Swallowing the Stars, I am the Lord of the Galaxy

Page 383

That direction is located in the core area of ​​this "Cangwu Realm," where the energy fluctuations are most concentrated; it must be the location of the so-called "Cangwu Holy Temple."

With a flick of its body, Xingchen transformed into a tiny stream of light, following the guidance of that will, and slowly traversed the starry sky.

He was incredibly fast, passing countless star continents along the way.

He could see strange vegetation on some continents, and some creatures were huge and had an ancient aura. Their cultivation system seemed to be quite different from that of the Origin Continent, focusing more on the combination with some kind of natural law or ancient bloodline.

Along the way, he also vaguely sensed many powerful divine thoughts cautiously probing out from various directions, only to quickly retract after he passed by, filled with curiosity and awe.

Those were beings who had reached the God-King or even the Ultimate Realm in this world. They had obviously received messages from the two God-Emperors, knowing that a God-Emperor from another world had arrived. They dared not offend him, but could not help but be curious to investigate.

Xingchen didn't care about this and just continued on his way calmly.

Not long after, an extremely magnificent scene appeared at the edge of his vision.

It was not a continent, but a vast palace complex constructed from countless enormous, ancient, bluish-brown trees that seemed to connect heaven and earth.

These "giant trees" have gnarled branches that naturally form countless halls, corridors, and platforms, flowing with extremely rich ancient energy and life force, with natural manifestations of laws and patterns, making them profound and extraordinary.

At the very center, atop the largest ancient divine tree, seemingly supporting the entire starry sky, stands the most magnificent hall, where two auras, as radiant as the sun and moon, quietly reside.

That place is the Cangwu Holy Temple.

As the stars slowed their speed and flew closer to the central divine tree, they could clearly see two figures standing on the vast platform in front of the hall.

The man on the left is dressed in a long, dark brown robe. He has an ancient face and gentle eyes. He holds a wooden staff that looks like a withered branch. His aura resonates with the enormous divine tree beneath his feet and even the entire Cangwu Realm, as if he were the embodiment of the vitality and laws of this world.

It was none other than the God Emperor Qingmu.

The man on the right is a burly, middle-aged man clad in dark blue scale armor. His eyes, when opened and closed, faintly reveal vertical pupils, exuding a cold, bestial, and domineering aura. Savage, ethereal figures swirl around him, radiating immense power. This must be the Xuanqiu God Emperor.

Xingchen gracefully landed on the platform, bowed slightly to the two God Emperors, and said with a friendly smile, "Xingchen greets Fellow Daoist Qingmu and Fellow Daoist Xuanqiu. I apologize for this unannounced visit."

A gentle smile appeared on the face of the God Emperor Qingmu. He stepped forward and lightly tapped the ground with his wooden staff, producing a crisp tapping sound. The rich life energy around him rippled.

"Fellow Daoist Xingchen, you are too kind. In the boundless primordial chaos, to meet here is a predestined encounter of the Great Dao. How could you say it is an intrusion?"

His voice is gentle and infectious, making people feel good about him without realizing it.

"Please come into the hall for a discussion."

The Xuanqiu God Emperor beside him merely nodded slightly in return, his scrutinizing gaze not entirely gone, but he did not show any obvious hostility.

He stepped aside to make way for the path leading to the main hall.

Xingchen nodded in greeting and followed the two into the Cangwu Holy Temple.

The interior of the hall was not resplendent with gold and jade, but rather seemed to be naturally sculpted from the inside of that enormous divine tree.

The dome is a towering wooden structure with clear veins, shimmering with a bluish light. Strange vines and moss climb the surrounding walls, exuding an aura of tranquility.

The ground was soft, as if walking on a thick carpet of moss.

The entire hall is filled with an ancient, natural, and peaceful atmosphere. The laws are manifested here in an extremely gentle and clear way, making it an excellent place for practitioners to attain enlightenment.

Guests and hosts took their seats separately.

Without any attendants, the God Emperor Qingmu simply waved his hand, and three clear liquids naturally condensed in the air between the three of them, emitting a refreshing fragrance and pure energy fluctuations.

"This is my Cangwu Realm's unique 'Azure Spirit Liquid,' made from the morning dew at the core of the Sacred Tree and brewed with ten-thousand-year-old spiritual essence. It is slightly beneficial for nourishing the body and calming the mind. Fellow Daoist Xingchen, please have a taste."

"This is what God Emperor Aoki explained."

Chapter 380: Some Insights

Xingchen picked up the cup of "Azure Spirit Liquid," took another sip, and felt the subtle sensation of the cool energy nourishing his divine body. He praised, "The things of your realm are indeed mysterious and extraordinary, revealing the true essence of the Great Dao in the smallest details."

He put down his cup and looked sincerely at the two God Emperors, Qingmu and Xuanqiu, his tone filled with pure curiosity and inquiry: "As I traveled, I sensed that the aura of the living beings, the flow of energy, and even the way the laws manifested in this world were all very different from the place where I was born. It seemed to focus more on a deep integration with some ancient origin or bloodline. I wonder if you two fellow Daoists could enlighten me and explain the path of cultivation in your world?"

