Just as Gu Qing was about to leave the master bedroom, his gaze suddenly caught a faint glow among the scattered, unfinished spiritual tools.
A crystal-clear piece of jade lay half-hidden between fragments.
He crouched down and picked it up, brows knitting slightly. The moment his fingers brushed its surface, it released a gentle radiance that spread outward, enveloping the entire room.
“This is… a Memory Flow Crystal meant for storing recollections?” Gu Qing murmured.
He lifted the jade to his brow.
In an instant, the void trembled. A silver-lit curtain of light rose from the ground, rippling outward like water. The space seemed to sink into another era. Even the air stilled.
Milton frowned, his expression uncertain. “What is this? An illusion?”
The Heavenly Dao Little Dumpling burst into excited chatter. “Wow, wow! Gu Qing, look! This is amazing! It feels super high-level!”
Within the luminous curtain, images slowly emerged—
Tens of thousands of years ago, the cultivation world waged a world-shaking war against the ancient demon race. The demons cast demonic seeds into the cultivation realm and the mortal world, spreading demonic qi. Living beings perished, mountains and rivers shattered, and the world fell into catastrophe and terror.
In the end, the great powers of the cultivation world gathered all their strength and sealed the remnant souls of the ancient demons and the demonic seeds into a barren minor world where not a blade of grass grew.
That minor world would later become the interstellar world.
To prevent the spread of demonic qi, they established an immortal palace within that world, laid down barriers, and guarded the stability of the seal and the safety of its vessels at all times.
At first, cultivators who had committed grave offenses were used as seal vessels. Demonic seeds were sealed within their bodies, and they were cast into the minor world. The seeds would slowly erode their minds until death claimed them. The lifespan of each vessel varied by cultivation level, and replacements were frequently required.
As time passed, the cultivation world began seeking stronger cultivators to serve as vessels, hoping to prolong the seal.
In that generation, the chosen vessel had originally been someone else.
Yet by unforeseen turns, the burden fell upon Gu Qing’s grand-uncle in the sect—Xuanxiao Immortal Venerable of the Tianjian Sect.
A figure of immense status and unparalleled talent, he should never have been the one to shoulder such sacrifice.
And yet, with the world in his heart, he volunteered to walk that path of no return.
On the day the sealing array was finalized, he stood at its center, calm as still water. The desperate protests of his fellow disciples rang around him, but he paid them no heed.
“If this body can purchase a thousand years of peace, if all living beings may breathe in safety, then I will enter this prison without regret.”
From that moment forward, he stepped into the barren minor world and remained within the immortal palace, devoting himself to arcane arts and formations, building layer upon layer of protection around the seal.
Until one day, he sensed a disturbance near the palace.
A red-haired youth stumbled in, grievously wounded.
The boy appeared human, yet bone wings unfurled from his back—revealing traits of an unfamiliar race.
The one who would later be known as the Zerg.
The Immortal Venerable saved him and only then realized that life had taken root within the minor world. Though strong, the youth’s race remained in a primitive era. Moved by compassion, the Immortal Venerable taught them knowledge and craft, guiding them swiftly toward a high-technology civilization.
The red-haired youth was extraordinarily gifted, fierce and resolute. Under the Immortal Venerable’s guidance, he grew rapidly, eventually becoming the founding emperor of the Zerg Empire—uniting the clans and commanding the star domains.
Later, he took a noble male Zerg as his mate, and together they forged a brilliant empire.
Yet power and glory bred greed.
They coveted the resources within the immortal palace and launched an invasion. The barrier stood unshakable; attack after attack failed. In the end, the Zerg retreated in crushing defeat.
Years flowed on. Demonic qi gradually devoured the Immortal Venerable’s spiritual meridians and soul. His life withered day by day.
Yet he never wavered. This was the destiny he had willingly embraced.
At the end of his life, he activated a formation to sever the connection between the minor world and the cultivation realm, preventing interference and plunder.
He sealed a portion of his own soul within the immortal palace, awaiting a successor to one day restart all that had been set in motion.
At the same time, to prevent the seal from collapsing upon his death, he was forced to transfer the demonic seed into the body of a fleeing Zerg soldier—thus extending the seal and averting catastrophe.
The moment the light curtain dissipated, a sharp crack rang out.
The jade split down the center. Fractures spread outward before it shattered into several pieces, lying quietly in Gu Qing’s palm.
He stood straight, gaze lowered to the broken fragments, eyes deep and unreadable.
After a long while, he spoke softly, his voice as light as falling snow.
“…So this is the true history.”
His tone was calm, yet it could not conceal the reverence stirring within him.
Xuanxiao Immortal Venerable.
One man who walked into certain death, sealing the demonic seed within his own body, guarding this lonely minor world for thousands of years.
He was no war god, yet with formations he built the final line of defense.
He was no emperor, yet he lifted a race from barbarism.
“He did not seek fame. He simply… chose to remain,” Gu Qing said quietly, almost to himself.
A faint echo stirred within his heart.
There truly are those in this world who seek neither immortality nor glory—only that living beings need not suffer again.
At that moment, a faint glow rose from Gu Qing’s shoulder. The Heavenly Dao Little Dumpling peeked out, silver light flickering.
“Gu Qing…” it said hesitantly, voice small. “Do you… feel like you are a little like him now?”
Gu Qing did not answer.
The Little Dumpling paused, its usual liveliness subdued. “You also carry the matter of the demonic seed… the seal… He knew from the very beginning that he was the vessel. But he still chose to stay, to sacrifice himself to protect this world.”
Gu Qing brushed his fingers lightly over the jade fragments.
“It is not the same.”
“Mm? How is it not the same?”
“I am not doing this to sacrifice myself,” he replied evenly. “I am doing it to break the deadlock.”
The Little Dumpling’s light warmed faintly, as though emotions churned within its core. It nuzzled gently against Gu Qing’s neck and fell silent.
Milton stood on the other side, his gaze never leaving Gu Qing.
His expression was grave.
After a long silence, his voice emerged hoarse.
“I once thought that what was sealed in this palace was some forbidden horror… something cruel and unspeakable.”
He paused, as though forcing himself onward.
“But I was wrong. That Immortal Venerable… he chose to remain. To be imprisoned. To sacrifice himself for this world.”
His voice was low, measured, as if accepting the truth piece by piece.
“And the one we call the Founding Emperor… was once merely a boy studying at his side.”
A chill surfaced in Milton’s eyes.
“He took the Immortal Venerable’s knowledge. And he took his life.”
“We were taught to swear loyalty to the Empire, to defend its glory. Yet no one told us whose blood and bones paid for that glory.”
The air grew unbearably heavy.
After a long while, he spoke again, calmer but deeper.
“If I had not seen this memory, I would never have believed that the glory of the Zerg was built upon betrayal and sacrifice.”
His fist clenched, knuckles pale.
“If it were me—” He turned to Gu Qing at last, gaze steady and resolute.
“I would rather abandon such glory than repeat that betrayal.”
In his heart, he swore silently—
I would rather protect you than inherit that kind of honor.
He lifted his eyes to Gu Qing, unable to conceal the turbulence within them.
He knew Gu Qing was not of this world.
The memory had already revealed it—the boy who clawed his way out of purgatory, the sword that dominated the heavens, the sword intent vast as divine might.
None of it belonged here.
He was afraid.
Afraid that Gu Qing’s appearance was not coincidence, but destiny echoing the Immortal Venerable’s path.
If Gu Qing too bore some mission tied to this world… if that road ended in sacrifice—
What would he do?
—I do not want to lose you.
You will be different… right?
You will not… leave me as he did.