Tome of Troubled Times-Chapter 912: Myriad Manifestation Star Sea

Sovereign Withered Wood could naturally sense the trap behind the corpse puppet, and he could very clearly sense that it was tied to Luo Chuan.

But what did that even matter? He had already offended Luo Chuan once, so offending him a little more would not change anything. No one could resist the temptation of an Other Shore-level demonic body. If anything, this corpse was a reminder that the couple standing before him were Luo Chuan’s enemies. And if one wished to eliminate Luo Chuan once and for all, there was no better path than to work with them.

Compared to that, the embarrassment he had just suffered in front of a crowd was trivial. At the very least, Zhao Changhe had offered a treasure and extended goodwill.

In the blink of an eye, the entire atmosphere shifted. Where moments ago they had been locked in combat, now the two sides suddenly seemed like old friends reunited after many years. The withered, ancient face of Sovereign Withered Wood split into a hearty laugh as he called out in a booming voice, “Bring out the immortal dew I’ve stored for ten thousand years. Tonight, I shall drink with Fellow Daoist Zhao and his esteemed consort!”

He warmly linked arms with Zhao Changhe as he led them down toward the summit. “To tell you the truth, it’s been at least thirty thousand years since I last entertained a guest... I hope you don’t find my mountain too shabby.”

“Your cave abode holds a distinct charm. It’s far from shabby,” Zhao Changhe replied with poise and elegance, like a cultured gentleman leisurely strolling through an immortal mountain.

Ye Jiuyou followed with a faintly amused smile, her eyes curiously taking in their surroundings.

The summit was veiled in drifting clouds and mist, and stepping into it felt no different from entering an immortal realm. At the cliff edge of the summit sat a stone table carved with an intricate grid of nineteen lines—it resembled a Go board. A pine tree grew nearby, its slanted branches stretching out to form a natural canopy, casting shade over the table like a parasol.

As the three of them sat down, Zhao Changhe leaned slightly toward Ye Jiuyou and murmured, “I imagine Yuxu and Gui Chen would love this place... and this kind of cultivation environment.”

Ye Jiuyou whispered back with a nip of sarcasm, “Why not say Tang Wanzhuang would love it too?”

“Wanzhuang loves wherever I am.”

“Ptui.”

“But the meaning’s different. Take Withered Wood, for example. He bears the title of Sovereign, yet clearly prefers solitude.”

Ye Jiuyou nodded. For those like him, who might emerge from seclusion only to find a millennium had passed, it was hard to maintain close relationships. So-called bonds between comrades were often nothing more than fleeting partnerships during a secret realm expedition, gone as quickly as they came. Though the mountains within a thousand li were nominally under his command, it felt more like an empty sect; he likely did not even know most of those who served under him.

Immortality was, ultimately, a lonely path.

However, they were no longer alone.

Seeing the couple murmuring to each other, Sovereign Withered Wood chuckled softly and poured more wine for them. “It truly is rare to see cultivators at our level remain so close as Dao companions.”

Ye Jiuyou asked casually, “Why is that? Does your land not emphasize the union of yin and yang?”

Sovereign Withered Wood shook his head, his gaze distant. “Time erodes too many things. No matter how harmonious a pair of cultivators may be, after ten thousand years, even longing fades. In the end, the pursuit of the Dao is a journey without end.”

Zhao Changhe replied, “Hence... a heart like withered wood?”

Sovereign Withered Wood paused, then chuckled. “You’re not wrong. That is partly the reason for my Daoist name.”

At that, Zhao Changhe and Ye Jiuyou exchanged a glance, silently coming to the same conclusion: Sovereign Withered Wood was a man of sentiment. His Daoist name was more than a metaphor; it was a memorial.

A man of sentiment was, at the very least, a more reassuring ally than one trapped in the cold calculations of a dark forest. Cooperation would not be reduced to pure self-interest, at least not yet.

Sovereign Withered Wood let out a long sigh. “To see Dao companions remain so close even at your level of cultivation... It’s truly moving.”

Ye Jiuyou’s tone turned slightly sour. “Well, it’s not just us two.”

Sovereign Withered Wood: “...”

