Chapter 2006: Talking in Dreams

"The Heavenly Realm is no more; there is no path upward."

"No matter how you all struggle and fight, I believe you've been waiting for this moment—and I am here."

In an unnoticed corner, the Medicine Ancestor had taken Xu Xiaoshou's consciousness away, but that detail was entirely insignificant.

Everyone watched Kong Yuhen, who stood upon the River of Time. They saw him turn around and speak loudly to the Five Domains, unsure of his intentions.

Given the current situation, it seemed even the Holy Emperor's personal presence would do little to change anything.

How dared Kong Yuhen show himself?

What use was his arrival? Could he save Ba Zun'an?

Silence fell over the Holy Spirit Continent at that moment, as everyone waited with bated breath.

Yet, they saw Ba Zun'an, who had stepped into a state of 'zero' and casually cut down even Ancestor Hua, show considerable respect towards Kong Yuhen, who wasn't even an Ancestor God yet, and motioned with his hand:

"Please!"

That single word, "Please," immediately piqued everyone's curiosity.

What exactly were they planning?

The River of Time remained indistinct; the Spirit Refiners of the Five Domains could only vaguely make out a silhouette, unable to discern the true scene within.

This was even truer for Kong Yuhen, who stood upon the river.

However, when he raised his hand, everyone clearly saw the Six Gates Pendant he held.

The six small wooden doors each emanated impressive power, seemingly of an extremely high caliber.

"Indeed, it's him!"

Pill Saint Lu Shiyu's gaze sharpened, and his expression was one of shock.

Even though he felt Kong Yuhen looked quite unfamiliar, as if he had seen him before yet hadn't.

Meeting the many gazes cast his way, and sensing the curiosity from the various Preaching Masters holding their communication artifacts, he hesitated briefly.

After exchanging glances with Tie Dameng and Shangfeng Daoist, and realizing these matters were no longer secret, he spoke frankly:

"As you should all know, there is a Tower of Nothingness in the City of Living Buddhas."

"Legend has it that at the tower's summit lies the 'Gate of Nothingness,' one of the Six Ancient Gates. Many visitors have come to the Tower of Nothingness throughout the years, but none have ever managed to obtain the Gate of Nothingness."

His opening words, delivered in a tone that promised a shocking revelation, immediately captivated all the communicators across the Five Domains.

"What is the Gate of Nothingness for?"

"And what can the Six Ancient Gates be used for?"

Apart from those from the Tai Xu or Half-Saint families with inherited knowledge, others reacted with slight confusion.

In fact, nearly ninety percent of the Spirit Refiners in the Five Domains had never even heard of the Six Ancient Gates.

These things were like Ancestor Gods—until recently, they were mere legends among legends, completely irrelevant to the countless heroes and cultivators.

Their existence caused less stir than a Rank 3 Spirit Sword suddenly dropping in price to a Rank 4.

How had they suddenly appeared?

This led to the realization that it wasn't just a matter of blocked information; it seemed ninety-nine percent of the cultivators on the continent had been cultivating in a well!

"Why are people always secretly stirring up trouble in the background?"

"So Kong Yuhen was also a restless character? As expected, none of the Ten Revered Ones are simple."

"Shut up, have you forgotten my aunt?"

A Preaching Master aimed their communication artifact at the Six Gates Pendant in Kong Yuhen's hand, and sharp-eyed observers immediately noticed that one of the doors was inscribed with the characters "Nothingness."

This inevitably led to speculation: what could the Six Gates do?

Lu Shiyu also gazed at the River of Time, his expression solemn:

"To be honest, four months ago, someone visited the Tower of Nothingness in the City of Living Buddhas and seemed to have successfully entered it."

"His appearance, even for us Half-Saints, is now difficult to recall."

"However, I vaguely remember that at the time, he already wore a three-gate pendant: 'Time-Space,' 'Guidance,' and 'Dao Law.'"

These three terms could all be found on the wooden door pendant in Kong Yuhen's hand.

Adding the Gate of Nothingness obtained from the Tower of Nothingness, only the 'Sub-Plane' and 'Reincarnation' Gates remained.

Li You of the Yin Ghost Sect was stunned.

Not long ago, she had only briefly discussed the Six Ancient Gates with the Grand Elder, and in the blink of an eye, someone had collected them all?

Four months ago, four gates were collected, and in another blink, the remaining two were acquired.

What kind of speed was this?

Where were the specific locations of the Six Ancient Gates, and wouldn't it be difficult to even pinpoint them?

"The Gate of the Sub-Plane..."

