Chapter 323: Before Departure

After teleporting back to the Shanhai Realm, Lin Qing arrived at his personal residence atop the Buzhou Peak.

In the quiet courtyard, a strange beast—neither serpent nor dragon—lay coiled upon the ground, its body thousands of kilometers long and hundreds of kilometers thick, hidden within folded space; dozens of massive wings periodically flapped, exhaling a terrifying aura capable of instilling fear even in Void Divine Officials.

——That was the bloodline oppression of a terrifying lifeform born from Chaos.

Lin Qing appeared before this colossal beast and met its gaze, unable to suppress a faint smile.

This terrifying beast was, of course, the creature that had fused the bloodline of the Chaos entity "Xu Zhen."

After tens of millions of years of growth, it had long since reached the level of a Void Sovereign.

Though it possessed, thanks to innate bloodline abilities akin to a secret art of heaven-born origin, a combat power that barely reached the Seventeenth Layer of the Yu Xingyuan—even without a Divine Office—it was only slightly stronger than the most ordinary Void Sovereign, nothing remarkable.

But after Lin Qing transformed it into a clone, infused it with the bloodline of the Chaos entity "Xu Zhen," its gene index instantly reached the cosmic limit, and it gained three innate secret arts of the "Xu Zhen" bloodline.

The first was Inheritance: fourth-generation Xu Zhen bloodline could perfectly replicate any lifeform not yet transcended, inheriting all of its traits—even a single use was already absurd.

The second was Etherealization: it could vanish completely, becoming utterly undetectable—a supreme survival ability.

The third was Interdimensional Passage: it could pierce even the cosmic membrane effortlessly, leaving not a single trace; its evasion capability was terrifying.

Though it had no offensive power, these three innate secret arts were already terrifying enough.

No wonder it was one of the most terrifying lifeforms in Chaos.

Even fourth-generation bloodline was this terrifying—how terrifying must the original-generation Xu Zhen have been?

"It's time."

Lin Qing looked up at the colossal Xu Zhen clone, "Now that I've become a Chaos God, my life form and level have reached their limit—perfectly matching Xu Zhen's replication ceiling."

Fourth-generation Xu Zhen bloodline could replicate only lifeforms at the Void Sovereign level, but Chaos God is both a Divine Office and a life form.

The Xu Zhen clone also lowered its head, meeting its master's gaze.

The next instant, deep within its dark blue-green vertical pupils, intricate dark-blue patterns slowly emerged; an invisible force instantly enveloped Lin Qing.

Innate Secret Art—Inheritance.

Lin Qing felt an incomprehensibly wondrous force surge forth from the Xu Zhen clone's body, like a colossal furnace engulfing the entire clone, beginning to reshape and transform its flesh, genes, attributes, and even soul in an unimaginable way.

After an unknown length of time.

When all settled, the colossal Xu Zhen beast before Lin Qing had vanished, replaced by a young man indistinguishable from him—handsome features, serene eyes.

Lin Qing examined himself as if looking in a mirror, and smiled: "Interesting."

Identical appearance meant nothing—it was rare that the aura was identical too.

As for soul and Genyuan Sect affiliation, no secret art could alter those—only deception or disguise was possible; the essence remained unchanged!

The Xu Zhen clone's replication of him matched perfectly in life aura, genes, soul, Genyuan affiliation, and more.

Even the World's Primordial Source could not distinguish him from the Xu Zhen clone—precisely because of this, the clone could inherit everything he possessed.

This innate secret art, "Inheritance," could only have been born in the boundless, infinite Chaos.

"Let's test it."

Lin Qing mentally stirred, forcing out the primordial cosmic treasure fused into the depths of his soul—a dark, chaotic glazed-glass bead—and sent it flying toward the Xu Zhen clone.

Upon contact with the Xu Zhen clone, the primordial cosmic treasure merged seamlessly into its soul, showing not the slightest resistance.

Immediately, the Xu Zhen clone activated the primordial cosmic treasure; boundless power erupted, instantly coalescing into a World God body tens of thousands of kilometers tall, its terrifying aura freezing the flow of time and space.

"Perfect activation…"

Lin Qing murmured in admiration, "Even the primordial cosmic treasure fused into the soul is perfectly compatible—it's also a Chaos God form, and the secret arts are identical…"

Unbelievable.

Even his other clones could use his primordial cosmic treasure, but since their souls weren't fully attuned, they could only unleash one or two tenths of its power—equivalent to using a normal cosmic treasure, losing all primordial advantages.

But the Xu Zhen clone could still perfectly unleash the full power of the primordial cosmic treasure!

