Land of the Fallen Gods

In the blink of an eye, dawn had arrived.

Wu Tao finished painting the last talisman with red clay and surveyed the fruits of his labor scattered across the room. A sense of accomplishment flickered across his face as he carefully counted them twice before finally stretching with relief.

"Ha…"

"Finally, I’ve made a hundred thousand talismans. With these hundred thousand clones, my safety will be somewhat guaranteed. It wasn’t easy!"

Plopping down onto the old sofa, Wu Tao let out a relaxed chuckle.

"Whew…"

"As long as I scatter these hundred thousand clones across the world, no one will be able to find my true self. That’ll significantly lower the risk and save me a lot of trouble."

"Even though I can’t use my full power on Blue Star due to the world’s laws, things have gone relatively smoothly."

"From now on, I can focus on what really matters."

As he spoke, Wu Tao turned his gaze toward the window.

Bathed in the vibrant glow of the rising sun, his eyes took on a rare solemnity.

"This time, I must obtain the World’s Heart for Master."

"This matter is of utmost importance—there’s no room for even the slightest mistake. Starting today, I must proceed with extreme caution. Even though the laws of Blue Star limit my power, I still need to play it safe!"

"No matter the danger or obstacles, nothing will stand in my way."

With an uncharacteristic sense of responsibility, Wu Tao’s eyes burned with determination.

Stepping onto the balcony, he embraced the morning sun.

His entire being brimmed with positive energy!

Only when he thought of his master, Yi Feng, did a trace of concern flicker across his face.

Gazing into the endless sky, he murmured softly.

"My fellow disciples and I are already in motion. I wonder how Master is doing now."

His deep eyes pierced through the clouds, past the unreachable atmosphere for ordinary people, and into the boundless sea of stars stretching toward infinity.

…

Lan Star.

Above the endless ocean, Yi Feng rode his snail, Slowly, in a leisurely stroll.

Having failed yet again, he had begun to accept it.

Such was life—if nothing unexpected happened, something unexpected usually did. Success was a fluke; failure was the norm.

After all, this wasn’t some web novel where the protagonist’s plot armor guaranteed victory, where even pigs would climb trees in fear once the three-year deadline arrived…

After wandering aimlessly for who knew how long, Yi Feng’s mood gradually settled, and he gained a clearer understanding of himself.

His cultivation surpassed anyone he knew, and the Seventy-Two Islands posed no threat to him. Staying here held no meaning anymore. As for bidding farewell to friends, it would only bring unnecessary sorrow—leaving quietly was the better choice.

Recalling earlier events…

The Dragon Emperor’s sudden and inexplicable apology likely wasn’t just due to a guilty conscience over some so-called chasm. More likely, he feared a fight.

At the time, Yi Feng hadn’t given it much thought.

But in hindsight, many things became clearer.

Being overwhelmingly powerful was a good thing, but failing to die was also a regret. "Invincibility is lonely"—those words couldn’t be more true.

Yi Feng didn’t consider himself anywhere near that level, yet he could already empathize with the sentiment.

Staring at the boundless sea, he let out a long sigh.

"Ah…"

"Seems like I’ll have to keep moving forward. Whether it’s to grow stronger or to find death, a man like me, as free as the wind, can never stay in one place."

"I wonder if that damn system was telling the truth about the impending catastrophe…"

"Slowly, what do you think?"

Muttering to himself, Yi Feng glanced at the giant snail.

Slowly seemed accustomed to such musings. Its antennae wobbled as if nodding before it continued crawling forward, not even bothering to blow a bubble—playing dumb as usual.

Yi Feng rolled his eyes and decided not to press further.

Even if Slowly stayed silent, he already knew the answer.

Often, before asking a question, people already had the answer in their hearts.

As for seeking death, there was no need to elaborate.

That was a given.

As for the so-called catastrophe, Yi Feng couldn’t afford to hesitate. No matter how unreliable the damn system was, the consequences of an apocalyptic disaster were too terrifying to gamble with.

The only options were to seek death or grow stronger.

First, gather some intel!

