Because the Tianyuan Continent had been relocated by Lu into the Five Phoenixes Small World.

  But with the Tianyuan origin severed, Lu simply abandoned the Demon Domain.

  He had been racking his brains over what to do with it—now, it could fend for itself.

  Thus, Lu no longer bothered exerting effort to control the Heavenly Demon Tower.

  The tower was a profound-tier treasure; beyond its sturdy defenses, its main purpose was suppressing the Lion Demon King—to prevent him from targeting the powerhouses on Tianyuan Continent.

  Now that the entire continent had migrated, even if the Lion Demon King broke free, it hardly mattered... his neighbors were gone.

  The raging seas churned, and the salty sea breeze stung the air.

  The Lion Demon King fell silent, lifting his head to the dim, oppressive sky, a heavy gloom settling over him.

  What had happened?

  He knew a supreme powerhouse had invaded Tianyuan Continent, but in the end, that intruder seemed to have fled.

  So now...

  Where was Tianyuan Continent?

  Had it been smashed and sunk by that powerhouse?

  The Lion Demon King refused to believe it.

  He leaped down, plunging into the ocean.

  Boom!

  The vast sea exploded outward.

  Under normal circumstances, the Lion Demon King would never enter the waters—terrifying creatures lurked in Tianyuan's seas, akin to demons but not quite, yet immensely powerful due to their ancient lifespans.

  Take the colossal whale, tens of thousands of meters long, its massive body harboring the force to overturn rivers and seas. Even the Lion Demon King would steer clear.

  He generally avoided the ocean.

  But now...

  He dove in, determined to search for the sunken continent.

  Only by seeing the collapsed land with his own eyes would he accept it.

  Yet, as he plunged into the abyssal depths, there was still no sign of the fallen continent.

  Panic set in.

  He sought out that fearsome oceanic giant whale... but it, too, had vanished!

  The Lion Demon King streaked through the vast sea, bursting bubbles in his wake.

  Boom!

  The waters parted.

  The Lion Demon King stood atop the Demon Domain's land.

  Drenched, water dripped from his lion armor.

  At that moment, he was certain: the entire Tianyuan Continent was gone.

  He, the Lion Demon King, had become the ruler of this world.

  Yet, for some reason, instead of joy, a faint sorrow washed over him.

  The Lion Demon King raised a paw—suddenly, his expression shifted.

  He sensed the world's energy dissipating.

  Degenerating.

  His own power was ebbing away.

  A chill ran down his spine. He bolted across the Demon Domain's earth, searching for an escape.

  But in every direction... endless ocean.

  He... had been abandoned.

  ...

  Tianyuan Domain.

  Once calm returned, the top powerhouses from various factions gathered.

  Du Longyang, the Empress, Young Master Tianxu, and Ye Shoudao—the four peak experts—convened in Martial Emperor City.

  "Young Master Lu mentioned the fusion of two worlds. Looking back, it doesn't seem as disastrous as we feared," the Empress said, her eyes gleaming.

  Du Longyang nodded slightly. At first, he'd worried the merger would shatter mountains and rivers, unleashing unpredictable catastrophes.

  But now, everything was far more stable than imagined.

  Even ordinary folk barely noticed the fusion; they thought they still lived in their original world.

  "We're in unfamiliar surroundings now. Should we scout the outside?"

  "Who knows what strengths lurk in this world, or if dangers await..."

  Du Longyang suggested.

  Young Master Tianxu, pale-faced and carried on a stretcher, had recalled the four old crones he'd dismissed.

  He coughed into a white handkerchief and said, "Let's wait for Brother Lu's word."

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  "If I'm not mistaken, this world is under Brother Lu's control, much like the Bitter Buddha..."

  "In this world, Brother Lu reigns supreme, so we should naturally defer to him."

  Young Master Tianxu declared.

  Ye Shoudao of the Absolute Blade Sect glanced at him. "Heh."

  Typical Tianxu— who'd been yelling that Lu guy's name like a fanatic before?

  Now, seamlessly switching to "Brother Lu" without a hint of awkwardness.

  "Right, Tianxu has a point. Better not rush out and risk offending Brother Lu."

