Starting My Cultivation With Time Management-Chapter 939 - 79: Extreme North Heaven Pillar

The rotation of the celestial sphere is an exceedingly complex process.

Generally speaking, it revolves at a consistent speed around a certain "spinning core," but the position of this spinning core constantly shifts. Moreover, the speed of the rotation is so fast that pre-calculations to pinpoint the direction are nearly impossible; one can only follow the rotational trajectory to locate it.

The Chi Song Immortal, Master Ziwei, and Qiu Changtian ascended into the heavens via sword control.

As their altitude steadily increased, gale-force winds became increasingly ferocious and difficult to resist, and the Heavenly Demon Illusory Sound grew ever more distinct.

Master Ziwei and the Chi Song Immortal, possessing profound cultivation, were naturally unshaken. Qiu Changtian, with Daoist Heart Clarity, ignored the interference from the Heavenly Demon Illusory Sound entirely, though he found it rather annoying.

Having little prior experience on his first venture into the Nine Heavens, he was initially buffeted about by the gales, struggling to maintain steadiness. However, he quickly grasped the rhythm of the wind, and his sword soon steadied.

As they ascended further and left the sea of clouds behind, stretching far beneath them, Qiu Changtian gradually observed the sky above transform from a vast azure ocean into a kaleidoscope of colors, resembling glazed brilliance.

This is the Heavenly Dome, the barrier protecting the Cultivation Realm from the Chaotic Heavenly River, myriad stars, and demons from beyond the heavens.

Approaching the Heavenly Dome, Qiu Changtian realized that its surface was not truly multicolored, but rather colorless.

Upon closer inspection, the dome was covered with densely packed runic script resembling tadpole characters. These symbols moved swiftly and uniformly in a singular direction—their movement refracted light differently at various angles, forming a myriad of hues. This dazzling brilliance resulted from the rapid rotation of the dome.

The symbols moved so quickly that their individual markings were impossible to discern. What could be seen, however, was an endless torrent of shifting colors, orderly and straight, flowing ceaselessly toward a single destination.

"All immortal runes revolve around the spinning core," the Chi Song Immortal said, stroking his beard. "Thus, all we need to do is fly in a direction perpendicular to the movement of the runes—south—and we will find the spinning core."

The trio continued southward until they reached the spinning core’s location above a certain area of the Southern Sea.

The closer they got to the spinning core, the more obvious it became that the motion of the runic script slowed considerably. Upon reaching the vicinity of the spinning core’s surrounding three layers of runes, their speed had diminished enough to clearly identify their intricate designs.

As for the spinning core itself, there was nothing unusual about it—merely a region enclosed by the slowest-moving runes, it steadily moved westward.

"During spring and summer, the spinning core moves from north to south; during autumn and winter, it moves from south to north," the Chi Song Immortal explained further. "Around midday, it shifts from east to west; near midnight, it moves from west to east."

"So the spinning core undergoes simple harmonic motion along the north-south axis," Qiu Changtian mused internally.

"Even the spinning core of the Heavenly Dome moves at a speed akin to flying lightning," the Chi Song Immortal concluded. "If the entrance to the Seven Treasures Mysterious Garden Secret Realm is truly attached to some location on the celestial sphere, its movement speed must surely be unimaginable."

"There must be another method to pinpoint the Seven Treasures Mysterious Garden," Master Ziwei intervened to smooth things over. "Changgeng, ponder and speculate freely; the Immortal and I will assist you in verifying your ideas."

You’re asking me to just keep guessing—does that mean your minds have already degenerated? Qiu Changtian sneered inwardly but resigned himself to contemplative thinking.

In his opinion, the Seven Treasures Mysterious Garden should be located in the skies, and the reasoning was simple: the White Jade Capital Secret Realm is hidden within the mountains, the Golden Que Secret Realm is situated above in the heavens, and by pushing the altitude even higher, the Seven Treasures Mysterious Garden should naturally be at the barrier of the Heavenly Dome; following such logic seemed reliable.

Analyzing the entrances of the secret realms further, the White Jade Capital Secret Realm’s entrance is located in Mount Tianmu, the Golden Que Secret Realm’s entrance in Xihua Mountain, then the Seven Treasures Mysterious Garden’s entrance should also be in some mountain.

However, this conclusion clearly conflicted with the previous hypothesis. At the altitude of the Heavenly Dome’s barrier, how could there possibly be a mountain peak?

