223: The tragic Cao Yunqing

Xiao Zhuo had heard about the Chaos Sea of Realms from the Taiyi Sect's ancient texts when he was still in the Yuan Realm.

After becoming the Holy Son of the Blood Palace, he delved into numerous secrets concerning this vast expanse.

This boundless Sea of Realms nurtured an immeasurable number of boundary realms, like the sands of the Ganges.

While most of them were desolate and dead Realms, there were also vibrant worlds teeming with life, such as the Blood Demon Realm and the Yuan Realm.

To Xiao Zhuo, the Chaos Sea of Realms bore a striking resemblance to the concept of the Universe in his previous life, with each boundary realm akin to a star, large or small.

However, the profound mystery of this world far surpassed his understanding from his past life.

Perhaps it wasn't that the Universe was different, but that humanity in his previous life was too insignificant to truly fathom its mysteries?

It's possible that the Chaos Sea of Realms *was* the Universe of his past life, and the blue planet that nurtured him was hidden somewhere in a corner of this Sea of Realms.

The Blood Palace's secret records state: Within the Chaos Sea of Realms, Minor Thousand Worlds and Middle Thousand Worlds are as numerous as stars, but true Major Thousand Worlds number only three thousand, a constant and unchanging figure!

Xue Tian's ambition to elevate the Blood Demon Realm to a Great Thousand World was fundamentally predicated on there being a vacancy among these three thousand.

Major Thousand Worlds are not eternally indestructible; some have been annihilated in the long river of history.

Only when a Major Thousand World falls and creates an empty slot can the Blood Demon Realm have a chance at promotion.

By drawing down the will of Chaos and surviving the great tribulation of promotion it brings, the Blood Demon Realm could break free from the shackles of a Middle Thousand World and ascend to a Major Thousand World.

Xue Tian's grand vision and ambition stemmed from the news, countless years ago, that a Major Thousand World had been completely destroyed.

The one who orchestrates the promotion of a Middle Thousand World to a Great Thousand World will undoubtedly receive a blessing from Chaos, and furthermore, gain the full support of that world's Heavenly Dao, ensuring a smooth and rapid advancement on their Dao path.

There are even rumors that the Foundations of many Great Thousand World Dao Ancestors, who awe the Sea of Realms, originated from this blessing of Chaos.

With Xue Tian's pride, how could he be content to lag behind others? Upon learning of a vacant Great Thousand World, he immediately went into seclusion in the Blood Demon Realm, plotting this monumental undertaking.

That distant glimpse in the Myriad Ages Evergreen Realm, where Xue Tian clashed with the world-destroying projection of Evergreen, had made Xiao Zhuo thoroughly understand—Xue Tian's strength far exceeded his imagination; he was by no means comparable to a mere True Immortal!

He had no way of guessing what specific Realm he had reached.

His previous thought that becoming a True Immortal would make him fearless of Xue Tian had long since vanished like smoke.

Become stronger! Only by becoming stronger! Strong enough to contend with, or even surpass, such an existence!

Now, he was adrift in the Chaos Sea of Realms, unsure how long he had been drifting with the remnants of the Myriad Ages Evergreen Realm.

Even the Divine Soul links with his few subordinates had become as thin as threads, making it difficult to discern their location.

Though the Blood Demon Realm was fraught with danger, he had a compelling reason to return—the benefits promised by the Tree God were something he was determined to obtain!

As his thoughts raced, his gaze unconsciously swept over the back of his hand.

“That’s right! Hong Ning!” A gleam flashed in Xiao Zhuo's eyes, and his Divine Sense instantly surged into the hidden silver-white petal mark on the back of his hand.

Hong Ning was mysterious and unfathomable, very likely an existence above a True Immortal.

Currently trapped in the Sea of Realms with no way back and no other recourse, perhaps he could leverage her power to return to the Blood Demon Realm!

However, before returning, there was one hidden danger that absolutely had to be resolved!

“Number One!”

“Present, host!”

“With my current cultivation, can I hide the aura of the origin divine weapon from an existence like Xue Tian?”

“host, the origin divine weapon is extraordinarily mystical; once it acknowledges a master, its aura and Divine Soul merge seamlessly with the master, allowing it to change form at will. A divine object conceals itself; as long as you change its form with a thought, outsiders will never be able to fathom its true depth!”

Upon receiving Number One's affirmative reply, a huge weight lifted from Xiao Zhuo's heart.

He knew how dangerous this object in his hand was, the very fuse that had triggered the destruction of the Myriad Ages Evergreen Realm.

