Swallowing the Stars: Heart of the Martial God

Chapter 217 The Shock of the Purple Moon Ancestor

"Really?" Puff suddenly looked up, her eyes sparkling with unbelievable surprise.

“Of course it’s true.” Ling Xuan’s lips curled up slightly, and he lightly tapped the air with his fingertip.

"Buzz——"

Time and space in the entire quiet room seemed to freeze at that moment.

An ancient, three-pointed, double-edged sword appeared out of thin air. Its blade was dark gold and engraved with countless mysterious and unfathomable Dao patterns, which seemed to contain the most fundamental mysteries of the universe.

The moment the longsword appeared, an unparalleled imperial might that ruled over the nine heavens and ten earths and suppressed countless reincarnations naturally spread out. This was not an aura that was deliberately released, but rather the inherent Daoist charm of this supreme imperial weapon.

The light in the quiet room was slightly distorted under this imperial aura, and even the most basic laws of the universe seemed to submit to this weapon.

"This is... the Heaven-Slaying Blade!" Puff couldn't help but exclaim, instinctively covering her mouth with her little hand.

She was very familiar with this imperial weapon. It was a weapon that her master had spent countless treasure points to forge when he was a domain lord. It was also the weapon that her master, Emperor Yan, used to prove his Dao.

It is said that it can grow along with its owner.

Now that its master's realm has reached the peak of the Cosmic Sea, this supreme imperial weapon that has accompanied him on his journey of conquest contains unimaginable and terrifying power.

It has probably already been upgraded to a legendary supreme treasure.

"Take it with you." Ling Xuan reached out and grasped the hilt of the sword, and the imperial might that made the laws of the universe tremble immediately became docile.

He gently placed the Heaven-Slaying Blade in Puff's small hand.

Upon acquiring the Imperial Weapon, Puff felt a warm current instantly surge through her body, creating a mysterious resonance with this ultimate weapon.

The dark gold blade trembled slightly.

"Great Emperor, you're not planning to make me protect this silly little cat, are you?" After attaining enlightenment, the Heaven-Slaying Blade also gave birth to its own deity.

The master of the imperial weapon is still alive, and its quality has been upgraded to the level of the strongest treasure. In addition, due to the special nature of this world, the deity of the Heaven-Slaying Blade has been in a state of consciousness for a long time.

The deity of the Heaven-Slaying Blade was very puzzled. Even the three imperial sons and many imperial grandsons had never received its protection. In the previous ten million epochs, it had only protected three imperial empresses. Why should this little cat be allowed to do so?
Puff looked flattered.

Seeing the little one's anxious expression, Ling Xuan couldn't help but smile. He gently patted her head: "The place you're going to is a place where cosmic overlords and even cosmic masters roam freely; one forbidden artifact is far from enough."

Puff hugged the Heaven-Slaying Blade tightly, feeling the vast imperial might within it, as vast as the starry sea, and even more so, the unreserved trust and care of its master.

Her face flushed with excitement, and her eyes welled up with tears.

She suddenly stood on tiptoe and gave Ling Xuan a quick kiss on the cheek, leaving him with a milky scent.

"Thank you, Master!" Puff solemnly promised in her soft, sweet voice, "Puff will definitely work hard to become stronger and will never let Master and the Heaven-Slaying Blade down! I will let the entire Primordial Star know the might of our Flame Emperor lineage!"

"Go ahead," Ling Xuan said with a smile, waving his hand.

Puff bowed respectfully, carrying the Heaven-Slaying Blade that was almost as tall as her, and left the Purple Abyss Star Palace with cheerful steps. Her petite figure contrasted sharply with the majestic imperial weapon, yet strangely harmoniously.

After watching Puff leave, Ling Xuan was about to continue comprehending the laws when he saw three beautiful figures walk in from outside the palace gate.

The woman at the head of the group had silver hair and red eyes, and her figure was as upright as a proud phoenix. She was none other than Feng Lishuang, the holy maiden of the Heavenly Phoenix Clan.

Beside her were two women with distinct temperaments—Ren Yaoli, with skin as white as snow and a smile as beautiful as a flower, and Leng Yanqiu, with a cool expression and exquisite features.

