Chapter 1332: Just One Step Away

Looking at the light in his palm, Xu Qing thought back to when he was outside of Revered Ancient, and his fight with the God Lord subordinate of the mother river. Back then, he had used his opponent’s godly authority and his own canon and statute to trace back the origins of his divine abilities.

He had even sensed daybreak light during that time, and had come to understand that it was 1/10,000th of a mysterious light worshiped by the Brilliant Heaven Godfolk! The mysterious traceback also showed... that it was the first beam of light to exist back when Revered Ancient was created.

Now I can see why the Brilliant Heaven Godfolk worshiped this light of Revered Ancient. After all, crystal exists within thēm, especially in those light cones in thēir heads. I just wonder if it’s the same with thēir essence. Or did they change after thēy started worshiping that first beam of light in Revered Ancient?

Eyes narrowing, Xu Qing’s hand closed into a fist. Instantly, the cones of light crumbled in dust. The light within them flowed into Xu Qing’s palm, and then combined with the daybreak light he already had.

With that done, Xu Qing looked out at the world of Brilliant Heaven, a curious expression on his face. He was increasingly looking forward to what was to come on this journey through Brilliant Heaven.

“All members of the Brilliant Heaven Godfolk will release that kind of light upon perishing,” Master Seventh said. “We did a lot of research into that light, and came to realize how fantastic it is. The samples we encountered never lasted for long. And only a few managed to survive when we fused them with Revered Ancient’s suns.”

Calming himself inside, Master Seventh looked at Xu Qing. “That bit you have is one of the few that lasted down to now. In reality, the light that results from the death of most Brilliant Heaven Godfolk are only 1/100,000th of the original. The true original has always been the subject of thēir worship. At the very least, when we arrived from Deep Earth, thēy looked like thēy do now. But based on our investigations, it seems possible that thēir species... was actually born from that light.

“It’s a dao light that thēy call... origin light. Even after Brilliant Heaven was about to fall, and was on the verge of being sealed by Deep Earth, thēy still kept possession of that dao light. And even though we won, the victory was bitter. We didn’t want to push the Brilliant Heaven Godfolk to the limit, so we didn’t try to take that light.”

Master Seventh’s voice seemed like it was dappled with history, like dust swirling in the breeze. With one last look at the sprawling plain, he seemed to sever the emotional baggage and start walking again.

Erniu arrived at Xu Qing’s side. Looking at Master Seventh striding off into the distance, he gravely said, “The old man misses his Master. He was waiting for a really long time for him. And when he finally came back, he wasn’t the same person. Most things in life are like that.”

Erniu sighed. It was impossible to tell what he was thinking about, but he seemed a bit emotional.

Xu Qing didn’t say anything, but he found himself thinking about the chaotic flow of space-time, and how he had found Erniu in the ruins, weeping.

Master’s story has become clear. But Eldest Brother....

Xu Qing looked at Erniu, but didn’t ask for clarification about that incident in the chaotic flow of space-time. Everyone had a right to their own secrets and their own emotional baggage. That was true with Master Seventh and Erniu. It was also true with Xu Qing.

Xu Qing and Erniu walked side by side as they followed Master Seventh through Brilliant Heaven. It was almost like that time back in that palace complex years ago.

About an hour later, Zhou Zhengli and the others were in the middle of destroying various temples and gods, which caused explosive mutagen to surge through Brilliant Heaven. That was when Xu Qing, Master Seventh, and Erniu reached their destination.

It was a massive, never-ending ocean. The angry roar of beasts could be heard everywhere. The water was pitch black and smelled like blood. It was as if, no matter how many years passed, the power of time could not affect this place, and could not change the color or smell of the place. There was also a very strong godly might and immortal will, seemingly locked in a never-ending clash, like a conflict between water and fire.

Shock waves flowed through heaven and earth, causing a huge tempest to rage atop the ocean. Erniu’s true form was on an island in the middle of that ocean.

Xu Qing looked thoughtfully at the ocean.

This is the place I scanned earlier with divine will. It’s covered in dazzling light that I can’t quite see through.

