Volume 1, Chapter 194 – The Abyssal Depths of the Star Sea

Sovereign Longteng fell silent for a moment before speaking, his voice betraying little emotion:

“Fellow Daoist Gu’s devotion to her sect is only to be expected.”

“May I ask when Fellow Daoist Gu intends to travel to the Xuanhuang Continent?”

His question was direct and went straight to the heart of the matter.

If her departure lay somewhere in the indefinite future, how was that any different from not going at all?

Gu Han considered the question for a moment before giving a relatively definite timeframe:

“Ten years at the earliest, a hundred at the latest. I will travel to the Xuanhuang Continent.”

Hearing Gu Han provide a relatively clear timeframe, Sovereign Longteng inclined his head in understanding.

Then he slowly turned toward the gentle, serene figure beside him.

“Ya’er,”

Sovereign Longteng said softly, rare tenderness in his voice,

“what do you think?”

Sacred Lord Yaoguang lifted her eyes to meet his gaze, the faintest yet warmest of smiles touching her lips.

She raised a hand and gently laid her slender fingers over the back of his.

“You’ve already made your decision, haven’t you?”

Her voice was like a clear spring flowing through a mountain ravine, soft and melodious, imbued with a serenity that could soothe any turmoil.

“Whatever choice you make, whether for Canglan Continent’s grand undertaking to mend the heavens or to explore that other world that may exist…”

She paused, sweeping her gaze across everyone in the hall before returning it to Sovereign Longteng. Her smile deepened slightly, her eyes filled with absolute trust as she placed her fate in his hands:

“I’ll go with you.”

“Whether fortune or disaster awaits us, whether we live or die, we’ll walk this road together.”

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She did not say, “I support you,” nor did she weigh the benefits and risks. She simply said, “I’ll go with you.”

That unconditional trust and devotion made Sovereign Longteng’s heart tremble. Turning his hand over, he clasped Yaoguang’s cool fingers in his own.

The last trace of hesitation in his heart quietly vanished, like thin ice melting beneath the spring sun.

When Qingxuan produced the Red Emperor Heaven-Scorching Lotus, when she revealed that people had still ascended from the Xuanhuang Continent ninety thousand years ago, and when it became clear that Yaoguang’s predicament might have a better chance of being resolved in that world…

The scales in his heart had already tipped.

His primary reason for planning to mend the heavens had always been to find Yaoguang a chance of survival.

Now that a new path lay before him, he had no reason not to try it.

Besides…

Sovereign Longteng swept his gaze across everyone in the hall.

The Desolate God had already made it clear that he would go.

Venerable Baiyun had said the same.

Including himself, that made three.

As their guide and source of information, Qingxuan would naturally join them as well.

Back then, Qingxuan had ventured alone into the Xuanhuang Continent, seized an Imperial Armament, and returned safely.

Now that the four of them would be joining forces, could they possibly fare worse than Qingxuan had alone?

The more he thought about it, the more feasible the plan seemed.

“Fellow Daoist Qingxuan.”

Sovereign Longteng released Yaoguang’s hand and slowly rose to his feet. His purple-and-gold dragon robe stirred in the windless hall as the commanding presence of a man whose mind was made up radiated from him.

He fixed Qingxuan with an intense gaze, his voice regaining the composure and authority of a sovereign:

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“Where exactly is that void node?”

The atmosphere in the hall changed abruptly the moment those words left his lips!

His question was nothing less than a declaration of Sovereign Longteng’s final decision.

Everyone’s spirits lifted, their gazes converging on Empress Qingxuan.

The languid smile Empress Qingxuan always wore seemed especially radiant at that moment.

She knew the most crucial piece had fallen into place.

“That node lies deep within the void beyond the heavens, in an extremely secluded place.”

Empress Qingxuan lightly tapped the air with one fingertip. A faint glow of spiritual light spread outward, transforming into a shifting star chart.

