Chapter 79 Experiments of the Predecessors from Ten Thousand Years Ago

The Immortal Spirit Realm is neither vast nor small, and no one knows its true expanse; it is neither ancient nor modern, and no one knows how many years it has witnessed. Those who pursue eternity appear so insignificant beneath this ordinary world.

Regardless of whether you were once a tempest-ruling overlord, an emperor dominating the realm, a heaven-defying prodigy, or a beauty capable of toppling nations, you are ultimately obliterated in the long river of time.

Yet even such obliteration has distinctions—some longer, some shorter—though the dead know nothing of it, while the living diligently pursue eternity.

Yet there are also those who remain immortal throughout the ages. Merely immortal through the ages, nothing more than immortal through the ages.

The thatched cottage was far from ordinary.

Both windows and doors were tightly shut. The windows, in particular, were heavily nailed shut, allowing not a sliver of light to escape.

The door was a rustic wooden barrier formed by binding several logs together. It, too, was tightly closed. Interlacing marks marred its surface—were they from swords, sabers, axes, or the bombardment of divine powers? They seemed freshly carved, yet upon closer inspection, they appeared ancient.

Other parts were largely thatched with straw. One variety was a fiery red dried grass, while the other was a golden-yellow dried grass. Such a cottage, if not entirely unique, was certainly rarer than phoenix feathers and qilin horns.

Moreover, this cottage had a name: the Heavenly Gate Thread. The Chief Commander silently recited these three characters in his heart, his mind profoundly shaken.

Legend has it that ten thousand years ago, outsiders invaded the Immortal Spirit Realm. When the people of the realm were outmatched and faced imminent destruction, a silver palace descended from the heavens. It produced a wondrous cottage that annihilated all enemies. It stood like a single thread at the heavenly gates, blocking thousands of foes, hence its name. The descriptions in the ancient texts matched what he saw before him without the slightest discrepancy.

In that case, the silver space—thinking of this, the Chief Commander drew a deep breath. This must be the legendary silver palace!

He had not expected that piece of unofficial history and miscellaneous notes to be true. One must know that even upon reaching the Realm of Resolution, or ascending to even higher states of cultivation, one's lifespan was merely three thousand years. Ten thousand years—what a distant tale was that?

"Then, how did he know?" The Chief Commander cast a gentle glance at Bai Yun, etching the three terms Bai Yun had spoken into his mind: one was "old friend," another was "relic," and a third, somewhat trivial one, was "we."

Village Chief Bai Yun bent his waist and knocked tightly on the door. Yet whether there was anyone inside or not, there was no response whatsoever.

Liu Erhei, due to his shallow experience, did not share that profound shock. But seeing the Village Chief, whom even the Chief Commander had to treat with reverence, act with such modesty at this moment, he knew without a doubt that whoever was inside must be an extraordinary figure.

Silence stretched on for a long time. The wooden door remained utterly motionless.

Bai Yun straightened his back, produced a crest, and placed it at the base of the door. Then he stepped back two paces and bowed deeply once more. At this moment, the radiance surrounding him vanished as well, and he, too, reverted to a mortal.

A beam of light appeared upon the lintel, sweeping across the crest. The crest vanished, and the door creaked open.

Bai Yun must be very excited right now. The Chief Commander guessed, watching the veins thumping on the hands Bai Yun kept hidden behind his back. "So, so you too can feel nervous."

Bai Yun stepped into the threshold. The door remained open, and the Chief Commander followed closely behind. As for Liu Erhei, after hesitating repeatedly, he ultimately stayed in place.

Inside, there truly was another world entirely; at least, not the slightest trace of a thatched cottage could be discerned.

The interior scene was divided into two distinct parts. On one side stood a massive rack, its tiers densely packed with glass and crystal vials. On the other side was a table whose surface resembled a monitor, covered in symbols impossible to comprehend.

Two figures stood with their backs to the newcomers. One figure stood before the rack, holding a delicate, translucent little hammer. The other stood before the table, seemingly deep in thought.

The Chief Commander swept a rapid glance over the environment within, then stood silently behind Bai Yun, not daring to overstep in the slightest, feeling secure and steady.

The figure before the rack slowly turned his head and asked, "Where did you scavenge these things?" The voice was utterly ordinary yet very steady, betraying neither joy nor anger.

Bai Yun remained silent. The figure turned back immediately after speaking, while the other figure turned around instead, glanced over casually, then twisted back with a light, airy remark: "Decent genetics, though—two mighty cultivators from a single lineage."

Yet with just that single glance, the Chief Commander felt his scalp tingle, as if his entire being had been seen through completely. This sensation was entirely unprecedented!

"They are merely projections. The master of this place is likely dead," Bai Yun said, his voice carrying a hint of depression. That lingering thread of hope was thoroughly shattered.

The Chief Commander slowly gathered his wits. He could understand Bai Yun's disappointment, for even cultivators of the Second Mirror—those in the realms of Resolution, Nascent Mystery, and Mortal Dao—possessed lifespans of only three thousand years.

If the person from ten thousand years ago had been alive, it would have served as an inspiration to all cultivators across the world. Eternity could be anticipated!

Yet even so, the shock in the Chief Commander's heart was hardly diminished. The two sentences spoken just moments ago undoubtedly indicated that the beings here had known they would come and had casually left behind those remarks. This power transcended time and space, defying all measurement.

Though lingering doubts regarding this place filled his mind, he had now vaguely pieced together the tale of a master whose body had perished but whose spirit remained undying.

Afterward, the projections paid no further heed to the visitors, standing silently in place. Bai Yun remained motionless, and the Chief Commander did the same.

"Initiating the third set of simulated evolutionary schemes for the World-Creation Project." A voice echoed from an unknown source.

The moment the voice faded, an image manifested upon that table. Bai Yun walked over nonchalantly, followed closely by the Chief Commander.

"It's a map—this secret realm." A familiar place, though the realm appeared somewhat uniform at first glance, careful observation revealed subtle differences.

The image grew clearer and clearer; the Chief Commander could even make out the appearances of the people within, as well as the bloodstains upon the ground.

"Keep calm," Bai Yun said calmly.

This time, the Chief Commander replied, "Very well," omitting his usual respectful tone.

At that very moment, dozens of circular iron tokens suddenly appeared throughout Sector 0.

"Commencing the first elimination of those without the Decree of Life."

Just as this voice was heard, while everyone was still bewildered, dozens of people suddenly burst apart and died.

The atmosphere throughout Sector 0 grew heavy before instantly erupting into chaos!

No sooner had someone discovered that those circular iron tokens represented the decree of life, facing the sword suspended above their heads that could fall at any moment, the crowd surged into a frenzy for survival.

A Decree of Life landed not far in front of Wu Yue. Still somewhat leisurely, Wu Yue instinctively picked it up.

Then, he watched with his own eyes as several people exploded near the entrance. He heard that voice, too. Gaze after gaze filled with madness locked onto the Decree of Life in Wu Yue's hand, their greed entirely unmasked.

If the figures in purple and white could still support one another, what about himself?

He could only use this method. To be honest, Wu Yue loathed moments when he had to rely on luck.

It could arbitrarily convert any attributes between two items. Wu Yue did not remember the machine's complex name, but he knew its function and how to use it.

This was largely because Lin Liu had been rather emotional at the time and feared Wu Yue wouldn't recognize a treasure, so he had explained it in great detail.

At both ends were objects resembling eggs.

Right now, a frost dragon was placed inside one, while Wu Yue stepped into the other. The machine began to operate, and simultaneously, someone charged in.