Chapter 1250-1252 (7.5k+ words)

The ancient tree of the Earth's veins is also within the network of the faceless Saint Emperor's source essence.

Therefore, when Ruo Mu surrendered, the ancient tree of the Earth's veins also had a faint reaction in its heart. However, it could not be sure; it was just an increasing sense of anxiety and unease.

"Now that we are all under the Saint Emperor, with the Saint Emperor's protection, could He still dare to do anything to me?" The ancient tree could only console itself in this way.

The ancient tree of the Earth's veins knew clearly that perhaps only the Saint Emperor could preserve its life in this world.

The more useful it was to the Saint Dynasty, the safer it would be.

So, the ancient tree of the Earth's veins was eager to prove its value to the Saint Emperor.

Unfortunately, since arriving at the Saint Dynasty, it seemed to have been forgotten. No one had actively approached it.

Even the task assigned earlier to organize the veins of the Great Beginning Small World had not been checked by anyone.

This made the ancient tree of the Earth's veins quite frustrated.

However, one day, the opportunity to showcase its capabilities finally arrived for the ancient tree.

The visitor was none other than the fifth disciple of the Saint Emperor, Oushang Tian.

"Is this the illustration of the Earth's veins flowing in the Xuanhuang Realm?" Oushang Tian pointed to the image in front of him and asked.

Densely packed, like a large underground net, extending all over the Xuanhuang Realm.

Like blood vessels in a human body, constantly contracting and pulsating. It looked quite eerie.

The ancient tree of the Earth's veins nodded and said, "Little Venerable sees it clearly."

Praised by the ancient tree, Oushang Tian also seemed quite pleased, readily accepting the title of "Little Venerable."

"I heard from Senior Lin Ling that when walking in the flow of the Earth's veins, there is a spontaneous concealment of the power of the Xuanhuang Realm Heavenly Dao, making it difficult for ordinary people to perceive. Is that true?" Oushang Tian asked again.

"That's right." The ancient tree of the Earth's veins handed over a dry branch. "Little Venerable, have a look."

Oushang Tian felt the surging power of the Earth's veins flowing through the dry branch, frowned slightly, and asked, "It seems like there's nothing special about this. How can it block others' perception?"

The ancient tree of the Earth's veins smiled faintly. "Little Venerable, you must understand that collecting sand to build a tall tower and gathering drops to form a river. Although a bit of the Earth's vein power may seem inconspicuous, when the entire Xuanhuang Realm's Earth's veins gather, it is truly vast and powerful, resembling thunder."

"In the end, the circulation of the Earth's veins is also an essential part of the normal operation of the Xuanhuang Realm. I am just a temporary holder of its authority. Compared to the magnificent and just principles of the entire Xuanhuang Realm, ordinary cultivators are like ants, being ignored is normal."

Oushang Tian stared at the illustration of the Earth's veins flowing, lost in thought.

After a long time, he came back to his senses, returned the Earth's vein dry branch, and instructed, "Perfect, I may need your help for the task assigned by the Master this time."

The ancient tree of the Earth's veins had been waiting for this. Hearing this, it was overjoyed, "Little Venerable, please give your orders. I will surely assist wholeheartedly."

"Within the Xuanhuang Realm, there is a senior with unpredictable strength, carrying a stone tablet... Do you know about it?" Oushang Tian looked at the ancient tree of the Earth's veins and asked.

The expression of the ancient tree of the Earth's veins suddenly changed, and the previous enthusiasm vanished in an instant.

He stared at Oushang Tian in disbelief for a moment before tentatively asking, "Little Venerable, is the Saint Dynasty planning to take action against the senior with the stone tablet?"

"Forgive my bluntness, but the stone tablet is truly an existence in the Lifelong Realm and has been enlightened for many years..." The ancient tree started to say.

Oushang Tian impatiently waved his hand, "I naturally know the strength of that stone tablet. The Lifelong Realm!"

"Compared to Master, it's nothing!"

"Rest assured, I am only responsible for luring it to a specific location."

Hearing Oushang Tian's words, the ancient tree of the Earth's veins finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The mysterious and unpredictable faceless Saint Emperor, who could subdue his father, should have no problem dealing with the stone tablet.

The ancient tree became spirited, "Little Venerable, may I ask how I should cooperate?"

Oushang Tian explained the detailed plan, and the ancient tree pondered and nodded, indicating no problem.

"No time to waste, I will set off immediately after seeing Master."

"As for my main body, it is still in Xuanhuang. As long as Little Venerable summons, I can appear at any time," the ancient tree stated.

Oushang Tian hurriedly entered the Saint Emperor's seat.

When he came out, the impatience on his face had disappeared.

"I have the Kunqian Bone Hand and the Rainbow Light Guard, and I also received treasures rewarded by Master. I've spent quite some time learning formations..."

"Just need to lure it to the Fishing Pool, and the task should be completed. It shouldn't be a problem."

"But isn't the Fishing Pool a sacred place for our Saint Dynasty? Why did Master ask me to lead a formidable enemy there? Isn't he afraid of any accidents?" Oushang Tian pondered, unable to understand.

However, in the end, he didn't bother with it. After leaving the Great Beginning Small World, he went straight to the Nine Mountains Region of the Wanxian Alliance.

