Taiyi Divine Realm.

In the Real World, three years have passed, whereas here, only a year and a half.

Candle Dragon has pursued Song Lin across the boundless starry sky for over a year.

Only later did he realize that he might have been deceived.

Upon returning to the Ancestor Star, he found all Mountain and Sea Demon Beasts exterminated, and those not destroyed had already pledged allegiance to the Heavenly Court.

Candle Dragon was enraged, harboring thoughts of annihilation.

However, the Wushan Heavenly Court was not without resistance. Led by the Great Destiny, everyone united, taking on different roles based on their respective Daos.

Candle Dragon's power could not reach the vicinity of Wushan and its native lands.

All those who had submitted to the Heavenly Court congregated within a ten-thousand-mile radius centered on Wushan.

Beyond this boundary lay a sea of fire.

The fire's range was steadily expanding, consuming the Heavenly Court's territory in Wushan.

It was estimated that in a few years, it would reach the foot of Wushan, but this timeframe should be enough.

The struggle between cultivators was not something resolved overnight. Even in cases of Harmonization, where Taoist realms differ vastly, and even to the point of overwhelming superiority, considerable effort is required to secure victory.

A few years is considered very quick to cultivators, who have extraordinarily long lifespans.

Now, Candle Dragon was in no hurry. Instead, he methodically transformed the entire star into a sea of fire, forcing Song Lin to reveal himself.

If the fire's roasting was insufficient, Song Lin hiding underground would be harder to flush out.

At this moment, Song Lin was not at Wushan but above the vast ocean.

Due to Candle Dragon's Divine Skills, the entire ocean had turned into boiling soup. Countless dead fish and dead shrimp floated on the surface, and the mixture of seafood aroma and rotting stench created an eerie miasma.

Song Lin and his group were standing by an enormous vortex.

Even hundreds of miles away, one could still feel an inexplicable pulling force.

Song Lin gazed at the pitch-black vortex, a place that seemed to swallow even light itself, leaving nothing but impenetrable darkness.

"Form the array."

The group took their positions according to the configuration of the Eight Diagram. Song Lin stood at the center, with eight figures distributed around him, each surrounded by eight others — sixty-four plus eight in total.

Mana was poured in completely.

Boom!!

Golden light emanated from each figure, drawn together by an unknown force to form strands of golden lines.

The golden lines converged into a massive Eight Diagram pattern, enveloping the Returning Ruins within a range of several hundred miles.

Standing at the center, Song Lin suddenly vanished.

From Song Lin's perspective, as the array formed, the surroundings twisted with distorted light and shadow. Light curved into streams and converged at a singular point.

While flying inward, he felt changes to his body.

In this place, there was no differentiation between up, down, left, or right, as invisible forces tore at his form. Perhaps the array had weakened the Returning Ruins' power, for beyond a fleeting discomfort, he remained unharmed.

Song Lin only knew he was descending toward some unknown locale.

It could be a year, or it could be ten thousand years.

Trailing behind Song Lin were multicolored lines, stretching infinitely into the darkness.

The trailing lines seemed to depict fragmented scenes from the past.

Nearby lines appeared as objects — some living, some dead.

They streaked like meteors, trailing their colorful paths, some long, some short.

The lines in the past contained the remnants of objects; while ahead, the lines seemed to signify the future — a void of uncertainty.

What lay ahead in his own future?

Song Lin peered at the lines before him — a sheet of pristine white, completely obscuring the road ahead.

It was a better prospect than that of other objects, for, at least, it did not portend imminent destruction.

Boom!

In that instant, all objects ahead vanished.

At last, Song Lin saw his own future.

Boom!

The scenery transformed abruptly.

The terrain was barren.

Besides the pitch-black rock, even the air itself was absent.

Suddenly, from an unknown source, sharp gusts of chilling wind swept forth.

The iron-hard rock cracked and crumbled.

Gurgle gurgle...

Crystal-clear spring water began flowing out from within the rocks.

