Consuming Earths, Devouring Skies

The Violet Source Palace was a sub-realm. It was comparable to the Asura Phantom Realm in size and structure. A solar sun that was silver, emanating scintillating sunlight that illuminated the entire realm. Two planetary masses resolved around its orbit with no moon.

Despite being called planetary masses they were actually platforms, a flat bottom with a thin, translucent dome film above. On these platforms were cities, buildings, lands, and life. The most notable was a violet palace situated at the center of one of the platforms. This palace was the size of an entire moon with an imperial decor and a silver orb floating above.

This palace was called the same as the realm, the Violet Source Palace.

For sub-realms, the edge of outer space was essentially a barrier that could not be penetrated through normal means. However, the Violet Source Palace was interconnected with the Border Expanse. Leaving this realm's outer edge would leave one within a specific area of the Border Expanse.

Inside this grand violet palace, in the main hall, a spatial rift appeared. From this rift, a figure fell with a resounding thud.

Yan Zaizen arrived in this hall unconscious. His sudden bout of exhaustion that seemed to originate from his soul and very existence drifted him to sleep.

Three figures followed from the rift. They descended with varying expressions.

"What did you do to him?" Zhou Xiuhei's expression turned murderous watching Yan Zaizen unconscious. When he scanned his body, he realized this wasn't normal mental unconsciousness. His essence flow slowed to a crawl, soul energy has completely concealed itself, the energy stored within his cells were stagnating, and his bodily functions were at an all-time low.

If it was a mortal, this would essentially be a state of death. It was as if his entire existence had fallen to sleep.

Shi Yan frowned as he observed Yan Zaizen's condition. That frown deepened as he understood less and less. He wasn't afraid of Zhou Xiuhei, especially in his own domain. Yet, he cared about Yan Zaizen's life.

Syi, who was a divine beast who cultivated the Bestial Path, eyes narrowed. "His existence, his origin is undergoing a change."

Shi Yan was startled, "his existence?" Scanning once more, he found it believable. When Yan Zaizen had his body die and his soul underwent hibernation, his existence entered into his heavenly restriction, opening the Gate of Sky Opening.

As someone who underwent this process, Zhou Xiuhei understood. He knew that Shi Yan or Syi did not have the ability to interact with a person's existence. Not even he did. If the soul was the construct that held one's memories, feelings, and instincts, then the brain helped process these and collect them. However, the existence was the source code of one's being.

During Samsara, a soul is washed, but in truth, it's more so the shell that is the soul is removed and this source code is relocated to a new and fresh shell. This was why some were completely different people, races, and species when they reincarnate.

After all, souls differ across races and species.

To interact with this source code called existence was beyond difficult. Likely only a Heavenly Creation expert could even touch it, let alone force it into slumber.

The Bestial Path included merging the Origin Source into the physical body in a similar way an Essence Cultivator constructed their Origin Core. This Origin Source, this True Origin, was a portion of one's existence.

Syi's understanding of existence was as profound as Zhou Xiuhei. However, Syi recognized the state. Cultivation deviation of the Bestial Path induced this state, but it was much more severe.

"This reminds me of the Origin Path circumstance," Syi remarked.

"Hm?" Shi Yan and Zhou Xiuhei simultaneously exclaimed. Both of them didn't have much knowledge about the Origin Path. It was a foreign path that belonged beyond the thirty-three heavens.

"Ezekiel once showed me," Syi bitterly spat, "before he stole from us. He explained that the Origin Path touched upon the existence. This state is similar to a state described: Existential Slumber. During which, all functions enter a state of hibernation." As he explained, the memories from earlier resurged. His expression grew more and more bitter.

Shi Yan and Zhou Xiuhei were silent. To them, this was new territory. Therefore, they could only accept such a response.

"He seems to be functioning," Shi Yan deduced. Yan Zaizen's body was slowly assimilating the atmospheric essence into his body. Normally, all parts of the body wouldn't function, but Yan Zaizen's quad-lungs were refined by the Siphoning Shadow of Death. It continuously absorbed regardless of his will or not. With his lungs working so did the rest of his bodily functions, sufficient enough to live.