With the surging flow of the Earth's veins, he arrived in the Nine Mountains Region within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

Oushang Tian tried it out, and indeed, the spatial laws here were somewhat chaotic and fragile.

If he rashly used teleportation, there was a high chance of tearing the space apart and being sucked into spatial turbulence, disappearing without a trace.

"However, flying should be no problem. These nine peaks may be challenging for ordinary cultivators, but they can't hinder me, with the protection of the Rainbow Light Guard."

Thinking this, Oushang Tian, with the added protection of the seven-colored light, formed a protective circle around him. It continuously emitted its own rhythm to the outside world.

With a thought, a suit of armor emitting a seven-colored glow suddenly appeared on Oushang Tian.

The words of Master resounded in Oushang Tian's ears at the same time, "This item is called the **Flowing Light Armor**, refined with the Nine Heavens Thunder and Morning Mist Neon. After wearing it, the flying speed can rival lightning. It can even ignore the majority of attack methods..."

Oushang Tian gave it a try.

Looking at the mountaintop in the distance, with just a moment of distraction, the next moment, he was already at the summit.

"So fast!?" Even Oushang Tian, the initiator, couldn't help but be amazed.

With the dual blessings of the Flowing Light Armor and the Rainbow Light Guard, his speed had reached an incredible level.

Despite being so conspicuous, emitting a seven-colored glow and flying in the sky, no one among the cultivators in the entire Nine Mountains Region could perceive him due to his extraordinary speed.

Even the guardian of the Wanxian Alliance's He Dao Town was the same.

At first, Oushang Tian was a bit cautious, but after confirming that no one could detect him, he gradually relaxed.

Even a feeling of doing whatever he pleased arose in his heart.

"Exhilarating, truly exhilarating!"

In the vast Nine Mountains Region, in the time it takes to breathe, Oushang Tian has flown back and forth several times. The exhilarating feeling of rapid flight intoxicated Oushang Tian.

At the same time, there was some confusion in his mind: "Is it possible to lure out that stone tablet by continuously flying like this?"

"Is it so mysterious? If I'm this fast, could it be that he can't find me?"

"Should I slow down and try?"

Just when Oushang Tian's thoughts were starting to wander, a sudden sense of crisis arose in his heart.

A scene suddenly appeared in his mind.

The sky and earth suddenly darkened.

As if there was an invisible restraint, no matter how he flew, he couldn't escape the range shrouded in darkness.

In despair, his body could only slowly slide toward the center of the darkness.

...

"!"

Oushang Tian was greatly shaken.

He knew that this was another companion mystical item apart from the Kunqian Bone Hand, the spontaneous warning of the Book of Ten Thousand Deaths.

"What's going on? The stone tablet?" 

The foreseen scene made Oushang Tian's hair stand on end. Acting decisively, he detonated a prepared Array Crown.

In an instant, countless formations were set up, protecting Oushang Tian in the center.

The illusory scenes of the Book of Ten Thousand Deaths gradually dissipated.

But the sense of crisis in Oushang Tian's heart did not diminish because, as the one who laid out the formations, he could clearly feel that the tens of thousands of formations he personally arranged were rapidly disappearing at an inexplicable speed.

However, from beginning to end, he didn't see the person breaking the formations. It was as if something was silently devouring them.

The growing horror in his heart became more intense. While the protective array was still effective, Oushang Tian threw several Array Crowns around him.

Layer by layer, the formations unfolded, and a phantom figure slowly appeared.

However, Oushang Tian dared not look too closely.

"Earth Veins!"

Calling out in his mind, Oushang Tian plunged straight into the ground from the sky.

He disappeared in an instant.

And the myriad formations he left behind were mysteriously compressed into tangible pages, all floating slowly to the abruptly appearing figure.

The figure gradually revealed its true appearance, resembling a scholar, with the conspicuous stone tablet on his back.

Every time he received a page, after reading it, the page disappeared from his hand, shimmering, as if it had been branded onto the stone tablet.

The scholar didn't rush to chase after the escaping Oushang Tian. Instead, he leisurely read through all the pages in his hand.

His originally calm face gradually frowned.

"When did the formations in the Xuanhuang Realm develop to this level?"

"That world's light..."

"Could it be an outsider?"

All the pages in his hand disappeared, and the scholar looked towards the location where Oushang Tian was sensed.

"So fast. Unexpectedly, there's even the Earth Veins Ancient Tree as an ally..."

The scholar reviewed the recent records on the stone tablet.

No relevant information was found.

"The number of foreign regions is increasing, and the stone tablet, who claims to know everything, is gradually proving to be less reliable."

"Without worry, you are right. There's never anything eternal. Immortals are no exception. The power we, the Longevity Seekers, take pride in is no exception either."

Although this matter clearly exuded an aura of conspiracy, as if someone was trying to lure him, the stone tablet did not feel any fear.

Instead, there was more curiosity.

With one step, he arrived at the location where Oushang Tian had been.

However, Oushang Tian seemed to have been prepared and had already taken a step ahead, diving into the Earth Veins.

The Earth Veins roared and howled, and even the stone tablet could not find a trace of an ant within.

But the stone tablet was not in a hurry, knowing that the other party would inevitably reappear. Therefore, he just stayed in place and waited.

"Interesting. It seems that the person behind this knows a bit about me."

