Chapter Fourteen: The Infinite Continent

Hongmeng Space, beneath the cassia tree.

“The game is about to begin.”

Qin Yu, Hongmeng, and Linmeng sat around a stone table. As Qin Shuang departed Su Yu Star via the teleportation array, all three wore peculiar, knowing smiles.

“Second Brother, your four miniature cosmic spaces are developing quite slowly!” Qin Yu remarked with a slight smile. The space Qin Shuang and Qin Si had entered was, in fact, Linmeng’s fourth miniature cosmic space—created solely to maintain equilibrium in the Linmeng Universe.

“A miniature universe only has a single space, which is quite monotonous. When I created it, the primary purpose was to support the Linmeng Universe, so naturally, its development is slow!” Linmeng shook his head, then continued, “You’re one to talk. At least I’ve allowed all four of my universes to evolve intelligent life, but you just threw your four aside as storage rooms!”

“Haha, Third Brother simply hasn’t reached the stage to truly develop his miniature cosmic spaces. His Qinmeng Universe isn’t yet consolidated—how could he possibly have the energy to waste on those four little universes? Didn’t you wait over half an Epoch before you officially began developing your own?” Hongmeng laughed heartily. Of the three universes, only his—with the four surrounding miniature universes—was fully formed. Hongmeng had far more time than either Linmeng or Qin Yu.

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The Lin Four Universe, Linmeng’s fourth miniature cosmic space, contained only a single continent, which Linmeng called the Lin Four Continent. However, the intelligent beings born there gave it a far more melodious name: the Infinite Continent.

The Infinite Continent—its name suggesting boundlessness. In truth, the continent did have edges, but the beings here were generally weak, with not a single deity among them. Unable to reach the continent’s borders, they believed it infinite.

Unlike in Linmeng’s primary universe, mortals, cultivators, and immortals all coexisted upon the Infinite Continent. There were cities and villages. Of course, one thing was the same as in any other universe—power struggles were inevitable wherever people gathered.

Three rogue immortals, three sect leaders, seven cultivators of the Crossing Tribulation stage, and six Kuyaans flew through the sky, led by Qin Shuang. It was an impressive procession. Even on this continent, such a group could not be considered weak.

Suddenly, Qin Shuang frowned and halted abruptly in mid-air. Leishan and the five Kuyaan squad leaders stopped as well, causing the cultivators behind to nearly collide into them.

“Senior…” Meng Jun was a bit taken aback. “What’s wrong? Has something happened?”

“We’re landing,” Qin Shuang commanded in a low voice. She led Leishan and the five Kuyaan squad leaders down to the ground. The other cultivators, though confused, had grown accustomed to Qin Shuang’s leadership and followed without hesitation.

The ground was a verdant mountain forest, lush with trees and clear waters—a beautiful scene. On Su Yu Star, it would undoubtedly be called a paradise. Yet, as they journeyed, the group had grown used to this new land; just as Ruan Lingyu’s information had promised, resources were abundant, treasures lay everywhere, and the scenery was like a celestial realm.

“Senior, is something amiss?” Meng Jun, serving as the cultivators’ representative, approached Qin Shuang, puzzled. The cultivators had already adjusted and no longer coveted the once-unimaginable treasures around them.

“Wait here. I’ll return shortly.” Qin Shuang did not answer Meng Jun directly, but merely cautioned, “Don’t wander off. There are beasts nearby.”

With those words, Qin Shuang’s figure vanished. Only in Leishan’s mind did her voice resound: “If anything happens, crush the jade I gave you and I’ll return immediately.”

Just the warning—“there are beasts nearby”—was enough to freeze all the cultivators in place. The Kuyaans, led by Leishan, sat down in unison with perfect discipline, earning the cultivators’ respect.

“If only our cultivators could maintain such effective order, Su Yu Star would have long become the domain of cultivators alone,” Yang Qingtian sighed. Though cultivators appeared powerful, in some ways, they simply could not compare to the Kuyaans.

As for Qin Shuang, having settled her “baggage,” she teleported instantly, appearing in a remote mountain range over eighty thousand miles away. “What’s going on here? So many immortal auras appearing at once, and the leader is even a Third-Tier Golden Immortal…”

Not far off, a flash of red light signaled the sudden arrival of more than twenty figures on the ground—each at least a First-Tier Celestial Immortal.

“Heavens! It’s the Seven-Colored Spirit-Bloom!” cried one of them, his excitement uncontainable. “Look—there are over a dozen, all Seven-Colored Spirit-Blooms! And… and Glazed Grass…”

“Is this a dream? So many rare immortal herbs… Ruan Lingyu is truly miraculous.” Though they were immortals, their excitement at the sight of such treasures was as unrestrained as any mortal’s.

“Ruan Lingyu again…” Observing from nearby, Qin Shuang finally realized these people, too, had been transported here by Ruan Lingyu. “It seems Ruan Lingyu isn’t limited to Su Yu Star. Killing each other for it, seizing it—only to discover they’re caught up in a scheme. When they learn the truth, I wonder what expressions they’ll wear.” Qin Shuang shook her head with a sigh, then smiled faintly. “Perhaps they’ll never understand, not even in death.”

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Hongmeng Space, at Hongmeng’s residence. Still the cassia tree, still the three of them drinking and laughing together.

“Big Brother, only the last group remains. It’s truly something to look forward to,” Linmeng said, keeping an eye on his Lin Four Universe. Jokingly, he added, “I almost want to help that last group—they’re taking so long. They’re delaying the start of the game!”

“Third Brother isn’t worried, so why should you be?” Hongmeng smiled. “But, to be honest, you really do favor him, Third Brother.”

Qin Yu shook his head. “Big Brother, I’m not playing favorites. The rules were set by the three of us, and the game is fair for all. Even if I wanted to cheat, it wouldn’t be possible.”

“I agree with Big Brother—you’re crafty, Third Brother,” Linmeng laughed. “But in the end, it all depends on their luck.”

Neither Qin Shuang nor Qin Si realized they had already fallen into a game devised by their fathers—Qin Yu, Hongmeng, and Linmeng, the three Sovereigns.

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“Hm? Meng, Yang,” in the mountain forest, three Second-Tribulation rogue immortals sat together. Ling Yunfei suddenly frowned.

The other two looked over, puzzled. “What’s wrong?” The three often discussed cultivation techniques and strategies for passing tribulations, but it was rare for Ling Yunfei to be so serious.

“I’ve just realized a problem… How are we supposed to get back?” Ling Yunfei had finally become aware of the biggest question of all.