation completes, I’ll teach you how to use it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But this much information won’t buy back your life,” Li Yi said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t satisfied with this outcome. After all, the knife coin was in his hands—he could slowly uncover its mysteries himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I’ll tell you another secret about Earth,” Hua Qing’s lingering soul said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What secret?” Li Yi asked immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Qing’s lingering soul thought a moment, then said: “You’ve crossed dimensions many times—you must have noticed one thing: only Earth suffers from pollution.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed,” Li Yi nodded slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Qing’s lingering soul continued: “And only after Earth’s spiritual energy revives does the Heaven’s Collapse occur. This isn’t coincidence—it’s inevitable. Your world is sealed. That’s why I call you evil Earth prisoners.” “Pollution and sealing? What do you mean?” Li Yi’s expression sharpened—he sensed he’d uncovered a monumental secret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Qing’s lingering soul said: “Pollution is the first seal against Earth. The Heaven’s Collapse is the second seal. Cross-dimension travel is the third. As for why— I don’t know. To me, countless great realms exist. Since this place is evil and ominous, I naturally wouldn’t linger here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Three seals? Explain clearly,” Li Yi frowned, growing serious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Qing’s lingering soul thought a moment: “You lack experience and reading. It’s natural you struggle to understand. Put it this way: Earth’s pollution exists to prevent your people from cultivating. Otherwise, with such abundant spiritual energy, billions of Earthlings cultivating would be a terrifying prospect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But pollution doesn’t completely block cultivation. Your people bypass it by using spiritual energy leaking through wormholes. Thus, the second seal emerged: during the Heaven’s Collapse, great realms collide, cross-dimensional points open, and Earth connects to countless cultivation worlds—like the Profound Immortal Continent, the Demon God Realm, the Wildlands. Strong beings from these realms descend. Given your people’s rapid cultivation speed, their slaughter is inevitable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As for the third seal—you’ve crossed dimensions many times. You know the worlds you reach are either spiritually barren, terrifyingly hopeless, or utterly lifeless. Do you think that’s coincidence?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not coincidence. The space around Earth has long been blocked off by these worlds. So you’re likely to end up only in these terrible realms. Only a rare few lucky souls find worlds suitable for cultivation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi’s expression grew heavier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this lingering soul’s analysis, it made sense. All the worlds he’d crossed into were terrible—almost all unsuitable for cultivation. The only one even remotely decent was the world where his father had become a god through incense worship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I noticed this because I held the knife coin and crossed dimensions countless times, uncovering traces others could never find. Though I’m a frog in a well, at least I jumped out. You’ve stayed in the well your whole lives—so you can’t perceive these truths.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi now said seriously: “Why assume your guess is right? Maybe it’s all just coincidence.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you think that way, I have nothing more to say. But I’ll warn you: the thing polluting your spiritual energy is on Earth itself. If you ever find it, you’ll know whether I spoke truth or lies,” Hua Qing’s lingering soul said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll remember your words. I’ll investigate later,” Li Yi said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Hua Qing was right, this was truly chilling. But he wasn’t foolish enough to investigate now. Only after he achieved the Three Flowers Gathering and the Five Qi Converging would he consider verifying it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before possessing sufficient power, he wouldn’t touch such taboos—lest he invite disaster and die pointlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So now, Li Yi could only pretend ignorance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He still had vast room to grow. Earth’s strong ones were still few. The invaders from beyond hadn’t been dealt with. Revealing these secrets now would serve no purpose beyond satisfying curiosity—and might bring annihilation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Qing’s lingering soul seemed to understand Li Yi’s caution. He said: “You’re right. If only I’d been as cautious as you in my day. So, evil Earthling, interested in visiting my homeland? There’s something you need right now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your homeland?” Li Yi frowned: “Why do I feel you’re trying to trick me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I, Emperor Hua Qing, never trick anyone!” Hua Qing’s lingering soul snapped again—though only in anger. “You know: at your current realm, your ceiling is nearly locked. Without finding a stronger world, your life ends here. Don’t you want to break the seals, see what lies beyond?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A little interested—but not much. I’m a cautious man. I’ll keep cultivating for a while longer,” Li Yi said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d just broken through the Three Flowers Realm—he had no intention of dying like Hua Qing’s lingering soul. He firmly declined the invitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still, the information you’ve given me today is enough. I’ll agree to use incense power to revive you—just not now,” Li Yi added.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you,” Hua Qing’s lingering soul said, finally feeling somewhat comforted, and expressed his gratitude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No thanks needed. It’s just a transaction,” Li Yi said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, Hua Qing’s lingering soul felt regret and sorrow—he’d hoped, after so much setup, to use Li Yi’s hands to return home. After all, with Li Yi’s current strength, safety was somewhat assured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he hadn’t expected Li Yi to be this cautious—as if sensing danger, he’d refused outright.\u003C\u002Fp>",1556,"2026-06-20T01:27:08.613Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","33c4bac88794ae9986fb4be3eb18661ce8bcbc2aea4a409d34b516dec95d8ca8","after-the-sky-fell-chapter-887","after-the-sky-fell-chapter-885",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fafter-the-sky-fell-cover.jpg"]