Journey of the Fate Destroying Emperor Chapter 1921: Finite Construct

"What a naturally pure soul," Wu Hong thought as she analyzed Nie Ruoxin's body through the Quantum Array. "With such a soul, her understanding must be quite high. What a waste for such a talent, forced to dim her light for someone else's glory. Well, maybe force is not the right word." Based on that short conversation, it's evident that Nie Rouxin has accepted her place or role in Long Aojing's life.

Wu Hong dispersed the virus to prevent any possible leakage. Now that she knows the mander has agreed to hand over the artifact, there is no need to use the more extreme method. With a thought, a scroll appeared on her palm, and Wu Hong began reading the technique for achieving the [Perfect Soul].

The entire process could be summarized into two steps. First, resonate with the Source Qi Space to create a projection in the Sea of Consciousness. Then, use the projection to destroy, rebuild, press, and purify the soul. In addition, the projection creates unique energies that mold the soul into a more malleable state with greater potential. Then, the cultivator can absorb Soul Essence to break the limit of a Paragon Quality/Quantity Soul. The entire process is extremely risky; the slightest mistake will result in death. As such, few even dare try it.

"On the surface, it appears to be a direct and rough method, but it's actually quite ingenious. Using Qi to mold the soul and improve potential is like a pill concoction for the soul, and this civilization has created countless formulas. Their understanding of the soul is also unique," Wu Hong analyzed.

She couldn't wait to figure out what bination of Qi was the best for her soul, but now was not the time. Plus, she didn't have enough information for that. In fact, even all the techniques she had secretly stolen from the mander might not be enough for such a task.

"Let's hope that sphere is indeed the inheritance of an Array Master," Wu Hong thought. Right now, the thing she desires the most is knowledge and information. As long as she has enough, the world will be her oyster. This world was strange, and without a better understanding of it, many of her plans could not be executed.

The next day, Long Aojing suddenly "remembered" where he had seen this artifact before offering it to Wu Hong. She played along and, after promising to share the knowledge of the Symbol Array Master — if this is indeed his legacy — she finally took the artifact back to her room.

"Is this a preliminary rune system?" Wu Hong thought. As a Rune Master, she could tell that once these symbols were placed in the right order, they would resonate with different powers in the surroundings and mobilize them, which was how many rune systems started across countless worlds in the Primordial Timeline.

"Words and symbols are the easiest way to mobilize energy. I knew it was odd that this civilization didn't develop even the most basic application," Wu Hong thought.

In her experience, most cultivation civilizations have runes because of the power of words. They might abandon their use at some point, but it was odd for it never to exist. And given how inefficient the current array system of this timeline was, the lack of a runic system appeared anomalous.

Wu Hong observed the symbols, not focusing on their meaning, but on the patterns. Runes, just like any language, have their own rules or grammar, and those rules are the foundation of any runic system. Through observing which energy the symbols resonate with and at which frequency, Wu Hong successfully found a pattern: "Chaos, Yin-Yang, and Five Elements — the foundation is pretty basic," Wu Hong thought. Once again, the foundation of this rune does not deviate too much from what she knows. So, Wu Hong immediately activated the symbols based on the pattern she had noticed. Unfortunately, nothing happened.

"Was I wrong?" She tried a second time with the same result, meaning she had missed something. So, Wu Hong observed more intently. She closed her eyes, feeling every fluctuation from the symbols, not missing the tiniest of changes.

"So, that's how it is," Wu Hong muttered. The subtle difference she missed was due to a fundamental difference in belief about creation. Most cultivators know or believe Primordial Chaos was born from [Nothingness]. However, the people of this timeline believe that [Nothingness] gave birth to a small breath, which then led to the creation of Primordial Chaos. That small breath is the first Qi, the origin of Qi, and the foundation of their entire civilization.

Wu Hong modified the symbols, taking that belief into account. As expected, the symbols lit up before the black sphere projected a coordinate along with some instructions. "That coordinate: is that the Source Qi Space?" Wu Hong double-checked, and she was right: the inheritance was hidden somewhere in this timeline's Source Qi Space.

…

"Fellow Daoist, are you sure I can't keep you for a few more days?" Long Aojing asked.

"I've found what I was searching for, so it's time to move on," Wu Hong calmly replied. "And don't worry, I will keep my promise."

"I don't doubt you. It's just that I feel like I wasn't a good enough host since you left so quickly."

"We live in a world where time cannot be wasted. So, farewell, fellow Daoist."

"True," Long Aojing sighed, no longer insisting. He led Wu Hong to the front door before watching her fly away. The mander's gaze remained in the spot where she disappeared for a long time.

"What? Still dreaming about her?" Nie Rouxin asked.

"Not at all," Long Aojing replied. "The three holy lands have been increasing their efforts on us. I'm wondering whether her appearance is a good or bad thing."

"So far, it has been positive."

"Do you think she could find the truth about the Destiny Hope Array?"

"I don't know," Nie Rouxin replied. "But would you dare let her try?"

"No, I wouldn't," the mander replied. Rumors have it that the array holds the secret of sanctification. And after so many years since the Saints' disappearance, everybody is desperate for a new one. As such, although the rumors haven't been verified, the central rulers did not hesitate to set their sights on the array and the Borderworlds.

After leaving the mander's manor, Wu Hong did not immediately leave the Sky Ocean World. Instead, she hid her aura, blended with Heaven and Earth, before taking a stroll around. The mander's manor was not the only place with a decent enough library. In fact, even after she left the Sky Ocean World, her destination was not immediately the Source Qi Space.

Instead, she traveled to many worlds on the border, trying to gather as much information as possible on the Symbol Array Master. The last thing Wu Hong wanted to deal with was a false inheritance with a trap and countless other problems. So, after verifying the information from numerous sources, she finally entered the Grand Construct.

"Hmm?" Wu Hong uttered as soon as she entered. A looming, eerie aura was easily noticeable all around. Something was odd about this timeline's Source Qi Space, and the empress immediately sensed it. Wu Hong observed clearly, trying to ascertain the difference.

"Is this place finite?" she thought. The Primordial Timeline's Source Qi Space was an infinite realm that passed through every Chaos World. Technically speaking, it was feasible for anyone to travel throughout the entire timeline using the Source Qi Space. However, it's so enormous that even Saints easily get lost.

But in this timeline, Wu Hong sensed the limit. In fact, after teleporting for half an hour, she reached the border of the Source Qi Space. Wu Hong frowned at what she saw: a towering barrier blocking a mass of red clouds.

"The destruction has even reached the Grand Constructs," she thought. "Is this what happened to the other constructs?" It's very likely that this world's mastery of the other constructs was subpar, which resulted in their destruction before someone created a feasible defensive plan.

Wu Hong approached the barrier, slightly curious. "It's shrinking," she thought. The red cloud was slowly eating at the barrier, and at this rate, it was only a matter of time before the power of destruction spread, eliminating the last bastion of safety this world had.

"The barrier is artificial, probably the creation of an array of some sort," Wu Hong thought as she placed her hand on it. "Indeed, it's from an array. It perfectly draws power from the Grand Dao Source and bines it with something else. What is it? Are those the hidden rules? So, that's how Saint Arrays are different from others."

Wu Hong was immediately intrigued, so she built a warning array around her before sitting down and prehending this array. There is no better teacher than an active array desperately fighting against a powerful foe. As such, Wu Hong swiftly lost herself in this new ocean of knowledge.