Each mountain range stretches for billions of miles, lying across the land of the Beidou Realm, resembling a colossal dragon.
Looking at these mountain ranges, Chu Mo thought of those three stellar dragons and sighed with a hint of regret. He somewhat lamented his decision not to take those three stellar dragons into the world of the Divine Artifact, allowing their misfortune to unfold.
However, this regret deepened Chu Mo's hatred for the Beidou Sect. Needless to say, once he retrieves the three Blood Moons, he will undoubtedly settle the score with Patriarch Beidou. And while he's at it, seize those four stars and the Seven-Star Formation Diagram.
Along with the unimaginable wealth of the Beidou Sect… Chu Mo has no intentions of letting any of it go.
Even if Chu Mo wanted to let the Beidou Sect off, the entire Beidou Sect would never let him go.
Resentments, karma, and cause and effect have long been entangled. Even if Qi Xiaoyu and her companions were not involved, the outcome would be the same.
Chu Mo rushed to the location determined by the Fengshui Divine Art. It was the convergence of the mountain range's dragon veins, a true geomantic treasure.
"They certainly know how to choose a spot!" On Chu Mo's face appeared a look of praise he couldn't suppress. He then descended from the sky and merged into the mountain range.
The next moment, Chu Mo entered an underground palace.
The underground palace was vast and sealed with extremely powerful restrictions. Without the Divine Artifact in his possession, Chu Mo, with his current cultivation, wouldn't have been able to enter this place. Even for a cultivator at the Great Saint Realm, it would be incredibly difficult to enter this underground palace.
As soon as Chu Mo stepped inside, he saw a man standing there—a man as radiant and refined as jade—smiling calmly at him.
Chu Mo felt a slight stir in his heart as he looked at the man but remained silent.
"You finally found this place," the man sighed lightly, gesturing for Chu Mo to have a seat.
Chu Mo sat directly on a stone stool, eyes fixed on the man. "You knew I was coming all along?"
The man nodded, a gentle smile gracing his face. "I've known for quite some time."
"Then… why didn't you show yourself?" Chu Mo asked.
"Why would I?" The man chuckled. "Just because you possess the Divine Artifact?"
Chu Mo was momentarily speechless. For a long time, he had thought of the Divine Artifact and the ten Blood Moons as a single entity. But since that incident in the Immortal Realm many years ago, when he reclaimed the Chaos Blood Moon, his perspective had undergone significant change.
These ten Blood Moons, including the seven already attached to the Divine Artifact, exhibited varying degrees of sentience. He had only ever felt a strong sense of character from the Chaos Blood Moon. Even the later-acquired Shining, Universal Illumination, and Ascending Moons didn't quite exude that intense human-like quality.
But this didn't mean they lacked personalities.
Chu Mo had known this for a long time. Over the years, the Divine Artifact and these Blood Moons had helped him tremendously—so much so that it defied calculation.
Chu Mo had grown accustomed to having the Divine Artifact by his side.
Listening to the man's words now, Chu Mo once again found himself at a loss for words, unsure of how to respond.
"Why so silent?" The man smiled at Chu Mo. "Ah, by the way, I am the Artifact Spirit."
The Artifact Spirit—the Blood Moon said to have the power to perceive all things in the world—a true divine creation.
The Artifact Spirit looked at Chu Mo and suddenly remarked, "After all these years, you're still the same."
"Hmm?" Chu Mo raised an eyebrow and looked at the jade-like man before him in confusion. "You've met me before?"
"Of course." The Artifact Spirit nodded. "Without karma, how could the Divine Artifact have returned to you? Without karma, how could Heaven Slaying have fallen into your hands? Without karma, the Chaos Furnace wouldn't have become your dharma instrument either."
"Can you explain that?" The Artifact Spirit hesitated briefly before addressing Chu Mo. "The Beidou Seven Stars… ultimately chose you. You've already obtained that divine script, haven't you? Honestly, there's nothing much to explain."
"You are an anomaly. You always have been."
"I don't understand." Chu Mo could feel the weight of the man's words—the sheer amount of information they carried. Yet, he couldn't decipher them, and this frustration gnawed at him.
"Here's the deal. You should go find Slaying Path and Unity. If they willingly return to you, then… I will come back." The Artifact Spirit sighed as he spoke to Chu Mo. "Countless epochs have passed, and in this endless cycle of reincarnation, you… remain the same as ever, not even your appearance has changed. Truly remarkable."
Chu Mo lifted his head sharply, staring at the Artifact Spirit. "Reincarnation? You knew… my past life?"
"No, no, no, no," the Artifact Spirit shook his head. "The one I once knew is no longer alive. Although he looked identical to you and shared a similar temperament, he is undeniably dead."
The Artifact Spirit's eyes carried a hint of sorrow as he continued, "How should I put it? Never mind… It's truly miraculous to see you again after all this time. Seeing you made me realize that reincarnation truly exists in this world. So, I'll reveal some things to you. But remember, you must never speak of them. If you do, it will lead to great chaos. Such karma—even you cannot bear."
Chu Mo nodded. "Go on."
"In immeasurable epochs past, you were once the master of the Divine Artifact." The Artifact Spirit spoke with a tinge of sadness. "To be precise, it was your previous incarnation. Although that person was identical to you, he was fundamentally not you. He… was our creator, the one who sculpted us."