"That's right, the Gate of the Sub-Plane on Void Island, wasn't that with Ba Zun'an?"

"I understand now. So Kong Yuhen and Ba Zun'an have... teamed up. But what about the Gate of Reincarnation?"

"Ancestor Ghost! It must be connected to Ancestor Ghost!"

The communicators from various factions immediately joined the discussion.

But in the end, even with the combined wisdom of the heroes from the Five Domains, not a single person knew what could be done once the Six Ancient Gates were complete.

When asked, Lu Shiyu, powerful as a Half-Saint, merely shook his head in ignorance.

"Temporal Realm!"

Above the River of Time, Kong Yuhen spoke again.

It was rare for anyone to know about the Six Ancient Gates, and even if the explanation wasn't entirely clear, it had, in another way, spread the gates' names.

He pointed to Ba Zun'an in front of him and declared loudly:

"The Heavenly Realm is no more, and there is no path to ascension. Even Ancestor Gods who 'return to zero' have no stable footing; their existence gradually fades with the passage of time."

"Once their own power naturally dissipates, at best, they will exit the 'zero' state and maintain the Ancestor God realm. At worst, they will assimilate into the Great Dao, fundamentally dissolving into nothingness."

Upon hearing this, everyone looked at the already semi-transparent Ba Zun'an and only then realized the gravity of the situation.

Even if Ancestor Ba didn't act, would he still perish with the passage of time?

Stepping into 'zero' had such a limitation?

What about the other Ancestor Gods then?

"If even I am like this, then so are you all."

Ba Zun'an suddenly spoke, and his words held far more credibility than Kong Yuhen's.

And rather than speaking to the Five Domains or the Ancestor Gods, he seemed to be issuing a reminder.

From the elevated perspective of his 'zero' state, he reminded the Holy Slaves, the Ten Revered Ones, and other fellow cultivators:

"'Zero' power dissipates extremely quickly, but the more perfect the Dao, the smaller the cost of taking action."

"After the Heavenly Realm's demise, the planes across all Heavens and realms are also degrading, and the Holy Spirit Continent is no exception."

"In truth, even the 'two-in-one' state is affected, though the impact is lesser compared to 'returning to zero.'"

*Boom!*

Under the Ancestor God's Calamity of Annihilation, Kui Leihan, whom no one dared to openly obstruct anymore, had actually progressed to the late stage of his Dao Tribulation.

Upon hearing this, his movements involuntarily slowed, and his thoughts began to stir.

"Is this telling me not to be too fast?"

He naturally understood Ba Zun'an's warning.

Due to desperation and ignorance, Ba Zun'an had 'returned to zero,' which meant he was out of the game. Therefore, future individuals ascending to Ancestor God status must never achieve it in one go.

If even the 'two-in-one' state was affected, it was no wonder that the Demon Ancestor had been reluctant to restore himself after splitting into three.

Medicine Ghost Life-Death had been slow to recombine.

After his power was scattered upon entering the Holy Spirit Continent, Cui Yin had also chosen to simply let things be.

None of them had said a word!

They had even blockaded the information!

Were they all waiting for this final opportunity?

A bunch of sons of bitches... Kui Leihan glanced at his Dao Tribulation, but a Dao Tribulation wasn't something he could simply slow down just because he wanted to.

"What Mr. Ba Zun'an said is true."

"Without a fundamental solution, the situation will only worsen over time, reaching a point where it will be difficult for even Ancestor Gods to fully establish themselves."

Kong Yuhen took over, and in front of all the cultivators of the Five Domains, he raised the Six Gates Pendant high:

"Therefore, I will reshape the Temporal Realm!"

What exactly could the Temporal Realm do?

Everyone had a faint guess, but it was too grand, too terrifying. Ba Zun'an acting was one thing, but a mere Kong Yuhen...

"The Temporal Realm is similar to the Heavenly Realm, yet also different."

"I will use the Six Ancient Gates as keys and the Temporal Rift as a foundation to first forge a corner of a realm equal to the Heavenly Realm, a stable ground for Ancestor Gods who 'return to zero.' This realm will then be continuously perfected."

"This realm shall be named 'Temporal Realm.'"

Kong Yuhen's words were astonishing, completely ignoring the dropped jaws across the Five Domains as he proceeded to lay out his entire plan:

"The name of the Five Domains, by means of the Temporal Realm, will secure the path of return."

"The rotating power of the Temporal Realm can reflect the past, present, and future, encompassing everything upon the River of Time, from the smallest ant to the Dao Laws of Ancestor Gods."

