Swallowed Star 2: Land of Origin

As Luo Feng flew into the dark and deep pool, he felt intangible fluctuations sweep over him, which his physical body, at the early stage of Divine Emperor, easily resisted. Luo Feng also noticed that, beside him, Emperor Ming appeared calm, while Di Fu slightly furrowed his brows, seemingly struggling with great effort.

"Whoosh."

Encased in a droplet of water, Luo Feng, Emperor Qing, Di Fu, and Emperor Ming were whisked away from the Land of Origin, this Origin World, in an instant.

This droplet of water was traversing through Primordial Space at an extremely high speed.

Luo Feng had once observed the outside of the Origin World with the Eye of Life and Death, but the water droplet encasing them had flung the Land of Origin aside in the blink of an eye.

"My hometown, the Land of Origin." Luo Feng watched the colossal Origin World shrink rapidly and then disappear from sight.

He knew that he had left his homeland.

When he first arrived at the Land of Origin, he thought of the Primordial Cosmos as his home!

But now, outside of the Origin World, the Land of Origin, this complete Origin World, was his true home. The avatar that remained there would lose the protection of the Supreme Rules once he left.

"How fast." Luo Feng and the others watched ahead.

In the distance, a colossal Origin World approached rapidly. But with a whoosh, the droplet of water skimmed past this Origin World.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!!!

Ten, twenty, fifty...

One by one, Origin Worlds as vast as the 'Land of Origin' disappeared from Luo Feng's view within one second, indicating the incredible speed of this water droplet's traversal.

"Is that an Innate Primordial Life?" Di Fu couldn't help speaking out.

Luo Feng saw it too, a sinuous black serpent roaming within Primordial Space, seemingly gliding effortlessly in flight. Its body was so long; it far surpassed the entire Land of Origin.

The Land of Origin, along with the surrounding Universe Ocean, made up the complete Origin World.

The length of this serpent's body was roughly one-third of the entire Origin World.

"Hm?" The sinuous serpent glanced at the fleeting droplet of water, which disappeared into the distant horizon in the blink of an eye due to its incredible speed.

"Traveling so quickly in Primordial Space? Is it a sector lord of an Origin World skilled in Flying Escape? Or is it the transmission method used by one of those Primordial Lords?" The sinuous serpent speculated.

This vast territory is the domain of the Cultivator Camp.

Among those capable of such rapid flight in Primordial Space, there are generally only these two possibilities.

"It seems my whereabouts have been exposed; time to hunt again next time." The sinuous serpent moved leisurely but vanished into thin air without a trace.

Merely in a few breaths' time.

A phantom descended in a region of space-time, condensing into a Black-Robed youth.

This Black-Robed youth, standing there, commanded the vast space-time around him, making every trace within space-time and all past experiences utterly transparent under his observation.

"It's a serpent whelp from the World Level Primordial Life." The Black-Robed youth's eyes were icy, filled with a fierce killing intent.

"The Infinite Serpent clan is one of the most troublesome among the innate Primordial Life groups. They can appear anywhere within Infinite Primordial Space at any time and disappear just as quickly." The Black-Robed youth muttered to himself, "The Infinite Serpent clan is the boldest; they even dare to delve deep into the heartland of my Cultivator Camp's territory. I must find an opportunity to squeeze a few serpent whelps to death!"

Whoosh.

Then he vanished without a trace.

...

"Based on the size, that should be a World Level Primordial Life." As the droplet of water continued its ultra-high-speed traversal through the Infinite Primordial Space, Emperor Qing spoke, "Fortunately, we are protected by the transmission droplet. It keeps out all contaminants. Otherwise, seeing a living World Level Primordial Life directly would probably kill you instantly, Di Fu."

Among the four present, Di Fu possessed the weakest Spiritual Will, still at the Ultimate Realm of Godly King stage.

Luo Feng and Emperor Ming were somewhat curious. They both, separated by the water droplet, only caught a glimpse of a blurry sinuous serpent before it vanished in a flash, without feeling any danger.