Without any annoyance at being toyed with, a faint smile appeared on the stone tablet's face.

In this way, little by little, the stone tablet was drawn to a quiet mountain Daoist temple.

Oushang Tian no longer fled but stood respectfully behind a majestic figure.

The stone tablet's gaze shifted from Oushang Tian to this figure.

After observing for a moment, the smile on the stone tablet's lips finally disappeared.

It was replaced by a look of confusion and seriousness.

The person in front of him gave him a sense of familiarity, mixed with a hint of danger.

"I can't sense the aura of the Unity of Body and Dao. Not a Longevity Realm? Or perhaps, like me, an ancient method Longevity Seeker?" The stone tablet speculated silently.

"Just standing there, aren't you tired? Come in and have a seat." Just a moment after the confrontation between the two sides, Li Ping took the initiative to speak.

With just a sentence, the tense atmosphere was shattered.

It didn't seem like enemies meeting; it was more like old friends who hadn't seen each other for years, exchanging casual greetings.

A strange feeling arose in the stone tablet's heart, but he still lightly said, "Sure."

Following Li Ping, he entered the Daoist temple below.

Passing through the Daoist temple, Li Ping didn't stop but continued to walk to a pond behind the Daoist temple.

"Friend, how long have you carried this stone tablet on your back?" Li Ping asked.

The stone tablet was slightly startled, then didn't conceal anything and replied, "36,942 years."

"36,942 years." Li Ping repeated the number.

"It sounds like a long time. But it's only a bit over thirty thousand years. Compared to the lifespan of Xuanhuang Realm, it's insignificant, not to mention the star seas beyond Xuanhuang Realm." Li Ping sighed.

The stone tablet also echoed, "Yes, 30,000 years, in the blink of an eye. Perhaps it's negligible for the heavens and the earth themselves. But for me, an ordinary person, it's indeed quite a long time."

"An ordinary person..." Oushang Tian couldn't help muttering softly.

Li Ping smiled, "Shang Tian, don't be rude. What this senior said is correct. He is indeed just an ordinary person."

Oushang Tian didn't dare to defy the Holy Emperor and quickly apologized to the stone tablet.

The stone tablet, however, didn't bother with him at all and stared straight at Li Ping, "You... seem to know me quite well?"

Li Ping didn't admit it, "Just empathizing a bit."

"I'm just an ordinary person burdened with a destined mission."

Hearing this, Oushang Tian lowered his head even more, afraid to show any trace of abnormality.

The stone tablet, on the other hand, pondered continuously, scrutinizing Li Ping.

The tall figure was different from the usual sense of cultivators. The auras entwining around him were also extremely mysterious, making the stone tablet not dare to underestimate him.

"Why did the friend lead me here? Could it be just for a simple chat?" In the end, the stone tablet asked, putting an end to the confrontation between the two.

"I came to help the friend find release," Li Ping said in a deep voice.

These straightforward words made Oushang Tian lift his head, excitement flashing in his eyes.

The stone tablet squinted his eyes, becoming alert.

"It seems, friend, you misunderstood me. I genuinely want to help you find release," Li Ping's tone carried a hint of disappointment.

The faceless Holy Emperor pointed around, "Could it be that the friend hasn't noticed anything unusual here?"

Hearing this, the stone tablet's attention shifted from the faceless Holy Emperor to the surroundings.

Surveying the surroundings, his gaze finally fell on the calm little pond.

Although the pond seemed ordinary, instinct told the stone tablet that there should be some secrets hidden here.

The stone tablet walked slowly to the edge of the pond, and the clear water reflected the appearance of the scholar, making him slightly stunned. He shook his head, and in an instant, his appearance changed.

"I am a bit curious about what you originally looked like," the faceless Holy Emperor Li Ping said from behind him.

"Hehe, I can't remember it myself," the stone tablet chuckled self-deprecatingly.

Then he seriously observed the pond.

The water wasn't deep, and a single glance could take it all in.

"Hmm?" After observing for a long time, the stone tablet couldn't find the mystery of the pond, feeling a bit skeptical about his judgment.

He turned to look at Li Ping.

Li Ping didn't explain for him but asked, "Before the great calamity of the Xuanhuang Realm, there were many immortal treasures in existence. Now, after tens of thousands of years, these treasures have long disappeared. The existence of immortal tools has become a legend, and even cultivators rarely mention them casually in conversations. Does the friend know the whereabouts of these immortal treasures?"

The stone tablet's expression remained unchanged. "Immortal tools? I have never cared about them..."

As he spoke, he seemed to realize something and suddenly looked back at the fishing pond.

After a moment of contemplation, his appearance changed once again.

A fisherman old man, wearing a raincoat and carrying a fish basket, suddenly appeared in front of Li Ping.

With a flash of green light in his hand, the stone tablet in the form of a fisherman threw out the fishing rod.

The next moment, his body suddenly froze.

Without reeling in the line, the stone tablet stood still in place, as if frozen in ice.

After a long time, he took a step back, breaking free from the illusion in front of him.

"What was that?" The stone tablet stared directly at Li Ping.

"What was what?" the Holy Emperor asked knowingly.

"The fishing pond? The starry sky?" the stone tablet continued to press.

Li Ping shook his head slightly. "That's the bait."

"Bait?" The stone tablet inexplicably froze.