The water was unbelievably pure, devoid of any trace of dust or bacteria.

From the springs formed lakes, brimming with potent life force. After an indeterminate span of time, life began appearing within the water.

All creation evolved in the water.

Small organisms and plants came into existence.

The spring birthed all things.

With time, the spring gave rise to rivers, and living beings perished in succession, their forms returning to the water.

A river, both a giver of life and a harbinger of death.

Its essence, however, remained beyond notions of life and death; it was simply water — free of judgment such as good or evil, concepts imposed only by the external world.

It was the most primordial water.

Song Lin glimpsed a sliver of Mystical Machine.

Across All Heavens and Myriads of Worlds, wherever life existed, rivers would invariably flow.

Life evolved from here, and as the world evolved, so did the nature of rivers.

Some becoming Rivers of Life, like the red water or Turquoise Pool. Others becoming Rivers of Protection, like the Tianhe or Galaxy. And still others becoming Rivers of Death, like the Netherworld or Blood River.

This Heavenly Water was the source of all rivers.

It was Innate Water.

"Taiyi East Lord pays homage to the Heavenly Water."

Song Lin advanced a step forward and bowed slightly.

Regardless of whether Heavenly Water possessed sentience, the reverence owed to such a creation artifact was necessary.

The Heavenly Water offered no response, yet Song Lin keenly sensed an aura of goodwill emanating from the cosmos.

His body slowly submerged within the water, akin to a fetus absorbing nourishment from amniotic fluid.

Indeed, Song Lin sought to comprehend the Heavenly Water Dao.

The Great Destiny's Path of Longevity suddenly seemed less alluring.

If he could grasp Innate Water, the benefits would be beyond measure.

Whether it was to cultivate life or to manifest the Netherworld, he would have choices available.

Such a means of life genesis promised that even desolate Small Thousand Worlds would not lose their value.

In the water, Song Lin contemplated.

Neither born nor dead, both alive and deceased.

Upon entering the Returning Ruins, Song Lin had immediately discerned that time flowed differently here compared to the outside world.

If he could locate the exit, he would find the external timeline largely unchanged upon return.

His only concern was the potentially accelerated time within, causing excessive upheaval in the Real World.

Yet this realm rendered time undetectable, forcing him to proceed cautiously.

Perhaps due to Taiyi's acknowledgment, Song Lin's comprehension process unfolded smoothly, unimpeded.

Of course, this didn't guarantee Heavenly Water's cooperation.

It all depended on his own understanding.

Innate Water Path, Innate Pure Yang.

Two Innate Daos.

One as the source of all creation, the other as its reliance.

Though different, they shared commonalities.

After a considerable interval, Song Lin surfaced from the water.

His aura had transformed, becoming gentle like water, harmonious and mellow, devoid of Pure Yang's domineering intensity.

Song Lin condensed a droplet of water at his fingertip.

Was this considered a success?

He wasn't certain.

If comprehending Innate Water required immersion within it for cultivation, attaining understanding back in the Real World might prove challenging.

While physical traversal promises retainment of Taoist realm, the understanding of the Great Dao must always be self-realized.

"Forget it; the Candle Dragon must be dealt with first."

Song Lin, accompanied by fellow immortals, soared toward the Wushan Heavenly Court.

Wushan.

Candle Dragon's colossal figure roamed within the boundless sea of fire, its menacing gaze fixed firmly upon the Palace of the Polestar miles away.

"Eastern King! Do you think you can remain in hiding and be safe? Haha, I will wipe out the Human Clan entirely and force you to emerge!"

Roar!!

Flames materialized countless demon beasts, charging out of the fire sea and slamming against the Heavenly Court's array.

Sustained by the star's internal energy, the flames seemed virtually endless.

Boom, boom, boom...

The array shattered, leaving the remaining Mortal World's territory to be submerged in flames.

Crash...

Suddenly, torrential rain descended from the heavens.

The rain was no ordinary water, extinguishing the flames with remarkable speed.

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