Swallowed Star 2: Origin Continent - Chapter 2: The Jiugang Chaos State
< Chapter 2: The Jiugang Chaos State >
Inside the flying boat, Moyu Hu, feeling terrified, did not dare to hesitate and immediately flew out, kneeling down upon landing and saying with utmost respect, “Moyu Hu pays his respects to the Supreme One.”
Moyu Hu felt uneasy in his heart, having gone through numerous hardships to obtain a treasure. He feared that this dreadful being would kill him and seize the treasure! He did not want to die, as the survival of his three children in Huyang City would become incredibly difficult without him.
“I ask you, which Chaos State is this?” Luo Feng inquired.
Moyu Hu was taken aback upon hearing this.
Was he asking for directions?
“Reporting to the Supreme One,” Moyu Hu quickly responded respectfully, “this is the Jiugang Chaos State of Yuguo.”
“Yuguo?” Luo Feng nodded slightly.
On the Origin Continent, there are many powers, be it a city, a tribe, or a secret sect, each could be a power in its own right.
However, only those of the Divine King level are qualified to establish a Divine Kingdom.
Master Zuo Shan Ke once founded the Jin State, having only himself as a Divine King. Yuguo and Shiguo, however, were significantly stronger, with Shiguo originally having three Divine Kings and Yuguo having five Divine Kings.
“Shiguo and Yuguo are neighboring countries; fortunately, after braving the cycle of reincarnation, I arrived in Yuguo,” Luo Feng thought. “It would have been troublesome if I had ended up in Shiguo.”
He had originally obtained the “Nine Calamities Secret Tome” and the Star Tower because of Master Zuo Shan Ke. He also received the legacy of the World Lineage of Jin and even obtained the “Array of Elements.”
The gratitude he owed to his master was immense.
If he were to become a Divine King in the future, he would undoubtedly stand by his master! In his weaker moments, it was natural to stay further away from the three rulers of Shiguo.
“I remember there should be three major cities in Jiugang Chaos State, right?” Luo Feng asked.
“Yes,” Moyu Hu immediately replied, “Jiugang Chaos State is vast and immense, with three major cities and one hundred eighty-nine regular cities. The three major cities are Jiugang City, Huyang City, and Xuyin City.”
Luo Feng nodded. “Jiugang Chaos State is the fief of the Chaos Saint ‘Lord Jiugang’, right?”
In the Origin Continent, the Eternal True Gods are usually granted a national surname and typically serve as generals commanding regions or as core members governing cities, belonging to the elite of the divine nations.
The Lords of Chaos, however, are granted marquisates! Their status is much higher! They are even given a Chaos State as a fief. If they are displeased, they can simply leave and join another country.
“Lord Jiugang resides in Jiugang City,” Moyu Hu promptly added. “Therefore, among the three big cities, Jiugang City has the strictest rules! Xuyin City, due to the mines and some powers, often has conflicts, resulting in frequent wars. Huyang City, located near the border of Yuguo, has many neighboring countries setting up branches there; it’s the most developed in trade, and I also live there.”
Luo Feng nodded slightly.
“I need to cultivate, and also need a stable environment with suitable resources,” Luo Feng thought. “Jiugang City has a Lord of Chaos, so there’s no need for me to cultivate under his watchful eye.”
“Xuyin City has too many conflicts.”
“Huyang City, with its developed trade and information, is conducive for acquiring resources and thus suitable for me to stay temporarily.” Luo Feng quickly made his decision. When one’s strength is weak, one must be more cautious.
Luo Feng looked towards the respectfully compliant Moyu Hu and instructed, “I’m going to Huyang City. You will lead the way.”
“Yes,” Moyu Hu felt a sense of relief and excitement.
Lead the way?
That meant he wouldn’t be killed!
“Huyang City is in that direction.” Moyu Hu immediately pointed out the way.
“Let’s go.” With a thought, Luo Feng, along with Morosa, began to shuttle through space at high speed with Moyu Hu.
