Chapter 660: Qingquan Island

A legend about 'Clear Spring Island' circulated among Six Tribulation Empyreans. Yet, with only eighteen cave-dwellings, even Seven Tribulation Empyreans found them insufficient, leaving Six Tribulation Empyreans to merely fantasize about a visit. Today, Meng Chuan arrived in the vicinity of Clear Spring Island.

"Clear Spring Island is located within this space-time region," Meng Chuan thought as one of his Nascent Soul avatars journeyed to the area. While the island's general location wasn't a major secret, accessible even to Six Tribulation Empyreans, the island itself remained invisible upon arrival. An Eight Tribulation Empyrean had long since established a formation here, restricting access to a maximum of eighteen beings.

"Time to go," Meng Chuan murmured, pulling out the Clear Spring Token gifted by the Demonic Eye Guild Master. It was a simple, unadorned azure token. As a subtle surge of power permeated it, a hum resonated, and the token guided him towards a nearby location. Following its direction, Meng Chuan took a single step, effortlessly traversing layers of space.

"Hmm?" Upon landing, Meng Chuan found himself before a cave-dwelling, spanning approximately two to three *li*. A courtyard wall encircled it, providing privacy from prying eyes, and within, various structures like halls, reception rooms, and chambers offered ample space. Meng Chuan had materialized directly inside the courtyard. He glanced over the wall, observing other cave-dwellings, each similarly enclosed by walls and concealed by formations, making it impossible to see inside.

"This small island, with its eighteen cave-dwellings, is reputedly the foremost cultivation ground in the River of Spacetime," Meng Chuan mused from within his dwelling. "I am fortunate to be able to cultivate here for three hundred years." It was then that he truly understood why Clear Spring Island held such a reputation. This was due to its proximity to the fundamental operational rules of spacetime, facilitated by its connection to a mysterious clear spring, which allowed cultivators on the island to observe these rules up close.

"The workings of the River of Spacetime," Meng Chuan murmured, sensing deeply. He perceived intricate, colorful lines interweaving, a breathtaking spectacle. With sufficient comprehension of space, he discerned distinct layers of these lines. With profound understanding of time, he saw how they connected past, present, and future. And with a powerful Nascent Soul, he perceived that each line, magnified billions of times, was imbued with countless runes. Each line represented a rule—various peripheral rules that governed every aspect of the River of Spacetime.

The interplay of these countless rules dictated the cycles of life, death, and decay for all beings; the creation and destruction of minerals and plants; the rise and fall of life worlds; the ebb and flow of spacetime tides; and the periodic movements of countless stars. Even the universe's growth, prosperity, zenith, decline, and ultimate demise were implicitly woven into these rules.

"I can faintly sense that these vast, countless rules are subtly connected to various fundamental origins," Meng Chuan observed. Among the seemingly endless rules, he could identify the 'Chaos Hole Rule,' responsible for devouring stars, and even supermassive chaos holes capable of consuming entire life worlds. He could also vaguely perceive time and space. The interplay of space and time, the very source of all things, ultimately gave rise to these innumerable rules. While pure spatial rules were deemed Six Tribulation level in terms of power, they formed the bedrock for the existence of everything. When space interacted with time, infinite possibilities unfolded.

"I should go inside," Meng Chuan thought, snapping out of his daze after standing in the courtyard for a while. He mentally surveyed the cave-dwelling, chose a quiet room, and immediately began his cultivation on Clear Spring Island. While this particular Nascent Soul avatar meticulously comprehended the rules on Clear Spring Island, another Nascent Soul avatar cultivated in the Kunyun Secret Realm, experiencing a time flow ten times faster. Simultaneously, his true body in his home world verified these insights using the Eternal Secret Treasure Grand Seal. This multi-pronged approach, combined with the guidance of the *Void Tome*, truly accelerated Meng Chuan's progress.