"That is to say, amidst the chaos, the Temporal Realm has the potential to reflect the perfectly intact Thirty-three Heavens of the Heavenly Realm from the past."

He paused then.

The Five Domains took a long time to process this, unable to fully grasp it.

Was Mr. Kong Yuhen actually a dreamer? What was he talking about? Was it just a madman's delusion?

He didn't stop!

The dream continued!

"Mr. Ba Zun'an will then enter the Temporal Realm. I will assist him with the power of time-space and the Temporal Realm, while he dedicates all his strength to tracing back to the Heavenly Realm. There are two possible outcomes:"

"First, the Heavenly Realm is traced back, and Mr. Ba Zun'an returns. The Holy Spirit Continent's Dao Law level will be elevated, and from now on, cultivators, up to Ancestor Gods, will face no obstacles on their path."

"Second, if the Heavenly Realm cannot be traced back, once the time limit is reached, I will also recall Mr. Ba Zun'an to prevent him from getting lost. If the Ancestors work together to build the Temporal Realm, its future achievements will be no less than those of the Heavenly Realm."

After Kong Yuhen finished speaking in a clear voice, he gazed steadily at the Five Domains, clutching the Six Gates Pendant tightly.

Following a moment of silence, a clamor erupted across the Five Domains.

Everyone looked at the two figures above the River of Time as if they were watching a joke unfold.

Setting aside the fact that...

...why a mere Kong Yuhen dared to speak so grandiosely about things that even the Demon Ancestor, Medicine Ancestor, and Cui Yin might consider unattainable.

With every breath, he spoke of Heavenly Realms and Temporal Realms, even making it sound logical. Who was Kong Yuhen, really? What was his true weight?

Setting aside the fact that...

...how precisely could the Six Ancient Gates and the Temporal Rift—things that sounded and felt unreliable—possibly construct a corner of a Temporal Realm equivalent to the Heavenly Realm?

Could it even be sustained? With the Divine War imminent on the Holy Spirit Continent, the general situation as tense as a fully drawn bowstring, one slight ripple of power would shatter everything. Who would bother with his broken Temporal Realm?

Setting aside the fact that...

...the Heavenly Realm collapsed during the Divine War, a time when multiple Ancestors coexisted.

Ba Zun'an was indeed powerful, so strong that a single sword strike could 'return to zero.' But entering that Temporal Realm, where was the path? Even if a path was found, and the Heavenly Realm was located within the Temporal Realm, whether it could be brought back was another matter entirely!

Alright, let's put these three "setting aside the facts" aside for a moment.

Even if Kong Yuhen's madman's delusion succeeded, and Ba Zun'an brought back the Heavenly Realm, or the Temporal Realm became the next Heavenly Realm...

"Who would be the master?"

Wherever there are people, there is conflict.

The Holy Slave Continent had no shortage of shrewd individuals who immediately saw the limitations of this endeavor.

Even if everything succeeded, would this Heavenly Realm or Temporal Realm be primarily led by Ba Zun'an, the pioneering hero, or by Kong Yuhen, the founder of the Temporal Realm?

Or perhaps, based on seniority and status, would it be led by the Demon Ancestor, Medicine Ancestor, Cui Yin, and others, with Kong Yuhen and Ancestor Ba taking seats below them, followed by any future Ancestor Gods?

Was that even possible?

Who would willingly remain subordinate?

The Demon, Medicine, and Cui Yin Ancestors' arrangements were clear; their schemes were obvious to all... not only to achieve their Dao, but to be the *only* ones!

"Only me, not others."

As soon as they saw an opportunity, like hungry wolves eyeing meat, who wouldn't pounce and take a bite, devouring the other completely?

But!

Then again!

If Ba Zun'an didn't go, those who 'returned to zero' would never have a stable foundation.

If Kong Yuhen didn't pursue this madman's delusion, the future wouldn't even hold the possibility of a dream coming true.

Would the Three Ancestors do it?

Even thinking with one's toes, it was clear they wouldn't show up.

So if no one were to bear the heavy burden and press forward, where would the so-called Jade Capital paradise come from, where peace could be enjoyed for eternity?

*Whoosh!*

On Spirit Elm Mountain, the cold wind howled fiercely.

The Five Domains fell into a desolate silence, but within the minds of the masses, thoughts churned.

Once upon a time, Emperor Cangsheng aimed an arrow to shoot through the Heaven-Covering Staircase, but what he wanted to remove yet couldn't, was the self-serving desire of the hand that overshadowed everything from outside the cage.