"The one who fishes can also be fished," Li Ping said in a cold tone.

"Even if the friend sees treasures from the entire starry sky, you remain unmoved. But if it involves the path to your liberation, can you still remain so calm?" Li Ping's tone was profound.

Having survived for too long in the Xuanhuang Realm, the stone tablet had seen too much.

Therefore, after hearing Li Ping's words and contemplating for a moment, he quickly understood his meaning.

"The path of immortality is cut off, and the starry sea outside the Xuanhuang Realm should have been a ruin long ago. Unless..." Enlightenment flashed in the stone tablet's eyes.

"How about it, do you also want to go out and take a look?" Li Ping asked.

The stone tablet denied, "The affairs of the world are mostly the same. Even if it's another world, what difference can it make? I just want to remove the heavy stone on my back and get a good night's sleep."

His topic returned to the fishing pond again, "I don't know when this thing came to the Xuanhuang Realm. But I can be sure it was after the great calamity."

"More accurately, it was after the re-emergence of the Dao, and the creation of the Wanxian Alliance."

The Holy Emperor explained more clearly, "In other words, this fishing pond is very likely a fragment from other cultivation realms, implanted into the Xuanhuang Realm together."

"It should be like this... However, treasures of the immortal path have transcended our understanding. I can't guarantee anything," the stone tablet said with caution.

"The way to liberate you, isn't it to make me bite this bait?" The stone tablet looked at the Holy Emperor with a strange expression.

Li Ping said calmly, "Exactly. Friend, aren't you in great pain? You are merged with the Primordial Stone Tablet. Under the heavens, I believe that only an immortal treasure surpassing the limits of the cultivation world's power can separate you from the tablet."

"As for the fate after being lured by the power behind the fishing pond, that's something I can't guarantee."

The stone tablet wanted to say, "I have no grievances or enmities with you, why harm me?" However, the words stopped at his lips.

Clearly, this faceless venerable had no malicious intent. Otherwise, he wouldn't have laid out the entire plan directly.

On the contrary, the stone tablet found this person quite honest.

Moreover, there was a certain familiar aura from the other party that made him feel inexplicably reassured.

"I'm just tired of living and want to get rid of this burden. It's not that I don't want to live," the stone tablet politely declined the Holy Emperor's good intentions.

"If the friend is only troubled by the constant appearance of information from the Primordial Stone Tablet, then things are much easier," Li Ping said when he saw there was no other way.

"Oh?" The stone tablet's eyes showed obvious skepticism.

"Do you recognize this?" Li Ping stretched out his hand, and a dazzling blue crystal floated quietly in his palm.

"The Dao Transformation Stone, I am familiar with it. Are you trying..." The stone tablet shook his head.

"I won't hide it from you. In order to alleviate the pain, I have tried various methods. I even attempted the Dao Transformation Secret Art of the Taiyan Sect. However, the Primordial Stone Tablet is the incarnation of the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao's authority. The Heavenly Dao is high above, disregarding all things. After merging with me, it couldn't tolerate anything else..."

"That was in the past. Things are different now," Li Ping directly interrupted the stone tablet's words.

The stone tablet was slightly stunned.

"Moreover, I can help you."

As this statement was made, the aura on the faceless Holy Emperor changed.

Above the Daoist temple, clouds gathered. A unique rhythm appeared out of thin air, resonating with the Holy Emperor.

The feeling of familiarity and closeness in the stone tablet's heart became even more apparent.

"You are?!"

Despite living for tens of thousands of years, he couldn't help but exclaim.

"Xuanhuang Grand Celestial?!"

But soon he self-denied, "No, this is impossible. And..."

The stone tablet raised his head, gazing at the sky. His expression shifted from astonishment to solemn.

The authority held by the Xuanhuang Grand Celestial, independent yet over the Primordial Stone Tablet, was something he could still record, but only in vague terms. Just a few strokes, the most vague outline.

But now, sensing the aura on the faceless Holy Emperor, it was obviously different from the recorded Xuanhuang Grand Celestial.

"Xuanhuang Grand Celestial, wielding the authority of the Heavenly Dao. Although it has a thousand threads of connection with the Heavenly Dao, it is more like an independent entity. However, with a certain blessing, it can manipulate the laws of the Heavenly Dao as if it were a command. And the person in front of me..."

An idea inexplicably arose in the stone tablet's mind.

"An incarnation of the Heavenly Dao?"

Although it seemed incredible, it was the most reasonable explanation.

Li Ping also seemed to feel what the stone tablet was thinking, no longer highlighting his connection with the Heavenly Dao.

He didn't explain directly.

Instead, the topic returned to what was discussed earlier, "With the Dao Transformation Stone helping you share and sort out what is happening in the Xuanhuang Realm, it should make things easier for you."

"But relying solely on the Dao Transformation Stone is not enough."

The stone tablet's gaze slightly condensed, waiting for the next words from the other side.

"The Eclipsing Calamity Sect, I believe the friend is not unfamiliar with it," Li Ping asked.

Upon hearing these three words, the stone tablet's expression turned slightly unfriendly.

"The Observing Eye of the Eclipsing Calamity Sect is similar to the Primordial Stone Tablet. With the assistance of the Endless Paper People and the Eclipsing Calamity Scripture, it can also record everything it observes."

