324: Clear away the fog, the evil in people's hearts

“Three thousand years ago, a dying Demon God, tainted by ominous Qi, entered this world. He found a way to locate the Origin Vein of Heaven and Earth and sought to use its Origin to heal his wounds. During his recovery, the ominous Qi corroded the Origin Vein, polluting it. The Demon God completely lost his mind and merged with the mutated Origin Vein, transforming into the Ancestral Demon Realm, which affected the entire world.”

Chu Jiang frowned.

So it was the Origin Vein of Heaven and Earth that had been corroded, no wonder.

“What exactly is this ominous Qi, that even a Demon God and the Origin Vein of Heaven and Earth couldn’t withstand it?”

Chu Jiang inquired.

A Demon God is the strongest known existence in the Demon Clan. The Origin Vein of Heaven and Earth is the ultimate pure Yang Qi of the world, capable of purifying all evil, yet it still couldn't escape the fate of being corroded.

Within the Tai Xuan Secret Realm, he had encountered demons tainted by ominous Qi, whose Lifespan was significantly longer than ordinary demons.

“Ominous Qi has existed since ancient times. No one knows what it is or where it comes from.”

Qi Dachun’s expression was somewhat solemn. The decline of ancient times was heavily linked to “ominous Qi,” but the truth of the matter was lost to the mists of time, with no one able to provide answers.

“I see…”

Chu Jiang said in a deep voice.

Qi Dachun continued:

“As the source of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, the gradual degradation of the Origin Vein was first discovered by the top Cultivators of this world.”

“And they immediately found the reason: the Origin Vein was being corroded.”

“The abnormal changes in Heaven and Earth affected the top-tier Cultivators the most. Not only could they not Breakthrough to higher Realms, but their Lifespan also accelerated in decay, unless they spent vast sums to seal themselves within a Divine Origin to slow down the decline of their Lifespan.”

“Moreover, during battles among top Cultivators, recovering their magical power became more difficult than ever, only achievable by absorbing Spirit Stones or other high-grade Heaven And Earth Treasures.”

Chu Jiang listened carefully to Qi Dachun’s words. The decline of Spiritual Qi had actually begun three thousand years ago.

It had lasted this long?

He had thought it only started to show signs a thousand years ago.

“So, three thousand years ago, the high-level powers held urgent discussions to devise countermeasures. Not only Great Chu, but also the Barbarian Race, Sun Moon Country, Ten Thousand Great Mountains, and North Sea Islands, all participated.”

“An unprecedented expedition Alliance was formed, with only Rongtian Cultivators eligible for invitation. It gathered the strongest individuals in the world at that time to march on the Ancestral Demon Realm. Unfortunately, it failed, and all the powerful Cultivators perished in the Ancestral Demon Realm!”

“This included Old Ancestor Longyuan, one of the five founding Old Ancestors of Great Chu, and Bai Cao Xian Weng, the foremost figure of the North Sea Islands, both Reaching Heaven Realm mighty experts.”

“All sides experienced a huge power vacuum.”

Chu Jiang’s eyes widened slightly, and he said, “Three thousand years ago, were there still Reaching Heaven Realm mighty experts alive?”

Only three thousand years had passed, and the upper limit had already become the Heaven and Earth Realm.

Qi Dachun replied, “Three thousand years ago, there indeed were, and there was only one person: Old Ancestor Longyuan, one of the five founding Old Ancestors of our Great Chu. Bai Cao Xian Weng of the North Sea was a pleasant surprise; no one expected there to be a Reaching Heaven Realm Cultivator in the North Sea.”

“After all, with the Origin Vein severely damaged, no one could remain unaffected, especially those at higher Realms.”

“Although it ultimately failed, it wasn’t without results. The Ancestral Demon Realm was suppressed by the Big Dipper Seven Star Array, using four Divine Artifacts, significantly slowing down the decline of Spiritual Qi.”

“Originally, within a century, the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi would have dropped to a level only capable of sustaining Great Grandmaster Cultivation. With this, the buffer time was greatly extended.”

Chu Jiang reacted, suddenly understanding, and said, “So, eight hundred years ago, when the Chu Emperor led the high-ranking members of the Demon Suppression Division away, it was to solve the problem of the Heaven and Earth upper limit, a second expedition to the Ancestral Demon Realm?”

