Chapter 189: The Sky is Falling
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
Under the night sky, the crimson sun fractured and exploded inch by inch, leaving everyone watching in stunned silence.
Pu Heng, Cao Gan Qiu’s chief disciple, was known for his profound cultivation. Yet, a single punch had shattered him into pieces.
Who could this formidable person be? All eyes turned to the youth riding the golden aberrant bird in astonishment.
Boom!
A cascade of blood-colored lightning intertwined as the crimson sun set, collapsing entirely.
“Ah…” A suppressed roar echoed. The shattered sun began to reform, showcasing the terrifying resilience of Pure Yang Consciousness. Destroying it completely was nearly impossible.
Pure Yang Consciousness, whether from undergoing tribulation or baptism by celestial fire, had gained an initial immortality, making it incredibly difficult to obliterate.
This was why disciples of the Immortal Path were so confident—they became increasingly terrifying as they progressed, advancing rapidly and often surging ahead unchallenged.
“You don’t have your master’s power, but you’ve caught his arrogance,” the youth in coarse linen clothing remarked from atop the golden aberrant bird, exuding a natural and unpretentious air.
Who would dare to critique Pu Heng this way? At least in the Flying Immortal Academy’s domain, apart from Sun Tai Chu, likely no one.
It was undeniable that Cao Gan Qiu and his lineage were universally despised. Even stray dogs would growl at them. To ordinary people, they were utterly loathsome. Yet, they were extraordinarily powerful, leaving others powerless to retaliate.
Over the years, Cao Gan Qiu’s dominance had become legendary. He crushed prodigious talents, defied countless odds, and toppled many revered elder figures, seemingly unstoppable.
His disciples followed his example, idolizing him as their ultimate role model. Their overwhelming strength meant they rarely faced setbacks.
There was only one notable exception: Cao Gan Qiu’s fourth disciple, an arrogant man who underestimated an equally strong and temperamental Overlord. The Overlord mercilessly crushed him. Yet, the other disciples remained impervious to such misfortunes, their tyrannical demeanor undeterred.
Pu Heng, by all accounts, was despised. However, within his generation, he stood out as a formidable talent, leaving others helpless to contest his skill. Among countless paths, he was already in the vanguard, with rumors claiming he had achieved two-tenths of Cao Gan Qiu’s power.
“Who are you?” Pu Heng reappeared, standing within the crimson sun. His expression was grave, his arrogance gone.
“Huh?!” A few astute observers noticed that the sun in the sky had dimmed slightly.
This was alarming.
Pu Heng had sustained injuries. His supposedly indestructible Pure Yang Consciousness had been diminished, losing some of its radiance.
Qin Ming gazed at the figure in the night sky. Could it be his “senior brother,” Lu Zi Zai, from the Six Rulers Sect? Yet, something about him felt different.
“Step aside!” The linen-clad youth dismissed Pu Heng with utter disdain.
Within the crimson sun, Pu Heng’s face darkened. Apart from his teacher, who dared to speak to him like this?
“You’re courting death!” the youth warned sharply.
Another figure, a disciple of the Sky-Supporting Sect, chuckled. “Pu Heng, do you truly think you’re Cao Gan Qiu? You’ve got his attitude but not his cultivation. You’ll meet a bitter end one day.”
No one had expected such a powerful figure to emerge from the New Awakening Path—a youth capable of defeating Pu Heng. Though his name remained unknown, his prowess was undeniable.
Those from the Immortal Path, Secret Sect Path, and Aberrant Path wore complicated expressions. Was this faltering New Awakening Path capable of producing someone strong enough to raise their banner again?
Many newly awakened individuals felt a surge of excitement. Witnessing this moment, even some elderly figures had their eyes well up. They had long believed their path was doomed. With the nearing demise of their few remaining ancestors, they saw little hope.
For years, no one had dared to blaze new trails for them. Their most outstanding disciples had been reduced to serving as bodyguards or external enforcers for others.
Crack!
Lightning flashed across the night sky as Pu Heng unsheathed a phoenix-patterned sword. The overwhelming Pure Yang Aura spread out, dispelling the night fog. This terrifying aberrant weapon shone with immense power.
The most radiant presence at the scene remained Sun Tai Chu, seated atop a golden sun. He raised his hand, stopping Pu Heng from attacking further.
“So, it’s you,” Sun Tai Chu murmured from his position amidst the clouds, his smile serene. The golden sun illuminated the heavens, scattering Pu Heng’s crimson radiance and dimming the golden aberrant bird and its rider.