"Husband, we also want to go to the Primordial Star to take a look." Feng Lishuang's cold voice rang out in the hall, her crimson eyes filled with anticipation.

Ren Yaoli skipped over to Ling Xuan and took his arm: "We weren't strong enough when the Primordial Star opened last time, but now we're already Universe Venerables. Shouldn't we be allowed to see the most famous secret realm in the Primordial Universe?"

Although Leng Yanqiu was standing a little further away, her beautiful eyes still sparkled with eager anticipation.

"Huh?" Ling Xuan was so shocked that his mouth dropped open, and for a moment he didn't know how to respond.

He had just handed the Heaven-Slaying Blade to Puff, but he never expected that his three wives would also be heading to the Primal Star at this critical juncture.

"What's wrong?" Ren Yaoli tilted her head in confusion.

Over the years, apart from assisting with affairs at the Giant Axe Arena headquarters, Ling Xuan has never interfered with their outings and adventures. Today's reaction is truly strange.

Leng Yanqiu scoffed, "Could it be that you're reluctant to let us leave?"

"Cough cough, it's nothing." Ling Xuan hurriedly waved his hand, but inwardly he was groaning.

Having already entrusted the Heaven-Slaying Blade to Puff, he couldn't neglect the safety of his three wives. His mind raced, and suddenly an ancient purple bronze mirror appeared in his hand, its surface shimmering with profound laws of the void.

"Senior Void, I'd like to trouble you to make this trip," Ling Xuan said softly to the bronze mirror.

Ripples spread across the mirror's surface, and an aged yet vibrant voice rang out: "It's alright. I've been cooped up in this Purple Abyss Star Palace for ten million epochs, and I'm getting restless. This trip with the three empresses is a good opportunity to stretch my muscles."

Over the years, as Ling Xuan's strength has increased dramatically, he rarely needs the Void Mirror to intervene.

In this world where there's no need for prolonged slumber, it certainly has nothing better to do.

"That's strange." Leng Yanqiu glanced at Ling Xuan with a strange look, keenly noticing that her husband was behaving unusually today.

Even Feng Lishuang frowned slightly, her silver hair gleaming faintly in the starlight swirling in the hall: "Could something have happened on the Primordial Star?"

Ling Xuan had no choice but to make an excuse: "There are many powerful people on the Primordial Star. You have just broken through to the Universe Venerable Realm, and I am worried about you. With Senior Void protecting you, I can feel more at ease."

Ren Yaoli smiled sweetly upon hearing this, like a blooming begonia: "I knew my husband cared about us the most."

Feng Lishuang nodded slightly, the doubt in her crimson eyes lessening: "Then we'll be leaving. Will you be able to handle the affairs of the Heavenly Court by yourself?"

It should be noted that most of the affairs of the Heavenly Court, both large and small, are handled by them and Venerable Qianyue.

Now that the Primordial Star has been opened, many powerful individuals will likely head there.

Ling Xuan revealed a confident smile: "It's alright, I am the Flame Emperor."

Moreover, Qian Yue had previously stated that he would not go to the Primordial Star this time, but would stay and help his senior uncle.

Moreover, Puff also left behind a child entity, so overall he still doesn't need to manage things.

The three wives were finally relieved and left with the Void Mirror. Watching their departing figures, Ling Xuan breathed a sigh of relief.

Over the years, the Void Mirror has been nurtured and enriched by absorbing the void energy emanating from the Purple Abyss Star Palace. This supreme imperial weapon, forged from Void Divine Copper, has reached a new level, rivaling the combat power of a fifth-order universe lord.

In the primordial universe, he was able to protect his three wives, and most importantly, the three women possessed his divine power tokens.

Even if he encounters the strongest being in the universe, he can teleport to his divine kingdom in time to provide assistance.

Most importantly, Xuan Gu's clone has already set off for the Primal Star, which is why he is not interested in the Primal Star.

……

Cosmic Sea, Purple Moon Holy Land, Purple Moon Cliff.

The eternal purple moonlight flowed like mercury, enveloping this most sacred place in a hazy and noble atmosphere.

The amethyst trees on the cliff edge, which have endured countless cycles of time and remain immortal, sway gently, each leaf seemingly carrying ancient cosmic mysteries.

