Chapter Twenty-Five: The Universe Achieved

Judging from the way Klevig recounted Linmeng’s tone when inquiring, it was clear that Linmeng recognized Qiankun. There could be only one reason for this: Linmeng must have known Qiankun when the latter was still relatively weak. And why would Linmeng have known Qiankun? Naturally, it was because Qiankun had once traveled to the world of Panlong. Only then did everything make sense.

But this left Qiankun in an awkward position, for he had yet to journey to the Panlong world and had no memory of ever meeting Linley. What, then, should he say when he met Linmeng? If Linley were to notice something amiss, things could become difficult to explain.

In truth, within Linmeng’s universe, the only person who made Qiankun feel any apprehension was Linmeng himself. For, in his own universe, Linmeng was invincible.

Now that he had surmised their prior acquaintance, Qiankun reasoned that Linmeng would likely not act against him. Feeling somewhat at ease, yet still awkward at the prospect of meeting Linmeng, Qiankun nevertheless could not refuse, since Linmeng had already sent Klevig to invite him. It would be discourteous not to go.

In the end, Qiankun set off with Klevig, prepared to meet the master of this universe, Linmeng.

High above the Divine Realm, Qin Yu and the other Godkings believed themselves at the pinnacle of the Divine Realm. Yet above this so-called summit lay another expanse of space, filled with endless auspicious clouds. At the far end of these clouds stood a magnificent palace—the White Cloud Hall—the center of power for the entire Linmeng universe, governing the Divine Realm, countless celestial, demonic, and monster realms, and the myriad mortal worlds.

Klevig led Qiankun directly to the White Cloud Hall. There, a tall, robust young man in long robes emerged, greeting Qiankun with a broad smile: “Brother Qiankun, it has been a long time since we last parted.”

“Please forgive me, Brother Linmeng,” Qiankun replied with a slight, wry smile, “I have traveled through many universes, witnessing countless wonders, but sometimes my memories become muddled. I recall the Yulan Continent and Hell, one of the four supreme planes, but the rest is all a blur.”

“Oh? Is that so?” Linmeng raised his brows in mild surprise, then laughed. “No matter! In truth, I envy you, Brother Qiankun, for your unfettered journeys through so many universes. The path you pursue is beyond my reach.”

“Come, Brother Qiankun, let us sit inside my White Cloud Hall and talk,” Linmeng said cordially, inviting Qiankun into the hall.

The White Cloud Hall was wondrous indeed. Inside, the flow of time shifted continually—sometimes accelerating by several times, sometimes by a millionfold, and sometimes by even a hundred millionfold.

“Brother Linmeng, the temporal laws within your White Cloud Hall are truly marvelous!” As Qiankun entered, he was captivated by the distinct fluctuations of time. If he could cultivate and comprehend the Dao of Time here, his progress would be extraordinary.

Linmeng, smiling, said, “Brother Qiankun, since you are interested in the Dao of Time in my universe, allow me to assist you, that you might grasp it all the sooner.”

“Oh? Ha ha… Wonderful! I’ll be in your debt, Brother Linmeng,” Qiankun replied in delight, his eyes shining.

With a single thought from Linmeng, the flow of time around Qiankun accelerated dramatically. At the same time, a profound aura of the Dao of Time descended, allowing Qiankun to perceive and comprehend the mysteries of time with unprecedented clarity. Before long—though Qiankun, immersed in his realization, could not tell how much time had passed—he achieved a complete understanding of the Dao of Time.

“So this is the Dao of Time in Linmeng’s universe?” he murmured to himself, his eyes alight. He immediately bowed to Linmeng. “Thank you, Brother Linmeng.”

Linmeng dismissed the thanks with a wave and a smile. “No need for gratitude, Brother Qiankun. Since you have already independently created your own universe, even without my help, once your universe matures, understanding the Dao of Time would be but a simple matter.”

“When my inner universe is fully evolved, that will be the time for me to depart,” Qiankun thought with anticipation.

Time slipped by. Not long after Qin Yu’s universe evolved to completion, so too did Qiankun’s. At the moment of success, Qiankun, within his own universe, wore a solemn expression. In his mind, his glazed-color spirit, empowered by the completion of his new universe, was continually infused by a mysterious force. His spirit first turned crimson, then golden, then a hazy purple, before finally becoming indistinct, suffusing his entire mind with multicolored light.

Suddenly, Qiankun’s spirit dissipated, vanishing into nothingness. With a shudder, Qiankun sensed his spirit merging completely with the universe itself. As long as the universe endured, so too would he—immortal and indestructible.

“My universe… truly perfect and profound. The Dao of Space, the Dao of Time—even the Eight Great Daos, I now comprehend them all. This feeling of mastery is simply exquisite. This is the perfect, complete universe? The whole structure is as flawless as a pyramid,” Qiankun exulted, arms outstretched amid the boundless starry sky, his face radiant with bliss.

At the same time, in the world of the Great Desolation, the ancestor Qiankun, who had been in seclusion on Fangzhang Island for just over a hundred years, abruptly sensed something and opened his eyes wide, brilliance flashing within. “So my avatar’s universe has finally matured? Pity, the Dao of Time and Space in a single universe is still somewhat different from that of the Great Desolation. Even so, by analogy, I have grasped most of the Dao of Space here, and much of the Dao of Time as well. Even my comprehension of the other Daos—metal, wood, water, fire, earth, lightning, light, and darkness—has soared.”

“Congratulations, Master, on perfectly completing your journey through the Stellar Transformations world. You have been awarded ten thousand system points. A summary of your gains: You obtained the Stellar Transformations technique and, by successfully cultivating it to create your own universe, earned one hundred thousand system points; you took Qin Yu as a disciple and witnessed his growth, earning five thousand system points; you saved Liu Hanshu and some mortal lives on Qianlong Continent, earning one thousand system points; and for comprehending the Dao of Space and the Dao of Time in Linmeng’s universe, you have been awarded twenty thousand system points.” The voice of the Great Desolation Dao-Proving System resounded in Qiankun’s mind, his eyes widening in growing delight.

What a pleasant surprise—truly unexpected! Qiankun tallied the system points, hardly able to believe his fortune. A single journey to Linmeng’s universe had yielded so many system points that he felt as if he were dreaming.

“By the way, System, what of my avatar? Can my avatar return now?” Qiankun quickly asked.

But the Great Desolation Dao-Proving System replied coldly, “Master’s avatar is now too powerful for the system to retrieve. Forcibly bringing it back would cost one million system points.”

“What?!” Qiankun’s eyes widened at the staggering cost, then he slowly calmed himself. “So it’s not so easy to soar in a single leap! If my Qiankun avatar could return, as a universe master, I’d be even more formidable than a typical Sage. But a million system points! When will I ever have that? By the time I do, my true body will probably already have attained Sagehood, and whether the avatar returns or not will hardly matter.”

Resigned, Qiankun could only accept reality. After all, his gains this time were immense; it would not do to be too greedy. Still, he couldn’t help but feel a trace of regret at not being able to bring back the Xuanhuang Qi.