Chapter 512: Chapter 487: The End of the Dharma is Nigh, The Dao Will No Longer Exist
An earth-shattering battle did not erupt but concluded instead; the waters reversed their flow, returning the Wild Ocean to its former state. Yet, countless sea creatures within the Wild Ocean were oblivious to how many of their kin had fallen.
When immortals clash, the mortal suffers.
If a great war breaks out in the future, would he and his relatives and friends suffer the fate of these sea creatures?
Lu Yan took a deep breath, suppressed his chaotic thoughts, and clasping his fists towards Tang Feng, Ten Thousand Gods, and the others, he solemnly said, "The junior, Lu Yan, along with my wife Shen Yinuo, and my good friend Mr. World, would like to extend our deepest thanks to all the seniors here. For saving us, I will forever be in your debt."
"You two are married?"
Ten Thousand Gods scrutinized Lu Yan and Shen Yinuo, his expression changing.
"Indeed, Senior, is there any issue with that?"
Seeing Ten Thousand Gods’ expression, Lu Yan asked somewhat bewilderedly.
"Not at all. A talented man and a beautiful woman—a match made by heaven."
Ten Thousand Gods nodded, his expression returning to calm.
Neigh, neigh!
The battle horse neighed, and the Headless Knight rode across the waves, heading into the distance, exuding a sense of solitude and sorrow.
Lu Yan struggled to hold back but eventually could not resist asking, "Seniors, does this knight belong to the Dragon Alliance?"
"Correct,"
Ten Thousand Gods nodded.
"If he is from the Dragon Alliance, why not take him back with you? He seems to be conscious still and possesses formidable combat strength. Is there no way to save him?"
Lu Yan continued.
Without the Headless Knight, they would surely have perished at the hands of the Three Emperors Alliance.
Looking back, it was the Headless Knight who had escorted them all along their journey to the Desolate Land.
Grateful for the unknown knight, whose face he hadn’t even seen, Lu Yan wanted to argue for his cause.
"Ah..."
Ten Thousand Gods, Tang Feng, and other members of the Dragon Alliance all sighed, their eyes filled with sorrow.
"He is already dead, thoroughly so, having perished in that shocking war over a hundred thousand years ago. Only his undying will remains, manifesting on the battlefield of the Wild Ocean in this form. Should he return with us to the Dragon Alliance, he would soon turn completely to dust."
"He was our old friend and comrade-in-arms. We would have wished to save him as well, but in the Origin Great World, the laws of heaven and earth are steadfast, and the cycle of life and death is difficult to reverse. Not just us, but even the Alliance Hierarch has no means to do so,"
Ten Thousand Gods said with a sigh.
"Remember his name; he was called Ao Qian."
Tang Feng added.
"Ao Qian... truly a peerless hero."
Lu Yan bowed deeply towards the silhouette of the Headless Knight as it grew further away, eventually becoming a speck before finally disappearing into the Wild Ocean.
Just what kind of power is the Dragon Alliance?
Or rather, what kind of person is the Dragon Alliance Master, who could inspire such a hero to give his undying loyalty, his fighting spirit enduring even after death?
"Seniors, I have some doubts in my heart and would like to inquire further,"
Lu Yan clasped his fists again.
"I knew you would ask."
This time, it was Tang Feng who spoke. He waved his hand and said, "Everyone but Ten Thousand Gods, attend to your duties and leave."
"Yes!"
The Dragon Alliance members received the command and departed through the sky, leaving only Tang Feng, Ten Thousand Gods, and the trio of Lu Yan, Shen Yinuo, and Mr. World.
"Ask away,"
Tang Feng said.
"Honorable Seniors, may I ask what my relationship is with your esteemed alliance, and what is my relation to your Alliance Hierarch, Lu Ming? Why would he put the Dao Book inside me?"
Lu Yan clasped his fists, voicing the doubts that filled his heart.
From his previous encounters with members of the Dragon Alliance and the Three Emperors Alliance or the Immortal Clan, he had learned that the Alliance Hierarch was Lu Ming.
And the Artifact Spirit, Little Phoenix, had told him that it was Lu Ming who had saved her from the Immortal Ancestor, implying it was Lu Ming who implanted the Dao Book within him.
He also did not conceal the matter of the Dao Book.
After all, the Immortal Clan knew about it too.
Moreover, he had already communicated with Little Phoenix just now, who told him that with her severe injuries not yet healed, she could only conceal herself from beings at the first stage of creation. Facing those on the second step, there would be nowhere to hide, let alone against those on the third step.
Tang Feng and Ten Thousand Gods must have already seen through the existence of the Dao Book.
He was certain that there was a definite connection between him and the Dragon Alliance.
Otherwise, the Headless Knight would not have protected them.
Moreover, from their previous conversation with the Three Emperors Alliance, it was known that Mr. World’s master was the Formation Ancestor of the Dragon Alliance.
The fact that the Dragon Alliance’s Formation Ancestor had Mr. World as his protector said a lot.
Tang Feng and Ten Thousand Gods both fell silent for a moment.
Ten Thousand Gods looked to Tang Feng, clearly deferring to him.
"I can only tell you that there is indeed a connection between you and the Dragon Alliance. However, regarding your relationship with Lu Ming, why he put the Dao Book inside you, and even why you came from Earth, you will have to discover all these answers yourself. Revealing them prematurely could greatly impact you, influencing your mindset, life, and cultivation path."
"Only by moving steadily forward, carving out your own path, can you become a truly unique individual,"
Tang Feng stated.
Although what Lu Yan heard was perplexing, he was shocked to realize that they knew he came from Earth.
That meant his journey from Earth was not by chance.
"Lu Yan, join the Dragon Alliance and search for the answers you seek,"
After a pause, Tang Feng added another sentence.
