Chapter 382: Void Burial, The Path of Pioneering by Chen Chu

Aside from Xu Xiaoqi, everyone present had been through countless battles and had long become accustomed to the cycle of life and death. Thus, they didn’t show intense sorrow at the separation of such before them.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Yan Ruoyi slowly lay down inside the rebirth pod.

Click!

As the hatch closed, runes began to glow on the pod’s surface. An invisible chill filled the interior, freezing everything within, and the girl slowly closed her eyes.

Buzz!

A holographic screen popped up in the golden-haired young man’s hands. His fingers moved nimbly across it as he quickly spoke.

"In two minutes and twenty-seven seconds, Ruoyi's soul will reach its limit. At that moment, we’ll need you, King Jiuyou, to act. When her soul dissipates, you must merge it with the dragon’s essence. Neither a moment too soon, nor a moment too late."

Heavenly King Jiuyou responded calmly. "Leave it to me when the time comes."

"This ceremony consists of three steps: reversing the physical form, reshaping the soul, and finally, merging the new soul with the body. With Kaotoros’s experimental data as support, I can ensure that Ruoyi’s genes and life form will be completely transformed.

"But the next step, the soul’s reconstruction, and ultimately the fusion of the new body and soul, involves the principles of life and death. For that, we’ll rely on the preparations made by King Xuanwu."

As he spoke, the projection before Bredos flashed red. He suddenly shouted, "It’s time!"

Hum!

Without any earth-shattering tremors, Heavenly King Jiuyou made his move. Chen Chu felt the entire world freeze, as colors were stripped away, leaving only black and white.

A giant black claw extended from the void, and the colorless rebirth pod revealed a faint image of the girl inside, followed by the ethereal form of a massive blood-red dragon, hundreds of meters long.

At that moment, the girl’s ghostly figure was riddled with cracks, and the dragon’s eyes were vacant, as if only an empty shell remained.

The enormous black claw, spanning hundreds of meters, gently pressed down, forcing the girl’s crumbling figure into the dragon’s forehead. A gigantic twelve-petaled purple lotus platform appeared out of thin air, standing out in stark contrast to the rest of this monochrome world as it slowly unfolded and enveloped the blood dragon with the girl’s soul.

Chen Chu’s consciousness slowed, and it was as if he were watching a silent animated short. The massive lotus platform gradually shrank, transforming into a purple bud the size of a fist, which then settled into the rebirth pod.

Yet it didn’t merge into the girl’s body. Instead, it hovered above her forehead, slowly rotating and emitting tendrils of purple light that illuminated her brow.

As the black claw slowly retracted into the void, the surrounding world abruptly returned to normal, bursting back into vibrant color. Simultaneously, Bredos’ hands danced across the projection, with countless data streams flashing rapidly.

"Activate gene compilation information."

"Activate the rebirth rune array."

"Activate the life transformation array."

"Activate the life essence fusion..."

The runes on the rebirth pod began to glow, resembling a complex mechanical device coming to life. Within it, top-level, even divine, resources began to unleash their power.

"King Xuanwu, quickly send the rebirth pod into the void to bury it, so that she can be declared ‘dead.’"

"I understand," replied Heavenly King Xuanwu. In an instant, he appeared before the black wall, and there was a loud rip.

Boom!

The pitch-black wall was torn apart, revealing a dark rift that led into the depths of the unknown void, where a hundred-meter-wide black landmass floated.

"Go!"

Without hesitation, Heavenly King Xuanwu pushed the rebirth pod into the void.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The runes on the surface of the rebirth pod glowed, forming a one-meter-thick white shield that erupted with a resounding roar under the assault of the spatial storm surging from all directions.

Seeing this, a flicker of surprise crossed Chen Chu’s eyes. The entire rebirth pod was constructed from level 9 materials—no, it was crafted from the bones of a mythical creature.

Only the materials of such a creature, combined with the protective rune shield, could withstand the spatial storm’s impact, which was strong enough to injure even a Ninth Heavenly Realm powerhouse.

An invisible force guided the rebirth pod across the rumbling void storm like a small boat, until it finally landed on the landmass. As soon as it touched the blackened earth, another force spread out, isolating it from the surrounding spatial storm.

Whoosh!

Everyone let out a sigh of relief, and Bredos smiled. "The Void Burial plan has been successfully completed. The Life Transformation ritual has begun, and the soul is being reshaped. Director Bai, is the online prayer ceremony ready?"

Bai Yunfeng nodded. "It has already begun. According to the timing, the first wave of faith energy should be transmitted soon."

With all aspects of the plan proceeding smoothly, Bredos couldn’t help but smile.

"Although these are merely ordinary thoughts, rather than true beliefs, with the conversion from the faith instruments worldwide, we can still achieve the effect of ‘what is long remembered will echo back.’"

Online, Yuntian Group’s official website had launched a campaign announcing that Yan Ruoyi’s condition had deteriorated, and she had entered a critical care pod for a thirty-day life prayer event.

