Da Xuan Martial Saint Chapter 1498 - 719: Endless Source Realm (Part 2)

"Is this a manifestation of Creation Power? It feels different, yet..."

Chen Yue stared at the flickering spark resting in her palm, her face immediately clouding with deep thought.

Chen Yao moved closer, joining her in inspecting the flame Chen Mu had secured. Together, they began to analyze the profound mysteries within the fire; while its core was rooted in Creation Power, it also shimmered with the faint essence of Time.

Because the influence of Time was so minuscule, Chen Mu only spared it a passing glance before losing interest. Chen Yue and Chen Yao, however, seemed perfectly suited to meditate upon this peculiar flame.

Observing the two women sinking into a silent trance of introspection, Chen Mu chose not to disturb them. He stood in the void with his hands behind his back, his body radiating the light of the Great Dao, which acted as a beacon that kept the suffocating darkness at bay.

Within the depths of that murky gloom,

Strange beasts lurked at various distances, some hiding in the shadows while others prowled aimlessly. Those nearby focused their attention on the trio, yet every single creature was paralyzed by a visible sense of dread.

These exotic beasts possessed no eyes and relied on a specialized sensory perception. In their world, the source of their terror was not the flame held by the sisters, but the solitary figure of Chen Mu!

Although the Great Dao light surrounding him was faint, extending only a few meters to illuminate his companions, it appeared to the beasts as a scorching, blinding sun. It was a presence so overwhelming that they found it impossible to approach and too terrifying to even consider a retreat!

Swish.

With a casual flick of his wrist, Chen Mu reached into the void. His power ensnared a bizarre exotic beast, dragging it through the air until it floated before him.

The creature was incredibly grotesque, far different from the beasts found in Wuxiang City. It seemed to be a chaotic fusion of various breaths, its pale, ashen body covered in segments of twisted, writhing tentacles that emitted a putrid stench.

After studying the creature for a brief moment, Chen Mu struck out with a relaxed palm.

Bang.

The beast’s form shattered instantly, dissolving into a cloud of dust before vanishing entirely.

"Be gone."

Chen Mu’s cold, indifferent eyes swept over the surroundings as he retracted his suffocating pressure.

In a heartbeat, the exotic beasts that had been frozen by his aura scrambled away into the distance, leaving the dark realm in absolute silence.

After an unknown passage of time,

Chen Yue and Chen Yao finally emerged from their meditation. They looked at one another, both feeling they had gained significant insights. Chen Yao, in particular, felt her connection to the Nine Layer Heavens growing tangibly stronger.

"From the looks on your faces, it seems the harvest was plenty."

Chen Mu noted their awakening with a small nod. He glanced at the 'flame' hovering between them; the once vibrant spark had dwindled to a tiny, fragile light that swayed in the dark, ready to wink out at any moment.

"This could truly be called a Flame of Creation; its use of Creation Power is incredibly intricate. By studying its structure, I realized the Power of Dao in my previous techniques was far too unrefined," Chen Yao admitted, her eyes fixed on the dying ember. "Even though I haven't mastered the Four Mysterious Fusion yet, my understanding of how to construct Creation Power has deepened. My combat strength will improve even if my realm remains the same."

Chen Mu let out a soft chuckle. "That is the nature of accumulation. You reached the Eighth Layer Heaven through many hardships and my personal guidance, and you have used countless resources. What you need now is experience. On this trip through the Source Realm, do not worry about breaking through to the Nine Layer Heavens. Simply absorb everything you encounter into your foundation, and the Four Mysterious Fusion will naturally follow."

The transition from the Eighth Layer Heaven to the Nine Layer Heavens is often stalled by a lack of such accumulation for most Divine Monarchs.

This foundation is not something Chen Mu can simply hand over. Much like teaching a student in the mortal world, he can explain the concepts, but the actual comprehension and absorption depend entirely on the sisters.

After all, Cultivation of the Great Dao is not a simple task like manual labor. It is the pursuit of the Universe's essence and the path to the ultimate source. Merely possessing 'information' is not enough; one must truly perceive, understand, and explore that essence to its core.

Fizz.

Without a sound, the tiny wisp of fire finally vanished.

Unfazed, Chen Mu continued to lead them through the void. Whenever he found more flames, he would pluck them and give them to the sisters for study. In this manner, they traveled for an immeasurable amount of time until they finally crossed the 'Eternal Darkness Realm' and reached its boundary.

Along the way, they crossed paths with local tribes and even Divine Monarchs who were Cultivating in the area. However, there were no conflicts or conversations; they simply passed each other like ghosts in the night.

"You may not have mastered every law of Heaven and Earth or every Creation Daoist Charm in this realm, but witnessing them is sufficient for your foundation. Creation is fluid and ever-changing; every Boundary holds its own unique rules. Wuxiang City has its own patterns, just as the Eternal Darkness Realm does. Let us move to the next area."

Chen Mu brought them to the edge of the realm, where a barrier of Primordial Power—resembling a Heavenly Pool—blocked the way out. With a calm, effortless gesture, Chen Mu pressed his hand against the air. The massive barrier trembled and shattered, opening a path forward.

After casting a final look at the dim world behind them, Chen Yue and Chen Yao followed him through.

Through this journey, they had gained a profound respect for the laws of this world and the dangers of the Eternal Darkness Realm. Even a powerhouse at the peak of the Nine Layer Heavens or with Double Vein Perfection would struggle to survive here, yet with Chen Mu, the trip was effortless, as every threat evaporated before it could reach them.

A wave of nostalgia hit Chen Yue, reminding her of the years long ago when Chen Mu first took her to travel the Martial World. Back then, no matter how many bandits they encountered, none could touch them as long as he was there.

Traveling the Source Realm with Chen Mu might have lacked 'tempering,' but the growth of their Great Dao accumulation was unparalleled.

...

Within a boundless Star River,

Chen Mu strolled casually with the two women. Occasionally, a distant star would transform into a massive Star Beast, lunging at them with power that could rival a Nine Layer Heavens expert.

With nothing more than a wave of his sleeve, Chen Mu would obliterate the star and the beast alike. He would then pluck the glowing Star Core from the debris and toss it to the sisters for their meditation.

...

Inside a bottomless Earthly Abyss,

The pressure grew more crushing the deeper one descended. For most, there was no turning back once they entered; the backlash of trying to climb upward was fatal.

Chen Mu walked through the abyss as if strolling through a garden. He ignored the immense pressure and casually shattered a section of a deep mineral vein, pulling out a multi-colored Crystal Jade. After a quick look, he handed it back to his companions.

...

As Time flowed onward,

Chen Mu, in his capacity as a Dao Venerable, escorted Chen Yue and Chen Yao across the Source Realm. They witnessed countless landscapes, varying structures of natural laws, and different expressions of the Great Dao, soaking up knowledge like parched sponges.

During their travels, Chen Mu also collected rare artifacts and materials related to the Time Lineage, using them to further his own research into the laws of Time and quietly building his Experience in the Time Dao.

Finally,

After visiting 49,143 distinct realms, Chen Mu concluded their journey. He brought the now deeply transformed Chen Yue and Chen Yao back to the Da Xuan World.

It was at this moment that the Universe’s End Stage began its final, silent transition.