Perfect World

Chapter 537: Chapter 537: Mysteries of the Higher Realms
 

Shi Hao was stunned, his heart throbbing with shock. What kind of terrifying area was that? Vast and boundless, filled with the unknown, even the giants of the higher realms dared not step foot in it.

Was that the place he would arrive at after taking that step?

There were several paths, and the choice was different. There had always been rumors that after taking the ultimate step, there would be accompanied by great terror and great oddities. Was that the place?

The higher realms were vast and unlimited. The areas inhabited by countless races and myriad beings were many times larger than the Lower Realm, and that was only a corner of the higher realms.

“Do you remember that spiritual herb near Medicine City within the borders of Fire Nation?” Little Pagoda asked.

Shi Hao snapped out of his daze, nodded, and said, “Of course, I remember.”

In that valley, there was a spiritual herb planted, known as the Number-One Spiritual Root of the higher realms, protected by endless arrays. During the second great calamity, it attracted several giants who attacked to harvest it.

However, it was a killing ground.

“That Spiritual Root was a terrifying being. Eons ago, three dying giants explored a mysterious and limitless area and encountered it. Two perished, and it was only with difficulty that they slew it, turning it into this herb,” Little Pagoda said.

“What?!” Shi Hao was dumbfounded.

This secret sounded bizarre, hard to believe. A strange herb, although known as the Number-One Spiritual Root, its origin was… too outrageous!

“It is only seen as the Number-One Spiritual Root in the eyes of the various schools. With such a vast mysterious area, who knows how many more there are,” Little Pagoda said.

The silver moonlight was like water, shrouding Stone Village in a layer of thin mist. It was nestled within the great desolate area, now peaceful and serene, away from the secular world.

In the distance, the great mountains were majestic, and the Primordial Mountain Range was expansive. Faintly, the roars of ferocious birds and beasts could be heard, yet they dared not approach the village.

At the village head, the willow tree was luminous, its luminescence soft and flowing.

Shi Hao sat cross-legged under the tree, lost in a trance. With just an initial hearing, he was captivated, his spirit wandering far away. He yearned for his strength to be sufficient to explore it himself.

Clearly, this was only one instance of strangeness; there were many more.

“White Deer Academy, Creation Academy, neither of them weaker than the great schools, had jointly explored that unknown area. Both Deans’ cultivation was astonishing, leading the strongest group of students. But all was shed in blood,” Little Pagoda narrated another example.

According to a disciple who escaped, soon after delving deeper, one Dean encountered a burnt-black, about one meter long lightning-struck tree. Despite his world-shaking Mana, he ultimately dissolved into a pool of blood.

The other Dean’s death was even stranger. Upon finding a water droplet emitting ten colors of light and escorting it to hand, he was directly turned into a skeleton, flesh and Primordial Spirit completely dissolved.

After hearing this, Shi Hao was astounded, feeling it was inconceivable, all too bizarre.

“Are there no beings in the mysterious region?” After a long time, he couldn’t help but ask.

“There are, and all are bewitchingly strong, beyond imagination. Almost everyone who saw them died,” Little Pagoda said.

There were identifiably less outrageous beings that people recognized. Someone discovered a stone egg enveloped in chaotic mist, and upon careful identification, it was a True Dragon Egg that could hatch a True Dragon.

At that time, he used a Secret Technique to send a message for the sect’s experts to come out in full force to meet them. However, on the way, the sect’s members mysteriously died stepping over a fist-sized patch of Yellow Mud.

Shi Hao was at a loss for words, contemplating under the night moon, filled with both shock and a desire to explore.

What kind of place was the higher realms, after all? Where even the great immortal legacies could only dwell in a corner, the areas inhabited by endless races and myriad beings not even one-tenth of the higher realms, it was truly astonishing.

An even vaster territory is shrouded in fog, filled with the unknown.

