Chapter 501

Chapter 501: Stepping Into the Heavenly River

"Are you asking me about the way back to Jiu Province?"

The Sky Piercing Water Spirit pointed to its own nose, looking very surprised.

Don’t be ridiculous! If I knew the way back to Jiu Province, why would I still be stuck in these Return Ruins?

If the Immortal Gate ancestors came to seek the chance to become immortal, Qiao Mu came to block the way.

The Sky Piercing Water Spirit is completely an innocent victim, caught in this situation.

If it really had a way to return, why would it want to stay here?

"What Di Ting said does make some sense," Qiao Mu said, gently stroking the cat in his arms.

"You do have an inseparable connection with the Sky Piercing River in the human world, as you are the spirit formed by its water."

"Because of this, when the Sky Piercing River flows backward, joining the waters of the heavens and entering the Return Ruins, you will be forced to be caught in it, for you are the Sky Piercing River that has come to life, but you have only existed for a few years and have not fully grown yet."

Before leaving Jiu Province, Qiao Mu visited the Tide Listening Building and had a conversation with Nian Chao Sheng.

Nian Chao Sheng once mentioned that the ancient Sky Piercing River indeed came from the heavens; this shore represents the human world, while the other shore represents the realm of immortals.

In ancient times, there were also True Immortals who descended to the mortal world through the Sky Piercing River.

The Sky Piercing River is not an ordinary river; in ancient times, it was a passage that connected Jiu Province with the realm of immortals, truly reaching the heavens.

Even today, it is still extraordinary, as it connects to the Return Ruins.

"Take a moment to sense carefully, can you feel the Sky Piercing River of Jiu Province within the Return Ruins?" Qiao Mu asked again.

After he entered the Return Ruins, the paper boat he was riding on was swallowed by the waves, and the water flow he had come with was now hard to find.

"…….." The Sky Piercing Water Spirit closed its eyes and carefully sensed for a while.

After a long time, it finally opened its eyes, showing a strange expression, and its gaze turned towards the direction where Qiao Mu came from, which was the collapsed South Heavenly Gate.

"What? Could it be that this Sky Piercing River is also in this ruined heavenly palace?" Qiao Mu wondered.

"It’s not the Sky Piercing River. But it might be a little connected to the Sky Piercing River," replied the Sky Piercing Water Spirit.

…………………………….

The complete heavenly palace had one hundred and eight palaces, but now more than half were in ruins, the palaces broken, hidden in the sea of clouds.

Qiao Mu was not very interested in the heavenly palace; his obsession was to return to the human world, not to explore the heavenly palace.

Yet now, when he re-entered the heavenly palace, he found that the Di Ting of Lingxiao Treasure Hall had disappeared, and only the body of the Heavenly Emperor remained on the Heavenly Emperor’s Throne.

"What was the Di Ting here for? Just to see the deaths of those few Immortal Gate ancestors?"

The Sky Piercing Water Spirit casually asked.

"Who knows?" Qiao Mu’s heart sank a little as he asked,

"Water spirit, what do you think? How strong is Di Ting?"

Before Qiao Mu entered the Return Ruins, the Sky Piercing Water Spirit had dealt with the rampaging Di Ting, but it could not defeat it.

"It is very strong. If it were in the human world, it would be a legendary demon king, but the human world still has the Immortal Gate…" the Sky Piercing Water Spirit pondered.

Qiao Mu asked again, "If one day the Jiu Province no longer exists, do you think Di Ting will be the last living being?"

The Sky Piercing Water Spirit was silent for a moment, then said,

"Di Ting is not known for its great powers among ancient divine beasts. Its greatest strength lies in its ability to understand everything."

Qiao Mu nodded, deep in thought.

When he first entered the Return Ruins, he had seen the remains of a solitary city in the desert amidst the twisted wasteland.

If this represents the future of Jiu Province… then why is it Di Ting who lives until the end when the grand world of Jiu Province also reaches its conclusion?

"If even Jiu Province falls apart and Di Ting survives, then there must be a special reason for it."

Qiao Mu’s gaze fell upon the body of the Heavenly Emperor on the Heavenly Emperor’s Throne, lost in thought.

Di Ting is a good listener, understanding the world, able to discuss even matters of the celestial realm.

This might be the only reason he has survived.

To survive a disaster far beyond one’s own capabilities must naturally have a reason and a meaning.

"Mr. Qiao, let’s keep moving forward; it’s not too far."

The Sky Piercing Water Spirit urged Qiao Mu to continue, moving through what seemed like an endless sea of clouds.