"I am willing,"
Lu Yan agreed without hesitation.
Hesitation is for fools.
Aside from the fact that joining the Dragon Alliance was the only way to discover the answers he sought, his current situation left him with no alternative.
The Immortal Clan was undoubtedly watching him, and he had also offended the Three Emperors Alliance.
He was merely at the Immortal Second Layer, yet he had provoked two colossal forces of the Origin Continent. Without joining the Dragon Alliance to find support, he had but one path: certain death.
Tang Feng nodded with a smile, then lifted his hand. Suspended above his palm was a drop of bright red liquid.
The liquid was a drop of blood that strangely wriggled and transformed into a Three-eyed Tiger roaring skyward, emitting a terrifying presence.
If it wasn’t for Tang Feng’s suppression, Lu Yan felt that just the aura seeping from this single drop of blood could tear him apart.
"This is the blood of the Three-Eyed Tiger Emperor, a top-tier powerhouse of the Immortal Clan. You, possessing the Dao Book, should find this drop of blood useful,"
Tang Feng said.
Lu Yan nodded his head vigorously like a pecking chick.
Useful? It was outright heavenly.
"I hereby gift you this drop of blood. However, the Dao Book is severely damaged and far from recovered. It’s very difficult to refine this drop of blood. Attempting to force its refinement will do more harm than good, so I will separate it."
Having said that, Tang Feng’s palm radiated a brilliant aurora, and countless tiny Sword Qi coiled around the drop of blood.
Roar!
The blood let out a shriek and then exploded into hundreds of small blood beads.
"I have refined out the harmful substances within the blood and divided it into three hundred drops. Refining one drop at a time should pose you no harm,"
As Tang Feng finished speaking, he took out a jade bottle, collected the three hundred blood beads, and the jade bottle flew towards Lu Yan.
"Many thanks to the Sword Ancestor for your kindness,"
Lu Yan received the jade bottle, bowed respectfully, and his heart burned with fervor.
This was the blood of an Immortal Clan being at the third step of creation; refining it should surely restore a great portion of the Dao Book, right?
Also, using it to enhance the Saint Soldier’s Formula and to comprehend the Zhou Tian Huan Yu Map, to what extent could he improve?
The thought alone filled him with anticipation.
"If you have any matters to attend to, resolve them first. It’s not too late to then head to the Dragon Alliance,"
Tang Feng said.
"Predecessor, may I inquire whether my wife Yinuo and Mr. World could join the Dragon Alliance as well?"
Lu Yan asked.
Tang Feng replied with a smile, "Of course, they can join together."
"Before I join the Dragon Alliance, I wish to visit my hometown to bid farewell to my parents,"
Lu Yan said.
"I was planning to go there too; let me take you,"
Mr. World intervened.
"Then that’s settled, Mr. World, please take them. After the visit, bring them to me, and I will have someone escort them to the Dragon Alliance,"
Having finished speaking, Tang Feng stepped forward and instantly vanished from the spot.
Lu Yan didn’t even see how he left.
"Let’s go, I will take you back,"
Mr. World said.
"Predecessor, please wait a moment, I have a friend remaining in the Desolate Land,"
Lu Yan said.
Lin Yan was still there in the Desolate Land.
"Lead the way."
Mr. World said.
Lu Yan pointed out the direction and, with a wave of Mr. World’s hand, a force swept up Lu Yan, Shen Yinuo, and Mr. World, shooting through the sky.
Lu Yan saw space tear open in front of them as they traversed it, and in the blink of an eye, they arrived at Lin Yan’s place of closed-door cultivation.
Such speed, like shrinking the earth to an inch, left Lu Yan in awe.
After reuniting with Lin Yan, Lu Yan briefly recounted what had happened, leaving Lin Yan utterly astonished.
After that, Mr. World led them through the sky towards the Desolate Land.
In just a short moment, brightness flashed before them, their vision suddenly widened, and a continent quietly sat in the sea ahead of them.
It was Da Wu.
Lu Yan couldn’t help but feel emotional.
The gap was too wide.
Initially, when they set out from Da Wu to reach the Desolate Land, it was fraught with peril, taking several months to arrive.
Now, it took merely a moment.
"Speaking of which, it’s been many years since I last visited,"
Looking at the continent ahead, Mr. World sighed deeply, revealing a profound sadness in his eyes.
"Predecessor, I heard that this continent was formed from the remains of a powerful being after their death. Could it be that it also came from someone in the Dragon Alliance?"
Lu Yan asked.
"Indeed, he was my son,"
Mr. World replied.
Lu Yan was taken aback and quite surprised.
The mighty being who transformed into Da Wu was actually Mr. World’s son.
He suddenly thought of the Great Ancient Dynasty Royal Family, whose surname was Wan. Could there be a connection?
"In that war, we paid too great a price, losing too many lives. Many friends and brothers I knew died in that battle..."
Mr. World murmured softly, his eyes showing reminiscence as if gazing through the river of time to see the days when he fought shoulder to shoulder with those friends.
"Predecessor, I have a question, though I’m not sure if it’s appropriate to ask."
Lu Yan said.
"Ask away. If I can answer, I certainly will,"
Mr. World responded.
"Why did the beings of the boundless starry skies attack the Origin Continent?"
Lu Yan inquired.
Mr. World was silent for a while and then said, "It’s quite simple, the Age of Dusk approaches, the Dao will vanish, and all cultivators are scrambling for a place to survive."
"The Age of Dusk approaches, the Dao will vanish?"
Lu Yan, Shen Yinuo, and Mr. World all looked puzzled.
"To understand this, one must first comprehend the boundaries of this world. Look..."
As he spoke, Mr. World waved his hand, and an aura filled the air, with a massive map appearing overhead.
