I Can See Through All Things' Information Chapter 1471 - 877: Returned Empty-Handed, Ancient Secrets Revealed (Part 2)

Lu Qing remained stationary, a picture of stillness, as if he had been in that posture since the dawn of time, seemingly awaiting some unknown event.

He had, in truth, omitted a crucial detail from Qiu Ruofeng and the others regarding the situation.

A vague sensation suggested that Qing's seated posture in meditation was more than mere repose; it implied a deeper purpose.

It appeared as though he was actively suppressing something of great significance.

This perception was subtle and difficult to grasp, yet undeniably present.

It felt as if, deep beneath the throne and within the unfathomable darkness, a formidable entity was being held captive by Qing's corpse, utterly immobilized.

However, this was purely conjecture, lacking any concrete proof.

Furthermore, his previous statements had not been false.

With his current Divine Thought Avatar, he was indeed incapable of confronting this formidable corpse.

He even suspected that his true body, upon arrival, might struggle to even disturb Qing's lifeless form.

At best, he could employ his Superpower to analyze its characteristics, hoping to uncover hidden revelations.

Perhaps only when his cultivation ascended to a higher level, progressing further within the Unity Realm Stage, would he possess the fortitude to withstand the aura emanating from Qing's corpse and directly confront the mysteries at that tier.

But such advancements belonged to the distant future.

For the present moment, the wisest course of action was to withdraw.

The group retraced their steps, making a swift exit from the colossal tomb.

During their return journey, the Demon Fire Monsters continued to manifest incessantly, though their numbers had considerably diminished compared to their initial appearance.

It was plausible that Qing's corpse had perceived their departure and ceased its deliberate efforts to incite the monsters against them.

With Lu Qing's mastery of Space Law clearing the path, the party advanced unhindered, quickly traversing the mountain range, navigating through the treacherous Demon Fire regions, and finally arriving back at the Netherworld Palace's stronghold situated within the Demon Abyss.

The solitary floating stone, suspended in the darkness, continued to emit a soft luminescence, patiently awaiting their return.

As the group descended onto the floating stone, each member felt an overwhelming sense of having narrowly escaped a catastrophic fate.

The several Black Robed Men expelled deep sighs of relief, their minds and spirits finally finding a measure of peace.

That expedition had proven excessively perilous—unbearably thrilling—for them.

On multiple occasions, they had teetered on the brink of death, only to be extricated by Lu Qing's intervention.

While Qiu Ruofeng managed to maintain a degree of composure, the weariness and residual terror were palpable in his eyes.

"A thousand thanks, Mr. Lu!" he formally inclined his head towards Lu Qing. "Without your presence on this journey, I fear we would have met our demise numerous times over."

The assembled Black Robed Men also offered Lu Qing bows of gratitude.

Lu Qing made a slight gesture with his hand and stated with measured calm, "Extravagant courtesies are unnecessary; this was merely a straightforward transaction.

The promise I made to you has been fulfilled.

I have now escorted you through the exploration of that grand tomb.

As per our preceding arrangement, Fellow Daoist Qiu, the time has come for you to uphold your end of the bargain and reveal the reason behind the disappearance of those ancient Transformation Immortals."

Qiu Ruofeng nodded in agreement. "Indeed."

He drew a deep breath, his gaze drifting into the distance, as if journeying through the vast expanse of time to reach that long-past epoch.

"This narrative is a lengthy one; I invite you to be seated, Daoist friend."

The contingent proceeded into the main hall, taking their respective places.

Qiu Ruofeng paused for a moment, seemingly gathering his thoughts before commencing his tale, recounting an ancient story long lost to the sands of time.

"Daoist friend, you should be aware that in antiquity, the cultivation civilization flourishing beneath the starry expanse was far more vibrant than it is today.

In that era, Transformation Immortals were not an uncommon sight; every significant power boasted at least one Transformation Realm Immortal affiliated with them.

It is even whispered that beings transcending the Transformation Realm existed, whose divine presence would occasionally grace the celestial sphere."

Lu Qing acknowledged this with a nod, recognizing the accounts from the Holy Alliance's historical records.

His knowledge might have even surpassed Qiu Ruofeng's in certain aspects.

This stemmed from his discoveries within the Witch Clan's Trial Secret Realm, where he learned that in the primordial past, the Human Race and the Witch Clan engaged in a titanic struggle for dominance, with the Human Race ultimately emerging victorious.

It was during that period that the Human Race should have possessed a considerable number of immensely powerful Great Beings.

Yet, in the current age, he seemed to have found no surviving records or legends pertaining to those Great Beings.

Qiu Ruofeng continued his account, "But it was during that very epoch that, one fateful day, a monumental event transpired."

"What momentous event occurred?" Lu Qing inquired.

Qiu Ruofeng's expression grew somber. "On that day, a colossal fissure abruptly materialized across the starry sky."

"A fissure?" Lu Qing's brow furrowed slightly in contemplation.

"Precisely," Qiu Ruofeng affirmed with a nod. "That fissure stretched across the entirety of the heavens. Its origin remained unknown, and its destination was equally unfathomable.

Upon its appearance, the celestial expanse convulsed violently; innumerable stars were annihilated amidst the upheaval, and countless Life Realms were obliterated by the cataclysmic shaking."

After a brief pause, he resumed, "And from that previously discovered fissure, an unending stream of the Power of Darkness spewed forth, precisely mirroring the demonic energy we confront in the Demon Abyss today."