Zhao Changhe quietly took a sip of wine.

Sovereign Withered Wood had no interest in eavesdropping on their awkward little lovers’ spat, but his expression did shift ever so slightly.

Her words on their own did not really exhibit much of an issue. The demonic path had countless practitioners who cultivated through dual cultivation with thousands of partners.

But if all these “Dao companions” were as powerful as them, then the implications were staggering.

He could only pray Zhao Changhe merely had many partners for dual cultivation and not a whole legion of Other Shore-level Dao companions.

Even if it was not a legion, just these two alone were enough to stir the stagnant waters of the segmentum—waters that had been still for countless millennia.

Still, if this couple truly possessed such overwhelming power, Sovereign Withered Wood could not help but wonder why Luo Chuan had risked open conflict with them. And how had he even managed to pursue someone like Zhao Changhe?

With that thought, he cautiously probed, “If I may be so bold... Fellow Daoist Zhao, you should have only reached the Other Shore recently, right? Forgive the question, but how did you manage not only to recover from your wounds in such a short span but also to break through?”

Zhao Changhe certainly was not about to admit that he had only just stepped into this realm and that the battle just now had been his first real fight at the Other Shore. His response came smoothly, without the faintest ripple of hesitation, “As you probably figured, I reached the Other Shore quite some time ago. It’s just that I was ambushed by Luo Chuan. By the time you saw me, I was gravely wounded, and my cultivation almost went down the drain.”

Sovereign Withered Wood nodded, offering no challenge.

Zhao Changhe continued, “In truth, we are fully capable of killing him on our own. The reason we came seeking your help is because we are unfamiliar with the area. What we truly need is a local expert, someone who knows the lay of the land, to help us design a plan that will end this threat once and for all.”

Sovereign Withered Wood’s eyelid twitched. So they really aren’t from this segmentum... “Then may I ask... where exactly are you from?”

Zhao Changhe replied with a smile, “Nameq[1]. Have you ever heard of it?”

Ye Wuming: “...”

Zhao Changhe added, “There’s no need to probe us further. The universe is boundless, its dimensions without end. Who knows how far apart our worlds truly are? We arrived here entirely by accident. There is no intersection between us, save for one: Luo Chuan. Now, I can’t help but wonder. Since Luo Chuan is also at the Other Shore, does he also command a star system as vast and well-established as yours?”

“Not on the surface,” Sovereign Withered Wood replied. “This segmentum is known as the Myriad Manifestations Star Sea. Long ago, many factions warred here. Figures like Luo Chuan were once overlords of their own sectors, demonic cultivators ruling through sheer force. Many years ago, it was said he obtained a powerful treasure, something he sought to refine and dominate. He intended to use it as a foundation to unify the entire segmentum. Those were dark times.”

Zhao Changhe and Ye Jiuyou lowered their eyes, sipping their wine.

Yeah, we know. That “treasure” might just be our little ragged tome.

Sovereign Withered Wood went on, “Whatever the case, something went wrong during that refinement. Whether he was injured by backlash or something else, I cannot say. However, we seized the opportunity. I joined forces with two other Other Shore cultivators to drive back those of the demonic path and divide this star sea between us. That conflict became known as the War of the Three Sovereigns, and it ended with three great forces ruling in a rough balance. I lead one of those factions. This place is now considered one of the three great forbidden zones. Honestly, I’ve covered the outer reaches in illusion arrays, so most people can’t even see this place, let alone approach it. Of course, that didn’t stop you, Fellow Daoist Zhao, but it’s still quite the coincidence. Of all the worlds to flee to, you ended up here... Perhaps it was fate. On another planet, there might’ve been no one able to block Luo Chuan for you.”

Zhao Changhe laughed softly. “I’ve always been rather lucky.”

Though frankly, the lucky one might be you, Sovereign Withered Wood. The moment Luo Chuan was struck down in the Heavenly Tome’s world, that massive battle that shattered a whole era, that was the work of Ye Wuming’s machinations and the wrath of heroes like Lie. The turning of heaven itself. And in the aftermath... you were the one who picked the fruit.

