Chapter 268 - 186: The Old-timers

Chapter 268: Chapter 186: The Old-timers

"After Pei Yuanshi and a good number of Rebirth Realm cultivators from Daliang died, it feels like the Heaven and Earth Primordial Energy in the Profound Realm has recovered quite a bit."

Before a wooden hut outside the Corpse Bone Mountain Guardian Land, Lu Changfeng and the Qiankun Daoist sat across from each other, playing Go.

"Hmm, I’m tempted," the Qiankun Daoist said teasingly as he placed a stone. "What do you say we join forces and cleanse the world of everyone in the Rebirth Realm?"

He could clearly sense that the deaths of High-Level Martial Artists, such as those in the Rebirth Realm, would reduce the consumption of Heaven and Earth Primordial Energy within the Profound Realm.

The Qiankun Daoist was starting to entertain some unorthodox ideas.

Faced with the Qiankun Daoist’s proposal, Lu Changfeng had to admit he was tempted for a moment.

But Lu Changfeng quickly shook his head, dismissing the insane proposal.

’First, they’d be cleansing the Rebirth Realm. Next, it would be the Bone Refining Realm, and eventually, maybe even the Tendon Transformation Realm.’

Currently, while Lu Changfeng’s actions had sometimes crossed the line, they always remained within certain boundaries.

’If he could truly cast off his moral shackles and indiscriminately slaughter everything within the Profound Realm, he would one day succumb to his inner demons and suffer the inevitable backlash.’

’However...’

’It was still possible to subtly guide the Holy Country’s path, using conventional warfare to reduce the number of those in the Rebirth Realm.’

’Besides, it was also time to reveal a few things about the Profound Realm to Saint Hong.’

’Once he understood the Profound Realm’s true nature, Saint Hong would naturally choose to limit the paths of advancement for Martial Artists and place those who possessed a Heroic Root Bone under surveillance.’

’In this way, the depletion of the Profound Realm’s Heaven and Earth Primordial Energy could be delayed for a while longer.’

At this thought, Lu Changfeng stood up and pushed the chessboard aside. "I’ll be right back."

Lu Changfeng soared into the sky and vanished from the Qiankun Daoist’s sight.

The Qiankun Daoist shook his head, then also took to the sky, flying south. His rest was over; it was time for him to return to the island in the Inner Realm and continue arranging the Martial Arts Array.

...

「Holy City.」

Within the Holy Palace.

After uniting the world, Saint Hong took more than thirty Consorts all at once.

He intended to spread his powerful bloodline.

At that moment, on an observation deck in the Imperial Palace, a rare look of tenderness graced Saint Hong’s face as he gazed at his Empress.

The Empress’s name was Bai Yun’Er, daughter of Bai Yimeng, the current Sect Master of the Divine Sword Sect in Sword City.

Judging by Bai Yun’Er’s slightly swollen belly, she was clearly with child.

A figure appeared on the horizon, landing silently on the observation deck without a trace.

Saint Hong recognized the visitor and gestured for Bai Yun’Er not to be alarmed. "It’s Father. He’s here."

With that, he took Bai Yun’Er by the hand and hurried forward to greet Lu Changfeng.

"Father." Saint Hong and Bai Yun’Er bowed.

Lu Changfeng waved his hand. "Rise. I’ve come today because there’s something it’s time you knew."

"Father, what is it?" Saint Hong asked, already somewhat prepared. ’It’s most likely related to the Corpse Bone Mountain Guardian Land.’

’After all these years, am I finally worthy of knowing this secret?’

Lu Changfeng didn’t send Bai Yun’Er away. He found his daughter-in-law to be quite sweet and well-behaved, and he regarded her as a daughter.

He did not consider her an outsider.

After a pause, Lu Changfeng began. "Hong’Er, do you know the origin of the Profound Realm? Why it’s called the Profound Realm?"

Saint Hong shook his head. "I do not, Father. Hasn’t it been called the Profound Realm since the day it came into existence?"

Lu Changfeng slowly shook his head. "Of course not. The story of the Profound Realm’s origin begins in the Ancient Era."

Lu Changfeng began to explain slowly.

He started from the Ancient Era, when the Human Race discovered the changes in the Heaven and Earth Primordial Energy, all the way to the three great Human Kings creating the Profound Realm.

And from there, he spoke of the cycle of Heaven and Earth Primordial Energy within the Profound Realm, down to its very essence: the Day Count Reset.

When he finished, Saint Hong’s expression had turned grave.

He had never imagined he would hear something like this from his father.

"I never thought the situation in the Profound Realm was already so dire."

"The three great Human Kings... Father, how powerful were they?" Saint Hong asked.

Lu Changfeng pondered for a moment before answering. "It is a Realm that we, living here in the Profound Realm, can never hope to reach."

These days, within the Profound Realm, the highest a Martial Artist can cultivate to is the Celestial Spirit Body level.

Ascending from the Celestial Spirit Body to the Spirit Condensation realm is impossible in the Profound Realm as it is now. There simply isn’t enough Heaven and Earth Primordial Energy to support such a breakthrough.

Lu Changfeng estimated that at the current rate, the Profound Realm could produce ten more Celestial Spirit Bodies at most within the next hundred years.

Once those slots were filled, the path to the Celestial Spirit Body realm would be cut off in the Profound Realm.

After hearing Lu Changfeng’s analysis, Saint Hong understood a great deal without his father needing to spell it out.

"I’ll leave it at that. As for Corpse Bone Mountain, there won’t be any problems with me watching over it. From now on, you must consider and plan your own path."

"Hong’Er, you need to think carefully," Lu Changfeng said earnestly. "Do you want to live out your life in peace as an Emperor, or do you want to walk further down the path of Martial Arts, see the true face of this world, and struggle against fate itself?"

Saint Hong closed his eyes and contemplated for a long while.

When he opened his eyes again, his gaze was resolute. "Thank you for your guidance, Father. I have made my decision."

Lu Changfeng patted Saint Hong’s broad shoulders. "I’m going to see your mother."

Lu Changfeng used Instant Teleportation and vanished before Saint Hong’s eyes.

’Father’s power has grown again...’ Any thought Saint Hong had of catching up to Lu Changfeng was once again dismissed as unrealistic.

Bai Yun’Er spoke up from his side. "Your Majesty, I never realized the Profound Realm was in such peril."

Bai Yun’Er was still struggling to process the shocking revelations from Lu Changfeng.

Saint Hong said, "In the future, the Holy Country—no, the entire Profound Realm—must control the number of people who reach the Rebirth Realm."