The news of the Black Calamity once again descending upon the Vast Expanse quickly spread across all regions, shaking every civilization and filling them with dread.
In just a few short days, many regions had already been invaded, submerged in the black mist. No living beings or races could escape, completely buried within it.
Entire starfields quickly dimmed, becoming eternal dark realms.
This trend continued to spread rapidly, and even powerful Dao Realm existences found it difficult to stop.
Even in some civilized true worlds, black mist began to seep through spatial rifts, spreading across the universes and rapidly corroding those starfields.
At this moment, the descent of the black mist seemed unstoppable.
Some cultivators and beings even discovered, to their horror, that their sea of consciousness had been tainted by that aura. The black mist had somehow crossed unimaginable distances and appeared in their minds, threatening to corrupt their will and cognition.
These scenes quickly unfolded across various regions, filling countless races and civilizations with fear and panic. It seemed as if there was no place left in the worlds where they could hide, as no matter where they fled, they might be swallowed by the black mist.
Many of the strongest true worlds and civilizations immediately set aside their past conflicts and sought ways to stop this Black Calamity.
The entire Vast Expanse was thrown into turmoil.
The descent of the black mist caught everyone off guard. Apart from a few of the strongest civilizations that had anticipated and prepared for it, most civilizations were completely unprepared.
They could only shrink their territories as much as possible, moving closer to the center of the Vast Expanse.
In the Prime-Origin Civilization, almost all races and factions learned of the explosive news that the Remnants of the Black Calamity had returned to the Vast Expanse.
Other top civilizations, such as the Dawn Civilization, the Endless Yang True World, and the Calamitous Yin True World, immediately relayed this news to the Prime-Origin Civilization.
This was because Sage Xi, the founder of the Prime-Origin Sacred Hall in the Prime-Origin Civilization, was one of the sages who had once fought against the Black Calamity and had even wielded the Mirror of Reincarnation, one of the six supreme treasures of the first civilization.
Thus, many of the surrounding top civilizations wanted to know if the Prime-Origin Civilization had any means to counter this sudden Black Calamity.
Since the Black Calamity Era, countless ages and epochs had passed, and many civilizations had perished. However, some true worlds had survived multiple Tribulation Reckonings and still stood strong.
But few of these top true worlds had truly experienced that era, let alone faced the Black Calamity directly. They had no real means to deal with it.
Moreover, in the past, some Remnants of the Black Calamity had appeared, but they had all been eradicated by the Prime-Origin Sacred Hall.
The Saintess of the Prime-Origin Civilization had even led some factions to personally exterminate the Remnants of the Black Calamity, giving her experience in this area.
At this time, many of the surrounding top civilizations naturally looked to the Prime-Origin Civilization for guidance, even though the Prime-Origin Civilization itself had just undergone a major upheaval.
"Why has the Black Calamity suddenly descended? Isn't this too abrupt…"
"The Remnants of the Black Calamity have chosen to reappear at this time, and there must be a reason. I fear that worse things are yet to come, and a greater storm is about to descend."
Ling Yuling frowned, sitting in the courtyard. She glanced at Gu Changge, who was calmly drinking tea nearby, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes.
When the news of the Black Calamity's return reached them, Gu Changge had only shown slight surprise, as if he wasn't particularly concerned or worried.
"The Vast Expanse is so vast. Even if the Black Calamity reaches the Prime-Origin Civilization, it will take time. There's no need for us to worry. After all, if the sky falls, the tall will hold it up."
"Moreover, wasn't the Black Calamity eradicated once before? Even if it returns, it may not regain its former ferocity and power."
"Since it cannot be completely destroyed, its return is inevitable. Why be so anxious…"
Mu Yan lazily rested her chin on her hand, watching Yao Yao practice a breathing technique Gu Changge had just taught her.
"You're not wrong, but that's because you haven't personally experienced the Black Calamity Era. You don't know how brutal, dark, and despairing that era was. You don't know how terrifying the Black Calamity is…"
Ling Yuling couldn't help but shake her head, feeling that Mu Yan was too carefree and had no understanding of how terrifying the Black Calamity was.
This perfectly illustrated the saying, "Ignorance is bliss."
Mu Yan rolled her eyes. "If you're so worried, why don't you try to stop this Black Calamity yourself?"