"The Eclipsing Calamity Scripture, along with the Dao Transformation Stone, should barely counteract the side effects of the Primordial Stone Tablet. The rest should be manageable with the resilient willpower cultivated by the friend over tens of thousands of years," the faceless Holy Emperor slowly spoke.

The stone tablet fell silent, contemplating the feasibility of the other's proposal.

"First, the quality of the Dao Transformation Stone in the friend's hands is a bit lacking..." after a moment, the stone tablet spoke.

"No problem, I can find a better one," the Holy Emperor said straightforwardly.

The stone tablet paused and continued, "Second, the Eclipsing Calamity Sect offended the Transmission Law back then, and the entire sect was sealed, disappearing from the world. Because of their cultivation technique, the Eternal Calamity, they can even interfere with the perception of heaven and earth. Coupled with the involvement of the Transmission Law, so..."

"I know where they are hiding," the Holy Emperor said plainly.

The stone tablet was astonished.

"It seems that this person is even stronger than I imagined."

Since the other party had spoken to this extent, the stone tablet naturally wouldn't hesitate anymore.

"Please lend me your assistance," he sincerely said.

Li Ping was waiting for this sentence.

"Follow me."

With a flickering figure, they had already appeared in the sky.

The stone tablet kept up in one step.

Leaving behind a perplexed Oushang Tian.

He had not heard the conversation between the Holy Emperor and the stone tablet since Li Ping pointed to the fishing pond. They had lost their sense of these two powerful beings until now, when they left one after the other.

"Didn't the Sect Master want to deal with that stone tablet? Why didn't they fight?"

"Could it be that, like the Ancient Tree of Geomancy, they also joined our Holy Dynasty?"

Oushang Tian suddenly had a bad premonition.

At this moment, Li Ping and the stone tablet had already arrived outside the Eclipsing Calamity Sect, at the seal placed by the Transmission Law.

Watching Li Ping skillfully dissolve the seal left by the Transmission Law, the stone tablet's doubts increased.

"This is the seal left by the Transmission Law. Even if it's the incarnation of the Heavenly Dao, it shouldn't be so easy to unravel, right?"

"Or is it that after so many years, the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao has already recovered to the point where it can contend with the Transmission Law?"

Li Ping paid no attention to what the stone tablet was thinking, leading him all the way into the Eclipsing Calamity Sect.

Up the mountain, down the mountain, countless repeated courtyards...

All changed rapidly in front of him, and finally, the grand hall of the Eclipsing Calamity Sect appeared before the two.

"Go inside."

The stone tablet followed in, confirming that this was indeed the former location of the Eclipsing Calamity Sect.

He could feel that within this dark hall, numerous paper people, seemingly alive yet dead, were hidden.

"They are one of the Ten Sects of the Xuanhuang Realm, enjoying the cultivation resources generated by the Xuanhuang Realm. However, when calamity struck, they chose to hide and escape. Truly, they are like parasites in the Xuanhuang Realm, just like those so-called Observing Eyes," Li Ping's words were ice-cold, mercilessly criticizing.

The stone tablet squinted his eyes, neither agreeing nor opposing.

"Eternal Calamity, using the calamities of the world for cultivation. This is inherently a technique that brings calamity to heaven and earth. If the world thrives without calamities, these people would probably create disturbances to generate calamities. Such a sect should have been extinct long ago," Li Ping continued.

Seemingly in response to the Holy Emperor's words, a chilling wind swept through the sinister hall without any reason.

"Thinking that they can escape everything by turning into paper people..."

A golden chain appeared from the Holy Emperor's body.

Silently, it shot into the dark depths of the hall.

As if mist were stirred, the darkness in the Eclipsing Calamity Sect's hall undulated like ripples.

The stone tablet observed the golden chain, a hint of astonishment flashing in his eyes.

Then, a golden vortex shadow emerged within Li Ping's body.

Countless chains shot out following the direction of the vortex, whistling through the air.

Bang, bang...

Flying into the darkness, it sounded like something was colliding, emitting muffled noises.

The momentum from the Holy Emperor's body was too strong, causing even the stone tablet to temporarily step back.

The stone tablet couldn't help but marvel inwardly, "This person's strength is much stronger than the usual meaning of 'Eternal Realm.'"

"And... It seems like it's not just the power of the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao."

Creaking sounds echoed in the hall.

As the golden vortex nebula reversed within the Holy Emperor's body, the golden chains retracted.

In the darkness, it seemed like something was bound by the chains, forcibly pulled out.

If an ordinary cultivator witnessed this scene, they would surely feel a spine-chilling sensation.

However, the stone tablet was unusually excited.

When a paper person with a somewhat frightened face emerged from the darkness, the corners of the stone tablet's eyebrows couldn't help but lift.

These guys!

The paper person struggled, attempting to resist.

The chains' ends erupted in a dazzling light, causing the paper person to instantly slump as if struck by lightning.

With a mix of fear and listlessness, the empty paper face surprisingly displayed several different expressions, which was quite peculiar.

Li Ping reached out and firmly grabbed the paper person in his palm.

By the Holy Emperor's side, thousands of golden chains continued to dance, pulling more and more paper people out of the darkness.

The hall began to shake unstably, and even the entire Eclipsing Calamity Mountain seemed somewhat precarious.

"Hmph!"

