Chapter 223 – The World’s Secret, the Resurrected Red Moon! (5k)

Su Xing struggled to contain the shock in his heart and asked:

“But since that great figure was able to descend into this world, why can’t we escape from Earth?”

“We high-ranking members should all be able to flee to other worlds… and preserve our lives, right!?”

Su Xing’s heart was pounding wildly.

In truth, Su Xing had always harbored an idea — if the Advent Cult’s upper echelons could ultimately escape the Amalgamated Beast’s assault and successfully flee Earth for the Greater World… then they could continue living.

And in this simulation, Su Xing had become a true high-ranking member of the Advent Cult. Perhaps he could further extend his simulation time?

But based on Su Xing’s previous experiences, even someone like Grand Protector Zong would ultimately die in the jaws of the Amalgamated Beast, unable to escape…

Hearing Su Xing’s words, a smile appeared on Protector Dragon’s face as he said:

“Haha, because! Everyone including you and me… even the entire Earth, and the hundreds of small worlds and tens of thousands of half-planes surrounding it… have actually always been His prey!”

His prey?

A chill ran through Su Xing’s heart at these words.

Protector Dragon continued:

“There is a great figure… who wishes to descend into the world once more… a great figure among the alien races, understand?”

“That kind of supreme being… He has already struck a deal with another great figure among the alien races. All living beings across Earth and the dozens of surrounding worlds — their souls after death and all the slaughter — will become nourishment for His resurrection!”

Upon hearing Protector Dragon’s words, something instantly clicked in Su Xing’s mind, and he blurted out:

“You mean… that red moon!?”

Protector Dragon smiled faintly and replied:

“More or less… And the time of that great figure’s resurrection is no longer far off… Perhaps five years, perhaps ten, at most a few decades…”

“When the time comes, that great figure will complete His preparations for revival, and you and I — everything — will become His sustenance!”

He paused briefly. Precisely because He wished to resurrect, the people of this world were not permitted to leave!

“Moreover, that great figure left behind contingencies long ago… Any powerhouse on Earth will ultimately be unable to escape His gaze!”

Hearing this, Su Xing couldn’t help but think of those Emperors, Saints, and even God-level powerhouses who had vanished from Earth…

Could it be that the disappearance of those powerhouses was related to that red moon?

“But if He has had His eyes on us all along, how could you possibly escape from this sealed world?”

Hearing Su Xing’s question, Protector Dragon chuckled and said:

“That great figure wishes to resurrect… sacrificing the living beings of dozens of minor thousand worlds around Him… He naturally wouldn’t care about one or two individuals, as long as they have… a transit pass!”

A transit pass?

Su Xing instantly thought of the storage ring that Protector Dragon had previously obtained from the mysterious figure.

Could that ring be the transit pass?

Protector Dragon said with some pride:

“It was only thanks to the spirit vein dragon’s emergence that I was able to see that great figure’s true form… and only then could I obtain the transit pass in advance. Otherwise, even I would have no confidence in leaving this world…”

“Now that the transit pass is in hand, I can leave this world at any time and enter the safe Lesser Azure Cloud Realm…”

“But before I go, there are still quite a few benefits in this world waiting for me to claim!”

Seeing Protector Dragon’s smug expression of a petty man reveling in newfound success, Su Xing couldn’t help but feel a wave of disgust.

But he still asked:

“So, the Advent Cult was founded by you?”

Hearing Su Xing’s words, Protector Dragon let out a contemptuous laugh:

“You still don’t understand?”

“The Advent Cult is a colossal entity that spans across the Three Thousand Worlds!”

“The true master… is an existence that neither you nor I could ever come into contact with!”

“I merely received instructions from that great figure and established the Advent Cult on Earth…”

Hearing this, Su Xing was greatly shocked, nearly freezing in place.

The Advent Cult on Earth… the Advent Cult belongs to the Three Thousand Worlds!?

In just a few short sentences, combined with the information he had gathered before, Su Xing had roughly grasped the origins of the Advent Cult.

In summary, the Advent Cult was a massive organization that had always existed within the Three Thousand Worlds, teeming with experts far beyond what a mere Earth could compare to.

And within the Three Thousand Worlds, the Advent Cult’s ultimate goal was perhaps truly to let the alien races rule the Three Thousand Worlds?

Or perhaps it was for some other purpose?

But to achieve this unknown objective, the Advent Cult had to deploy personnel and establish forces across the Three Thousand Worlds — in every plane of value and potential.

And Protector Dragon’s role was essentially that of the Advent Cult’s leader on Earth!

