Consuming Earths, Devouring Skies

Yan Zaizen waited at the entrance of the Soaring Cloud Sect, his expression filled with contemplation. The words from Pinaka left him feeling complex.

'Below the heavens are the earths and skies, beyond the heavens are the earths and skies.'

Did exceeding the heavens mean going to the earths and skies beyond it? If so, what were the heavens? He felt like it wasn't something like the sky but more so like...a force. This force contained the myriad of things, the laws, life, death, and souls. You require its blessings to construct your own dao, which could rival it, which could allow you to exceed it, but...why?

He felt like the world he lived in was far too complex with far too many mysteries. Not to mention, his own. He touched his glabella and felt really lost. Earlier, when he killed those upper-echelon members, their soul forms flew out of their bodies into his glabella. Later, it was devoured by the black hole and fueled his own strength.

"Is this my bloodline or...is this something else?" He couldn't help but question inwardly. He asked Pinaka about it but was left with no answer. Her only response: "I'm unsure." Despite this, she knew that there was a trap in his soul. Any attempt to take it for their own uses would result in it activating, which would devour all intruders.

The mysteries were ceaselessly being created with each step he took in his cultivation path. Perhaps, one day, he'll reach a point where all answers laid before him.

Several hours later, Tao and Bai Lufeng arrived, their eyes filled with excitement and content. One could see they robbed the Soaring Cloud Sect for all its worth, and probably even its foundation.

"Let's go." He instructed, bringing out the skyship and taking off.

Bai Lufeng's eyes lit up as he piloted the ship. To him, it was truly worth following Yan Zaizen on this trip. Despite his youth, he was ruthless to his enemies. From henceforth, the Soaring Cloud Sect would no longer exist. He looked on the deck, seeing Yan Zaizen seated cross-legged with his eyes closed. Tao was leaning on the ship's railing, looking out at the passing surroundings with interest.

"Where are we heading, Young Lord Zai?" Bai Lufeng inquired.

Initially, Yan Zaizen was planning on going to the Earthly Titan Sect for revenge, both personally and for Han Genji. However, he decided to check on his family first. Despite his shaky relationship with his clan, he still had few people he cared about, like his grandfather, his aunt, and uncle. They showed him care when others spat on his face.

In comparison, the Earthly Titan Sect will always be there and getting his revenge would only be a mere thought away. In terms of strength, the Earthly Titan Sect and Soaring Cloud Sect were relatively even. There was not much to worry about.

However, the Yan Clan and their fate left him feeling uneasy. It was to the point that Yan Zaizen asked Pinaka to enact the plan of consuming the majority of his soul energy for her recovery after he finishes his business in Presba.

He wasn't an idiot to think that he could use his late-Qi Unification to easily trounce an initial-True Essence realm cultivator backed by numerous forces without it. Pinaka understood this too and agreed without hesitation. What was a few months to her? She had a thousand years left.

"To the Water Veil Territory. We'll make an appearance at the Water Veil Sect." He determined. Tao nodded softly, as if judging Yan Zaizen correctly. If he truly insisted on waiting to check his Clan's status, the cold-bloodedness would be a little terrifying. Regardless of how they treated you, they were still family. You should always check up on family, if only just to be sure. Of course, if they were dead, whether you feel anything significant is up to you.

Not to mention, it was more convenient to travel to the Water Veil Territory than go to the Earthly Titan Territory.

Bai Lufeng nodded, knowing Yan Zaizen's intentions, and shifted course towards the Water Veil Territory. This trip on the skyship should take a few weeks, as for reaching the Water Veil Sect, perhaps a month and a half.

Several weeks later, Yan Zaizen was trying to comprehend the Violet Way of Spatial Shifting qi-arts. The first one was a superior-grade art called The Nine Void Shifting Art, a movement-based internal art that allowed one to physically shift through the spatial void. Both unfortunately and fortunately for Yan Zaizen, whenever he tried to execute the art, he kept shifting into chaotic space. Chaotic space was incapable of bringing him any harm, but it was filled with nothingness.

