It has been over a month since the Seven Sects of the World were re-ranked and pledged their allegiance to the Spirit Hall. After the initial turmoil across the continent, things have calmed down significantly. However, every major power knows that hidden beneath this tranquil surface are irrepressible undercurrents. A single gust of wind would be enough to trigger a massive tidal wave capable of overturning the entire world.
Yet, even if the giant waves of the era are approaching, that is a matter for the future. Right now, there is a new, immediate problem that requires Yun Ming to resolve.
Yun Ming looks at everything before him, his brows tightly furrowed. He sighs softly.
"This really is an unexpected situation."
As for how this all began, we must go back half an hour—or perhaps, it should be said, several years.
Half an hour ago.
Yun Ming listens to the report from the visitor from the Heaven Dou City Spirit Hall, his expression grave. He remains silent even after the man finishes speaking.
The middle-aged Spirit Hall Bishop who came to deliver the report looks at Yun Ming's overwhelming presence and wipes the cold sweat from his forehead; the pressure in his heart is immense. After all, the Hall ordered him to come and "pick a fight" with the Breaking Clan, and to do so in front of the very powerhouse who swept through six of the Seven Great Sects—one can only imagine the psychological pressure he is under. At this moment, he is roaring at his superior in his mind.
Damn you, Salas! Just because I accidentally saw you laughing and joking with your little secretary last time? You send me on such a dangerous mission; you're not even human! When I get back, I'll... wait, will I even be able to get back?!
The middle-aged Bishop glances up at the perpetually gloomy Yun Ming and feels even more nervous, terrified that if Yun Ming is the least bit displeased, he might strike him down. In this tense atmosphere, time ticks by second by second. After about two minutes, Yun Ming finally moves. He exhales, lifts his eyes, and looks at the Bishop opposite him.
"I..."
Hearing Yun Ming speak, the middle-aged Bishop feels his heart sink. He doesn't know what this man will do to him. He swallows hard, waiting for his judgment.
Yun Ming continues.
"Understood. Since this matter originated from my clan, we will naturally take responsibility until the end."
The middle-aged Bishop is somewhat surprised to hear such a peaceful response from Yun Ming, but he immediately breathes a sigh of relief.
Seeing the man's throat bob, Yun Ming assumes he is thirsty and pours him a cup of water.
The Bishop is slightly shocked by this gesture. He had assumed that a man capable of taking on eighteen people at once would be a violent madman, but he is unexpectedly peaceful! This dispels the last of his panic, and he quickly straightens his expression.
"That is excellent. Many thanks for your understanding, Young Master Yun. The Hall has truly been overwhelmed with matters lately; otherwise, the Hall would have taken the initiative to resolve the issue regarding your clan's old Clan Land, and I would not have come to disturb you."
Regarding the middle-aged Bishop's cautious words, Yun Ming says calmly.
"Not at all. This was caused by my clan, so it is only natural that we resolve it."
Afterward, Yun Ming asks about a few specific details. Once the middle-aged Bishop answers them one by one, he takes his leave.
"Since you have no further questions, Young Master, I shall not disturb you any longer."
Yun Ming stands up to see him off. After the Spirit Hall Bishop departs, Yun Ming looks up toward the direction of Heaven Dou and mutters to himself.
"It's been several years. Why would a change suddenly occur now? Has it accumulated to its limit?"
With insufficient information, Yun Ming cannot find the answer; he must go and see for himself.
As he speaks, a brilliant silver light erupts from his body. After a magnificent light array appears, Yun Ming arrives at the east of Heaven Dou City, the former gathering place of the Breaking Clan from several years ago—the site of his battle with Tang Xiao.
Looking at the gloomy sky and the barren, lifeless earth before him—a scene as desolate as falling leaves in autumn, characterized by decay and Annihilation—Yun Ming is not surprised. This place has been like this since several years ago.
Back then, during his battle with Tang Xiao, Yun Ming lacked the cultivation to contend with Tang Xiao's "Final Strike" state. For the safety of the surrounding civilians, he chose to unleash the ultimate technique of his Fifth Soul Skill, 'World', burning away all the origin power of that small world to withstand Tang Xiao's Great Sumeru Hammer.
In the end, Yun Ming succeeded. Tang Xiao died, and aside from the loss of the Clan Land, there were no other casualties. Furthermore, this area was never very bustling to begin with, and after the environment changed drastically, the few remaining residents moved away. It eventually became a desolate wasteland rarely visited by humans.
However, one thing is indeed different from before. Originally, only the pitch-black, abyss-like giant crater that sank a thousand feet into the earth was a space of dead silence, but now, it has expanded outward by about ten meters.
Yun Ming had no experience with burning a small world in his past life, so he did not know what the final consequences would be. When the incident first occurred years ago, Yun Ming had checked the situation there. At that time, although the area had become dead and desolate after his desperate, exhaustive outburst, there was no sign of outward expansion. Yet, it is happening now.
Yun Ming releases his Spiritual Power to probe the changes in the area. It remains the same as his previous perception: cold, chaotic, and deathly still. Moreover, the deathly aura seems to have intensified, slowly devouring the vitality of the normal land surrounding it.
After walking around the edge of the crater, Yun Ming investigates carefully but finds no other traces. Just like the place where he stood before, aside from the slow but real erosion and tug-of-war between the two worlds of Life and Death, he finds nothing else.
With no results from the surrounding search, Yun Ming continues to head into the depths of the crater.
Looking at the bottomless, deathly silent crater beneath his feet, Yun Ming does not hesitate for a moment. He leaps down, plunging into the depths.
The further he falls, the more Yun Ming can feel the difference between this place and the normal world. The exhaustion of the origin power has affected every aspect; not to mention that spiritual energy is nearly non-existent, the wind, water, and soil here are all mixed with a thick, deathly aura. The wind is slightly better, as it can circulate externally and carries a small amount of vitality that doesn't belong here, but the water and soil are in a state of complete decay. If you were to farm or fish here, the only harvest you would get is the joy of forever coming up empty-handed.
Furthermore, the Void at the bottom here is extremely chaotic and unstable, far inferior to the normal Void of the outside world. Yun Ming feels that if he were to use abilities like Space Rending here, the power would inevitably be immense, and the duration would be longer. However, it might also trigger many unintended accidents, such as space failing to recover for a long time, the surrounding space being shattered in the process, or large-scale collapses of space.
Landing steadily, Yun Ming releases his Spiritual Power to continue his exploration. But this time, he doesn't have to search for long before he discovers something unexpected.
Yun Ming follows the direction of his perception. Once he nears his destination, he lights up his hand with a brilliant golden flame of Soul Power and slams it into the ground, breaking through the surface layer to reveal what is buried beneath. He looks down, and sure enough, it is that very thing.
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Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: DaoistReader