Li Ping stomped his foot, and a golden halo spread out from under him.

The space, which was about to shatter, seemed to be frozen, solidified and motionless.

Li Ping lowered his head, the faceless locking onto the paper person in his hand.

With a slight force, a scream suddenly erupted from the paper person in his hand.

"Fellow Daoist, be gentle, be gentle..."

"No grudges, no enmity, why resort to such cruelty!"

The paper person no longer played dead but hastily spoke.

"Fellow Daoist? You think you qualify?!" Li Ping's tone was full of disdain, applying a bit more force in his hand.

Simultaneously, the myriad golden chains around him also emitted a brilliant light.

In the hall, the painful voices of the paper people immediately echoed incessantly.

"Great venerable one, spare us, spare us!"

The situation prevailed, and the paper people finally stopped being defiant, pleading for mercy one after another.

However, Li Ping did not stop immediately.

The vortex nebula kept rotating, retracting the chains.

He gathered all the paper people of the Eclipsing Calamity Sect together before ceasing the torment.

"This is the renowned ancient Eclipsing Calamity Sect?"

Li Ping looked at the piled-up paper people before him and said in a deep voice.

"Not worthy of being renowned, not worthy..."

"It's just for survival."

Amidst the wailing of the paper people, a unique voice stood out.

The golden chains of the Holy Emperor moved slightly, pulling one of the paper people in front of Li Ping.

Different from the others, this paper person showed little fear on its face. Instead, it seemed somewhat listless and powerless.

With thick, upturned eyebrows, it looked rather amusing.

"Seeking survival?"

"If the foundation is destroyed, where can you survive in the Xuanhuang Realm?" the Holy Emperor said coldly.

The paper person with thick eyebrows chuckled, "Our Eclipsing Calamity Sect is not powerful. If the Xuanhuang Realm is truly destroyed, we can't do anything about it. We can only accept it."

"Are you suggesting that the venerable one would blame the ordinary people in this world for not stepping forward to save the Xuanhuang Realm? What capabilities do you have, what great deeds can you achieve..."

Li Ping did not argue with the Eclipsing Calamity Sect's paper person. The golden chains tightened again slightly. "Sharp-tongued, unrepentant to the end."

The golden light gradually condensed, changing from chain-like thickness to thread-like fineness, winding around the paper person with thick eyebrows.

Other captured paper people screamed in terror.

However, the paper person with thick eyebrows, sitting straight and seeming solemn, recited, "Time becomes empty, calamities eternal. Hundreds of generations, meld my golden body..."

The golden source power that the Holy Emperor had always been adept at using seemed ineffective for the first time.

Li Ping felt the force imposed on the paper person with thick eyebrows cleverly diverted.

It was even absorbed by the other, becoming part of its foundation.

The golden threads slowly dissolved, and the paper person with thick eyebrows remained motionless. Only the color on the paper person, from the aged white-yellow, gradually turned into a dazzling gold, close to the essence of source power.

Observing from the side, Stone Tablet's expression instantly became somewhat serious. "Fellow Daoist, be careful. This is the Eclipsing Calamity Sect's supreme technique, the Eternal Calamity Scripture. It can turn all worldly calamities into nourishment for its own cultivation."

Li Ping sneered, "Just a timid turtle. You want to use my power to cultivate? I'll grant your wish!"

A dazzling golden radiance, like flames, erupted from the Holy Emperor.

The golden fire blazed, illuminating the entire space of the Eclipsing Calamity Sect in a golden hue.

As if solidified into substance, the golden flames, following the remaining chains, were all infused into the paper person's golden body.

Those affected paper people, not the primary target of the Holy Emperor, emitted agonizing cries as if being scorched by intense fire. It was evident how strong the pressure on the golden body paper person was. It looked distorted, as if it was about to melt.

But the paper person with thick eyebrows remained motionless, with an indifferent expression.

This scene secretly surprised Stone Tablet.

Although it was impossible to identify their original appearances after transforming into paper people, it was rare to see someone still calm and unharmed under the Holy Emperor's formidable power. Even during the peak of the Eclipsing Calamity Sect, it wasn't common.

While speculating on the identity of the paper person with thick eyebrows, Stone Tablet also noticed that the Holy Emperor didn't ease the torment on the Eclipsing Calamity Sect's paper people at this moment.

Stone Tablet speculated about the identity of the paper person with thick eyebrows.

At the same time, the Faceless Holy Emperor did not lessen the torment on the Eclipsing Calamity Sect's paper people.

The golden flames burned more vigorously. Although they didn't completely incinerate the paper people, they gradually coated them with an indelible layer of gold.

Especially the paper person with thick eyebrows, wrapped in flames, became even more prominent in golden light.

"You want to hide from calamity, but I won't allow it!"

"As the Xuanhuang is in danger, you all bear responsibility!"

The Holy Emperor's voice was like thunder, and the essence of source power erupted suddenly.

The radiant light illuminated every corner of the space, causing even Stone Tablet to close his eyes.

When the light receded, the darkness in the Eclipsing Calamity Sect's hall vanished completely. The uncomfortable dark aura was gone.

The paper people, freed from chain constraints, fell to the ground in disarray.

Compared to before, there seemed to be a bit more vitality.

The paper person with thick eyebrows, in the lead, had directly turned into a "Little Golden Man."

