The erased truth

"It seems the truth of the disaster was deliberately erased." White Night carefully observed the engravings. "Perhaps the members of the Alliance realized the danger at the last moment and wanted to protect something."

His origin law suddenly sensed a faint energy coming from the ground beneath the stele. The Mechanical Race engineers immediately began excavating and soon discovered a secret chamber underground. Inside the chamber was a crystal similar to the core of the Dual Realm Furnace, and sealed within the crystal was a golden soul — none other than the Star Lord of the Immortal Law Alliance.

"Finally... someone has come..." The Star Lord's soul emitted a faint voice. "I have waited for this day for ten thousand years."

Everyone gathered around, quietly listening to the Star Lord recount the forgotten history. It turned out that the primal essence black qi was accidentally discovered by the Alliance when researching boundary gates. It came from a "Void Universe" older than the Multiverse and the Xuantian Immortal Domain, capable of devouring all energy, yet also containing the potential to create all things.

Some members of the Alliance were tempted by the power of the primal essence black qi, attempting to control it to enhance their strength. This resulted in the black qi spiraling out of control, polluting a large number of cultivators and triggering a civil war. The Star Lord and the Immortal Venerable, in order to prevent the black qi from spreading, had no choice but to close the boundary gate, sacrifice themselves to seal the black qi in the Lost Valley, and use their last strength to erase all related records, leaving only the stele and the clues in the secret chamber, hoping that future generations could find a safe way to utilize the primal essence black qi.

"The black qi... is not a disaster... it's an opportunity..." The Star Lord's soul grew weaker. "It is... the origin of the universe... it needs... balance..."

Before his voice faded, the Star Lord's soul transformed into a golden light, merging into the crystal. The crystal burst forth with dazzling radiance, projecting an image — in the image, the Star Lord and the Immortal Venerable were using a peculiar array to merge the primal essence black qi with spiritual power and law energy, creating a new "origin energy." This energy neither possessed the devouring nature of the black qi nor lost its creative power.

"This is... the Balance Array!" White Night's eyes flashed with surprise. "They succeeded! They found a way to control the primal essence black qi!"

At the end of the image was the complete blueprint of the Balance Array. The core of the blueprint was a vortex structure similar to his law golden core.

The crystal's light gradually dimmed, eventually turning into an ordinary stone.

But everyone's hearts were filled with excitement; they had not only found the truth of the disaster from ten thousand years ago but also obtained the method to control the primal essence black qi!

...Carrying the Balance Array blueprint and the crystal left by the Star Lord, everyone embarked on their journey back to the Black Wind Mountain Range.

The wind and snow in the extreme north were still fierce, but the flame of hope burned in everyone's hearts.

White Night transcribed the blueprint onto a jade slip, repeatedly studying its vortex structure — this structure resonated wonderfully with his law golden core and the Dao marks on Enlightenment Cliff, as if fate itself was guiding the Dual Realm Civilization towards the ultimate path of integration.

"The key to the Balance Array lies in 'dynamic equilibrium'." White Night explained to everyone during the flight. "The devouring nature of the primal essence black qi, the gentle nature of Immortal Dao spiritual power, and the creative nature of the Multiverse laws must interlock precisely like gears. If any one side is too strong, the array will collapse."

The Mechanical Emperor brought up a holographic projection and input the characteristic parameters of the three energies into the system: "According to simulations, we need to use the Dual Realm Furnace as the core of the array, arrange thirty-six Spirit Gathering Towers around it to absorb spiritual power, and then install twelve Law Stabilizers to provide Multiverse energy. This way, a stable energy cycle can be formed."

Liu Ruyan added: "We also need to prepare a large amount of 'neutralizing spiritual materials,' such as heart-clearing grass, calming incense, and chaos spiritual milk. These spiritual materials can act as a buffer during energy conflicts, just like a medicinal primer when refining pills."

The White-Bearded Elder contacted the Law Enforcement Hall to mobilize the sect forces of the Xuantian Immortal Domain: "I will have the various sects dispatch elite disciples to guard the array and simultaneously seal off the Black Wind Mountain Range, prohibiting unauthorized personnel from approaching. The tragedy of ten thousand years ago must never be repeated."

