C1554 Zu Ann's Burden
What became of the Brugeth Astral Domain, Yu Yuan, as a key figure in the events, would certainly know, wouldn't he?
Nothingness and desolation reigned supreme.
Devoid of any divine force, without a breath of wind, all life had vanished, leaving no trace behind.
In all his encounters with the starry sky's forbidden areas, he had never witnessed such a void!
The despair-inducing emptiness haunted him; it felt eerie and unsettling whenever it crossed his mind.
Indeed, the Spirit World housed an "Origin Gate," flanked by two wings akin to a butterfly's.
With the assistance of the Voidweaver, the Blightwood, and Diggs, they relentlessly consumed a myriad of powers from beyond.
Could it be that an "Origin Gate" had transformed into the so-called "Maw of Oblivion"?
Was this the cause of the Brugeth's descent into absolute void?
The Brugeth was once an extraterritorial battlefield, tainted with tumultuous and impure forces. Sensing something amiss with the Spirit World, nearly everyone had evacuated before the catastrophe struck.
Thus, the aftermath of the disaster remained within tolerable limits.
But if the Origin Gate had not manifested within the Brugeth's Spirit World, if it wasn't the transformation into the "Maw of Oblivion" there, and the ultimate calamity had occurred in another Astral Domain...
Yu Yuan felt a chill run down his spine.
"You're suggesting?"
It took him a moment to regain his composure, and when he spoke again, his words were as measured as Zu Ann's, "In our Everlands, could the Origin Gate at Skyreach Peak, which you've merged with, potentially evolve into a Maw of Oblivion in the future?"
The pale, ghostly eyes of Youyu, the God of Ghosts, flickered with a ghastly white glow, indicating the gravity he placed on this issue.
"For years, I've stood watch over Skyreach Peak. My sole purpose has been to seal off the valley containing the Origin Gate. I've prohibited anyone from entering, and I've intercepted the flow of spiritual energy and other elemental auras throughout the Skyreach Peaks."
"My goal is to ensure that no creature or force can penetrate that valley."
"Because, on the day of the merge at Skyreach Peak, I sensed the Origin Gate within the valley, and the will of the Origin Deity within it, greedily attempting to consume everything within its reach!"
"It seeks to engulf the Everlands' inhabitants, their spiritual energy, the landscapes, the rivers, and even the artifacts bound by the wall."
"I stand guard here to ensure it doesn't grow stronger, to prevent any creature from coming into contact with it."
"I won't allow it even the slightest chance of success."
"But..."
Zu Ann sighed softly, his voice tinged with defeat. "I can still feel it growing stronger."
"The Origin Gate in the Star River isn't confined to the Everlands. Every established Origin Gate serves as its tendrils and eyes, each one aiding in its gain of strength."
"Is it impossible to eliminate?" Youyu inquired.
Bitterness etched Zu Ann's face as he gazed at the small pond that the Mirror of Fates had become. "I brought up this Origin Gate with Han Miaoyuan a long time ago. Both Han Miaoyuan and the Dark Phoenix have personally come to investigate it more than once, but..."
"They believe this wondrous Origin Gate is anchored in the Cosmic Order of the Everlands. Han Miaoyuan likened it to a tumor on a person's body if the Everlands were a person—a tumor that's difficult to excise."
"Neither he nor the Dark Phoenix can fathom how the Origin Gate functions. They feel that without grasping the secrets of the Origin Realm, they can't eradicate this malignancy."
"Attempting to remove it recklessly could greatly damage the Cosmic Order's foundation in the Everlands, leading to consequences they can't foresee."
As the sovereign of this little world, Zu Ann appeared somewhat resigned.
"I sense the will of the Origin Deity growing increasingly potent on the other side. Before ascending to godhood, my control over the valley's seal has been waning. I've told Han Miaoyuan that I need a divine seat; otherwise, I fear I won't be able to contain the Origin Gate."
A sardonic smile crossed Zu Ann's face. "Han Miaoyuan refused. Feixia is only part of the reason. More importantly, Han Miaoyuan can't be sure whether my years of close and prolonged exposure to it at Skyreach Peak have left me corrupted."
"The human heart is unpredictable. Han Miaoyuan is inherently suspicious. He fears that if I were eroded by it and then granted a divine seat, it might directly trigger a drastic transformation of the Origin Gate."
Zu Ann chuckled darkly, his words laced with dissatisfaction toward Han Miaoyuan.
"He refuses to grant it to me, yet I constantly feel the overwhelming growth of the Origin Deity, which leaves me restless. I am genuinely concerned for the welfare of the Everlands. Therefore, for their sake, I must strive to secure a divine seat!"
"When Boulderdawn and President Lyi approached me with their promises, I accepted without any hesitation."
He fell silent.
Yu Yuan and Youyu mulled over the messages hidden in Zu Ann's words, their hearts weighed down just as heavily.
In a moment, they both came to understand Zu Ann, realizing the immense pressure he had shouldered for years.
