291: Chapter 291 World Version Update

[May, Year 1007 of the Great Yong Dynasty.]

[On this day, the sky, which had been clear for thousands of miles, suddenly darkened without warning.]

[It was a deep darkness that seemed capable of swallowing all light, spreading from the depths of the firmament as an inexplicable sense of oppression enveloped the entire world.]

[In that moment of absolute silence.]

["Rumble!!!"]

[A clap of thunder exploded; the sound seemed to burst simultaneously from the depths of everyone's heart, from every inch of soil beneath their feet, and from every wisp of air in the sky above.]

[Carrying an ancient majesty akin to the creation of the world, it instantly pierced through everyone's eardrums and Soul.]

[Before the thunder subsided, a strange phenomenon suddenly occurred.]

[Ten thousand feet of rosy light, like the Heavenly River pouring downwards or billions of divine flowers blooming in the dark sky, majestically filled the entire field of vision.]

[A waterfall of light poured down, carrying a gentle yet majestic vitality, showering over mountains, rivers, towns, and the countryside.]

[In every corner of heaven and earth, the concentration of Spiritual Qi climbed, condensed, and underwent qualitative change at a terrifying speed.]

[Plants and trees sprouted new buds at a speed visible to the naked eye; withered wood met spring, old trees grew branches, and mountain streams became clearer, with a faint shimmering light flowing within them.]

[The world's recovery had begun!]

[This recovery meant that this world would return to the ancient era, and some ancient forces hidden in history were about to return.]

[The changes continued to ferment amidst the rosy light and spiritual tide.]

[After the initial shock and clamor, a deeper and more fundamental evolution took place.]

[Time seemed to be stretched, yet also accelerated, flowing slowly within a mysterious rhythm.]

[Stronger Martial Artists could vaguely feel a deep and powerful "pulsation" coming from beneath their feet, like the heartbeat of a giant.]

[The soil became denser and heavier, containing vitality and energy far exceeding that of the past.]

[Mountain ranges rose silently, hills became more majestic, and the horizons of the plains widened imperceptibly.]

[The texture of rocks became harder, and in some places, mineral veins shimmering with strange metallic luster or containing spiritual resonance were exposed.]

[The "roots" of the earth seemed to reach deeper downwards, and the connection with the world's Origin became closer.]

[Next was the sky; the firmament became loftier and deeper than before, and the clouds that once seemed within reach were now far away.]

[Even space was reinforced by an invisible power, becoming more solid and stable.]

[The subtle spatial ripples that a martial arts master's full-strength strike might have caused in the past could now hardly shake it at all.]

[The sense of "distance" between heaven and earth was reshaped; ten thousand miles seemed even "further" than before.]

[Deep within certain famous mountains and great rivers, on isolated islands overseas, and even in uninhabited deserts and gobis, space began to undergo violent distortion and folding.]

[Like a stone thrown into a reflection on the water's surface, ripples of transparency spread out. Then, at the center of these ripples, it was as if a curtain had been pulled back, revealing "scenery" that had been hidden for untold ages.]

[These were stretches of land that seemed both connected and disconnected from the main world, possessing an aura that was even more ancient and vast.]

[Some featured floating Immortal Mountains surrounded by mist, where pavilions and towers appeared faintly in the rosy light, and the cries of cranes were clear and resonant.]

[Some were filled with soaring Evil Qi and towering ancient trees, with a primal aura hitting one's face as if giant beasts were lurking within.]

[Others presented a peaceful and serene pastoral scene, yet the Dao Rhyme flowing within was startling.]

[These were the places that, as the spatial structure of the main world strengthened and stabilized, could no longer maintain their independent, hidden state.]

[They began to "surface" from the depths of space, re-bordering and undergoing Fusion with the main world as "Small Worlds," "Grotto-Heavens and Blessed Lands," or "Secret Realms."]

[In an unnoticed wasteland, the once empty sky suddenly revealed phantoms of continuous, majestic palaces—jade towers and marble palaces, with winding corridors—shrouded in endless, profound Dao Rhyme and brilliant starlight.]

[This was exactly the Great Evolution Heavenly Palace you had seen that day; now, the greatest backer of the Protagonist Ye Xiao had also officially emerged.]

[This world-shaking upheaval lasted for a full twenty days and nights.]

[The rosy light gradually withdrew after the tenth day, but the surging spiritual tide and structural reshaping of heaven and earth never ceased.]

[Day and night alternated, but with every sunrise and sunset, the world seemed slightly different from the day before.]

[When the morning sun of the twentieth day pierced through an atmosphere clearer and purer than ever before and shone upon this brand-new land, everything finally began to stabilize.]

[The world at this moment, compared to twenty days ago, was simply night and day, as if an entire lifetime had passed.]

[The most direct change was the abundance of Spiritual Qi; in the current world, the Spiritual Qi in some places had almost turned into a faint mist, lingering among the mountains and forests.]

[Even more astonishing was the "volume" of the world; the total area of the entire world was more than ten times larger than it had been before the upheaval!]

[Many regions that were originally adjacent might now be separated by new hills and forests.]

[And even more vast, completely unfamiliar lands that had never been recorded appeared at the edges or in between known territories, awaiting exploration.]

[Of course, the changes in heaven and earth could only be perceived by Martial Artists of a high Realm.]

[Most ordinary people were clueless, only feeling that their bodies had seemed exceptionally relaxed and comfortable over the past twenty days.]

[The fatigue from previously heavy labor was much reduced, breathing was exceptionally smooth, and their limbs felt stronger.]

[In the streets and alleys, there was much simple joy regarding "auspicious signs from heaven" and "the air getting better."]

[Perhaps only when they could see those additional places would they understand that the world had undergone a massive change.]

[However, according to your observations, those additional places were mostly uninhabited, so it might take some time for ordinary people to perceive the changes in heaven and earth.]

["To be honest, whether in my past life or this one, ordinary people are almost always the last to know about these major world events."]

[This was also why, despite already having such strength, you continued to improve.]

[While there was the pleasure brought by the elevation of the essence of life, the greater reason was that you did not want to be swept away by the era or drift with the tide; you wanted to be the one who changed the era.]