However, as far as the entire Advent Cult was concerned, the Earth branch was merely a subsidiary — an insignificant fraction of the Advent Cult’s main body in the Three Thousand Worlds.

This Earth branch of the Advent Cult had even been personally established by Protector Dragon a thousand years ago…

It was roughly equivalent to…

A Fortune 500 company wanting to develop a small village, so it sets up a subsidiary there.

They pick a somewhat prestigious villager to be the subsidiary’s CEO, give them some resources…

Then occasionally check in, but mostly leave the subsidiary to fend for itself.

The current state of the Earth’s Advent Cult was roughly this situation.

What no one expected was that this little village actually had gold mines waiting to be unearthed, and the villager chosen as subsidiary CEO seemed to be genuinely getting transferred to headquarters…

This was probably the best way to describe Protector Dragon, who had contributed the Spirit Vein Dragon…

Originally planning to work honestly until retirement and then leverage his seniority to transfer to the Advent Cult’s headquarters.

But unexpectedly, the discovery of the Spirit Vein Dragon had given Old Dog Dragon an opportunity to enter the Advent Cult’s main body ahead of schedule.

Having roughly sorted out these relationships, Su Xing asked somewhat eagerly:

“Lord Dragon, since you have already escaped this sea of suffering, might you offer some guidance so that your humble followers might also have a chance to escape?”

Hearing Su Xing’s words, Protector Dragon let out a chuckle, his gaze sweeping over Su Xing, Luo Shuying, the Zealot Faction leader… and the other Protectors.

He said:

“Heh heh, everyone keep up the good work… Let’s complete a few more tasks handed down from above… Everyone here will have a chance to escape this sea of suffering!”

“You’ve all seen it — that great figure was in a fine mood today. When I get the chance to put in a good word before him someday… perhaps everyone will be able to leave Earth and escape this merciless slaughter ground…”

Protector Dragon’s words sounded wonderful, and the other Advent Cult leaders grew visibly excited.

Su Xing put on an excited expression on the surface as well.

But inwardly, Su Xing had long understood — Protector Dragon was dangling empty promises!

Given Protector Dragon’s attitude toward that mysterious figure earlier, he was hardly in a position to put in a good word for anyone.

But Su Xing didn’t expose him. He merely asked one final question.

“Lord Dragon… was that great figure from before the Blood Immortal?”

Upon hearing this name, Protector Dragon’s expression changed drastically, and he demanded:

“Where did you learn that name?”

Su Xing chuckled and replied:

“I once accidentally stumbled into the Blood Demon Realm… and happened to learn of it.”

Su Xing’s lie was delivered with natural ease.

Hearing Su Xing’s words, Protector Dragon eyed him suspiciously:

“That figure is not the Blood Immortal… Furthermore, don’t go prying into things you shouldn’t!”

With that, Protector Dragon turned and left without another word.

Soon, the immersive simulation ended, and Su Xing returned to the Real World.

Back in the Real World, Su Xing rubbed his brow and murmured:

“As expected… the secrets are drawing ever closer!”

“It seems that if I want to leave Earth… another path has opened up!”

“That would be to truly join the Advent Cult, offer up the Spirit Vein Dragon, leave Earth… and then once in the Three Thousand Worlds, find the right moment to defect…”

After a moment of contemplation, Su Xing quickly dismissed this path.

The Spirit Vein Dragon — a supreme treasure of heaven and earth — there was no way Su Xing would simply hand it over.

Besides, even if he escaped Earth, what about his family and friends… and the billions of humans on Earth?

Su Xing was not willing to do that.

“The only way is to find a means to cross through the world gate on the Slaughter Battlefield — that is the only true escape from this death trap!”

Su Xing took a deep breath, thought for a moment, and then retrieved the Azure Cloud Token he had been carefully safeguarding all along.

The Azure Cloud Realm, the Azure Cloud Sect, Qingyunzi… and the Azure Cloud Token!

By now, Su Xing could say with certainty that Qingyunzi was absolutely an ultimate powerhouse of the Three Thousand Worlds.

Qingyunzi had also made a pact with Su Xing: once Su Xing reached the Void Return stage, he could use the token to join the Azure Cloud Sect and become Qingyunzi’s formal disciple.

But Su Xing had always harbored a concern—what if Qingyunzi had ulterior motives toward him?

When that time came, Su Xing would have no power to resist whatsoever!

Taking ten thousand steps back…

Even if Qingyunzi bore him no ill will, Su Xing currently had no way to activate the Azure Cloud Token.

Because at this moment, Earth and the dozens of minor worlds surrounding it were all sealed off by that crimson moon.

