Chapter 1203: Charming Fragmented Realm
News of the shuttle’s appearance quickly spread across the entire Jade Sea to the corners of the Heaven Spirit World.
Many cultivators were moved by this information. Many great lineages sent disciples to the coral forest. They had their own speculations regarding this matter. Of course, there were some sects who had no interest in this matter and didn't send out any disciples.
A sect master from a lineage that was interested in the matter murmured: "Wow, the Seacrossing Shuttle is back. It is capable of reaching the fragmented realm and hasn’t appeared for generations. What is the meaning behind this? Does this mean that some mysteries will be solved?"
In a powerful lineage that didn't want to participate, an old Virtuous Paragon shook his head and said: "So what about the shuttle? And the same goes for the fragmented realm. It would be a fruitless trip since that place has already become mere ruins."
An expert under his faction spoke: "But I heard when Immortal Emperor Gu Chun was young, he went there and obtained a supreme fortune, the source of the charming spirits." 1
The paragon laughed in response: "That is a matter of the past — the Desolate Era. Regardless of whether the emperor obtained something amazing or not, it is a relic of the distant past. Countless generations have gone by since his era and the shuttle has appeared many more times, but until now, no one has ever heard of someone else getting anything from there. It is a forsaken land, nothing is there."
Despite a few big shots believing that there was nothing at the Charming Fragmented Realm, other experts still moved to explore it.
In fact, imperial lineages treated this matter with great importance, especially the ones from the Charming Spirit Race. They sent experts there in a very low-key manner. Most of them concealed their identities while trying to discover a method of entry.
The charming spirits were especially interested in this because one of their wise sages had speculated that this realm had countless ties with their race. Some even claimed that it had to do with their origin.
The shuttle signified the path to the fragmented realm. Generations of charming spirit sages had researched this place, but no one knew what was within.
Because of this, many assumed that it was a forsaken wasteland of an abandoned ancient battlefield.
Regardless of these beliefs, more and more people kept an eye out for the shuttle that was slowly rising from the trench while moving forward.
There had been some changes to the shuttle after its appearance. One of the four portals carved on its hull was slowly lighting up. It seemed that the shuttle was absorbing the power of the trench in order to open this particular portal.
However, this process was very slow. The runes on the door continued to shine as if it was unlocking its shackles.
A paragon from the previous generation saw the current situation of the shuttle and commented: "The portal is about to open. When the entire door lights up, the portal will be usable and the fragmented realm will be right beyond it."
As several more days passed, this door finally lit up completely. All the runes and totems continuously wove together to form a bright portal.
"The dao portal has been formed, we can go to the Charming Fragmented Realm now." The cultivators who had been paying attention were slightly stunned by the portal's emergence, but they quickly calmed down.
"Let us go." An old Virtuous Paragon personally took the lead and disappeared into the portal. His sect's disciples hurriedly entered as well.
"We'll go as well, we will be the second Immortal Emperor Gu Chun once we obtain the incredible fortune within!" Many cultivators quickly disappeared into the portal as well.
In fact, the majority of them had never been here before. It was the legend of the young Immortal Emperor Gu Chun that drew them here. They ignored everything and let caution to the wind as they decided to enter first.
After many rushed into the fragmented realm, Li Qiye and the two boys finally arrived.
"The Seacrossing Shuttle is just as the legend states." The duo was shaken to see the shuttle with their own eyes.
They suddenly had this thought at the same time: the shuttle's appearance must have something to do with Li Qiye and the armored shark.
But as for the details, they wouldn't dare ask the quiet Li Qiye.
After seeing the formed portal, Ye Tu asked: "Will this door lead to the mythical fragmented realm?"
"Yes." Li Qiye nodded: "This is the only path. Without it, people will never be able to reach that realm."
Teng Jiwen looked at Ye Tu and said: "I also heard that the fragmented realm has a lot to do with charming spirits." As a treant, he didn't care too deeply about this realm.
"Only the heavens know." Ye Tu scratched his head in response: "It is only a legend, especially the one regarding Immortal Emperor Gu Chun and his great fortune. Who knows if it is real or not? Outside of the emperor, no one has ever heard of someone gaining anything from there for millions of years now."
"If your forefathers heard this, they might beat your head off." Li Qiye looked at him and said: "I don't know if others obtained treasures or not, but your patriarch, Immortal Emperor Wu Gou, obtained an extremely heaven-defying treasure from there."
"Really?" Ye Tu was stunned. He thought about a few rumors in his sect and began to stammer: "This… this is difficult to believe… Can it be that our, our item is actually from the Charming Fragmented Realm?"