  "But we could disguise ourselves and do some reconnaissance—at least get a feel for this world."

  The Empress's eyes lit up as she spoke.

  "Besides, our current situation is a boon... The Great Qian Women's Kingdom's territory remains intact, the Demon Domain's threat is gone, and forces like Martial Emperor City and Tianxu Palace endure. This is a fresh start!"

  "Disguise ourselves to explore the world?"

  Young Master Tianxu's eyes sparkled with interest.

  "Great idea!"

  Du Longyang and Ye Shoudao exchanged glances, both intrigued.

  They chatted idly a bit more, discussed postwar reconstruction, then dispersed.

  The Empress returned to the Great Qian Women's Kingdom's palace.

  She summoned her attendant, a Nascent Soul realm official. After the brutal seven-day war, fewer than six Nascent Soul experts remained in the kingdom.

  At its peak, they'd had over ten!

  Of course, that was still better than the original five major forces' Bitter Buddha Temple.

  The temple now had zero Nascent Soul cultivators left, only two Golden Core ones—plummeting from top-tier to third-rate.

  "Your Majesty."

  The attendant bowed before the Empress.

  She lounged lazily on her throne, her fair, slender legs crossed and peeking from her opulent robes.

  "Huosang, you know the world has just stabilized, and the Great Qian needs reorganization. But as its ruler, I must scout this new world for threats."

  "For the coming days, you'll govern in my stead. Don't disappoint me."

  The Empress said.

  Huosang, startled, bowed deeply: "Your Majesty, you're leaving Tianyuan for the unknown new world?"

  "No need to worry—this is Young Master Lu's domain. My journey will be safe."

  "Manage Great Qian well. When I return, I expect to see it restored to its former glory."

  The Empress continued.

  "Can you handle that? I have high hopes for you."

  She gazed at Huosang meaningfully.

  Succession in the Great Qian Women's Kingdom differed from ordinary nations.

  The Empress's mother had been the previous ruler, but not every Empress bore heirs.

  Thus, they often used abdication.

  "I have every confidence!"

  Huosang caught her implication, flames igniting in his eyes.

  The Empress smiled behind her hand and dismissed him.

  She sat alone in the empty hall.

  After a long while, her red lips curved. "Brother Lu?"

  "I'm quite looking forward to what Young Master Lu's world is like..."

  "Will he become like the Bitter Buddha? Impossible... I can sense it—Young Master Lu cares for the world, unlike that selfish Bitter Buddha. So different."

  The Empress murmured with a smile.

  Then, her figure vanished, leaving only a lingering fragrance.

  One day later.

  Outside the Great Qian imperial city.

  On the official road where spring warmth melted the snow, greenery flourished.

  The Empress, in luxurious red robes and carrying a bundle like an ordinary beauty on a trip, swayed lightly as she departed the city.

  She reached the vast sea's edge, where the endless waters gaped like a monstrous maw.

  Boarding the wooden boat Huosang had prepared, she sat sideways at the prow.

  With a wave of her delicate hand...

  A blast of air surged, propelling the boat forward.

  It shot toward the sea's far side at breakneck speed.

  Not just the Empress.

  Ye Shoudao's single empty sleeve flapped in the wind as he stood at the sea's brink. With one step, knife on his back, he walked across the waters on foot.

  Each step calmed the roiling waves.

  He dressed plainly—Absolute Blade Sect bladesmen favored simple black robes, nothing flashy.

  Suddenly, Ye Shoudao halted, gazing into the distant side.

  With his eyesight, he easily spotted the scene.

  Bells tinkled as four Golden Core crones carried a wooden sedan, leaping wave to wave.

  Atop it, Young Master Tianxu—now in festive red robes—lounged comfortably. The crones, mid-leap, scattered flower petals from pouches.

  "This is supposed to be a low-key disguise?"

  Ye Shoudao's stoic face twitched.

  Young Master Tianxu spotted him too, huffed, and directed the crones to veer elsewhere.

  Ye Shoudao couldn't fathom the "disguise"—was swapping white for red all it took?

  Martial Emperor City.

  Du Longyang assembled many disciples.

  Inner sect elites, the city's future.

  He hid nothing, revealing the world's shift to Ye Qianxun, Feng Yilou, and others.