Su Xing had absolutely no way to use the Azure Cloud Token to reach the Azure Cloud Sect.

“Only by first leaving this realm and reaching the so-called Lesser Azure Cloud Realm… could I then activate the Azure Cloud Token and perhaps enter the Azure Cloud Sect?”

Su Xing thought to himself.

However, the most pressing matter was still breaking through to the Body Integration stage as quickly as possible!

Only then would Su Xing have the qualifications to obtain the Spirit Vein Dragon, or to defeat the Slaughter Apostle and travel to the cultivation world.

With that thought, Su Xing turned his gaze toward the simulation panel.

【Year Twenty-Three, the day of Awakening of Insects. You continued comprehending the Essence of Strength. Your understanding of the Essence of Strength advanced further, already approaching the introductory level.】

【During this period, you repeatedly asked Protector Dragon when you would have the opportunity to leave Earth and travel to the Advent Cult headquarters, but Protector Dragon said nothing about it.】

【Year Twenty-Four, the day of Awakening of Insects. You further cultivated the Essence of Strength.】

【You went to find Protector Dragon, but Protector Dragon made excuses and refused to see you.】

【Year Twenty-Five, the day of Awakening of Insects. You continued comprehending the Essence of Strength.】

【One day, you received news that an army of Legendary-level monstrous beasts had descended upon Demon-Sealing Pass. Demon-Sealing Pass had fallen. You knew that Earth’s destruction was not far off.】

【You went to find Protector Dragon, only to discover that Protector Dragon had long since vanished.】

【You went to the Advent Cult treasury, only to find it had been completely emptied.】

【You then went to the Blood Demon Sect, only to discover that within the Blood Demon Sect’s forbidden grounds, all the blood pools and cultivation resources had vanished into thin air…】

【You instantly understood—you, Luo Shuying, even the leader of the Zealot Faction… tens of thousands of Advent Cult followers had all been abandoned by Protector Dragon!】

【You were not surprised by this, for Protector Dragon had always been a selfish person who cared only for himself.】

【Rather, you found it laughable. Previously, the high-ranking members of the Advent Cult above the Protector level had committed so many acts of betrayal against humanity and their own world, all merely to survive.】

【But now every single one of them had been discarded as pawns, without even a chance of survival.】

【You remained remarkably calm about all of this, quietly awaiting the day the Amalgamated Beast would arrive.】

【During this time, you accumulated many sessions.】

【One day, the sky-blotting Amalgamated Beast descended and swallowed the entirety of Great Xia in a single gulp.】

【You activated your Protective Hardened Qi and entered the Amalgamated Beast’s internal space…】

【You began actively entering the thunder zones, subjecting yourself to the baptism of lightning…】

【Through baptism after baptism of thunder, through observing the lightning, you painstakingly stripped away the layers, distinguishing the Essence of Strength from the Essence of Speed.】

【You attempted to comprehend the Essence of Strength, and your understanding gradually deepened.】

【Finally, your comprehension of the Essence of Strength reached the introductory level!】

【You could feel that after comprehending the Essence of Strength, you could multiply your power several times over in a short burst!】

【But you were still unsatisfied, continuing to remain in the thunder zone, further comprehending the Essence of Strength…】

【Until, within the range of your divine sense, no more thunder zones were being born…】

【And your comprehension of the Essence of Strength had advanced yet another step!】

【Finally, a spatial rift struck, tearing you to pieces…】

【Your divine sense slowly dissipated…】

【You died!】

【Ding! This simulation has ended!】

After the simulation ended, Su Xing stared at the text before him, speechless for a long time.

“As expected, on Earth, everyone in the Advent Cult was discarded as pawns…”

“Only Protector Dragon escaped with his life, thanks to the merit of contributing the Spirit Vein Dragon, and traveled to the Three Thousand Worlds?”

Su Xing was not surprised by this.

After all, these events were still some distance from his current situation. What he cared about now was improving the strength before his eyes!

With that thought, Su Xing turned his gaze to this simulation’s rewards.

【Talisman Expert】: Purple talent. Price: 1,000,000 energy points.

【Twenty Years of Alchemy Experience】: After redemption, existing alchemy comprehension will increase slightly. Price: 2,000,000 energy points.

【Essence of Strength Comprehension (Introductory)】: The Essence of Strength, a fundamental building block of many Great Daos. After claiming, slightly enhances comprehension of the Essence of Strength. Price: 200,000,000 energy points.

