The war between the Heaven-Slaying Alliance and the Alliance of Righteous Unity had captured the attention of the entire vast expanse.
Many hesitant factions and civilizations were now beginning to waver.
Previously, they had been considering whether to join the Alliance of Righteous Unity, but given the current situation, even the Alliance of Righteous Unity itself was struggling to survive. How could it possibly protect them?
After this war, it was uncertain whether the Alliance of Righteous Unity would even continue to exist.
Moreover, with the Dark Beings now eyeing the Alliance of Righteous Unity and attacking its defensive embankments from all sides, the Alliance of Righteous Unity's once innate advantages had completely vanished.
In contrast, the Heaven-Slaying Alliance was so feared by the Dark Beings that they dared not provoke it lightly.
Although joining the Heaven-Slaying Alliance would inevitably mean being subject to its control and governance, it was still better than being annihilated and losing one's life.
For a time, many civilizations and true worlds chose to defect and join the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
Even civilizations like the Prasanna Holy Domain and the Nanzhao Ancient Kingdom, which had previously been in secret negotiations to join the Alliance of Righteous Unity, were now hesitating.
However, at this critical moment, the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty made a move that surprised many civilizations and factions.
The Weiyang Emperor personally issued decrees that flew out from the capital of the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty, piercing through the fabric of space and time to reach various regions.
Subsequently, the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty dispatched a large number of experts and armies across the vast expanse. Ancient warships and chariots opened stable spatial passages to support the Alliance of Righteous Unity.
The mighty armies of the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty rose into the sky, their iron cavalry like dragons, their banners billowing, causing star systems to tremble as they galloped through the cosmos, their presence shaking the heavens and the earth.
This move shocked countless cultivators and beings, leaving them in disbelief.
At a time when no one had faith in the Alliance of Righteous Unity, the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty had made an unexpected and unprecedented move.
What did this mean?
With the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty taking the lead, some factions and civilizations that had good relations with it also began to intervene, as if they had received some guarantee. They followed suit, sending large numbers of experts to support the Alliance of Righteous Unity.
"The Heaven-Slaying Alliance is ambitious and opportunistic. If we allow the Alliance of Righteous Unity to collapse, there will be no force left to restrain the Heaven-Slaying Alliance."
Therefore, regardless of the reason, the Heaven-Slaying Alliance could not be allowed to continue expanding unchecked. Moreover, why were the Dark Beings not attacking the Heaven-Slaying Alliance? Was it truly because they feared its leader? That might not be the case.
"The origins of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance are unclear, and its leader's background is even more dubious. It is likely that he has deep connections with the Dark Beings."
"The Heaven-Slaying Alliance is ambitious and acts against the natural order. It is the enemy of all worlds. At this time, we must unite to resist it."
Many cultivators and beings speculated that if they did not act now to counterbalance the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, once the Alliance of Righteous Unity collapsed, there would be no force left in the vast expanse capable of restraining the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
At that time, all beings would become mere fish on the chopping block, at the mercy of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
Furthermore, unlike the Alliance of Righteous Unity, whose roots were well understood, the Heaven-Slaying Alliance was an enigma. In just a few thousand years, it had grown into a force that the entire vast expanse dared not underestimate.
This was almost unheard of in the history of the vast expanse, as no faction or civilization had ever established itself without undergoing the tempering and trials of time.
This was a variable more bizarre than an anomaly, impossible to deduce or predict.
The leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance was even more mysterious. It would not be an exaggeration to say that he had appeared out of thin air.
Throughout the long river of time, from the beginning of the ancient era, when the Human Emperor first rose and the myriad races flourished, to the past and future, it was as if this person had never existed.
His strength was terrifyingly formidable, to the point where no one could rival him.
This had led to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance becoming increasingly arrogant and domineering, showing no respect even for civilizations with deep roots and long histories.
If the Heaven-Slaying Alliance could casually find an excuse to attack the Alliance of Righteous Unity, would it need a reason to target other civilizations in the future?
Today, it takes five cities; tomorrow, it takes ten. And then, after a night of rest, it looks around and finds the Heaven-Slaying Alliance has arrived again.
With the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty sending troops to aid the Alliance of Righteous Unity, many reclusive clans in the vast expanse also began to intervene, choosing to enter the fray at this time.
Unlike the well-known civilizations and true worlds, some of these reclusive clans had origins and histories no less ancient than those of the most long-standing supreme civilizations. They were simply extremely low-key, unwilling to involve themselves in worldly affairs and karma.
The vast expanse was in turmoil, and the situation was extremely chaotic. It was like the surface of a water jar, once calm and still, but now rippling with waves. These clans and factions could no longer remain hidden, for if the jar shattered, none would be spared.
