Chapter 412: Discourse (Part 1)
At this moment, Candle Dragon finally understood why Jiu Mie had been hesitant to come over earlier.
It turns out that it's not just Lu Heng who harbors ill intentions, even this seemingly compassionate and gentle ascetic has such qualities.
After being teased by both of them, Candle Dragon had a wry expression and said, "Now, my dear friends, would you mind describing the appearance of the Lian Cangqing you know?"
In response to Candle Dragon's inquiry, Lu Heng nodded and said, "Since my good friend is so concerned, I will speak frankly. It's actually nothing much, just that the gentle woman mentioned in our conversation is quite the opposite…"
Continuing, Lu Heng proceeded to recount how he had encountered Lian Cangqing, her miraculous revival, and the subsequent entanglements between them.
Lu Heng's narrative was composed, presenting the events that had unfolded at that time from a neutral, third-party perspective, devoid of any emotional bias.
However, even so, upon hearing this, Candle Dragon couldn't help but stand frozen in astonishment for a moment, remaining speechless for a long time…
In the end, under the gaze of Lu Heng and Jiu Mie, Candle Dragon, with a forbidding countenance and an apparent unpleasant disposition, let out a long sigh, seldom revealing a wistful and introspective expression.
"Ah… So, it turns out she mysteriously disappeared all those years ago, falling victim to the machinations of evil demons. It's a pity that throughout her life, she tirelessly devoted herself to the Celestial Desolation Realm, treating every living being with kindness and gentleness, only to meet such a tragic fate in the end."
"She was darkly assaulted by evil demons, yet unable to perish, enduring countless ages of despair in a state of neither life nor death… Alas… In the end, her character was twisted into such a state, truly a heart-wrenching sight."
Candle Dragon sighed and said, "The Emperor has perished, the supreme god has faded away, and the Immortal of Martial Arts is living in misery. As a cultivator of the Celestial Desolation Realm, I have endured too much humiliation over these years."
Candle Dragon couldn't help but feel deeply lamented, while Lu Heng and Jiu Mie looked at him and spoke.
"Hmm… My dear friend Candle Dragon, you mentioned that the cultivators of the Celestial Desolation Realm have endured too much humiliation. Could it be that these evil deeds were not perpetrated by the indigenous beings of the Celestial Desolation Realm?" Lu Heng inquired. "The Emperor's demise, the supreme god's fading away, and even the Immortal of Martial Arts Lian Cangqing living in misery… are these all the doings of outsiders?"
Lu Heng's inquiry left Candle Dragon greatly astonished.
"Ah? Friend, are you unaware?" Looking at the old wolf and ascetic monk before him, Candle Dragon expressed confusion. "It's understandable that Friend Jiu Mie is unaware, but you… Why are you unaware? Could it be that you have paid no attention to external matters throughout these long years?"
Lu Heng looked helpless and said, "Friend, your words are problematic… What do you mean by saying that I have paid no attention to external matters throughout these long years? Since the day I was born into this world until today, I have only lived for a little over two hundred years. I haven't even experienced the Earthly Catastrophe, let alone knowing ancient secrets."
Lu Heng confessed frankly.
Candle Dragon, however, became even more astonished. "Ah? Friend, aren't you the first heavenly thunder that split the heavens and the earth during the primordial creation? Could it be that throughout the long ages… you never attained consciousness? Were you only born in recent years? If that's the case, it's no wonder I have never heard of you before."
Candle Dragon speculated as such, while Lu Heng listened, rolling his eyes in disbelief, and said, "What first heavenly thunder during the primordial creation? I am just an ordinary wolf demon! By a fortunate coincidence, I obtained the ability to cultivate heavenly thunder, and that's why I am the Lu Heng you see today… There was no trace of me in this world two hundred years ago! Friend, don't let yourself be misled by rumors."
After exchanging a glance, Candle Dragon and Jiu Mie both nodded in agreement as Lu Heng explained earnestly and honestly.
