This Heaven-and-Earth... wow. Impressive.
The Hongmeng Gemstone exclaimed again and again. He was not the most steady by nature, so this kind of reaction was rare for him.
Lin Moyu asked, "Have you figured something out?"
The Hongmeng Gemstone giggled. "Master has already seen it. Master should speak first."
Lin Moyu said, "This Heaven-and-Earth once absorbed a large amount of annihilating power from the Life-Forbidden Zone. This annihilating power was not tempered by Heaven-and-Earth power. Instead, for some special reason, it was sealed inside this Heaven-and-Earth."
"Although this Heaven-and-Earth has become wreckage, it still preserves quite a bit of Heaven-and-Earth power, and its rules are not that severely damaged. It is possible there are still living beings inside."
"The reason it could be like this is precisely because of that annihilating power."
"Annihilating power is originally meant to destroy Heaven-and-Earth, but now it is instead being used as a shield to protect Heaven-and-Earth. It looks like it was done by someone, but I do not know who could have such ability."
"There should be no true supreme powerhouse in a Nine-Wheel Heaven-and-Earth. Even if there were, it would be hard to control the power of the Life-Forbidden Zone."
The Hongmeng Gemstone giggled. "Master is right for the most part, but there are still some parts that are not quite right."
"A Nine-Wheel Heaven-and-Earth indeed has no true supreme powerhouse. At most, it has someone close to a true supreme powerhouse."
"But this Heaven-and-Earth has a treasure."
"If I am not mistaken, the strongest being in this Heaven-and-Earth, when Heaven-and-Earth was about to be destroyed, used that treasure to turn the annihilating power invading Heaven-and-Earth into something it could use, making it into a shield that in turn protected Heaven-and-Earth."
He clearly knew, yet deliberately held back.
Lin Moyu snorted lightly. "Speak clearly."
The Hongmeng Gemstone laughed. "Since Master is sincerely asking, I will explain."
"That treasure is called the Divine Heaven Stone. It comes from the Heaven-and-Earth Wall. It is extremely rare. It will only fall into Nine-Wheel Heaven-and-Earth, but not every Nine-Wheel Heaven-and-Earth necessarily has one."
"The Divine Heaven Stone can enter the Life-Forbidden Zone without being destroyed. If you refine it into Heaven-and-Earth rules, then to a certain extent, Heaven-and-Earth can resist the annihilating power of the Life-Forbidden Zone."
"However, its power is limited. It cannot resist forever, and it cannot cover all of Heaven-and-Earth."
"Nine-Wheel Heaven-and-Earth never lacks clever people. They also understood this."
"First, they refined the Divine Heaven Stone into Heaven-and-Earth rules. When the great annihilation arrived and Heaven-and-Earth collapsed, about to become wreckage but not yet fully wreckage, they activated that rule."
"At that time, Heaven-and-Earth had already shrunk. The rule transformed from the Divine Heaven Stone could then cover the entire Heaven-and-Earth, temporarily blocking annihilating power."
"Then, using Heaven-and-Earth power to control it, gathering the strength of the entire Heaven-and-Earth, they could slightly convert the nature of annihilating power, making annihilating power reverse its course and become a shield of Heaven-and-Earth, preserving the integrity of Heaven-and-Earth as much as possible."
After hearing this, Lin Moyu's gaze shifted. He observed Heaven-and-Earth again.
Finally, he found a special rule.
This rule was already broken, faint and intermittent, but Lin Moyu could still sense it. This rule was different from other rules. It was not evolved by Heaven-and-Earth itself. It had been added later by someone.
Although a Nine-Wheel Heaven-and-Earth had no true supreme powerhouse, it had no shortage of powerful existences. If they joined forces, they indeed could do it.
Lin Moyu said in a low voice, "Just now I missed it. You were right. It is indeed like that."
"But activating this rule, they would also suffer strong backlash."
The Hongmeng Gemstone said, "This rule requires countless powerful beings acting together to activate it. It can be said with certainty that those who activated it all died."
Lin Moyu sighed. "What a pity. The Heaven-and-Earth they wanted to preserve still could not be preserved. Annihilating power still descended. Even if living beings inside survived, they would mutate and no longer be normal living beings."