Today, this sacred land, which has been silent for millions of epochs, suddenly rippled with spatial waves, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake. A majestic figure shrouded in rich purple divine light slowly condensed and took shape, and its vast pressure froze the space and time of the entire Purple Moon Cliff.

"Welcome to the arrival of our progenitor!"

Dozens of cosmic lords from the Purple Moon Holy Land, who had been waiting there, knelt in unison, their voices filled with awe and piety from the depths of their souls.

The leading True God of Awakening lowered his head deeply, not daring to look directly at the descending supreme will.

The divine incarnation of the Purple Moon Ancestor floated at the highest point of the cliff, its flowing purple light resonating mysteriously with the entire Holy Land universe.

He looked down at the powerful figures of the Purple Moon Holy Land, remaining silent for what seemed like an eternity before slowly speaking:
"More than ten million epochs have passed... Has that Flame Emperor perished?"

His voice seemed calm, but the chilling killing intent contained within it made all the universe lords present tremble involuntarily.

The True God of Awakening stepped forward with a heavy heart, his voice filled with bitterness and helplessness: "Reporting to the Ancestor... for over ten million epochs, we have been constantly monitoring the movements of the Cosmic Sea, but that Flame Emperor... has never set foot in the Cosmic Sea even half a step."

"What?!" The light surrounding the Purple Moon Ancestor suddenly fluctuated violently, and for the first time, his tone revealed a clear emotional shift. "Never even once? How is that possible!"

This completely contradicts his understanding of unparalleled genius!
Based on his experience of living through countless reincarnations, a genius like Ling Xuan, who could establish a great reputation in the primordial universe, would inevitably be eager to enter the cosmic sea for training after reaching a bottleneck there, seeking the opportunity to break through to become the strongest in the universe.

After all, the allure of transcending reincarnation and establishing an eternal holy land is an irresistible ultimate goal for any extraordinary being aspiring to eternity.

"Could it be that he has detected the inescapable trap I've laid in the Cosmic Sea?" The Purple Moon Ancestor's mind raced, countless calculations completed in an instant. "Impossible, my arrangements have never revealed a trace; even that old fellow, the Eastern Emperor, might not have been able to see through them. Or perhaps… he had some extraordinary encounter in the Primordial Universe, obtaining a legacy no less powerful than the Cosmic Sea itself?"

Seeing the increasingly gloomy and ugly face of the Purple Moon Ancestor, the powerful figures from the Holy Land below all blushed and felt extremely ashamed.

As one of the two eternal holy lands in the Cosmic Sea, the Purple Moon Holy Land has stood firm through countless cycles of reincarnation. Yet now, it is utterly helpless against a junior from a primordial universe. This is an immense disgrace.

But the other party just wouldn't come to the Cosmic Sea. No matter how many tricks they had up their sleeves or how many killing schemes they had, they had nowhere to use them. This feeling made them so frustrated that they were almost going crazy.

In this suffocatingly oppressive atmosphere, a cosmic lord clad in cyan armor and possessing a composed demeanor slowly stepped forward and respectfully knelt before the Purple Moon Ancestor:
"Ancestor, your subordinate Yu Lan has pondered this for a long time and has a plan that might influence the Flame Emperor, at least slowing down his breakthrough. If executed properly, it might force him to come to the Cosmic Sea."

The Purple Moon Ancestor's gaze flashed like lightning, instantly locking onto the Lord of Yu Lan: "Tell me in detail. If you can eliminate this child and relieve me of this great thorn in my side, I will not hesitate to reward you."

"It is my greatest honor to share the burdens of the Ancestor." Lord Yu Lan bowed deeply and then began to report: "Recently, I have been communicating with some powerful beings from the primordial universe who have been venturing in the Cosmic Sea. I have learned that in this cycle of reincarnation, besides Emperor Yan Lingxuan, several other equally brilliant geniuses have emerged. It is said that some of them cultivate at a speed comparable to Emperor Yan..."

Lord Yu Lan briefly described the information about these geniuses. Each one of them could be described as an unparalleled prodigy. In any previous reincarnation era, they would have been the most dazzling existence, enough to shake the entire universe.

