Ch. 379 - Lord of Bliss

As the man’s figure gradually faded away, Xu Zimo calmed his emotions. The endless darkness around him also began to retreat. His figure reappeared on the mountaintop outside the mural. The murals, crafted from some unknown material, had completely shattered into dust.

A cool breeze blew atop the mountain, and the air carried a faint chill. Xu Zimo stepped into the air, leaving the mountaintop behind. This experience had brought him great gains, but also a deeper understanding of the Infernal Lord. He didn’t believe in fate. Since the start of the new Epoch, he had been different from everyone else. His destiny had always been firmly in his own hands.

The murals on the mountaintop seemed to be the core of that world. When they shattered, the entire space also began to fracture. Eventually, the world shook violently. With a sharp crack, the entire space shattered like a mirror.

Xu Zimo’s body returned to the small gate where he had originally entered the teleportation array. The teleportation array before him also disappeared completely. Paimon stood nearby, waiting respectfully.

"Where’s Demon Slave?" Xu Zimo asked.

"That was only a remnant of his obsession. His true self died before the collapse of the last epoch," Paimon replied. "When this space shattered, his obsession naturally dissipated."

"Exactly what kind of race is the Ancient Demon Race?" Xu Zimo asked softly, gazing at the blood moon above.

"We are just fighting our own fate," Paimon said calmly. "But many want us to stay content with our current state, to accept the judgment of fate. It's laughable."

Xu Zimo didn’t speak again and began retracing his steps. The Blissful Nation was now eerily quiet. In the corridor etched with demonic creatures, the blue-robed man who had led Xu Zimo here now sat quietly at the railing, his figure blending into the surrounding blood mist. If one didn’t look closely, it was hard to even see him.

Soft footsteps echoed through the silent corridor. Xu Zimo walked forward step by step and asked the blue-robed man, "Who are you?"

"Name? It's been too long, I’ve almost forgotten," the man shook his head. "Just call me the Lord of Bliss."

"What’s your connection to the Ancient Demon Race?" Xu Zimo asked.

"A promise. I made a promise to the Infernal Lord," the Lord of Bliss replied with a smile. "To find the new genepochtion’s Infernal Lord. That mission is now complete."

"I want to know the purpose of the Blissful Nation," Xu Zimo asked.

If this man was from the same epoch as the previous Infernal Lord, then the Blissful Nation must have originated in the Blessed Epoch. How had they survived the destruction of that epoch?

"To live in drunken dreams and forget the world," the Lord of Bliss replied with a smile. "A group of people with no desire for worldly things, just wanting to enjoy the rest of their lives. Not seeking martial supremacy or eternal life, but simply the meaning of living."

"And what is the origin of these islands?" Xu Zimo asked, confused.

Countless islands floated on the Endless Sky Sea. These had existed since long, long ago. Tracing their origin might lead back to the age of ancient myths, or even earlier, before the Primordial Heartlands had split into five parts. These floating islands had already existed then.

The islands' origins were prehistoric and unsolvable, passed down like a mysterious fog. They all hinted at the islands’ extraordinary nature. But even now, no one had a definitive answer.

"Strictly speaking, these islands don’t belong to the Lightyear Epoch," the Lord of Bliss explained after a pause. "Long ago, when the Blessed Epoch was destroyed, many remnants floated in the Infinite Void. Later, when the Lightyear Epoch was established, many of those remnants drifted into the new epoch. That’s what you call the floating islands."

"Remnants of the Blessed Epoch," Xu Zimo murmured.

The ancient epoch had long since been destroyed, along with all its information. If someone from that time hadn’t told him this, no one would have connected it to the Blessed Epoch.

"Alright, now that you’ve obtained what you came for, it’s time for you to leave the Blissful Nation," the Lord of Bliss said, shaking his head. "This place only welcomes those who wish to indulge in bliss. But you, you still have many journeys ahead."

As he finished speaking, the blood-colored surroundings began to fade. The blood moon in the sky gradually lost its glow. The buildings around began to disappear, the palace, the corridors, and even the Lord of Bliss himself.

All of it vanished, as if everything had been a dream.

When Xu Zimo came to his senses, he found himself standing in the small grove from before. The sky had cleared. Sunlight shone down on the island, the air warm and gentle. The remains of the campfire at his feet were still smoking.

Xu Zimo looked up slightly. The carriage from before brushed past him and rolled into the distance. The driver was still chanting:

"Yellow Springs River, Flower of the Other Shore. On the path of the underworld, all is empty..."

The melodious singing drifted farther and farther away until it vanished from sight.

Xu Zimo smiled faintly.

"This world really is getting more and more interesting."

Just as he was thinking this, a deafening beast roar suddenly echoed from afar. The roar was savage, shaking the heavens and earth. The sheer force of it made the ground tremble.

Xu Zimo’s gaze sharpened. He stepped into the air, leaping off the withered trees around him, flying toward the direction of the beast’s roar.

In the distance, waves of energy rippled through the air. Explosions rumbled. Trees collapsed, forming a vacuum zone in the forest.

From afar, Xu Zimo could barely see a massive figure howling toward the sky. He quickly moved toward it.

When he arrived, he saw devastation everywhere. Dozens of mangled corpses lay on the ground. Craters covered the surroundings.

At the center, a huge monster was roaring violently. Dozens of people were fighting it, trying to wear it down.

Though Xu Zimo couldn’t determine the monster’s realm, its strength was overwhelming. Each of its claws carried terrifying force. The people around it could barely survive a single blow.

Xu Zimo studied it carefully. He realized it was a creature he had never seen before. Neither in reality nor legend had there ever been such a beast.

Its entire body was a dark purple-brown, and behind it stretched a pair of wings that could blot out the sky.

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