Chapter 39: The Ancient Divine Realm

Li Chen stood amidst a vast expanse of ruins. The spectral projection of the Golden-Armored God of War slowly manifested before him, eyes burning like torches, waiting to lead him into a forgotten, ancient battlefield.

The surrounding air was thick with faint fluctuations of spiritual energy, as if every speck of dust carried the joys and sorrows of heroes long past. Suddenly, a slight tremor shook the earth beneath the ruins. A massive boulder shifted slowly, revealing a deep, dark passage where flickering lights danced like countless stars.

A strange impulse surged within Li Chen, as if he were being summoned by some ancient power. Taking a deep breath, he stepped resolutely into the unknown passage. The Golden-Armored God of War followed closely behind, its brilliant radiance illuminating the encroaching darkness ahead.

As he entered the passage, it felt as though Li Chen had transcended time and space; the scenery before him transformed instantly. He found himself standing on a vast, ancient battlefield littered with tattered war banners and shattered swords. Phantom spirits drifted through the sky, their expressions a mix of grief and fury, whispering of past glories and tragic ends.

In the center stood an ancient altar, upon which rested a gemstone that shimmered with a strange light, seemingly imbued with infinite power. Li Chen felt a warm current surge through his body, resonating with the gem.

Suddenly, ancient runes emerged around the altar, erupting in a blinding light that engulfed both him and the spectral projection. An unprecedented power began to awaken within him.

Just as this power stirred, the gemstone on the altar flared with dazzling brilliance, teleporting Li Chen and the Golden-Armored God of War to an island in the middle of a lake.

The island was teeming with mystical beasts and fragrant flowers. The lake water was so clear it reflected the shimmering starry sky. At that moment, a young, enchanting fairy was playing in the water, her crisp, melodic laughter ringing out.

The fairy seemed to sense Li Chen’s arrival. With a gentle wave of her hand, ripples spread across the water, forming a rainbow bridge leading to the shore. She stepped lightly across the bridge, her eyes like the brightest stars in the night sky, shimmering with curiosity and tenderness.

"Brave warrior," she smiled, "what brings you to this forgotten land? Is it the guidance of destiny, or the longing of your own heart?"

"I am a descendant of the Lotus Immortal Clan," she said, gently extending her hand, palm upward, to offer him a blooming lotus flower. The flower radiated a soft, crystalline glow and emitted a faint, elegant fragrance that refreshed the soul.

As Li Chen took the lotus, a warm energy flowed from his palm, washing through his meridians until they felt crystal clear. Suddenly, the lotus transformed into a stream of light and merged into his chest, forming an exquisite lotus mark.

The fairy smiled slightly. "This is the 'Heart Lotus Mark.' It can shield you from a fatal blow and awaken the potential hidden deep within you. I send you now to the Primordial Divine Realm."

Before the words faded, the scenery began to distort. Countless lights and shadows intertwined to form a massive spatial gateway. The fairy gave him a gentle push. "Go. The true trial lies ahead. Only by conquering yourself and mastering supreme divine arts will you find the way home."

After a dizzying transition, Li Chen appeared in a world rich with immortal energy. The laws of nature here were so perfect and advanced that they seemed to surpass even the Immortal Realm.

In truth, this was a secret realm from the primordial era, a world far superior to the Immortal Realm. Because the primordial gods had departed for the higher heavens, they sealed their ancestral origin. Since then, no one from within could leave, and no one from without could enter. Aside from the Lotus Immortal clan, who guarded the inheritance for generations, no one knew of its existence or how to enter.

Li Chen steadied himself and looked around. The primordial realm was filled with exotic flowers and strange herbs, while mystical beasts soared through the skies—a place of peace and mystery. Suddenly, he felt a powerful summons emanating from deep within the realm. Following the call, he discovered an ancient stone tablet engraved with obscure runes that seemed to echo the lotus mark on his chest. The moment he touched the tablet, space twisted again, and he was pulled into a bizarre world filled with fragments of time and space, where he could glimpse the birth and destruction of the universe. Within this chaos, an ancient, majestic voice echoed in his ears: "The true trial has only just begun..."

Li Chen’s vision went black. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself beneath an infinite expanse of stars, walking upon floating celestial fragments as the galaxy flowed around him. He realized with astonishment that he could walk freely through this river of stars, each step landing on a different celestial body, as if strolling through the very veins of the universe. In the distance, a brilliant star slowly drifted toward him, bearing an ancient totem that echoed his lotus mark. The star cracked open, and from it drifted an ancient tome, its cover inscribed with the power of the stars: "The Chronicles of Universal Evolution." Within its pages seemed to lie the supreme methods to transcend heaven and earth and command the stars themselves.