This is not about prying into core secrets, but rather a high-level exchange between different civilizations' cultivation systems. It is a common way for God Emperor-level powerhouses to discuss the Dao, often inspiring each other and drawing inferences from one another.

The Azure Wood God Emperor and the Profound Qiu God Emperor exchanged a glance, showing neither surprise nor resistance. The Azure Wood God Emperor stroked his beard and smiled, saying, "Fellow Daoist Xingchen has keen perception. The cultivation system of my Cangwu Realm is indeed different from the methods commonly seen outside, its root lies in the origin of this realm."

He paused slightly with his wooden staff, and the vines and moss on the surrounding walls glowed faintly, as if the entire temple had come to life, and the ancient aura permeating it became even stronger.

"Our world is not a naturally formed, complete source world,"

"The God Emperor Qingmu said slowly."

"Its foundation is the remains of a 'primordial Cangwu' that existed in the ancient times of Hunyuan."

A hint of surprise flashed in Xingchen's eyes. A world evolved from the remains of an ancient plant? That was unheard of.

"Although the progenitor Cangwu perished, his remains still contain unimaginable vitality and ancient imprints of laws. Over countless years, the remains absorbed the primordial energy and gradually evolved into the Cangwu Realm of today. Therefore, the laws of my realm are inherently imbued with the characteristics of 'Cangwu,' brimming with vitality, and the laws are more inclined towards 'growth,' 'nourishment,' 'resilience,' and 'bloodline inheritance.'"

Emperor Xuanqiu continued, his voice deep: "Therefore, the cultivation paths of the beings in our realm are mainly divided into two major branches."

He held up two fingers: "One is like Old Man Qingmu, who comprehends the laws of Cangwu, coexists and cultivates with many ancient divine plants in the realm, absorbs their power, and tempers his own body. The ultimate goal is to transform his body into the laws and live and breathe the same life as this Cangwu realm. This is called 'plant cultivation' or 'law cultivation'."

He pointed to the greenwood, then to the enormous sacred tree at his feet.

"Second."

The primal aura emanating from the Xuanqiu God Emperor rose slightly, and a faint phantom of a giant beast flashed past behind him.

"It is like me, who seeks out the bloodlines of those ancient innate beings born from the combination of the ancestral Cangwu essence and the primordial energy at the beginning of the world's creation. By constantly purifying, strengthening, and even returning to the ancestral source, we can stimulate the original power and fragments of laws contained in the bloodline, achieve the Dao with our physical body, and break through all laws. This is called 'blood cultivation' or 'barbarian cultivation'."

The Azure Wood God Emperor added, "Whether it's plant cultivation or blood cultivation, ultimately, one must deeply integrate with the origin of the Cangwu Realm. The reason we two were able to step into the God Emperor realm is because this realm's origin recognizes us. To some extent, we are the agents of the will of the Cangwu origin. But because of this, our path is extremely bound to the realm. The farther we are from the realm, the more obvious the decline in our strength will be."

Xingchen's eyes flickered as he listened, his heart greatly shaken. This was a completely unconventional path of cultivation!

Based on the remnants of a special existence, the cultivation system is closely centered around its characteristics. Although limited by its geographical location, it can exert a power limit far exceeding the size of its world within its realm!

"Amazing! Truly amazing!"

The stars were filled with admiration.

"Using remnants to create a realm, and the realm to contain the Dao, the Dao is divided into two branches, one method and one body, both pointing directly to the origin! Although this method is limited by the realm, it also completely binds its own potential with the potential of the realm, so that they prosper together. No wonder your realm can nurture such powerful individuals as you two fellow Daoists!"

He instantly understood why this small world could have two God Emperors.

The entire world is a vast "land of inheritance" and "amplifier," where all living beings are excavating the legacy left behind by the remains of the "Ancestor Cangwu." Its upper limit depends on the original level and degree of evolution of these remains.

"I wonder what realm the ancestor Cangwu was in his lifetime?"

Xingchen couldn't help but ask.

Both Qingmu and Xuanqiu showed expressions of awe and longing.

"I don't know."

Aoki shook his head.

"But its remains can evolve into a world and nourish us to the God Emperor realm. Its power in life is probably far beyond our imagination. Perhaps... it touched the higher level of the legendary Hunyuan."

Xingchen nodded, deeply agreeing. After a moment of contemplation, he also spoke, "You two fellow Daoists have been very frank with me, and I have benefited greatly. The Origin Continent where I reside is a vast source world nurtured by nature, with laws encompassing all things, making the path of cultivation far more complex..."

He briefly described the cultivation system of the Origin Continent, from the comprehension of laws, the path of divine power, the level of physical genes, the cultivation of will to the breakthrough of Void True God, Eternal True God, Chaos Ruler and even God King, and finally to the pursuit of one's own path, to become a God Emperor, and even to the desire to transcend the Origin World and explore the Origin.