Looking very stern, Master Seventh said, “Fourth Sib. Big Sib. Fix this place in your memory. This is where Deep Earth’s top immortal fought with the god emperor of Brilliant Heaven! The battle lasted a long time. Eventually, the god emperor was decapitated and ripped to shreds.

“The head was taken by the Summer Immortal Palace, while the body became a black ocean. As for that top immortal of Deep Earth... he perished. The only thing left behind was his discarnate soul. He became the first heavenly dao of Revered Ancient. Without him, Revered Ancient would never have been.”

Master Seventh clasped hands and bowed to the ocean. Xu Qing and Erniu similarly bowed. The ocean rumbled loudly, and the waves grew larger. An immortal will spread out explosively, causing rainbows of light to spread over the black ocean and illuminate the dome of heaven.

Eventually, the light faded away. As it did, an island was revealed.

Xu Qing looked at the island. “Master, Eldest Brother’s true form is right there.”

Master Seventh also looked at the island. “You really can find good spots.”

Erniu had apparently recovered his composure, and quickly opened his mouth to speak. But Master Seventh had already started walking.

Erniu blinked a few times and then turned to Xu Qing. “Going forward, little Ah Qing, you’d do well to acknowledge that I, your Eldest Brother, am not the type of person to simply talk big!”

Xu Qing smiled and followed Erniu across the ocean. Soon, they appeared with Master Seventh atop the island, in front of a very dilapidated temple. It had once been incomparably majestic. But now its walls had crumbled, and the gate had fallen apart. Even while standing outside, it was possible to see everything inside.

Inside the temple near to the rubble of the statue was a head, tucked off in the corner. It was Erniu’s head!

Next to him was a rat whose fur had been plucked out so thoroughly it only had a few bits left. It lay there shivering, its tail occasionally twitching, occasionally taking some dried meat out from somewhere and placing it in the mouth of Erniu’s head. The rat noticed the newcomers immediately. Its eyes went wide, and, with practiced ease, picked up the head onto its shoulders and prepared to flee.

“Don’t run, Little Qing!” shouted the Erniu outside the temple. “It’s me!”

Xu Qing’s eyebrows shot up.

The nearly hairless rat heard the words, stopped in place, and looked at Erniu.

Erniu hurried over looking excited. Turning into a stream of blue light, he shot into the head, whose eyes were closed. The true form and the clone fused. The head shivered, and the eyes slowly opened.

The rat looked elated.

Master Seventh stepped into the temple, looked down at the head, and sighed. “Where’s the rest of your body?”

Erniu cleared his throat and prepared to explain. However, that was when the crash of waves outside the island grew louder, accompanied by a heaven-rending, earth-crushing rumbling sound, like the strike of innumerable bolts of heavenly lightning.

And then... the surrounding ocean suddenly began to sink down! The water level dropped at an astonishing rate, roiling as it sank. It was like it was being sucked away. After only a few dozen breaths of time... the ocean completely dried up!

The entire ocean floor was made visible, revealing a mountain range. The island they were on was actually the summit of a massive mountain in that mountain range!

At the base of that mountain there was a massive, astounding corpse! The corpse had no head, and looked like it had been put together from different pieces.

The mountains were actually growing on hīs body. Hē was the one absorbing the water of the ocean. Godly might pulsed off hīm.

Boundless mutagen surged in all directions. But there was something even more astonishing....

Shockingly, almost the entire body was covered with a layer of writhing blue worms! There were so many it didn’t seem possible to count them. They were even gnawing their way ravenously into the wounds!

Even Master Seventh was stunned. Xu Qing’s gaze hardened.

Meanwhile, Erniu’s head flew up and landed on Xu Qing’s shoulder, where he started laughing madly.

“You asked where my body is, didn’t you, old man? Well it’s down there! As for you, little Ah Qing, look! Your Eldest Brother wasn’t just talking big! Give me enough time, and I’ll devour this Brilliant Heaven god emperor, who is just on the verge of being resurrected! And then, I’ll be able to conquer Brilliant Heaven, won’t I? I’m really just one step away!”