The Hongmeng Gemstone said, "Planning lies with people, success lies with Heaven. Sometimes you have to try. As for the result, you can only rely on luck."
He was not wrong.
How could the great annihilation be so easy to survive?
Under the great annihilation, countless Heaven-and-Earth became wreckage. It did not matter how many wheels you had, it was all treated the same.
Now, being able to leave behind some things that were neither human nor ghost was already the result of the efforts of countless powerful beings within Heaven-and-Earth. It was just that this result might not be what they wanted.
Lin Moyu said, "This Heaven-and-Earth has no true supreme powerhouse, but it still has a few who are close. And they come from a Nine-Wheel Heaven-and-Earth. We cannot be careless."
The Hongmeng Gemstone was unconcerned. "Master just needs to carry me and sweep through. One smash, one hit."
Lin Moyu said nothing. He had confidence, but he would not be careless.
With a thought, Undying Spirit Soldiers thundered into action, flying in all directions.
The Undying Spirit Soldiers' purpose was to cleanse all mutated living beings.
This Heaven-and-Earth had become wreckage, but not fully wreckage. Beat it into wreckage first.
Even if he did not, it would not matter. For today's Hongmeng Purple Fire, refining a Nine-Wheel Heaven-and-Earth was a matter of moments.
Lin Moyu saw the rules clearly and walked upon the rules toward the Heaven-and-Earth core.
Earlier, when he observed Heaven-and-Earth, he saw that at the core there were several not-weak beings. But before him, they were nothing.
The Undying Spirit Soldiers slaughtered in all directions. The mutated living beings inside could not withstand their conquest.
Lin Moyu traveled unobstructed and arrived before the Heaven-and-Earth core, then stopped.
Outside the core, three dark shadows stood in a three-point stance. From behind the shadows, terrifying gazes stared at Lin Moyu.
Lin Moyu knew they had already lost their intelligence. Only instinct and obsession drove them to guard the Heaven-and-Earth core and guard this Heaven-and-Earth.
After a few breaths, they vanished at the same time.
Shadows flickered. They had already launched an attack at Lin Moyu.
After guarding for so many years, it was time to be released.
Whoosh. The Wings of Heaven-and-Earth unfolded. Rosy radiance shone down. At the same time, the Nine Heavens Fate Art was unleashed. In the void, a pair of wing phantoms appeared, covering nearly half of Heaven-and-Earth.
"Suppress!"
Lin Moyu shouted inwardly. Vast rule power descended.
The three shadows that had disappeared suddenly reappeared and retreated in panic.
They did not want to retreat, but they were shaken by enormous force and had to retreat.
The Wings of Heaven-and-Earth, coordinated with the Nine Heavens Fate Art, seized control of rules and altered rules.
No matter how strong the three were, they were still existences under Heaven-and-Earth rules. Before the Wings of Heaven-and-Earth, they had no power to resist.
A vast power pushed the three back, then turned into a giant hand that pressed down, forcibly suppressing them so they could not move.
Sharp roars rang out. Lin Moyu ignored them.
The Hongmeng Gemstone said, "Master will not kill them?"
Lin Moyu said, "They died long ago. Only their obsession has not died, turning them into monsters without intelligence. They have survived until now only by relying on Heaven-and-Earth rules."
"When I refine Heaven-and-Earth, they will naturally disperse."
"Let them take one last look at the Heaven-and-Earth their obsession is guarding."
"Some things cannot be done, yet people insist on doing them. And their strength is not enough. It is truly tragic."
"But they are also worthy of respect."
"Perhaps if it were me, I would do the same. After all, they guarded their own Heaven-and-Earth. They were not wrong."
Hongmeng Purple Fire flew out and fell upon the nine-story tower.
Hongmeng Purple Fire instantly devoured the tower and began refining it.
Heaven-and-Earth shook violently. A gigantic phantom flew out from the tower, holding a mountain and smashing toward Lin Moyu.
A mere remnant of rules, and you still dare to strike me.
"Kill!"
Lin Moyu spoke like a decree and forcefully suppressed it.