While cultivation talent was crucial, external factors played an equally vital role. Both Emperor Wanxing and the White Bird Pavilion Master had ascended rapidly thanks to immense fortuitous encounters. Although Meng Chuan's current opportunities were considerable, several contemporary figures boasted even greater ones. The Ancestral Shaman King, for instance, had inherited a legacy from an eternal being, while the White Bird Pavilion Master and Emperor Wanxing had ventured beyond the universe, securing opportunities surpassing even those of the Ancestral Shaman King. The Demonic Eye Guild Master's opportunities were likewise exceptional. Comparatively, Meng Chuan had only benefited from the legacy left by Patriarch Cang Yuan, which paled in comparison.

"Has the Demonic Eye's cave-dwelling changed occupants?" In another dwelling on Clear Spring Island, a middle-aged man sat cross-legged, glancing in the direction of the Demonic Eye Guild Master's dwelling. His body seemed like a sprawling continent, covered in countless tiny trees and plants that resembled mere embellishments on his robes. His hair was composed of black vines, his eyes resembled vast lakes, and his hands appeared to be made of wood. "Who is it?" Though unable to directly peer into the other dwelling, given its creation by an Eight Tribulation Empyrean, a thought was enough to establish a distant karmic link. "A Six Tribulation Empyrean, Meng Chuan of Dongning from the Cang Yuan World?" The man's understanding dawned. "Patriarch Cang Yuan achieved a great deal in his time; it seems his descendant now benefits from his legacy." He wasn't overly concerned, as his current accomplishments were no less than Patriarch Cang Yuan's, and his lifespan was still considerably long.

Among the seven 'peak Seven Tribulation Empyreans' in the entire River of Spacetime—who ranked just below the White Bird Pavilion Master and Emperor Wanxing—this middle-aged man and Ancestor Realm were renowned for their low-key nature and disinterest in contention. Ancestor Realm, being the oldest and nearing the end of his lifespan, had grown weary of disputes, though in his youth, he had once dominated the River of Spacetime and engaged in numerous conflicts. This middle-aged man, however, genuinely disliked strife. Throughout his cultivation, he had never truly engaged in fierce combat with any faction, partly because he avoided contention, and partly because all parties readily yielded to him whatever he was determined to acquire. This was because, in the realms of medicine and poison, he had cultivated to an unimaginable level, earning him the reputation as the strongest in the River of Spacetime; even a slight demonstration of his abilities would invariably astound everyone.

"A mere Six Tribulation Empyrean has arrived on Clear Spring Island?" In another cave-dwelling, a black stone figure sat cross-legged, glancing in the direction of the Demonic Eye Guild Master's dwelling. "Both the Blazing Sun Pavilion Master and the Demonic Eye Guild Master are willing to assist him? He must have some formidable backing." The black stone figure, whose pupils shimmered with strange hues, was none other than the Seven Tribulation Empyrean, the Dark Star Guild Master.

"The Guild Master has issued an order: Meng Chuan, City Lord of Dongning in the Divine Maiden River Domain, is to be designated as a second-tier hunting target." Inside a hall within the Dark Star's dimensional space, members were processing intelligence. "City Lord Meng Chuan of Dongning, after becoming a Six Tribulation Empyrean, first visited the Valley of Spacetime, and now he's on Clear Spring Island? Patriarch Cang Yuan must have left him considerable resources. He might soon unlock another treasure trove. Maintain a constant karmic lock on him." The members universally agreed that Meng Chuan was a valuable target.

Within the River of Spacetime, certain factions specialized in plunder and slaughter. The most infamous was the 'Black Demon Hall,' whose reputation was abysmal due to their indiscriminate massacre and looting, even targeting weak Venerable-level beings. However, organizations like the Dark Star Guild and Shadow Land were somewhat more discerning than the Black Demon Hall. They avoided targeting the weak, as there was no value in it, and even ordinary Five Tribulation Empyreans were beneath their notice. Their focus was solely on individuals with significant treasures, aiming for substantial gains with each operation. In reality, many Six Tribulation Empyreans possessed limited external treasures, often keeping most valuables hidden in their home worlds, which made selecting the right target crucial for successful plunder. Meng Chuan was clearly identified as a target; they believed he was a Six Tribulation Empyrean with access to vast resources. However, the timing of any raid would be critical, as Meng Chuan's Nascent Soul avatars and his true body outside his home world rarely carried significant treasures.