Chapter 255: A World Within the World, Heaven and Earth Tomb

When Gou’er woke up, the night sky above was as dark as ink, with no moon or stars in sight.

It felt like a strange calm after some disaster, so still that not even a breeze could enter this place.

Gou’er stood up shakily, his eyes still blank and lost.

He stood on the empty, silent ground, utterly unsure where to go.

Gou’er looked toward the ruined City Platform. His heart was filled with mixed emotions.

“Why did there have to be a City Platform…” he mumbled softly, unable to calm his troubled thoughts for a long time.

Only as dawn began to break did the figure standing alone on the Desolate Plain finally sigh heavily. He then started walking toward a place much farther away.

…

Chen Changsheng stood upon the Taiqing Sword, tilting his head back to take a big gulp of wine. Riding the strong wind, he flew swiftly northward.

The Priest’s earlier words had made Chen Changsheng realize a possibility: this Miniature World might not be as simple as he had imagined.

Chen Changsheng flew straight to the barrier at the Northern Frontier.

Lifting his eyes, he saw four figures seated cross-legged atop the barrier. Behind them was a gap in the barrier, as if they were guarding it.

As Chen Changsheng entered the sight of these four…

All four guards rose to their feet.

Their weapons simultaneously dropped into their hands, their edges gleaming coldly.

“Halt! Intruder, stop right there!!”

Chen Changsheng paused, his gaze sweeping over the four before him.

Without exception, all four were in their twilight years. Their Blood Qi and Spiritual Energy were fading, rapidly draining away. This state was exactly like the Priest on the City Platform he had seen earlier.

Moreover, their cultivation level was merely at the ‘Golden Core’ stage.

Chen Changsheng’s tone shifted slightly. He continued, “For the four City Platforms of the Eastern Continent… the four of you must be the remaining Priests?”

The four men froze, brows furrowing in unison.

Chen Changsheng said next, “I merely wish to see what lies beyond here. The four of you cannot stop me. Better to simply step aside and avoid unnecessary trouble. What say you?”

The four hesitated for a moment. Yet, it almost seemed they had been forewarned. Wordlessly, as if by prior agreement, they each took a step back, clearing the path.

Chen Changsheng hadn’t expected such easy compliance.

He uttered a simple, “Thanks.”

Then, a streak of sword light shot directly through the space between them, flashing past the gap and vanishing into the unknown beyond.

The four men guarding the gap watched him leave.

“That person…”

“… is probably no ordinary man!”

“Lucky that Song Gudao warned us beforehand. If we had clashed… the four of us together likely wouldn’t have been his match.”

“But just letting him pass through like that…”

“Quit worrying! Even Song Gudao didn’t raise an objection. Matters of the Divine Domain have nothing to do with dying old men like us.”

The four fell silent. Then, truly, not another word was spoken.

…

The moment Chen Changsheng passed through the gap, he abruptly sensed the world transforming around him.

He frowned slightly, murmuring to himself, “A world… within a world?”

Hidden within this small pocket world was yet another separate heaven and earth!?

Chen Changsheng finally understood why he had never encountered any other Cultivators within this Mortal World he’d traversed.

It was possible that all the Cultivators birthed by this world… had come here, to this inner world.

Not precisely Cultivators…

But rather…

Divine Children!

Divine Children fashioned from the gathered Qi and Blood and Essence Qi of tens of thousands.

Once through the gap, his view instantly broadened.

The instant he entered this inner realm, Chen Changsheng felt the Spiritual Density here was far richer than the outside world.

Focusing his gaze, what met his eyes was a city. Surrounding the city was a towering Fortress Wall, upon which stood many figures.

The moment Chen Changsheng entered this world…

A streak of sword light shot towards him!

Song Gudao soared on his sword, landing directly before Chen Changsheng. He promptly clasped his hands respectfully. “Divine Domain’s messenger, Song Gudao, pays his respects, Senior.”

Chen Changsheng recognized this man.

He was the Sword Cultivator who had taken Mu Cang away earlier.

“This place is called the Divine Domain?” Chen Changsheng inquired.

Song Gudao straightened. He added quietly, “It is also known as the Heaven and Earth Tomb.”