"I'll take him," Zhou Xiuhei waved his hand to generate heavenly might to surround Yan Zaizen's body.

"No." Shi Yan flatly responded, an invisible ripple radiated from all directions colliding with Zhou Xiuhei's heavenly might. It collapsed. As the master of this sub-realm, Shi Yan held incredible power over its space.

"He cultivates my Violet Way of Spatial Shifting, even developed a variant art with the Imperial Law of Spacetime. Therefore, he's a half-disciple of mine," Shi Yan stated calmly. Others may not be able to discover Yan Zaizen's spatial arts, but with his cultivation, how could he not?

"..." Zhou Xiuhei was solemn. When Yan Zaizen spoke from beyond the spatial rift at the banquet, he used methods within the Violet Law of Spatial Shifting, a conceptual method devised and constructed by Shi Yan.

However, Yan Zaizen was too important. He was the only Herculean born after the end of the Chaos Era. Towards this young man, he felt a sensation of kinship that went beyond species or race from day one.

"What caused this?" Asking, Zhou Xiuhei didn't try to retrieve Yan Zaizen's body. If they truly fought, it's possible that Yan Zaizen in his current state could perish. Unwilling to see this happen, he simply changed topics.

"I'm unsure. He shouldn't be cultivating, it seems to be an unwilling state. Regardless," Syi answered, "I want to know his relationship to Ezekiel. He's a Herculean with the Regalia of Life and Death refined into his body. MY lineage's treasure bestowed by the Extreme Rebirth Heavenly God." At this point, his breathing was nearly fuming of rage, "Where is Ezekiel?!"

"..." Silent, Shi Yan awaited Zhou Xiuhei's answer. Even he was curious. After all, he had personally given Ezekiel the Violet Way of Spatial Shifting as a gift to use as a reference. Zhou Xiuhei had also given Ezekiel the Immortal Herculean Method. They were both deeply connected to him, even Syi invested a bit into him.

Ezekiel was someone worthy of befriending, even if his entire race was outlawed in the 27th Heaven.

"He doesn't know." Zhou Xiuhei answered calmly.

"What do you mean by that?!" Syi snarled, his eyes filled with ferociousness.

Coldly snorting, "He has never met Ezekiel! At least, Ezekiel didn't want to leave any evidence of his existence. Besides the sub-dimensional ethereal ring of his, a few legacies, I'm unsure what else he left behind to him. "

"What? You're saying Ezekiel chose this kid to be his successor?!" Syi grew enraged.

"Is that so hard to believe? He has an upper-tier Mortal Dao, comprehended an Imperial Law to the manifestation-level at least, all before he stepped into the Heavenly Path. He has also comprehended the law of destruction." Shi Yan voiced his opinion, immediately silencing Syi.

To cultivators, one's foundation was critical. If Yan Zaizen could construct a first-floor Heavenly Shrine with an upper-tier Mortal Dao, an Imperial Law, and a solid Essence Path foundation, his future was limitless. It's possible he would be invincible within his cultivation level amongst the entire thirty-three heavens.

Even Ezekiel fell slightly short in comparison. However, just slightly.

"Fine," his words were viciously spat and filled with reluctance, but he accepted this. "Is Ezekiel dead?"

"..." Unsure, they stayed silent.

"Shit! That bastard! He stole our Sirius Core Method, we need this back! If this boy is his successor, then he must have it!" Growling, he shouted. His bestial aura started to seethe, the air permeated vigorous and predatory energy.

"Quiet!" Shi Yan frowned, shouting outwards. The Violet Source Palace trembled slightly and Syi's aura was immediately dissipated. "When he wakes, we'll ask him. The Sirius Core Method isn't useful to Herculean's anyhow." After saying this, he waved his hand to open a rift.

"You're welcome to protect his body in this place until he wakes up," he instructed Zhou Xiuhei, "but he stays." With that, he entered the rift and left.

Syi frowned, but said nothing. He sat down in a meditative pose and awaited Yan Zaizen's awakening. To him, what was waiting? He could live for millions of years, even a thousand years was little to him.

Zhou Xiuhei sat as well, closing his eyes and awaiting Yan Zaizen's awakening. During which, the Earthly Beginning and Heavenly End trials were held off until then.

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