Chapter 2681: Devote Oneself Fully

Furthermore, when Yun Shiwang opened the Star Abyss Gate, he was completely unaware of the catastrophe his actions would unleash upon the Starry Sky. It was only after entering the Starry Sky that he truly understood.

Having cultivated for so many years, how could he possibly have overlooked something so significant?

A certain power had temporarily clouded his mind, secretly guiding him!

Yun Shiwang later realized what this power was, a truth Lu Ye had also long since perceived.

The Starry Sky was preserved because he had used the Blood Ancestor's body to unleash the power of Mount Fangcun, sealing the Star Abyss Gate and severing the passage between the Starry Sky and the Inner Realm. But what if other Starry Skies faced a similar situation?

Inferring from this, how many Starry Skies across this entire cosmos have been similarly destroyed?

Lu Ye had realized very early on that this will was a potential disaster for both the Star Abyss and all living beings in the Starry Sky.

He was protected by the Talent Tree, which was why he was spared.

The Dragon Lord laughed heartily, pointing at him. "Well said," he remarked. "That will is indeed malevolent. But for us cultivators, who among us can avoid its erosion during cultivation?"

For cultivators, cultivation requires Dao power. Wherever Dao power exists, the aura of the Star Abyss pervades, and where its aura is present, the Star Abyss's will can reach.

Therefore, it is unavoidable for anyone.

"That will is nascent and has not yet developed true sentience, but its erosion is impossible to guard against. It doesn't bother with ordinary cultivators, but the better one's aptitude and the stronger one's power, the more it takes notice—just like the successive Dragon Lords of our clan!"

Lu Ye suddenly recalled a particular figure.

That "Qi"!

That powerful individual who had presided over the Star Abyss Son competition, according to Su Yan, was an elder from the Phoenix Clan. However, Su Yan couldn't pinpoint which generation the elder belonged to, only sensing that the person was indeed of the Phoenix Clan.

At the time, "Qi" had given Lu Ye the impression of being a mere shell, like a walking corpse or a puppet on strings.

In retrospect, this "Qi" had undoubtedly caught the eye of the Star Abyss will and was being eroded and controlled by it, which explained the peculiar feeling Lu Ye had experienced back then.

"We cannot escape this erosion, nor can we resist it, unless we abandon all our cultivation. But by that point, we wouldn't even be able to conceive of such a thought."

Just as Yun Shiwang had been oblivious to the catastrophe he unleashed upon the Starry Sky when opening the Star Abyss Gate, one's mind can be clouded.

"Our ancestor foresaw all of this, which is why he left behind the Ancestral Abyss Cage here. Rather than saying successive Dragon Lords were sealed here, it's more accurate to say they sealed themselves away." The Dragon Lord looked at Lu Ye. "Do you understand now?"

Lu Ye nodded solemnly.

The Dragon Clan is proud, especially its successive Dragon Lords. How could they willingly become puppets for others? Sealing themselves here, even enduring endless ages of torment, was preferable to becoming a walking corpse.

"Is there no other solution?" Zhu Yin asked, her eyes red as she looked at the Dragon Lord. She couldn't imagine what she would be like when that day came, likely unable to bear the pain of personally sending the Dragon Lord into the Ancestral Abyss.

"Silly child," the Phoenix Lord said, stepping forward to hold Zhu Yin's hand. "This is the destiny of successive Dragon Lords, but you needn't worry. The Dragon Lord can last for a long time. Didn't you notice that the Ancestral Abyss's restriction didn't pull him in just now? That's because the restriction has a spirit and knows the Dragon Lord hasn't been eroded yet."

It dawned on Lu Ye. He had been wondering about those chains just now; so that was the reason.

Presumably, if the Dragon Lord were eroded to a certain extent, those chains would indeed drag him into the Ancestral Abyss restriction.

Zhu Yin shed tears.

Lu Ye glanced sideways, then at the Dragon Lord, his mouth parting slightly.

"No need to console me; I've long been prepared," the Dragon Lord said.

Lu Ye remained silent. The Dragon Lord had misunderstood; he wasn't trying to offer comfort, but rather wanted to suggest trying to see if he could resolve the abnormality within the Dragon Lord's body.

The Talent Tree's power of annihilation could be used on others, so this method was certainly feasible.

But then he had a change of heart and decided against it.

Admittedly, the Dragon Lord and Phoenix Lord were both excellent seniors, but Lu Ye's current strength was ultimately insufficient. If his methods were exposed, he would very likely be kept in Dragon City.

He didn't want that.

Moreover, since the Dragon Lord could hold on for a long time, there was no need to rush. He could wait until his strength grew and the Talent Tree had transformed before offering assistance.

"If it's like this for successive Dragon Lords, what about the Phoenix Lords?" Lu Ye recalled something else.

The Dragon Lords were imprisoned in the Ancestral Abyss, but it seemed not to be the case for the Phoenix Clan. Logically speaking, since the Dragon and Phoenix Clans share a common ancestor, there shouldn't be such a disparity in treatment. If successive Dragon Lords are sealed here, successive Phoenix Lords should also be here.

"You've probably forgotten about the Phoenix Clan's Nirvana," the Dragon Lord said with a smile. "Every Nirvana of the Phoenix Clan is a rebirth, so they have no such worries and naturally don't need to be imprisoned here."

The Phoenix Lord said, "Nirvana isn't limitless. Rather, successive Phoenix Lords will self-immolate when they realize they can no longer hold on. Their essence remains in the Phoenix Nest, allowing new clan members to be born. This can be considered another form of rebirth."

