Chapter 621: 往返诸奇、宙海沉浮

The Boundary-Breaking Divine Vessel was a typical small boat. It was originally built for elite cultivators of the Xuanhuang Battle Immortal Division, specializing in deep infiltration missions, sabotage behind enemy lines, or guerrilla tactics. Its small size allowed for great speed and the ability to breach world barriers, moving freely between realms. Therefore, carrying these dozen or so people already pushed it to its limit. Any more, and it would be a packed scene, barely three times the size of a small skiff.

At that moment, as Wang Yu cast his spell, everyone felt the surrounding space constantly shifting. First, through conventional travel methods, they entered the void layer behind the world. The Mountains and Seas Realm had long since ceased to contain chaos. It had already reached the limit of a world's normal development. Thus, after turning into the void, the divine vessel, like a sharp blade cutting through a curtain, carved a dazzling rift in the chaotic, topsy-turvy darkness. This... was the sight of a world barrier being breached.

“Hold tight, everyone!” Wang Yu chuckled. Although it was his first attempt, he looked completely like a seasoned veteran. As the divine vessel accelerated, everyone immediately used their spiritual energy to adhere to the deck. Outside the divine vessel's protective spiritual barrier was a shimmering, colorful, brilliant passage, like polished glass.

At this moment, Qing Qing curiously tugged at Wang Yu's sleeve. “Brother Wei, during your thousand years away from the Mountains and Seas, have you been traveling between nearby worlds using this divine vessel?” If so, the origins of his extraordinary divine abilities and spirit treasures made sense. Could a person truly become this powerful without gathering opportunities from several worlds? Especially given his relaxed demeanor, as if he'd done this countless times.

“Cough, cough…” Wang Yu coughed a couple of times, pretending to signal Qing Qing not to ask such sensitive questions. After all, there were still so many people around. Sure enough, the passengers all showed expressions of sudden understanding, realizing, “So you’re so strong because you’ve traveled to multiple minor worlds!” Little did they know, this was another one of Wang Yu’s tactics to make his identity more convincing. Through subtle details and imperceptible influence, he let these people continuously fill in the blanks, leading them to a state of complete conviction. In the future, if they met again, he wouldn’t need to devise disguises; these very people would be his best spokespeople.

Traveling through world barriers was very fast. In fact, it only took a few breaths. As the scenery in their vision changed, everyone collectively gasped. Even the well-traveled Lan Feng and the Heavenly Dragon Buddhist Disciple were mostly theorizers. This was their first time witnessing the true Cosmic Ocean.

Wang Yu was also immersed in observing this peculiar place. His first impression was nothing but splendor. The Cosmic Ocean was strikingly similar to the universe he remembered from his previous life. There was no air or spiritual energy here, only a myriad of incredibly violent, anomalous energies. It was like an boundless dark canvas, studded with twinkling stars and various peculiar nebulae, truly resembling the universe of his past at first glance. Places like the Vast Immortal Realm, for example, were galaxies or star clusters where life existed, forming miraculous and breathtaking colors from countless magnificent phenomena.

As the twinkling stars continuously receded, like lighthouses guiding lost lambs, Wang Yu activated the divine vessel's auto-navigation function and couldn't help but look back. This was an epic spectacle that could not be witnessed through the Lunar Return Eye Technique: The Visage of a World!

“It looks like an egg,” Lan Feng suddenly said, walking to the stern and standing shoulder to shoulder with Wang Yu. He pointed at the Mountains and Seas Realm. “What I’ve seen and felt from books before pales in comparison to the shock of seeing it with my own eyes. This is the Void Abyss... this is the Cosmic Ocean. We are like a small boat adrift on the sea, bobbing and floating, with no end in sight.”

Lan Feng seemed to be speaking from the heart, but he might also be using the hidden dangers beneath the Cosmic Ocean's magnificent facade to describe his own cultivation path. Seemingly splendid and prosperous, yet in truth, fraught with peril. The internal competition within the Demonic Dragon Lineage was intense. Staying in the Mountains and Seas Realm for a few more years might not be a bad thing, especially after witnessing the “Deadly Black Mountain” left behind by Wang Yu's divine ability. Only then did he realize he had been in a state of arrogance and complacency. Therefore, he sought to befriend Wang Yu and build a friendship, knowing it would surely be useful in the future. In the vast Immortal Realm of Cangmang, prodigies emerged endlessly, and even Immortals were far from invincible. How could he guarantee that he would never need allies or friends? A bit of information was his first step in establishing rapport.

As the divine vessel continuously accelerated, the surrounding scenery receded faster and faster. Following the ascension passage of the Mountains and Seas Realm, the divine vessel traveled alongside it.

Once it was completely stable, everyone began chatting, pointing at the various wonders in the Cosmic Ocean and exclaiming in admiration. Occasionally, upon seeing a crack in the Great Dao, they wished they could get closer to study it. Unfortunately, opportunities in the Cosmic Ocean generally required at least the Void Refinement stage to access; being able to see them from afar was already fortunate for them.