Then again, perhaps it was mutual gain. Luo Chuan had been silent for an entire era since. Only after Zhao Changhe’s rise had he begun to stir again. That silence likely was not retreat but because he had been suppressed, embroiled in a prolonged siege.

Sure enough, Sovereign Withered Wood continued, “Though we won, we weren’t able to wipe out the demonic path completely. Many of their remnants scattered, and even chasing down these stragglers has caused us no end of headaches. The war drained the strength of the Myriad Manifestations Star Sea. Some of our Fellow Daoists fell in that battle, and to this day, countless cultivators search for their lost cave abodes.”

Ye Wuming: “...”

We might know about that one. We might have even come across one. On our way out of one of the worlds here, we got intercepted... That person was likely a stray, just like Luo Chuan.

And if a figure like that still roams the shadows, then it’s entirely possible that Luo Chuan has already begun quietly gathering allies. Maybe he already has a faction forming behind the scenes.

Sovereign Withered Wood went on, “In the years since, the balance has largely held. The remnants don’t dare act openly, fearing they’ll be crushed. However, we don’t dare push them too far, either. If we provoke someone like Luo Chuan, no one can predict what havoc he might unleash, so there’s an unspoken truce. When he trespassed here while chasing you... I was honestly shocked. It shows just how desperate he was to kill you.”

Zhao Changhe sipped his wine and fell silent, lost in thought.

In that light, Luo Chuan’s desperation to reclaim the Heavenly Tome is far easier to understand.

Sovereign Withered Wood had spoken with subtlety, but the undercurrent of fear was unmistakable. For the mightiest three great forces of the segmentum to not dare provoke a top-tier Demon Sovereign just went to show that Luo Chuan was not just any boss. Even within the vastness of the segmentum, he remained a true top threat.

This made one thing abundantly clear: None of the three great forbidden zones, on their own, could match Luo Chuan at full strength. It was only when he had suffered backlash from refining the Heavenly Tome that the great purge had succeeded in driving back the demonic path. And now, with his power base shattered, he lived as a fugitive, barely keeping a ripple on the surface of the stars. The balance had settled into a tenuous standoff.

However, should he regain control of the Heavenly Tome, the power boost it could grant might be enough to shatter that balance.

Should that happen, the three great forbidden zones could very well fall to Luo Chuan in turn, ushering in a new era of demonic dominion across the segmentum.

That Heavenly Tome was the key. It was the fulcrum of every rising storm across the ages. It always had been.

Then again, if Zhao Changhe and his side were to join forces with Sovereign Withered Wood and tip the scales, then that might just give them the upper hand needed to unify the segmentum under a single banner. It was thus no wonder that the old man had suddenly become so enthusiastic at the sight of new and powerful allies.

With all that in mind, Zhao Changhe exhaled a long breath.

What he had feared most at the start was that the Other Shore might prove trivial in the wider universe, that beyond the Heavenly Tome’s world, he would be just another mid-tier cultivator, cannon fodder among giants.

However, now it was clear that while the Other Shore was not the absolute zenith, it was undeniably the pinnacle of the known pyramid. Others existed at this level, but there were not many of them. If beings of even higher cultivation realms existed, they did not interfere in this war.

In other words, the battlefield was as defined as it needed to be.

And to think that the name that Ye Wuming thought appropriate for this cultivation realm turns out to be the actual term used across the universe. That blind woman has insight and knowledge of the highest tier. She really is beyond reproach.

After a long silence, Zhao Changhe finally said, “Then, should we collaborate to eliminate Luo Chuan? What’s your view on how we should proceed?”

Sovereign Withered Wood replied, “The first problem is simply finding him. This star sea is vast, and the cosmos is without end. To search for a single person is no small task.”

“If we can resolve that part, what else must we consider?”

“The remnants of the demonic path,” Sovereign Withered Wood said. “Outwardly, they act alone. They perhaps even fear each other stabbing the other from behind. But when the stakes rise to life and death, they will respond. No matter how splintered they seem, lips and teeth share the same fate. It’s entirely possible they’ve already reorganized in secret. So, while Luo Chuan looks like he’s alone... you must never treat him as such.”

