Chapter 584: The Person in the Mirror
The truth behind the destruction of Heavenly Summit Mountain was an unsolved mystery that had persisted for tens of thousands of years.
Now, something similar to what had happened over fifty thousand years ago was occurring again on Chenping Continent, forcing the Five Great Sects to remain vigilant.
"It might happen again."
Yan Chengwang, the Supreme Pivot Elder of Star Heaven Sect, said.
"That's right."
Immediately after, Fei Yufeng, the Supreme Pivot Elder of Wind Ravine Valley, chimed in:
"Over fifty thousand years have passed, yet Chenping Continent has still not reached a definitive conclusion regarding the destruction of Heavenly Summit Mountain back then, not even a widely accepted speculation... However, honestly, for many years now, I've been advocating for one particular theory about the mountain's downfall."
"Supreme Pivot Elder Fei, if you have insights, please feel free to share them."
Ren Anhe, seated in the main seat of the Profound Scripture Hall, said.
"Heavenly Summit Mountain was the highest peak on Chenping Continent. For tens of thousands of miles around this mountain, which towered over eight thousand zhang, the flow of spiritual energy from heaven and earth differed vastly from other regions of Chenping Continent."
Fei Yufeng said:
"I suspect the destruction of Heavenly Summit Mountain was likely caused by turbulence and chaos in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth on Chenping Continent."
Hearing this, Du Hang, the Supreme Pivot Elder of Lingxiao Temple, shook his head, clearly unconvinced by the theory just proposed by Supreme Pivot Elder Fei of Wind Ravine Valley:
"Are you suggesting that mere turbulence and chaos in spiritual energy could cause all the cultivators on Heavenly Summit Mountain—the sacred ground of cultivation on Chenping Continent—to vanish into thin air, including its final Ascended Steward, Qinghong Realman?"
"The world is vast and full of wonders... Supreme Pivot Elder Du, even though we've both stepped into Dao Union now, who among us can truly claim to understand the workings of this world inside and out?"
Fei Yufeng said.
"Without evidence, a theory is just a theory."
Du Hang said:
"And theories are hard to bring into the grand hall. If Supreme Pivot Elder Fei insists on guessing that Heavenly Summit Mountain was destroyed by the turbulence of spiritual energy, then I might as well guess that Qinghong Realman personally destroyed it himself."
Wind Ravine Valley and Lingxiao Temple had never gotten along. This feud could be traced back to the time after Bai Shang Realman's fall, when Lingxiao Temple took advantage of the situation, attempting to annex the Northern Region of Chenping Continent under Wind Ravine Valley's control.
As for when their conflict fully escalated, it was when Yin Xia, Realman Shuangyu, slapped the sect leader of Lingxiao Temple to death with a single palm strike.
"I actually find the theory Supreme Pivot Elder Fei proposed rather interesting."
Just as the atmosphere between the Upper Three Realm cultivators of Wind Ravine Valley and those of Lingxiao Temple was growing increasingly tense, even on the verge of conflict, Shang Ao, the Supreme Imperial Law Elder of Mirage Palace, spoke slowly:
"But I'm afraid Supreme Pivot Elder Fei's theory still has one oversight to consider."
"I await Imperial Law Elder Shang's instruction."
Fei Yufeng said.
"No matter how turbulent or chaotic spiritual energy becomes, it ultimately operates within the framework of Chenping Continent's laws of heaven and earth. As for understanding those laws, I believe the various Supreme Pivot Elders present here in Dao Union must understand the laws of heaven and earth better than I do, a mere Divine Ability Realm cultivator."
Shang Ao said calmly:
"The reason you all detected the upheaval on Heavenly Summit Mountain was because of the terrifying phenomenon that nearly tore the entire sky of Chenping Continent apart. That dreadful phenomenon undoubtedly represents the loss of control and collapse of the laws of heaven and earth... Supreme Pivot Elder Fei, even if turbulence in spiritual energy could destroy Heavenly Summit Mountain, would that also mean turbulence could shatter the laws of heaven and earth?"
