Chapter 1086: Eldritch Progenitor Hou Tu, Re-entering The Abyss (1)

Behind that hazy miniature river of space and time stood a colossal, indistinct figure. He was the master of the entire river of space and time.

Eternal Psyche, miniature river of space and time?

Wu Yuan held his breath as he gazed upon this scene.

Spacetime was the foundation of all things. Whether mortal lifeforms or sempiternal lifeforms, no matter how powerful, all had a thread of their life essence intertwined with the river of space and time. This was akin to a tree taking root and or a river with a source, allowing them to grow and flourish.

If the river of space and time were to be destroyed, even the mightiest sempiternal lifeform would be severed from its foundation and inevitably perish. There were no exceptions.

This was the fundamental nature of samsara. Eternal lifeforms walked above the river, for they had each carved out their own miniature river of space and time, achieving self-perpetuating eternity and thus becoming undying and indestructible.

However, legend says there's a vast difference between the miniature rivers of space and time of Perennial Eternals versus those who have pioneered their own Dao.

Wu Yuan mused. This difference made those who had pioneered their own Dao extremely difficult to kill, allowing the possibility of resurrection even if they fell.

To be remembered was to never truly die. This was something all eternal lifeforms who had pioneered their own Dao strived for, and the fundamental reason why many True Saints worked tirelessly to establish their Saintdoms and propagate Faith. Wu Yuan’s combat power now approached that of an Eternal, yet he was still not truly eternal himself. Thus, he could not truly comprehend it.

A True Saint could annihilate countless sempiternal lifeforms with this miniature river of space and time alone.

Wu Yuan marveled inwardly.

This is power on an entirely different level.

This gulf in power was something no treasure or artifact could bridge. It was only within the River of Universes that the might of True Saints was suppressed by the essence of the River, preventing them from truly unleashing their power.

Boom!

As True Saint Bu Xiu erupted with power, the frozen spacetime spanning trillions of li began to reverse.

"River substitution," True Saint Bu Xiu intoned, his eyes dark as they swept over the countless figures within the illusory Huanggu World.

Far more than trillions of figures were resurrected simultaneously.

Whoosh!

The miniature river encircling True Saint Bu Xiu began to overlap with the spectral images of the Snake Ancestor, Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu, Hou Tong, and countless others. This caused the local spacetime to accelerate rapidly, gradually solidifying those spectral images into real, physical figures.

The so-called reversal of spacetime was, in truth, an illusion. Time had but a single trajectory. The past could only be glimpsed, the future only extrapolated. What was lost was truly lost.

True Saint Eternals resurrected the deceased by using their personal river of space and time to simulate the years a particular spacetime had experienced, and then substituting it. What needed substitution was the span from the moment of resurrection to the present.

This act defied the operational rules of the entire river of space and time, and thus incurred punishment from the essence of the River of Universes. Therefore, the more powerful the resurrected being and the longer the years to be substituted, the more terrifying the backlash from the River.

Hmm?

Wu Yuan sensed something.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

From the infinite reaches of the void, terrifying forces suddenly manifested, followed by grayish-black chains stretching across space.

One moment, these grayish-black chains were trillions of li away; the next, they had entwined themselves around True Saint Bu Xiu's body.

Chains?

Wu Yuan held his breath, then was shocked to discover these were not mere chains. They were a manifestation of the Dao’s power. Formed from rules, they were directed by a supreme will. Though absent of energy fluctuations, they possessed world-shaking might.

"It's the essence of the River of Universes. The backlash has arrived," the Creation Emissary couldn't help but exclaim, recognizing it instantly.

"Backlash from the River of Universes' essence?" Wu Yuan stared intently. He had only heard of this before. This was his first time seeing it.

Clank! Clank!

More and more grayish-black chains appeared, causing the aura True Saint Bu Xiu had unleashed to begin diminishing, as if suppressed.

"River of Universes' essence?" True Saint Bu Xiu glanced at it, then spoke in a low voice: "Shatter!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, an invisible force enveloped the space around True Saint Bu Xiu. Those chains, which had seemed unbreakable, silently snapped apart.

𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"This?" Wu Yuan's pupils constricted. He hadn't sensed any Dao fluctuations or mana disturbances.

