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Chapter 359: Chapter 356: The Nature of the Creator
Mu State.
At the side of a cliff offering a view that stretches for dozens of miles.
This place was originally a famous scenic spot within the boundaries of Mu State, which had not been completely destroyed by the chaos caused by the devils.
At this moment, Gu Jinlai and Zhou Yi were sitting at a stone table, engaging in a conversation.
Hong Ye, Zhang Liefeng, and Yun Ling stood quietly on the side, listening intently.
"The Xuanji Sect has a history of three thousand years, having experienced countless storms. At its lowest point, it was left with only a few Primordial Spirit True Monarchs. At its peak, there were three Earthly True Immortals existing at the same era, governing an area of thirty thousand miles and six hundred million people."
Zhou Yi was narrating the history of the Xuanji Sect, "Two thousand years ago, the Heavenly Master Path gradually gained prominence. Our Xuanji Sect receded in influence until the Holy Land was established and divided the world into twelve domains based on the twelve earthly branches... It was also during that time that our sect temporarily avoided the limelight and relocated."
"The Twelve Domains."
Gu Jinlai had heard about this from the scriptures of the Great Sun Heavenly Sect.
This must be the earliest form of the twelve time zones.
However, the Holy Land included the Netherworld, Gods Mountain, and Sea God Temple in the same twelve regions under its jurisdiction, causing dissatisfaction among these three powers.
They did not approve of this division by the Holy Land.
Under these circumstances, the transformed twelve regions narrowed in scope, being limited only to the regions under the jurisdiction of the Holy Land, shifting from time zones to geographic regions.
Just like the Qiantian Thirty-Nine States.
By then, the Holy Land, being the most supreme and powerful, made these twelve time domains the center of the world, attracting countless Heavenly Masters from all over the world.
This included the founder of the Great Sun Heavenly Sect.
"Excessive pride leads to regret, and prosperity cannot last. A thousand years ago, civil war broke out in the Holy Land, leading to its decline. After countless forces survived the most difficult period of their existence, they seized the twelve time domains of the Holy Land and began a long-term struggle, aiming to replace the Holy Land as the world’s overlord. This nearly continuous turmoil lasted for hundreds of years, until..."
Zhou Yi sighed, "The devils arrived."
"So... have the Twelve Domains completely fallen?"
Gu Jinlai’s expression grew solemn.
He knew the situation outside Qiantian was extremely dire, but he never imagined it was to this extent.
"I am not informed about this."
Zhou Yi said, "As the central region of the world, the twelve areas were prime targets for the attacks of devils and demon spirits from the Demon Realm, facing unprecedented pressure. Despite their strength, the ongoing internal strife lasting hundreds of years prevented them from truly cooperating and uniting. Forty years ago, the messages from the Twelve Domains became sporadic, and a decade later, communication between the two areas was gradually cut off. Twenty-six years ago, a Cave Angel arrived at our Xuanji Sect, claiming that it was time to gather those among humanity willing to set aside their differences, using the power of Holy Lands and Grotto Heavens to build a new Holy Land, to use it as a base to resist the invasion of the devils."
Upon saying this, his expression turned somewhat sad, "This point... should prove something."
The top human Grotto Heavens and Holy Lands needed to build a new Holy Land.
This new so-called Holy Land, to put it nicely, was meant to centralize all power to mount a resistance; to put it harshly...
It was a shelter for the surviving Human Clan.
"Nine years ago, the devils began to scatter. According to the high-level estimates of our sect, these were devils from the Twelve Domains, who after destroying the resisting forces in those domains, began to spread in all directions..." Zhou Yi paused slightly, "Of course, it’s also possible that the forces in the Twelve Domains have banded together, firmly holding on. Perhaps the devils felt they couldn’t gnaw through this tough bone and decided to first spread to surrounding areas to strengthen themselves, intending to use a scorched earth strategy to completely incinerate the resistance in the Twelve Domains..."
Having said that, he did not continue.
Because he himself thought this possibility was unlikely.
If there were still powers within the Twelve Domains strong enough to leave the devils helpless, how could not a single sound escape from them?
"Nine years ago, when the devils swept into our Xuanji Sect, despite arming everyone and passing down manuals of top techniques, we ultimately could not withstand the overwhelming invasion of the devil army. A year ago, realizing the situation was beyond recovery, the Sect Master ordered us to each carry relatively complete sect scriptures, dividing into groups, scattering in every direction to ensure the sect’s legacy would not be lost..."
As Zhou Yi spoke, his expression inevitably turned somber.
It seemed he was recalling those unpleasant memories.
"Since we managed to escape, the Sect Master, our masters, they must also have made it to a safe place. They won’t be harmed."
Yun Ling comforted.
"A safe place..."
Zhou Yi said, looking at Gu Jinlai, "We have been fleeing for a year, during this year, we visited four Holy Lands, two dynasties, but those Holy Lands, dynasties, without exception, all fell. A few months ago, we even began to despair... If it wasn’t for our belief that the Human Clan wouldn’t easily be defeated, believing that our ’Holy Land’ definitely exists, and finding the ’Holy Land’ would reignite the fire of our sect’s legacy, perhaps we wouldn’t have made it to the Qiantian World."
Gu Jinlai looked at Zhou Yi, knowing what he was thinking, what he wanted to say.
He nodded solemnly, "I don’t know what the real ’Holy Land’ looks like, nor do I know why the once brilliant Holy Land would end its civilization due to civil war, but, I will do everything I can, by all means, to transform the area south of Tianhe, the entire Qiantian World, into a new Holy Land, a new Holy Ground."