"Flying Escape through Infinite Primordial Space, one occasionally sees some Innate Primordial Life. However, ones as powerful as that are rare," said Emperor Qing, who had rich experience, "We're approaching the Nine Rivers Sacred Realm now."

After passing 125 Origin Worlds, this droplet of water finally arrived at its destination.

"The Nine Rivers Sacred Realm." Luo Feng, Emperor Ming, and Di Fu all observed this destination carefully.

It was a massive elliptical world, slightly smaller in scale compared to the Origin Continent Origin World.

From viewing within the Infinite Primordial Space, one could see nine meandering rivers wrapping around this world like nine chains. Each river vaguely had countless Secret Patterns flowing within, forming a massive Formation, completely sealing off the entire world.

"Whoosh."

This droplet of water, carrying Luo Feng and the others, flew into the Nine Rivers Sacred Realm.

******

At the center of the Nine Rivers Sacred Realm, there was a majestic Holy Mountain.

At the foot of the Holy Mountain, there was a dark and deep pool. A droplet of water fell into the dark and deep pool, and from it, Emperor Qing, Luo Feng, Emperor Ming, and Di Fu flew out.

"Hm?" Luo Feng immediately spotted that more than two hundred figures had gathered at the foot of the mountain. They were either huddled in small groups or alone, all patiently waiting.

"They must be from different Cultivation Systems," Luo Feng surmised, sensing a significant difference in their auras.

A stalwart man sat quietly there, carrying a large bow on his back.

An elder in robes and glasses looked over curiously.

A giant cast from rock sat as though deep in slumber.

There are translucent creatures hiding in the crevices of mountains and rocks, carefully observing Luo Feng and the others.

A woman's figure, seemingly merging into the Void, is engulfed in flames.

"Ah, my body." Di Fu's complexion suddenly changes; pieces of skin are peeling off his face as energy dissipates.

Emperor Qing, Luo Feng, and Emperor Ming all look towards Di Fu.

"My body is collapsing," Di Fu says anxiously.

"Don't panic," Emperor Qing says from the side, "Any complete Great Dao is capable of traveling through all Source Worlds. However, the 'Nine Rivers Sacred Realm' is not a Source World, but a special cultivation realm created by Senior Yuan and others. The 'Origin Dao of Space,' which is fundamental to your Physical Body's structure, is somewhat incompatible with the Nine Rivers Sacred Realm, causing instability in your Physical Body. You just need to discard the incompatible parts and rebuild your Physical Body's system. Your strength might diminish, but at least it won't collapse."

Emperor Qing, with his experience, reminds him.

Di Fu nods and begins to rebuild his Physical Body.

That's how The Enlightened are; their entire Physical Body is constructed from the ground up by themselves, which naturally means they can modify it as well.

"Brother Luo He," Emperor Qing says with surprise as he looks towards Luo Feng, "Emperor Ming cultivates the Primordial Bloodline, which is relatively compatible with both the 'Primordial Space' and many worlds. However, Luo He, you... you're not cultivating the Primordial Bloodline, are you?"

Luo Feng just smiles.

The various Avatars that he's cultivated are completely transformed Primordial Bloodline Creatures, so it was quite easy for him to adapt upon arriving in the Nine Rivers Sacred Realm.

"I haven't cultivated the Primordial Bloodline, but coming to the Nine Rivers Sacred Realm hasn't affected my strength," says Luo Feng.

Emperor Qing is curious but doesn't press further.

"A Physical Body constructed purely from the mysteries of the Great Dao is collapsing upon arriving in a new world," Luo Feng observes Di Fu, and Emperor Qing speaks from the side: "For The Enlightened, traveling to different worlds and adapting to them is also a form of Cultivation."

Luo Feng listens and ponders.

Suddenly—

A voice bellows from behind, from the Holy Mountain: "Newly arrived Cultivators, a Flying Boat arrives each epoch and will take you to one of the cities in the Nine Rivers Sacred Realm."

Luo Feng and Emperor Ming turn to look at the towering Holy Mountain, with a path leading to its summit.

"That was the Holy Mountain speaking," says Emperor Qing, "The Holy Mountain maintains two transportation gateways."