"Though fourth-generation Xu Zhen bloodline can never advance or transcend, becoming a Primordial God already meant no further progression anyway…"

Lin Qing's eyes held a hint of satisfaction; he immediately sent the Chaos God Heart deep within his soul toward the clone, while the Xu Zhen clone returned the primordial cosmic treasure.

Though the Xu Zhen clone was miraculous, its purpose was always to take his place—to become the Primordial God for him.

Thus, when he later reincarnates into the Rank of Kings, he only needs to send the Xu Zhen clone back to the Void Sea, while his true body remains in the Rank of Kings to cultivate.

"Hmm… the Xu Zhen clone replicated me so perfectly and thoroughly—but it lacks the Anti-Entropy…" Lin Qing couldn't help but shake his head slightly.

Though his true body lacked the Xu Zhen clone's three miraculous secret arts, it possessed the even more incredible Anti-Entropy—he must keep his true body in the Rank of Kings to progress further.

Yet if even the Chaos God Heart couldn't distinguish the Xu Zhen clone from his true body—if such a wondrous life form as Chaos God could be replicated—why couldn't it replicate the Anti-Entropy?

"Order… Anti-Entropy…"

Lin Qing fell into deep thought, silent for a long while, before finally calming his mind.

No matter what, as long as he continued forward, one day he would learn the origin of the Anti-Entropy.

…

After becoming a Chaos God, Lin Qing didn't rush to reincarnate; instead, he stayed in the Shanhai Realm, spending as much time as possible with family and friends.

After reincarnating into the Rank of Kings, only the Xu Zhen clone would return quickly—but his true body and other clones would remain in the Rank of Kings; as a Primordial God, he must avoid excessive karmic ties with the Shanhai Realm, especially with family and friends.

There was no choice.

If a Primordial God grew too close to lifeforms not yet transcended, the heavy karma would harm them, drawing the Yu Xingyuan's malice.

Unless… a Primordial God grew strong enough to ignore the Yu Xingyuan within the universe.

But under the Yu Xingyuan's descent, even a Primordial God couldn't draw upon the universe's primordial source—relying solely on innate power, one couldn't even break the cosmic limit; how could one ignore the Yu Xingyuan?

"Without a cosmic treasure, and unable to draw upon the universe's primordial source, even with my own strength, I can't protect my loved ones…"

At the celebration banquet hosted by the Shanhai Realm's high-ranking officials, Lin Qing looked at Zhao Jiayi, his cousin Chen Yanan, her family, and old friends, and silently shook his head.

He would take his primordial cosmic treasure with him to the Rank of Kings.

Once without the cosmic treasure, even as a Chaos God who became a Primordial God, he couldn't draw upon the universe's primordial source in the Yu Xingyuan—no matter how strong he was, he couldn't break the cosmic limit.

Faced with the Yu Xingyuan's malice, if countless Yu Xingyuan Twenty-Fourth Layer Void Demons descended, he had no confidence he could protect those tied to him.

Even if the Main God itself is immortal and indestructible, it will instantly be reborn within the Universe Source upon being killed.

But relatives and friends will die in the Yu Xingyuan.

"After the Xu Zhen avatar becomes a Main God, we will temporarily avoid contacting the Shanhai Realm."

Lin Qing pondered silently in his heart, "I will quickly strengthen myself at the King of the List realm, then create a Universe Treasure to send down. In that case, even if the Main God avatar is in the Yu Xingyuan, it can break the Universe Limit, enough to ignore the threat of the Yu Xingyuan."

As a Chaos God, plus the Universe Limit Gene and various secret arts, even without the advantage of mobilizing the Universe Source, as long as one possesses a Universe Treasure, one's strength will be far greater than that of a Transcendent. Only then can he safely help the Shanhai Realm in the form of a Main God.

The threat of the Yu Xingyuan within the Universe is also limited; once strength exceeds this boundary, it means nothing.

However, while it sounds easy, the Main Gods of this Void Sea find it very difficult to achieve this.

The Universe Limit Gene is itself a major problem.

"Universe Treasures seem very precious even in a Level Three Civilization; I wonder how long it will take to get one..."

Lin Qing chatted casually with relatives and friends while pondering in his heart: "A Universe Treasure is not that bad; at worst, I can separate for a longer time. I will wait until I have a Universe Treasure. During this period, I can ask the Ancestral One of the Yuan Seat to help watch over them..."

He had invested a great deal of resources in the relatives and friends he valued, and most could be elevated to Void Beings.

Even if they cannot reach that level, immortality can be achieved through other means.

But the Time Calamity, which occurs once every thirty-eight million years, these relatives and friends certainly cannot survive on their own.

So, he can only ask the Ancestral One of the Yuan Seat for help.

Once he sends down a Universe Treasure in the future, he can rely on himself to protect these relatives and friends.

