Chapter 924: The Final Interdimensional Crossing

“Half an hour has passed, Hong Ji, activate the Immortal Dao warship and initiate interdimensional transit—destination: Earth’s Golden Academy.”

When the time arrived precisely, Li Yi immediately instructed the AI.

The AI Hong Ji immediately took control of the warship; the vessel, previously hovering in the sky, suddenly accelerated, streaking across the heavens at incredible speed—seen from afar, it resembled a meteor flashing past, moving with astonishing velocity.

“Are we finally leaving this world?”

Dozens of Great Perfection cultivators inside the Immortal Dao warship gazed through the projection at this end-of-cultivation world; to them, though this world’s spiritual energy had dried up and cultivation no longer existed, it remained their ancestral homeland.

Now, as they departed across dimensions, though forced by circumstance, they felt deep reluctance.

“The Dao of Heaven is this way: a cultivation realm flourishes, then declines. With the End of Cultivation here, this world has become mundane. How can we, cultivators, cling stubbornly to a dead land? Leaving early still gives us a chance to preserve our lineage—and perhaps even continue our path.” Yu Qing Daoist sighed.

“Without our large group of cultivators in the Outer Heaven, perhaps those left behind might live better—perhaps even survive until the next spiritual energy revival. Before I left, I left behind all my spirit stones and elixirs; it’s a small help for future generations.” Xuan Zhenzi’s expression remained calm.

“Why didn’t I think of that? After crossing dimensions, spirit stones and such would be useless anyway—leaving them in the Outer Heaven gives them a lifeline.” Many Great Perfection cultivators felt deep regret.

They had only focused on packing belongings and making final arrangements, never considering this layer.

“Everyone has their own fate. The path ahead must be walked by them alone.” Some spoke with detachment.

In the Outer Heaven, not only these Great Perfection cultivators lived—there were also disciples, partners, and descendants—but now they were all abandoned, for a simple reason.

Li Yi did not need a group of powerless wastes; he wanted only warriors strong enough to fight.

“Is there truly only one Dao-attained one left in the Outer Heaven?” Li Yi suddenly asked inside the Immortal Dao warship.

The young Daoist smiled: “Dao-attained ones consume too much spiritual energy daily. After internal strife, only I remain. My fellow Daoists were truly unfortunate—they didn’t live to see your arrival, Great Yi Tianzun.”

Hearing this, the other cultivators stared at Dongji Tianzun with shock.

They had never imagined such a secret lurked in the Outer Heaven.

No wonder the spiritual energy consumption rate in the Outer Heaven had slowed dramatically over the past year—it was because Dao-attained ones had perished.

“When drought strikes, the big crocodiles in the pond kill each other first.” Li Yi narrowed his eyes: “You have skill indeed—to emerge victorious in the end.”

Dongji Tianzun smiled faintly and shook his head: “I did not survive because I was the strongest—I survived because Great Yi Tianzun saw me alive. Had I lost, another Tianzun would now stand here.”

“I only crossed dimensions last year. Did you act so soon?” Li Yi asked.

Dongji replied: “I dared not gamble on how many years it would take for you to arrive. This must be prepared for in advance. No Dao-attained one wishes to weaken their power due to spiritual energy depletion—thus, seizing the Outer Heaven’s spiritual energy is mandatory for every Dao-attained one.”

“But this act inevitably hastens the Outer Heaven’s demise. Of course, one Tianzun once proposed eliminating Great Perfection cultivators to reduce spiritual energy consumption—but the proposal was rejected. Do you know why?”

The other Great Perfection cultivators, hearing this secret, trembled with dread.

They had not realized they had walked the edge of death—if that proposal had passed, they would not be alive today.

Li Yi said: “As long as Dao-attained ones exist, Great Perfection cultivators remain obedient. Killing them is meaningless. Who would dare compete with Dao-attained ones for spiritual energy? Look at how listless they all were—clearly, their spiritual energy rations were minimal, barely enough to sustain basic survival.”

“Precisely. That was my view too. Great Perfection cultivators consume little spiritual energy—killing them serves no purpose. Dao-attained ones are the true energy drains. Internal strife was inevitable. Thus, we Dao-attained ones decided to settle our fates through combat—single battle to determine the future of this world.”

Dongji Tianzun’s eyes remained unruffled: “Before the great battle, we pooled all our lifetime’s knowledge, all the Dao arts of the world, and compiled them into a single Dao scripture—destined to be inherited by the survivor. Thus, our legacy would never perish.”

