Chapter 187: The Attempt

To resolve the heavenly void crisis, Goddess Xi journeyed eastward after hearing rumors of an all-knowing Great Sage in those lands. She hoped to seek answers from this wise figure.

By nightfall of the second day, she reached the Great Sage’s dwelling.

The supposed sage proved useless, only parroting about heavenly destiny. He claimed the heavenly void’s existence was preordained, insisting mortals shouldn’t dare defy heaven’s will. When Goddess Xi cautiously raised the idea of mending the sky, the sage drove her out, branding her a blasphemer. Disillusioned, she concluded this “Great Sage” cared more for reputation than solving real problems, hiding ignorance behind talk of fate. The notion amused her – who understood heavenly order better than a primordial deity like herself?

As Goddess Xi continued her travels, floods had already ravaged the world for two days. Rising waters swallowed entire regions, forcing survivors to flee to higher ground.

Yuanwu Mountain stood transformed. Once sacred, it now lay barren. The chaotic waters had scoured all life from its slopes – plants, insects, animals. Only yellow sand remained where the deluge passed. Zuo Meng sat undisturbed amidst the devastation. Having survived true chaos, these diluted waters barely affected him. He focused on decoding this world’s rules, surprised by how complex lifespan modifications became when applied to specific creatures.

This world’s alien laws fascinated him. Unlike his Dream Realm and the World of Giants – both branches from the Origin World’s trunk – Yuanwu World grew from different roots entirely. Its chaotic origins produced rules as distinct as plants from animals.

“Perhaps borrowing these patterns could help my realm escape the Origin World’s pull faster,” Zuo Meng mused. He remembered the swallowed world’s fate – how crucial it was to break free before the Origin World’s gravity reclaimed them.

Extracting a rule fragment from Yuanwu World, he analyzed its structure before sending the knowledge to his Dream Realm avatar.

Dream Realm

The drought’s escalation sparked rebellion. When one lord revolted, dozens followed. Within months, warlords divided the land. With Zuo Meng and Old Turtle’s assistance, Lord Boyang dramatically “escaped” Summer Capital through its main gates with three thousand retainers.

Young Master Junyang’s strategic genius conquered barbarian tribes and ignited full-scale rebellion. Old Turtle’s overwhelming power crushed all opposition – neither elite warriors nor hidden experts could withstand his casual slaps. Soon the southwest fell under Junyang’s control, his armies threatening Summer Capital itself.

In the war tent, Zuo Meng’s avatar helped plan their final assault while Old Turtle lounged nearby. The turtle spirit had grown less fearful upon realizing this “Mr. Meng” possessed neither his true self’s memories nor power.

Mid-discussion about night maneuvers, the avatar suddenly froze as awareness flashed across its face.

“Sir?” Young Master Junyang inquired when the strategist fell silent.

“Urgent matter. Continue without me.” The avatar departed abruptly, ignoring protocol.

Old Turtle shivered as the avatar left. “Why do my scales prickle?”

An ambitious courtier seized the moment: “This disrespect warrants demotion!”

Before others could react, Old Turtle’s palm flattened the critic into the earth.

Outside, Zuo Meng’s avatar shifted to a boundary-spanning cottage. Examining the transmitted rule, he understood its purpose – diverting creative energies from lower realms to empower higher ones.

Reaching into Six Harmonies Realm, he plucked an invisible thread from its fabric. The realm shuddered imperceptibly as its inhabitants lost all ability to create new cultivation methods.

Unnamed Cliff

A white-haired elder stared at his half-written manual, memories of composing it erased. Clutching the pages, he cackled at the sky: “Heaven pities Nan Kuang Wusheng! Though incomplete, this divine skill manual grants me hope!” The mad laughter echoed, the creator unaware he held his own abandoned work.