"The most troublesome thing is still the Great Nirvana..."

Lin Qing frowned slightly. "When the Great Nirvana arrives, even Transcendents like the Ancestral Ones of Holy Lands cannot protect their relatives and friends; they can only flee alone beyond the Universe to avoid the Great Nirvana."

No matter how much one delays, the Great Nirvana will eventually arrive.

The only method he currently knows is to make the Shanhai Realm a Transcendent-level Civilization; it seems only a Small Universe would be unaffected by the Great Nirvana.

"Let's check after I go to the King of the List realm..." Lin Qing thought silently.

He is not someone who cannot see through life and death.

It is just... having witnessed the Great Nirvana that destroys everything, he has also experienced the feeling of everything familiar disappearing.

Some things, even if one can endure them, do not mean one must endure them.

Therefore, he chooses to try hard to see if he can escape the catastrophe of the Great Nirvana.

Otherwise, living alone and desolate, with everything familiar drifting away, would be too regrettable.

"Lin Qing, why are you so absent-minded?"

Zhao Jiayi, sitting beside him, couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "When do you plan to leave?"

"I'm not sure, but it shouldn't be too long. How about we have more children first, and then I'll leave?" Lin Qing suddenly said.

"More children?" Zhao Jiayi was stunned. "How many?"

"Ten or eight is not too many," Lin Qing said casually. "Anyway, I have accumulated quite a few treasures and resources here, enough to raise many descendants."

For life forms at this level, having children is too simple.

What matters is...

Whether one is willing to pay the price to cultivate a fetus good enough; otherwise, even the child of a Chaos God may not be very outstanding.

"Before I reincarnate, let's have more..."

Lin Qing thought silently: "With the life form of a Chaos God and the Universe Limit Gene, the cultivation limit should be very high..."

He had previously been too cautious and dared not have descendants, fearing they would be caught in the crossfire.

Moreover, he thought that once his life form reached the Chaos God stage, the cultivation limit for descendants would also be higher.

Now that he is essentially invincible in the Void Sea and is about to reincarnate and leave, leaving children behind is actually a good choice.

Unknowingly, more than a thousand years passed.

The first descendant of Lin Qing and Zhao Jiayi was also in gestation. Under deliberate control, vast amounts of treasures were constantly consumed to activate bloodlines and enhance the fetus's talents and potential.

And the cultivation limit of the Chaos God bloodline was indeed astonishing.

It was estimated... that it would take several thousand more years to activate the bloodline to its limit.

On this very day, the Shanhai Realm welcomed a guest.

The Life Main God, 'Mirror'.

"Senior Mirror, are you about to Transcend?"

Lin Qing looked at the black-robed, white-haired woman before him with some surprise and said, "Wasn't it said that one cannot master the laws of Time and Space before breaking free from the Main God position?"

Mirror smiled and said softly, "I demonstrated the mysteries of Time that I deduced from nothing. That Destruction Main God from the King of the List realm took a look and said that as long as I break free from the Main God position, the mysteries of Time can merge with the laws of Space, crossing the threshold into the laws of Time and Space."

She said with some expectation, "At that time, I will be able to Transcend."

Lin Qing understood immediately and said, "Congratulations, Senior Mirror."

"I have already stayed in the Main God position for over a thousand eras."

Mirror shook her head slightly and said, "I am too familiar with the mysteries of Time; I just cannot merge them with Space to form the laws of Time and Space. Once the restrictions are gone, simply crossing the threshold is, of course, not difficult."

She sighed, "But I heard that the laws of Time and Space are vast and arduous. No matter how familiar one is, the Dao of Time is very difficult to cultivate."

"Which branch of the laws of Time does Senior Mirror cultivate?" Lin Qing couldn't help but ask curiously.

"The 'Time Deceleration' branch of the current laws."

Mirror sighed, "But even after breaking free from the Main God position, I can only smoothly cross the threshold into the laws of Time and Space. Barely enough to form a prototype of a world within my body, thereby transforming into a Time and Space God Body."

Lin Qing understood.

It was said that the greatest change for a Transcendent is that the void within their body transforms into a prototype of a real world.

A true world not only possesses its own unique laws of Space but also its own unique laws of Time; only the combination of Time and Space can create a world.

"I heard the Destruction Main God say that the cultivation of a Transcendent is the process of perfecting a world."

Mirror shook his head and said, "This requires more perfect space-time rules, but the rules of time... are indeed too difficult. Just to perfect one branch of the time rules, I don't know how long it would take."

Lin Qing couldn't help but feel somewhat curious.

What he knows so far is that the current rules have three major branches: time acceleration, time deceleration, and time stasis; he doesn't know if there are other branches.

What about the rules of the future?

(End of this chapter)