"..."
Fei Yufeng fell silent.
The greatest difference between the Divine Ability Realm and the Dao Union Realm was whether one had established their Dao Basis.
Once the Dao Basis was established, it meant that cultivator was henceforth entangled with numerous connections to cause and effect in this world, as well as the laws of heaven and earth.
And as a Dao Union cultivator, Fei Yufeng certainly knew Shang Ao was right.
Because spiritual energy could not escape the constraints of the framework of the laws of heaven and earth.
"I believe this is precisely the core issue of this Five Great Sects meeting."
Ren Anhe said:
"As for those outer sect disciples stationed on Heavenly Summit Mountain, we can only say that everything carries risks, that there's always the possibility of casualties. More importantly, the problem is the collapse of the laws of heaven and earth."
A pitch-black rift spanning tens of millions of li had completely split the sky of Chenping Continent in two.
The occurrence of such a phenomenon not only stirred unease in Chenping Continent's cultivation world, but also triggered panic among the mortal folk.
As for figures at the pinnacle of Chenping Continent, such as Fei Yufeng, Yan Chengwang, and Shang Ao, they were all well aware that this phenomenon represented the collapse of the laws of heaven and earth.
Especially Ren Anhe, the current Supreme Pivot Elder of Kongshan Sect, who had personally witnessed Kong Yang enduring Karmic Backlash a thousand years ago while fighting against that Half-step Immortal Ascension Black Flood Dragon.
At that time, several pitch-black rifts had appeared around Kong Yang.
But compared to this enormous rift spanning tens of millions of li, those were utterly insignificant.
Even an Immortal Ascension Realm cultivator seemed so feeble beneath such a rift.
Let alone the few Dao Union cultivators currently in the Profound Scripture Hall.
The only blessing was that the pitch-black rift tearing through the entire sky had slowly healed.
The Five Great Sects did not reach any conclusion.
Because this matter had completely exceeded the understanding of these Supreme Pivot Elders and Shang Ao. They were utterly helpless, with no ability to solve the problem.
In the end, the only temporary solution Ren Anhe could offer was this:
"For now, let's hide the truth from the world. We can't afford to lose the authority of the Five Great Sects."
Ren Anhe said.
Indeed. Currently, the cultivation world of Chenping Continent operated entirely under the order dominated by the Five Great Sects. If there were something in this world that even the Five Great Sects couldn't handle, it would inevitably cause unnecessary panic and loss.
"Under what reason?"
Yan Chengwang of Star Heaven Sect asked.
"Just announce to the public..."
Ren Anhe hesitated briefly:
"Kongshan Pivot, Supreme Authority Ren Anhe, attempted to ascend to immortality but failed, causing his Dao Basis to collapse, which led to the celestial anomaly, hence his retreat from the world."
Attributing the cause of the celestial anomaly to Ren Anhe's failed forced ascension was a relatively reasonable explanation.
Silence fell over the Profound Scripture Hall, because these great powers, representing the peak of both cultivation and authority on Chenping Continent, had absolutely no solution to everything that was happening.
They didn't even have the right to know the truth.
This undoubtedly brought them a tremendous sense of frustration.
Just then, an easily noticeable disturbance came from the center of the Profound Scripture Hall.
The Upper Three Realm greats from the Five Great Sects all tensed up, using their spiritual sense to perceive that peculiar presence.
This was...
A pool of clear water emerged from the ground at the very center of the Profound Scripture Hall. Reflected on the crystal-clear surface was the image of a mirror.
That mirror, which had been just a reflection, grew increasingly real, until it finally manifested into a physical object.
"Lingering resonance of the immortal path... An immortal artifact?"
Ren Anhe's expression shifted slightly.
All the Dao Union cultivators in the hall had already prepared to act at a moment's notice.
The mirror's surface was like a lake, shimmering with ripples, then suddenly began to boil.
Then, a handsome young man clad in a plain white daoist robe slowly rose from the surface of the lake.
"If you are all discussing matters of great importance..."
The young man's calm voice rang out:
"Why not include me?"