“In Primeval Times, I chose a path, broke through the barrier of life and death, and ended up potentially entering deep into that region. Then… after encountering a great oddity, I punched through a passage and returned,” the Willow Deity spoke.

Its voice was calm, without ripples, but not only Shi Hao was startled, even Little Pagoda was shaken, with turbulent waves in its heart.

The Willow Deity was reticent, not saying much more.

No wonder the Willow Deity suspected that passing through the Primordial Gate might also be entering the deepest part of the mysterious area.

“Those ancient academies and institutions had, through long-term research, speculated much, showing the spiritual wonder and terror,” Little Pagoda said.

“Above the heavens,” the Willow Deity sighed.

Their conversation was sporadic, very fragmented. They talked for a long time, soon reaching the middle of the night.

“Little Pagoda, you’re so powerful, having claimed to open an entire realm, can’t you fully explore that mysterious area?” Shi Hao asked.

“What I spoke of was reopening this realm, not the higher realms. Although this place also encompasses the sun, moon, and stars, with boundless territory, many star rivers are just projections of the higher realms. This realm is merely a prison, and I have my methods,” Little Pagoda humbly admitted for once.

By its words, the higher realms were very solid.

Shi Hao fell silent again, plunged into contemplation.

Today, he had heard many secrets that needed to be digested and absorbed.

“There is still one final battle in the eight regions,” the Willow Deity said.

The giants of the higher realms could still come down once more, for indeed, there were things in this Lower Realm prison that aroused their interest, such as the Detachment Chapter of the Primal True Solution, for starters.

The beings of the Lower Realm were not strong, and although their territories were vast, they were far from catching up with those of the higher realms. It stood to reason that these opportunities for ascension should have been discovered by now, yet they remained elusive.

In the Primeval Times, some treasures had indeed been plundered, yet a few of incomparably greater importance had never surfaced.

“The final opportunity will be the Battle for Ascension to Godhood,” the Little Pagoda said.

“What is the Battle for Ascension to Godhood?” Shi Hao asked, puzzled.

“Some are dissatisfied with the higher realms and wish for the Lower Realm to be devoid of gods,” the Little Pagoda explained.

“Hmm, what does that mean?” Shi Hao furrowed his brows and pressed for clarification.

“The powerful beings of the Lower Realm were nearly all captured in the previous two clashes. The remaining pseudo-deities exist within undying lineages. Some are discontent and wish to eradicate them all,” the Little Pagoda clarified.

Hearing this, Shi Hao inhaled sharply. This was definitely earth-shattering news; if it were to spread, the eight regions would be thrown into turmoil.

“Who is it?”

“You know them,” the Little Pagoda said, emanating chaotic mist as it clearly also intended to take action.

“The Undying Being trapped beneath the Five Elements Mountains?” Shi Hao was surprised. He had always known that this being wouldn’t let matters rest, but he hadn’t expected their actions to be so fierce this time.

“After the Battle for Ascension to Godhood is over, that being will ascend. Heh, I expect some major schools will have quite the headache then; it will be a tremendous shake-up,” the Little Pagoda reveled in the disaster.

After this battle, the Absolute Heavenly Passage will be sealed; the higher and Lower Realms will struggle to connect. Wanting to descend again would become impossible, only a longing across the long span of years.

This time was somewhat different. Ordinarily, at this juncture, the eight regions should be exceedingly flourishing, divine Spirits all manifesting and numerous saints vying for dominance and exploring the Lower Realm on a grand scale.

Now, however, it was more about the contention of the major powers rather than the manifestation of many Sacred Entities.

“I believe that once the Absolute Heavenly Passage is sealed, this realm will truly begin to prosper. Many mighty figures will emerge like mushrooms after rain, manifesting the Sacred,” the Little Pagoda speculated.

Yet, by then, it would no longer be a concern for the higher realms.

And with the Sacred so manifest, so many “great medicines” would be stored away, to be harvested in the next golden age. It was hard to say whether this was a good or bad turn of events, a source of joy or sorrow.

