Chapter 1579: Return

What an experience it was: billions of runes transforming into a vast ocean of the Great Dao, whose surging waves crashed upon all realms, affecting the continuum of past and present, like the moon and sun, shining brightly within people's hearts.

Chu Feng felt as if he was in the limitless land at the center of the Dao, listening to the primordial sound, comprehending the source of all laws, on the verge of profound enlightenment.

However, he soon broke out in a cold sweat. An inexplicable palpitation terrified his soul, shook his subconscious, and left him profoundly uneasy.

Three colossal flower buds swayed, each as massive as a mountain. Countless runes scattered from the gaps between their petals, affecting the stability of the river of time.

At this moment, all realms—past, present, and future—were like a shimmering sea surface, constantly ebbing and flowing, swaying under the illumination of the Great Dao runes emanating from the blooming buds.

But why did this magnificent sight make his hair stand on end? Chu Feng felt a chill down his spine; his instincts screamed for him to break free and leave this place.

He struggled fiercely, using his soul's light to cut outwards, to sever all connections, unwilling to be immersed any longer.

Within each colossal flower bud sat a figure, profound and unfathomable, seemingly representing the past, present, and future, all embodying Dao Fruits beyond description.

This scene strongly resembled a legend, one of ultimate glory from ages past.

“No, I must break free!” Chu Feng struggled, roaring internally.

Finally, he awoke, isolating himself from the flower bud runes, allowing the sacred light within him to flourish and gradually envelop himself.

Looking up again at the mountain-like flower buds, though they appeared serene, emitting billions of auspicious rays, Chu Feng also sensed a certain chilling essence.

In a trance, the beings glimpsed within the flower bud gaps had shadows behind their sacred forms, their backs gradually turning pitch black, which was extraordinarily terrifying.

Although Chu Feng had realized this, this "one leaf, one epoch" immortal lotus was too terrifying. It was difficult to completely escape its influence; its mere fluctuations could cover all realms.

Now, it clearly had a certain inclination. Was it trying to "capture" Chu Feng?

Terrifying beams of light surged down, like countless massive long-tailed comets crashing into the earth, approaching Chu Feng with an unstoppable momentum. All three flower buds emitted an eerie light, illuminating the area, aiming to exert some unpredictable influence on Chu Feng.

At the same time, Chu Feng seemed to hear a certain call.

“Come back, you and I are one.” This was the voice of a being within one of the flower buds, wanting Chu Feng to merge with it.

What was that? It seemed the flower bud representing the future was about to bloom!

The eyelids of the being within the Dao flower fluttered, as if an invincible Dao Fruit was awakening. It represented the future, and it actually sought to merge with Chu Feng.

“Impossible!” Chu Feng shook his head vigorously. He was himself, not someone else, and had no connection to another's Dao Fruit.

His soul light struggled to break free.

However, his power and strength were insufficient. The scattered rune beams covered him, immobilizing him, on the verge of successfully "capturing" him.

The stone jar trembled, emitting a soft hum, as if severing all realms or isolating heaven and earth. It actually dispersed and annihilated the billions of rune beams.

The stone jar severed Chu Feng's connection with the three colossal flower buds.

Looking closer again, a chill ran down Chu Feng's spine. Within the three flower buds, the one seemingly embodying the future Dao Fruit had its inner figure completely covered by shadow, becoming even more eerily cold.

He recoiled. This was a very bad feeling; it seemed like an endless abyss, desiring to devour everything in all heavens.

“The Myriad Tribulation Reincarnation Lotus, one leaf per epoch,” Chu Feng speculated. “It’s being used, presumptuously attempting to replicate the invincible techniques of ancient legends and bloom three Great Dao flowers.”

Chu Feng speculated that this must be the doing of the shadowy mastermind behind this reincarnation path, whose ambitions were immense.

Throughout the heavens, geniuses of all eras had been gathered here. Originally, it was thought to perfect them, but now it seemed to be about completing some invincible Dao Fruit.

Of the three flower buds, one had clearly fixed its gaze on Chu Feng just now, and the other two were obviously not benevolent either. They had likely tempted and enticed countless geniuses in the past, assimilating the Dao Fruits of geniuses from all eras.

Perhaps the three flower buds also bestowed various benefits upon the skull-like genius beings on their leaves, but they simultaneously analyzed their essence and supplemented themselves.

Chu Feng did not want his path or his Dao Fruit to be merged with and absorbed by that Dao flower. He didn't want to be seen through. Therefore, he absolutely could not approach it.

Chu Feng observed it repeatedly. Fortunately, this lotus seemed to lack its own true consciousness, and the mysterious beings and Dao Fruits within the three flower buds were also in a state of ignorance, not yet truly awakened.

“Forget it, let's go!” Originally, he had wanted to eliminate the beings on the lotus leaves who were destined to become his enemies. But now it seemed they might be seeds, or perhaps pitiful prisoners. For now, it was better not to provoke them, to avoid irritating the flower buds into full bloom.