However, after a while, he realized that he could execute the art using chaotic space instead of the spatial void. Shifting in the spatial void revealed fluctuations which could be noticed by others, despite the speed being incredible, it was a little too noticeable. As for chaotic space, entering and exiting it was as silent as the arrival of night.

The only issue was determining the destination for exit and keeping awareness of one's location both inside and outside chaotic space. While spatial void entering or exiting leaves noticeable fluctuations, it's also easier to navigate within. Chaotic space, however, was incredibly difficult. It took him two weeks of non-stop practice before he could keep minimal awareness of the outside world.

Luckily, he developed a trick to it. By leaving his spiritual sense connected both into and outside of chaotic space, he could determine his destination. This, however, had its issues. His spiritual sense connection couldn't last for long, so long-distance travel was essentially impossible. However, as long as it was within 10 li, he could shift there almost instantly.

He also found something interesting and disturbing at the same time.

Chaotic space ran on a different timeline than the normal world. Essentially, it was for every day that passed in chaotic space, merely an hour passed in the myriad realms. However, this was its most consistent time difference. Sometimes, it can even be a minute having passed instead.

When Pinaka informed him that he was three years older than he originally thought, he was flabbergasted to the point he couldn't move. He was stuck in chaotic space for three years but was unconscious for most of it. Today, by bone age, he was twenty-two years old instead of nineteen.

For three full years, the white flame and inky black orb kept him living. For three full years, he was constantly pulled apart by chaotic space. In hindsight, it made sense he was capable of comprehending a conceptual law based on it.

With the time difference, he could practice cultivation in chaotic space. Unfortunately, chaotic space was the least suitable place for most forms of cultivation except comprehending spatial laws or practicing spatial arts.

"Since it uses chaotic space and not the void, I guess I should change its name, huh?" He muttered softly to him. After a while, his eyes lit up in brilliance as he exclaimed, "Infinite Chaotic Immersion Art!" He couldn't help but feel somewhat proud of his naming sense. It fit better with his conceptual law and its execution.

"WAIT!!" His eyes widened in surprise as he thundered aloud. In a flash, he merged into chaotic space with a slight, nearly imperceptible pop sound. Almost an instant later, he arrived on the deck of the skyship. Tao was looking about at the world on the deck. He was writing in his cultivation diary, a diary where one keeps all their insights into their cultivation within the book.

As for Bai Lufeng, he was whistling carefreely as he held the helm of the skyship. Sometimes he would do a little daring shift here, a little twirl there to keep himself entertained. With the formations on the ship, it'd be nearly impossible to disturb Yan Zaizen or Tao within the ship.

Suddenly, Yan Zaizen's shout from his cultivation room resounded causing them to be startled. However, no fear was on their faces. One could see that their belief in Yan Zaizen's ability had already left them with a comfortable sensation of safety.

As Yan Zaizen emerged from chaotic space with the most subtle popping sound, he dashed towards the railings and looked outwards. His expression was filled with disbelief and a little excitement. Tao and Bai Lufeng were curious, looking outwards too. However, they didn't have Yan Zaizen extraordinary spiritual sense and could only use what they could.

Inside the Water Veil Territory, a young woman dressed in white sat beside a pond slowly caressing the clear water with her hand. She was a beauty with a chilling aura that made one feel as if they were in a blizzard. Beside her was an older woman, she was a mature beauty with icy-blue hair and a freezing chill in her eyes far more intense than the young woman's aura. It was as if her gaze could freeze one's soul.

However, whenever she looked at the young woman, she revealed a slight trace of warmth. If one looked closely, they could see a slight resemblance between them.

"Fei'er." The woman called out, despite her chilly tone, her voice contained faint warmth. The young woman stopped her caressing and looked at the middle-aged woman, she couldn't help but reveal a conflicted gaze deep within her pupils. However, that gaze was swiftly concealed with indifference.

"I'm ready." She replied, getting up and straightening out her robe.

The middle-aged woman seemed to want to say something but remained silent. Until her brows furrowed and she looked towards a certain direction.

From there, three figures were slowly flying over on a skyship.