The sea of clouds ahead gradually narrowed on both sides, finally forming an arched long bridge extending upward.

The sound of flowing water splashed softly, and when I looked closer, I saw that under the cloud bridge flowed purple clouds that looked like mist. In those clouds, faint starlight twinkled, shining bright like jewels.

"The waters from all directions, the flow of the heavenly river, are not to be ignored… Although Di Ting is a bit mad, what he says is not untrue."

The heavenly river, also known as the Milky Way or the star river.

The Sky Piercing Water Spirit felt the river, which was not the ordinary Sky Piercing River, but the heavenly river flowing in the celestial realm.

"Perhaps in ancient times, the Sky Piercing River on earth really connected with the heavenly river of the fairy realm…"

Qiao Mu focused his gaze and saw countless points of light in the heavenly river twinkling like stars, shining bright as the water rippled.

If one observed closely and let their mind sink into it, they would see these tiny points of light quickly grow larger in their thoughts, revealing mountains, oceans, and deep skies, seeming small yet vast and endless.

"The heavenly river flows with the stars of the heavens," the Sky Piercing Water Spirit suddenly said.

"The Sky Piercing River of Jiu Province on earth is a great river flowing through five states; its true nature is a pathway between the human and fairy realms, with its source connected to the heavenly river."

"Upstream is the Heavenly River, and only the branches of the human world downstream are the ‘Connecting’ Heavenly River."

By this point, he probably understood why he could sense the Heavenly River in this celestial realm.

The so-called Heavenly River is not a real river, but a passage between worlds.

During the prosperous times of the celestial realm, the Heavenly Court was surrounded by the Heavenly River, and the Heavenly Emperor looked down upon the countless worlds from above the Heavenly River.

Now, standing on the Heavenly River Bridge in this ruined Heavenly Court, the Sky Piercing Water Spirit naturally felt a spark of inspiration.

"In this Heavenly River, there should be a hint of starlight representing the great world of Jiu Province. When I stand at the edge of this white cloud bridge, I feel a faint and unclear sense."

"It should be this area over here," the Sky Piercing Water Spirit pointed ahead.

Qiao Mu followed the Sky Piercing Water Spirit’s finger and saw countless points of starlight drifting like mist along the flowing clouds of the Heavenly River, estimating that there were hundreds or even thousands of them.

"Then take a closer look," Qiao Mu also stood at the bridge’s edge, carefully observing the Heavenly River.

The river of stars was very wide, stretching as far as the eye could see, with tiny points of light flowing through it, more numerous than the grains of sand on the Ganges.

If one wanted to find the great world of Jiu Province in it, it would truly be like searching for a needle in the ocean.

But when Qiao Mu looked closer, he saw that the river of stars began to twinkle, flickering like a light about to go out.

Although the light flowing in the river of stars was as numerous as the grains of sand on the Ganges, at that moment when he focused his gaze, some of the lights suddenly vanished, their brightness fading away.

"Is this what Di Ting called the ‘Great Collapse’? Each extinguished light represents a world falling apart."

Qiao Mu reminded them:

"If we want to find Jiu Province, we might look for it among those twinkling lights."

The twinkling lights… Sky Piercing Water Spirit was not foolish and understood what this meant.

"It’s hard to search from the shore; let’s jump into the water." The water spirit fell silent for a moment, then leaped into the vast river of stars.

"…it should be the light point in a light purple color ahead." The Sky Piercing Water Spirit said.

"Are you sure? If we find the wrong place, it will be hard to come back." Qiao Mu replied calmly.

"…this should be it." As soon as Qiao Mu said this, the Sky Piercing Water Spirit hesitated a bit.

"Let me investigate." He was in the river, and as he casually pointed, drops of water began to appear at his fingertips. With a gentle motion, they flew into the vast starry river.

Although the water spirit changed its shape to look like Qiao Xin, its true nature was still a spirit of water. Every drop was part of its body, like a tiny clone.

Even though it was apart, it could still sense everything.

The drop of water moved closer to the purple light point, ready to explore up close.

But as the drop approached, the Sky Piercing Water Spirit felt an inexplicable, strong force pulling it toward the light.

Before it could react, the strong pull enveloped its true form as well. In an instant, Qiao Xin’s shape was stretched like a noodle, changing back into a water droplet, being drawn toward the purple light point.

Qiao Mu frowned slightly. The Sky Piercing Water Spirit was the key to his return to Jiu Province. He leaped forward and jumped into the starry river along with it.

Grasping tightly onto the water spirit’s body, which was being pulled like a noodle, Qiao Mu followed closely behind, drawn into the purple light.

……………………………………..

Thunder rumbled.

