paranoianovel Chapter 614 - 483: Blood-Stained World (Part 2)
Chapter 614 - 483: Blood-Stained World (Part 2)
The Yellow Talisman exerted its power, instantly igniting and transforming into wisps of black smoke, crackling as they rose, coalescing into a cloud of obscure black air in the sky.
"Incense offerings, tribulation energy—quite a unique approach!"
Chen Sheng gazed from afar, his eyes penetrating through layers of space, observing the entire process of the Daoist’s spellcasting. He gently shook his head internally:
"In this era of the end of magic, with Spiritual Qi depleted, one can only gather incense offerings, accumulate tribulation energy, refine the Yin spirit, cast spells, cultivate nature without cultivating life—eternal life is but a mirage of flowers in the mirror and moon in the water, how desolate!"
...
The old boatman noticed Chen Sheng looking toward the direction of the green hills and hastily began to explain:
"Master, you may not know, that’s Daoist Li Guanlong from Creek Mountain, casting spells to execute the man-eating Mountain Monarch of Mang Mountain! Daoist Li is a living immortal of our Jin State Mansion, extremely formidable!"
"A few years ago, a Black Dragon King appeared in our Wusu River, constantly causing storms, eating people, and destroying boats, making the riverside fishermen afraid to fish, living in utter misery."
"Later, the Lord of the State personally intervened, spending a fortune to invite Daoist Li to cast spells and slew that Black Dragon King."
"The corpse of that Black Dragon King was dragged ashore and paraded for three days. You should have seen it; that evil Flood Dragon was a full five zhang long, its scales pitch black, sharp as knives, an absolute fright to behold!"
The old man spoke vividly, gesturing animatedly, as if witnessing it firsthand.
Chen Sheng heard this, a faint smile curling at the corner of his mouth:
"Oh? Such a Flood Dragon exists? I certainly haven’t seen one."
The old boatman laughed heartily:
"You’re in for a treat today then, Master!"
"That Mang Mountain Monarch is the guardian spirit of the mountain’s primitive people, said to be two zhang tall, possessing immense strength."
"Previously, several Daoists attempted to subdue the demon, but none were its match, and two were lost in the process!"
"But with Immortal Li’s intervention, even Flood Dragons can be slain, let alone a mere Mountain Monarch; it’s a breeze."
Chen Sheng nodded slightly, remaining indifferent.
With an impulse, his will expanded like an invisible torrent, instantly enveloping Mang Mountain for a thousand miles.
Unaware, the Daoist Li Guanlong continued chanting spells fervently atop the ritual platform on the mountain peak.
Deep within Mang Mountain, the scene inside a Mountain God Temple vividly emerged in Chen Sheng’s mind.
Inside the temple, a majestic red-robed Divine Monarch statue sat on the main seat, its visage fierce, holding a steel whip, exhibiting great authority.
Flanking the statue stood various smaller figurines of literary judges, day spirits, night spirits, and patrol gods, each with different postures.
The altar brimming with mountain fruits and meats, incense burning bright!
Yet in Chen Sheng’s eyes, this so-called red-robed Divine Monarch was merely a large, spotted tiger, crouched above, eyes shut in meditation.
Those literary judges and patrol gods were once consumed Daoists, transformed into wraiths. Their twisted faces exuded a chilling aura, wandering aimlessly within the temple.
Chen Sheng mused:
"In the era of insufficient magic, even creatures struggle with cultivation, yet it’s rare to find such a heart seeking the Dao."
As they conversed, the boatwoman came on deck carrying a steaming bowl of fish soup, its rich aroma quickly filling the cabin.
"Master, old man, the fish soup is ready, please enjoy."
The boatwoman’s voice was as soft as a mosquito’s buzz; she placed the fish soup down with a flushed face and hurriedly retreated.
Chen Sheng picked up a spoon, carefully ladling a scoop of fish soup into his mouth, savoring the warm, flavorful taste as it spread across his tongue:
"Not bad! Not bad!"
The old boatman chuckled: "I knew the master would like it."
Chen Sheng nodded gently, savoring the earthly flavors, yet his heart was filled with indescribable nostalgia.
As countless ages passed, the Celestial Abyss Realm was no longer the world he remembered, undergoing earth-shattering changes.
The realm had entered the third stage of development and destruction—Destructive Tribulation.
In terms of geography, the mountains and rivers transformed dramatically, akin to changing seas into mulberry fields.
Once, the Celestial Abyss Realm was vast, the Great Wilderness Four Domains connected, stars hung high, Spiritual Qi abundant.
Yet now, the realm had shrunk to less than one ten-thousandth of what he remembered.
Moreover, under Chen Sheng’s conscious sensing, the border of the realm constantly crumbled and perished, transforming into chaotic air currents, as the entire world rapidly deteriorated and hurtled toward ruin at an observable speed.
In terms of cultivation—only four words, an era of depleted magic!
Countless tens of thousands of years ago, Spiritual Qi completely vanished from this realm, even the lowest Spirit Vein had long decayed into ash.
The traditional Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and Divinity Transformation cultivation systems faced near-total annihilation, with no one able to tread that path leading to the Great Dao.
However, the transformation of cultivators has always been gradual; survival of the fittest.
Cultivators of this realm, even in desperation, found a narrow path, akin to the Technique practiced by Daoist Li Guanlong, using incense offering wish power to accumulate tribulation energy, driving power with Yin spirit spells.
Though unsuitable for high society, it counts as a struggle for survival in the era of depleted magic.
As for the Celestial Abyss Imperial Court, founded by Chen Sheng in his previous life to unify this realm, it had long been buried in the sands of time.
Once, the imperial court’s grandeur ruled over myriad souls...
Now, it remains only in fragmented stories passed down among common folk, becoming ethereal myths and legends.
"A thousand years from now, we are history; ten thousand years later, we are myth; what of tens of thousands of years!"
"Indeed, seas have changed to mulberry fields, existence and relationships have transformed. Seeking to commemorate old friends, none can be found!"
Chen Sheng’s gaze once again turned outside the window, the riverbanks still picturesque, the smoky atmosphere still dense, but all these are now irrelevant to him.