The existence of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance was the anomaly that had shattered the calm surface of the water.
Deep within Purple Mist Mountain in the Prime-Origin Civilization, Zi Wanhe, who had been meditating in a palace, suddenly opened his eyes.
He looked ahead with a mix of surprise and suspicion, his expression gradually growing serious.
"This is..."
Strands of strange, beautiful light spilled into the void before him like mist.
At the same time, his skull began to glow, becoming translucent, as a mark resembling a purple droplet grew hot, like a guiding flame in the darkness.
"Damn it, they actually left a mark on me. I shouldn't have made that deal with them back then."
"These cunning bastards never let anyone gain the upper hand."
Zi Wanhe's expression turned grim as he immediately realized what was happening.
Back when Gu Changge had come to Purple Mist Mountain, he had asked Zi Wanhe to prepare a grand gift for Chu Gucheng.
After much deliberation, Zi Wanhe had struck a deal with a mysterious group, owing them a favor in exchange for their help in obtaining a gift for Chu Gucheng's birthday—a replica of the Coffin of World Burial containing a substance similar to the Darkness.
After the fall of the Immortal Chu Dynasty, these mysterious beings had approached him again, asking him to investigate Gu Changge's origins.
Although Zi Wanhe had agreed at the time, he knew full well that in the current vast expanse, who would dare—and who would have the ability—to do such a thing?
Even though he had pledged allegiance to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance and obeyed Gu Changge, he would never dare entertain such thoughts.
To this end, Zi Wanhe had severed that portion of his memory and erased all traces of the karma involved.
Although he doubted Gu Changge would bother to probe his thoughts and memories, if Gu Changge ever decided to do so on a whim, he would be in grave danger.
"I never expected that even after severing that portion of my memory and karma, their mark still remains. These guys are truly troublesome. As expected of the legendary Dreamghosts."
Zi Wanhe's expression grew even darker, unsure why the Dreamghosts had activated the mark and sought him out this time.
The Dreamghosts were a legendary clan, existing in dimensions unseen by ordinary people.
As long as one possessed their token, they could make deals with them.
The Dreamghosts were omnipotent. As long as the terms of the deal were reasonable, they could fulfill any wish.
Zi Wanhe had obtained a Dreamghost token by chance while searching for a way to break the Bridal Robe Immortal Technique.
There were rumors that the Dreamghosts were the spirits of deceased members of the Dream Clan, preserved in the world by some power of the Dream Clan, able to traverse between reality and illusion.
Zi Wanhe, who had lived for countless years, had never seen the Dream Clan and did not know if they still existed in the world.
He had also read in some records of Purple Mist Mountain that there was once a Dream Marsh, divided into the Upper Cloud Dream Marsh and the Lower White Dream Marsh. The Lower White Dream Marsh was said to be the dwelling place of the Dreamghosts.
But the true Upper Cloud Dream Marsh was unknown, and ordinary entrances could not lead there. Perhaps one truly needed to enter through dreams.
The strange and beautiful purple mist spread before Zi Wanhe, and ripples appeared in the void before him, as if a stone had been thrown into calm water. Blurred figures began to appear on the other side—some calm, some cold, some sneering, some arrogant and unruly...
"Master of Purple Mist Mountain, we meet again. It seems you have not fulfilled the terms of our last deal."
"However, do not worry. We are not here to punish you for breaching the agreement."
A strange, illusory voice came from beyond the ripples, as if passing through layers of time and space, from different dimensions, making it impossible to pinpoint its true origin.
Zi Wanhe's expression remained grim, and he did not speak.
The fact that the Dreamghosts dared to appear so brazenly in the territory of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance was a testament to their audacity, something countless clans and factions could not match.
"From ancient times to the present, no one has ever broken a deal with us. However, this time is an exception. We have made a special allowance for you."
The voice continued to come from beyond the ripples, as if many figures were laughing strangely on the other side.
"What do you want me to do this time?" Zi Wanhe asked, his expression still dark.
He knew the consequences of breaking a deal. If he had had any other choice, he would not have forcibly severed that portion of his memory.
Now, with the reappearance of the Dreamghosts, that portion of his memory and karma had resurfaced.
"We want you to help us find a place called Dao Prosperity." The voice of the Dreamghosts came again from beyond the ripples.
"Dao Prosperity?"
Zi Wanhe was stunned. This was the first time he had heard this name.
Was it the name of a place, a faction, or a civilization?
In the vast expanse, how could he possibly find it?
If even the omnipotent Dreamghosts could not find it, what was so special about this place called Dao Prosperity?
Before Zi Wanhe could ask more, the beautiful, nebula-like purple mist before him had already dissipated without a trace, as if everything that had just happened was an illusion.