"Although hope is slim, I believe that there will come a day."
Zhou Yi forcefully stated.
He looked at Gu Jinlai, "When I arrived, I saw the Ten Thousand Spirit Array enveloping the Military Workshop outside Lingxiao City. Master Gu has certainly reached the Third Step of Heavenly Monarch. However... in terms of contacting the True Spirit Realm, there is still some uncertainty, right?"
"Indeed."
Gu Jinlai nodded his head.
He wanted to enter the True Spirit Realm, and indeed there were certain requirements for the state.
At least, when fierce battles erupted outside, he could not immediately pass through the True Spirit Realm to judge or distinguish anything.
Of course, using "Qingguang" did not count.
"To enter the True Spirit Realm more quickly and stably is the cultivation method of the Third Step of the Heavenly Monarch. When Master Gu can enter the True Spirit Realm anytime and anywhere, he will have reached the peak in terms of integration with the Spirit Realm. Next, when the True Spirit has matured to its limit and the Spiritual Sense has expanded to Perfection, meeting these three conditions, a cultivator will be able to touch the Spirit Realm and even draw upon the power of the Spirit Realm."
Zhou Yi said, pausing slightly, "Of course, after contacting the True Spirit Realm, supplementing it with some other methods can also draw upon the power of the Spirit Realm."
Gu Jinlai thought about his own process of refining the Qiankun Ring.
If the quality is insufficient, compensate with quantity.
That’s the rationale.
"We call a Heavenly Monarch who meets these three conditions a Great Sky Lord, meaning that he is the culmination of the Heavenly Master Path."
"Great Sky Lord?"
Gu Jinlai was somewhat surprised, "To be able to draw the power of the True Spirit Realm and still not be a creator?"
"Creator?"
Zhou Yi shook his head, "There is a fundamental difference between a creator and a Heavenly Monarch."
Although Gu Jinlai was somewhat surprised, thinking of the gap in status and strength between a creator and a Heavenly Monarch...
It seemed to make sense.
"The True Spirit of humans is ultimately a projection of the soul’s spiritual cohesion into a conscious entity. In other words, it is akin to our thoughts, albeit a controllable and to some extent touchable unique existence, but a creator... They have transcended the shackles of human life and stepped into an entirely new domain."
Zhou Yi spoke with a sense of longing.
"An entirely new domain?"
"Yes, the True Spirit as a boat, the Spirit Realm as the sea. No matter how good the boat sails through the Spirit Sea, it cannot compare with real fish."
Zhou Yi’s expression carried a solemn reverence, "The greatest difference between a creator and a Heavenly Monarch is transforming oneself into a fish, becoming a true Spirit Realm Life."
"Transforming oneself into a Spirit Realm Life!?"
Gu Jinlai’s pupils shrank.
"Yes, transforming into a Spirit Realm Life, or rather, becoming a part of the Spirit Realm, like turning into a fish in the water, or even... becoming part of the water."
Zhou Yi looked at Gu Jinlai, "No matter how powerful the True Spirit or how sturdy the boats, how can they compare to becoming a fish, or even turning into water itself, able to navigate freely in the ocean of the Spirit Realm?"
"This is a creator?"
"Yes, this is a creator."
Zhou Yi said, "The Heavenly Monarch sails through the sea of the Spirit Realm, at least having a boat to ride. Common people in the Spirit Sea are like swimmers with no support, while Demon Spirits are akin to the monsters in the sea..."
"What about Ruins Beasts?"
Gu Jinlai suddenly asked.
Zhou Yi looked at him, knowing what he really wanted to ask.
"In legend, Ruins Beasts are spirit beasts created by creators based on the traits of Demon Spirits, even described as a type of powerful Demon Spirit that is completely tamed and controlled..."
He nodded, "This is true. Ruins Beasts, the monsters among monsters, devouring demons, consuming spirits, swallowing all."
He paused, "That’s why, a thousand years ago, the creators could make those standing at the peak of the Cultivation World, the Earthly True Immortals, bow their heads, and since they had already transformed into entities like water in the Spirit Realm... they were also seen as monsters by the Demon Spirits..."
Listening to Zhou Yi’s words, Gu Jinlai gradually understood the true concept of the creators and the powerful entities they had created.
However, he still had one doubt in his mind.
"If the creators have already transformed their life forms, then why... is their lifespan still only two hundred years? Far less than that of Earthly True Immortals?"
Gu Jinlai said.
Zhou Yi did not respond immediately but pondered thoughtfully.
After a while, he looked at Gu Jinlai, "Do you know what the most difficult aspect of a Heavenly Monarch becoming a creator is?"
Before Gu Jinlai could reply, he continued, "It’s the Spirit Realm! A Heavenly Monarch has to transform himself into a Spirit Realm life, his thoughts and consciousness will communicate and share with the Spirit Realm, and what is the Spirit Realm? It is all beings! It is all things! It is everything! At that moment, 99% of Heavenly Monarchs will be washed away by everything contained in the Spirit Realm, losing themselves in it, until... they become part of the Spirit Realm."
He paused, "Just like after death, when a body is buried in the ground and turns into fertilizer..."
Gu Jinlai felt a chill in his heart.
"Although the creators have transformed into Spirit Realm life, possessing the power to control the Spirit Realm, the deeper they understand the Spirit Realm, the more they use the power of the Spirit Realm, the deeper they sink, touching more of the Spirit Realm’s information, until... "
Zhou Yi said, sighing softly, "Yearning for the Spirit Realm, touching the Spirit Realm, merging with the Spirit Realm, revering the Spirit Realm, and finally... perishing within the Spirit Realm."