He elaborated on the path of "chaotic laws" that he had taken, which encompasses all things and evolves into countless forms. Although he did not reveal the core secrets, he still made Aoki and the other person's hearts sway, as if they had seen another vast and boundless path full of infinite possibilities.

"...In comparison, your path specializes in the origin of Cangwu, digging deep into one point to reach the pinnacle. Our path, on the other hand, focuses more on self-transcendence, absorbing all paths into oneself, pursuing the goal of becoming chaos oneself, becoming the universe oneself. The paths are different, but both are for the purpose of exploring that supreme realm."

The three of them sat and discussed the Dao in the Cangwu Holy Temple.

At times, the God Emperor Qingmu would demonstrate how to draw upon the power of ancient divine plants to evolve the laws of life. In the blink of an eye, he would cause the withered branches in the hall to sprout, and the flowers to bloom brilliantly before withering and returning to dust, illustrating the wonders of life, death, decay, and prosperity.

At times, the Xuanqiu God Emperor let out a low roar, revealing a partial phantom of his true form. It was a huge, scale-like tail that covered the starry sky, and with a flick of its wrist, it seemed capable of shattering stars, displaying the ultimate domineering power of pure strength and bloodline laws.

The stars are surrounded by chaotic energy at the fingertips, evolving into earth, water, fire, and wind, simulating the creation of heaven and earth, life, destruction, and return to chaos and nothingness, demonstrating the infinite possibilities of inclusiveness and evolution.

Different principles and ideas intertwine and collide within the hall, yet they coexist in a wondrous harmony, mutually reinforcing each other.

All three were engrossed in the activity, sometimes frowning in deep thought, sometimes clapping and laughing heartily, all feeling that they had gained a great deal.

The Azure Wood God Emperor exclaimed, "Fellow Daoist's Chaos Great Dao is all-encompassing and infinitely changeable, which has broadened my horizons. Although the laws of my realm are strong, they lack adaptability and rely too much on the Cangwu Origin."

The Xuanqiu God Emperor's gaze was also intense: "To absorb all the Dao into oneself, to become the universe oneself... What a spirit! If this method is successful, the future will be limitless!"

Xingchen also said, "The methods of the two fellow Daoists are specialized and pure, exploring a single point to its extreme, with boundless power. Moreover, they are integrated with the realm, making their defense stable, which I admire. Of the three thousand Great Daos, all can lead to the origin of chaos. Only today do I realize that this statement is true."

This discussion lasted for quite some time.

All three parties gained a deeper understanding of each other's cultivation systems and drew different inspirations from them. The initial sense of distance and wariness caused by unfamiliarity gradually melted away during the discussion, transforming into mutual appreciation and respect among the strong.

Xingchen was overjoyed. This trip to the Cangwu Realm not only allowed him to meet like-minded people, but also to witness a completely different and powerful cultivation civilization, which would be of indescribable benefit to him in perfecting his own Chaos Dao.

With the power of one realm.

It seems... he also has room to maneuver.

His miniature universe, the primordial universe.

The essence is the universe!

Xingchen sat upright with his eyes slightly closed, yet his aura grew increasingly profound and restrained, like a bottomless ancient well, calm on the surface but churning with endless thoughts within.

Seeing this, the two God Emperors, Qingmu and Xuanqiu, exchanged a smile and did not disturb them.

They knew that this fellow Daoist from another world must have been greatly moved by their exchange and was at a crucial moment of enlightenment.

They quietly concealed their auras and even invoked the power of the temple to create an absolutely tranquil environment conducive to enlightenment for the stars.

The stars were already deeply moved and inspired.

"The progenitor Cangwu... his remains transformed into a new world..."

In his sea of ​​consciousness, he seemed to see an incomparably majestic giant tree that spanned the primordial space-time of Hunyuan. After its fall, its remaining will and laws refused to dissipate, drawing upon the power of Hunyuan, and through countless years, it forcefully evolved into a vibrant world!

What a magnificent and tenacious life force this is!

A miracle that completely transforms its own form of existence!

“My universe can operate on its own and give rise to life, but it is more of a natural evolution following the laws of chaos, lacking a kind of… a core ‘soul’, a unique ‘imprint’.”

The stars reflected on their own path.

"And in the Cangwu Realm, all its laws, all its living beings, and all its cultivation paths are deeply imprinted with the mark of 'Ancestor Cangwu'! Everything it does is for the purpose of continuing, exploring, and strengthening this mark! That's why it can unleash extremely strong potential with a relatively small size, and even give birth to two God Emperors!"

"My primordial universe, my inner universe... what is their 'soul'? What is their core 'imprint'?"

The stars asked themselves a question.

Is it pure chaos? All-encompassing, yet also meaning it lacks any prominent characteristics? Or... is it himself?

"I am the universe, and the universe is me..."