"To speak is to make it law," the Creation Emissary's eyes gleamed with a hint of fanaticism. "Legend has it that those who have pioneered their own Dao operate by their own rules wherever they go. They can establish rules, and anyone whose power doesn't surpass their limit must abide by those rules.

"If they say no one can grow taller than two meters, then no one will grow taller than two meters.

"If they say chains should break, then the chains will break.

"If they say people should survive by eating fire, then people will survive by eating fire..."

Wu Yuan listened in awe. Those who had pioneered their own Dao could make reality conform to their words.

Is this the difference between those who have pioneered their own Dao and sempiternal lifeforms?

Wu Yuan marveled inwardly.

Perhaps within the river of space and time, sempiternal lifeforms might hope to match the power of Dao pioneers, but without pioneering their own Dao, there would always be a fundamental difference.

Self-created Dao.

Wu Yuan gazed into the distance.

This is True Saint Bu Xiu’s Dao? What, then, is my Dao?

Boom!

As the multitude of chains from the River of Universes' essence shattered, more chains immediately spawned in the void, now tinged with streaks of golden light. This caused the pressure on True Saint Bu Xiu to rise. Even the power to make words reality had its limits.

However, the trillions of lives True Saint Bu Xiu was resurrecting were all mortal lifeforms, without a single sempiternal lifeform among them, and the time that had passed since their deaths was not particularly long—less than two hundred thousand years.

Therefore, before the backlash from the River of Universes' essence could increase too far, the scenes of time around True Saint Bu Xiu had already returned to normal.

Those trillions of spectral figures had solidified into reality, all resurrected.

Whoosh!

True Saint Bu Xiu's aura rapidly weakened, the miniature river of space and time above his head gradually fading and dispersing. Only then did the chains extending from the depths of the void begin to fade until they disappeared entirely.

"The Huanggu World." True Saint Bu Xiu gave a casual wave.

Whoosh!

A streak of light cut across the void, instantly tearing space asunder. Heaven and earth inverted as countless matter materialized and converged. A vast world rapidly took shape, filled with numerous ordinary lifeforms such as plants and trees. It was almost identical to the former Huanggu World.

With a mere wave of his hand, a world that had been utterly destroyed was recreated by True Saint Bu Xiu.

Of course, this newly created world wasn't truly the Huanggu World of old. In reality, it was a new world that merely appeared similar, and thus did not violate the operational rules of the River of Universes.

"Go forth!" True Saint Bu Xiu pointed.

In an instant, the trillions of newly solidified figures in the void were sent into the Huanggu World. Each resurrected being was placed in exactly the same position they had occupied when the original Huanggu World was destroyed.

"It is done," True Saint Bu Xiu looked towards Wu Yuan in the distance.

"Thank you, Master," Wu Yuan said respectfully.

"Very well. I have fulfilled my promise. What you do next is up to you," True Saint Bu Xiu said. "If you have urgent matters, you may look for me again.

"In the future, when you are ready to proceed with Dao Enlightenment, inform me in advance."

"Yes," Wu Yuan responded repeatedly.

Whoosh!

True Saint Bu Xiu nodded slightly, then vanished instantly from the void. He had come quickly and departed just as swiftly.

...

Within the newly revived Huanggu World, inside Heavenly Pillar Mountain.

"This?"

"We?"

"What's happening?" The Snake Ancestor, Eldritch Deity Zhu Jiu, Eldritch Deity Hou Lu, Hou Tong, and numerous other cultivators at the High Eldritch phase regained consciousness and spotted each other.

"Weren't we dead?"

"I remember... a giant hand smashed our world."

"The whole world was..." These High Eldritch cultivators gazed at each other in shock, hardly able to believe it. Their memories stopped at the moment of their deaths.

As time passed, these High Eldritches began to investigate the Huanggu World. Before long, they confirmed that the world seemed somewhat different from their memories.

First, as High Eldritches, it was inconceivable that they would remember something wrongly. Furthermore, it was nearly impossible for everyone's memories to be incorrect.

Second, although True Saint Bu Xiu had recreated the Huanggu World, he had done so without finetuning the details. Many small aspects inevitably differed from the original Huanggu World.

Finally, the Huanggu eldritch race reached a conclusion.