Upon returning to the Dual Realm Research Center, the ground damaged by the primal essence black qi had been repaired by the Mechanical Race, and temporary energy barriers were erected around the deep pit. White Night immediately began arranging the Balance Array according to the blueprint —

The Dual Realm Furnace was reinstalled in the center of the deep pit, its body inscribed with vortex runes copied from the Balance Array; thirty-six Spirit Gathering Towers were arranged in a circle around the furnace, their spires pointing to the sky, capable of drawing in the spiritual energy of the sun, moon, and stars; twelve Law Stabilizers were embedded between the Spirit Gathering Towers, their blue technological light intertwining with the spiritual light halo of the tower spires, forming the first energy cycle.

White Night stood in the center of the array and embedded the crystal left by the Star Lord into the core of the Dual Realm Furnace. The moment the crystal touched the furnace's energy, it suddenly released a faint golden light, projecting the blueprint of the Balance Array into the air, allowing everyone to calibrate the array's details.

"Everyone, take your positions!" White Night's voice carried the spiritual power pressure of the Foundation Establishment Stage. "Mechanical Race, activate the Law Stabilizers to ensure stable Multiverse energy output; Xuantian Immortal Domain cultivators, activate the Spirit Gathering Towers to guide spiritual energy into the array; Fellow Daoist Liu, please lead the alchemist team to prepare neutralizing spiritual materials, ready to respond to energy conflicts at any time!"

"Understood!" The Mechanical Emperor pressed the red button on the control panel, and the twelve Law Stabilizers hummed simultaneously. Pale blue Multiverse law energy flowed into the Balance Array like a stream, outlining clear energy tracks on the ground.

"Rise!" Liu Ruyan and the cultivators from various sects simultaneously formed hand seals. The thirty-six Spirit Gathering Towers burst forth with dazzling green light, and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth poured down through the light pillars formed by their spires, converging with the law energy in the center of the array.

The moment the two energies made contact, the Balance Array suddenly trembled violently. The pale blue and emerald green energy currents repelled each other, forming chaotic energy arcs, and the crystal light in the furnace's core also began to flicker erratically.

"Energy frequencies don't match!" The Mechanical Emperor's voice was anxious. "Immortal Dao spiritual power is 'waveform' energy, while our law energy is 'pulsed.' Their rhythms are completely different!"

White Night's law spiritual lake rapidly circulated, and his law golden core released harmonizing power: "I'll synchronize the frequencies! You all maintain the energy output!"

Pale golden law spiritual power surged from his body, gently enveloping the repelling energy currents like a tender hand. Following the vortex structure of the Balance Array, he guided the law energy to slow its pulse rhythm while simultaneously accelerating the oscillation frequency of the Immortal Dao spiritual power. This process was like harmonizing fire and water; a slight misstep could trigger an energy explosion.

The Wind Howling Silver Wolf guarded the edge of the array, its entire body's silver spiritual power tense. It could feel that the primal essence black qi deep underground was being awakened by the array's energy, and countless black threads were spreading upwards through the soil cracks, attempting to infiltrate the array.

"Ice Wind Roar!" The Silver Wolf let out a howl at the ground. Extreme Cold Spiritual Power and wind-elemental spiritual power merged into a silver storm, freezing the black threads into ice, temporarily blocking the black qi's infiltration.

"Good opportunity!" White Night seized the moment the energy frequencies gradually synchronized and shouted to Liu Ruyan, "Release the neutralizing spiritual materials!"

Liu Ruyan immediately directed the alchemist team to throw the already prepared heart-clearing grass, calming incense, and chaos spiritual milk into the furnace at the center of the array. Green alchemical flames ignited in the furnace, and the spiritual materials transformed into three-colored liquids in the fire — the jade green of heart-clearing grass, the milky white of calming incense, and the earthy yellow of chaos spiritual milk. The three liquids flowed through the furnace's pipes into the Balance Array, merging with the energy currents.

A miracle occurred!

The jade green liquid neutralized the wildness of the energy flow, the milky white liquid stabilized the oscillating rhythm, and the earthy yellow liquid glued the two energies firmly together like adhesive. The originally repelling pale blue and emerald green energy currents began to intertwine, forming a two-colored spiral that slowly rotated within the Balance Array — this spiral's form perfectly matched the law golden core in White Night's dantian and the vortex structure in the Star Lord's image!

"Now! Draw out the primal essence black qi!" White Night's voice was filled with excitement.

The Mechanical Emperor immediately operated the furnace, activating the "black qi guiding device" buried deep underground. The device emitted a powerful suction, and the primal essence black qi deep underground, like a awakened giant dragon, roared into the Balance Array through the pipes.

