Chen Tian and Chen Ling had never taken Kuang Feng Zi Ruo seriously from beginning to end. Who would pay attention to an ant that could be instantly killed with a single glance? Chen Tian listened as Chen Ling recounted the details of Moonlight Lake. Chen Ling spoke with a calm voice, "Brother Chen Tian, it's just like that. The Moonlight Star Sand is beneath Moonlight Lake. I can't go in, and the only one who has ever emerged from it is you."
"Moonlight Lake? It seems I've stepped into it once again."
Chen Tian seemed to be lost in memories, a smile appearing on his lips. It had been a long time since he had seen that fellow. He wondered how they were doing and decided to pay them a visit.
After informing Chen Ling, Chen Tian leaped into Moonlight Lake. This action did not arouse suspicion from others. After all, many players who entered Moonlight Lake had never found anything or any items within. To them, Moonlight Lake was merely a scenic spot. But Chen Tian and Chen Ling were different, and not even the beings of the Divine Realm were the same. Beneath Moonlight Lake, Chen Tian swam, carefully observing the moon below.
Chen Tian approached the moon and placed his palm on it. The crescent moon emitted a radiant light. Chen Tian infused it with energy from the Divine Realm, and the moon gradually became complete. A beam of light shot upwards, piercing the surface of Moonlight Lake. Chen Tian looked at the scene before him, wondering how long it had been since Moonlight Lake was opened and if this commotion was a bit too much.
Chen Tian didn't ponder further. At this moment, as the crescent moon was filled to become a full moon, a portal opened in its center. Chen Tian entered the portal. On the surface of Moonlight Lake, countless players watched the commotion below. A beam of light shot straight into the sky, making it impossible to ignore. Moonlight Lake was now the focus of countless players, who jumped into it one after another, believing there must be something valuable beneath to cause such a spectacle.
Within the Ba Tian Guild and the Yun Shui Guild, a terrifying aura emerged. The two guilds were rendered immobile by the oppressive presence. All guild members could only prostrate themselves on the ground. When the aura dissipated, both guilds issued orders to advance towards Moonlight Lake. A total of three thousand players from both guilds, all enveloped in black energy, were dispatched.
If Chen Tian were present, he would have annihilated them all. These individuals were all lackeys of the Evil Spirit Race. At Moonlight Lake, Chen Ling looked at the clean land. All the players from before had jumped into Moonlight Lake. Xie Xue's voice rang out, "Little Sister Ling, be careful. They've moved, and it seems they're heading your way. You should find a place to hide first."
"Sister, what are you saying? What about brother?"
"Your brother will be fine. You can't fight right now, and I can't expose myself. So, you need to take care of your own safety and don't let Master worry."
Xie Xue's words calmed Chen Ling. She realized she would only be a burden here. Chen Ling was unwilling, having never experienced such a situation before. Thousands of years ago, she had fought alongside Chen Tian.
Chen Ling was determined to obtain that weapon, as only a weapon could allow her to fight.
Chen Ling decisively chose to leave Moonlight Lake. The beam of light from Moonlight Lake shot straight into the sky and showed no signs of dissipating. Players continued to flock to the area. In truth, the past few days had been peculiar. It felt as though anomalies were appearing everywhere, and seemingly ordinary regions held astonishing secrets.
Chen Tian entered the portal, and it closed behind him. However, Moonlight Lake began to change, transforming towards its true form.
Within the portal, Chen Tian looked at the palace before him. It bore a single character: Tian!
Chen Tian approached the grand gate and slowly pushed it open. This gate was incredibly easy for Chen Tian to open, as he was more familiar with it than anyone. Chen Tian entered the space behind the gate, which was a vast, empty room. In the center of the room, two small figures faced each other. As they observed each other, their energies flowed into their respective bodies. Chen Tian's arrival caused the phantom images of the two figures to pause. Then, one of them spoke, "Chen Tian, you're too early. We haven't finished merging."
"Heavenly Dao, long time no see. I've come to see you today."
"You carry the aura of other Heavenly Dao forces. Have you traveled to other worlds?"
The Heavenly Dao of the Divine Realm inquired. Chen Tian nodded and recounted his experiences in the Dark Realm. The figures before him were indeed the Heavenly Dao, one from the Huaxia world and the other from the Divine Realm. The Heavenly Daos of the two worlds had not fallen into slumber but were in the process of merging.
The moment they signed the contract, both sides decided that the Heavenly Dao of the Divine Realm would sacrifice itself to empower and complete the Heavenly Dao of Huaxia. Since the Divine Realm would eventually become a part of the game, his existence would no longer be necessary. He could assist the Heavenly Dao of the other world in becoming stronger, essentially safeguarding the world.
"However, Chen Tian, you've arrived earlier than the contract stipulated. When you opened Moonlight Lake, the entire Divine Realm will awaken, and the slumbering deities will rouse prematurely. Are you sure you still have the capacity to make them submit?"
The Heavenly Dao of the Divine Realm spoke with worry. Chen Tian had arrived earlier than stipulated by the contract. The Heavenly Dao power had been in a sealed state, but now that it was revealed, the entire Divine Realm would return to its original state.
"There's no need to worry. It will take at least three months. I will try my best to conclude matters within these three months."
Chen Tian declared with conviction. The Heavenly Dao believed Chen Tian, not out of arrogance, but because Chen Tian had always kept his word since they first met.
He never broke a promise!
This was something the Heavenly Dao understood very well. The Heavenly Dao then asked, "Then what brings you here this time? One doesn't visit without a purpose, especially since I told you not to seek me out for trivial matters. It seems you have an urgent issue, don't you?"
"Indeed, I need the Heavenly Dao Gravel. Only you possess this item, so I could only come to you."
Chen Tian's expression was calm. The Heavenly Dao waved his hand, and a jar of sand appeared in Chen Tian's hand. Chen Tian looked at the sand in the jar. This was what he had been looking for. The Moonlight Star Sand was not its true name; in the Divine Realm, it was called Heavenly Dao Gravel, an item only the Heavenly Dao possessed.
Beneath Moonlight Lake was the resting place of the Heavenly Dao, where the two Heavenly Daos were merging. Before the merger in the Divine Realm, Chen Tian had entered this place to find the Heavenly Dao. Back then, they would play chess and chat daily. Gradually, the Heavenly Dao developed a good impression of Chen Tian. Chen Tian's personality and ability to assess people were excellent. While the Heavenly Dao still existed in the Divine Realm, he bestowed the sole title of Heavenly Dao's representative upon Chen Tian, believing his judgment would not be mistaken.
The Heavenly Dao was undergoing fusion here. Once the fusion was complete, the Divine Realm would become a true game world, and the beings of the Divine Realm would perish. Apart from Chen Tian, no one would survive.
This was a gamble made with the entire realm as the stake, a bet on the future, on the possibility that Chen Tian and others could resist the Evil Spirit Race.
Chen Tian took the gravel and left the room. According to the contract, Chen Tian had opened Moonlight Lake prematurely due to this matter. The emergence of the Heavenly Dao power would likely drive the Evil Spirit Race mad. Chen Tian needed to go out and organize a defense.