The Wings of Heaven-and-Earth trembled. The rules of this Nine-Wheel Heaven-and-Earth were completely controlled by Lin Moyu, counter-killing the giant.
Endless rule power turned into lightning and shattered the giant phantom.
Lin Moyu's actions were crisp and decisive, giving the giant no chance.
That giant phantom was formed from rules in which the Divine Heaven Stone participated. Those rules had merged the obsession and will of many powerful beings of this Heaven-and-Earth.
It was very strong, the final self-protection of Heaven-and-Earth.
But before Lin Moyu, who could manipulate Heaven-and-Earth rules, it still had no way to fight back.
Rules collapsed. Hongmeng Purple Fire pressed forward like a raging tide, refining the Heaven-and-Earth core.
Heaven collapsed and earth split. The Nine-Wheel Heaven-and-Earth that had once barely survived the great annihilation finally met its ultimate end.
Done.
With this Heaven-and-Earth, my Yushen Heaven-and-Earth will have the foundation of a Nine-Wheel Heaven-and-Earth. When the first Great Calamity of Heaven-and-Earth life and death arrives, there is a high probability it will achieve Nine-Wheel Heaven-and-Earth.
Now only one problem remains: how do I search for the emptiness of the flesh body?
If I become Dao without the emptiness of the flesh body, it will always be somewhat imperfect.
With a Nine-Wheel Heaven-and-Earth as the base, and my formation Dao as the eye, I will seek the emptiness of the flesh body.
But my formation Dao is still short by a hair, and time is not enough.
Lin Moyu set his mind, but time was still a problem.
This problem could not be solved even with Time Essence Stone. The Chess of All Living Beings was too high in level, far beyond Heaven-and-Earth. Time Essence Stone could not affect it at all.
The Hongmeng Gemstone also knew Lin Moyu's predicament and suddenly thought of a method.
"Master, perhaps after Yushen Heaven-and-Earth advances this time, the little tree can try to manipulate time to affect the Chess of All Living Beings."
Lin Moyu's eyes lit up.
The little tree was a Hongmeng Spirit Tree. Its essence was higher than a Nine-Wheel Heaven-and-Earth. Even if it was inferior to the Chess of All Living Beings, it might truly be able to affect it a bit.
Time was too precious. Even if he could only gain a little more time, it would help.
After World-Burning Fire evolved into Hongmeng Purple Fire, its power far surpassed before. Lightning danced within the purple flames, and faint thunder rumbled. Each pulse of lightning accelerated the refining progress.
Originally, refining the core of a Nine-Wheel Heaven-and-Earth would require at least ten-plus days. Now, in only half a day, it was already almost completely refined.
Heaven-and-Earth collapsed amid rumbling. This time it was total collapse, leaving not even wreckage.
Those three obsession-born beings guarding the core also vanished into dust as rules shattered.
Soon, everything belonging to this Heaven-and-Earth would be erased, leaving no trace.
A large number of rule crystals fell out, and Lin Moyu collected them.
This Heaven-and-Earth was making its final contribution to Lin Moyu's growth.
The nine-story tower, now only an empty shell, was taken away.
Lin Moyu turned and entered the spatial passage the little tree had already established, leaving this Heaven-and-Earth.
Once again he personally witnessed Heaven-and-Earth collapsing.
His heart was calm.
Under the great annihilation, nothing could endure. Even if this Heaven-and-Earth did not collapse now, it would collapse sooner or later. He had only accelerated the process.
The great annihilation was like the cycle of the Heaven-and-Earth Great Calamity.
Perhaps only if he succeeded could he stop all of this.
Heaven-and-Earth would be re-evolved, all things reborn, and the Life-Forbidden Zone would again give birth to Heaven-and-Earth. Only then could his family and friends truly endure.
Perhaps only then would it be time for him to rest.
He returned to Yushen Heaven-and-Earth at maximum speed and began re-evolving Heaven-and-Earth.
This was the second Nine-Wheel Heaven-and-Earth. In Lin Moyu's eyes, it was slightly weaker than the first Nine-Wheel child-mother Heaven-and-Earth, but not by much.
Heaven-and-Earth re-evolved. Yushen Heaven-and-Earth began absorbing pure Heaven-and-Earth power.