“Look, it’s the Thunder Spirit Waving a Banner!” Not long after, everyone's gaze was drawn to a peculiar sight. Wang Yu also looked on with curiosity. Upon noticing this, Lan Feng explained.

“Thunder Spirits are historical projections from past times. Legend has it they are kin created by the innate Star God born from Tianquan Star, commonly known as ‘Thunder Star.’ After the Thunder Star God fell, all things grieved, and the heavens wept blood. Its kin, the Thunder Spirits, shook their soul-summoning banners day and night, hoping to call back the Star God’s soul and resurrect their lord. Over time, combined with intense emotions and will, this triggered a phenomenon that drew the attention of the River of Time, marking it as a significant historical event and thus recording it. The sight of the Thunder Spirits waving their banners will randomly reappear in the Cosmic Ocean for future generations to behold. Legend says there are other secrets hidden within, but those are beyond our knowledge.”

Wang Yu raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. Another Star God. He had once seen a similar temporal projection on the moon, where he obtained a remnant of the “Taiyin Body Refinement Treasure Scroll” and forcibly gained entry into it thanks to the illogical effect of his system’s placement ability. This kind of phenomenon, generated through interaction with the River of Time, he saw more clearly. Essentially, it was a trace left behind by the Thunder Star God’s innate comprehension of the Thunder Dao and its interaction with the Great Dao. If one were to delve into it, there might even be a Star God’s inheritance. However, those dark thunderclouds formed by rolling thunder were clearly not a dangerous place that a mere Nascent Soul cultivator could enter.

‘Still not strong enough…’ This feeling of entering a treasure mountain only to leave empty-handed truly pained him, but Wang Yu didn’t show it, continuing to chat with Lan Feng about everything under the sun. Along the way, everyone's horizons were greatly broadened. Occasionally, they passed minor or medium worlds; if they were famous, Lan Feng knew about them all, like a “Cosmic Ocean Encyclopedia,” possessing extremely rich theoretical knowledge.

Besides the wonder of the Thunder Spirit Waving a Banner, they also witnessed two common dangers: the Eye of Distortion and the Void Storm. The former devoured everything like a black hole, while the latter could unleash storms powerful enough to extinguish the vitality of an entire world. The Immortal Palace generally did not interfere with such naturally occurring wonders, unless they were about to threaten a life-bearing world under its dominion; only then would powerful beings be dispatched to relocate them. To put it simply, they would throw these things outside the Vast Immortal Realm to prevent them from harming valuable life-bearing worlds.

Besides the perilous areas, they also encountered a small group of Void Kun. Seven large and three small ones roamed the Cosmic Ocean, surviving by devouring violent anomalous energies and meteorite fragments. Their size was terrifying. They were innately attuned to spatial power, capable of comprehending the rudiments of spatial dao once they matured. Their strength was about five times higher than the average Void Refinement cultivator. They possessed an innate divine ability, “Heaven in the Stomach.” Their stomachs were top-grade spiritual materials for Void Refinement cultivators to establish personal paradises. Wang Yu and the others couldn't defeat them, so they could only sigh in resignation. If he encountered a lone one, he might be able to try his luck. However, this trip's primary goal was to safely reach the True Spirit Realm. It was his first voyage, and while opportunities might arise in the future, it was best to be cautious for now.

Thus, their knowledge greatly increased along the way, and their understanding of this cultivation world became increasingly detailed. Finally! After several months of relentless travel, an incredibly vast world came into view. All sorts of ascension passages, like silk threads spun by silkworms, descended upon various parts of this magnificent sphere. It seemed to be tightly bound at the center, like a spiderweb. But Wang Yu knew this was a preconceived illusion. Those ascension passages connected countless worlds, all necessary measures for the Immortal Palace to consolidate its rule. Standing on the Boundary-Breaking Divine Vessel, everyone gazed up at this massive world, feeling as insignificant as a speck of dust beneath a sky full of stars.

“We’ve arrived.”

“This journey was indeed smooth. It truly lives up to its reputation as the renowned Boundary-Breaking Divine Vessel, far safer than other methods. This ticket was worth it!”

Seeing everyone's continuous exclamations, Wang Yu simply smiled. He didn't interject.

Unlike the difficulty of crossing world barriers between minor worlds, the barriers of the Nine Peak Realms of the Vast Immortal Realm had been improved by True Immortals. They could even actively guide approaching human cultivators inside, without needing to worry about the world barrier's repulsion. This not only facilitated the existence of “stowaways” but was also a result of the Immortal Palace’s fundamental nature: humanity was constantly eager for talent. For those content with the status quo, things proceeded according to rules. As for those who dared to scheme and actually succeeded, the Immortal Palace would tacitly approve, even believing such cultivators possessed greater fortune, thus allowing them to start directly as Immortal Palace Heavenly Soldiers, without needing to fight for a path on the frontline of Cangmang. It valued those who dared to act and strive, yet disdained those who rigidly followed rules. However, the Immortal Palace itself greatly emphasized rules, and most cultivators who violated the heavenly principles and immortal laws had to face the “Immortal Execution Platform.” This seemingly contradictory developmental philosophy actually served as an excellent complement, and due to the different cultivation systems of the Nine Realms, it was perfectly sustained. Over time, this led to the current state of affairs. Of course, this was merely his perception as a lower-tier cultivator; the specifics of various customs would only become truly clear after direct experience.