Feeling the urgency of time, Yi Feng steeled himself and pointed ahead.

"Full speed ahead—find me a crowded place!"

The moment the words left his mouth—

Whoosh!

A streak of light flashed across the vast ocean, cutting through Lan Star like lightning!

By the time Slowly came to a stop again, Yi Feng’s hair had been styled by the wind into something far more… dynamic.

Before him lay a bustling harbor, teeming with people and exotic beasts—a scene of undeniable prosperity.

Yi Feng’s arrival went unnoticed.

Slowly, being just an oversized snail, lacked both imposing size and terrifying aura. Aside from its odd appearance, it barely registered as noteworthy.

But the lively sight before him reinvigorated Yi Feng.

After straightening his appearance, he rode Slowly into the crowd, weaving through vibrant market stalls until he finally approached a merchant-like cultivator.

"Excuse me, sir. Could you tell me where we are? And are there any places nearby where the strong gather?"

The merchant gave him a brief once-over, his smile unwavering.

"You must be new here, my friend."

"This place is called Rebirth Harbor. No ordinary folk come here—everyone’s heading for the Land of Fallen Gods. No need to play coy."

Yi Feng’s eyes widened.

"Land of Fallen Gods?"

The moment he spoke, nearby passersby burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! Must be some backwater from the Celestial Domains!"

"Kid, the Land of Fallen Gods is the heart of Lan Star! Not only is it packed with powerhouses, even legendary figures beyond the Heavenly Tier hail from there!"

"If you want to walk the true path of cultivation, that’s the place to be!"

"So, friend, what’s your current cultivation level?"

So this was practically the center of Lan Star?

The name alone sounded promising—definitely a gathering place for big shots. His hopes for a meaningful life were within reach!

Yi Feng grew even more intrigued.

"My cultivation? Uh… Heavenly Tier!"

"How do I get to the Land of Fallen Gods?"

The crowd barely reacted to his claim of Heavenly Tier strength. After all, among those gathered here with the same goal, Heavenly Tier experts weren’t uncommon.

The bearded merchant chuckled and gestured toward the distant docks, where numerous ships were moored.

"Take a look, my friend."

"Rebirth Harbor exists solely for journeys to the Land of Fallen Gods. To reach it, you must board a Black Iron Ark forged from fallen stars and sail north for hundreds of millions of miles!"

Yi Feng followed his gaze.

Docked at the harbor was a colossal vessel, a true behemoth.

The merchant clasped his hands, his demeanor growing friendlier.

"Since you’re intent on going, it must be fate!"

"But getting aboard that ark isn’t easy—you won’t even find a ticket for sale."

"Luckily for you, I happen to have one. And since we’ve crossed paths, I’ll give you a 10% discount!"

Yi Feng’s eyes gleamed.

Perfect.

Not only had he found a guide, but he could also snag a discounted ticket—saving a lot of hassle.

But then—

He was just about to agree when the wealthy merchant revealed his true, scheming nature!

"How about this," he said with a sly grin.

"Normally, a ferry ticket costs a hundred million Celestial Crystals, but for you, my friend, I’ll make it ninety-nine million! This ticket is absolutely the best choice for you!"

What?

Ninety-nine million just to open his mouth?!

Why not just rob me instead?!

Only then did Yi Feng realize—this guy saw him as nothing but a fat sheep ready for slaughter. No wonder he’d been so warm and friendly. It was all just a well-practiced scam.

But Yi Feng was no fool.

Now that he knew the way, why would he fall for such a trick? It wasn’t even about the money—he simply couldn’t stand the merchant’s conniving face!

With a dismissive wave, he mounted his slow-moving steed and headed straight for the sea.

"No need. I’ll take my time and walk."

The moment the words left his lips, the merchant’s aged face darkened, his lips curling into a cold sneer as he muttered under his breath.

"Hmph…"

"Such ingratitude. Let’s see how long you last out there!"

The onlookers watched as the ignorant figure ventured farther into the distance, gradually disappearing into the mist—as if he’d already been reduced to scattered bones. A wave of pitying laughter rose among the crowd…