Fans who admired Yan Ruoyi were encouraged to check in daily, lighting a candle and praying for her safety.

Simultaneously, in major cities where Yan Ruoyi had a large fan base, devices were flashing, connected to several satellites in the sky in a vast formation, with the Creation Research Base’s underground lab at the center.

As the power of the void surged, the figures carved into the floor, ceiling, and three walls, resembling people in prayer, slightly parted their lips.

This scene was both eerie and somewhat sacred, leaving Chen Chu astonished.

He hadn’t anticipated such a complex ritual, with each step intricately linked to the next. It seemed Heavenly King Xuanwu had given his all to save his daughter.

At that moment, Bredos looked at Heavenly King Xuanwu and said politely, "King Xuanwu, I have fulfilled my promise to you. I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave."

Heavenly King Xuanwu slowly nodded, his somber gaze fixed on the blackened land and the rebirth pod drifting in the void.

If successful, his daughter would be revived and walk out again. If it failed, that piece of floating land would become her burial ground, and the rebirth pod would transform into a coffin.

As Bredos was about to leave, he politely greeted Heavenly King Jiuyou and gave Chen Chu a meaningful smile before turning and departing.

After a long silence, Heavenly King Xuanwu exhaled deeply, cast a final glance at the void rift he had torn open, and said in a low voice, "Let’s head up."

"Brother Yan..." Bai Yunfeng looked at the composed Heavenly King Xuanwu, hesitating to speak.

Heavenly King Xuanwu forced a smile. "I’m fine. It’s not like I haven’t been through this before. Didn’t I remain composed when the first and second ones left? Besides, Little Yi is only asleep; she’s not dead."

Despite his words, the atmosphere among the group remained somewhat somber.

Back in the hall, just as Chen Chu was about to bid farewell, his curiosity got the better of him, and he couldn’t help but ask, "King Jiuyou, how did the battle against the demon kings go?"

Heavenly King Jiuyou smiled slightly. "The result was good, though unfortunately, we couldn’t completely annihilate them. Even though we ambushed them, the battlefield was only a little over a hundred thousand kilometers from the front lines, so their reinforcements arrived quickly.

"As a result, we only managed to kill two demon kings, while the other two were seriously injured and escaped. The Great Demon King Barus also fled with injuries.

"As for Akunus, I shattered his true form of laws and destroyed the essence of the laws of blood, but in the end, he managed to escape with a fragment of his soul by using a blood demon avatar.

"However, he’s no longer a threat. His laws are shattered, his soul incomplete, and any slightly stronger Ninth Heavenly Realm cultivator could destroy him."

"Killing a king-level entity is really difficult," Chen Chu remarked in awe. Despite having two heavenly kings leading seven other kings against six opponents, only one of whom was a great demon king, they had only managed to kill two.

Heavenly King Jiuyou shook his head and chuckled. "Kid, do you think kings are easy to deal with?

"Their soul undergoes a profound transformation, becoming a divine soul that controls the power of laws. Their body also transforms into a law-infused physique. Under normal circumstances, once they decide to flee, it's almost impossible to catch up."

After getting the information he wanted, Chen Chu turned to look at everyone. "Goodbye, Director Bai, Secretary Xu. King Xuanwu, King Jiuyou, I have some matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave."

As they watched Chen Chu's figure disappear into the distance, Heavenly King Jiuyou, standing on the steps, suddenly remarked, "This young man is quite impressive—not only is he highly talented, but he’s also loyal and righteous.

"Xuanwu, what do you think about making him your son-in-law?"

"..." Heavenly King Xuanwu replied helplessly, "Old Yang, can you not read the room? Can’t you see that I’m steeped in the sorrow of my daughter's slumber?"

"Hahaha... Why be so pessimistic? Little Yi isn’t truly dead. Besides, you have a lifespan that exceeds a thousand years. If you can’t bear it, you can always have more kids."

"You think kids are like pigs, that I can just have them whenever I want? After I broke through to king-level, Little Yi was my only direct descendant. My eldest and second children were both born before my breakthrough."

Despite the interruption, Heavenly King Xuanwu’s spirits lifted slightly. With a gentle gaze, he looked at Bai Yunfeng. "I'll leave this place in your care. Old Yang and I need to return to the frontlines."

Bai Yunfeng nodded. "Go ahead. If Little Yi wakes up, I’ll notify you immediately."

***

Back at the Tiannan base, Chen Chu went to the Logistics Department to collect thirty Tianyuan Stones, each worth 300 merit points, along with ten portions of Spirit Liquid.

These were cultivation resources the Federation had granted to Chen Chu after his breakthrough to the Seventh Heavenly Realm, tailored for geniuses of his level, which could accelerate the materialization of his battle phantom.

Theoretically, these could save him years of time, allowing him to reach the peak of the Seventh Heavenly Realm within half a year.