Lu Qing’s heart fluttered. "Are you implying that this current Dark Abyss is directly connected to that ancient fissure?"

Qiu Ruofeng gave a slight nod. "Precisely. The ancestral records of our Netherworld Palace explicitly state that this Dark Abyss is, in essence, a component of that original fissure, or perhaps, more accurately, the fissure itself as it has evolved over countless eons."

Lu Qing became lost in contemplation.

Qiu Ruofeng proceeded to explain, "Once that fissure manifested, the entirety of the starry expanse was plunged into turmoil and widespread panic.

Consequently, the Transformation Immortals from all major powers were dispatched in great numbers to investigate its nature.

However, a grim reality unfolded as most of them never returned, having perished within the depths of that very fissure."

"And what transpired subsequently?" Lu Qing inquired.

Qiu Ruofeng let out a heavy sigh. "Subsequently, an immensely powerful and enigmatic figure, whose identity remains unknown, utilized a supreme divine ability to seal that gaping fissure.

Following the sealing, the fissure began a gradual process of contraction, eventually diminishing to its present form – this Dark Abyss."

"Sealed?" Lu Qing’s interest was piqued. "Who was the one who performed this sealing?"

Qiu Ruofeng shook his head slowly. "We have no knowledge of their identity. That peerless powerhouse left behind no name, no trace; we are only aware that after they sealed the fissure, they vanished completely and were never seen again."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "Yet, despite the immense power of the seal, its efficacy was not absolute or eternal.

As epochs passed, that seal began an inevitable process of slow weakening.

Concurrently, the Power of Darkness started to subtly seep out from the minute cracks forming within the seal."

Lu Qing offered a slight nod, gesturing for him to continue his narrative.

Qiu Ruofeng stated, "And the reason for the inexplicable disappearance of those ancient Transformation Immortals is also intrinsically linked to this phenomenon."

Lu Qing’s eyebrows rose slightly. "Oh? Do elaborate."

Qiu Ruofeng explained, "It was after that fissure initially appeared that the Transformation Immortals across the starry sky began to vanish without a trace in alarming numbers.

In the initial stages, the general consensus was that they had ventured into the fissure for investigation and were subsequently consumed by it.

However, it was later discovered that the situation was far more complex and sinister than initially believed."

He directed his gaze towards Lu Qing, his eyes holding a profound depth. "The reason for this conclusion was that not every single one of those missing Transformation Immortals had actually journeyed to the fissure.

Some simply dematerialized abruptly within the sanctuary of their own Cave Mansions;

others vanished without warning during the heat of battle with adversaries;

and a few even dissipated into thin air, ceasing to exist, right before the eyes of numerous onlookers."

Lu Qing’s brow furrowed in confusion. "Vanished into thin air? Like that?"

Qiu Ruofeng nodded confirmingly. "Indeed, it was as if some unknown power had directly expunged them from existence itself, erasing them from the very fabric of Heaven and Earth."

He sighed again, resuming his account, "At that time, the entire celestial realm was thrown into a state of utter pandemonium.

The remaining Transformation Immortals lived in constant fear for their lives, perpetually anxious about becoming the next victims.

Yet, despite their heightened vigilance and all measures of caution, the inexplicable disappearances continued unabated."

"It was only later that some individuals discerned a recurring pattern amidst the chaos."

"A pattern? What kind of pattern?" Lu Qing pressed.

Qiu Ruofeng elucidated, "It was observed that all the Transformation Immortals who had vanished had, at some point, been in proximity to that ancient fissure—or to put it more precisely, all of them had, at some juncture, been tainted by the pervasive Power of Darkness emanating from it."

Lu Qing pondered this revelation. "So, you're suggesting that the Power of Darkness from the fissure leaves an indelible mark upon them, a mark that, upon reaching a certain critical point, activates and forcibly drags them away?"

A subtle glint of approval flickered in Qiu Ruofeng’s eyes. "My esteemed Daoist friend possesses remarkable insight. You have grasped it precisely."

He elaborated further, "The founder of our Netherworld Palace—the very Transformation Immortal who first deciphered the ancient prophecy—undertook an extensive and in-depth investigation into this peculiar phenomenon.

He discovered that those Transformation Immortals who were contaminated by the Power of Darkness would bear an exceptionally well-concealed intrinsic mark.

This mark remained dormant under ordinary circumstances and exerted no discernible influence on the cultivator's abilities or well-being.

However, upon the arrival of a specific, unidentifiable moment, this mark would suddenly activate, forcibly pulling the cultivator into that accursed fissure."

"A specific moment? How was this moment determined?" Lu Qing inquired further.

Qiu Ruofeng expressed his continued uncertainty. "Even our revered Patriarch could not fully unravel the intricacies of this timing.

He could only ascertain that it seemed to correlate with a cyclical pattern, akin to the ebb and flow of ocean tides, with periods of waxing and waning.

At predetermined intervals, that fissure would enter a state of 'active resonance,' and it was during these specific periods that the latent marks would be triggered."

He paused once more, then concluded his explanation, "And those Transformation Immortals who were inexorably drawn into the fissure? They were never seen or heard from again.

Some speculate they met their demise within its depths; others propose they were transported to entirely different realms.

But the ultimate truth remains elusive, unknown to anyone."

Lu Qing fell into a profound silence.

He had never conceived that the mystery surrounding the disappearance of those ancient Transformation Immortals held such an intricate and terrifying explanation.

Nonetheless, a persistent undercurrent of doubt continued to trouble his mind.