Chapter 170.1: A New World: the Mortal Heart World

Qi Yuan gazed at the blazing orb overhead, deep in thought. "So the one behind the Great Calamity is that sun?"

"Two suns hang in Canglan’s sky," Wutian said slowly from his wheelchair, his eyes unfathomable. "It's a pity the second sun is too small. If the two could contend, there could have been a chance for the Canglan World to break free of the Great Calamity."

Qi Yuan was rendered speechless. Soon after, he glowered at the old man. "You're the one who's small!"

He had always disliked being told that he was "small."

As though unable to hear him at all, Wutian murmured instead, "Born in Canglan World, we are shackled by the Great Calamity at every turn."

Qi Yuan asked seriously, "If we just smash that sun in the sky, wouldn't the Great Calamity be over?"

Wutian chuckled. "The Great Calamity is invincible under heaven. Even if all the Great Venerables of this world joined forces, they would still be no match for it. One must at least reach the Yang Spirit realm, which was impossible to achieve without ascending to the Upper World. But once we ascend, those from Canglan World become nothing more than meat on their chopping board."

Generally speaking, Yin Spirit cultivators already had a chance to ascend to the Upper World. Not only were its laws of heaven and earth complete, but its Origin was also more abundant. Moreover, advancing to the Yang Spirit realm in the lower world was simply impossible.

"I sat in vain for endless years," Wutian said softly, rolling his wheelchair forward. He stopped before a jade slip and picked it up. "Eventually, I found a path to survival."

"What path?" Qi Yuan asked.

Instead of answering, Wutian said heavily, "We are branded by the Great Sun, bound to become nourishment for the Great Calamity. All because our cultivation manuals themselves are flawed."

Qi Yuan's eyes widened slightly. He had long known there were problems with cultivation manuals, but this was the first time he had heard it from a native of the Canglan World. None of the Yin Spirits he had encountered had ever mentioned it, despite their obviously flawed methods. For a mere Violet Palace cultivator to bring this up was interesting.

Wutian hoarsely added, "Creating a new method and using it to cultivate to the Yin Spirit could yield different results, though. It might even lessen the Great Calamity's inevitability once they ascend to the Upper World. Unfortunately, creating a new method is far,

far

too difficult."

An idea occurred to Qi Yuan. "What if we practice techniques that descend from the Upper World? Wouldn't those be fine?"

Wutian shook his head. "No. According to ancient records, the peerless prodigy obtained a Yang Spirit's technique through a dream and cultivated until he had become a Great Venerable. And yet, he still turned into nourishment for that sun. The Great Calamity has even influenced Canglan World's Heavenly Dao itself. Even the Upper World’s techniques will unconsciously turn their cultivators into fuel."

Qi Yuan felt a chill in his heart. This Great Calamity truly sounded insurmountable. Fortunately, although his Qi Yuan Scripture had some minor issues, it would not turn him into nourishment.

Wutian sighed softly. Endless desolation filled his tone. "It’s a pity that after all these wasted years, I still failed to create a new method to escape the Great Calamity."

In fact, that was the very reason he founded the Heavenly Ascension Pavilion.

With passion and conviction, Qi Yuan firmly replied, "Even if a new cultivation method were created, only a cultivator or two would be able to escape at most. If the method spreads, and the Great Calamity or that sun becomes aware of it, wouldn't Canglan World still sink all the same? I believe the Great Calamity is inevitable, and running away from it won't solve anything. Let us instead take the initiative to face it head-on and destroy the Great Calamity itself!"

He felt a bit carried away. Well, how could he not? His strength had dramatically improved. He had also swept through waves of Core Formation and Nascent Soul cultivators in the Eastern Lands and was heaped with endless praise on the Divine Flower Society forum. It was as though he stood above the world, with no one daring to disobey.

Wutian looked at Qi Yuan and pointed in a certain direction. "Moonwatch Great Venerable, are you certain you wish to take a look at the Great Calamity? It should be that way. It'll only take you three months to reach it."

Qi Yuan immediately turned to look. In that instant, his right eyebrow twitched violently. Left eyebrow twitched for fortune, while the right eyebrow twitched for disaster. If it twitched a little, that could still count as fortune.

Qi Yuan couldn't deceive himself. Decisively, he answered, "Forget it. I'll leave the Great Calamity alone for now."

Until he broke through to Nascent Soul, he had no intention of provoking it.

"Mind if I copy all the cultivation techniques here?" Qi Yuan asked. "That shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Once he stripped the Heavenly Ascension Pavilion of its techniques, he could return peacefully to the Seven-Colored Peak and play games. The game icon had almost been downloaded. With just a few more days of preparation, he could enter.

He planned to memorize all the techniques first. That way, he could continue deducing the Qi Yuan Scripture during his free time in-game. If he grew stronger in-game but lacked sufficient techniques, his real-world cultivation would be hindered.

"You may do as you wish." Wutian pushed his wheelchair away.

Qi Yuan remained within the Heavenly Ascension Pavilion, gathering every single cultivation method.

***

Seven days later.

Aboard a spirit ship, Kang Fulu wore a smug expression. "In the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle, I fought against the masses and didn't disgrace the Five-Light Saint Art! Several prodigies from major sects stood before me, yet I showed not the slightest fear; I defeated them fair and square. I'm now ranked four hundred ninety-eighth. Too bad you didn't participate. Otherwise, you could've witnessed my epicness."

Qi Yuan glanced at the few extra strands of white hair on Kang Fulu's head and knew that ranking hadn't come easily. After leaving the Heavenly Ascension Pavilion, he had briefly given instructions to the Blood-Clothed Alliance and announced his seclusion. Then, he returned to his normal life with Qi Jianjun at the Divine Radiance Sect.

Unexpectedly, they ran into Kang Fulu along the way and decided to travel together.

Kang Fulu regretfully said, "It's a shame I didn't make the top hundred and couldn't retrieve the treasure that the sect master needed. I've spent the past few days secretly investigating who took it, but to no avail."

Qi Yuan smiled faintly, knowing it would be a huge problem if Kang Fulu found out.

Kang Fulu then stared at Qi Jianjun, "Hey. You vanish for a while, and suddenly, your daughter's this big already?"

Qi Jianjun was playing chess with another little girl on the spirit ship. Hearing Kang Fulu, she turned her head and glanced over.

"Let bygones be bygones," Qi Yuan lazily replied, not bothering to explain. As the mountain gate drew near, he added, "Senior Brother, I won't accompany you to see the sect master. I need to return to my peak."

With a wave of his hand, Qi Jianjun ran over.

"I understand. I understand." Kang Fulu nodded knowingly. He then patted Qi Yuan on the shoulder and earnestly said, "Junior Brother, don't blame yourself. No two people are the same. Give it some time, and you'll definitely make it onto the Eastern Lands Prodigy List."

He brimmed with excitement. Him managing to enter the Prodigy List already surpassed everyone's expectations. Once he returned to the sect, wouldn’t he dazzle both his master and the sect master? After all, in a poor place like the Great Shang Kingdom, a true dragon had finally emerged.