Rule crystals merged into Yushen Heaven-and-Earth, strengthening its rules. Both grew together, maintaining balance.
Lin Moyu closed his eyes. The Wings of Heaven-and-Earth were fully spread. The Nine Heavens Fate Art became a galaxy piercing the void.
Lin Moyu manipulated rules, helping Yushen Heaven-and-Earth better absorb Heaven-and-Earth power, while also sensing Yushen Heaven-and-Earth's changes.
The Hongmeng Gemstone asked softly, "Master, can it succeed?"
Lin Moyu gave a small sound of assent. "No big problem."
He could sense that Yushen Heaven-and-Earth was slowly sublimating. Under the current situation, after absorbing this Nine-Wheel Heaven-and-Earth, Yushen Heaven-and-Earth could rise to the same level.
The most difficult step in Heaven-and-Earth advancement was the qualitative change between six wheels and seven wheels. That hurdle had been crossed. After that, everything was smooth.
The next more difficult hurdle should be how to raise Yushen Heaven-and-Earth to a Hongmeng Heaven-and-Earth.
He was now one hundred percent certain that in some era, a Hongmeng Heaven-and-Earth had existed. If other eras could do it, then this era could too.
And he could certainly become a true supreme powerhouse within a Hongmeng Heaven-and-Earth.
This path was not yet very clear and remained somewhat vague, but it did not prevent him from walking it.
Five years later, countless lightning bolts suddenly rose within Yushen Heaven-and-Earth. Lightning filled the void, and strips of rules manifested.
If there were living beings within Heaven-and-Earth, they would surely bow in reverence at this moment.
Unfortunately, Yushen Heaven-and-Earth's life and death were still uncertain. It had not yet nurtured complete living beings. Those beings still in gestation were waiting for the first Great Calamity. Heaven-and-Earth's source materials would forge flesh bodies for them, evolve the Great Dao, and complete their final gestation.
That little Mist and the others had obtained a large amount of Primordial-Heaven qi from them. These years, their cultivation had risen extremely fast. But they were not native living beings of Yushen Heaven-and-Earth, so they would not bow to the rules of Yushen Heaven-and-Earth.
Rules manifested, and then these rules simultaneously aimed at Lin Moyu, spraying rosy radiance toward him.
Rules could not speak and had no intelligence, but they acted according to rules. Yushen Heaven-and-Earth had advanced and its rules had grown stronger, and it was all Lin Moyu's contribution. The rules instinctively expressed gratitude.
Moreover, Lin Moyu was the master of Yushen Heaven-and-Earth. Even though he had not yet refined it, all rules within Heaven-and-Earth still honored Lin Moyu as their lord.
Rules rang together, rosy radiance shrouded him, and Lin Moyu's aura slowly rose, taking another step toward a true supreme powerhouse.
Now, as long as Lin Moyu wished, achieving true supremacy would be a matter of a single thought.
But it was not yet time. He was still a bit short of his goal.
With Yushen Heaven-and-Earth's advancement, besides the rules ringing in gratitude, the greatest beneficiary was the little tree.
The little tree grew stronger again. In only a few days, it became several times larger than before. Now the little tree was like a sky-supporting tree, holding up the entire Heaven-and-Earth.
It absorbed the power of the Life-Forbidden Zone and continuously fed it back to Yushen Heaven-and-Earth, making Yushen Heaven-and-Earth grow stronger without pause.
Yushen Heaven-and-Earth had indeed reached nine wheels, but it was only just entry level. To grow to the peak of a Nine-Wheel Heaven-and-Earth would still take time.
Fortunately, as long as it reached nine wheels, the foundation was formed. After that, nothing was a problem. Whenever the Great Calamity arrived would not affect it.
Lin Moyu looked beyond Heaven-and-Earth. At this time, the Heaven-and-Earth Wall was not revealed, but the power of the Heaven-and-Earth Wall had already entered Yushen Heaven-and-Earth.
He calculated calmly. "Two hundred eighty-two years left."
"I do not know whether the little tree can affect the Chess of All Living Beings. If not, this time truly will not be enough."
The Hongmeng Gemstone asked, "If not, what does Master plan to do?"
