Volume 1, Chapter 200 – Spatial Vortex

The region Empress Qingxuan had indicated was extremely far away.

Yet with the cultivation of those present, they could still detect the faint spatial fluctuation that clashed with the laws of the surrounding star sea.

It resembled a nearly imperceptible vortex slowly turning beneath a smooth, mirrorlike surface of water.

“That is the void node I discovered by chance all those years ago.”

Qingxuan’s voice rang clearly in everyone’s ears, her tone certain.

“From my observations, the node’s openings and closures follow a discernible pattern. Once it closes, it takes anywhere from fifty to a hundred years to open again.”

“But even so,”

she continued solemnly, sweeping her gaze over Longteng, the Desolate God, and Venerable Baiyun, who were preparing to enter, as well as Gu Han and the others who had accompanied them here,

“you must exercise the utmost caution during the crossing. The turbulent layer formed here by the convergence of laws from multiple worlds is extraordinarily dangerous.”

“One careless move, and you may be swept into an unknown spatial rift or torn apart by the turbulent void currents.”

“When the time comes, I will use the Red Emperor Heaven-Scorching Lotus to clear the way and open a relatively stable passage.”

“Fellow Daoist Longteng, your Dragon Soul Sword is a quasi-immortal artifact. I need you to use it to stabilize the passage.”

Sovereign Longteng nodded firmly, his expression grave.

“I understand.”

“Fellow Daoist Desolate God, Fellow Daoist Baiyun,”

Empress Qingxuan continued,

“although the passage will be open, the pressure both inside and outside will be tremendous, and it may be battered by the turbulent currents.”

“You two will need to use whatever means you possess to ensure the passage remains stable.”

“Ha! Don’t worry. This is exactly what I’m good at!”

The Desolate God thumped his chest, his eyes brimming with excitement.

Venerable Baiyun also inclined his head. “I will do everything in my power.”

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Finally, Empress Qingxuan looked at Gu Han, Lingshuang, Buddha Lord Wufa, Demon Lord Wutian, and Old Man Tianji.

“When the passage opens, it will trigger energy tides and attract strange creatures that roam the star sea.”

“I must trouble the five of you to keep the area around us relatively safe.”

“Amitabha. This old monk will naturally do his utmost.”

Buddha Lord Wufa pressed his palms together.

Demon Lord Wutian gave a slight nod. His scarlet eyes swept over their surroundings in tacit agreement.

Stroking his beard, Old Man Tianji said,

“This old man will certainly do all he can!”

Gu Han and Lingshuang exchanged a glance before speaking in unison.

“Don’t worry. Leave it to me!”

A trace of relief flashed through Empress Qingxuan’s eyes.

“In that case, you have my thanks.”

Qingxuan gave Gu Han one last, lingering look, then transformed into a streak of light and raced toward the distorted vortex.

Sovereign Longteng followed close behind with the Dragon Soul Sword in hand, Sacred Lord Yaoguang at his side.

The Desolate God and Venerable Baiyun exchanged a glance, each summoned an artifact, and entered the vortex together.

The five figures were like stones cast into water, sending ripples through the distorted starlight before vanishing in the blink of an eye.

Gu Han, Lingshuang, Buddha Lord Wufa, Demon Lord Wutian, and Old Man Tianji immediately spread out.

Taking up positions at the five points of a pentagon, they completely surrounded the node’s entrance.

Each released their aura without restraint, alert for any threat that might appear.

Amid the vast, silent star sea, time seemed to lose all meaning.

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Only the energy tremors of varying intensity coming from the node’s entrance served as a constant reminder of the dangers within.

The first month passed relatively peacefully.

Although the fluctuations at the node’s entrance were violent, they remained within manageable limits.

The group’s divine senses swept through every inch of the surrounding void like the most precise radar.

Occasionally, a few void beasts were drawn by the energy tides, but before they could draw near,

they were effortlessly shredded by Empress Lingshuang’s sword qi or Demon Lord Wutian’s chilling demonic qi.

Buddha Lord Wufa sat cross-legged in the void, golden light flickering around him as he softly chanted obscure sutras.

Wherever his Buddhist light reached, the spatial rifts created by the energy tremors were slowly smoothed over and sealed.