The sound of thunder filled his ears, and the whole world was filled with the loud sound of roaring waves.

The endless sea surged and fell, roaring as it plunged down. The sea level dropped at an amazing speed, as if there were a bottomless abyss beneath.

Dark clouds loomed over the sea like a powerful emperor. In the heavy, leaden clouds, bright flashes of lightning wove together, and the sound of thunder was never-ending.

The land had shattered into pieces, and with the crashing waves falling into the abyss, it began to collapse.

In the distance, a seaside Stone City quickly crumbled in the waves, just like a sandcastle built by children on the beach, collapsing into dust in the blink of an eye.

"Is this the human world?"

Qiao Mu stood on a hill by the sea, watching the scene that seemed like the end of the world.

While searching for the hidden Immortal Gate, he and his flesh clone had nearly traveled all over Jiu Province, and he had some memories of its many towns and cities.

But now, in this scene, even if he truly returned to Jiu Province, he feared he would not recognize it, as it looked like a hell on earth.

The Sky Piercing Water Spirit stood beside him, looking somewhat awkward.

"It doesn’t seem like the great world of Jiu Province…" it pointed to the distant ruined Stone City.

"Senior Qiao Huo, look at those two people over there…"

At this moment, raging waves were destroying the city, dark clouds gathered, creating a scene of apocalypse, but at the ruined Stone City, more than ten figures with wings were fighting above the floodwaters.

These ten figures all had differently colored wings, adorned with fur and horns, and looked very different from each other.

"At a time like this, still fighting for life and death, what for…" Sky Piercing Water Spirit did not understand.

This place does not seem to be Jiu Province. In the grand world of Jiu Province, the Immortal Path stands alone, while the Demon Clan only hides in the great mountains of Southwest Province and the islands overseas, rarely seen in daily life.

"Why guess? Just follow me up, and we will know."

Qiao Mu stepped into the air, his true strength transformed into a light cloud beneath his feet, leaving a gentle trail in the sky.

"Eight Armed Heavenly Dragon Fist."

As he swung his fists, countless shadows of punches overlapped, hitting all the winged demon clan members.

Time was tight, so he did not use words, but relied on his fists, stopping just in time.

Nevertheless, these more than ten winged demon clan members were greatly frightened by Qiao Mu’s sudden intervention, their faces turning pale.

"Which True Immortal from the higher realm has descended? We did not mean to offend the True Immortal, and we truly feel ashamed…"

"Great Immortal, please spare my life!"

The first reaction was to think that I was a True Immortal who had come down from the higher realm… Qiao Mu’s gaze moved slightly as he asked a question.

According to these ten or more winged demon clan members, this world is the Demon Realm, a place filled with many kinds of demons.

In the Jiu Province realm, the human cultivators are the strongest, but it is not the same in the Demon Realm.

In this Demon Realm, there are actually humans, but they are regarded as just one group among many demons.

As for why they are still fighting in this life-and-death situation…

"You may not know, Great Immortal," explained a blue-faced demon:

"The Demon Realm has reached its end and is about to collapse, with Nine Mountains and Eight Seas falling into Ruins of Return."

"Our greatest demon lord, ‘Nine Dead Demon Lord,’ has built a World Crossing Boat to save the lives of many beings."

"But the treasure boat has limited space, and we were only fighting for survival."

Qiao Mu was slightly surprised.

In the future of the Jiu Province world, only Di Ting Nian Chao Sheng might survive.

And this Nine Dead Demon Lord, who knows what kind of person he is? Let’s not talk about whether he can succeed, but he actually wants to create a World Crossing Boat, which shows he must be quite extraordinary.

Thinking of this, Qiao Mu glanced at the Sky Piercing Water Spirit, who quickly focused on his own thoughts.

The Sky Piercing Water Spirit took the wrong path and arrived in the crumbling demon realm; this haunted place is likely to fall into the Return Ruins.

If Qiao Mu wants to return to the human world, he might need to take this World Crossing Boat, re-enter the Return Ruins, and look for the Heavenly River once again.

Of course, the premise is that this World Crossing Boat really works.

"Who is this ‘Nine Dead Demon Lord’?" Qiao Mu asked again.

The blue-faced demon replied, "The Nine Dead Demon Lord is the supreme being of our demon realm, the great lord of the Serpent Clan. He rose from humble beginnings and has survived death many times."

"It is said that he faced death nine times, transforming each time, and ultimately became a supreme ruler, making the name ‘Nine Dead Demon Lord’ Qiao Busi famous throughout the demon realm."

That sounds a bit familiar… Qiao Mu squinted.