Moyu Hu felt an invisible force enveloping him, and the space around them twisted. Their three figures flashed through space instantaneously, far faster than if they were using a flying boat.
“Lord, we should still be cautious on the road, there are many dangerous places along the way,” Moyu Hu quickly said.
“Are there any chaos-level beasts along the way?” Luo Feng asked calmly.
“Of course not! In the entire Jiugang Chaos State, there is only one chaos-level beast, ‘Chao Yong,’ who lives deep in Chao Yong Lake. There are no chaos-level beasts in other places,” Moyu Hu replied.
Luo Feng nodded, “Then there’s nothing to worry about.”
Luo Feng, with Morosa and Moyu Hu, continued their high-speed journey through the void in a straight line towards Huyang City.
“No chaos-level beasts, then there’s nothing to worry about?” Moyu Hu’s heart trembled upon hearing this.
“My lord, if we don’t deviate from our path, we might pass through the lairs of Eternal True God level beasts,” Moyu Hu couldn’t help but say.
Luo Feng just gave him a look, not saying much more.
Eternal True God level beasts?
Having arrived on the Origin Continent penniless, Luo Feng was almost hoping for an attack by creatures of the Eternal True God level—a couple of them would make good prey. The scales, bones, and blood essence of these beasts could be sold for money or traded for the resources he desired.
“I do have a few extremely precious items on me,” Luo Feng thought. “The Divine King level weapon ‘Star Tower,’ the Divine King level blade embryo ‘Blood Shadow Blade,’ and the Eternal True God level mechanized treasure ‘Shi Wu Feathered Wings,’ but I certainly can’t sell them.” He mused, “I really am quite poor right now.”
The Shi Wu Feathered Wings, as a mechanized treasure, were currently the most helpful to Luo Feng. The other two items were of limited help for the time being, but as Luo Feng grew stronger, the significance of the Star Tower and Blood Shadow Blade would become increasingly apparent.
“The beasts on the Origin Continent,” Luo Feng considered, “according to information from Master Zuo Shan Ke, are deliberately let loose by the Divine Kings. They allow the beasts to proliferate and occupy most of the continent.”
“The myriad tribes of cultivators slaughter these beasts and harvest their body materials for cultivation resources.”
“And the Divine King level beasts are usually kept in captivity; it’s rare for one to be found in the wild. If a Divine King level beast does appear outside, it’s quickly captured and taken away by those Divine Kings.” Luo Feng was well aware of this.
To weaker True Gods, these beasts posed a great threat.
But to the truly powerful entities, they were merely living resources for cultivation.
“The intelligence of these beasts is low, yet the very top among them can achieve Divine King level strength just through their bloodline alone,” Luo Feng marveled. “How can their bloodlines be so powerful?”
According to the intelligence he had, every Divine King level beast was a treasure of heaven and earth, kept in captivity by truly powerful forces. The bloodline essences of these Divine King level beasts were treasures beyond the reach even of third-generation ancestors and Master Zuo Shan Ke.
Having arrived on the Origin Continent penniless, Luo Feng was almost hoping for an attack by creatures of the Eternal True God level—a couple of them would make good prey. The scales, bones, and blood essence of these beasts could be sold for money or traded for the resources he desired.
“I do have a few extremely precious items on me,” Luo Feng thought. “The Divine King level weapon ‘Star Tower,’ the Divine King level blade embryo ‘Blood Shadow Blade,’ and the Eternal True God level mechanized treasure ‘Shi Wu Feathered Wings,’ but I certainly can’t sell them.” He mused, “I really am quite poor right now.”
The Shi Wu Feathered Wings, as a mechanized treasure, were currently the most helpful to Luo Feng. The other two items were of limited help for the time being, but as Luo Feng grew stronger, the significance of the Star Tower and Blood Shadow Blade would become increasingly apparent.
“The beasts on the Origin Continent,” Luo Feng considered, “according to information from Master Zuo Shan Ke, are deliberately let loose by the Divine Kings. They allow the beasts to proliferate and occupy most of the continent.”