The star chart was vast, its stars flickering as they traced profound, mysterious paths unlike any celestial configuration commonly seen from Canglan Continent.

“That place is known as the ‘Abyss at the Edge of the Star Sea.’”

Empress Qingxuan’s voice echoed through the cavernous great hall, tinged with the remoteness of long-buried memories,

“It lies in the far northern reaches of the starry sky beyond Canglan Continent. Reaching it requires crossing a region of turbulent void currents. Ordinary cultivators cannot even reach its outskirts.”

“Back then, I stumbled into it entirely by chance.”

Empress Qingxuan narrowed her eyes slightly, as if recalling the dangers she had faced.

Everyone in the hall listened in silence. Even the Desolate God, the most impatient among them, grew solemn.

Qingxuan’s account was brief, but they could all imagine the dangers it implied.

Empress Qingxuan continued,

“According to my observations and calculations, once someone passes through it, another fifty years must elapse before it can be opened again.”

“Fifty years…”

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Sovereign Longteng repeated softly, a sharp gleam flickering in his eyes,

“We depart in seven days. Any objections?”

His gaze swept over Qingxuan, the Desolate God, and Venerable Baiyun before finally settling on Gu Han and Lingshuang.

“I have no objections.”

Venerable Baiyun closed the book in his hands and smiled with scholarly grace.

“Haha! The sooner, the better!”

The Desolate God thumped his chest and laughed heartily.

The star chart swirled above Empress Qingxuan’s fingertip as she inclined her head.

“I have no objections, naturally. I’ll make copies of the coordinates and route for everyone later.”

Buddha Lord Wufa and Demon Lord Wutian exchanged a glance. At last, Buddha Lord Wufa pressed his palms together:

“Amitabha… This is a matter of great importance concerning both worlds.”

“Though this old monk will not cross over, I am willing to accompany you to the outskirts of the ‘Abyss at the Edge of the Star Sea’ and see it for myself. Perhaps I can make some small contribution by helping my fellow Daoists stabilize the passage.”

Demon Lord Wutian said nothing, but his silence clearly signaled agreement with Buddha Lord Wufa.

They had no intention of taking the risk themselves, but neither did they wish to remain entirely uninvolved.

Old Man Tianji stroked his beard and pondered for a moment before saying slowly:

“I will remain on Canglan Continent and see how events unfold.”

“If my fellow Daoists truly manage to open a safe path, perhaps fate will allow us to meet again someday.”

At last, everyone’s attention returned to Gu Han and Lingshuang.

Gu Han remained composed.

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“Although I cannot travel to the Xuanhuang Continent for the time being, I can accompany everyone to the Abyss at the Edge of the Star Sea in three days.”

“I will help stabilize the entrance to the passage and reduce the risks of crossing it.”

She spoke without hesitation.

Choosing not to cross was one thing, but as an Immortal Ascension expert of this world, both duty and principle demanded that she contribute to this pioneering endeavor.

Besides, she wanted to see the void node with her own eyes.

A flicker of approval crossed Sovereign Longteng’s eyes.

“Thank you, Fellow Daoist Gu.”

He then turned to Lingshuang.

A trace of conflict flashed through Empress Lingshuang’s ice-blue eyes, but it quickly faded into stillness.

She met Sovereign Longteng’s gaze, then glanced at Gu Han nearby. Her voice was as cool as ever:

“I’ll remain for now.”

Two words, clear and decisive.

She offered no explanation, but everyone understood.

If Gu Han was not going, neither would she.

The Empress of the Northern Region’s choice was simple and direct, yet it conveyed her feelings with unmistakable clarity.

At those words, the corner of Empress Qingxuan’s lips curved into the faintest, unreadable smile. Her gaze flitted briefly between Lingshuang and Gu Han, but she said nothing.

Sovereign Longteng gave Lingshuang a long look before nodding.

“In that case, we shall journey to the Abyss at the Edge of the Star Sea together in three days!”