"The Divine Artifact… wasn't formed by the Heaven and Earth?" Chu Mo's lips twitched, filled with doubt at the Artifact Spirit's words.
"Formed by Heaven and Earth? No, absolutely not," the Artifact Spirit replied bluntly. "You created us—the Divine Artifact and the ten Blood Moons. What was formed by Heaven and Earth… is the blade you carry. That's the true one. But that blade underwent obliteration, and its true spirit… is no longer present. It entered reincarnation along with you. Only when you awaken will it reawaken."
Chu Mo silently absorbed the man's words, committing them to heart, as he struggled to comprehend them fully.
"Later, due to certain reasons, you entered reincarnation. Don't ask me why; my knowledge is limited, and also… it's unspeakable." Looking directly at Chu Mo, the Artifact Spirit said decisively, "When you entered reincarnation, the blade willingly accompanied you. The Divine Artifact willingly accompanied you as well. The ten of us… actually wanted to follow. But… someone didn't agree and separated us forcibly. Still, we found a way to escape."
"You escaped through the Tunnel, didn't you?" Chu Mo asked.
The Artifact Spirit hesitated for a moment, then gazed at Chu Mo. "Unexpected… you even know about the Tunnel."
He nodded slightly. "Yes, we escaped through the Tunnel. After escaping, Chaos, Slaying Path, Unity, and I knew that within the Luotian Cosmos, there truly existed an opportunity for divinity. So, we chose to seek that opportunity individually. The other six chose to stay by your side, awaiting the day of your awakening. Furthermore, they sealed much of their memories, as those memories would greatly interfere with the Tianji, causing immense karmic repercussions. Because of that… they've likely never spoken to you about these matters, have they?"
Chu Mo nodded.
The Artifact Spirit continued, "From the moment you stepped into the Beidou Realm, I already felt it. Honestly… I considered killing you then."
Chu Mo was slightly taken aback, staring at the Artifact Spirit.
The Artifact Spirit shook his head. "But I couldn't. We were all created by you; it's impossible for us to do such a thing. You had safeguards against such actions back then. Hence, even if I truly harbored the resolve, I couldn't harm you. After all, the seven Blood Moons are with you. If I ever attempted to strike, they would awaken instantly and tear me apart. At best… I'm their sibling. But you… are our father."
"…" Chu Mo's face darkened, utterly speechless. He felt the entire notion was absurd. Yet, he couldn't find grounds to refute the Artifact Spirit's claim.
"Why did I reincarnate? Was it voluntary, or was I forced by enemies?" Chu Mo asked. "The Tunnel… what kind of world is it? Who resides there? What is the Investiture of the Gods? On the other side of the Tunnel, is there a world identical to the Luotian Cosmos?"
"Ahem… I mentioned you were our father, and here you are asking me this barrage of questions. Is this appropriate?" The Artifact Spirit's incredibly handsome face revealed a trace of helplessness. He looked at Chu Mo's unwavering eyes and sighed, "I knew it… I shouldn't have mentioned any of this! You are merely his reincarnation, not the true him…"
"I will awaken one day, won't I?" Chu Mo asked.
The Artifact Spirit fell silent for a moment before nodding. "In theory, yes, but there's also a significant chance you won't awaken." He looked at Chu Mo and continued, "The reason for your reincarnation involves cause and effect of immense proportions, which I cannot disclose. If you awaken one day, you will know for yourself. As for the Tunnel… let's just say it's a realm belonging to gods. The Investiture of the Gods is a war ranking devised by the Tunnel's supreme gods. Don't think being listed on it is some great honor. Most beings in the Tunnel—and that includes nine out of ten—don't wish to be on it. As for specific details… I can't reveal more. On the other side of the Tunnel, there is indeed a mirror world, but no… to be precise, there are countless… immeasurable worlds!"
The Artifact Spirit's expression grew more troubled as he spoke, and he added, "I've already said too much. That's enough for now. You should go find Slaying Path and Unity. If they are still willing to return, then I will also return. If none of us are willing, then I can only apologize… The three of us have resided in the Beidou Realm for countless epochs. We've long known what the opportunity for divinity entails, yet we pushed it aside and each chose a secluded location. It's merely exhaustion. But now that you've come searching for us… I suppose it's fate."
"I dislike your cryptic manner, but thank you nonetheless. I've learned a lot," Chu Mo said indifferently. "It sounds like I used to be some formidable figure. You've given me even greater confidence."
"Formidable figure…" The Artifact Spirit's lips twitched. "Whether or not you were a notable figure is debatable, but you were unquestionably powerful!"
Chu Mo then took his leave from the underground palace. Since the Artifact Spirit was unwilling to return for now, Chu Mo didn't force the issue. While he wasn't currently certain of Slaying Path and Unity's precise locations, given the Artifact Spirit's remark that they chose dragon vein convergence points, Chu Mo knew finding them wouldn't be an overly difficult task.
After Chu Mo left, the Artifact Spirit remained seated, motionless for a very long time.
Eventually, he grinned faintly, an inaudible smile, and murmured, "The Heavenly Dao has reincarnation; destiny remains the most elusive. Yet… I am already weary… what now?"
With that, he shook his head, sighed deeply, and gradually faded away, leaving behind a resplendent Blood Moon on the stone table.
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