“The myriad tribes of cultivators slaughter these beasts and harvest their body materials for cultivation resources.”
“And the Divine King level beasts are usually kept in captivity; it’s rare for one to be found in the wild. If a Divine King level beast does appear outside, it’s quickly captured and taken away by those Divine Kings.” Luo Feng was well aware of this.
To weaker True Gods, these beasts posed a great threat.
But to the truly powerful entities, they were merely living resources for cultivation.
“The intelligence of these beasts is low, yet the very top among them can achieve Divine King level strength just through their bloodline alone,” Luo Feng marveled. “How can their bloodlines be so powerful?”
According to the intelligence he had, every Divine King level beast was a treasure of heaven and earth, kept in captivity by truly powerful forces. The bloodline essences of these Divine King level beasts were treasures beyond the reach even of third-generation ancestors and Master Zuo Shan Ke.
“For the weak, the myriad beasts that roam the Origin Continent pose a threat,” Luo Feng reflected. “But once one reaches a certain level of strength, these creatures become mere prey.”
“These beasts have low intelligence. The real threat to me on the Origin Continent comes from the myriad tribe cultivators,” he was well aware of this fact.
Generations of talents from the three thousand original universes have repeatedly cycled through reincarnation to arrive here.
The Origin Continent, home to a vast number of beings born both locally and from countless small universes, naturally has many elites emerging among its massive population.
With countless eons passed, the cultivators of the myriad tribes are truly a force to be reckoned with—full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers!
Factions like the ‘Undying River of the Broken Eastern River lineage’ are among the weaker sects on the entire Origin Continent. Even Master Zuo Shan Ke is among the weaker tier of the Divine Kings.
Even Tianmu Kingdom, which commands a peak Boundary Beast, is not considered the most terrifying power on the Origin Continent.
“For me, what’s needed now is to lie low and grow stronger. Only then will I qualify to uncover more secrets of the Origin Continent.” Luo Feng understood this clearly, and even the vengeance for his master, Master Zuo Shan Ke, could now be set aside.
Without becoming a Divine King, one simply has no standing to get involved.
* * *
Around the original universe, there are many small universes, among which Luo Feng’s small universe is undoubtedly the largest, spanning a diameter of one hundred billion light-years.
Luo Feng’s small universe is absorbing chaotic airflows at maximum efficiency and converting them into divine power, which is then transmitted to Luo Feng’s heart of the true god, allowing his divine body to grow. Since Luo Feng has only recently become an Eternal True God, his divine body has not yet reached its ultimate state.
Inside Luo Feng’s small universe.
Under a giant tree.
Luo Feng and Yuanzu sat opposite each other, drinking fruit wine. Both of them were just avatars of divine power.
“Only after you told me, did I realize that the other end of the reincarnation passage is the Origin Continent,” Yuanzu said with emotion. They had both traversed reincarnation, and now discussing the Origin Continent was not restricted by the supreme rules.
“Yuanzu, do you know which kingdom you are in now on the Origin Continent?” Luo Feng asked.
“After arriving at the Origin Continent, I encountered a tribe with tens of thousands of beings,” Yuanzu explained. “Almost all the adults in this tribe are true gods, and there is only one Void True God among them. They were very friendly towards me. From them, I learned that the place I am in is within the boundaries of the Ancient Flame Kingdom.”
“Ancient Flame Kingdom?” Luo Feng was slightly surprised.
“How is the Ancient Flame Kingdom?” Yuanzu inquired.
“Every kingdom on the Origin Continent is established by Divine Kings,” Luo Feng explained. “There are only two that are called ancient kingdoms, one is the Ancient Flame Kingdom and the other is the Ancient Thunder Kingdom. These two ancient kingdoms have the longest histories and the deepest foundations; they are recognized as the strongest among all kingdoms.”
