Da Xuan Martial Saint Chapter 1496 - 718: Silent Annihilation - Middle Stage

Deep within the Mist of Time, amidst a sea of fractured universes and drifting timelines, Chen Mu sat in solitary meditation. Positioned in the void between broken eras, he observed every corner of the independent universe, investigating the profound evolution of the Time Dao.

Through his persistent contemplation, his mastery and understanding of the Time Dao grew without pause.

Meanwhile, Chen Yue and Chen Yao were entirely lost within the shattered timelines. Lacking the power to see through the true nature of time and space, they were unable to break free from the temporal loops on their own. However, with Chen Mu’s protection, they faced no real peril; instead, the situation served as a rare chance for growth.

Within these fractured temporal paths, their memories were suppressed, forcing them to begin anew. Yet, because of infinitesimal shifts originating from the Dao itself, their experiences deviated slightly, leading to different choices. If a decision strayed too far from the original path, it could result in their downfall.

Such an end was not a final death, however; they would simply fall back into the cycle of time and return to the beginning.

As Chen Mu noted,

this is an ideal environment to temper the true self within one’s heart.

Only when the true self remains steadfast and unwavering can the timeline stay its course. As for grasping the deeper secrets of time... that remained a feat beyond the current reach of Chen Yue and Chen Yao.

For them, the opportunity to refine their true selves here was already a massive stroke of luck.

...

The boundless universe continued its rhythmic expansion and contraction.

Nanhua Void.

A significant period had passed, and the annihilation of the universe had progressed into its middle stage, reaching the Nanhua Void. Currently, thousands of space domains within the void looked like apocalyptic wastelands, saturated with the scent of decay.

Boom!

Within the Fan Gu Ancient Domain, a world suddenly crumbled into ash, wiping out the countless souls residing within.

Watching from a distance, Tai Chen Divine Monarch and Hong Lin Divine Monarch witnessed the world fall into eternal silence. After a brief look at one another, Tai Chen Divine Monarch murmured, "The Universe Silence is near; Master has already entered the Source Realm to make one last stand. We should also prepare to depart soon."

Both had now attained the Eighth Layer Heaven level. However, during the End of Tribulation of the Universe, cultivators at the Eighth Layer Heaven could no longer be considered dominant powers, nor did they possess the standing to join the final struggle.

Nevertheless, their Eighth Layer Heaven strength was sufficient to leave the Nanhua Void and journey toward the center of the universe.

"It is time to go."

Hong Lin watched the destruction of that world, a soft sigh escaping her heart.

The dying world was the Fan Gu Realm, established by the Fan Gu Divine Monarch. It was once the most vibrant Great Realm in the Fan Gu Ancient Domain, but now it was nothing more than dust. This was the land that had raised her, yet even it had reached its inevitable conclusion.

Her original ambition was to become a Divine Monarch and serve as the loyal right hand to her master, the Fan Gu Divine Monarch. Though the world had changed and her dream was technically fulfilled, the universe itself was now dying.

Time waits for no one.

"I wonder how he is faring now."

As the Fan Gu Ancient Domain faded into silence, Hong Lin’s thoughts drifted back to Chen Mu.

Also a figure from the Fan Gu Ancient Domain, Chen Mu had ascended to the Nine Layer Heavens even before the Fan Gu Divine Monarch. One could say that Chen Mu, in his previous life, was a Supreme Divine Monarch who had simply reclaimed his lost Cultivation. In the end, Chen Mu had surpassed the Fan Gu Divine Monarch.

Even when the Fan Gu Divine Monarch departed the Fan Gu Ancient Domain, he could only take the Fan Gu Palace, leaving the Fan Gu Realm behind. Chen Mu, however, had successfully moved the entire Da Xuan World. Although every world would eventually return to the void when the universe fell silent, the Da Xuan World protected by Chen Mu would endure longer and witness the final moments.

"Let us leave."

Tai Chen Divine Monarch spoke, turning to fly into the distance.

Hong Lin Divine Monarch cast one final glance at the darkening nihility before they departed together.

Across the shadows of the vast universe, other Divine Monarchs were doing the same—some in groups, others alone—all migrating toward the universe's center as the edges collapsed, hoping to buy a little more time.

These scenes were repeating throughout the cosmos. Most space seats and domains were on the verge of total collapse. Once these regions were gone, leaving only the Primordial Domain at the center, the End of Tribulation would enter its final phase. For now, a small window of time remained.

...

Deep within the Mist of Time.

Strange orbs of light drifted through an environment that defied simple spatial logic, as the dimensions here were unlike those of the outer world. Here, time was visible in a tangible state, a concept impossible for mortals to grasp—much like how a figure in a flat painting cannot comprehend the concept of 'depth' in the world outside.

