CHAPTER 776: CHAPTER 001: SOUL RETURNS TO EARTH

Humanity’s steps toward exploring the outer reaches of space had never ceased.

The cold and desolate vastness of the universe was forever filled with endless mysteries and enigmas.

Even the most outstanding spacecraft of the time could only land on the Moon, Mars, Jupiter, and other planets for superficial research.

Human civilization in the twenty-first century had developed unprecedentedly fast, yet the capability to explore outer space remained stagnant.

Time—December 21st, 2012, evening.

A U.S. spacecraft in outer space returned a group of very peculiar signals. After analysis, the conclusion was that a distant interstellar satellite had detected an extraterrestrial asteroid hurtling towards Earth at an incredible speed, expected to violently collide with Earth in two days’ time.

The end-of-world prophecy stemming from the Maya civilization seemed, in an instant, about to become a reality.

Heads of state from various countries had already begun preparing for their affairs post-mortem, such as suddenly resigning, going into hiding, and so on, to prevent the ultimate catastrophe.

The situation gradually grew tense, but those feeling the tension were always just the higher-ups.

Common folk, amid the various ’rumors’ and ’gossip’ spread by governments around the world, gradually came to believe that the end of days would not arrive.

Two days later, endless murk shrouded the Earth, occluding the entire Milky Way Galaxy. At the same time, various satellites launched by space stations had suddenly lost contact, and a terrifying solar storm was about to erupt.

At this moment, that very extraterrestrial stone suddenly emanated an infinite Soul Sea Vast Qi, covering the sky and blocking out the sun, extinguishing the solar storm, and stabilizing the Sun’s fury.

At the same time, the boundless Soul Power within the Soul Sea began autonomously repairing Earth’s surface’s complex Tai Chu Runes.

The Soul Sea formed a gigantic female figure in outer space, with a human head and a serpentine body, clad in a red gauze dress, holding Earth in her hands, and continuously restoring it with Soul Path Vast Qi.

After a while, Earth regained its azure blue, filled with spirituality, like a clear, flowing, sapphire light.

The complex Tai Chu Runes that dazzled the eye spun around in all directions, forming a dense energy layer. They not only shielded humanity from the impact of the Fiery Sun Flame Energy but also decomposed their own Tai Chu Rune energy into pure, stable gases, providing sustenance for life on this desolate planet.

...

"The weather report is out, but why does the nebula look like a devil’s pattern? It’s so scary," Jiang Ningxin exclaimed in surprise.

"It’s just a pattern, why take it seriously? Those clouds also look like some mythical beast! Do you really believe that the Maya could prophesy? Stop watching these boring things all the time, I’ve never believed in them!" Lin Qianqian said with a light laugh.

"I get it, I know you believe in science, okay?" Jiang Ningxin resignedly responded.

"By the way, how has that Lee Sha been lately?" Lin Qianqian asked.

"He used to be in a daze, but now he’s completely bedridden in the hospital. What can be done? We can only do our humanly best. I don’t have much private money left either. I’m a bit worried, you know, hospital care is expensive these days," Jiang Ningxin said with a wry smile.

"You really are unlucky, using that fool as a shield, only to make him the target of envy. Someone gave him a severe brain concussion... Are you really going to stick with him for life? Do you still believe in that old-fashioned arranged marriage?"

Lin Qianqian exhibited some disdain.

"That was arranged by my grandfather, and although he was born inherently mentally disabled, as if without a soul, these years he hasn’t really had any bad reviews. He’s much more dependable than those womanizing jerks and hypocrites who only look good on the surface. Besides, since it’s because of me that he faced misfortune... it’s only right that I take care of him."

Jiang Ningxin said in a soft voice.

As she spoke, a few shades of sadness could not help but show on her face.

She felt sympathy for the fool, but she absolutely did not want to spend her life guarding by the side of a fool. It was simply the guilt on her conscience that made it impossible for her to face the fool.

But these words, she did not wish to say out loud because saying them would only add unnecessary troubles without solving any problems.

"Qianqian, come with me to see him, it’s been many days since we visited him, I don’t know if those nurses can take good care of him."

Jiang Ningxin sighed as she spoke.

"I know your hardship, so I hope he can recover soon, preferably back to normal so that you won’t have to bear so much, right?"

Lin Qianqian said.

"Qianqian, life is full of disappointments, and we must bear them if they are ours to bear," Jiang Ningxin’s tone became more serious as she spoke.

"Alright, I know you understand great principles and have read many books. Hmm, to say this Lee Sha is not stupid, he has a good memory and even likes to read, especially understanding ancient books, yet somehow he’s so dull and foolish, it’s quite strange."

Lin Qianqian said, a bit puzzled.

"Sometimes, I feel he has his own unique personality, and so I also hold a slim hope of reaching out to him, but it’s all in vain. Since his brother, Lee Yi, died, he lost his original spirit and became completely dull and foolish, although he would still occasionally speak. But three years ago, after his mother’s death, he completely changed. They were originally just a branch of the Lee Family, and in this era, while many enjoy shared wealth and prosperity, there are very few who can truly stand together through thick and thin. If the military and political wing of the Lee Family were willing to help, they wouldn’t have ended up like this."

Jiang Ningxin spoke with a hint of melancholy.

"Ah... this family is indeed unlucky. His grandfather once had a foothold within the military and political family, and even arranged a marriage with your grandfather. Yet, unexpectedly, his grandfather and his father passed away in succession. Out of fear that he would interfere with the family enterprise, the Lee Family forced him and his mother out. To treat his condition, his mother, Aunt Xi, had no choice but to remarry Uncle Zhou, and under pressure, changed his name from ’Lee Ran’ to ’Zhou Yan’. Unfortunately, Uncle Zhou also wore himself out with hard work, and he and Aunt Xi passed away one after the other,"

Lin Qianqian recalled these events with a sense of wistfulness.