The moment the black energy entered the spiral, the Balance Array erupted with unprecedented light. Pale blue, emerald green, and ink-black energies rotated at high speed in the vortex, devouring and nourishing each other: the creative nature of law energy dissolved the devouring nature of the black qi, the gentle nature of Immortal Dao spiritual power neutralized the wildness of the black qi, and the origin power of the black qi made the fusion of the two energies even more complete.

"This is... origin energy!" The White-Bearded Elder's voice was filled with shock. He could feel that a new energy form was being born in the center of the array — this energy had the precision of laws, the agility of spiritual power, and the profoundness of black qi, yet without any of the side effects of any single energy.

The moment the origin energy formed, the ground of the Dual Realm Research Center began to vibrate. The soil polluted by the primal essence black qi visibly regained vitality, withered grass and trees sprouted new shoots, and even the air became fresher; taking a breath made one's Dao heart feel clear.

[Balance Array successfully operated for the first time, successfully converting "primal essence black qi" into "origin energy"]

[New energy application unlocked: Origin energy can simultaneously drive technological creations and Immortal Dao artifacts, having a nourishing effect on both cultivators and mechanical bodies]

[White Night's law golden core absorbed origin energy, evolving into an "origin golden core," gaining the ability "Origin Transformation" (can freely convert law, spiritual power, and black qi energies)]

When the Balance Array was running stably, it was already three days and three nights later. When White Night walked out of the array, his steps were somewhat unsteady, but his eyes gleamed with unprecedented brilliance. In his dantian, the originally pale golden law golden core had turned three-colored — the core was an ink-black origin core, the middle layer was an emerald green spiritual power ring, and the outer layer was a pale blue law halo, the three colors harmoniously integrated into one.

"We succeeded... we really succeeded!" Liu Ruyan looked at the origin energy slowly flowing in the center of the array, tears of excitement welling in her eyes. The data recorded by the alchemist team showed that this energy increased cultivators' cultivation speed by three times, boosted the efficiency of the Mechanical Race's starship engines by fifty percent, and could even revitalize withered spiritualpulse.

The Mechanical Emperor, meanwhile, used origin energy to activate a small mechanical puppet. The puppet's movements were smoother than ever, and a faint spiritual glow even emanated from its metal joints, as if it had come to life: "This energy... it's alive! It can give our technological creations 'spirituality'!"

The White-Bearded Elder's gaze turned to the distant sky, where the clouds, influenced by the origin energy, transformed into colorful auspicious clouds: "The endeavor the Immortal Law Alliance failed to complete ten thousand years ago has finally been realized in our hands today. The Star Lord and Immortal Venerable can now rest in peace."

Over the next six months, the Dual Realm Research Center became the most bustling place in the entire Xuantian Immortal Domain and the Multiverse.

Engineers of the Mechanical Race developed "Spiritual Energy Machinery" using origin energy—this machinery possessed both the sturdiness of metal and the agility of spiritual power. The most representative among them was the "Spiritual Energy Flying Sword." The technological runes and immortal dao spiritual patterns on the sword body were perfectly integrated; it could be controlled by cultivators like an ordinary flying sword, but also autonomously lock onto targets, its power far exceeding traditional magic tools.

Cultivators in the Xuantian Immortal Domain, nourished by the origin energy, saw their cultivation advance by leaps and bounds. Many cultivators who had been stuck in the Foundation Establishment Stage for years broke through their bottlenecks, and several elders even touched the threshold of the Golden Core Stage. Liu Ruyan, moreover, utilized the origin energy to refine the "Origin Pill," a medicinal pill that could directly enhance a cultivator's affinity for origin energy, hailed as the "Dual Realm's Number One Pill."

White Night, meanwhile, devoted most of his time to optimizing the Balance Array. He discovered that origin energy could not only be applied to cultivation and technology but also repair damaged spatial structures. Under his guidance, the Mechanical Race and the formation masters of the Xuantian Immortal Domain collaborated to establish a "Dual Realm Teleportation Gate" in the Black Wind Mountain Range using origin energy—this gate could stably connect the Xuantian Immortal Domain and the Multiverse, completely replacing the unstable goldenaisle from before.

On the day the teleportation gate was completed, leaders from various races of the Multiverse personally came to offer congratulations. When the Mechanical Race's starships smoothly sailed into the Xuantian Immortal Domain through the teleportation gate, and when cultivators from the Xuantian Immortal Domain first set foot on the Multiverse's land, the fusion of the two civilizations finally took a substantial step.

