Chapter 419 - 346: Azure Firmament Palace
In the next moment, Dharma Master Hong Jue’s Profound Robe fluttered, his broad sleeves seemingly making a casual wave, yet bringing forth the rhythm of the stars across the heavens, condensing into a vast, boundless star trajectory before him.
The star trajectory was formed by billions of tiny points of light, each resembling a tiny star, rotating slowly along fixed paths, with ends disappearing into the void, connecting to an unfathomable Great Void.
"Follow me."
Before Chen Sheng could react, a gentle yet irresistible force enveloped his body as Dharma Master Hong Jue’s voice resonated with the hum of spatial vibrations.
As heaven and earth spun, the sound of wind was replaced by infinite tranquility.
Upon reopening his eyes, he found himself standing in the midst of an endless galaxy, with the light and shadow of the previous Star Hub Hall already vanished.
Above, below, and all around him were dazzling stars, near enough to touch, their planetary surfaces clearly displaying ring-shaped craters and flowing glows.
Those farther away transformed into a nebulous starlight mist, spread in the darkness like a splendid satin.
These stars were not in disarray but operated along visible primordial magnetic orbits, woven into a giant celestial net, encompassing the entire galaxy.
"This... this is a Small Thousand World with the stars as its foundation!"
Chen Sheng’s breath halted instantly, his Dao Heart tremored slightly with awe at the grandeur before him, a world so entirely different from the Celestial Abyss Realm, akin to the cosmic galaxy of the first universe.
Beyond the astonishment, Chen Sheng’s gaze crossed layers of stars and fell upon the floating black hole at the center of the galaxy.
It resembled a giant eye, boundless, its edge swirling with black gaseous waves, drawing countless brilliant starlight into it, only to turn into nothingness upon nearing the black hole’s edge.
More terrifying, the black hole continuously emitted and absorbed faint purple Primordial Magnetic Divine Light, causing nearby stellar tracks to tremble violently, with time and space near the black hole seeming void!
He also noticed, in the galaxy there was a primordial magnetic star storm eruption every few breaths.
When the star storm occurred, countless star fragments danced wildly under the Primordial Magnetic Power, collapsing the space they moved through, releasing rampant Termination Law in the gaps.
Even stranger were the time distortions caused by the star storm. During a distant storm eruption, Chen Sheng even saw the velocity of nearby stars slow dramatically, as if pressed by a slow-motion button, only to return to normal when the storm calmed.
Such a terrifying environment is indeed worthy of being the Small Thousand World created by Dharma Master Hong Jue, who cultivates the Termination Law.
"There is no need to panic."
Dharma Master Hong Jue’s voice timely arrived, an aura of gentle starlight enveloping him; the dispersed Primordial Magnetic Divine Light and star storm residual waves dispersed upon touching the starlight as if meeting a barrier:
"I have already engraved the Creation mark on you, the laws of this realm cannot harm you."
Only then did Chen Sheng notice the warm aura circulating between his brows, isolating him from the peril outside.
He calmed his nerves, suppressing the uneasiness in his heart, turning his gaze back to the majestic and dangerous galaxy.
Dharma Master Hong Jue chuckled lightly:
"Don’t just stand there, let’s go, you have all the time to observe next."
Before he finished speaking, he swept his sleeve and took Chen Sheng, transforming into a condensed starlight, flying directly toward the Annihilation Abyss at the galaxy’s center, with the Primordial Magnetic Divine Light and star storm residual waves avoiding along the way.
As the starlight swept past the stellar tracks, countless light points were attracted, trailing a brilliant tail behind them, like a meteor streaking across the galaxy, finally settling steadily into the all-consuming black hole.
...
At the moment the starlight fell into the black hole, the anticipated tearing sensation and termination dominance did not arrive, replaced by a gentle Dao Rhyme enveloping his body.
The darkness before him receded like a tide, and when his vision cleared again, his pupils dilated with immense shock.
The black hole’s core held not a trace of danger; seven gilded palaces suspended in the void.
Illuminated by invisible light, they radiated crimson, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet brilliance, resembling seven jewels set in the darkness, magnificent and solemn.
These seven palaces were arranged in the shape of the Seven Stars of the Big Dipper, with eaves adorned with intricate star patterns, resonating subtly with the primordial magnetic forces of the outer galaxy.
Around the palaces, countless Heaven and Earth Dao Principles interwove into a net, enveloping the stellar primordial magnetic Termination Law in the very center, circulating and evolving, vaguely revealing the operation of the entire Small Thousand World.