Although Sun Tai Chu appeared calm, as a member of the Beyond Pure Land Sect, he could not stand by idly while Pu Heng suffered.
“I didn’t expect you to still be alive,” Sun Tai Chu remarked with a faint smile. His golden light flared, casting a grand and dazzling brilliance across the land.
The golden aberrant bird trembled mid-flight, struggling to remain steady.
Moreover, the linen-clad youth on the golden aberrant bird began to change. His black hair turned white, and his body rapidly grew taller, transforming into a radiant golden giant brimming with light.
People could see signs of decay and lifelessness on his body. This was no youth but someone who had endured countless years, likely nearing the end of his lifespan.
“I wish to live another life!” the golden giant declared, surrounded by six radiant clouds of light swirling around him like an ethereal aura.
“Six Rulers Celestial Light!” gasped several individuals from the Immortal Path and the Secret Sect, recognizing the composition of the golden giant’s form.
Qin Ming immediately realized it. This was the giant he had glimpsed before.
During his cultivation of the River Network Sutra at the Six Rulers Sect Ancestor Court, he had “spirit-wandered” in a state between waking and dreaming.
At that time, he had witnessed a conversation between Lu Zi Zai and the Six Rulers Ancestor. Both stood amidst black fog, each accompanied by an immense figure.
Qin Ming speculated that this golden giant might represent the younger self or past cultivation of Lu Zi Zai.
If that was true, then the bloodstained giant he had seen behind the Six Rulers Ancestor must have been deeply problematic.
Sun Tai Chu shook his head with a faint smile. “Your path has reached its limit. The vast Sea of Night Fog looms ahead, insurmountable. Now, though your time wanes, your Celestial Light-Blended Consciousness is equivalent to Pure Yang. Why not join us in the Beyond? Follow the Immortal Path. You may yet prolong your life.”
The Immortal Path disciples, the Secret Sect practitioners, and the high-level aberrants were all shaken. Sun Tai Chu, while appearing gentle, had exposed the truth of the linen-clad youth’s decay with his Pure Yang Consciousness. His methods were unfathomable.
It was unclear if this was genuine advice or an attempt to subjugate a powerful figure from the New Awakening Path, forcing him to switch allegiances.
In every aspect, Sun Tai Chu appeared inscrutable.
The people of the New Awakening Path, who moments ago had been jubilant and fervent, now fell silent. The cold reality crushed their hopes.
“This is not my path, not my method. Do you intend to fight me?” Lu Zi Zai asked calmly.
Sun Tai Chu maintained his smile. “I perceive ancient remnants within your body, a faint connection to life yet remains. Perhaps—”
Before he could finish, a blazing sun suddenly erupted in the distant night sky. It was terrifying, composed of an intense Celestial Light that made even Sun Tai Chu’s Pure Yang Consciousness tremble slightly.
The crowd was horrified. Had a true Ancestor from the New Awakening Path arrived?
Sun Tai Chu chuckled, remaining seated. The golden sun surrounding him expanded, sending out countless golden rays that dispelled the night fog. His light briefly touched the blazing sun in the distance.
Both suns trembled slightly before stabilizing.
To onlookers, Sun Tai Chu resembled a rising morning sun over the sea, radiating vitality and endless golden light. In contrast, the blazing sun in the distance, while still fierce, revealed its decaying essence shrouded in black fog.
That distant Ancestor had little time left and was nearing the end of their life.
The area fell silent, with participants from various paths experiencing vastly different emotions.
Immortal Path disciples struggled to conceal their delight. They saw an unparalleled future ahead as their Beyond Ancestors continued to blaze trails with limitless potential.
For the New Awakening Path, it was like falling into an icy abyss. Their Ancestor was nearing death, and the linen-clad youth, who had stirred their hopes, also seemed to be on the brink of life’s end. He could not be their new standard-bearer.
For them, it felt as though the sky had fallen.
Qin Ming’s heart grew heavy. Sun Tai Chu’s golden light, calm and serene, was as devastating as Cao Gan Qiu’s earth-shattering strikes.
Above, the radiant suns and blazing lights gradually faded, disappearing without a climactic clash.
Soon after, laughter and light-hearted conversations emerged from the Flying Immortal Academy. Younger disciples announced upcoming discussions of their insights, all within the same age group, creating a more relatable atmosphere.
The resurgence of hope reminded them of the brilliance of their path, filling them with joy.
The Secret Sect practitioners remained composed, confident in the immense power of their Ancestors, who had even dared to challenge deities.
The high-level aberrants were equally tranquil. Legends of their kind, akin to quasi-divine beings, ensured the strength of their path.