However, cultivating at the Seventh Heavenly Realm wasn’t just about the simple materialization of the True Martial Phantom; it also required constant adjustments and optimization of the rune structures to harmonize with the body.

At this stage, one could either rely on steady, time-consuming efforts to gradually refine and adjust their True Martial Phantom, or rely on strong comprehension to make rapid progress.

Unfortunately for Chen Chu, comprehension had always been his weak point. Due to the splitting of his soul, his "sensitivity" to the world was dulled, leaving his aptitude in this regard only slightly above average.

With the second transformation of his power after breaking through to the Seventh Heavenly Realm, however, his attributes had evolved and a new function had been added that conveniently addressed this issue.

After greeting Li Qingtian, Chen Chu booked a high-speed train ticket back to Wujiang City, preparing to return home.

Since entering the mutated beast battlefield in mid-February, he had spent over three months away, during which his strength had surged from the early stages of the Fourth Heavenly Realm up to the Seventh.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Tianlan 055 train has departed. Smoking is prohibited throughout the journey, and cultivator activities are not allowed..."

As the train departed, Chen Chu sat in the special-class carriage, which he had all to himself. With a thought, he took out a wooden box from his Sumeru Bracelet.

This was the gift from Yan Ruoyi before she fell into her slumber, but he hadn’t had the time to open it until now. As he lifted the lid, a heavy, sealed aura spread out and condensed the air around him, to the point where the train’s front carriage even sank slightly.

Inside the box was a fist-sized stone emitting a faint yellow glow. Despite its size, Chen Chu felt as if he were looking at a towering mountain, at the vast earth—heavy and profound.

The box also contained a small note and a letter. The delicate handwriting on the note read, "This is a Profound Yellow Stone that carries the complete divine essence of the earth, from the mythical world. It’s a gift in return for the life essence you gave me."

At the end, the girl had drawn a smiling face, adding, "What do you think, Brother Chu? Are you satisfied with this gift?"

As the daughter of a Heavenly King, her gift was extraordinary—a god-level resource. This classification didn’t mean it was comparable to a king-level powerhouse, but rather that its power and essence had reached a mythic stage.

Putting away the note, Chen Chu unfolded the letter beneath it.

"During your recent battles, I noticed spatial traces on the four large gears behind your battle armor, and that two of these gears were inscribed with runes for lightning and fire abilities.

"Additionally, when you fought later, the runic phantoms behind your head manifested four luminous wheels. I’m guessing you’re planning to follow the path of earth, fire, wind, and lightning to pioneer a new way forward.

𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"But this path is challenging. The four elemental abilities must achieve a perfect balance.

"This Profound Yellow Stone contains the complete divine essence of the earth. With your talent, you should be able to quickly contemplate and derive a top-level earth rune, nearly innate in nature.

"At that point, combining the earth rune with spatial force as the foundation of your development will create a very stable world structure.

"Unfortunately, my father doesn’t have any wind-element god-level resources; otherwise, I would have asked for them to help you complete the quartet.

"I have to admit, Brother Chu, your boldness is impressive. You actually plan to construct an external space using these four attributes, and merge them into four illusory worlds to touch upon the path of creation.

"This path is indeed powerful, but it’s also extremely difficult. An external space constructed purely from ability runes is only an illusion and cannot bear the weight of a real world.

"Therefore, if you want to merge the four worlds at the peak of the Ninth Heavenly Realm to pioneer a new dimension, you’ll need to find a way to refine these illusory worlds using large amounts of the essence of heaven and earth.

"Only if the worlds are sturdy enough can they withstand the force of creation without shattering. I have here a secret art for world construction, detailing the steps to solidify a micro-world from its illusory state. When the time comes..."

Nearly two hours later, Chen Chu finished reading the more than ten pages of notes, exhaling deeply as he closed the box with a complex expression.

He hadn’t expected Yan Ruoyi would help him to deduce the path of merging the four wheels into one for pioneering a new way forward.

Initially, when he condensed the luminous wheels, he had merely intended to borrow from West Meng's secret scripture, using them as four illusory worlds to store power like batteries.

However, as he refined his methods step by step, he began to seriously consider the possibility of uniting earth, fire, wind, and lightning to create a single world, mastering a powerful top-level law.

After all, the strength needed for a cultivator to break through to king-level consisted of three parts: the number of laws mastered, the depth of understanding of those laws, and the strength of the laws themselves.

Akunus, who mastered the laws of blood, was inferior in pure destructive power to a king who mastered the laws of fire, and would be completely overwhelmed in direct combat. Of course, strength could not be measured by a single standard. While laws represented the lower limit, the true strength of a cultivator depended on the individual.

At 5:30 PM, the train slowly pulled into the station, and Chen Chu soon followed the crowd out. From a distance, he spotted a burly figure with a youthful face excitedly waving at him.

"Bro, over here!"

Seeing Chen Hu and Zhang Xiaolan, who had come to pick him up, a smile appeared on Chen Chu's face. "Didn't I tell you there was no need to come?"