Zi Wanhe frowned. He did not know why the Dreamghosts wanted him to find this place.
Was it to fulfill a deal with someone, or was there some other purpose?
"Anything the Dreamghosts ask me to do is definitely not simple. I must be cautious. Just thinking about the words Dao Prosperity gives me a sense of unease, as if I might be noticed. As expected, no deal with the Dreamghosts is easy to complete."
Zi Wanhe cursed inwardly.
Though he was helpless, compared to the previous deal the Dreamghosts had proposed, this one sounded much more reasonable and safer.
---
On the border of the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty, in a region called the Haochuan Dao Domain.
A carriage pulled by three celestial horses raced through the starry void. The coachman, a young man, held the reins in one hand and a whip in the other, driving the horses forward.
"Father told me to stay away from the Alliance of Righteous Unity and the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty. Why did he choose to aid the Alliance of Righteous Unity at this time? Was he forced into it?"
Inside the carriage, Jiang Weiyang learned from her maid about the recent events in the outside world. Beneath her veil, her face showed clear shock and surprise.
Although she had been evading the pursuit of the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty during this time, she had not forgotten to have her maids gather information about the outside world, keeping a close eye on the situation in the vast expanse.
When she learned that the Heaven-Slaying Alliance had launched an attack on the Alliance of Righteous Unity over a flimsy excuse, sparking a massive war, she was both shocked and alarmed.
Perhaps no one could have predicted that such a terrifying war would be sparked by such a trivial reason.
Of course, when someone is determined to find fault, any excuse will do. If the Heaven-Slaying Alliance wanted to attack the Alliance of Righteous Unity, it didn't need a reason.
Jiang Weiyang had no particular fondness for the Alliance of Righteous Unity, but she didn't dislike it either.
If not for her father's instructions, she might have even felt some admiration for the alliance.
"Miss, once we pass through the star system ahead, we will be completely out of the territory of the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty." The maid's words pulled Jiang Weiyang's thoughts back to the present.
She couldn't help but laugh at herself. What was she worrying about?
At this moment, shouldn't she be more concerned about her own safety and that of the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty?
"I was worried that powerful experts might be waiting for us at the border, so I deliberately chose a remote path. If we were to open a spatial passage to leave, the fluctuations might alert those experts. So, once we reach the star system ahead, we'll blend in with a passing merchant caravan."
"If we're to stay away from the Alliance of Righteous Unity and the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty, we'll have to head toward the edge of the world..." Jiang Weiyang spoke softly, having already made plans for what came next.
The edge of the world was a place of darkness, where the sun set and eternal silence reigned. Until she reached the end, she wouldn't know what awaited her.
---
At the same time, in a secluded land of beautiful mountains and rivers, where mist and rain intertwined.
Purple mist coiled around the peaks, and radiant light enveloped the mountains.
Jade-like lakes dotted the landscape, and all the birds, beasts, fish, and insects were imbued with spirit.
Exotic flowers, rare grasses, tall bamboo, and ancient pines thrived, and even the wild grass growing in the cracks of rocks shimmered with immortal light and Dao rhythms, extraordinary in every way.
On the highest purple mountain in this land, there was a cave entrance several people tall. Two children, a boy and a girl, stood on either side of the entrance.
Not far from the entrance stood a rectangular green stone tablet.
It was three zhang tall and six chi wide, with the three ancient characters "Yinxu Cave" carved into it in bold, flowing strokes, exuding a natural Dao rhythm as if embodying the myriad Daos of the universe, surrounded by a hazy glow.
The two children stood with their hands at their sides, seemingly waiting for something, their gazes filled with reverence as they looked toward the cave.
"Pu'er, Ti'er, take my decree to the Alliance of Righteous Unity and deliver it personally to the master of the Cosmic Annihilation Mansion in the Endless Yang True World."
A gentle, androgynous voice suddenly came from within the cave.
At the same time, mist and radiant light spilled out from the cave, and a wisp of clear qi transformed into a middle-aged Daoist with a plain appearance and an unremarkable build.
In his hand was a scroll, which he lightly flicked, sending it into the hands of one of the children.
The Daoist wore his hair in a simple bun tied with a wooden hairpin. His face was ordinary and gentle, like that of a barefoot Daoist one might see on any street, but his eyes were vast, as if they contained all living beings. In his gaze, there were no secrets.
"Master, are you leaving Yinxu Cave?"
The two children were surprised, and one of them couldn't help but ask.
"The leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance has already noticed me. Since he intends to play this game of chess with me, I'll keep him company."
The Daoist still spoke gently, his eyes like a clear pool of water, yet also like a bottomless abyss.