Yue Lan’s chuckle carried a tinge of sorrow and pride, her voice soft but resolute as she answered Shen Yuan’s question.
[Yes, I was there,] Read exclusive adventures at empire
She admitted, her words carrying the weight of countless eons.
[I am one of the few Pre-Natal Chaotic Lifeforms who survived the upheaval. My essence was strong enough, my Dao Heart strong enough, to adapt to the laws imposed by Pangu’s actions. While others faded, were sealed, or chose to rest eternally, I chose to endure. That is why I am here, able to roam the worlds freely.]
Shen Yuan’s eyes widened slightly, his composure momentarily shaken. “You… You’re one of them? A true Pre-Natal Chaotic Lifeform? Then the knowledge you’ve shared—it’s not just history. It’s your lived experience.”
Yue Lan’s tone became solemn, the hint of bitterness giving way to something deeper.
[Indeed. I saw the war unfold, saw Chaos rend itself apart under the fury of titanic beings clashing. And I witnessed Pangu, at the height of his power, do what none thought possible—split Chaos itself and create the foundation for the worlds as you know them.]
She paused for a moment, as if gathering her thoughts.
[Pangu’s strength was unrivaled. He was the first to bring order to the chaos within himself, forming what you now call a Dao Heart. He is the progenitor of Dao Heart.]
[It gave him clarity, purpose, and the power to shape reality itself. But his actions were not born of arrogance. He sought to create stability, a place where life could flourish beyond the endless void of Chaos.]
Shen Yuan leaned forward slightly, captivated by her words. “And yet, it cost him everything.”
[Yes,]
Yue Lan said softly, her voice carrying a trace of melancholy.
[After splitting Chaos and forming the Three Thousand Great Worlds, Pangu knew the natural laws he had created were unstable. They needed a foundation—a stabilizing force to hold the new reality together.]
[And so, he sacrificed himself. His body became the mountains and rivers, his breath the winds, his blood the seas. His soul scattered, becoming the sky and stars. Even his immense Chaos Essence was divided, birthing the Great Dao that governs all things.]
She continued, her tone growing more reflective.
[But his sacrifice was not just an act of creation. It was a message—a reminder that power without purpose is meaningless. Even the mightiest beings, those who wield the strength to shape existence, must be willing to pay the price for their choices.]
Shen Yuan’s gaze hardened as he absorbed her words. “Pangu’s legacy is both a warning and an inspiration. He reshaped reality but paid the ultimate price to do so. And yet, beings like you remain—a living testament to the Chaos that came before.”
Yue Lan chuckled lightly, the bitterness in her tone replaced with faint amusement.
[Indeed, I am a remnant of that time—a relic, some might say. But I do not dwell in the past. My survival means I have adapted, just as the worlds themselves continue to change. And you, Shen Yuan, walk a path that echoes the very essence of Chaos and Order.]
[Your Primal Harmony Physique, your Devouring Fiend Celestial bloodline, and your insatiable drive—these qualities align you more with the ancient beings of Chaos than with the mortals of this realm.]
Shen Yuan chuckled, his confidence remaining strong. “I need this level of talent if I want to face my dreams in reality, and all I have right now is merely talent. I have yet to achieve true strength.”
[That’s true as well, blindly getting arrogant on your talent is a fast ticket to death.]
Shen Yuan rubbed his chin. “These Chaotic Lifeforms… do you think I can find one in the outside world?”
[Why do you need to find one when you have one here?]
Yue Lan asked in amusement.
[And no, don’t even think about hunting them. Even if you combine all the Mortal and Immortal worlds, you won’t be able to scratch a single hair of a Pre-Natal Chaotic Lifeform.]
“Cough, I wasn’t thinking anything like that. Don’t accuse a gentleman of being a thief.” Shen Yuan rubbed his neck and quickly said, as if afraid a Pre-Natal Chaotic Being would emerge from somewhere.
“Anyways, now that I have finished my breakthrough, it’s time to make improvements in my Intents. And I should cultivate another elemental technique to fill my sixth dantian while I’m at it.”
[So will you cultivate your technique first or learn intents?]
“I will learn the technique first. I need to bring my other dantians to match with my main dantian as well after all.” Shen Yuan said before standing up from the bed and wearing his clothes.
“Oh yeah, can I use my Pagoda here?” He curiously asked.
[Yes, this place is a lot higher level than that measly pagoda.]
She smugly replied back.
“Wait, so does that mean if I enter the pagoda and activate the time formation and change it to 10x from outside, and the time here is already running 30x faster than the outside world, will I be able to cultivate for 300 days?” His eyes lit up as he thought of this.
[Yeah, sure. But cultivating here is more beneficial due to the quality of this space. Just think of this as cultivating in a desolate village at the edge of the continent and cultivating at the core of the Radiant Lotus Sacred Sect.]
Shen Yuan nodded thoughtfully, rubbing his chin. “Makes sense. Cultivating in a high-quality environment will bring better results, even if the time dilation is less impressive. Still, I’m tempted to try the combination once just to see the effects.”
[Suit yourself,]
Yue Lan said with a faint chuckle.
[Though I must warn you, over-relying on such shortcuts can stunt your understanding. Cultivation is not just about speed; it’s about depth and mastery. You shouldn’t rush it.]
Shen Yuan smirked. “Don’t worry, Lan’er. I know the importance of balance. But sometimes, leveraging resources wisely is what separates the talented from the truly exceptional.”
He walked to the center of the chamber, the spatial energy of the room faintly resonating with his presence. With a flick of his wrist, his pagoda materialized in the air from his dantian, its intricate runes glowing faintly as it floated above his palm.
Shen Yuan walked towards the Ancestral Pagoda. As he approached the glowing structure, the air around it pulsed faintly, as if recognizing its master.
With a flick of his wrist, the pagoda expanded, revealing its majestic form, towering in the chamber like a guardian of secrets.
“Let’s see what treasures I can uncover this time,” Shen Yuan muttered to himself, a smirk tugging at his lips. Without hesitation, he opened a portal and stepped into the pagoda’s first level.
…
As he arrived on the first floor, the sight that greeted him was both serene and intense. Around a hundred cultivators, clad in the distinctive silver robes of the Silver Fox Sect, were diligently training.
Their synchronized movements, coupled with the faint shimmer of Qi flowing through the room, gave the space an almost ethereal quality.
Among them were the sect’s highest-ranking members: the Ancestor, Sect Leader, Grand Elder, Core Elders, and Core Disciples, all focused intently on their cultivation or sparring with one another before attempting the trials of the first floor.