However, the peaceful days did not last long.

During a routine inspection of the Balance Array, White Night discovered a subtle black sediment in the core origin energy of the array. These sediments were of the same origin as the primal essence black qi, yet more concealed, as difficult to remove as a bone-deep ulcer.

"What's going on?" He handed the sediment sample to the Mechanical Race's analysis team. "The Balance Array is clearly stably transforming the black qi, so why is there sediment?"

The analysis results made everyone's hearts sink: these black sediments did not come from external primal essence black qi, but were produced by the origin energy's "self-contamination" during its circulation—just like clear water flowing in a pipe for too long will always pick up grime from the pipe walls.

"There's 'entropy increase' in the energy cycle!" The Mechanical Emperor's expression was grave. "According to the laws of thermodynamics, the energy of any closed system will gradually become disordered, and origin energy is no exception. If a method to remove the sediment cannot be found, the Balance Array will eventually be contaminated, leading to another loss of control of the primal essence black qi!"

This discovery was like a bolt from the blue, instantly extinguishing the joy of the dual realm's fusion. Everyone fell silent once more, and the shadow of the Immortal Law Alliance from ten thousand years ago seemed to once again shroud the Black Wind Mountain Range.

White Night stood before the Balance Array, gazing at the black sediment in its core. His origin golden core subtly vibrated, seemingly resonating with the sediment. Suddenly, he recalled the Star Lord's dying words: "Black qi... is the origin of the universe... needs... balance..."

"Balance... is not just the balance of energy, but the balance of 'circulation'!" A flash of inspiration crossed White Night's eyes. "We've only achieved 'transformation,' but not 'metabolism'! While origin energy creates, there must be a channel for 'excretion,' otherwise it will inevitably self-contaminate!"

Liu Ruyan immediately understood his meaning: "You mean, we need to establish an 'origin energy metabolic system,' just like the human body's metabolism, to expel waste produced during the energy cycle?"

"Exactly!" White Night nodded. "And the channel for excretion is the 'boundary gate' developed by the Immortal Law Alliance ten thousand years ago!"

He looked at the White-Bearded Elder: "Are there any records about the location of the boundary gate in the ancient texts of the Law Enforcement Hall?"

The White-Bearded Elder flipped through ancient texts and finally found a torn map in a hidden layer of a flyleaf: "There's a mark here! The boundary gate is hidden at the bottom of the 'Endless Sea' in the Xuantian Immortal Domain, said to lead to the outer domain civilization where the Star Lord resides!"

"Endless Sea..." Liu Ruyan's expression was somewhat complex. "That sea area is known as the 'Cultivator's Forbidden Zone.' The 'Soul Devouring Jellyfish' in the sea can devour cultivators' spiritual power. From ancient times until now, no cultivator has ever passed through the Endless Sea alive."

"Now they have." White Night's gaze became resolute. "We have origin energy, dual realm technology, and each other's trust. The path the Immortal Law Alliance couldn't complete ten thousand years ago, we must walk it to the end."

The Multiverse delegation and the cultivators of the Xuantian Immortal Domain once again reached a consensus. The Mechanical Race began constructing "deep sea spiritual energy warships" capable of resisting Soul Devouring Jellyfish, with their hulls covered by origin energy-driven defensive shields; the sects of the Xuantian Immortal Domain contributed sea charts and information on demonic beasts of the Endless Sea; White Night, meanwhile, began researching how to activate the boundary gate with origin energy, while also designing the blueprint for the energy metabolic system.

On the eve of departure, White Night stood alone before the Dual Realm Teleportation Gate. On the other side of the gate was the familiar starry sky of the Multiverse; on this side, the myriad lights of the Xuantian Immortal Domain. Two distinctly different civilizations, closely connected by his arrival, this responsibility and mission made his Dao Heart even more steadfast.

The Wind Howling Silver Wolf walked to his side, its wolf eyes reflecting the direction of the Endless Sea. After half a year of cultivation, the Silver Wolf had broken through the Foundation Establishment Stage, and the silver spiritual power covering its body could resonate with the origin energy, becoming a "living stabilizer" for the Balance Array.

"Are you ready?" White Night stroked the Silver Wolf's mane.

The Silver Wolf let out a low growl, rubbing its head against his palm—an affirmative answer.

