Chapter 202: The Passing Of Myths
"The furnace, well, it's better left unmentioned. Telling you about it would be meaningless," the Peacock, over five meters long and as white as jade, shook its head in the midst of the crowd.
Just when everyone was deeply engaged, it stopped abruptly, leaving the audience dumbstruck... and then, desiring to give it a good thrashing! Unfortunately, it was the most powerful demon in the Earth Immortal City, with an unfathomable background. Even if everyone joined forces, they wouldn't be enough to take it down. It was said that even the ancestors of many monsters in the Hidden Land were unaware of the Peacock's origins!
"I was all ears... no, wait, I mean, I had even washed my ears clean for this story, how could it just stop?" murmured Zhou Yun, somewhat under his breath.
Zhong Qing, pure and beautiful, shot him a fierce glare, causing him to sheepishly fall silent.
Naturally, the people from the three Transcendent Stars were not content. They were eager to know the origins of the furnace and the details of those top-tier mystical artifacts.
"When the Celestials have departed, the Ascended turned to dust, the Sages of Longevity vanished, and the Earth Immortals decayed, what remains in this world to inspire us? Only legends!" Old Chen spoke up.
He looked around at the crowd and then directly at the Peacock, saying, "In this era, the successors can only look up to myths and savor legends to strengthen their beliefs and courage to forge their own paths. If even the legends vanish and myths decay, leaving everything to turn to dust, what remains on the path of cultivation? We cultivators, especially those who insist on following the old ways, will lose the drive and goal to pursue, doubting whether all that we seek is nothing but an illusion."
"Well said! I'm all ears... I mean, I'm listening attentively!" Zhou Yun shouted, agreeing loudly.
Zheng Rui, with a deep and silent gaze, remained quiet, the only movement being a slight tremble of the beads on his wrist.
"Even on our three Transcendent Stars, there are no Earth Immortals left, not to mention, very few at the early stages of the Free Roaming realm," another voiced.
"The mysterious factors are dissipating, only the remnants in the Inner Landscape artifacts left by our predecessors remain, to be infused into necessary tools. What exactly has happened over these years?"
"I've heard that in our universe, the last of the high-level Transcendent civilizations is also nearing extinction. There are only one or two Earth Immortals left. How tragic is that!"
The people from the three Transcendent Stars were deeply unsettled. A single mystical artifact had unraveled myths and stirred thoughts about the present and the future, leading to profound unease.
Wang Xuan was struck by awe. He was hearing extraordinary things. Was the decay of all things not just occurring in the Old and New Worlds but across the universe too?
In the vast expanse of space, amidst the boundless universe, this galaxy harbored only one high-level Transcendent planet and three ordinary Transcendent planets? Wang Xuan listened intently, coming to the realization that indeed, in this unfamiliar universe, there were only these four planets teeming with life.
Old Chen, too, furrowed his brows, not expecting his words to evoke such a sense of unease among the cultivators from Yuhua, Eura, and Heluo civilizations.
After a moment of silence, the Peacock sighed deeply, unexpectedly not offering comfort but instead shaking its head with a weighty tone. "In fact, myths are indeed decaying, and legends are fading away." These words thundered in everyone's ears like a bolt from the blue.
The crowd was stunned; the Peacock seemed to be undermining everyone's beliefs, and it appeared disillusioned itself. "Those who are exalted will fall, the bright will dim; nothing is transcendent. Everything in this world is merely returning to its origin."
The Peacock's words, filled with melancholy and resignation, sounded like those of a being that had weathered countless calamities and epochs.
The listeners were not just dumbstruck this time but truly horrified. What was this enigmatic and powerful demon implying? Was it negating the path of Transcendence?
"It's time for you to adapt slowly. If you can preserve your current cultivation levels, in the future, you will be extraordinary beings," the Peacock advised.
The cultivators from the three Transcendent Stars trembled. It was like listening to a grisly ghost story in the dead of night, and the storyteller was emphasizing its reality.
"How can you harbor such despair, elder?" someone couldn't help but ask, concerned that such a perspective was too demoralizing for cultivators.
"Transcendence was the anomaly. The world was following its natural course until that anomaly activated, drew in, and radiated different Transcendents, giving rise to the Celestials. But as the trajectory returns to normality, and the errors are corrected, the splash made unexpectedly in the sky will ultimately fall," the Peacock explained.
Everyone was unsettled by this revelation. Even Wang Xuan and Old Chen felt the atmosphere grow oppressive. Could the Peacock's assertions be credible? Was Transcendence indeed an anomaly, the real truth of their existence?
The Peacock spoke calmly, "Some believe it's better to keep the truth hidden, but I think it's wiser to tell you now, so you're not overwhelmed by fear in the future."
Wang Xuan, unable to contain his curiosity, asked, "What about the Celestials?"
"They will all fall, decay, and perish," replied the Peacock gravely.
This revelation stunned everyone, sparking intense discussions. Many were left sweating coldly, pondering if this meant the end of Transcendent civilizations.
Wang Xuan felt a seismic shift in his perception. He had never anticipated such a conclusion. Observing the Peacock, he realized that its origins might surpass everyone's imagination. How could an ordinary demon know such things?
He had encountered beings from beyond the Great Veil; they only sought freedom, never mentioning anything like this. And the Ferryman, a keeper of promises, was even less likely to divulge such secrets.
