Chapter Seventeen: Guardians of the Microcosm

“Heaven’s Heart Realm, you’re from the Heaven’s Heart Realm?” Qin Shuang finally recalled the Heaven’s Heart Realm. In the Divine Realm, the majority of those who ascended came from this place. It was said that the Heaven’s Heart Realm was the most powerful among the realms of immortals, demons, and spirits.

“Yes, Senior, we are from Franck Star of the Heaven’s Heart Realm. May I ask, Senior, where exactly are we?” Li Wei, a third-level Golden Immortal, replied respectfully.

“How did you know that this is no longer the Heaven’s Heart Realm?” Qin Shuang smiled, choosing not to answer Li Wei’s question directly, but instead turned it back on him.

“The Heaven’s Heart Realm is the largest planet, but none compare to the size of this place. When we arrived, we realized it was a continent. On Franck Star, we’ve heard many tales of other realms. I believe we were brought out of the Heaven’s Heart Realm by Ruan Lingyu!”

Qin Shuang nodded. Indeed, it was worthy of its reputation as the strongest among the lower realms. Perhaps even the Immortal Emperors of the Immortal-Demon-Spirit Realm did not know that there were many other spaces like theirs beyond their own.

“So you’re all from the same planet? How powerful is Franck Star in your realm?” Having resolved one curiosity, Qin Shuang pressed on.

“To be candid, Senior, in the Heaven’s Heart Realm, Franck Star is merely a peripheral, weakest planet. We have only three Immortal Emperors in total.” Li Wei remained humble and unpretentious, accustomed, it seemed, to confronting those far stronger than himself.

The weakest planet, yet three Immortal Emperors. Qin Shuang was slightly stirred, though no trace showed on his face.

Qin Shuang recalled his father mentioning the Immortal-Demon-Spirit Realm. When Qin Yu ascended, he arrived at Maple Moon Star—a planet with feeble strength in that realm; there, even a Golden Immortal was considered a formidable expert. In the Immortal-Demon-Spirit Realm, planets with Immortal Emperors were already extremely powerful, and only the most influential factions might have several emperors together.

Franck Star of the Heaven’s Heart Realm, merely a peripheral, weakest planet, had three Immortal Emperors. No wonder the Heaven’s Heart Realm produced the most ascendants throughout history.

“I don’t know exactly where we are either. Like you, I arrived here through Ruan Lingyu, but—” Qin Shuang eyed the group before him, then asked, “Since Franck Star has three Immortal Emperors, why have only you twenty or so made it here?”

“Senior, it was luck. The three Immortal Emperors of Franck Star suspected this might be a plot, so they sent us ahead to investigate. We never expected you’d be here as well!” Li Wei forced a smile. People of the Heaven’s Heart Realm were not so easily deceived as cultivators from the lower worlds. As scouts, they themselves could not tell if their fortune was good or ill.

*****************

“Second Brother, it seems your clever scheme didn’t work out this time!” Qin Yu smiled as he downed a cup of Primal Spirit Wine, addressing Lin Meng.

“No matter. That boy will eventually enter my Fourth Universe. This time he escaped, but next time I’ll toss him in directly!” Lin Meng drank heartily, exhaling a robust breath and laughing loud. Qin Yu and Hong Meng merely shook their heads.

The Heaven’s Heart Realm was the earliest space within Lin Meng’s universe where immortals appeared, predating even the Dark Star people of the Immortal-Demon-Spirit Realm by trillions of years. Since the last two cycles, one-tenth of all ascendants in the Divine Realm originated from the Heaven’s Heart Realm—a staggering proportion.

The Heaven’s Heart Realm differed from other realms in that it possessed an absolute leader, a spiritual figurehead, whom Lin Meng had discovered long ago as one with an unknown destiny.

Small universes differ from the main universe. Though monotonous, small universes, even if stable, require a guardian to gradually develop into multifaceted universes. For example, Hong Meng’s four small universes had all matured, each overseen by one or two guardians who assisted him in their administration.

The most outstanding figure in the Heaven’s Heart Realm was Lin Meng’s favored choice as guardian of a small universe. Yet, once chosen, he was fated never to become a controller.

Qin Shuang gleaned little information from the twenty or so immortals; matters of the Heaven’s Heart Realm held no interest for him. What was clear, however, was that Ruan Lingyu had appeared in more than one place, and those brought here were not only cultivators. Now, it truly seemed like a ‘conspiracy.’

Since it was a ‘conspiracy,’ there must be a purpose behind it—and this was what Qin Shuang most wished to uncover. Finding no answers among them, he decided to return, but the dozen or so insisted on following him; in an unfamiliar, unknown environment, it was much safer to stay close to a powerful figure.

Ling Yufei, brazenly playing the ‘robber’ for a while, though forced by circumstance, lost much of his dignity as sect master. Were it not for the unfamiliar environment, Ling Yufei would have acted with less restraint—murder and silencing witnesses would not have been out of the question.

Soon his mood brightened again. The harvest this time was considerable; according to what those people said, if these items matured fully, they could forge immortal artifacts and elixirs. Alas, not only did he not know how, he could not wait hundreds of years for their maturity. He could only use them to craft top-grade spirit tools and pills.

“With so many treasures, what’s wrong with being a thief for once!” Ling Yufei laughed heartily as he flew back, self-consoling until even his last bit of shame was buried beneath his excitement.

Returning to the spot designated by Qin Shuang, he found the other cultivators had not yet returned; only Lei Shan and the six Kuya people sat quietly, as if unmoved.

Elsewhere, the bearded man was still carefully investigating the young man in the Nascent Soul stage, his expression growing more solemn.

“Father, how is it?” The young girl who had called Ling Yufei a thief, now in the Void Stage, watched anxiously as the bearded man approached. His brows slowly knitted together, deepening her unease.

“Ling’er, recount in detail what happened just now.” The bearded man shook his head slightly and loosened his grip. The young man, now nervous, realized that even the master at the Tribulation stage—on the verge of transforming immortal energy—could not remove the seal. He seemed to understand, his face turning pale.

“Father, could it be… that person is… an immortal?” The girl grew terrified. In the Fourth Universe, cultivation progressed at a snail’s pace; her late Void Stage had cost a million years. To reach immortality would take at least a hundred million years. In the Fourth Universe, all immortals were elite; as for Immortal Emperors, as in the Immortal-Demon-Spirit Realm, they were supreme existences.