"It seems our world was destroyed, and our Huanggu eldritch race was completely annihilated," the Snake Ancestor said solemnly. "But it appears some great being used their supreme divine powers to resurrect all the lifeforms of our entire world."

All the High Eldritches were astounded. Resurrection? This was beyond their wildest dreams.

However, the Huanggu eldritch race's perspective was ultimately limited. They did not understand the implications of large-scale resurrection, so after discussions among the highest echelons, they could only set this matter aside for the time being.

Within the thirty-third level of Heavenly Pillar Mountain, inside a hall.

Resurrection? The entire world... was destroyed?

Hou Tong stood in the hall, muttering to herself. Everything felt like a dream. The despair from before still lingered vividly in her mind.

Hm?

Hou Tong's eyes glazed over as an immense flood of information surged into her mind, almost overwhelming her High Eldritch-level Yuan Soul.

A long while passed.

Mortal lifeforms, sempiternal lifeforms... Sovereign ultimate techniques, Overlords...

Hou Tong was utterly shocked as countless memories filled her mind.

There were teachings that could only be described as inconceivable, along with vast cultivation knowledge. In a brief moment, her foundation and perspective underwent a monumental transformation.

Hm?

Hou Tong was astonished to discover several storage artifacts appearing out of thin air nearby.

As she looked into them, she found that each one contained a vast array of treasures. The most powerful item was even a high-grade Dao Instrument...

This! All these treasures?

Hou Tong felt dazed for a moment, wondering if she was in a dream.

After careful examination, she found a note made of a special material and a mysterious token in one of the storage artifacts.

"Hou Tong, may you use these teachings to become a sempiternal lifeform. The rules of the world no longer constrain you...If you encounter an insurmountable foe, you may crush this token..."

The note bore no signature. However, Hou Tong was far from stupid. As a High Eldritch, she vaguely understood.

Was it you who resurrected me and brought back the entire Huanggu eldritch race?

Hou Tong whispered to herself, lifting her gaze skyward, as if trying to catch a glimpse of that long-vanished figure.

Almost simultaneously, outside Heavenly Pillar Mountain, a divine pillar ten million li high descended, standing firm upon the earth. The pillar was inscribed with countless teachings, allowing all members of the Huanggu eldritch race to comprehend them...

...

In the void beyond the Huanggu World, Wu Yuan and the Creation Emissary stood. With their power, they could easily observe the entire world.

"You really won't go see her?" asked the Creation Emissary.

"There's no need to disturb her," Wu Yuan replied, his gaze calm. "Our paths diverge. Further interference would only unsettle her heart, which I do not wish for. I hope she can live as she desires, following her own path.

"Senior, I entrust the Huanggu World to you," Wu Yuan said with cupped hands.

"A small matter. I will watch over the Huanggu World and ensure no danger befalls it," the Creation Emissary smiled. "Additionally, I've lifted the restrictions on the world. From now on, these lifeforms will be able to cultivate and grow normally.

"However, those High Eldritches who don’t become Archeldritches in a short time will swiftly perish once they exceed the limits of their lifespans."

Wu Yuan nodded slightly.

In the past, the High Eldritch phase was the highest cultivation level one could reach in the Huanggu World, but those who reached this level had extremely long lifespans.

Now, one could say that things had returned to normal.

With the vast array of teachings Wu Yuan had imparted, it was foreseeable that the Huanggu World would see a surge of sempiternal lifeforms, but many ancient High Eldritches would also perish.

"Birth, aging, sickness, and death are all part of the long journey. Even Overlords have their final day," Wu Yuan said softly. "Let the workings of the world follow their natural course."

Wu Yuan sought only to be at peace with his conscience.

"Senior, I'll take my leave now," Wu Yuan said with cupped hands.

He departed gracefully.

Quite an eccentric one.

The Creation Emissary in the void shook his head lightly.

Paying such a great price to resurrect an entire world, yet unwilling to meet face to face.

He didn't know what Wu Yuan had accomplished. But in his view, having spent a full hundred thousand years, Wu Yuan's sacrifice must have been immense.

I hope this Wu Yuan can achieve eternity.

The Creation Emissary thought to himself. As a spirit, this was his core mission since his creation, so he naturally had great expectations.