Chapter 177: The Highest Heaven and the Supreme

Holding the red and blue spirit beads in his hand, Tian Yi took a few glances at them, then with another wave, sent the water and fire beads into Zhou Qing’s body.

After completing these actions, Tian Yi formed a single finger with his hand and tapped Zhou Qing’s forehead. Immediately, Zhou Qing felt an intangible force surge toward his spiritual platform, then disperse from within, merging into the blue light sphere representing the water spiritual root at its edge.

Moments later, Tian Yi withdrew his hand and spoke in a calm tone, “Previously, your spiritual root merely entered your body. If someone wished to seize your spiritual form, it would not be difficult. Now, I have anchored the spiritual root in your spiritual platform. Henceforth, no one will be able to take it from you.”

Having explained his actions, Tian Yi’s figure flickered as he rose once more from the meditation mat.

“Master Ancestor, are these Five Elements Spirit Beads not of this world something you left behind?” Zhou Qing also stood up, voicing his doubts. To him, it seemed his master ancestor could have acquired the Five Elements Beads, yet did not, which implied they were left by him.

“The two spiritual roots within you were left in this world by a predecessor. As for why that predecessor decided to leave them here, I too am quite puzzled.”

“Why, then, am I able to absorb such otherworldly spiritual roots?”

“Do you know what ‘otherworldly’ means?”

“Otherworldly?” Zhou Qing pondered a moment, then replied, “Does it mean not belonging to this world?”

Tian Yi nodded silently, then stood at the edge of the grass hut, gazing toward the fiery mountain behind as he began to explain.

This great world originally had no distinction between Heaven, Earth, and Mortal realms. Later, due to certain reasons, they were separated. Each of the three realms has its own set of rules, established by the Creator, the Heavenly Principle, and Fate—three supreme beings.

Bound by these rules, the realms are prevented from communicating freely with one another.

About your spiritual roots, I do not know what method that predecessor used to leave them in the Mortal Realm, but these roots do not belong here; thus, they are called ‘otherworldly.’

You possess these otherworldly roots because you yourself do not belong to this world. The rules set by the Creator, the Heavenly Principle, and Fate are therefore ineffective against you.

...

After listening to his master ancestor’s explanation, Zhou Qing understood why he could possess such otherworldly spiritual roots. Yet, resolving one question only gave birth to another. How did his master ancestor know he was not of this world?

Moreover, from his master ancestor’s words, he gathered that the Dao Lord mentioned by Wu Chang and Hong Yun, like himself, was not native to this world. Since the realms are governed by their own rules and are not mutually accessible, how did they come to the Mortal Realm? What was their purpose?

With these new doubts forming, Zhou Qing had not yet voiced them when Tian Yi, as if reading his thoughts, began to speak.

“An outsider descends, arriving in accordance with fate. Your appearance in this world was foreseen by a certain supreme being in the Heavenly Realm many years ago. Yet, though we foresaw your arrival, we could not discern the manner by which you came.”

At this, Tian Yi looked at Zhou Qing.

“As for my purpose in coming to the Mortal Realm, it is to cleanse the remnants of disaster from the Heavenly Realm.”

“Heavenly Realm’s remnants?” Zhou Qing asked, puzzled.

“Over a thousand years ago, at the highest heavens of the Heavenly Realm, a conflict erupted among the supreme beings. This turmoil led to chaos in the Heavenly Realm, and the rules of this world were briefly disrupted. During that time, remnants from the Heavenly Realm came to the Mortal Realm. I was appointed by the Creator and the Heavenly Principle to come and cleanse these remnants.”

With this, Zhou Qing understood Tian Yi’s purpose. He also gleaned another piece of information: this world has three supreme beings—the Creator, the Heavenly Principle, and Fate.

From the mention of the highest heavens and the conflict among the supreme beings, it was clear that the trouble arose among these three. Tian Yi was dispatched by the Creator and the Heavenly Principle, suggesting that Fate contended alone against the other two.

Furthermore, Zhou Qing’s crossing from another realm had already been foreseen by someone in the Heavenly Realm, and this event occurred after the conflict among the supremos, indicating a causal link.

Following this line of thought, Zhou Qing felt an inexplicable sensation. He seemed like a chess piece, drawn from another realm into this world. Though his journey appeared carefree, upon reflection, his crossing was likely not a mere accident.

...

“In the Heavenly Realm, there is a long-standing rumor: ‘When outsiders descend, the rules are reset.’ Thus, I believe the predecessor who left the Five Elements Spiritual Roots did so for you.”

“You mean I came to this world to reset certain rules?” Zhou Qing asked, confused, then continued, “If that’s the case, doesn’t that mean I’ve unwittingly touched the bottom line of those who do not wish the rules to change? Wouldn’t my existence here be fraught with danger?”

“You need not worry about that. As I said before, the realms are governed by rules. Those from the Heavenly Realm cannot freely enter the Mortal Realm. Even if they could, they would not be able to divine your existence.”

“Then how were you able to divine it?”

“You think it was I who divined your existence?” Tian Yi smiled gently. “No need to dwell on it. In time, you will understand.”

Hearing Tian Yi’s calm reply only deepened Zhou Qing’s confusion.

“You have just gained the Fire Spiritual Root. You are destined to have a fortunate encounter to awaken it. This is the return for your calling me ‘Master Ancestor.’” Tian Yi glanced at Zhou Qing and, as he walked toward the fiery summit, said, “Come, follow me up the mountain.”

Seeing Tian Yi’s dark figure move lightly up the mountain, Zhou Qing temporarily set aside his doubts and quickly followed.

The crimson mountain was bare, devoid of vegetation, and the path was not steep. When Zhou Qing followed his master ancestor to the peak, he saw only a sheer cliff and nothing else.

Standing at the edge, Zhou Qing turned to look down and saw a sea of fiery magma below.

“To grant you a stroke of fortune, when I found the otherworldly Fire Spirit Bead years ago, I created this realm with my divine power and left a lingering remnant here,”

At the cliff’s edge, Tian Yi gazed at the magma below and said, “Back then, I separated my own Fire Spiritual Root and nurtured it in the lava below. Now, I shall retrieve it to help you awaken your Fire Spiritual Root.”