Chapter 112: The Technology-Driven Nation of Displaced Eras 27

The energy within Liao Changyun no longer clashed—not because he had cultivated a soul technique, but because the purification array had suppressed the demonic aura within him that once disturbed his mind. Yes, it was that simple. For this, he was deeply grateful to Mu Yin.

Mu Yin cared little for his thoughts; she merely insisted on accompanying him when dealing with the Bai family. In the end, she did join him, though she played little part. After all, Liao Changyun was now the Demon Lord, ruler of the Demon Palace.

The Demon Palace was filled with formidable experts. Previously, because Liao Changyun’s cultivation was unstable, they had held back from acting directly—if he showed weakness, those within the palace would have been the first to strike. Now, with that risk gone, and him as the palace lord with the highest power, he naturally dispatched subordinates to eliminate the Bai family and all their allied forces one by one.

Before absolute strength, all conspiracies were mere paper tigers. These pests only schemed secretly; though they had influence, they lacked true experts. Liao Changyun swiftly eradicated them.

Not only the Bai family but Bai Qiyun and Bai Qifei were also eliminated by Liao Changyun. With those pests gone, while the cultivation world was hardly harmonious, at least things had settled somewhat for the time being.

Though the demon realm’s gateways were not closed, protective barriers and purification arrays ensured peace within. Later, someone discovered a way to close most of these portals, leaving only one open.

This was because Mu Yin ultimately transmitted the purification array technique. Cultivators naturally wished to strengthen their souls; with soul pearls, their souls would not be gradually weakened, allowing reincarnation after death—a new path. For this reason, the cultivation world preserved a single gateway to the demon realm.

Mu Yin had stayed in this world long enough. She and Liao Changyun had once developed some feelings for each other, but Liao was suspicious by nature—perhaps because he could always hear others’ thoughts. Mu Yin’s initial intentions were not pure, and when he could no longer hear her thoughts, his suspicions grew. After several annoyances, Mu Yin withdrew, and they never truly united.

Liao Changyun was aware of his flaws. Though saddened by the breakup, he focused on cultivation, ascending to a higher realm after several years. Mu Yin did not continue cultivating; with Cao Lihua and her siblings well settled, she had no attachments and devoted herself to refining her soul and supernatural abilities, as well as forging her desired soul-bound storage space.

By then, Mu Yin had reached the Nascent Soul stage, which should have granted her a lifespan of a thousand years. In reality, she lived only fifty years beyond Liao Changyun’s ascension before passing quietly. Fortunately, she had long since perfected her supernatural abilities, extracting the core and integrating it into her soul through special means. Although less potent than her original creative power, it was sufficient.

She also forged a soul-bound storage space—not large, but filled ninety-nine percent with soul pearls. After all, she had only cultivated her soul to the third level before death, and the technique had nine levels in total. The first three levels alone consumed immense soul power, let alone the later stages.

Only a tiny fraction, about 0.1%, was reserved for other items—divine rune manuals, antidotes, and health-strengthening pills suitable even for mortals.

Mu Yin carried little, as other worlds might not allow their use. Like her supernatural power, if restricted by cosmic laws, she could not employ them.

This world underwent great changes with the advent of networks. Numerous inventions emerged in later eras, and despite a decline in spiritual energy during the waning period, the foundation prevented regression to a feudal mortal age. Instead, it transitioned directly into a technological era.

Additionally, although the demon realm’s portals were mostly sealed, connections to other worlds began to form. Eventually, during the decline, it linked with an interstellar realm, ushering in an age of space travel. Even the continent-shaped world gradually transformed into a vast sea of stars—an outcome Mu Yin had not anticipated.

Mu Yin left the cultivation world to recuperate on the River of Time and Space, adjusting her emotions and memories, settling her thoughts. The rewards from her recent mission were substantial—three to four times greater than previous ones—and her soul was strengthened. She harvested much.

Once her thoughts were fully settled, retaining what was necessary and discarding the rest, she began cultivating her supernatural abilities. This time, with sufficient core energy and a soul capable of sustaining it, she finally raised her ability to the third level and stabilized it.

Checking her home world, she found the cosmic laws had begun to stabilize. As she prepared to return, she was unexpectedly repelled—an unprecedented occurrence.

Calming herself, she attempted to enter other worlds, but each barred her. She could not open any spatial gates, as if all worlds rejected her. A foreboding sense took hold, prompting her to act.

“Eh, how did you end up here? Did you fall in accidentally?” a voice suddenly spoke.

“Who’s there?” Mu Yin, startled to hear another’s voice here, immediately grew alert. Turning, she saw a familiar figure standing on the River of Time and Space—one of the combatants from before.

A deep revulsion welled within her. Despite the man’s unparalleled handsomeness and powerful aura, the loathing that pierced her soul made her instinctively recoil. “You’re a task agent wandering outside the Lord God Realm, aren’t you? I am the Lord God of that realm. Come with me; I will take you there.”

“No, I’m fine as I am,” Mu Yin replied, drawing out her Time-Space Key, ready to defend herself.

“That won’t do. Your actions violate the order of time and space. Only through the Lord God Realm is it legitimate,” the man said, reaching out to seize her.

Mu Yin immediately activated all her supernatural power to unleash the Time-Space Key’s ability.

This was the first time since her rebirth she had used the key’s power. The Time-Space Key could manipulate and reverse time, a power she had granted when creating it. Limited in her abilities, the key was only a prototype.

Previously, it had been used to open spatial gates and reverse the original owner’s time. Now, she had to truly wield its power. This man was the Lord God, but the profound loathing made her certain she could not fall into his hands.

The key emitted a radiant glow. Its time-reversing power caused the river to flow backward, colliding with the forward flow, stirring furious waves that engulfed them both and dragged them beneath the surface. The man was injured and fled, while Mu Yin sank deep into the riverbed.

Her soul, cleansed by the river’s currents, became thinner yet clearer. In a hazy vision, Mu Yin saw a scene:

Two figures sat playing chess. One was human, like herself. The other resembled an octopus with a human face—clearly not human. The board was unique, appearing as a nebula formed by countless glowing spheres. The human’s side shone green, the octopus’s red.

Each side’s pieces moved into the other’s board, engaging in a game of plunder and harvest. More and more spheres turned to the opponent’s color. The human’s board was over half red, while only a third of the octopus’s was green.

“You’re about to lose this game,” the octopus said to the human.

“Skill falls short,” the human replied with a smile, seemingly unconcerned by victory or defeat. Several similar nebula clusters floated nearby, all larger than the one serving as the board.