However, before he could finish speaking, the light around the Purple Moon Ancestor suddenly trembled violently, and an extremely terrifying pressure spread out uncontrollably, making all the universe lords present feel a suffocating sensation as if their souls were about to be crushed.

"What did you say? Several geniuses of this caliber?!" The voice of the Purple Moon Ancestor was filled with disbelief and shock, several times more so than when he first learned of Ling Xuan's existence!
The purple divine light flowing around his body showed signs of disorder as a result.

The cosmic lords below were also incredibly shocked, but they were more impressed by the abundance of geniuses in this era of reincarnation.

They thought the progenitor was only shocked by the number of geniuses. After all, the previous progenitor was already amazing enough, and now several geniuses of this level had appeared all at once, which had indeed broken the rules of countless reincarnation eras.

But they could never have realized that the fleeting glimpse of fear deep in the eyes of the Purple Moon Ancestor at that moment was genuine terror!
"First there was the original... that monster who even troubled me," the Purple Moon Ancestor murmured to himself, his voice trembling slightly, a tremor he himself was unwilling to admit. "Now, several geniuses even more monstrous than him have been born at the same time... What anomaly has occurred in this cycle of reincarnation?"

As a true god of the void who has transcended reincarnation and established an eternal holy land, the Purple Moon Ancestor understands the laws governing the operation of the primordial universe better than anyone else.

It is like a cautious mother, nurturing life step by step, maintaining a delicate balance, and will never easily give birth to a genius that may threaten its own existence.

This phenomenon of simultaneously giving rise to multiple unparalleled geniuses is unprecedented in the history of countless reincarnations!

"Unless..." A terrifying thought, so terrifying it made his very soul tremble, arose in the mind of the Purple Moon Ancestor, causing even his divine avatar to momentarily falter, "Unless the primordial universe sensed some ultimate threat capable of destroying everything, and was forced to take a desperate gamble to create a sufficiently powerful guardian!"

He recalled the few words he had seen in the sect's records—about the greatest calamity in the cosmic sea, a terrifying existence symbolizing the destruction of the very source, a catastrophe that feeds on devouring small universes and is feared even by the Eternal Holy Land…

"Beast of the Realm!" This taboo term exploded in his mind, making him almost lose control of his emotions.

As a true god of the void, he knew better than anyone how terrifying the realm beasts were; they were a calamity that even god-kings had to take seriously.

If the Beast of the Realm truly was born in this cycle of reincarnation, then everything makes sense—why the primordial universe was so abnormal, sparing no expense to give birth to so many unparalleled geniuses.

"We must verify the authenticity of this news immediately..." Ancestor Purple Moon pondered rapidly, countless thoughts flashing through her mind in an instant, not even wanting to listen to Lord Yu Lan's advice, "But if it really is the birth of a World Beast, how should my Purple Moon Holy Land conduct itself?"

His gaze swept subtly over the respectfully kneeling experts of the Purple Moon Holy Land below. These cosmic lords and true gods, whom he had painstakingly cultivated, would probably be no match for the World Beast.

As for himself, although he was a Void True God and a top existence in the cosmic sea, he was powerless to resist the terror that symbolized the source of destruction.

The terror of the Beasts of the Realm far exceeded the imagination of ordinary Void Gods.

"Perhaps..." A chilling thought began to grow in his mind, "We can use these geniuses...let them fight against the World Beasts. Regardless of victory or defeat, it will buy precious time for my Purple Moon Holy Land...and perhaps, we can even use this opportunity..."

The Purple Moon Ancestor remained outwardly calm, suppressing the turmoil within, and said indifferently to Lord Yu Lan, "I understand your suggestion. Continue to closely monitor the movements of the Primordial Universe, especially the growth trajectories of these geniuses. Report any unusual activity immediately."

"I will obey the decree of the progenitor!" Lord Yu Lanzhi respectfully accepted the order.

The divine power avatar of the Purple Moon Ancestor slowly dissipated in the rich purple moonlight, but his will still enveloped the entire Purple Moon Cliff like an invisible canopy.

He gazed toward the endless cosmic sea, his eyes as deep as the ancient starry sky. No one knew what this ancient being, who had lived through countless reincarnations, was pondering at that moment.

"This cycle of time... will likely unleash a catastrophe that will sweep across the entire cosmic ocean."

(End of this chapter)