After receiving his orders, the old man departed.
His name was Zhao Qi, a trusted confidant of the master of the Cosmic Annihilation Mansion. He had been by his side for a thousand epochs and was just one step away from reaching the Ancestral Dao Realm.
The Mountain and Sea True World was merely a newly born true world. He didn't even need to bring any additional manpower; he could annihilate it with a mere wave of his hand.
What would prove somewhat challenging, however, was locating that spark of the Immortal Dao civilization.
"The path of cultivation is long and arduous. Personal attachments will only become chains that bind you. I hope you can understand my well-meaning intentions, A'Man."
The master of the Cosmic Annihilation Mansion watched as the old man left, his expression still cold and unfeeling.
Destroying a newly born true world was as simple as crushing an ant to him.
However, what slightly surprised him was that when he tried to deduce the vast coordinates of the Mountain and Sea True World again, they were shrouded in an intangible mist.
"It seems that because of A'Man, even the fate of the Mountain and Sea True World has been obscured."
"That spark of the Immortal Dao civilization—I wonder who left it behind. I didn't investigate it thoroughly back then, and now, after so many years, I'm not sure if it's still there."
His eyes flickered slightly as he pondered.
Meanwhile, deep within the Cosmic Annihilation Mansion.
Inside a lush, vibrant life star named Tianlan, radiant light surged, and chains of order intertwined as if manifesting some supreme truth.
A slender, cold-faced young woman sat cross-legged within this life star, immortal mist swirling around her nose and mouth, converging and surging.
From her heart, the sound of drumbeats and morning bells could be heard, causing the entire life star to tremble incessantly.
The young woman appeared to be only about seventeen years old.
Her face was exquisitely beautiful, with her black hair cascading down, partially obscuring her features.
Yet her expression was icy, as if she held no regard for any life in the world.
She carried a deep demonic aura.
Visible to the naked eye, faint wisps of demonic energy emanated from her lungs, organs, and skin, causing those who sensed it to tremble in fear.
However, at this moment, sensing something, the young woman opened her eyes.
All the demonic energy around her instantly dissipated.
"Miss A'Man, the mansion master has ordered that you remain here to cultivate for the time being. You are not to leave this place until you have reached the Immortal King Realm."
A slightly hunched old man appeared—it was Zhao Qi.
His voice came from outside the life star.
Although A'Man was the first among the mansion master's descendants in this generation to successfully comprehend the trials of reincarnation and pass the assessment, her years of cultivation were far fewer than those of the mansion master's other descendants.
Moreover, the cultivation levels of her peers in the Cosmic Annihilation Mansion far surpassed hers.
According to the rules of the Cosmic Annihilation Mansion, only those who surpassed the Immortal King Realm were qualified to compete for the position of Dao Child.
And only by becoming a Dao Child could one contend for the position of Young Mansion Master.
The mansion master had high hopes for A'Man and had always provided her with ample resources, allowing her to cultivate diligently and break through to the Immortal King Realm long ago.
"I'm not allowed to leave until I reach the Immortal King Realm?"
Hearing this, A'Man's expression remained cold, and she paid no attention to the old man outside.
Instead, she closed her eyes again, as if sinking back into cultivation.
Zhao Qi was already accustomed to A'Man's attitude and wasn't surprised.
In his view, A'Man had only recently broken through to the True Immortal Realm. With her talent, it would take at least a hundred years or more for her to reach the Immortal King Realm.
This period of time would be more than enough for him to complete the mansion master's orders.
After observing for a while, he waved his withered hand, and a layer of ancient, rune-covered restrictions enveloped the life star.
Soon, his figure disappeared.
A'Man, seemingly unaware of what was happening outside, remained focused on her cultivation.
---
In a silent, lifeless, and desolate universe that resembled a dead sea, a figure clad in white walked leisurely, as if treading on water without leaving a trace.
His pace was unhurried, as though he were walking on flat ground, yet in the blink of an eye, space and time blurred, and with a single step, he traversed billions of miles.
This was a remote, nameless region within the vast expanse, filled with the remnants of shattered great worlds.
Waves rolled and surged, carrying countless ancient worlds that floated and sank, too numerous to count.
Each wave was composed of layers of broken small worlds.
However, they were all in ruins, devoid of any life.
In the vast expanse, not all regions were capable of nurturing life.
And areas like this were actually the most common in the vast expanse.
The mist of the vast expanse churned, revealing only the remnants of lands that had perished in the cataclysmic tribulations.
After dealing with the probing of the Prime-Origin Civilization, Gu Changge had already left the Immortal Spirit Civilization.
This time, he had truly left, unlike before when he had hidden in the shadows, waiting for fish to take the bait.
However, at this moment, within the Immortal Spirit Civilization, the various clans and factions were likely still speculating about his whereabouts—whether he had truly left or not.
Illusions and realities, truths and falsehoods—these could naturally intimidate those with ulterior motives.
"Hmm?"
"Interesting. Who dares to be so bold?"
Suddenly, sensing something, Gu Changge stopped in his tracks, a hint of curiosity appearing on his face.
He had sensed someone attempting to deduce and spy on the vast coordinates of the Dao Prosperity True World, trying to locate it.
The Heavenly Dao of the Dao Prosperity True World was essentially an avatar he had left behind.
Even across an infinite distance, he could detect any anomalies within it.
Gu Changge hadn't expected that the Dao Prosperity True World, being merely a newly born true world, could still attract such attention.
"Is this related to Qingyi, or is it connected to the person who left A'Man there?"
"Ah, a True Dao Realm expert who has survived six Heavenly Decline Tribulations, not far from the Ancestral Dao Realm."
A look of interest flashed in his eyes as he followed the trail of the deduction.
Soon, the figure of a slightly hunched old man appeared before Gu Changge.
In the Endless Yang True World, Zhao Qi, following the orders of the Cosmic Annihilation Mansion's master, had already gathered his men and was beginning to determine the vast coordinates of the newly born true world known as the Mountain and Sea True World.
"A newly born true world. Once we determine its vast coordinates, we'll find it quickly."
Zhao Qi's sleeves billowed as he began to perform hand seals, deducing its location based on the karma left by the mansion master.
However, at that very moment, a terrifying aura that sent shivers down his spine suddenly emerged, forcing him to stop what he was doing.
"What's going on?"
Zhao Qi looked around in shock and confusion, unsure why this was happening. It felt as though some terrifying being was watching him.
He glanced at the others around him, but they seemed completely unaware, as if only he could sense it.
In an instant, Zhao Qi's back was drenched in cold sweat, and he couldn't help but shiver.