Ever since she found out that Ling Yuling had beaten her to Gu Changge, she had been unable to look at Ling Yuling without disdain. She had even spoken well of Ling Yuling in front of Gu Changge.
Stung by Mu Yan's retort, Ling Yuling was momentarily speechless.
If she had such means, how could she have ended up in her current situation?
"Master, what is the Black Calamity?"
Yao Yao, who had been listening with wide, curious eyes, was completely lost, not understanding what Mu Yan and Ling Yuling were discussing.
"You'll understand when you go out to train," Gu Changge replied casually.
The speed at which the Black Calamity had descended was faster than he had anticipated. It seemed the Heavenly Faction had been planning and preparing for this for many years, with everything already in place.
However, the current scale was still far from enough. The Black Calamity was only in its initial stages, far from the level he desired.
But this was sufficient for him to begin the second phase of his plan.
Hearing this, Yao Yao puffed out her cheeks, looking slightly resentful.
Gu Changge had been increasingly dismissive of her lately. In the past, he would patiently explain things to her. Was it because she had grown up and wasn't as cute as before?
"Yuling, is there any way to stop this Black Calamity?"
"What do you think?"
Gu Changge glanced at Ling Yuling, ignoring Yao Yao's sulking.
He would eventually send her out to train, to experience battles and schemes, allowing her to grow. He couldn't keep pampering her like a flower in a greenhouse.
"At the moment, there's no way to stop it. However, this Black Calamity has come suddenly and unexpectedly, so it's unlikely to last long. Even during the era when the Heaven-Warring Organization existed, the Black Calamity gradually spread across the worlds."
"I think the Remnants of the Black Calamity likely have another purpose. While they may cause great panic in the short term, it's unlikely to significantly affect the overall situation."
Ling Yuling was slightly surprised that Gu Changge had asked her opinion. After thinking carefully, she gave her analysis.
No matter how powerful the Remnants of the Black Calamity were, they couldn't truly plunge the entire Vast Expanse into chaos at this time. The civilized true worlds were not to be underestimated. While the dark origin was troublesome, it wasn't invincible.
At this point, the focus shouldn't be on how to resist the spread of the black mist, but on stopping the true purpose of the Remnants of the Black Calamity.
After all, while the black mist spread rapidly in the early stages, it would soon lose momentum. The areas it could corrode and consume would be limited, and eventually, it would only expand bit by bit.
Like a wave, after reaching its peak, the subsequent waves would gradually diminish until they subsided.
This was the pattern observed by the sages of that era.
"You're quite perceptive."
Gu Changge smiled faintly. Even he had to admit that Ling Yuling was indeed intelligent, able to see beyond the surface of the Black Calamity's sudden return to the deeper truth.
Ling Yuling looked at Gu Changge, her bright eyes trying to discern whether he was genuinely praising her or had another motive.
"After all, I've experienced that era. I naturally know more than people today…" Her long eyelashes fluttered slightly as she spoke softly.
Gu Changge chuckled. "Then how do you know that after so many years, the Remnants of the Black Calamity haven't made any progress?"
Ling Yuling was suddenly stunned.
She recalled the Shen and shadows mentioned by the native inhabitants of the floating continent in the Chaotic Space-Time Sea.
Weren't those the eerie beings created by the Remnants of the Black Calamity?
"Come with me for a walk outside. The Prime-Origin Civilization still needs you to stabilize the hearts of the people. The outside world is probably in a state of panic right now."
Gu Changge spoke casually, ignoring Ling Yuling's dazed expression. He walked ahead and disappeared from the valley in an instant.
Ling Yuling came to her senses and, without overthinking, transformed into a beam of light and followed him.
As Gu Changge had said, the Prime-Origin Civilization was in a state of panic due to the news of the Black Calamity's return. The panic was even greater than when the Immortal Chu Dynasty had spread similar rumors before its fall.
This was because the current news had been confirmed, whereas the earlier rumors had been mere speculation.
Although the various races and factions had submitted to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, becoming part of it, the Black Calamity—a calamity that represented destruction, despair, and brutality, and was almost unsolvable—filled them with endless fear and dread.
Gu Changge had Ling Yuling accompany him because he wanted her, as a sage who had once fought against the Black Calamity, to reassure the people of the Prime-Origin Civilization.