Wait a second...

Qiu Changtian suddenly realized something and posed a question:

"I’ve heard that ancient tales mention so-called Heaven Pillars—are those true?"

Here, the Heaven Pillars were naturally not referring to the Kunlun Heavenly Pillar but rather the three legendary columns said to connect the Divine Land and the Heavenly Dome.

Since the Heavenly Dome is a colossal sphere and the Divine Land a flat plane within its interior, these three massive pillars were essential to fully anchor the Divine Land within the celestial sphere—or more precisely, to suspend it beneath the Heavenly Dome.

Later, the pillar located to the east collapsed, causing the Divine Land as a whole to tilt eastward, which led to most rivers on the Divine Land generally flowing from west to east.

"They exist," the Chi Song Immortal replied. "The remnants of the two Heaven Pillars remain—one lies in the Extreme West, the other in the Extreme North."

"May I ask the Immortal for guidance to visit the Heaven Pillar in the Extreme North?" Qiu Changtian inquired.

The Chi Song Immortal readily agreed, and the trio quickly altered course northward.

Crossing layers of ice plains and traversing the vast Northern Sea, Qiu Changtian couldn’t help but inwardly complain about how bone-chillingly cold the Northern Sea was, whether within the Cultivation Realm or the Eastern Emperor Realm. Suddenly, a massive silhouette emerged faintly amidst the white-veiled ice mist in the distance.

It was the Heaven Pillar situated at the Extreme North. Unlike the Kunlun Heavenly Pillar—a "mountain with an over-the-top name"—this northern Heaven Pillar truly was a colossal column. Its diameter was overwhelmingly large, its material unknown, and its surface a deep gray, rising vertically into the expanse of heaven and earth.

Qiu Changtian followed Master Ziwei and the Chi Song Immortal to the connection point between the Heaven Pillar and the Heavenly Dome.

At this junction, the flowing runic script on the celestial sphere split to bypass the Heaven Pillar itself.

Nearby the connection point, another strange type of script permeated the area—it resembled the style of the runic script but neither flowed nor emitted light. Instead, it was etched onto the area near the pillar’s top, its specific meaning ambiguous, as was its purpose concerning the pillar’s link to the Heavenly Dome.

"Ah Jing," Qiu Changtian asked in a low tone, "can you make sense of these runes?"

"No idea," replied the Kunlun Mirror bluntly. "Anything tied to the fundamental essence of the world is entirely beyond me."

"This is the Heaven Pillar of the Extreme North," the Chi Song Immortal stated. "Changgeng, do you have any insights?"

Qiu Changtian stared at the Heaven Pillar before speaking:

"There are three Heaven Pillars: one lies in the true north, one in the southwest, and one in the southeast. The Southeast Heaven Pillar has already collapsed, leaving only the true north and southwest pillars."

"The spinning core of the Heavenly Dome roughly oscillates along the north-south axis. If that’s the case, the spinning core could align with the Northern Heaven Pillar but wouldn’t intersect with the Southwest Heaven Pillar—is this correct?"

"More or less correct," the Chi Song Immortal affirmed. "Although the spinning core also oscillates east-west daily, the movement range isn’t large enough to reach as far as the Southwest Heaven Pillar."

"If the Seven Treasures Mysterious Garden Secret Realm is truly affixed to some location on the Heavenly Dome’s barrier, spinning rapidly with the celestial sphere," Qiu Changtian said slowly, "and if the realm itself were designed in a manner allowing cultivators to enter, it would most likely be accessible when the realm is closest to the spinning core." fгeewebnovёl.com

"Judging by previous secret realms—the White Jade Capital Secret Realm opens in Mount Tianmu, the Golden Que Secret Realm in Xihua Mountain—the Seven Treasures Mysterious Garden Secret Realm might open atop this Northern Heaven Pillar. Considering the pillar itself as a ’mountain,’ this interpretation could hold water."

"When the spinning core of the Heavenly Dome reaches the position of the Northern Heaven Pillar, we may uncover some clues. For now, scarce evidence leaves me speculating wildly; I hope Master and the Immortal won’t mind my ramblings."

"It’s no trouble," the Chi Song Immortal said with a casual wave. "The spinning core will reach the Northern Heaven Pillar during the Winter Solstice."

"Since there are no other leads to pursue in the meantime, let’s return here during the Winter Solstice for further investigation."