Lin Moyu said, "Then I can only become Dao first and make up for it later. I still know what is more important."
"Even if I cannot find the emptiness of the flesh body, I still must become Dao first."
"The emptiness of the flesh body might still have a chance to be remedied in the future. But if I become Dao too late, then my plan will fail."
After waiting a few days for the little tree to stabilize, Lin Moyu spoke softly, "Little tree, help me with something."
The Hongmeng Spirit Tree gently swayed. A chubby, adorable little boy avatar manifested and respectfully saluted Lin Moyu.
"Little tree greets Master."
Lin Moyu was delighted. The little tree could finally manifest a form again.
The little tree glanced back at the Hongmeng Spirit Tree behind him. He was still a bit away from truly taking form. For now, he could produce a phantom body to attend upon Master.
He waved his small hand. A branch extended, pierced into the void, and when it retracted, it brought back two light clusters, precisely Chaos Seed and little Peng.
The little tree said, "Those two fellows are about to finish gestating, but I want to slow them down a bit and strengthen their foundation. Their future achievements will be greater."
Lin Moyu smiled. "Leave that to you. Now come with me."
Lin Moyu brought the little tree to where the Chess of All Living Beings was.
Soul power surged and activated the chess game.
"I am short on time. Try to see if you can change the time flow inside the Chess of All Living Beings."
The little tree said, "When Master used this chess game earlier, I already sensed that the chess game forms its own rules, and they are very strong, much stronger than a Nine-Wheel Heaven-and-Earth."
"I can only try. I cannot guarantee."
Lin Moyu said, "Good. Try."
The little tree raised his chubby little hand and gently pointed. A branch arrived through the void and drilled into the chess game.
The little tree closed his eyes. Time power flowed.
Lin Moyu faintly felt that the time flow around them had changed, but the key was whether the time flow inside the chess game could be changed.
The little tree had always possessed spacetime power. In the past, that power was mainly used for travel and was relatively single-purpose. After becoming a Hongmeng Spirit Tree and gradually growing, its spacetime power became stronger and more complete.
Now, changing time flow was not hard for the little tree.
The hard part was the rules inside the Chess of All Living Beings, and whether the little tree could offset their influence.
After a moment, the little tree slowly opened his eyes. The branch did not retract and remained inside the chess game.
"Master, the rules inside are too strong. I can only make the time flow about twice as fast. I cannot make it faster."
Twice.
That meant he gained more than five hundred years out of thin air.
Lin Moyu said, "Five hundred years should be enough. If it still does not work, then it can only mean the opportunity has not arrived."
"Thank you, little tree."
The little tree hurriedly said, "Master, please do not be polite. It is little tree's honor to serve Master."
The little tree always knew how to flatter. Even after becoming a Hongmeng Spirit Tree, it was the same.
Lin Moyu took a deep breath and turned, entering the chess game.
In his deduction, to find the emptiness of the flesh body, he had to search within life and death. Rebirth was the only path visible for now.
But how to keep his consciousness intact through rebirth?
That was the hardest part.
He would draw in annihilating power from the Life-Forbidden Zone, destroy the flesh body and extinguish the soul, trigger rebirth, and at the same time keep his consciousness from being extinguished so he could observe the entire process.
Only then would he have a chance to find the emptiness of the flesh body.
A Nine-Wheel Heaven-and-Earth could barely withstand annihilating power. Now Yushen Heaven-and-Earth already had the capacity.
What remained was how to keep consciousness from being extinguished.
Lin Moyu locked the method onto his formation Dao.
He would use formations to keep his consciousness intact.
Now his formation Dao had already taken shape. Under the invasion of annihilating power from the Life-Forbidden Zone, it could keep him intact for ten seconds. But for comprehending the emptiness of the flesh body, it was still not enough.
The emptiness of the flesh body needed longer observation time.
Ten seconds was not enough. A hundred seconds, a thousand seconds might not be enough either.
It would be best if he could observe continuously. At that point, with formation Dao alone, he could cross the Life-Forbidden Zone, and that would also become his trump card.
Since he had a unique talent in formation Dao, he had to use it to the extreme and not waste it.
