Chapter 1689: Mixed Origins, Earth Sinks

Jiang Fan thought for a moment before saying, "Fallen petals are not heartless things; transformed into spring mud, they better protect the flowers." He then added, "Are you referring to the 'spring mud' in this poem?"

Grandmaster Xingyuan turned and smiled at everyone, then looked around. His gaze seemed to pass beyond Hunyuan Province, seeing the people of the other eight provinces.

"Why has the Central Land endured for ten thousand years, perpetually thriving?" he asked. "It is because generations upon generations have sacrificed themselves, turning into spring mud to nourish those who came after them. Today, it is my turn."

Jiang Fan's eyes reddened slightly as he asked, "Is there no other way?"

Grandmaster Xingyuan replied calmly, "Perhaps there is. But this is the best moment. All the Giant Kings and the vast majority of Nascent Soul Giants from the Celestial Realm are in Hunyuan Province. Once they are gone, the giants will never recover their strength."

At this point, he paused, then added, "By the way, you don't need to feel guilty that the Grand Libationer was targeted early by the Nine-Sun Giant Emperor because of your intervention. To draw all the giants to Hunyuan Province, the Grand Libationer had long decided to reveal himself ahead of schedule. Even if he hadn't saved you, he would have exposed himself due to other circumstances."

Jiang Fan was stunned. He then understood that the fall of Hunyuan Province was also part of the "Spring Mud Plan." Only by making Hunyuan Province the main battlefield for the giants, attracting the main force of the ancient giants, would the sinking of Hunyuan have meaning.

Rumble—

The tide of ancient giants drew closer. Led by over a hundred Giant Kings, they charged menacingly towards Wenhai Academy.

Looking out, the mountain-like giants stretched endlessly. This was the main force of the Celestial Realm giants. Unstoppable, they would surge into the various provinces of the Central Land, destroying all living beings.

Grandmaster Xingyuan stepped out alone beyond the formation, his back to the crowd, and said, "Farewell, fellow Daoists of the Central Land. The restriction spell on Wenhai Academy was set by a senior I entrusted; after Hunyuan sinks, it will protect you and randomly teleport you to other provinces. I hope that in the future, when I am gone, the land will be safe, and the years peaceful. I go now!"

He leaped. The wish-fruits beneath Wenhai Academy rose into the air, circling him as he ascended. The Haoran Qi within him also surged out like a tsunami.

Jiang Fan looked up at Grandmaster Xingyuan, his nose stinging. Suddenly, his shoulder sank slightly. It was Venerable Zhenyan's forehead resting on his shoulder. Soon, a damp patch soaked into his shoulder.

Jiang Fan asked, "Are you really not going to say anything to him?" Venerable Zhenyan shook her head, her voice choked with tears, "He is leaving for the ideals of the Confucian cultivators; I cannot be a source of worry for him." She already regretted it. If she had known Grandmaster Xingyuan would die, perhaps she would have changed her mind and acknowledged him as her father. But everything happened too suddenly, and it was too late.

Jiang Fan embraced her and said, "Then just look at him one last time." Venerable Zhenyan hesitated for a moment, then slowly lifted her head. With tear-filled eyes, she looked up at Grandmaster Xingyuan, murmuring, "Father..."

Many Grandmasters and Soul Transformation realm cultivators looked up and watched. Even the powerful beings from other realms gazed up, their eyes filled with respect.

Prince Xiang held a jade goblet and raised it from afar: "Green mountains bury loyal bones, the Central Land entombs heroic souls. I, your Emperor, salute you. Go well!"

At this moment, Grandmaster Xingyuan also activated his wish. He looked at the endless tide of ancient giants ahead, his voice clear and powerful: "Xingyuan of Hunyuan Province, Central Land, makes a wish to heaven and earth. May Hunyuan Province sink into oblivion, never to return!"

The voice of the wish echoed back and forth in the sky. "Hunyuan... sink..." "Never... return..." After echoing three consecutive times, heaven and earth finally responded.

The Haoran Qi released by Grandmaster Xingyuan burned away instantly like a flame. For a Grandmaster facing the Five Decays of Heaven and Man, his Haoran Qi instantly depleted to zero. However, his Haoran Qi was merely a catalyst. It directly detonated the dense Haoran Qi in the atmosphere of the entire Hunyuan Province. The wish was activated!