Lu Ye couldn't help but frown.

If so, what about that "Qi"? She shouldn't have fallen to such a state.

The Dragon Lord said, "Ultimately, it's still due to insufficient aptitude. Our ancestor once said that if our Dragon Clan could master the secret art of time reversal, we could escape that erosion. Unfortunately, none of the successive Dragon Lords have grasped its essence."

Lu Ye's heart stirred. "The Second Ancestor is also a Dragon Lord, right? Has he mastered this secret art?"

Since Yang Qing is the Dragon Clan's Second Ancestor, he must certainly be a Dragon Lord. Yet, even the Dragon Clan doesn't know his whereabouts, which means he is not in the Ancestral Abyss.

Given this, he very likely cultivated time reversal and, as the Dragon Clan ancestor said, escaped the erosion of the Star Abyss will.

"We also suspect the same; otherwise, the Second Ancestor wouldn't have disregarded the ancestor's admonitions," the Dragon Lord said, nodding slightly.

Lu Ye was delighted; this was the only good news he had heard since arriving here.

As long as Yang Qing was still in the Inner Realm, there would eventually be a day they met again.

"Dragon Lord," Lu Ye asked, "I wonder what help this disciple can offer now?"

Since coming here, he had been receiving information beyond his comprehension and hadn't yet had a chance to ask the Dragon Lord about this matter.

"Carefully sense the power of the restriction in the Ancestral Abyss!" The Dragon Lord didn't answer, but instead gestured towards the enormous golden orb.

Hearing this, Lu Ye turned his head to look in that direction, his divine sense surging as he quietly perceived.

A moment later, his brow rose. "Spacetime power!"

The Dragon Lord nodded. "It is indeed spacetime power. The Ancestral Abyss restriction was left by our ancestor, and the entire restriction is forged from spacetime power. That's why, even after endless ages, it can still confine successive Dragon Lords."

Only the profound and unparalleled power of spacetime could prevent the Dragon Lords from breaking free. If it were merely temporal or spatial power, it would have long been breached from within by those Dragon Lords.

One must know that the number of successive Dragon Lords sealed within the Ancestral Abyss restriction is considerable. These Dragon Lords have largely lost their minds, and when they go mad, they are utterly reckless.

"But even the ancestor's power cannot be eternal and boundless. As endless ages have passed, the Ancestral Abyss restriction has developed flaws and weak points. To repair it, only spacetime power will suffice. Successive Dragon Lords and Phoenix Lords have sought this power but could not grasp its essence. I thought Yin'er was a hope, but the Dragon and Phoenix bloodlines are ultimately a hindrance. Only a human, like our ancestor, possesses the potential to harmonize Yin and Yang. Therefore, Lu Ye, you are our only hope right now."

Heaven knew how excited and shocked he was that day when he heard about spacetime power from Zhu Yin, because if the Ancestral Abyss restriction continued in its current state, it would eventually collapse.

At that time, not only would the Dragon Clan be unable to follow ancestral teachings, but the mere dozens of mad dragons that would burst forth from the Ancestral Abyss restriction would be enough to destroy the entire Dragon City.

That would be an absolute disaster for the Inner Realm.

But now that someone can truly wield spacetime power, the problem that has plagued the Dragon and Phoenix Clans for countless years might finally be solved.

The Dragon Lord's statement that Lu Ye was their only hope right now was no exaggeration.

Lu Ye instantly felt a mountainous pressure.

He also realized the seriousness of the problem.

Although he had long guessed that something so highly valued by the Dragon Lord and Phoenix Lord was certainly no small matter, he hadn't expected it to be this significant.

The Ancestral Abyss restriction concerned not only the survival of the Dragon Clan but also the stability of the entire Inner Realm.

"This disciple will certainly do his utmost!" Lu Ye replied in a deep voice. He dared not speak too confidently. This Ancestral Abyss restriction was left by the Dragon and Phoenix ancestors. Although he could wield spacetime power, it required Zhu Yin's cooperation, and at this level of power, he was simply incomparable to the ancestor.

So he didn't know if he could repair this restriction.

"No time to lose?" The Dragon Lord looked at Lu Ye.

Lu Ye braced himself and said, "Dragon Lord, this restriction is so vast in scale that even if this disciple truly has the ability, repairing it would likely not be completed in a short time. Could you please help me send word of my safety to my friends?"

Lu Ye was not sure how long it would take, but repairing this restriction would be impossible without a few decades.

Decades... How long had he even been in the Inner Realm?

Everyone in Yuanxi City would surely worry.

The Dragon Lord smiled. "Boy, have you forgotten where this place is?"

Lu Ye was first startled, then quickly reacted. "The flow of time here is also different from the outside?"

This was the Tower of Time, specifically its lower level, inaccessible to outsiders.

The Dragon Lord nodded. "Not only is it different, but the flow of time here is more exaggerated than any other tower level. In the upper tower levels, at the highest one, one year outside is equivalent to ninety-nine years inside. But here, one year outside likely corresponds to two or three hundred years. This place is simultaneously the lowest and the highest level of the Tower of Time."

Hearing this, Lu Ye's spirits lifted.

If that was the case, then there was no problem. A few decades of time here would only be equivalent to a few months outside.

However, he then remembered: if the flow of time was so exaggerated, then how many years had these Dragon Lords truly been imprisoned here?

He wondered why that ancestral grand-master chose to leave the Ancestral Abyss restriction in such a place, and how much suffering the Dragon Lords had to endure under the torment of endless ages.