He had sensed the might of the Origin Deity, and his ambition for the Everlands had grown. Stuck at the pinnacle of the Unbound state for so long, it was increasingly difficult for him to withstand the pressure.
The absence of a divine seat constrained him, preventing his continued growth in strength.
Meanwhile, the enigmatic Origin Deity could bolster its power through any Origin Gate in any region, thereby exerting even greater pressure on him.
He was nearly at his breaking point, so he sought out Han Miaoyuan to request a divine seat. Han Miaoyuan feared that Zu Ann's prolonged contact with the Origin Deity had already begun to erode his soul...
Yu Yuan suddenly felt a wave of sympathy for his old friend.
It was no wonder that Zu Ann, who had been stationed at Skyreach Peak year-round, always appeared so burdened and stressed during their meetings; he could never seem to find joy.
Since his past life was as Hong Qi, who had not embarked on the path of cultivation, and the Origin Gate was a matter of great importance, Zu Ann had remained tight-lipped.
It turned out that for all these years, he had been carrying such a monumental mission, bearing such tremendous pressure.
"Han Miaoyuan, the reason we convened this council so urgently and put aside our differences with Boulderdawn and the Chamber of Commerce was due to the catastrophe in the Spirit World. I was the one who informed Han Miaoyuan that if the Origin Gate at Skyreach Peak isn't properly addressed, the same fate that befell the Spirit World could very well befall the Everlands!"
Yu Yuan stated, "I understand."
It was then that he began to share his experiences in the Spirit World and the hidden place he had encountered.
"Before the Brugeth Astral Domain was completely obliterated, I must have been taken by the Origin Deity. I found myself in a place that was not only void of life but also bitterly cold and dark. Beneath my feet, colorful ripples fanned out in circles, seemingly capable of reaching into other dimensions."
"At that time, the Origin Deity inhabiting Diggs stood before me, as if he were the epicenter of that universe."
"Below the vibrant ripples at my feet, there appeared to be an abyss of darkness. Yet, I sensed an incredibly vast and mysterious entity, forcefully colliding with the ripples, attempting to shatter them and break free."
"…"
Yu Yuan described his sensations in meticulous detail.
A curious gleam flickered in Youyu's eyes as he listened intently, not wanting to miss a word.
Zu Ann stared at him, astonished, and remained speechless for quite some time after Yu Yuan finished.
"Ultimately, I used the Dragon Slaying Stage to destroy this realm of illusion. The Origin Deity within Diggs was unable to complete its corruption of my soul. When I awoke, the Spirit World had vanished, and so had the Brugeth Astral Domain, as if everything had been devoured."
Yu Yuan recounted the events truthfully.
In that moment, Youyu's lips curled slightly, his gaze playful.
It was as though he was suggesting that even the Origin Deity would find himself outmatched upon reaching the innermost sanctum of your soul.
"That was neither an illusion nor the Origin Realm."
Zu Ann gradually steadied his emotions, looking at Yu Yuan as if he were beholding a mythical beast that had never before been seen. "If I'm not mistaken, the Origin Gate had already morphed into the Maw of Oblivion at that time. You were guided by the Origin Deity and instantly traversed the Maw of Oblivion."
"You may have ventured to places not even Rovi has reached."
"Rovi merely became lost within the Maw of Oblivion. He didn't make it through and was left wandering within."
"Upon encountering the will of the Origin Deity and the soul of the Voidweaver, Rovi sensed danger and desperately fled."
"Where might that be?" Youyu interjected, his curiosity piqued by Zu Ann's words. He was eager to learn the exact location Yu Yuan had reached.
"The Abyssal Gate!" Zu Ann declared with a solemn tone. "Led by the Origin Deity, you traversed the newly formed Maw of Oblivion and arrived directly at the Abyssal Gate. The multicolored ripples undulating beneath your feet—that was the Abyssal Gate itself! And beyond that lies the legendary Abyss!"
"You actually reached the place that the Great Demon God Bertain once visited!" Zu Ann, the guardian of Skyreach Peak, often allowed the Solar Spirit to dwell there while his real body undertook other important duties in the extraterrestrial realms. Being active in the Star River, Zu Ann had been diligently gathering intelligence on the Maw of Oblivion and the Origin Gate.
Indeed, he was the most knowledgeable person in the entire Everlands regarding the Abyssal Gate. Even deep within the extraterrestrial Star River, few knew what lay inside the Maw of Oblivion or where one would end up after passing through it. But Zu Ann did.
He not only knew that crossing the Maw of Oblivion would lead to the Abyssal Gate, but he also knew that the Great Demon God Bertain had ventured there more than once, predating the likes of the Voidweaver and the Blightwood.
"Bertain had the High Priest Reid bring Han Miaoyuan news about the Abyss and the Origin Deity," Yu Yuan shared before continuing, "But what exactly is the Abyssal Gate? Is the endless darkness that was beneath my feet truly the Abyss? And what kind of relationship exists between the Origin Deity and the Abyss?"