Shi Hao clenched his fists upon hearing this. The denizens of the higher realms were reckless and never took the eight regions seriously. This place wasn’t even deemed a proper “medicinal field” by them. It was just a matter for their whims, life or death at their discretion.

“I want to go to the higher realms and see the true dao, the flawless natural laws, and the near-perfect heaven and earth,” Shi Hao mused to himself, his eyes ablaze with divine light.

“Hey, kid, I’ve got high hopes for you. The higher realms are boundless, with countless races and peerless geniuses standing side by side, and Primordial ones rising up. I hope that after you ascend, you don’t get buried among them,” the Little Pagoda said.

“Even if it’s brilliant, it’s only a fraction of the entire territory,” Shi Hao retorted, already looking down on it, even though he hadn’t ascended yet.

“Do you realize that even just a fraction requires the combination of innumerable eight regions to compare? The higher realms have extraordinary talents and blessed lands, countless Divine Mountains, numerous Immortal Villages, filled with many sacred places waiting for you to explore,” the Little Pagoda said slyly, spitting out a breath of chaotic mist before continuing, “Here’s a piece of advice for you: once you ascend, join the eternal Celestial Immortal Academy. Inside, wow… there are beauties ah.”

Shi Hao scoffed, “You’re just a tower, what’s with the drooling? By the way, last time you chased after that witch and encountered the God Suppression Stone Bead, what was that all about? Does it have to do with some old acquaintance of yours? Could it be that Magic Artifacts also have their companions?”

The Little Pagoda was momentarily speechless, spewing forth chaotic mist, almost blowing Shi Hao into the sky. A green, luminescent branch from the Willow Deity caught him and steadied his form.

“Willow Deity, I truly don’t want you to leave!” Shi Hao expressed his genuine feelings. Despite his usual cheerfulness and even occasional thoughtlessness and fierceness, at that moment he became somewhat sentimental. He feared he might never see the Willow Deity again.

That was because the Primordial Gate was too mysterious and terrifying. Since ancient times, anyone who stepped through it only had their blood flow out, followed by silence, never to appear again.

Yet despite this, it continued to attract all the most stunning and powerful supreme beings from ancient to modern times, who stepped into it, aiming to truly detach.

“Above the heavens… all for detaching,” the Willow Deity murmured softly.

At that moment, it took on human form, standing in front of Stone Village, clad in white that fluttered in the moonlight. Truly, it seemed peerless, as if it could see through the past and present.

Around it, countless orbs of light appeared, floating in its vicinity like cycles of the sun, emitting the sound of chanting. That was the three thousand realms!

Within each hazy orb of light, there was a Deity bowing down to it, with masses of living creatures unceasingly following behind them.

“What is that?” Shi Hao asked.

“That’s its experience,” the Little Pagoda answered.

The flickering three thousand realms included undying Divine Countries, various worlds, and places similar to the Eight Realms Prison, all representing the roads traveled by the Willow Deity.

It had been worshiped as a Guardian spirit, revered as a Sacred Entity, and invoked as a taboo. All these experiences had converged here, forming the three thousand realms.

What exactly was the Willow Deity? Shi Hao was moved.

Ascending to the heavens and stepping onto the higher realms, would he hear its legend and come to understand its past in detail?

“Will we meet again?” Shi Hao asked once more.

“Perhaps, one day, in the Celestial Domain… we shall meet,” the Willow Deity spoke.

Shi Hao was startled. The Willow Deity was his master and friend; it had given him so much. If there ever came a day when he could truly help it, he would strive to do so.

He wouldn’t forget the Clan Leader’s words: the Willow Deity had once descended amidst a ten-thousand-foot storm of lightning, finally settling in Stone Village, its body charred and nearly depleted. A decade later, it sprouted a single branch. What had it experienced, and what kind of choice had it made?(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it on Qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.)