Lin Moyu entered the chess game and continued comprehending formation Dao, deepening his understanding of runes and formations.
The number of runes he mastered gradually decreased, but their power continued to rise.
A hundred years passed.
The runes Lin Moyu mastered shrank from ten to eight.
Another hundred years passed.
The runes shrank from eight to six.
The farther he went, the harder it became.
Five hundred years passed in a blink.
Lin Moyu left the Chess of All Living Beings again.
At that moment, the Heaven-and-Earth Wall revealed itself again, bringing Yushen Heaven-and-Earth the final countdown.
Only one hundred years remained.
Lin Moyu looked at the Heaven-and-Earth Wall, sensing the powerful force it emitted.
In the Chess of All Living Beings, he still had three hundred years to use. In reality, only a hundred years remained before the first Great Calamity.
Purple light flickered in his hand. Three runes spun in his palm.
Still a bit short.
He had condensed his runes down to three, but no matter what, he could not reduce them further.
He had clearly seen the endpoint of formation Dao. The endpoint was right before him, yet he could not step past it. He had tried for many years and still could not succeed.
Lin Moyu knew the timing was not right, and he did not force it.
Even if he was still a bit short, with three runes forming a formation, its power was more than a hundred times stronger than the previous ten-rune formation.
Perhaps it could still help me find the emptiness of the flesh body.
There are still one hundred years. It should be enough.
If it still does not work, then I can only become Dao first.
Lin Moyu's plan was clear. He had already considered the outcome whether it succeeded or not.
The Chess of All Living Beings board, which had been running for hundreds of years, was slowly put away.
Hongmeng Purple Fire appeared in his palm.
The Hongmeng Gemstone manifested at the side. "Master is going to start risking death?"
Lin Moyu said, "There are still one hundred years. I have to try."
The Hongmeng Gemstone immediately flattered. "Master will definitely succeed."
Hopefully.
Lin Moyu supported Hongmeng Purple Fire in his left palm. With a wave of his right hand, three runes flew out and a grand formation formed with a boom.
The formation moved with intent.
This formation was neither attack nor defense, neither kill nor trap, neither illusion nor confusion.
It had only one function.
To store consciousness, so that even if the body died, consciousness would not be extinguished.
Under the invasion of annihilating power, this formation could endure for a long time.
With a thought, Lin Moyu placed a strand of consciousness into the formation.
The formation immediately changed.
Within the formation, a pair of eyes appeared.
The Hongmeng Gemstone said, "Do you need me to serve as the formation core?"
Lin Moyu shook his head. "No. Your aura would affect my observation of the flesh body. I need a pure environment, undisturbed by any external thing."
The Hongmeng Gemstone gave a small sound of understanding, then rapidly retreated, taking the Calamity Scepter far away.
The chubby little tree also manifested in the distance. He was also very concerned whether Lin Moyu would succeed. He clenched his small fists, looking tense.
The Hongmeng Gemstone looked at the little tree. "Fat tree, you seem very nervous."
The little tree said, "I have a feeling that whether Master succeeds is very important to the entire Heaven-and-Earth."
The Hongmeng Gemstone was puzzled. "Your feeling?"
The little tree nodded. "Just a feeling. I cannot explain why."
The Hongmeng Gemstone said, "Your connection to Yushen Heaven-and-Earth is much deeper than mine. If you have this feeling, there must be a reason."
"Now we can only hope Master succeeds."
The little tree said, "Master will definitely succeed. I believe in Master."
In Lin Moyu's left palm, Hongmeng Purple Fire slowly rose. Thunder roared.
Within Hongmeng Purple Fire, terrifying lightning suddenly erupted.
Purple fire divine lightning blasted into the void, forcibly tearing open a crack in the void.
Lin Moyu controlled Yushen Heaven-and-Earth. He spread the rules apart and did not repair this crack, and he also kept Heaven-and-Earth power far away so it would not interfere with annihilating power from the Life-Forbidden Zone entering.
Annihilating power surged in from the crack.
Hongmeng Purple Fire evolved divine lightning and became a passage, guiding annihilating power.
Annihilating power followed the lightning and fell upon Lin Moyu.
Boom. It exploded, turning the surrounding void into a dead land.