Song Gudao offered a faint smile. “Perhaps we should speak elsewhere.”

Song Gudao led Chen Changsheng to a Tavern within the city.

There weren’t many people here. The entire space within the Fortress Wall wasn’t even the size of a small neighborhood ward. Casting his Divine Sense out once revealed the total number of inhabitants here. Less than a hundred.

The Tavern’s Manager was a ferocious-looking woman. Spotting Song Gudao, she yelled instantly, “Ah! The Song boy! You’ve got some nerve showing your face! When are you paying back the wine money you owe this mistress, huh?!”

Her name, they said, was Du A’niang. Reportedly, she was a widow. A long scarf was wrapped around her head, and she was brandishing a kitchen knife, vigorously chopping what looked like meat for some appetizer.

Song Gudao glanced her way. “Old widow, you sure run your mouth. See the guest I brought? Relax, I’ll pay. Just wait till I cut down a couple more Great Demons, then I’ll pay it all back. Now hurry, bring us some wine! Wine!”

“Oh?”

Du A’niang’s eyes immediately locked onto the extraordinarily handsome man standing behind Song Gudao. A gleam lit up her eyes instantly.

“Heavens! Such a gorgeous one!”

Du A’niang scooted closer. “Young lad,” she beamed, “Are you new here?”

Song Gudao quickly intercepted her, stepping protectively between them. “Old witch!” he hissed. “Watch your words! This is an esteemed Senior! He’s probably lived countless lifetimes longer than you!”

Chen Changsheng waved a dismissive hand. “Hah… hardly countless lifetimes.”

“Correct, correct,” Song Gudao hurriedly amended. “One judges by cultivation, Seniority by attainment.”

Du A’niang sighed dramatically. “What a pity! I hoped he was newly arrived…” she lamented. She then added, a bit pathetically, “Will I ever find a man pleasing to this mistress’s eyes? Hah…”

“Hah! You?!” Song Gudao scoffed dismissively. Annoyed, he waved her off like a pest. “Enough! Go fetch that wine now!”

“Rushrushrush! What are you rushing for?! Got a fire lit under your bum?”

Despite Song Gudao’s unpleasant words, Du A’niang soon brought out a small jar of wine. However, she only set down one cup.

This was pointedly placed in front of Chen Changsheng. Du A’niang pointed a finger at Song Gudao. “He’s not drinking out of my cups! Touch that wine, boy, and you might as well call yourself a dog!”

“You miserable old widow!”

“You pathetic firewood-cutter!”

“Foul old widow!”

“Timid firewood-gatherer!”

Chen Changsheng shook his head slightly, watching the two trade insults like unruly children.

He peeled off the clay seal plugging the wine jar. Ignoring the single cup, he simply poured the potent brew directly into a nearby bowl.

By then, the two combatants had finally exhausted their immediate insults.

“Alright, enough!” Song Gudao finally snapped, shooing Du A’niang away with his hand. “You’re embarrassing yourself! Go chop your meat!”

Du A’niang sniffed coldly. “Hmph! You miserable firewood-gatherer, don’t expect this mistress’s fine wine ever again!”

With that final threat spat out, she stomped back to her counter. Resentment burned in her steps. The next thwack of her knife cutting meat landed with extra, punishing force.

Song Gudao offered Chen Changsheng a helpless, slightly rueful smile, then turned his attention back to their table.

Chen Changsheng remarked softly, “She seems to be the only Mortal in the entire city.”

“…Yes,” Song Gudao nodded quietly. His voice grew somber. “She was… picked up because they took pity on her.”

“By you?”

“No,” Song Gudao shook his head. “My brothers… did it.”

Chen Changsheng didn’t probe further. He raised the bowl and took a sip of the potent spirit.

The taste spread across his tongue. A distinct bittersweet note surfaced swiftly, followed by an underlying, strange pungency.

He noted it immediately. “Snake Demon gallbladder… infused into the wine?”

Song Gudao nodded slowly. “We don’t have many treasures here Senior…” He offered Chen Changsheng a wry smile, tinged with weariness. “But Demons? By gods, we’ve got those aplenty.”

Chen Changsheng met Song Gudao’s weary eyes. “Hmm… Enlighten me then… Speak.”