In this fused temporal dimension, Chen Mu sat cross-legged. His eyes glowed with the Light of Time as he watched the temporal rhythms around him, feeling as though an eternity had passed.

Suddenly,

a spark flickered in Chen Mu’s eyes, and a wave of the Power of Time surged from his form.

"Time, space, and discontinuity... such subtle things."

He exhaled deeply, gradually quieting the Power of Time within his body, and summoned his system panel with a thought.

[Mysteries Fusion: Past, Present, Future, Time Loop, Time Fragment]

[Experience: 47.17 million]

"Hmm, I have gathered a significant amount of Experience for the Time Dao."

Looking at the system data, Chen Mu allowed a small smile to form. His innate will on the Origin River had been tirelessly refining Origin Power and absorbing the essence of time to master the Time Dao.

Meanwhile, an avatar projection had accompanied Chen Yue and Chen Yao through the Source Realm, gaining genuine insight into the Time Dao within the Time Mist of Wuxiang Mountain. After a long period of meditation, the rewards were substantial.

"The time has come."

Chen Mu looked toward the nearby fragmented spaces.

He had nearly mastered the essence and structure of this iridescent mist. Staying longer to meditate would yield little Experience; it was time to move on.

Regarding Chen Yue and Chen Yao, they had actually experienced much more time within the fractured fragments than he had in the Mist. In those pockets of broken space, the flow of time was erratic, often reversing. They had endured thousands of cycles, accumulating experience equivalent to several decades of hardship.

Chen Mu could have let them continue, but this type of mental tempering was not something they should overdo at their current level. They were trapped in loops without their full memories of the past or future. Each time the cycle reset, their progress was lost to reincarnation.

Once Chen Mu freed them, all those suppressed memories would return at once.

The sudden influx of so many lifetimes might be too much for their wills to handle. They were currently only at the Eighth Layer Heaven, not yet reaching the Nine Layer Heavens, and they did not belong to the Time Lineage.

"Return."

Chen Mu rose slowly, focusing his gaze on the two spatial pockets where Chen Yue and Chen Yao were held. A brilliant light erupted from his eyes as he ignited his Creation Power, sending it toward those coordinates.

Boom!!!

The two spaces shook violently. The Power of Time shielding them was shattered, and the two women were enveloped by Chen Mu’s Creation Power, which pulled them out by force.

Upon emerging, Chen Yue and Chen Yao initially looked dazed. Then, their expressions twisted in pain as they gripped their heads. Their Divine Bodies, Divine Powers, and thoughts were all assaulted by the violent collision of overlapping, chaotic memories.

Chen Mu stood calmly with his hands behind his back, watching them.

After a long while,

the agony on their faces began to fade. They looked at each other with realization, finally understanding what had occurred—the mental tempering Chen Mu spoke of was this very ordeal.

They had been trapped by the Power of Time, living out countless lives in those fragments—lives that were similar yet distinct. Now, all those experiences had merged into a single, unified journey.

An ordinary person would have been destroyed by such a merger; their innate soul would have shattered instantly. Even a God Realm expert would risk a total mental breakdown or the creation of multiple personalities from so many cycles.

However, as Divine Monarch Dominators of the Eighth Layer Heaven, and with Chen Mu’s oversight, they were able to withstand the limited Time Reincarnation. The fusion of these experiences served to powerfully temper their innate will.

The Cycle of Life and Death passes, yet the innate mind remains unchanged!

"How do you feel?"

Chen Mu asked with a smile once he saw they had recovered.

Chen Yue took a deep breath, her eyes shining with a newfound resolve. Her innate will felt more solid than ever. "The cycle of life and death has passed, yet the mind is unchanged... I feel as though I can advance further in my Cultivation."

While the temporal loops hadn't directly increased her understanding of the Origin Dao, the tempering of her will had made her far more determined. Her belief in the Dao was now so intense that she felt it was only a matter of time before she forced open the gates to the Nine Layer Heavens.

Indeed,

using the Time Mist for mental tempering is nearly impossible unless one is personally shielded by a Dao Venerable. Such an opportunity is almost unheard of in the Vast Universe.

Furthermore, having their wills strengthened at the Eighth Layer Heaven meant that reaching the Nine Layer Heavens would no longer be a struggle.

As a Dao Venerable, Chen Mu could have easily forced them into the Nine Layer Heavens himself. However, that would be like forcing a plant to grow too fast, offering no long-term benefit. In Chen Mu's eyes, there was little difference between the Eighth and Nine Layer Heavens; he preferred to give them the most effective training possible.

"It is good that you are inspired; perhaps when this journey ends, you will both step into the Nine Layer Heavens."

Chen Mu remarked as he looked at them.

He hoped that by the time this trip concluded, his own Experience for the Time Dao would reach one hundred million, allowing him to fully master the Time Dao before the Universe Silence arrived.