"Certainly, certainly, what our friend said is true," Candle Dragon nodded repeatedly.
"Exactly, exactly, our friend is just an ordinary wolf demon who happened to obtain the ability to cultivate heavenly thunder… Hmm, the logic is flawless, without any loopholes. We absolutely believe in our friend," Jiu Mie chuckled while rubbing his chin, also placing his trust in Lu Heng.
Therefore, Candle Dragon added, "Even if there are loopholes in the logic, we still believe in our friend. After all, it is our friend who said it, and even the most incredulous things could be true… Hmm, yes, we have complete trust in our friend. Please continue speaking, dear friend."
The attitude of Candle Dragon and Jiu Mie was incredibly sincere.
However, Lu Heng had a face full of frustration and an inexplicable urge to twist the foreheads of these two individuals.
Indeed, learning to be good is difficult, while learning to be bad only takes a moment.
When Candle Dragon was first encountered, he exuded an extraordinary aura of aloofness, akin to the ancient cultivators. His presence seemed to bear the weight of five sacred mountains and reverberate through the three rivers, evoking awe in all who beheld him.
In no time, he assimilated with Jiu Mie and directly transformed into a master of taunt.
Silently observing his jovial friends before him, Lu Heng felt quite weary in his heart and spoke, "In any case, I truly know nothing about the events of ancient times. This time, I hope my dear friend Candle Dragon can enlighten me. What truly occurred in the ancient era? Why is it that the fate of the top cultivators in the Celestial Desolation Realm is always so tragic?"
Lu Heng attempted to steer the conversation back on track.
After listening to this inquiry, Candle Dragon's expression couldn't help but become serious.
He looked at Lu Heng and Jiu Mie, as well as Xiao Ai who was listening attentively, let out a long sigh, pondered his words for a while, and then spoke.
"This matter is quite complex, allow me to explain it slowly."
Upon reflection, Candle Dragon said, "Let's start by discussing the essence of the world… Both of you are aware that the world we reside in is called the Celestial Desolation Realm. Therefore, you should also know that there are other worlds apart from our own."
"However, traversing between these realms is incredibly challenging, and only the most exceptional innate cultivators can accomplish it."
"Amidst the boundless chaos, countless worlds of varying sizes emerge endlessly. The total number of worlds within the myriad heavens is beyond calculation, even the most elite cultivators cannot fathom it."
"But the only thing that can be confirmed is that among these myriad heavens, there are eight great worlds standing at the pinnacle of all realms."
"These eight great worlds surpass ordinary realms in terms of world strength, spiritual energy scale, and even the smallest grain of sand or blade of grass within these worlds."
"Thus, these extraordinary eight great worlds are collectively referred to as the World of Eight Desolations. And the Celestial Desolation Realm, where we are currently situated, is one of the realms within the World of Eight Desolations."
"Do not be deceived by the seemingly limited territory of the Celestial Desolation Realm, for it also harbors numerous mortals. However, if the mortals of the World of Eight Desolations were to venture into other realms, the meager traces of spiritual essence within them would be sufficient to dominate a region, turning them into deities revered by the inhabitants of the lower realms."
"When encountering extremely fragile small worlds, let alone the mortals of the World of Eight Desolations visiting, even a grain of sand from the World of Eight Desolations falling into the lower realms could annihilate stars, and destroy an entire cosmos."
On the Cliff of Dao, the Candle Dragon eloquently spoke, calmly and indifferently discussing the essence of the world.
Seated across from each other, Lu Heng and Jiu Mie both furrowed their brows. This was the first time they had come into contact with such truth, and it broadened their horizons significantly.
Especially Lu Heng, after listening to Candle Dragon's narration, could hardly believe it.
The World of Eight Desolations… This World of Eight Desolations, it is truly terrifying?
Even a single grain of sand falling into the lower realms can annihilate stars?