The golden figure still had the appearance of listlessness and dejection. He sighed, "The Venerable wasted so much essence of source power on us useless beings. It's really a waste!"

"Too uneconomical!"

Li Ping said in a deep voice, "If everything in the world were decided purely by reason, I'm afraid the Xuanhuang Realm would have perished long ago! Why are you still making noise here!"

Before he finished speaking, a big "X" suddenly appeared on the face of the golden paper man, covering his mouth.

The same happened to the other paper people.

The Eclipsing Calamity Sect's hall, which had been bustling like a market, suddenly fell silent.

"Fellow Daoist Yijue?" At this moment, Stone Tablet looked at the golden paper man and asked tentatively.

The golden paper man couldn't speak, but he blinked at Stone Tablet.

It was unclear whether he was admitting or denying.

The two didn't have time to catch up. The space here, after losing the support of the essence of source power, gradually became unstable.

"Let's leave first."

Li Ping took Stone Tablet, along with a group of paper people who had lost themselves, and flashed outside the Eclipsing Calamity Sect.

The ancient immortal sect suppressed by the transmission array revealed its true appearance.

A book unfolded from the middle.

There were no words in the book, only relief-like mountain ranges and empty architectural scenes.

As the book naturally flipped, the presented scenes changed.

However, they were all silhouettes, appearing both funny and eerie.

Li Ping's giant hand gripped the Eclipsing Calamity Scripture, and the magnificent scenery within it instantly took on a golden hue.

"Seal!"

The Holy Emperor gave a low shout, and the densely packed paper people, including the Little Golden Man with thick eyebrows, all uncontrollably flew into the Eclipsing Calamity Scripture.

Bang!

Li Ping pressed with his right hand and closed the book.

All the anomalies disappeared in an instant.

"We shouldn't stay here for long. Although my method of deciphering the transmission array's prohibition is very clever, I not only deciphered it but also restored the prohibition. However, I cannot guarantee that the abnormalities here won't be discovered by the transmission array."

"Follow me."

Li Ping said in a deep voice, and his figure disappeared in the sealed space.

Stone Tablet followed the Holy Emperor through the Xuanhuang Realm's spatial passage and arrived in an endless void.

With their speed, they flew in the void for quite some time before sensing the aura of the world ahead.

"That is..."

Stone Tablet was slightly stunned.

"The Five Elements Cave of the One-Origin Sect? It's actually here. Doesn't this indicate that the Longevity Realm that manipulated the cave origin back then..."

While Stone Tablet was still contemplating, Baihua had already approached.

After glancing at Stone Tablet for a moment, Baihua transmitted something to Li Ping.

Li Ping nodded slightly.

Then Baihua nodded to Stone Tablet, indicating that everything was fine, and flew back to the Five Elements Cave.

"Here is where I rest and recuperate. What do you think of it compared to the original Xuanhuang Realm?" Li Ping brought Stone Tablet into the large and small world.

With a sweep of his divine sense, the general scenery of the small world appeared in Stone Tablet's mind.

Even though some places were concealed by mysterious forces, he couldn't fully comprehend them. However, just the surface manifestations made Stone Tablet greatly shocked.

Although the name of the Creation Stone Tablet, which recorded everything in the world, was somewhat deceiving now, he still knew everything that happened in the Xuanhuang Realm's region at the beginning.

However, compared to this large and small world...

It seemed like it was hundreds of years behind, in another era.

Many things in it were incomprehensible even to Stone Tablet.

Moreover, he also sensed the familiar aura of old acquaintances here.

Such as the Ancient Pulse Tree and the person from the Beast-Taming Sect.

Following along into the Holy Emperor's seat, Stone Tablet's shocked emotions gradually calmed down.

"I have carried this stone tablet for so many years, thinking that everything under heaven is within my mind. I didn't expect to see and hear what I did today, only to realize that the world has already exceeded my expectations..." Stone Tablet said somewhat lost.

"Fellow Daoist, there is no need to be discouraged. Progressing with each passing day is the right path. If the world stagnated for thousands of years..."

"Wouldn't it make us seem incompetent?" Li Ping smiled slightly.

For a while, Stone Tablet didn't know how to respond and fell silent.

Since coming into contact with this "incarnation of the Heavenly Dao," the impact he had received was too great.

Compared to the scenes he saw now, the Xuanhuang Realm in his mind seemed like a staged play, a false image shown to him!

This made Stone Tablet somewhat bewildered.

"I already knew that the Five Elders, the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals, and even other powerhouses in the Xuanhuang Realm who knew about the existence of this stone tablet behind me would try to avoid the record of the stone tablet. But I never expected that the truth of the world has developed to this extent..."

Li Ping vaguely sensed Stone Tablet's thoughts and said slowly, "The Xuanhuang Realm, the last refuge in the Dark Star Sea. The Xuanhuang main realm, fragments of other worlds, survivors from the star sea—all the powers beyond the high walls gather here. Its complexity is such that not even you, fellow Daoist, let alone the Transmission Array or the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao itself, can have a grasp of it."

"Yeah..." Stone Tablet sighed and nodded.

He also thought of the fishing pond he had seen before. In the Xuanhuang Realm, how many hidden treasures like that still existed?

As an ancient remnant in the Xuanhuang Realm, he now finally experienced a sense of disconnection from the era.

