Chapter 409: Branches of Space and Time (2/3)

Empress Wu Wushuang and that Zhou Mingyi were stunned upon hearing this.

He walked in himself, and the monsters inside were easy to kill?

What the hell!

They only felt that this matter was too insane.

The Black Fog Calamity, which ordinary people would avoid at all costs, was actually just a hunting ground for this Li Heng, who went in specifically just to hunt the monsters in the Black Fog?

Isn't this a bit not quite right?

Could it be that this fellow Daoist Li Heng is bragging, or has he already been eroded and polluted by the Black Fog to say such big words? But he doesn't look like it at all, especially since they just saw Li Heng fighting the monsters in the Black Fog and holding the upper hand.

The Empress took a deep breath to calm herself down.

"Then, is the thinning of this Black Fog also the work of fellow Daoist?"

She pointed at the Black Fog, which was drifting hazily like morning mist, and asked. At this moment, the Black Fog was not even enough to be called Black Fog; it had thinned to the level of gray mist.

Li Heng raised his eyebrows slightly, "Perhaps?"

"After all, I slaughtered many monsters in this Black Fog and incidentally damaged the foundation of the Black Fog, so it is not strange for this Black Fog to become thin."

"However, I actually intended to completely wipe out the Black Fog."

"But it is a pity that this Black Fog must have wanted to repel me, and I could do nothing about it; otherwise, what you would see would not be thinning Black Fog, but the Black Fog disappearing completely."

Li Heng sighed with regret.

If he had known, he wouldn't have mentioned the names of the Unknown Disaster and the Gospel Calamity to stimulate the Black Fog Calamity. This Black Fog Calamity was clearly just a child and could not withstand stimulation at all.

The Empress and Zhou Mingyi looked at each other, feeling somewhat numb.

Not only did he slaughter many monsters in the Black Fog, but he actually damaged some of the Black Fog's foundation? Are you kidding me! This is very likely a type of Calamity; how could a Creation Realm cultivator deal with it?

They wanted to refute him like this, but Li Heng's appearance did not show any lack of confidence, and he did not look like he was lying.

Moreover, when they brought Li Heng out just now, they really did not perceive any resistance; it seemed that even the Black Fog was repelling this Li Heng.

These situations were all corroborating Li Heng's words.

For a moment, they did not dare to refute him.

But these things were simply subverting their common sense.

"Fellow Daoist's words truly opened my eyes."

After holding it in for a long time, Zhou Mingyi could only squeeze out a platitude.

"Not at all, it is just that this Black Fog did not give me the opportunity, otherwise fellow Daoist Zhou Mingyi could have had his eyes opened even further."

Li Heng smiled slightly, not appearing "arrogant."

The corners of Zhou Mingyi's mouth twitched secretly; he really wasn't humble at all.

"Fellow Daoist Li, what are your plans now that you have left the Black Fog today?"

The Empress suddenly spoke up.

Li Heng thought for a while and spoke.

"If not for this Black Fog repelling me, I would have liked to continue entering the Black Fog to hunt monsters, but that is not possible now, so I plan to continue toward the center of the True Realm, the Central Great World."

He did not hide his destination for this trip at all.

The Empress was shocked.

"Fellow Daoist is going to the Central Great World?"

Li Heng raised his eyebrows and answered calmly, "Exactly."

The Empress and Zhou Mingyi looked at each other, their expressions weird.

"Then does fellow Daoist know how far the Central Great World is from here?"

The Empress asked in a subtle tone.

"Why, is it very far?"

Li Heng raised his eyebrows and asked.

"According to ancient records, it is no less than hundreds of millions of Heaven and Earth."

The Empress said firmly.

Li Heng was surprised upon hearing this; it was actually that far?

In that case, this True Realm is indeed quite large, at the very least a collection of hundreds of millions of Heaven and Earth and hundreds of millions of Worlds.

However, if one delves into it carefully, it does not seem surprising. After all, compared to the scale of the true Great Void and countless Heaven and Earth, hundreds of millions of Heaven and Earth are merely close to zero.