The entire Hunyuan Province began to shake violently. Endless cracks appeared in the sky, spreading to every corner of Hunyuan Province. The earth cracked open into canyon-like fissures. The atmosphere between heaven and earth rapidly dissipated, and waves of nihilistic destructive energy poured in.

But this was not enough! *Puff, puff, puff, puff—* The wish-fruits, carrying the millennium-long wishes of the Confucian cultivators, shattered one after another, transforming into endless Haoran Qi that detonated. It was as if heaven and earth sensed the tenacity of this wish. An immeasurable and profound power descended upon Hunyuan Province, which had existed for eons.

*Crack!* A terrifying snapping sound rang out. It was the sound of the spatial barrier connecting Hunyuan Province to the Central Land fracturing! *Crack! Crack! Crack!* A series of snapping sounds echoed continuously along the borders of Hunyuan Province. When all the surrounding spatial barriers had fractured, Hunyuan Province would lose its tether and sink into eternal oblivion.

The Sages and Giant Emperors battling in the Celestial Realm finally noticed the drastic changes in heaven and earth. The eight Grand Libationers seemed to have anticipated this, their faces showing grief: "It has come to this, after all. Xingyuan, go well!" Sage Wanyun, Sage Tianluo, and Sage Honglian were all shocked as well. Immediately, they stood in solemn respect, crying out with compassion: "Xingyuan! Go well!"

Nine-Nether Demon Venerable looked over, respect dawning in his eyes: "Among humans, there are actually some who are not so detestable. Go well, fellow Daoist of the human race."

In contrast, the Giant Emperors' expressions changed drastically. The Six-Sun Giant Emperor exclaimed in horror, "Madmen of Hunyuan Province!! A bunch of lunatics!!! Spending a millennium, just to sacrifice their homeland to perish with the enemy?"

He panicked. The vast majority of the Celestial Realm giants' combat power was on Hunyuan Province. Once they sank with Hunyuan Province, it would be difficult for them to recover their strength, and he, the Emperor of the Central Tribe, would become a sinner! He regretted it. When Jiang Fan went to the Desolate Ancient Hunt, he should have retreated then. But he had gambled everything, staking all of the Celestial Realm, just to test fate. He hadn't expected the people of the Central Land to be complete madmen, utterly insane! Every single one of them was reckless with their lives. They could even abandon their own great province!

At this moment, it was too late for him to order the giants to retreat. As his eyes were about to split open with rage, he suddenly noticed three special beings from the Central Land within Wenhai Academy, beneath Grandmaster Xingyuan's feet. The tallest was over nine zhang, while the shortest was six or seven zhang. They were all surrounded by Dharma Idols. Seeing the three, the Six-Sun Giant Emperor's heart pounded wildly, and his eyes revealed ecstatic joy.

"Heaven does not wish for the demise of my Southern Celestial Realm!" he cried. "Hahahahaha! To dare harbor demi-giants with my ancient giant bloodline, Central Land, Central Land, you truly dig your own graves!"

The bloodline within him suddenly began to tremble. Inside Wenhai Academy, the Lord of Heavenly Remnant City and two Three-Phase Realm demi-giants were whispering in discussion. "City Lord," one said, "the great war is about to end. We need to consider our future. Those four hundred Giant Kings probably came via our Guixu Province's provincial-level teleportation array. Once this is discovered, will we demi-giants still have a place to live in the Central Land?"

The Lord of Heavenly Remnant City slapped his thigh, saying bitterly, "Damn it. Why did no one tell us that the ancient giants of the Celestial Realm could influence us through our bloodline? If not for that, during the Celestial Realm Great Hunt, the awakening of the ancient giant bloodline wouldn't have affected us demi-giants in the lower realms, causing us to lose our minds and go on a rampage in the Seven Cities of Heavenly Abyss. Although Sage Cixin helped us cover it up, those four hundred Giant Kings descended upon Heavenly Remnant City, took control of us demi-giants, and then made us demi-giants kill the Imperial Observatory personnel by surprise, successfully seizing the provincial-level teleportation array. This matter certainly can't be kept secret; the Sages of the Central Land will no longer tolerate us!"

His eyes showed an uncertain expression. For a moment, he didn't know what to do.