The establishment dates of these two great nations were unknown, not even to Master Zuo Shan Ke; no records existed, leaving much shrouded in mystery.
Aside from the many openly acknowledged Divine Kingdoms, intelligence left by Master Zuo Shan Ke and the Broken Eastern River lineage mentioned some secretive forces and existences. One such existence, named ‘Yuan,’ had completely escaped the ‘cage.’ The Lieu Yuan Technique originated from Yuan. Due to his escape from the cage, Yuan was highly revered by ancient beings.
Master Zuo Shan Ke suspected that among the two ancient kingdoms, there might also be existences who had escaped the cage.
“Apart from the visible Divine Kingdoms, there are also some very powerful forces in the shadows,” Luo Feng said, “In any case, one must be cautious in the Origin Continent.”
“I understand, Luo Feng. Where are you now?” Yuanzu asked.
“I’m in Yuguo, a second-rate country,” Luo Feng replied, “We are too far apart to meet up right now. Besides, without the power of a Chaos Dominator, it isn’t wise to cross half the Origin Continent.”
For an Eternal True God, crossing half of the Origin Continent was akin to a life-and-death ordeal.
Yuanzu nodded.
“Yuanzu, have you obtained any inheritance that could lead to becoming an Eternal True God?” Luo Feng inquired.
“No,” Yuanzu shook his head, feeling the weight of his journey, “After all the hardships to reach the Origin Continent, I still know nothing about it, and I have no such inheritance. Everything must be accumulated slowly.”
Luo Feng nodded in agreement.
It was indeed not easy for the powerhouses who braved the cycles of reincarnation to reach the Origin Continent. Most were unaware of any useful intelligence, and many lacked inheritances.
Luo Feng considered himself fortunate, having survived a harrowing ordeal and passed the tests of the Broken Eastern River lineage as well as Master Zuo Shan Ke, thereby gaining the inheritances of the two major factions.
“I have an inheritance here,” Luo Feng said as he took out a memory stone he had prepared earlier.
The core inheritances of the Broken Eastern River lineage were forbidden to be shared externally; the non-core inheritances, being quite common, were not suitable for Yuanzu.
The inheritances of the world lineage of the Jin era, with the most essential nine parts forbidden to be shared externally, had no restrictions on the others. However, to pass them to Yuanzu, Luo Feng had to learn them first before he could embed them into the memory stone.
“This inheritance is called ‘Nine Specter Realm,’” Luo Feng offered the memory stone to Yuanzu, “I have only grasped the first half, and the memory stone contains only this portion, but it can be cultivated up to the level of an Eternal True God.”
“An inheritance leading to the Eternal True God?” Yuanzu’s eyes lit up.
“Thank you.” Yuanzu was quite excited as he took the memory stone and immediately began to assimilate the information. After a moment, he opened his eyes, nodded, and said, “Luo Feng, the ‘Nine Specter Realm’ suits me very well.”
“Suitability is what matters,” Luo Feng said with a smile.
During his time in the reincarnation passage, Luo Feng had perused the legacies of two lineages. Among the many legacies that could be imparted, he felt that the “Nine Specter Realm” was most suitable for Yuanzu. Thus, he had devoted his efforts to comprehending it, starting with the relatively easier first half.
“Luo Feng, I won’t say too much, but thank you,” Yuanzu said, deeply moved. This legacy was incredibly precious to him.
Having cultivated through nearly an entire era of reincarnation, Yuanzu understood all too well how difficult it was to advance from a virtual true god to an Eternal True God.
Even for the beings of the Origin Continent who could utilize their bloodline or resources from exotic beasts for cultivation, becoming an Eternal True God was one in a billion.
“All I can do is this much. Once you’re in the territory of the Ancient Flame Kingdom, everything is up to you,” Luo Feng told Yuanzu, as they both were the only people from their human race who had come to the Origin Continent.
“Take care in Yuguo as well,” Yuanzu replied.
They exchanged smiles, knowing they were physically half a continent apart and unable to meet. Each had to strive on their own.