【Micro Spirit-Gathering Formation (Introductory)】: Developed by the Five Elements Master, a prodigy of unparalleled aptitude across the ages. Combines the Dao of Talismans, Formation Dao, and the five-element nature of spiritual energy—a grand synthesis of all three. Can inscribe a micro spirit-gathering formation upon a living being, achieving the effect of passive cultivation, greatly increasing a cultivator’s cultivation speed. Price: 100,000,000 energy points.

【Dao of Talismans (Introductory)】: Comprehension of the Dao of Talismans. Can refine talismans of grades one through five, over a hundred varieties in total. Not far from reaching Minor Mastery of the Dao of Talismans. Price: 200,000,000 energy points.

【Dao of Puppetry (Introductory)】: Possesses fairly detailed understanding of puppet refinement, puppet control, and related techniques. Can attempt to refine puppets independently. Price: 50,000,000 energy points.

This simulation had been, for Su Xing, primarily an exploration.

Whether it was the Dao of Puppetry or the inscription of the micro spirit-gathering formation, both would be of great benefit to Su Xing’s future development.

The micro spirit-gathering formation could dramatically increase Su Xing’s cultivation speed, effectively enhancing his aptitude.

The Dao of Puppetry, on the other hand, would allow Su Xing to accumulate simulation energy more rapidly.

However, before this simulation, Su Xing hadn’t known the depth of either Dao, so this time he had merely dabbled, stopping after a brief taste.

After some deliberation, Su Xing silently intoned:

“I choose the Talisman Expert talent and the introductory level of the Essence of Strength!”

The Talisman Expert talent would allow Su Xing to advance further in both the Dao of Talismans and the Dao of Puppetry, and was also a necessary prerequisite for setting up the micro spirit-gathering formation. Su Xing had no choice but to select it.

“As for the comprehension of the Origin Force—since it didn’t trigger an epiphany, I can only accumulate it through repeated attempts!”

“Once the Essence of Strength reaches Minor Mastery, I can attempt to break through to the Body Integration stage!”

A notification chime from the simulator sounded in Su Xing’s ears.

【Ding! Detected that talent slots are full. Would you like to replace a talent?】

Hearing this, Su Xing glanced at his talents, thought for a moment, and decided to replace his blue talent King of Gluttons. After all, at his current level, a blue talent could offer too little help.

【Replacing talent…】

【You have successfully extracted the purple talent Talisman Expert. Cost: 1,000,000 energy points. Remaining energy: 3,013,230,000 points.】

【You have successfully extracted Essence of Strength Comprehension (Introductory). Cost: 200,000,000 energy points. Remaining energy: 2,813,230,000 points.】

As the simulator’s notification faded, two streams of mysterious power entered Su Xing’s body.

The first thing Su Xing felt was his comprehension of the Dao of Talismans surging dramatically. Questions he previously couldn’t understand now resolved themselves effortlessly.

Indeed—in any Dao, innate talent and aptitude were supremely important.

Then, a flood of insights regarding the Essence of Strength poured into Su Xing’s mind from nowhere.

Su Xing steadied his consciousness, sitting cross-legged before the thatched cottage.

A quarter of an hour passed before Su Xing slowly opened his eyes.

When he opened them again, there was a glimmer of astonishment in his gaze.

“The Essence of Strength… the pursuit of ultimate power…”

Su Xing carefully sensed it, and seemed to detect a rough trace of the Origin Force within his body.

Speed and strength—these two Origin Forces formed the foundational framework of many Great Daos.

For Su Xing to have sensed both of these Origin Forces while merely at Void Return Great Perfection would be of tremendous benefit to his future cultivation!

Su Xing’s mind stirred, and a faint wisp of the Essence of Strength was activated.

Immediately, Su Xing felt his power surge in an instant to an unprecedented level…

This was at least a fivefold increase in strength!

Su Xing drew a deep breath, finding it almost unbelievable. A mere wisp of the Origin Force could grant him such an enormous boost.

Under the enhancement of the Origin Force, Su Xing’s strength rocketed from five million tons to twenty-five million tons!

If he added the amplification from spiritual energy on top of that, it could reach an astonishing fifty million tons!

That was… the terrifying level of power that only a late-stage Primordial Unity realm powerhouse could achieve!

Yet Su Xing had already grasped it at the Void Shattering Perfection level…

However, this extreme power lasted only a few breaths before rapidly fading away.

The root cause was that Su Xing’s comprehension of the Essence of Strength was still too shallow, allowing him to sustain it for only a very brief time.

After a single use, he would have to wait a long while before he could unleash it again…

“Essentially, during a battle… I can trigger a single strike with five times the power!”

“And this is merely the introductory level of the Essence of Strength… how terrifying would it be at Minor Mastery?”