Chapter 1085: Journey, Destination: the Ancient Human Race (I)

As expected, Chen Chu completed the structure of the Heavenly Dao Body within half a month, merging his Mark of Temporal Reincarnation with the Heavenly Dao Seal. Then, he dispersed the Body, blending into the entire Solar System and becoming part of the world’s origin.

During the remaining half month, Chen Chu used the Solar System’s World Force as the core to rewrite its foundational principles, completing the base construction of its divine region at the world’s core.

𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

This was also why the Solar System had undergone subtle changes during that time. However, the current system only had the foundation of a divine region. From here on, it would need to continuously draw in and refine energy from the chaotic void to strengthen itself. The imprint of Chen Chu that had merged into the world would also slowly grow, eventually encompassing the entire world.

Deep in thought, Chen Chu took a step forward, his figure passing through layers of space like an illusion and instantly appearing in the depths of the sun, unaffected by anything.

Amid the scorching star core, under crushing pressure, a golden-white mech towering two hundred thousand meters stood tall like an ancient giant, its aura growing increasingly ancient.

Hum!

Perceiving Chen Chu’s arrival, Mech No.1’s eyes glimmered faintly, shining with azure light. “You... are leaving?”

Luo Fei’s calm voice rippled through space-time. Even in this distorted star core that dissolved all matter, her voice still carried a sense of distance.

Chen Chu’s figure, transparent as if existing in another subspace, slowly replied, “Yes, it’s about time I leave.”

Luo Fei fell silent for a moment, then softly sighed. "Too bad, I cannot leave, but with me here, you may rest assured about the Solar System."

“I think the same,” Chen Chu said.

After merging into the Solar System as its heaven, he became bound by the chaos principle. Even though he had condensed the Heavenly Dao Body, he was unable to appear freely, much like the legendary Hongjun[1] Unless Zhang Xiaolan’s life was directly threatened, Chen Chu would never risk backlash by forcefully descending. Thus, the safety of the solar system in ordinary times rested on Luo Fei. With Chen Chu’s authorization to mobilize a portion of the Heavenly Dao’s power, her strength was formidable. Meanwhile, in the mythical world, protection would be handled by other strong cultivators. Together, the Human Federation had become impregnable within this region.

Chen Chu then frowned slightly. “Luo Fei, how do you feel now?”

“Not bad. Other than the fusion being a little slow, the instinctive backlash from that ancient lifeform and the Primordial Azure Sky has been suppressed with the world’s power.”

Chen Chu nodded. “Good, so long as nothing unexpected happens.”

The fact that Luo Fei had survived until now was already a miracle, with a bit of coincidence. The primordial cultivation art she practiced had come from the first primordial beast that had fallen in humanity’s territory before their arrival; or more precisely, from the civilization once inside that beast that worshiped it. Through that art, she gained an inheritance and connected with the remnant Primordial Azure Sky.

Her once ethereal consciousness, as if existing in another world, was the result of her mind reflecting upon and merging little by little into that sky. That was also why she could bear No.1’s berserk state, resisting the corrosive wash of spiritual contamination.

Even so, it shouldn’t have been enough for Luo Fei to survive. The second mythical surge had nearly been certain death for her. While No.1 had begun to recover, its realm before falling had only reached the semi-primordial level, unqualified to bear the Solar System world. Its exhaustion and death had already been inevitable.

Even if Luo Fei had survived that calamity, bearing the world and drawing down a fragment of the Primordial Azure Sky, her soul, having long merged with it, would eventually lose its sense of self, turning into a puppet without feelings or will. The sky condensed from a primordial colossal beast was never something she could touch.

However, everything had been disrupted when Chen Chu helped hold up the heavens. Thus, Luo Fei had gained from misfortune, acquiring a fragment of the world’s authority. Through it, she saw an opportunity to fuse with the remnant Azure Sky and completely assimilate No.1.

Of course, even if Luo Fei succeeded years later, she would only gain a fragment of a primordial foundation. That didn’t mean she could leap to become a true primordial being. After all, No.1 itself had only been at the semi-primordial level, not to mention that all of this ancient lifeform’s past imprints of power had been stripped away and sealed within the Solar System world. Like the incomplete Azure Sky, it was but a defective remnant.

After speaking with Luo Fei for a while longer, Chen Chu finally departed. This time, he likely wouldn’t return for years. There was even some chance he would perish, for the chaotic heavens were fraught with danger. It was a place where even primordial beings could fall in a moment of carelessness. Just in the region where humanity now dwelled, two primordial colossal beasts had already fallen. So, before leaving, there were people Chen Chu needed to bid farewell to.

In Wujiang City, Zhang Xiaolan stared blankly at Chen Chu, who had appeared out of thin air, a sudden premonition rising in her heart.

Chen Chu smiled slightly. “Mom, I’m leading a team on a journey. It may be a long time before I return. Please take care of yourself at home.”

“...I know.” Zhang Xiaolan nodded.

She didn’t ask how long he would be gone. As the Federation’s foremost powerhouse, stronger than gods and demons, she knew Chen Chu carried a heavy responsibility.

As his mother, the only way she could help was to never hold him back. This was why she remained in Wujiang, never moving to a more prosperous city, nor traveling to unfamiliar, potentially dangerous places.

Yet hearing that Chen Chu would be gone for so long, Zhang Xiaolan still felt reluctant. “Ah Chu, it’s been a long time since you’ve accompanied me on a walk. Let’s go by the riverside.”

“Alright.”

The setting sun cast its glow across the river, scattering waves of shimmering light, as though a colossal dragon covered in orange-red scales lay across the water. Not far from Chen Chu's home, on the riverside road where Chen Chu had once released the six-horned salamander, he and Zhang Xiaolan strolled slowly, appearing like any ordinary mother and son. However, ordinary people couldn’t see them.

Zhang Xiaolan sighed softly. “Ah Chu, it has been over two months since Ah Hu entered the mythical world, and there hasn’t been a single word from him. Do you think he might have run into danger?”

“There shouldn’t be any major problems.” Chen Chu shook his head. “The mythical world is nothing like the Blue Planet. For those below the mythical level, it’s riddled with danger, but at the same time, it’s brimming with opportunities. Ah Hu is always watched over. If he ever faces a fatal threat, someone will intervene, so you don’t need to worry, Mom.”

As Chen Chu’s younger brother, and one whose talent among his generation was virtually unrivaled, Chen Hu’s status was considered even more important than that of many mythical kings. Before entering the mythical world, kings already watched over him constantly, ensuring his safety.

Once within the mythical world, Qingqiu Tianyao, who had just advanced to the heavenly king level, personally volunteered to protect him until he broke through to the king level.

Thus, Chen Chu had no concerns over Chen Hu’s safety. At a time when the Purgatory Demon Clan had been destroyed, if Chen Hu still perished while training in the nearby regions even with the protection of a heavenly king, it could only mean his luck was unbearably poor.

1. Hongjun Laozu lit. "Ancestor of the Great Balance" is a deity in Chinese folk religion and Daoism, the teacher of the Three Pure Ones in Daoist mythology. ☜