  They weren't fools; they'd suspected. Hearing the city lord confirm it shook them.

  Migrating from one world to another...

  Truly unimaginable.

  "It's a blessing. Without the shift, we'd likely be bones by now."

  Du Longyang said.

  "Train hard. Though the world changed, Tianyuan is still Tianyuan—little has altered. In fact... can you feel it? The heavens now suit cultivation better than before."

  Du Longyang noted.

  Feng Yilou nodded. As a Human List genius, his sensitivity was keen.

  Du Longyang smiled and continued: "I'll scout the new world. Train well—the future may see you step into it. Don't disgrace Martial Emperor City!"

  His tone grew grave.

  The disciples' smiles faded.

  They'd face the new world someday?

  It dawned on them: inevitable, with the worlds fused.

  Du Longyang chatted more, then dismissed them.

  Leaving a Nascent Soul elder in charge...

  He shouldered his long spear, donned plain linen robes and a conical hat, and slipped away from Martial Emperor City under night.

  Reaching the sea, he crossed it.

  The four Infant Transformation realm experts all ventured across the sea into Five Phoenixes!

  The Empress rode her lone boat, channeling cultivation to rocket it forward.

  She sat at the prow, breeze tousling her hair.

  Suddenly...

  Her gaze sharpened, wariness flashing.

  She halted the boat abruptly...

  A massive shadow had swept beneath the vast sea.

  Terrifying aura spread, putting her on high alert.

  Boom!

  Deep below, thunderous roars echoed.

  As if a monstrous beast rampaged.

  "This giant whale... it's here too."

  The Empress drew a deep breath.

  As an Infant Transformation expert, she knew the sea's dread sovereigns.

  That whale, alive for untold eons.

  Not Infant Transformation, yet surpassing it—stronger!

  She frowned. Its presence: boon or bane?

  If it attacked the new world, might it anger Brother Lu?

  The Empress exhaled.

  The shadow below dispersed.

  She resumed, accelerating the boat.

  ...

  Beiluo, White Jade Capital.

  Lu hadn't expected another task prompt right after completing a special one.

  His previous task wasn't done yet.

  Still, he adeptly opened the [Tasks] panel.

  The system's words popped up.

  "Brush off your clothes and depart, hiding merit and fame. Worlds fused successfully—side quest triggered."

  "Side Quest: 'Leave only the name of yore; no more White Jade Capital in the world.' Forge a transcendent, otherworldly force, etching a legend of awe in the hearts of all."

  Lu stared, stunned.

  "What does this mean?"

  Transcendent, leaving a legend...

  He stroked his chin.

  The task was clear: erase White Jade Capital from sight.

  But not truly—make it vanish yet persist as myth.

  Nonexistent, yet deterring all; even supreme beings would revere the name.

  A force beyond the mundane.

  Turn White Jade Capital into an "immortal realm"?

  Lu sat on the Thousand Blades Chair, fingers tapping the armrest, pondering the quest's intent.

  Tianyuan's arrival brought opportunity and challenge to Five Phoenixes Continent.

  What matched it there?

  Only White Jade Capital.

  Lu realized: though transcendent, it overshadowed Five Phoenixes' forces.

  With it ahead, others chased shadows, lacking drive.

  He exhaled, grasping the purpose.

  "Interesting quest. Take it slow..."

  Lu smiled.

  Suddenly, his mind stirred; lines danced in his eyes. He saw figures racing over the vast sea.

  As expected, mere days later.

  Du Longyang, the Empress, and the others couldn't wait—leaving Tianyuan for Five Phoenixes.

  Lu smacked his lips. When these Infant Transformation experts hit Five Phoenixes and saw its weak cultivators, they'd be dumbfounded.

  Hm?

  His gaze narrowed, brows furrowing.

  He sensed the Empress and company... but beyond them, something terrifying sped from the sea toward Five Phoenixes!

  "Infant Transformation? No... If so, it'd yield spiritual energy—but nothing..."

  "Not Infant Transformation, yet this aura... What slipped in during fusion?"

  "Whatever it is, this aggressive approach."

  Lu's eyes squinted.

  A cold glint flashed.

  "Trouble?"