"Correct." Li Qiye looked at the Seacrossing Shuttle, no, the Untethered Vessel, and said: "Your patriarch personally visited the fragmented realm after becoming an emperor and obtained an incredible item. It is just that future generations weren't privy to this. On the other hand, what Immortal Emperor Gu Chun's achieved in his youth was told for ages."
"What did Immortal Emperor Wu Gou obtain from there?" Teng Jiwen became quite curious.
Ye Tu answered with some uncertainty: "I don't know too well, but I heard the ancestors say that… it might be the Void Imperfection Spring."
Having said that, he looked over at Li Qiye in search of an answer.
Li Qiye only smiled and stared at the shuttle.
"The Seacrossing Shuttle has four doors." Teng Jiwen changed the subject after seeing that Li Qiye had no intention of responding and asked: "Right now, only one portal has been formed. Will the other three doors turn into portals as well?"
"It is no longer important." Li Qiye shook his head and replied: "Each portal is equal to a world, that's all you need to know."
"Will they open then?" Teng Jiwen was a bit surprised: "According to our records, the shuttle only leads to the fragmented realm."
Li Qiye replied: "There are too many things people don't know in this world."
Ye Tu glanced at the shuttle and asked: "Where do they lead?"
"They have never been opened." Li Qiye slowly spoke: "As for their destinations, who knows? The world will find out once they open. Of course, that day might never come."
Li Qiye knew full well that it wasn't easy to open the other three doors of the shuttle. In fact, when the time was ripe, they would open by themselves. However, everything would change when that day comes…
Li Qiye spoke: "Come, let us enter. After finding what I need, I will still have to see your ancestral whale."
After hearing this, the duo was quite moved because the whale of the Void Imperfection Three Schools was too mysterious and full of legends. However, few had seen it. At the very least, they were not qualified to see it.
The two of them followed him into the portal.
A world unraveled before them. It was a fragmented world full of questions.
Here, the mountains were either shattered or torn asunder. The earth was split by shocking scars everywhere. Even the oceans here had boiled into deserts. Up in the sky, gigantic peaks had been pulled down by universal laws. Enormous stars from up above fell onto the ground.
From these individual scenes, one could imagine the horrifying events that transpired here. It could have been a natural disaster or a heaven-shattering war!
Remember that Gu Chun was the first emperor and made an appearance in the second side story. His title means Ancient Purity. ↩Chapter 1204: The World Beneath The Creek
In this broken realm, Teng Jiwen and Ye Tu had different feelings. They couldn't explain it clearly, but they felt that they were overwhelmed with indescribable emotions.
It was difficult to point out whether this was a happy or sad emotion amidst their confusion. This was especially true for Ye Tu; this sentiment continued to linger within him.
"It is affecting your instincts." Li Qiye explained while the two were still uncertain. He then looked at Ye Tu and said: "You are a charming spirit, so this is even more intense for you."
Ye Tu had to ask: "Is this place really related to our race?"
Though this was his first visit here, he had heard his seniors talking about it before. Their wise sages had made a prediction. Because of this, experts from their race had entered this place many times throughout history. Even their Void Imperfect Three Schools had explored this place, but all left without great results.
Li Qiye maintained his mysterious smile instead of giving an answer. He looked at the horizon and said: "Let's go, there is a place we must reach."
With that, he took the first step forward. The two boys quickly gave chase.
The group took their time. Along their journey, many people from all over the world could be seen entering the realm.
The majority of the cultivators here were eager to find treasures or fortunes among the ruins. Because of this, people were digging deep into the ground or using their divine intents to sweep through the mountains and rivers. Some were climbing to higher places while others drilled into the earth in their search.
Because of the legend of Immortal Emperor Gu Chun, knowing that nothing might come of this trip didn't deter people's enthusiasm and interest. Everyone dreamed of becoming the second Immortal Emperor Gu Chun.
Cultivators dug one mountain after another and plowed the land to no avail. They didn't find anything at all, let alone a great fortune. One of them complained: "The Charming Fragmented Realm is truly a wasteland, there is nothing here."
"How could it be so easy to find a great fortune? It wouldn't be called a fortune if it was easily found." His friend smiled and comforted him: "You know, since the start of time, how many people were like Immortal Emperor Gu Chun? He was the only one! The first emperor of the nine worlds! The first Immortal Emperor! If his fortune came so easily, he wouldn't have been the first emperor."
After hearing his friend, the cultivator regained his spirits and continued to look for fortunes and treasures.