Old Man Tianji, meanwhile, took out an astrolabe and began making calculations of some unknown nature.

Gu Han stood guard at one point, her moon-white robes shimmering faintly beneath the starlight.

Most of her attention remained fixed on the Profound Heart Bracelet around her wrist.

Faint but continuous pulses came from the bracelet. They were signals from Qingxuan.

Clearly, although the journey through the passage was dangerous, the five of them were working together and, for the moment, making steady progress.

In the second month, the fluctuations at the node’s entrance suddenly intensified!

The entire distorted vortex began expanding and contracting violently!

“Hum!”

A visible energy tide erupted from the node’s center like a ring-shaped tsunami and swept outward in every direction!

“Hold steady!”

Old Man Tianji barked, rapidly forming an intricate hand seal.

Gu Han raised a hand. Chaos qi gathered before her, transforming into a gray barrier without shape or substance that neutralized and absorbed the energy tide.

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An ice wall towered before Lingshuang, Demon Lord Wutian’s baleful energy formed a shield, and Buddha Lord Wufa’s Buddhist light became a protective dome.

Each of the five deployed their own methods, weathering the first major energy tide without yielding.

Yet this seemed to be only the beginning.

In the days that followed, the fluctuations at the node’s entrance became extremely unstable.

At times it lay still as water; at others it raged like thunder.

All manner of bizarre phenomena began to appear.

Sometimes, vast showers of light containing fragments of unfamiliar Dao laws spewed from the entrance, forcing everyone to evade them.

At other times, unknown substances resembling sludge surged out and slowly corroded the surrounding void.

It took all five of them working together to disperse it.

Even more troublesome were the uninvited guests drawn from the depths of the star sea by the energy tides.

Then, one day half a year later,

a swarm of unknown creatures composed entirely of shadow and starlight was drawn to the node.

They moved without a sound and possessed none of the definite shapes living creatures should have, yet they seemed capable of devouring light and every form of energy.

Even the techniques in which everyone took the greatest pride seemed to lose their effectiveness against these unknown creatures. They were extraordinarily difficult to deal with.

The battle lasted nearly half a month before they finally drove the swarm away completely.

Though none of the five were injured in the battle, they had all expended a great deal of energy, and their expressions grew considerably graver.

This was only the beginning. No one knew what else might be drawn here later.

During a lull, Gu Han once again sensed the Profound Heart Bracelet.

Its pulses continued, but they now felt more sluggish and weary than before.

Clearly, Qingxuan and the others were encountering increasing resistance within the passage.

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Another six months passed.

The fluctuations at the node’s entrance entered a relatively stable cycle.

There were no more large-scale energy eruptions, but the oppressive force gathering within it was even more alarming.

Even so, no one dared relax in the slightest. They remained on high alert at all times.

Over the course of this long vigil, the five gradually began to converse with one another.

The relationship between Buddha Lord Wufa and Demon Lord Wutian was particularly intriguing.

One radiated compassion and serenity, while the other seethed with terrifying baleful energy. On the surface, they seemed as incompatible as fire and water.

Yet Gu Han noticed that during several crises,

their Buddhist light and demonic qi had somehow complemented each other in a strange way.

Clearly, the cultivation techniques they practiced shared the same origin. The two had simply chosen different paths.

Old Man Tianji spent most of his time making deductions, though he would occasionally discuss matters concerning the star sea with Gu Han.

Gu Han drew upon what she knew of the universe from her previous life, along with information supplied by the System.

Hearing such ideas for the first time, Old Man Tianji’s eyes repeatedly lit up with wonder, and he lavished her with praise.

“Fellow Daoist Gu, despite your young age, your knowledge is astonishingly broad. The younger generation truly inspires awe. Truly!”

Gu Han felt a little embarrassed by his praise.

Empress Lingshuang, meanwhile, remained as taciturn as ever.

Now and then, she would take exquisite pastries or spirit fruits from her storage artifact and silently place them beside Gu Han.

Gu Han was surprised at first, but one look at Lingshuang’s expression told her that refusal was not an option, so she could only accept them with resigned amusement.

The pastries tasted as wonderful as ever, even more delicately made than before. Lingshuang had clearly practiced making them over and over again.

The two did not exchange many words, but their unspoken care and mutual understanding flowed quietly through the stillness of the star sea.