"Two transportation gateways?" Luo Feng asks, puzzled.

"This gateway at the foot of the mountain allows return to the Land of Origin," Emperor Qing points to the path, "And if you walk along that path, only those with the strength of at least Late Stage Divine Emperor can reach the summit. At the top, there is a deep pool that can be used to transport you to the Dark Sacred Realm. The Ancestors of the two realms reside in the Dark Sacred Realm."

Luo Feng and Emperor Ming understand, while Di Fu continues to focus on improving his Physical Body.

"Wait for me."

Emperor Qing speaks and walks toward the more than two hundred figures, "You should be aware of the rules in the Nine Rivers Sacred Realm."

Emperor Qing's aura spreads invisibly, encompassing heaven and earth, and shrouds the over two hundred Cultivators.

Emperor Qing, after all, has reached the Early Stage of Divine Emperor in the Land of Origin! Although he hasn't spent a long time in the Nine Rivers Sacred Realm, he has accumulated quite a bit. Without the suppression of world rules, his aura is far more terrifying than that of Luo Feng.

The more than two hundred figures grow pale as they realize that even if they work together, they cannot match this formidable being.

Emperor Qing smiles and says, "There are thirty-five cities in the Nine Rivers Sacred Realm, and I plan to go to Yulan City. Those willing to join me can do so now! Each Cultivator must pay a fee of 100 Primordial Crystals or equivalent goods. This is the standard price."

"I will," one says.

"I'm joining."

One by one, figures stand up; some are Cultivators who have been adventuring within the Nine Rivers Sacred Realm and are merely returning from their hometown.

They are not confident enough to travel alone and are waiting for the transport Flying Boat.

"If this Divine Emperor Senior is leading the way, he must be confident."

"There is no difference between the thirty-five cities of the Nine Rivers Sacred Realm. You newly arrived Cultivators can completely join Yulan City."

"Who knows how much longer it would take to wait?"

Some Cultivators are persuading others.

Soon, 96 Cultivators agree to follow, most of whom can pay the 100 Primordial Crystals; those who can't offer equivalent goods instead.

"Made nearly ten thousand Primordial Crystals," Emperor Qing collects the benefits with a smile and looks towards Luo Feng, Emperor Ming, and Di Fu, "In the Nine Rivers Sacred Realm, Primordial Crystals are needed everywhere. Without them, you don't even have the qualifications to stay in the city for long. Perhaps this is also a way for Senior Yuan and the others to force us to fight to the death."

With a wave of Emperor Qing's hand,

A blue metallic Flying Boat appears, its surface marked with traces of wear, yet its presence is immensely terrifying, sending shivers through everyone present. Luo Feng also realizes that without the Star Tower and the Eye of Life and Death, he himself and Emperor Qing are probably not on par.

"Let's go." With just a thought from Emperor Qing, the other 96 Cultivators are arranged in the aft cabins, while they four sit in the Flying Boat's front hall.

Whoosh.

The blue Flying Boat merges instantly into the Void, flying at high speed towards Yulan City.

"The most dangerous places in the Nine Rivers Sacred Realm are those nine rivers," Emperor Qing stands in the forward hall of the Flying Boat, gazing at the distant exterior, "Those nine rivers seem like nine chains, sealing the entire world. These rivers are also the energy hubs of the entire world, drawing immense Primordial Forces from the outside, gathered within the water."

"Therefore, within these Nine Rivers, that's where the energy is most concentrated! These Low-Level Primordial Life Forms live inside the nine rivers to absorb enough energy, enabling them to survive for a long time," Emperor Qing explains.

Luo Feng looks into the distance, "Are there many Low-Level Primordial Life Forms in the nine rivers?"

"Many, countless!"

Emperor Qing nods, "No one knows just how many Low-Level Primordial Life Forms Senior Yuan and others have caught and thrown into the Nine Rivers. They are our main hunting targets in the Nine Rivers Sacred Realm. Of course, those Low-Level Primordial Life Forms are also hunting us."

As the Flying Boat flies and journeys on, Emperor Qing also shares some common knowledge with Luo Feng and the others.