There was also the Resentful Buddha, whose heavenly destiny was to willingly descend and guard the Inverted Buddha Pagoda, then merge with Holy Slave Wuxiu to break the Heaven-Covering Staircase. What he wanted to protect yet couldn't, was the Holy Spirit Continent's right to more than just thirty years of peaceful prosperity.

The Ten Revered Ones, of astonishing talent, unparalleled for a hundred generations, converged in this era, each displaying their brilliance.

Excluding those who were mere hangers-on or acted as accomplices, were the remaining talented, capable, and successful ones merely aiming to become Ancestor Gods, ushering in the next golden age of Ten Ancestors, only for it to decline once more?

At least from "Kong Yuhen's madman's delusion" and "Ba Zun'an's unwavering advance," it seemed some people thought deeper and looked toward the future.

"If I don't enter hell, who will?"

While certainly moving, could reality truly be so beautiful?

If Ancestor Ba, the only one who 'returned to zero,' truly went to focus on the future, whether he found it was one thing. But what about the battlefield behind him?

If the stabilizing force left, could the Holy Spirit Continent remain stable?

Could the Three Ancestors behave themselves, wait for Ba Zun'an's return, shake hands, make peace, and live in harmony?

Who, then, could stand firm, draw their blade, and suppress everything?

"What heroics are you performing now?"

Below Fusang City, Moon Palace Slave bowed her head, her heart aching with sorrow.

She finally understood why, on Spirit Elm Mountain, before Ba Zun'an took that step into 'zero,' his gaze towards her had been so complex.

He knew that once he took that step, there would be no turning back.

Hua Changdeng, in his 'two-in-one' state, merged with Ancestor Ghost—an ordinary Ancestor God simply couldn't suppress or kill him.

If he didn't instantly 'return to zero' and shock all sides, there was also the Medicine Ancestor later, who would be even more difficult to deal with.

A single slow step, and the situation would fall into chaos, leading to him being incrementally constrained by the Three Ancestors.

But once he 'returned to zero,' Ba Zun'an was inevitably out of the game.

The Holy Spirit Continent could not bear his power, preventing him from remaining for long.

Upon seeing him 'return to zero,' the Three Ancestors feared him immensely and fled faster than rats.

To eliminate the Three Ancestors—they had survived from ancient times and had too many contingencies—it was impossible to clear them out quickly.

Allied with Kong Yuhen to reshape the Temporal Realm, it was indeed the best, and only, choice.

But what about me?

Everyone else saw "the twilight years are not the end, for return is merely a sword's rise." But Moon Palace Slave only read "blue mountains envy not white hair, this feeling cannot be restrained."

She slowly raised her head, gazing at the River of Time, mumbling for a long time before she could finally speak:

"How long will it take?"

Ba Zun'an tilted his head and looked at her, his gaze immensely complex, yet also incredibly resolute.

Ancient Sword Cultivators always pressed forward, unwavering.

Moreover, he no longer had a retreat.

Amidst these conflicting emotions, Ba Zun'an's lips moved, but no sound emerged.

Kong Yuhen took a long, deep breath, looking at Ba Zun'an, then back at Moon Palace Slave, and gathering his courage, he answered loudly:

"I don't know."

Moon Palace Slave wished she could draw the Furious Immortal Buddha Sword and stab three gaping holes in him.

She lowered her head, unwilling to look at Ba Zun'an anymore.

Then she abruptly lifted her head again, staring fixedly at the faint, almost invisible figure, as if she wanted to flay him alive, refusing to blink.

"However, there is still a drawback."

Kong Yuhen dared not look or respond casually anymore; he turned his gaze to the distant sky:

"Once the Temporal Realm emerges, it will inevitably be unstable. It will still require the Three Ancestors to contribute their power and work together to stabilize it."

"I hope the Three Ancestors will prioritize the greater good and temporarily set aside their conflicts."

"Mr. Ba Zun'an's actions are meritorious for the present generation and will benefit countless future generations."

Dead silence.

Silence.

No response.

It was as if the Demon, Medicine, and Cui Yin Ancestors had left no contingencies whatsoever on the Holy Spirit Continent, completely deaf to Kong Yuhen's plea.

Ba Zun'an's sword-like eyebrows furrowed, and he flipped Qingju in his hand:

"Speak! Now!"

With a colossal boom, a huge crack tore open in the sky above the Holy Spirit Continent, causing even Kui Leihan's Dao Tribulation to momentarily stall.

This time, not even half a breath passed before three voices hurriedly echoed from beyond the realm:

"Good."

"Agreed."

"Proceed."