From his words, it was clear that the Dao-attained ones of the Outer Heaven had entered that decisive battle fully prepared to die. Though Dongji Tianzun was the final victor, he showed no trace of joy.

“In an End-of-Cultivation world, this decision was indeed correct.” Li Yi said nothing more: “Too bad I came all this way only to bring back one Dao-attained one. Had I arrived sooner, I might have gained more allies—after all, the other realm is far from peaceful.”

He glanced once more at this cultivation world.

Unless something extraordinary happened, Li Yi would never return. All remaining cultivation experts in this world had already been gathered by him. From now on, this place would become a completely spiritless mundane world—though it might evolve into a martial arts world instead.

After all, he had once transmitted martial arts here.

As a brilliant beam of energy erupted from the warship’s main cannon, the interdimensional gate opened. The Immortal Dao warship flew into it, carrying this final group of cultivation elites out of this world forever.

Earth’s landscape now reappeared before their eyes.

Though inside the Immortal Dao warship, every cultivator instantly recognized this as a world brimming with abundant spiritual energy—yet, for some reason, an ominous aura permeated this realm.

“This is Earth. Spiritual energy revival has only lasted a dozen years, but the spiritual energy here is contaminated. Do not touch it lightly,” Li Yi warned. “Come with me to the Golden Academy. Obey its rules, understand its situation, and cause no trouble. This world is unique.”

“This world is indeed unique. Never before has a sky torn open such a vast spatial rift, connecting directly to another realm.” Dongji Tianzun had already noticed the distant Xuanxian Continent above.

He sensed it—another cultivation realm.

Moreover, this realm’s heavens were chaotic, saturated with countless incomprehensible complex forces.

Upon first arrival, discretion was wise—first, understand this world thoroughly before acting.

The Immortal Dao warship continued flying, soon arriving again at the Golden Academy.

Yet when the Golden Academy’s many experts saw Li Yi’s warship reappear, they all showed signs of surprise—yesterday, a massive energy tide had surged through space, even affecting Earth.

Many had assumed it signaled another Heaven’s Collapse event.

But soon, Vice Dean Sun Boxiu of the Golden Academy explained: Li Yi had located the source of Earth’s energy contamination on the Moon and triggered a normal reaction by acting against it.

Images of the crystal palace on the Moon’s far side were even released.

The reason for public disclosure? Current cultivators were too powerful—they could easily fly into space and land on the Moon to investigate. Better to disclose openly than risk chaos.

Unexpectedly, after the energy tide ended, Earth’s spiritual contamination significantly eased—at least no longer threatening other realms or affecting Evolved Ones.

Yet the contamination problem remained unresolved.

But at least it gave all Earth’s experts a direction: contamination could be solved. If successful, they need never leave their world to cultivate.

Yet the crystal palace on the Moon’s far side housed a terrifying presence—even Li Yi could not easily resolve it.

Fortunately, Li Yi had safely returned to the Golden Academy.

As the Immortal Dao warship hovered in place,

Li Yi and Lin Yue stepped out. He instructed Hong Ji to educate this group of Great Perfection cultivators on all necessary knowledge and keep them confined within the warship.

“Li Yi, what happened on the Moon? Is someone deliberately setting up a great array to contaminate Earth’s energy?”

The moment he appeared, someone flew over from afar and immediately asked.

Li Yi looked at the man—it was Ye Jing, whom he had met at Survival Base Eight: “This matter is complex. I did uncover some secrets, but revealing them would be useless—no one on Earth today can resolve it.”

“Yesterday, I disrupted part of the array’s operation. It seems to have worked—the contamination has temporarily eased.”

“But shouldn’t we focus on interdimensional warfare now?”

“Many have heard of the interdimensional campaign. If you plan to act, I will join,” Ye Jing said.

Li Yi replied: “Good. I’ll speak with the high-ranking officials about this—results should come soon.”

“But Li Yi, haven’t you forgotten something?” Ye Jing said. “The old Wu Saint from the Wu Saint Continent, Wu Tianji, is searching for you everywhere.”

“He’s not concerned about my whereabouts—he wants to challenge me,” Li Yi smiled. “But it’s a minor matter. Can you contact him? Tell him to come find me—I’ll wait right here.”

“You’re as confident as ever. That’s a Wu Saint stronger than a Demon King—and martial arts combat favors him over you,” Ye Jing said.

Li Yi replied: “Favors him? Not necessarily. Don’t forget—I’m also martial arts-born.”

“Then I’ll go notify him,” Ye Jing said, and immediately left.

(End of Chapter)