Thinking about it this way, the True Realm is not actually that large.

"Fellow Daoist Li, the journey from here to the Central Great World is remote and extremely dangerous; who knows how many Calamities cover it? Even a peak Creation Realm cultivator could potentially perish on the way."

The Empress said seriously.

"I see, then I understand."

Li Heng nodded.

Seeing Li Heng's calm and indifferent expression, the Empress was somewhat surprised in her heart. Could it be that such a remote distance and such terrifying dangers could not stop this person from going to the Central Great World?

What exactly is this person's background?

"Since the journey is long, I will not chat with you two any further."

Li Heng smiled slightly and was about to bid farewell.

At this moment, however, he heard the Empress suddenly speak up.

"Fellow Daoist, wait!"

Li Heng pretended to be surprised, "Does fellow Daoist have any important business?"

He was calm in his heart; the fish had taken the bait.

In reality, he did not care much about going to the Central Great World; it was just on his way, and the most important thing was to obtain Source Power, Golden Source Points, and investigate the truth.

And this Great Zhou, this Heaven and Earth, made Li Heng very curious.

A fallen True Realm, a True Realm where Immortal Gods were defeated, a True Realm occupied by Calamity—how could there still exist a normal Heaven and Earth, a normal nation, a normal civilization?

Moreover, he had just released his mind to perceive and continuously probe this Empress Wu Wushuang and the general Zhou Mingyi; aside from their bloodlines being somewhat strange, everything else was completely normal.

It seemed they were truly living people.

They were not some kind of undead, obsession, or similar things.

This made him feel it was extremely interesting.

Perhaps it could bring him a different kind of surprise.

"Fellow Daoist, the journey to the Central Great World is Remote, and you have just emerged from the Black Fog, consuming much energy; why not stay in my Great Zhou for a while to rest and reorganize before setting off?"

Seeing that Li Heng was about to leave, the Empress hurriedly spoke to persuade him to stay.

It was not easy for her to have a sudden impulse and encounter a living being who might be able to solve the plight of the Great Zhou; how could she easily let him go?

Li Heng raised an eyebrow and spoke calmly.

"Fellow Daoist Wu..."

The Empress felt a tightening in her heart.

Could it be that this Li Heng had seen through her hidden intentions?

Whether it was negotiation or a transaction, once one's determination and purpose were exposed in advance, there was a possibility of being coerced by the other party or having them make an exorbitant demand; this was something she was unwilling to see.

"How did you know I was tired?"

Li Heng spoke with a smile.

Hearing this, the Empress was stunned, and her heart relaxed.

Although she did not know if Li Heng's words were intentional or unintentional, it seemed now that he would stay in the Great Zhou for a period of time, and she must take advantage of this time to bring out something that could move this Li Heng.

The Central Great World, huh... the Empress fell into deep thought.

"Zhou Mingyi."

"This subject is here." The silent Zhou Mingyi bowed.

"You continue to guard the frontier; I will take Fellow Daoist Li back first."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Could it be that this place was still the frontier of this Great Zhou?

Was it to guard against that patch of Black Fog?

But judging from their reaction just now, they seemingly had no means to deal with this Black Fog. Or was it that this territory of the Great Zhou was somewhat special?

Li Heng pondered in his heart.

The Empress waved her hand, and the surrounding laws of Heaven and Earth resonated; Original Qi condensed and evolved into a Nine Heavens Phoenix. The Phoenix head let out a long cry toward the sky, scouring the mountains and rivers, before finally calming down and lowering its head.

"Fellow Daoist, please come up."

The Empress walked through the air onto the Phoenix head and invited Li Heng to step up.

Hearing that Li Heng was still standing in place, the Empress spoke again to explain.

"In order to prevent the invasion of Calamity, our dynasty has a great array for protection. If a fellow Daoist comes to the Great Zhou for the first time, without the guidance and leadership of the Nine Heavens Phoenix, one cannot enter the territory of the Great Zhou."

Since she had said as much, Li Heng could only nod.