Yet for the New Awakening Path, despair loomed. Their brightest light was fading, and the weight of an uncertain future pressed heavily upon them.
Even Wu Yao Zu muttered quietly, “Brother, the New Awakening Path really seems to be done for. The Immortal Path is truly impressive. I should study it more carefully.”
Having escaped the Forbidden Land, his goal was to perfect the “Rainbow Transformation” technique by drawing upon the strengths of various paths.
“Next, we invite Cui Chong He!” announced a stunning female disciple of the Flying Immortal Academy, who was hosting the proceedings.
Cui Chong He appeared, surrounded by white mist tinged with a faint celestial glow. Ascending the high platform, he was greeted by a wave of enthusiastic applause.
“Is this the one who achieved enlightenment at three years old? Truly extraordinary, with a strong immortal essence—he looks like a young celestial being descended to earth!”
“He’s a peerless talent of our generation, standing at the very top. Among his peers, few can even withstand a single finger from him.”
Voices of awe and admiration filled the air. Many young people gazed at him on the high platform, their eyes sparkling with envy and longing.
Some female disciples even screamed his name, overcome with excitement.
Cui Chong He maintained an air of ease, smiling throughout the adoration. In this way, he resembled his teacher, Sun Tai Chu.
When he stepped off the platform, chaos nearly ensued as many rushed forward, eager to get close to him and engage in conversation. However, experts from the Flying Immortal Academy quickly intervened.
“There will be time for discussions later,” an elder announced, finally restoring order.
Next to take the stage was Sun Jing Xiao, exuding a heroic and commanding presence. Though he was impressive, he didn’t receive as much acclaim as Cui Chong He.
“It’s him,” Qin Ming remarked with a hint of surprise. He remembered encountering Sun Jing Xiao while aboard the Vermilion Bird Vessel and venturing together to harvest rare spiritual essences from a celestial realm. The memory was not entirely pleasant—he had fallen there and nearly been destroyed.
Finally, a young woman ascended the stage, causing an uproar. With jade-like skin and unparalleled beauty, she carried an air of ethereal grace. Her striking presence captivated the crowd, particularly the young men.
“She’s Li Qing Yue! She once defeated her fellow disciples in an impressive feat of pure skill, earning her position entirely on merit. A Near-Immortal Seed with undeniable potential!” someone explained, eyes filled with admiration.
“Indeed, she has beauty, talent, and a bright future. Truly the ideal celestial maiden!” others agreed, sparking a flurry of excited discussion.
Li Qing Yue, radiant as a celestial flower amidst the mist, ascended the stage. Her mesmerizing voice echoed as she shared her insights, enchanting the audience.
“This girl is outstanding, truly remarkable,” Wu Yao Zu muttered in admiration.
“Watch your words,” Qin Ming cautioned him.
Confused, Wu Yao Zu asked, “What? Brother, I was just being honest. You didn’t mind when I commented on Sun Jing Xiao and Cui Chong He. Why the double standard?”
Qin Ming replied sternly, “Speaking that way shows a lack of respect. What did your grandmother teach you? Mind your manners.”
Wu Yao Zu glanced at the pendant hanging around his neck and mumbled, “Grandmother, is that what you meant?”
In the end, Qin Ming didn’t approach Li Qing Yue. The area around her was swarmed by Immortal Path disciples, making it impossible to get close. As a Near-Immortal Seed, she naturally drew immense attention, becoming the focal point of the gathering.
Qin Ming, a relative unknown, wouldn’t have been able to push through the crowd. Even if he could, he wouldn’t have much to say to her.
“Beauty like flowers beyond the clouds…” Wu Yao Zu recited dramatically.
“What have you been learning lately?” Qin Ming asked, shooting him a sideways glance.
“You told me to read more books, didn’t you?” Wu Yao Zu retorted.
As the two returned to the Mountain and River Academy, they passed through a grove of trees. Overhead, a small golden bird released a piece of paper, which floated down into Qin Ming’s hand.
“Hm?” Qin Ming looked up, catching a glimpse of the bird. It resembled the one often perched on Lu Zi Zai’s shoulder, though it seemed even smaller now.
Sensing someone nearby, the golden bird flitted into the woods and disappeared.
“Was that an illusion? I feel like an unfathomable senior just flashed past,” Qin Ming murmured as a purple-eyed crow swooped down.
Following the crow were two figures. One was a tall woman shrouded in a faint mist, her features hidden beneath a cloak. Beside her stood a young man of extraordinary demeanor.