The Balance Array in the distance was still slowly operating, the flowing light of origin energy like the pulsating heartbeat of the Dual Realm Civilization. White Night knew that the journey to the Endless Sea was bound to be full of perils, but as long as they adhered to the belief of "balance" and "fusion," they would surely find a way to resolve the entropy increase, allowing the civilizations of both universes, nourished by origin energy, to jointly move towards a broader future.

As night deepened, the lights of the Black Wind Mountain Range shimmered with the starlight of the night sky. White Night's immortal dao legend, amidst the glow of the Balance Array and the anticipation of the Dual Realm Civilization, was embarking on a new voyage towards the Endless Sea.

Chapter 152: Voyage to the Endless Sea, Soul Devouring Jellyfish and boundary gate Remnants

Three months later, a massive ship docked at the Black Wind Mountain Range's port. This "deep sea spiritual energy warship" was a hundred meters long, its hull crafted from a mixture of star steel alloy and the Xuantian Immortal Domain's "submerged wood," possessing both the sturdiness of the Mechanical Race and the water-avoiding spirituality of submerged wood. The origin energy defensive shield covering the hull emitted a faint three-colored halo, capable of simultaneously resisting physical attacks and spiritual power erosion.

White Night stood before the command console on the bridge, looking at the Endless Sea chart on the screen. The chart was marked with dense red dots, each representing a cluster of Soul Devouring Jellyfish. The largest red dot was at the center of the chart, a "Jellyfish Nest," rumored to be home to a "Jellyfish King" with Golden Core Stage strength.

"All personnel, attention, we set sail in five minutes." White Night's voice echoed throughout the ship via the internal broadcast. "Mechanical team, monitor the defensive shield's energy; cultivator team, prepare to respond to sudden demonic beast attacks; alchemist team, be ready to handle spiritual power damage at any time."

"Understood!" The three hundred crew members on board responded in unison. These three hundred were a microcosm of the dual realm's elite—one hundred Mechanical Race engineers, responsible for the ship's operation and maintenance; one hundred Xuantian Immortal Domain cultivators, Foundation Establishment Stage experts from various sects; and one hundred alchemists and soul masters, responsible for healing and mental protection.

Liu Ruyan stood beside White Night, holding a jade box: "These are 'Water-Avoiding Beads' refined with origin energy, ensuring the ship is unaffected by water pressure in the deep sea. Additionally, I've prepared 'Soul-Cleansing Pills,' which can temporarily resist the mental attacks of the Soul Devouring Jellyfish."

The Mechanical Emperor, meanwhile, brought up a 3D model of the ship: "We've installed an 'Origin Energy Cannon' at the bow, its power equivalent to a full-force strike from a Golden Core Stage cultivator. The 'Spiritual Energy Thrusters' at the stern can propel the ship to supersonic speeds, allowing for quick escape even if we encounter the Jellyfish King."

The White-Bearded Elder made a final check of the crew's equipment: "The Law Enforcement Hall has set up a rendezvous point at the edge of the Endless Sea. In case of emergency, you can contact us via communication talismans. Remember, you are not just going to find the boundary gate, but to prove the strength of dual realm cooperation."

"Depart!" With White Night's command, the deep sea spiritual energy warship slowly sailed out of the harbor, heading towards the Endless Sea.

The closer they got to the Endless Sea, the denser the moisture in the air became.

When the ship entered the sea area, the seawater suddenly turned an eerie dark green, and countless transparent jellyfish corpses floated on the surface—these were Soul Devouring Jellyfish that had tried to leave the Endless Sea, ultimately dying from their own toxins!

"Activate defensive shield!" White Night ordered.

A faint three-colored halo lit up outside the hull, creating ripples as it touched the dark green seawater.

"Detecting high-intensity mental fluctuations!" A Mechanical Race monitor suddenly shouted. "A large number of Soul Devouring Jellyfish are approaching underwater, over a thousand of them!"

Outside the bridge's porthole, countless translucent jellyfish rose from the seabed!

The bells of these jellyfish were about three meters in diameter, with tentacles trailing from their edges glowing with blue-purple luminescence. Each tentacle was covered in barbs capable of devouring spiritual power.

"Cultivator team, prepare 'Spiritual Power Barrier'!" Liu Ruyan chanted an incantation, her surrounding green spiritual power merging into the ship's defensive system. "Concentrate, and don't be disturbed by their mental fluctuations!"

The cultivators of the Xuantian Immortal Domain simultaneously released their spiritual power, and the green light overlapped with the three-colored halo of the defensive shield, forming a double layer of protection!

...