No matter how chaotic and panicked the Vast Expanse became, it shouldn't affect the Prime-Origin Civilization for now. Gu Changge disliked the atmosphere of fear and uncertainty around him.
Moreover, in this Black Calamity sweeping across the worlds, he wanted the Heaven-Slaying Alliance to play a crucial role.
At this point, Ling Yuling seemed to finally understand Gu Changge's intentions. She began tirelessly appearing in various regions, using her identity as a sage who had fought against the Black Calamity to reassure the panicked populace.
After all, she had once fought against the Black Calamity, and this identity made her efforts highly effective. Gu Changge also instructed Spirit Emperor and Zhuo Fengxie to follow Ling Yuling and spread the teachings of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
The Heaven-Slaying Alliance existed to uphold the Heavenly Dao, protect all living beings, and purge darkness.
In this Black Calamity, only by believing in the Heaven-Slaying Alliance could one find protection.
Unsurprisingly, many factions were angered and disgusted by the Heaven-Slaying Alliance's "opportunistic" behavior. In the current Vast Expanse, which faction or civilization had the confidence and ability to make such claims?
Wasn't this just using a grand banner to deceive the masses?
However, this propaganda and dissemination had a completely different effect on many cultivators and beings, acting as a calming agent.
Moreover, with Ling Yuling, the ancestor of the Imperial Immortal Palace, personally appearing as an envoy of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance to reassure the people, it seemed as if even she believed that the Heaven-Slaying Alliance could protect its followers and believers during this Black Calamity.
Meanwhile, a chaotic and terrifying battle was unfolding deep within the Chaotic Space-Time Sea of the Imperial Immortal Palace.
Outside the floating continent, a tide of black mist surged, carrying an aura of destruction and decay, threatening to dissolve and shatter the light barrier protecting the entire floating continent.
Within the swirling black mist, wisps of mist twisted, emitting eerie, bone-chilling laughter.
Vague beings began to take shape, initially pitch black, like melted gelatin, but quickly forming into human shapes, complete with features, clothing, and expressions identical to the native inhabitants inside the light barrier.
They coldly laughed as they summoned various ancient treasures and Dao artifacts, unleashing dazzling attacks.
Behind them, the black mist coalesced into the forms of ancient beings, their bodies as large as stars, their eyes like mountains and lakes, staring intently at the light barrier, relentlessly pounding it, trying to break it.
There were also vulture-like bone birds, their featherless wings stretching wide enough to blot out the sky. Their skeletal claws, shrouded in endless black mist, continuously slammed down, creating terrifying rumbling sounds.
The floating continent shook violently, mountains crumbled, and ancient trees fell, leaving the land in ruins.
All the native inhabitants of the floating continent gathered near the light barrier. Some were in despair, some wailed, and others collapsed in agony, praying for the Saint Ancestor's protection.
Some tried to rush out and fight the beings within the black mist, but whether they were Shen or shadows, they were endless and unkillable.
As long as the black mist remained, they would never truly die, continuously reforming and reviving, an endless and terrifying cycle. In the end, they could only be worn down and consumed by the black mist, leaving no trace behind…
This scene filled everyone with utter despair. They could only wait for the protective light barrier left by the Saint Ancestor to shatter, allowing the dark beings to rush in, and then fight to the death.
Crack!
Suddenly, a sound that sent chills down everyone's spines echoed. A crack appeared in the light barrier, and a terrifying skeletal claw slammed into it, causing the area to begin shattering.
Then, a flood of black mist poured through the crack, rushing toward the floating continent.
"No! The dark beings are breaking through…"
The faces of everyone on the floating continent turned pale with terror.
Hum!
At that moment, an ancient and mysterious orb suddenly rose into the sky. Countless runes swirled around it, and a terrifying beam of light shot out, intertwining with billions of divine rays, as if the power of all races was converging. The surging energy instantly pierced through the incoming black mist, and the dark beings within screamed, evaporating in an instant.
"The Primordial Chaos Pearl…"
"It's the Primordial Chaos Pearl sent by Fairy Qing!"
Many people exclaimed in shock.
A hunched, elderly figure rushed forward, taking control of the Primordial Chaos Pearl, trying to hold the breach and keep the black mist at bay.
"Elder Zhu…" The people on the floating continent cried out, their voices filled with fear and shock.
"Grandfather…"
Zhu Xuan watched as his grandfather charged forward, his eyes instantly reddening.