Then he walked onto the Phoenix.

The Nine Heavens Phoenix instantly flapped its wings, breaking through space-time, and the two disappeared in front of Zhou Mingyi. Seeing the two leave, Zhou Mingyi sighed somewhat; hopefully, Her Majesty could succeed this time...

On the Phoenix, Li Heng looked at the surrounding flowing light with some surprise.

Because he discovered.

This Phoenix was traversing not just spatial distance, but also temporal distance. However, this temporal distance was not moving forward to the past or backward to the future, but heading toward another possibility, just like going from the main channel of the Time-Space River to a Space-Time Tributary.

"Fellow Daoist must have already seen it."

The Empress introduced with self-satisfaction.

"Where my Great Zhou is located is within another Space-Time Tributary. Calamity occupies the True Realm and covers the main channel of the Time-Space River. But apart from that, there are countless Space-Time Tributaries."

"Hiding in a Space-Time Tributary can avoid the gaze of various Calamities."

Li Heng nodded in admiration.

He finally understood why such a normal Heaven and Earth and nation as the Great Zhou could appear; it turned out that one of the reasons was relying on this method to avoid the gaze of Calamity.

It could be explained this way.

The True Realm was destroyed.

But one could run to a parallel world where the True Realm had not been destroyed.

Even if this parallel world was not the true Reality, but merely a kind of possibility, merely a small tributary extending from the main channel of the Time-Space River.

But as long as it could be utilized well, one could successfully protect oneself.

And even protect others.

This Great Zhou might have come about this way.

However, although this method was marvelous, Li Heng did not think it was one hundred percent safe. The reason the Great Zhou was still safe and sound now could only be said to be because the Calamity they encountered was not powerful enough.

They were just a bit lucky.

If it were replaced by the Unknown Disaster suffered by the Xianshi Tiandi.

It would directly invade and corrode along the Time Axis and the Time-Space River.

Then fleeing to a parallel world or another possibility would be useless.

It could be said that as time lengthened, as long as this Great Zhou and this Heaven and Earth remained within the True Realm, it would inevitably face the fate of destruction.

If fleeing to a parallel world could ignore Calamity.

Those Immortal Gods would not have been defeated and died.

"Fellow Daoist seems somewhat unconvinced?"

Seeing that Li Heng's reaction was not as intense as she had expected, the Empress asked with some curiosity.

Li Heng shook his head.

"Such an Array and such a Supernatural Ability are quite profound; even I cannot manifest them. However, I have once seen some high-level Calamities, and in the face of such Calamities, this Array is also useless."

"What kind of Calamity is that?" the Empress asked curiously.

"A Calamity that can invade along the Time-Space River."

Li Heng answered calmly.

The Empress was shocked in an instant; a Calamity that invades along the Time-Space River? Could this Li Heng actually encounter that kind of Calamity? Even if such a Calamity existed, it would only exist in the Central Great World, right?

Could it be that this Li Heng comes from the Central Great World?

That must be it; no wonder this Li Heng wants to go to the Central Great World even across hundreds of millions of Worlds; it turns out he wants to go home, to return.

A wanderer longing to return home...

The Empress sighed with emotion, finally understanding a little.

After thinking for a moment, she spoke.

"Fellow Daoist Li, within the borders of my Great Zhou, there is a dilapidated Ancient Teleportation Array, which is rumored to have been built during the era of the Immortal God Heavenly Court, and it might be able to help Fellow Daoist traverse the distance of hundreds of millions of Worlds."

"Then what are the conditions?"

Li Heng smiled faintly.

The Teleportation Array is not the keyword; "dilapidated" is.

He is very familiar with this routine.

He had also long since seen that this Empress had something she was seeking, but he did not expect the Empress to be unable to hold back so quickly and directly ask him for help.

"Fellow Daoist has a discerning eye," the Empress praised.

"To be honest with Fellow Daoist, hiding in a Space-Time Tributary is not Absolute peace, after all, the tributary also extends from the main river channel, so my Great Zhou is facing some difficulties..."