He hovered the divine vessel at the edge of the True Spirit Realm. Lan Feng suddenly asked, “Brother Wei, why don’t you enter with us? The cultivation environment in the lower realms is still too poor compared to the upper realms. I’ve heard there are no mortals in the Nine Realms; how could I bear to witness such a grand sight alone?”

“Hahaha, Brother Lan Feng, you jest. I still have unfinished business. When the time is right, I will naturally ascend to the upper realms to seek further advancements on my path.”

“Indeed, indeed!” another passenger interjected. “Has Brother Lan forgotten? With Brother Wei’s divine vessel, he can come and go as he pleases in any world throughout the Vast Immortal Realm. What does it matter if we go ahead?”

Before Lan Feng could speak again to persuade him, the other passengers chimed in, clearly eager to enter the True Spirit Realm, given the “grand spectacle” of the Mountains and Seas passage ranking. If they didn’t find a way, they wouldn’t even get a turn.

“Very well…” Before leaving, the Heavenly Dragon Buddhist Disciple also chatted with Wang Yu for a while, and after thanking him again for his help, he leaped out of the divine vessel's protective spiritual barrier. The moment he touched the True Spirit Realm's world barrier, he was absorbed inside. In less than half an hour, only Wang Yu and Qing Qing remained on the divine vessel.

Wang Yu stood with his hands behind his back, remaining silent for a moment. He had his own ambitions and ways of doing things. His cultivation time was already short, barely over five hundred years, and there were still too many things he hadn’t fully mastered. His strength was still in a phase of rapid improvement. Without the pressure of the Ice Prison Realm, it was impossible for him to ascend until he had cultivated as much as possible. He had been stable for most of his life; he wouldn't lose his composure now at the very end.

“Let’s go, we’re heading back.”

Seeing his usual expression, Qing Qing couldn’t help but reach out towards the True Spirit Realm. This was a place she had longed for for a thousand years, only truly seeing it for the first time now. Had she not agreed to Wang Yu’s dual cultivation request, she would have already left with this group of passengers. However... she was, after all, a Drought Demon who had cultivated for many years. When Lan Feng was just explaining common knowledge about the Nine Realms, she had noticed Wang Yu’s inner hesitation. And Wang Yu’s reason for refusing her at the time was that his friends and family were all in the True Spirit Realm, and he couldn’t bear to leave alone. But given the Wei Clan’s situation, were there any ascenders before Wang Yu appeared? So this was just an excuse. Even if there were, they would likely be friends he made in other worlds over the past thousand years. Even if Wang Yu entered the Demonic Cultivation Realm, he might still see them again in the future.

Of course, the premise was being able to fight their way up from the bottom. The Demonic Cultivation Realm treated everyone equally; apart from a few special privileges for cultivation lineage prodigies, any ascender who entered the Demonic Cultivation Realm was considered a potential future Demon Lord. This was different from the information Lan Feng had provided. Even among all Nine Realms, the Demonic Path had the most unique cultivation method, rarely accepting non-demonic cultivators.

As for the issue of titles for powerhouses: in the lower realms, you might be a Demon Lord, he a Dao Lord, and there might be this Venerable One or that Divine Venerable... but upon reaching the upper realms, all were “demoted” to the lowest ranks. If one didn’t make a name for themselves, rashly using an honorable title could easily make one a laughingstock, a ridiculed clown. Everything was built upon strength!

On the way back to the Mountains and Seas Realm, Qing Qing secretly pondered, perhaps she should diligently study the “Yin-Yang Heaven-Mending Dragon-Tiger Great Joy Manual” she had accidentally acquired earlier. As Wang Yu said, dual cultivation... was a pleasure for two, not one person solely gaining all the benefits. If Wang Yu could be persuaded to go to the Demonic Cultivation Realm, his strength would surely earn him the attention of top cultivation lineages. There was even a slim chance he could join the Great Demonic Heavens and become the sole True Immortal disciple of the Demonic Path.

‘Your "ice block" constitution truly suits my Drought Demon body... and that Primordial Spirit so attuned to the Grand Yin Dao is indeed an excellent choice for a Dao companion.’ Her mind was filled with a myriad of thoughts.

Wang Yu, ahead of her, suddenly turned around and, seeing the female demoness with eyes that looked as if she wanted to devour him, felt his throat bob slightly for a moment. The sage said: Appetite and desire... are human nature!