If he returned to the Blood Demon Realm and Xue Tian detected it, the consequences would be unimaginable.

With a slight thought, the origin divine weapon instantly transformed into a dark black long saber resembling heavenly cleaver, then vanished into his body, its aura completely withdrawn.

Just then, a faint red light flickered in the dead silence nearby, instantly seizing his attention.

Xiao Zhuo lightly tapped his toe in the Void Realm, his figure like lightning, rapidly darting towards the source of the red light.

With his cultivation at this level, even in this energy-depleted, gravity-less Chaos Sea of Realms, he moved as if on flat ground.

Soon, a three-zhang-long bronze coffin, covered in mottled scars, appeared in his sight.

Xiao Zhuo's eyes narrowed slightly, and he tentatively extended his Divine Sense towards the bronze coffin.

Buzz!

As soon as his Divine Sense touched the coffin, it was repelled by an invisible force, unable to penetrate even a fraction.

“Interesting.” Xiao Zhuo's lips curved into a smile of genuine interest, and he slowly floated closer.

Just as he hovered beside the bronze coffin, an extremely weary voice, tinged with helplessness and a hint of deep-seated fear, faintly emerged from within the coffin:

“Senior Brother Xue Hai… please… save me!”

This voice… The playful look in Xiao Zhuo's eyes intensified.

“Oh? So it’s Senior Brother Cao.” Xiao Zhuo’s voice was calm and unruffled, betraying no emotion, “Senior Brother truly has profound blessings, to be able to escape from such a desperate situation and even encounter Junior Brother in this vast Sea of Realms. This is truly… no shallow fate ( Fate).”

Silence fell within the coffin for a moment, then Cao Yunqing’s voice, imbued with undeniable weakness and urgency, came through: “Senior Brother Xue Hai! In the past… I have never offended you! Although this Profound Yin Soul Suppressing Coffin protects me for now, it also isolates me from external energy… The Origin within the coffin… is about to be exhausted! If I cannot escape soon, my Divine Soul will be utterly destroyed! For the sake of our sect fellowship… save me… Cao Yunqing… will surely repay you handsomely!”

“Handsomely?” Xiao Zhuo chuckled softly, his fingertip quietly gathering a wisp of dark gold-red magical power, then lightly and casually touched the cold surface of the coffin.

Buzz—!

The blood-colored Restriction runes on the coffin's surface suddenly lit up, flickering intensely in resistance!

However, though Xiao Zhuo's magical power was not at its peak, it was still genuine Quasi-Immortal power! With a flick of his finger!

Crack!

With a crisp sound, a Restriction on the already heavily scarred edge of the coffin lid shattered!

“Senior Brother, do you think,” Xiao Zhuo’s tone suddenly turned cold, yet his movements were like thunder, “that in your current state, there is anything… that this Lord would consider a handsome reward?”

Before his words finished, a palm, imbued with immense power, slammed heavily onto the edge of the coffin lid!

Boom!

The heavy bronze coffin lid was violently flung open, spinning away into the boundless darkness!

The scene within the coffin was revealed in its entirety.

Cao Yunqing was curled up inside, his once opulent blood-red robes torn and tattered, his face as pale as gold leaf, his aura as faint as a candle in the wind, a hundred times more miserable than Xiao Zhuo had been when severely injured earlier!

His magical power was depleted, his Divine Soul fragmented; clearly, he had exhausted all his reserves within the coffin just to cling to life, no wonder he couldn't even open the coffin to save himself.

Seeing Xiao Zhuo, a flicker of wild joy at surviving a catastrophe first crossed his eyes, immediately replaced by immense humiliation and icy vigilance.

“Tha… thank you, Junior Brother…” Cao Yunqing struggled to rise, but his injuries flared, and he coughed up a few strands of dark red blood.

“Thanks are unnecessary.” Xiao Zhuo looked down from above, his gaze sharp as an ice pick, as if looking at prey to be slaughtered, “Bringing a heavily injured, dying burden into this Chaos Sea of Realms… is not a wise move.”

Cao Yunqing's heart sank, an ominous premonition biting at him like a venomous snake: “What do you mean, Junior Brother? Although I am severely injured, but…”

“But you are of no value to this Lord.” Xiao Zhuo coldly cut him off, “Unless…”

He slowly raised his right hand, and in his palm, an eerie yet exquisite light pink mandala flower bud quietly appeared, emitting terrifying Divine Soul fluctuations that sent chills down one's spine!