A voice broke the silence, "The Celestials are immortal, eternally alive. How can they die, decay, and fall to the mortal realm?"
The Peacock responded calmly, "In fact, their dwellings have already started to fall from the void. Their laws have decayed, descending into the mundane world, becoming ordinary."
Then it shared a terrifying truth that left everyone feeling cold and directionless. "Some of the Great Veils have already extinguished, some are in the process. One after another, the realms of the Celestials are dimming, dying!"
This was a heart-shattering revelation. The so-called "realms of the Celestials" decaying, declining, and disintegrating, and the Celestials themselves marching towards extinction?
"Are there many such realms?" Old Chen inquired, seizing the moment of the Peacock's openness to unearth more secrets.
"One Great Veil is one celestial domain, each can be considered a realm of the Celestials," the Peacock confirmed with a nod.
Wang Xuan and Old Chen remained relatively calm, already accustomed to the brilliance of a technological civilization where old ways had faded for countless years.
As for Zhao Qinghan, Zhou Yun, and others from the New World, they took it more in stride. Having grown up in a world where interstellar travel was the norm, they viewed such technological civilizations as the standard.
Arriving in the Hidden Land had repeatedly jolted the worldviews of Zhao Qinghan and the others from the New World. But now, they were finally hearing something that aligned with the natural laws of development.
In contrast, the people from the three Transcendent planets felt as if a cornerstone of their worldview had crumbled. The ideals they had longed for, the beliefs deeply rooted in their hearts, were now shaken to the core. With the Celestials themselves decaying, what in this world could last forever? What was the purpose of their arduous cultivation?
"Therefore, strive to preserve your current cultivation," the Peacock advised. "Keep what you can, for when the day of drastic change comes, all the high and mighty Transcendents will fall back to the mortal world."
The Peacock's gaze drifted from the Great Veil atop the altar to the far horizon, a look of melancholy in its eyes. This time, it did not glance at Zheng Rui or the beaded bracelet on his wrist.
Everyone was left with mixed feelings, especially the Transcendents from Yuhua, Eura, and Hela. This revelation was particularly distressing for them, as it signified a bleak future.
Unexpectedly, the Peacock voluntarily spoke of the furnace. "This furnace is called the Nurturing Furnace."
The crowd was taken aback. Earlier, the item was referred to as the Carefree Boat, and now this furnace bore the name 'Nurturing.' Was this a mere coincidence, or did it correspond to two of the four great realms?
"As you might have guessed, it is a medicinal furnace. Celestial beings of extraordinary stature have fought over it fiercely, for it truly has the power to nurture life."
The Peacock recounted shocking tales of the past, bloodstained and violent. The third strongest among the Celestials had died because of this furnace. The battle for it was so ferocious that multiple Celestial realms intertwined, and all the mighty true immortals went berserk, waging a deadly battle drenched in celestial blood.
"The furnace can enhance the potency of herbs. Any herb placed within it and nurtured over time can significantly improve in quality," the Peacock explained.
"If given enough time, this furnace can transform ordinary medicines into extraordinary elixirs!" The Peacock's words sent everyone into deep contemplation. If such wonders could be achieved with common herbs, what would be the outcome when nurturing celestial medicines? Everyone was in awe, realizing the furnace's tremendous value—it could nurture herbs that even the Celestials trembled at, hence their bloody battles over it.
The Peacock then revealed another astonishing aspect of the furnace. "If not too distant, it can capture the essence of celestial medicines!"
This revelation was explosive. The people from the three Transcendent planets had heard of celestial medicines, and though they had never seen or touched them, they knew these were the ultimate medicines of legend. The very mention of celestial medicines left those familiar with them utterly astounded. These elusive medicines, once seen, were known to vanish before they could be harvested.
"This furnace can capture their potent essence!" the Peacock added.
This mysterious object was not a weapon, but its effects and abilities were coveted by the most powerful among the Celestials, reflecting its remarkable capabilities in nurturing life.
"Imagine having this furnace in the higher spiritual worlds. Even when celestial medicines elude capture, or the orchards of immortal peaches flicker out of existence, possessing this furnace might just make a difference..." the Peacock trailed off, leaving everyone to ponder just how transformative a complete celestial medicine nurtured in this furnace could be.
"I've decided to share about this furnace because the Celestials are decaying, and the Transcendents are returning to the dust. These few treasures may retain some of their wondrous properties. In the future, if you come across it in the mortal world, it might help preserve some of your transcendent powers, though the effect is likely to be greatly diminished," the Peacock explained.
"Is this Nurturing Furnace in our universe, in the mortal realm, and not beyond the Great Veil in the realm of the immortals?" someone asked tremblingly.
The Peacock nodded. "Yes, it was likely expelled from the realm beyond the Great Veil during a battle among the Celestials. They couldn't pursue it; otherwise, it wouldn't have been lost."
"Is it really in the mortal world?!" the crowd murmured, their eyes lighting up with hope.
"It should be in this world, but what we usually see are imitations," the Peacock sighed, adding that there's likely a replica in the Hidden Land.
Wang Xuan stood dumbfounded, his heart sinking with disappointment, realizing that what he possessed might just be a replica of the fabled furnace.
"How do we distinguish between the real and the imitation? What are the differences?" asked Grandmaster Ma.
"The genuine furnace is inscribed with dense celestial scripts inside, while replicas lack these," the Peacock explained.
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