"The world has changed, and the stories are no longer there."

A long time ago, scenes from the beginning of the Xuanhuang Realm appeared in Stone Tablet's mind, making him slightly dazed.

But it was the voice of the Holy Emperor that interrupted him.

"The fusion of various realms has become a certainty. I will have a battle with the Transmission Array. But regardless of who wins or loses, it won't change the fact that the Xuanhuang Realm is undergoing a new birth amidst the ruins."

Li Ping didn't mention helping Stone Tablet resolve the issue of mental overload but suddenly said so.

Stone Tablet's thoughts couldn't help but gather, focusing on Li Ping.

"The key issue lies in the new orthodoxy of the Xuanhuang Realm."

"Do you know the details of the Transmission Array?" Li Ping locked onto Stone Tablet with his divine sense and asked in a deep voice.

Stone Tablet contemplated for a moment and replied, "When the Transmission Array first appeared, our Ten Immortal Sects investigated it. This person is indeed a native cultivator of the Xuanhuang Realm. His life trajectory from childhood to adulthood is clean and recorded."

"The name of the Transmission Array is Xuan Yuan, from scratch. He lived in a rural village since childhood, and due to frequent illnesses during his youth, his parents gave him a small nickname."

"This person lived an ordinary life like an ordinary farmer until the age of fifty-one when he suddenly gained enlightenment and rose to prominence."

"Because of this, in the initial investigation by the Ten Immortal Sects, this person's origin couldn't be found. It's because he truly achieved enlightenment suddenly."

Stone Tablet slowly narrated.

Scenes from the past appeared in the Holy Emperor's seat.

...

"Xuan Yuan Tuo." Li Ping looked at the image of a somewhat foolish youth on the screen, gradually transforming into a silent middle-aged farmer, and then gradually changing into a white-haired old man.

"It is indeed possible for a mortal to gain enlightenment, but it often happens at a young age. The evolution of the Transmission Array is almost like it appeared only when the end was near..."

"It's truly puzzling and doubtful," Li Ping commented.

Stone Tablet nodded, "Back then, the Ten Sects also had such suspicions. However, we used secret techniques, and the verification of the Heavenly Dao confirmed that there was no incident of possession or someone borrowing his identity from the outside."

"But the Transmission Array is indeed mysteriously abnormal. Like a natural-born sage, he managed to resolve the attacks from several Longevity Realm experts of the Ten Sects when they attempted to kill him. Since then, he has completely surpassed our control. Perhaps, if the Ten Sects had launched a full-scale attack back then, the outcome might have been different..." Stone Tablet sighed.

The hall fell suddenly silent.

After a long time, Li Ping suddenly spoke, "Verification by the Heavenly Dao... What if the method used by the other party to steal an identity transcends the Heavenly Dao?"

Stone Tablet was stunned.

At first glance, this statement seemed like an unreasonable provocation. However, upon careful consideration, Stone Tablet realized that because the Ten Sects had been too trusting in their methods, it led to the unwavering conclusion over these thousands of years.

"Now that things have come to this point, what use is it to inquire about the details of the Transmission Array?" This thought surfaced briefly in Stone Tablet's mind after a brief moment of disappointment.

With confusion, he looked again at the Holy Emperor.

The voice of the Holy Emperor echoed thunderously in the hall, "As I mentioned before, the key to the rebirth of the Xuanhuang Realm lies in the word 'orthodoxy.'"

"It's like a brand new body pieced together from severed limbs, and who serves as the brain is crucial."

"Currently, the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao still considers itself the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao. But soon, perhaps, it won't be so definite..."

Li Ping's tone was profound.

Stone Tablet, knowing that the other party was an incarnation of the Heavenly Dao, couldn't aimlessly question him. He looked at the Holy Emperor with puzzlement once again.

"Just as I said before, the crucial point in the rebirth of the Xuanhuang Realm is the word 'orthodoxy.'"

"It's like a brand new body pieced together from severed limbs, and who serves as the brain is crucial."

"Currently, the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao still considers itself the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao. But soon, perhaps, it won't be so definite..."

Li Ping's tone was profound.

Stone Tablet, knowing that the other party was an incarnation of the Heavenly Dao, couldn't aimlessly question him. He looked at the Holy Emperor with puzzlement once again.

"The objects you observe as Stone Tablet can all be viewed from an outsider's perspective, detached from the events. However, as the world merges, memories become as if personally experienced, blending reality with illusion. Over time, it becomes challenging to distinguish between the false and the true, the self and the external."

"Especially..."

Li Ping's gaze turned to the Xuanhuang main realm, millions of miles away.

"Now, the Heavenly Dao is weak, and its resistance is already minimal."

"If one day, remnants of Heavenly Dao consciousness from various realms rush like a collapsing flood..."

"I'm afraid the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao won't be able to withstand it at the first moment and will go crazy, losing itself."

Li Ping's tone carried a hint of self-deprecation.

"After that, if someone guides and erodes with relatively complete Heavenly Dao consciousness, they can change the day and night, altering the orthodoxy of the Xuanhuang Realm. By then, although it will still be called the Xuanhuang Realm, from the inside out, it will no longer be the original Xuanhuang."

Stone Tablet fell into deep thought upon hearing this.

It was clear that the Holy Emperor was referring to the Transmission Array.