Chapter 329 - 328: What the Fissure Revealed (3)

Ku Ming watched him carefully, his own curiosity plainly outweighing his usual monastic restraint.

"What have you discovered?"

Lin Yuan turned toward the monk.

"The spatial connections are not entirely natural, nor are they simply the result of random damage. Some of them appear to have been established deliberately, while others formed after the foundations of the realm were damaged."

He paused.

"The ancient cultivators may have refined the original world into a Dongtian over generations. The different spatial regions would have been arranged according to the needs of the realm, but their underlying laws remained connected."

Ku Ming’s expression grew thoughtful.

"That is consistent with several fragments in the ancient records."

Lin Yuan continued.

"The damage caused by the catastrophe did not completely destroy the structure. Instead, it disrupted the relationships between its parts. Some connections became unstable, while others were preserved. Over time, the remaining laws continued to circulate through the damaged foundation."

He looked toward the distant mountains.

"That is why the Sacred Grounds can still support cultivation despite being incomplete."

Bai Qingyue considered his words.

"Then repairing the realm would require more than restoring its spiritual Qi."

"Exactly."

Lin Yuan’s expression became serious.

"Spiritual Qi is only one part of the structure. If the underlying laws are damaged, adding more energy may strengthen the remaining connections, but it will not necessarily restore the principles that once governed the realm."

He looked at the Dao Fruit within his perception.

"The damage must be understood before it can be repaired."

Ku Ming nodded slowly.

"That is a profound observation."

He paused.

"But why do you believe this ancient realm may be connected to the Hollow Beyond?"

Lin Yuan did not answer immediately.

He turned his gaze toward the sky.

Far beyond the visible heavens, the Nine Heavens Ward remained fractured. The boundary between the Nine Provinces and the Hollow Beyond had been damaged, allowing powerful demons to cross into the world.

The relationship between the two places had always seemed clear.

The ward separated them.

When the ward weakened, the demons could enter.

Yet the more Lin Yuan examined the Sacred Grounds, the more he suspected that the relationship was not so simple.

The ancient Dongtian had been damaged during a catastrophe.

The Chosen Immortal Clan had left their ancestral homeland and moved to the Imperial Domain.

The Nine Heavens Ward had also suffered damage.

And the Hollow Beyond continued to press against the boundaries of the world.

These facts might be unrelated.

But they might also be different consequences of the same ancient event.

Lin Yuan’s eyes narrowed.

"I cannot confirm the connection yet."

He looked toward Ku Ming.

"But I suspect that the catastrophe which damaged the Sacred Grounds may have been related to the events that originally weakened the Nine Heavens Ward."

Ku Ming’s expression changed.

Bai Qingyue also fell silent.

The monk slowly shook his head.

"That is a serious possibility. However, the ancient records do not provide enough information to establish such a connection."

"I know."

Lin Yuan’s voice remained calm.

"I am not saying that the Sacred Grounds caused the damage to the ward, nor am I claiming that repairing this realm would automatically seal the Hollow Beyond."

He paused.

"But if the same catastrophe affected both structures, then understanding one may help us understand the other."

Ku Ming’s golden eyes sharpened.

"That is reasonable."

Lin Yuan looked toward the ancient mountains.

"And if the Sacred Grounds once possessed a complete structure that could preserve and circulate ancient laws, then it may contain information about how the boundary between worlds was originally maintained."

He slowly closed his hand.

"The key may not be the spiritual energy stored here. It may be the principles upon which the realm was built."

Bai Qingyue’s expression became solemn.

"If that is true, then the Sacred Grounds could be more important than any of us imagined."

Lin Yuan nodded.

"That is why I intend to investigate further."

He turned toward the distant horizon.

"But first, we need to deal with the remaining Demon Kings."

Ku Ming’s expression immediately became serious.

"Indeed. The death of Xie Luo will not go unnoticed."

As if to confirm his words, the ancient laws trembled.

A faint spatial fluctuation appeared several kilometers away.

Then another.

Lin Yuan’s eyes narrowed.

"They are coming."

Hei Zang emerged from a spatial passage above the mountain range.

The moment he arrived, he felt the traces of battle spreading through the surrounding region.

The spiritual Qi was disturbed, the ancient laws were fluctuating, and the faint scent of demonic blood lingered in the air.

His expression darkened.

He immediately extended his spiritual sense.

The search lasted only a few breaths.

Then he found the clearing.

His gaze fell upon the enormous scorpion-like corpse lying within the crater.

For an instant, he did not move.

The body was unmistakable.

The dark green chitin, the segmented tail, and the broken pincers belonged to Xie Luo.

His youngest sibling was dead.

Hei Zang’s face twisted with rage.

A terrifying aura erupted from his body, causing the surrounding mountains to tremble.

"LIN YUAN!"

His roar spread through the region.

The ancient trees shook, and countless birds fled from the nearby forests.

He had known that Xie Luo might encounter resistance.

He had even considered the possibility that the youngest sibling would need assistance.

But he had never expected to arrive and find him dead.

Hei Zang’s eyes burned with fury.

He turned toward the clearing and immediately saw Lin Yuan standing beside the damaged spatial fissure.

Bai Qingyue and Ku Ming were beside him.

The sight only intensified his anger.

"You killed him!"

Lin Yuan looked at Hei Zang.

"Yes."

The Demon King froze for a moment.

He had expected Lin Yuan to deny the accusation, or perhaps to offer some explanation.

Instead, the cultivator had admitted it without hesitation.

Hei Zang’s face turned savage.

"Do you know who you have offended?"

Lin Yuan’s expression remained indifferent.

"I have killed three Demon Kings before him. You should already know the answer."

Hei Zang’s aura surged.

"You will pay for this!"