Chapter 1330: Brilliant Heaven

A brown wind swept through a dark sky and an overgrown wilderness landscape. It carried death and emptiness. Dust swirled. As faint light drifted down from above, it seemed like ancient time was being crushed by the mottle shadows.

The entire world seemed like it had been cursed with an aura of despair. The sky was like a massive, dark cloth covering everything, but hovering on the brink of collapse. Flows of mutagen swept through the air, drifting with the wind. They were like living tentacles, piercing everything. It was so strong it seemed to be on the verge of becoming corporeal, and in fact, in many places, it was a thick mist that permeated the surroundings.

The lands had long since lost any traces of life, and looked like they were decomposing. Deep gullies were visible everywhere, like vicious mouths howling against fate.

That said, life did exist. Within the gullies were tenacious plants that pulsed with evil energy, perhaps due to their nature, or perhaps due to the environment and the ever present mutagen. Their branches were twisted and distorted, making them look like bitterly struggling animals. And they were covered with thorns, some of which glittered with bizarre light that was a clear warning to stay away.

They had very bizarre leaves. Some were wide like woven fans, but covered with numerous holes, as if some unknown creature had gnawed away at them. Others were long and thin like swords, but with serrated edges. As they swayed in the breeze, they seemed sharp enough to cause serious wounds to anyone who touched them.[1]

Occasionally, hulking beasts could be seen in the dangerous landscape, and they pulsed with godliness. They looked even stranger than the plants. Some were covered with innumerable cold and ruthless eyes that seemed capable of seeing all hidden things in the world. Some were covered with scales as tough as iron, which glowed faintly in the darkness. Every step such beasts took left deep tracks in the land, and caused muffled booms to echo out. Others had immense wings that caused cold winds to blow when they beat, winds full of decay and mutagen.

And yet, what was most eye-catching in the bizarre wastelands... was not any of those things. It was... the numerous immense temples that dotted the landscape.

The temples seemed extremely primeval, as if they had been standing in the same spot since the most ancient of times. Though they were situated haphazardly, they all conformed to the same style. Their walls were made of massive stone slabs covered with cryptic, mysterious symbols. The symbols seemed to contain life of their own, and would pulse with faint light, making it seem like they were breathing. They had immense doors covered with complicated patterns and designs. And though the designs were all different, at the top of each design was a vertical symbol that described light! It was as if light... was being worshiped by all of these temples!

This place was called Brilliant Heaven! It existed beneath Revered Ancient, and was of corresponding size. In fact, back in history... Brilliant Heaven was the true Revered Ancient. When the cultivators came from the Deep Earth star ring, it was the first world they saw.

A decisive war ended up being fought between those cultivators and the Brilliant Heaven Godfolk. And though the cultivators paid an immense price, they ultimately achieved victory! It was a victory both sweet and deeply meaningful. It gave the cultivators the right to enter the higher star rings, and to live there in the Revered Ancient mainland that they created.

Revered Ancient became the heaven over Brilliant Heaven!

𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

The curtain dropped on Brilliant Heaven Godfolk. Most of the gods were suppressed. The imperial clan was sealed, and their crown prince became a golden crow who atoned for the crimes of the Godfolk outside of Brilliant Heaven.

The Brilliant Heaven mainland was buried. Revered Ancient was constructed atop it.

The heavenly daos were erected, and the cultivator system became a dazzling flower blooming in the Ninth Star Ring. That was what kept Brilliant Heaven tightly sealed. As time passed, Brilliant Heaven eventually became a legend. The Brilliant Heaven Godfolk were a thing of the past.

Cultivators did not go there. Until this day!

It was a day that seemed like any other day, yet was destined to be anything but ordinary. The first thing that happened was that a howl of anguish echoed out as a figure fell from the sky. Then a deafening sound rang out as the dark sky opened up!

RUUUUUUUUMBLE!

The sound filled Brilliant Heaven, echoing to the farthest corners. It was as if a huge pair of hands had grabbed the canopy of heaven... and violently ripped it open! An incredibly massive rift appeared overhead!

Two figures emerged from the rift! The moment they appeared, the mutagen in Brilliant Heaven seethed. At the same time, an aura swept forth from the two figures, and it melted all the mutagen it touched! That was because it was an immortal aura!

Brilliant Heaven was being crushed! The moment the aura swept out, all of Brilliant Heaven was thrown into chaos.

The sky distorted. Mutagen vanished. Plants trembled. Beasts prostrated.

But most affected of all were the temples that had, only moments ago, been as silent as death. It was as if life had been poured into them. In the blink of an eye, they started shaking. From the intense rumbling sounds, it seemed as if this ancient world was waking up!

Eventually, enraged roars echoed out. The statues of the gods in the various temples were moving. Thēy pulsed with very strong auras that surpassed anything mortals could comprehend. And yet... many of the statues were trembling as if thēy couldn’t sustain the force from above. In fact, many were beginning to show signs of crumbling. The reason was all because of the two people who had appeared in the dome of heaven.

“This is none other than Brilliant Heaven!” Master Seventh said, looking around at the temples with a gaze that seemed tinged with regret. “Years ago, I came here with various Seniors... to wage war against the Brilliant Heaven Godfolk!”

Master Seventh looked at Xu Qing with a serious expression on his face. “Do not underestimate the Brilliant Heaven Godfolk. Although thēy might not be as powerful as some of the other gods... thēy possess very rare innate soul abilities. And it’s not just some of thēm. Every member of thēir species has that ability! In fact, in the years since then, I never saw anything like it among other gods.”

This information caused Xu Qing’s eyes to glitter. He had only encountered two gods who had innate soul abilities. One was God Lord Death Departure of the Fourth Star Ring, and the other was Goddess Starryeyes! The former had been devoured by Erniu, while the latter was currently in Xu Qing’s bag of holding.

“As a result, we paid a grievous price to wage war with thēm. All of the Deep Earth star ring was affected.... After the victory was won, the Seniors did a lot of research into the species. Because of my unique status, I was able to participate, so I know what they uncovered. They found... that the Brilliant Heaven mainland was fundamentally important. And it was very unique!

“In fact, back then, we suspected that Brilliant Heaven... was very likely the first planet to be born in all of the star rings! And the Brilliant Heaven Godfolk were the very first inhabitants! Why else would the broken face come here?”

Xu Qing was stunned.

Primeval motherworld?

He immediately thought back to that planet in the Fourth Star Ring. But as he considered the situation, something seemed strange.

A primeval motherworld relates to the gods’ secret ability to return after death, and also, they have sourcefiends on them. But this place... doesn’t seem exactly right.

1. The type of fan referred to here is usually woven from plant materials.

They look like this

. ☜