No wonder Qi Dachun said his two questions were actually one; they were fundamentally caused by the same event.

Qi Dachun shook his head and said, “Not the second time, but the third time.”

“The second time was two thousand years ago. Due to the influence of the Origin Vein, many powerful Cultivators perished prematurely. Some powerful Cultivators whose Lifespan was nearing its end decided to make a desperate gamble. Again, Great Chu took the lead, with Old Ancestor Zhenyang at its head, the North Sea Islands as the main force, and the Barbarian Race, Sun Moon Country, Ten Thousand Great Mountains, etc., as support, to conduct the second expedition, aiming to completely resolve the Origin Vein problem.”

Needless to say, Chu Jiang knew it had failed again, otherwise there wouldn't have been a third expedition by the Chu Emperor.

“After these two expeditions, a large number of powerful Cultivators and influential figures perished. Coupled with the continuous deterioration of the Origin Vein, let alone Transformation Heaven Realm Cultivators, even Rongtian Cultivators became few and far between.”

“Consequently, fifteen hundred years ago, the Heaven and Earth upper limit dropped to the Heaven and Earth Realm.”

“The third time, naturally, was eight hundred years ago, led by the Chu Emperor and assisted by the Demon Suppression Division. Basically, no one responded because, after the failures of the previous two times, the high-level powers of various countries had resigned themselves to fate. The Origin Vein problem was a bottomless pit; each expedition not only consumed enormous resources but also resulted in the loss of many top-tier Cultivators, unable to reverse the fact of the Origin Vein’s decline. After the first two expeditions, it was estimated that the Origin Vein would completely decline in another one or two thousand years. They preferred to accept a slow death rather than send people.”

“Therefore, apart from the North Sea Islands sending a dozen or so people, there were very few responders from other forces.”

“Actually, this time was the closest to success, what a pity!”

A hint of regret flashed in Qi Dachun’s eyes.

“How so?”

Chu Jiang asked again.

“The results of the first two grand expeditions continued for two thousand years. They had already suppressed the Ancestral Demon Realm, purified and dispersed most of the evil, and it was far less dangerous than the first expedition.”

“If the forces of the world could have united this time, there would have been a ninety percent chance of successfully solving the Origin Vein problem.”

“Unfortunately, there are no ‘ifs.’ Moreover, at the crucial final moment, someone betrayed them. Within the expedition team, when the Chu Emperor was severely wounded, he was ambushed, along with several other key figures, leading to a complete collapse. Of the hundreds of Peak Cultivators on the expedition, fewer than ten escaped.”

When Qi Dachun spoke of this, a strong emotional fluctuation appeared for the first time.

A problem that had plagued them for thousands of years was about to be solved, but at the last moment, it was sabotaged, and all efforts were in vain. Who wouldn’t be angry?

“Why did they do that?”

“Isn’t opening the Heaven and Earth upper limit beneficial to everyone?”

Chu Jiang said, finding such an action utterly absurd.

Qi Dachun chuckled, “It’s simple. Some people have become accustomed to the benefits brought by the locked and progressively declining Heaven and Earth upper limit and don’t want to break the balance.”

“Once the upper limit is opened, a large number of powerful Cultivators will emerge. The accumulated foundations and insights of these individuals, who have remained at the Qiankun Tenth Level for hundreds or even thousands of years, are already sufficient. Once it opens, let alone Rongtian, even Transformation Heaven Realm Cultivators might be able to Breakthrough!”

“Even after three expeditions, and eight hundred years of recuperation, there are still quite a few people in Great Chu who could instantly Breakthrough to the Rongtian, or even the Transformation Heaven Realm, once the Heaven and Earth upper limit is opened. They fear that Great Chu would once again stand at the Peak.”

After listening, Chu Jiang was lost in thought for a long time, then sighed softly:

“Never underestimate the evil in human hearts!”

“Something that benefits everyone doesn’t necessarily make everyone happy!”

“Well said!”

Qi Dachun praised. From ancient times, the human heart has been the most unpredictable.

One moment they are your ally, the next they can stab you in the back.

Chu Jiang’s expression subtly changed, and he suddenly looked at Qi Dachun, saying this:

“Then, is the fourth expedition about to begin?”