"You, don’t you know that his mother, ’Aunt Xi’, was from your Lin Family, Lin Yuxi?"

Jiang Ningxin said, surprised.

"Huh? What, what are you talking about? Lee Sha’s mother is from our Lin Family? The number one talented woman of the time, Lin Yuxi? The Lin Yuxi who later ran away with a man and was regarded as a disgrace by the family?"

Lin Qianqian was also shocked, clearly not having expected this.

"Hehe, most large families are like this, cold-blooded and ruthless, valuing face over compassion and righteousness," Jiang Ningxin said to herself with a laugh, her words filled with sarcasm.

"I, I, I really didn’t know, I always called her ’Aunt Xi’, I thought her surname was ’Xi’..."

"So... that means, this Lee Sha, Lee Ran... Zhou Yan, is my cousin... he, he’s really pitiful."

Lin Qianqian’s attitude changed completely all of a sudden, no longer having the thought of encouraging Jiang Ningxin to dump the fool, but instead hoping that Jiang Ningxin could stay with the fool forever.

...

Zhou Yan awoke within the Emperor Burial Crystal Coffin and found himself standing near the Moon, outside of Earth, gazing at that ancient star.

Looking from space, the azure Earth was filled with an endless mystique of deep blue hues, its outer layer derived a stable isolation layer from the primordial Tai Chu Runes, and the protective power of the Ancient Array enveloped the planet like a dumpling.

Zhou Yan looked on and took in a cold breath, secretly shocked.

Throughout his journey, Zhou Yan did not know how much time had passed, but his soul had been crushed countless times along the way.

Had it not been for the honor of the Soul Slash Dao, he might have died thousands, if not millions, of times, unimaginable.

But he had come through it all.

During this time, Zhou Yan sensed the changes in the Emperor Burial Crystal, felt the crystal transform into a skull, and form a woman’s body to mend the heavens.

However, Zhou Yan did not know whether this was in the past or future, or perhaps, it was an illusion.

He did not know these things.

But he had returned.

Back outside of Earth.

With just a thought, he could return to Earth through the Void Sword Body.

But the Emperor Burial Crystal Coffin still temporarily stopped here, erect in the void.

Inside the Crystal Coffin, Zhou Yan’s eyes were like two clear springs, becoming increasingly spiritual, and his Soul Body began to recover to a complete, peak state from every aspect.

The transparent Crystal Coffin had a momentary realness, and came into view.

In that moment, Zhou Yan felt alive, and suddenly established a strong sensing power with a certain physical body, as if it was his home. It seemed as if his days of drifting were about to come to an end.

Suddenly, Zhou Yan’s heart chilled, feeling an inexplicable sensation of being watched. His gaze condensed, piercing the endless void, and saw an ancient and odd mechanical metal beast in front of him, with a peculiar fan-like object aimed at him, seemingly recording the ’Sword Illusion Realm’.

"Spacecraft? Or a satellite base? What is it?"

Zhou Yan’s gaze sharpened, and he unleashed a Soul Killing strike, "Pfft," that satellite instantly exploded and crashed into the orbit of the star field.

...

Time: December 2014.

Location: United States, Aerospace Data Monitoring Center.

"OH MY GOD—"

"Pfft—"

A group of scientists suddenly stood up, staring fixedly at the monitor screens that had turned into a flurry of snowflakes, their eyes filled with shock and disbelief.

Several scientists were so frightened that they sat down on the floor, their eyeballs nearly popping out.

"God, is this God walking among us?"

"No, it must be Satan, Satan. An evil spirit destroyed our satellite space station, damn it!"

"God, the Father, the Holy Spirit be with me. What did I see?!"

At this moment, the data monitoring center was in complete chaos.

But, no one knew what exactly had happened within the Star Domain.

"The technology isn’t too advanced, the development of science and technology... should be about forty to fifty years ahead of the Hubble telescope era, so it is almost exactly twenty years from the time my brother mentioned... This heaven and earth... The flow of time really isn’t the same."

Zhou Yan muttered to himself, the Heavenly Mechanism Skill derived within him, everything shielded, no longer revealed.

All similar instruments would never again capture any trace of him.

Zhou Yan’s thoughts moved, and the shackling power of the Emperor Burial Crystal Coffin finally diminished, turning into a phantasm of a crystal coffin, which entered into the Soul Sea within Zhou Yan’s soul to flow quietly.

Zhou Yan exited the crystal coffin, the call of his physical body becoming even more intense, like a mother calling out to her child, a force surpassing all else.

But Zhou Yan did not return to his physical body; instead, he carefully observed this Star Domain.

This was a terrifying Star Domain, with remnants of the primordial era’s great wars.

That Milky Way was clearly the Immortal Sword, having cut through planes and the Star River, causing rifts to appear and splitting the universe irreparably.

Ahead, that planet Mars, was the dried up Soul Sea and Soul Pill of a dead Fiery Sun Golden Crow, now in Annihilation, still emitting a decaying and desolate aura.

This was a wasteland, a desolate and ruined land, yet it instilled reverence and fear.

Here, even possessing the strength of the Sword Void Nine Transformations Peak, Zhou Yan trembled in fear, worried that a gentle breeze could completely destroy his soul.

"What a bizarre place... The path to Ancestor Worship doesn’t seem as simple as I thought."

"On the Moon, that hazy Moon Palace, turns out to be an ancient Secret Realm... What truths are hidden behind those ancient legends?"

Zhou Yan murmured to himself.

He observed closely.

But the more he observed, the more frightened he became.

Finally, he stopped observing and, following the increasingly powerful attractor call of his physical body, he suddenly transformed into a stream of light, flying towards Earth.

...