"This is the core of this realm—Beidou Seven Star Palace."
Dharma Master Hong Jue’s voice carried with it a sense of eternity, a fleeting nostalgia flashing in his eyes, as if reminiscing the sight of when he forged this realm alone.
In an instant, he withdrew his gaze, gently waved his robe, and the palace on the left engraved with the words "Azure Firmament" suddenly lit up with azure light, its tightly shut vermilion doors slowly opening.
The spirit aura spilling from the doorway carried the freshness of vegetation and the gravitas of stars, invigorating Chen Sheng with a delightful tremor with each breath.
Upon stepping into the Azure Firmament Palace, Chen Sheng felt his meridians thoroughly saturated by the spirit aura, with the interior far more mystical than its exterior, the star patterns on the ground echoed those of the outer galaxy.
On the walls hung unframed paintings, which did not depict mountains, water, flowers, or birds, but the shadows of five elements rotating and Yin Yang merging, each transforming with the flow of Dao Principles.
At the center of the hall was a cloud-patterned Jade Desk, upon which a crystal ball floated, within it unfolding a realm of "Annihilation" and "Termination" fusion.
"This is where you will cultivate."
Dharma Master Hong Jue walked to the Jade Desk, lightly tapping the crystal ball with his fingertips, the shadow within instantly becoming clear:
"I have eliminated all other miscellaneous principles in the palace, preserving only the four Great Perfection Dao of Five Elements, Yin Yang, Annihilation, and Termination, and manifested them before you for observation and understanding during your future cultivation."
He paused, looked at Chen Sheng whose face was full of astonishment, with a tone filled with expectation:
"Here, the spirit aura is abundant, Dao Principles manifest directly, pointing to the source, with cultivation efficiency far surpassing the external realm. Whether you can seize the opportunity depends on your fortune."
Chen Sheng’s heart surged with tumult.
While cultivating in the Celestial Abyss Realm, he could also comprehend Heaven and Earth, but compared to the Dao Principles being displayed before him like tangible objects, where even the circulation trajectories were clearly visible, it was vastly different.
Despite both being Small Thousand Worlds, here he seemed to be at the core of the Dao of Heaven, not only able to glimpse Dao Principles but even the Law being somewhat understood.
He respectfully bowed: "Disciple greatly thanks Master for your generous gift, and will wholeheartedly cultivate, not failing the trust bestowed!"
Dharma Master Hong Jue nodded, then his sleeve fluttered once more.
A streak of azure light floated out from the palace pillar, transforming into a man dressed in a blue robe upon landing, with a face like jade and a waist adorned with a Jade Token engraved with "Azure Firmament."
"Greetings, Palace Master."
The man in the blue robe bowed respectfully, his movements formal and deferential, revealing his identity as Yuan Qing, the Artifact Spirit of Azure Firmament Palace.
"Rise."
Dharma Master Hong Jue pointed to Chen Sheng, introducing him to Yuan Qing:
"This is my disciple Chen Sheng, who will cultivate here in the future. During the cultivation period, should he require anything, be it adjusting spirit aura concentration or accessing the palace’s collection of books and records, you must fully cooperate."
Yuan Qing nodded, immediately turning to Chen Sheng, bowing again with respect: "Greetings, your Highness."
Chen Sheng raised his hand slightly: "Yuan Qing, no need for excessive courtesy."
He speculated that while the grade of Azure Firmament Palace remained unknown, as one of the core palaces of a Small Thousand World, it was estimated to be at least a Tier Six Top Grade Ancient Treasure, perhaps even a Tier Seven Heaven-Reaching Ancient Treasure.
The Artifact Spirit of such an Ancient Treasure possesses strength far above majority of Refining Void Great Powers, letting Chen Sheng dare not underestimate it in any comparison.
Dharma Master Hong Jue observed the interaction between the two, nodding affirmatively, then pointed to a tightly shut stone door at the back of the palace:
"Beyond that door is a sub-tower I crafted based on the essence of the Star Tower, with the same number of levels and identical pressure, you may enter and challenge at any time."
He paused, adding:
"I will come once every ten years to resolve any cultivation dilemmas for you; for the rest of the time, Yuan Qing will assist you."
Following his master’s guidance, Chen Sheng gazed upon the stone door, on which a relief of the Star Tower was carved, faintly feeling the familiar pressure from within.
He bowed once more, his voice firm: "Disciple understands, will certainly meet Master’s expectations!"