He was decisive, swiftly departing along the original path.

Finally, he even left the path of reincarnation. His journey concluded, unwilling to explore further.

The discovery of this ancient lotus, "one leaf, one epoch," profoundly shocked him today. As for the behind-the-scenes arrangements and the prisoners, he temporarily decided not to target them.

Being nourished by the celestial fluid was his greatest gain. Once his body was fully unlocked and the cooling-off period passed, he would be able to evolve again. His strength would surge, destined to break his own limits!

Finally, Chu Feng emerged, seeing the light of day once more, and returned to the Yang Realm.

He immediately found a place to seclude himself. Now, it was a matter of waiting; perhaps a few months, perhaps a few years, his body would regain vitality. The celestial fluid would compensate for everything, making him burst with vibrant life.

In a vast, wild mountain range, with ancient trees and dense forests, Chu Feng sat quietly in a mountain cave, patiently awaiting the day of his full recovery.

However, after sitting for a long time, he grew restless. He took out the stone zither and studied it carefully. This object had only one string left, and it was made of stone. Could it really produce music?

Several days later, Chu Feng couldn't resist. After fiddling with it repeatedly, he placed the zither inside the stone jar's internal space and plucked the single stone string from a distance.

The string remained completely still. Considering his divine abilities and immense divine power, this was somewhat astonishing.

Finally, he used all his strength, not plucking with a finger, but slamming his fist down. His fist light, imbued with runes, struck within the jar, and in that instant, he quickly sealed the jar's lid.

A faint zither note resounded, and specks of light diffused outwards, like soft candlelight, emanating through the unsealed gaps of the jar's lid and rippling in all directions.

Chu Feng's pupils constricted. He held the stone jar, integrated with it. To him, the halo was just light, posing no danger and showing no unusual signs.

However, when the halo touched the mountain, the entire mountain cave dissolved. Then, the halo rippled towards the vast forest, and the mountain range crumbled into dust at a visible rate.

Chu Feng's hands and feet turned cold. He dared not release the jar. If he were to separate from it, would he too, like this desolate expanse, turn to ash in an instant?

Heaven and earth fell silent. The vast mountain range here had simply vanished, flattened completely, as if it had never existed. The bare, desolate plain was lifeless and empty.

Numerous mountain landscapes, great rivers, mountain springs, and vast swathes of earth's veins—all had been annihilated and disappeared!

Chu Feng felt a chill to his bones. This was truly an unfathomable power.

Once his mind settled, he seriously and gravely assessed how powerful the zither note, produced by his full-strength punch, truly was. The answer remained unknown.

Flying high into the sky, he saw the ground scorched black, as if it had been struck by a massive chaotic lightning bolt, annihilating everything.

“Its destructive power against the outside world is unknown,” he mused, “but on myself... it actually has some positive effects?!”

He was greatly astonished. After being covered by the halo, he hadn't felt anything at first, but now he felt his body incredibly revitalized and at ease.

The celestial fluid seemed to be accelerating its digestion and absorption. He felt his entire body light and agile, his soul light clear and radiant, as if he had undergone a baptism.

“This zither... is it not primarily for killing enemies,” he wondered, “but rather for refining oneself, cleansing soul light, and purifying Dao bones?” He was genuinely surprised.

“If I play a few more tunes,” he mused, “will it cause my body to fully recover and completely emerge from the 'cooling-off period' in the shortest time possible?” His heart instantly burned with excitement.

Suddenly, he heard the sound of flapping wings. Clearly, the zither's single strike had obliterated a vast mountain range, alarming distant evolved beings.

“Hmm? Reincarnation Hunters, and also Scavengers!”

He first saw withered beings, recognizing them at a glance. More than a dozen powerful beings, like a pouring galaxy, carrying overwhelming killing intent, came directly to kill him!

Before he left the Two-Realms Battlefield, the Immortal King-level old monster on the path of reincarnation had already issued a decree, commanding the Scavengers to emerge and hunt him down.

Now it seemed these terrifying beings had been searching for him, steadfastly fulfilling their duty. It was estimated that they had already caused massive commotion in the outside world.

Even though he was hiding here, he had unexpectedly encountered them. One could imagine how diligent and dedicated these terrifying Scavengers were.

“Annihilate Chu Feng throughout the world!” A Scavenger shouted from high in the sky.

“Originally, I wanted to live in quiet seclusion,” Chu Feng murmured, “but now it seems I need to play dozens, even hundreds of tunes across all heavens. I won't stop until I break this cycle of reincarnation!”

Many days had passed. He didn't know how the Two-Realms Battlefield was faring, or who the Heavenly Emperor's Dao Fruit would ultimately belong to. But now, since trouble had found him, he didn't mind cleansing the ten directions and eliminating his enemies in the Yang Realm!