The legend was a great moving force for these adventurers. They continued to look over and over again without giving up. In their minds was the image of the first emperor of the nine worlds, the pride of the charming spirits — Immortal Emperor Gu Chun.
After seeing the fruitless searches of the other cultivators, Ye Tu asked Li Qiye: "Is this a forsaken land? Did it used to hide a great secret?"
Although Li Qiye had mentioned his progenitor's success at finding a supreme treasures in this place, the later generations had never heard of someone else who found something, not even a piece of scrap metal.
"Who says a secret realm must have treasures and fortunes?" Li Qiye looked at the youth and smilingly replied: "Must the forefathers bury treasures or leave behind fortunes in this place so that the future generations can come to find them?"
"But, but Immortal Emperor Gu Chun really did receive a fortune in this place." Ye Tu hesitated a bit before replying.
Li Qiye laughed in response: "Because he is Immortal Emperor Gu Chun. It's just as these people have been repeating, how many were similar to him since the start of time? Nobody, since only one could become the first emperor."
Having said that, he pointed at this head and continued: "In this place, items, treasures, and even fortunes — none of these matter. The crucial part is here. If you can understand, you will have a harvest; if you can't, then there is nothing worth remembering in this place. It will be a wasteland like the people say."
Ye Tu interjected: "Young Noble, our progenitor found something here as well."
"Why is it that Immortal Emperor Wu Gou could find something but others can't?" Li Qiye smiled: "This place is different from the other locations, including the twelve burial grounds. The burial grounds are places with buried treasures, but it would be a huge mistake to use that logic here."
Teng Jiwen asked: "How is this place different from the others?"
Li Qiye pondered for a moment with a forlorn gaze before answering insipidly: "In a distant age, it supported an entire race. And it's not just this land, the shuttle that you both call the Seacrossing Shuttle is included as well. It signified endless hope."
"Endless hope?" Teng Jiwen murmured. This casual sentence from Li Qiye left him with an everlasting aftertaste.
"If you can understand this, then you will become the second Immortal Emperor Gu Chun." Li Qiye looked at Teng Jiwen who was trying to make sense of this.
Teng Jiwen coughed and said: "Sir, you are messing with me. I am a treant, so I can't become an Immortal Emperor."
Li Qiye laughed and replied: "You are right, but understanding the meaning of this place will grant you a lifetime of benefits even if you are a treant."
The youth shook his head: "Sir, you think too highly of me. As everyone said before, Immortal Emperor Gu Chun is unique. As for me… even though my talents aren't bad, I am only an insect compared to the emperors. I know my own worth very well."
Teng Jiwen was telling the truth. As the successor of the Heavenvine Citadel, his talents weren't bad at all. He wasn't looking down on himself either, it was just that he knew he was far from being comparable to the emperors.
The group walked for a long time before they reached a waterfall. It was pouring down from a cliff so high that it seemed to be falling from the sky.
Its current flowed along the terrain, but its stream was divided into several smaller creeks even over yonder.
Li Qiye picked a creek and waded into the water with the two youths. The next second, they sank to the bottom.
At this time, he took out a sea clam, the one that he caught at the Bottomless Trench. He threw it into the creek and said: "Go, you can find your way home by yourself."
Afterwards, he turned towards the duo and warned: "Follow my footsteps closely, do not make the slightest mistake."
His serious expression made the boys shudder. They didn't dare to be careless and quickly nodded.
The clam began to move while wiggling at the bottom of the creek. The pearl within emitted a golden light as if it was guiding the way.
It left behind a faint trace of light. Li Qiye followed it step by step in a very meticulous manner. He knew that one misstep would ruin all of his efforts and that he would have to start all over again.
The duo behind Li Qiye was even more careful. They nervously followed right behind Li Qiye and stepped on his footprints without daring to be careless.
At first, they felt that there was nothing special here. The current of the creek continued to flow with fishes and shrimps swimming about.
However, they suddenly realized that the space around them was a mirage. Suddenly this was an ancient path, no longer the simple path of the creek.
This path led all the way to the sky. They walked upward as if this was a process to ascend to deityhood. However, they saw some terrifying scenes.
In this space, they saw unbelievably gigantic warships. They hovered in space like stars and each of them could carry continents spanning millions and millions of miles.
Such warships had been destroyed. Some were split in two while others had huge holes that went straight through them. Others had uneven gaps while more were shattered nearly to the point of being unrecognizable…
Amidst their daze, they saw countless fragments floating in space, the fragments were bits of cracked sabers, broken swords, and fragmented axes…
Furthermore, they saw skeletons. Some of the skeletons were enormous, as if they were huge monsters that still had a golden glow to them…