Zhao Changhe nodded. “What else?”

“The other two forbidden zones,” Sovereign Withered Wood said with a faint smile. “If we join forces to purge Luo Chuan and the rest of the demonic cultivators, my Heavenly Profound Star would grow in power. Do you think that the other two won’t feel threatened? And what if, in the midst of battle, one of them swoops in to claim the spoils? These inter-factional rivalries are precisely why no one has ever truly rooted out the demonic path. Everyone’s afraid of playing the mantis only for the true victor to be the oriole behind.”

Ye Jiuyou said coolly, “If Luo Chuan is left to us, and you simply handle the other concerns, would that arrangement be viable?”

Sovereign Withered Wood shook his head. “It’s far too delicate. I can’t give a definitive answer yet. Besides...”

Zhao Changhe asked, “Besides what?”

“Whether this endeavor succeeds or fails, we must be prepared to face total fallout with the other major powers.” Sovereign Withered Wood gazed at Zhao Changhe with deep meaning in his eyes. “Luo Chuan and I have always maintained a precarious balance. We’ve never truly clashed head-on. If my sole purpose were to eliminate a potential threat, would it truly be worth shattering that balance and burning all bridges?”

Zhao Changhe let out a faint, mocking laugh. “If Luo Chuan intends to unify the segmentum, who do you think he’ll come after first?”

Sovereign Withered Wood took a sip of wine and replied indifferently, “First or last, it makes no difference. Besides, he won’t succeed.”

Zhao Changhe sneered, “Then let me put it plainly: If he takes us out, then he absolutely will succeed.”

Sovereign Withered Wood stared at Zhao Changhe in silence.

Zhao Changhe continued, “When that day comes, others may simply surrender and retain their domains, becoming vassal kings under his rule... But you won’t even have that choice. Do you really think your cave abode can remain untouched?”

Sovereign Withered Wood responded with a cool, almost amused tone, “And yet all of this was stirred up by you, Fellow Daoist. How calmly you lay it all at my feet!”

“What’s done is done. Mulling over the cause isn’t the mindset of a true sovereign. What matters now is how to seize this opportunity and how far we can push it to reshape the future. That’s what a sovereign should be considering.”

Sovereign Withered Wood studied Zhao Changhe for a long while before suddenly asking, “Fellow Daoist, your body exudes the qi veins of the mountains and rivers—rich and vibrant. Have you perhaps once ruled as an emperor?”

Zhao Changhe replied, “Never. I’m merely the kept man... shared by the rulers of all three realms.”

Sovereign Withered Wood glanced at Ye Jiuyou. Her expression remained blank.

If there truly was an Underworld in the world of the Heavenly Tome, Ye Jiuyou would be its ruler. As for the mortal realm, it belonged to Xia Chichi. And yes, he had indeed served as consort to them both.

As for the ruler of the heavenly realm, had he staked a claim there too?

Sovereign Withered Wood, of course, knew the truth. There was no such thing as a kept man of the rulers of three realms. If someone could truly claim all three, he would not be a consort but the emperor of the world.

“So...” Sovereign Withered Wood spoke each word slowly, “how can you guarantee that in our alliance, I will not be betrayed or devoured?”

“I already said that after this, we’ll have no more dealings. I don’t know how to give you a guarantee, nor would I demean myself by offering a part of myself as proof. You’ll simply have to judge for yourself... Just remember, I’m not short on potential allies.” Zhao Changhe drained his cup and slammed it down hard on the table. “Move forward, and you have a chance to unite the segmentum. Back down, and you’ll be gambling that chance away. Any true sovereign would rather sit at the gaming table than hand the dice to someone else.”

Sovereign Withered Wood stared at the wine-stained table in silence, his gaze rippling with thought.

After a long pause, he finally stood and said, “The guest peak hasn’t hosted a single visitor in nearly a million years. It’s quiet, and the spirit qi is abundant. Why don’t you and your wife rest there for the night? Tomorrow, we can continue this conversation... as allies on a shared path.”

1. Sounds familiar? Yes, it’s the DBZ universe planet, with a little twist. ☜