The Purgatory Calamity
Chapter 393 - 372 Universe Box_1

Chapter 393: Chapter 372 Universe Box_1

In the following days, Pang Jian stayed in Cloud Marsh.

The ancient trees that once rose into the air had already returned to their places by the Sapling’s power, and the vast marsh regained its former tranquility.

Without the need for painstaking mediation, relying solely on Pills and Strange Treasures, Li Yuqing’s condition also improved day by day.

Under the lush, dewy Sapling, chairs and tables were always present, and there was never a lack of various cooked meats and wine.

A young man and woman drinking and chatting under the tree, and the Spiritual Body form of the Corrosion Boundary Vine would occasionally chime in.

Pang Jian seldom stayed in Cloud Marsh for a long time, and she thoroughly enjoyed this rare peaceful period, which also made her treat Li Yuqing much better than before.

That day, Pang Jian talked about the grand event mentioned by The Observer, held once every hundred thousand years, encompassing many worlds.

"The True Gods of the First Realm and all major supreme powers, they actually have a sense," she said.

Li Yuqing, twisting the delicate silver wine pot and biting into a juicy peach, said, "Every opening of Purgatory is preceded by omens."

Pang Jian was surprised, "What omens?"

"The emergence of geniuses at several times the normal rate, and the acceleration of breaking through realms. Ferocious Beasts, them, and many other strange phenomena keep popping up." Li Yuqing looked towards the Sapling and shared a term Pang Jian had heard, "The ancient Alien Gods of the Outer Realm call Purgatory the God and Demon Training Field, the very first and earliest kind."

Pang Jian’s expression shifted, "I have also heard such claims."

"I don’t understand the specifics, only that our world is extremely special," Li Yuqing pondered and slowly continued, "In any case, whenever a surge of geniuses occurs, the older generation dies at an accelerated pace, and the turnover between old and new speeds up, Purgatory will open not long after."

"Accompanying that, the Alien Gods will turn their gaze and attention towards Purgatory. Alien Tribe powerhouses and the sinister hidden in the shadows will step out one by one, and Purgatory will be thrown into severe turmoil."

"A stagnant peace cannot give birth to true powerhouses, nor can it spark innovation."

"Only through slaughter, chaos, death, and the harsh, oppressive environment of despair can more wonders burst forth, creating the strongest of a new epoch."

"Humans, Spirit Beasts, Alien Tribes, one after another, the strongest among them will be rapidly forged during this period."

"Perhaps, this is the unique aspect of the God and Demon Training Field."

Her eyes showing bitterness, she added, "Generation after generation of True Gods have ventured into the Mysterious Fog at great peril, feeling that the Purgatory known as the God and Demon Training Field was intentionally created by someone."

"Purgatory, from its existence, has been a massive prison, confining the living beings of heaven and earth."

She paused, then added, "As for the once-in-a-hundred-thousand-years grand event you mentioned, our Human Race might not have experienced it yet. Because our history of rising to power is still less than a hundred thousand years."

"But..."

She thought hard, then said, "You and me, as well as Zhou Yi, Fan Chen, Liou Youyu—these people who at a young age have the cultivation of the Soul Wandering Realm—is highly unreasonable when viewed at previous time points."

Pang Jian was shocked, "Are we benefiting from a colossal change in the Purgatory World?"

"Yes, and an unprecedented one at that!"

Li Yuqing took a deep breath, earnestly saying, "According to the records of the Li Family, even in previous openings of Purgatory, there was not such an exaggerated emergence of young high-level Cultivators like us, as if it’s forcing the older generation to abdicate."

"In past eras, advancing to the Soul Wandering Realm before the age of a hundred was extremely rare, reserved for geniuses."

"Now, you and I, along with the others, can step into the Soul Wandering Realm at around thirty, something the older generation wouldn’t dare to dream of."

"At present, the True Gods standing at the peak of battle power are mostly dazzling geniuses who emerged during the opening era of the previous Purgatories."

"And our emergence can no longer be explained by miracles; they could be called divine signs."

Li Yuqing, with a distant gaze, looked up at the dark sky forever shrouded by thick Lead Cloud, where the light of the sun and moon would never shine.

She murmured as if in a dream, "There seems to be some divine order above the Mysterious Fog, controlling all worlds within it and writing new Chapters and rules."

With her intelligence and broad knowledge accessed through the Li Family, she could come to such realizations.

Pang Jian took a swig of alcohol, frowning deeply.

At this moment, he couldn’t help recalling what Sun Bin had expected of Pang Lin before leaving with her—that she should ascend to the Hollow Profound within a hundred years.

Clearly, Sun Bin was viewing Pang Lin with the traditional mindset.

In his eyes back then, Pang Lin, with her innate Thunder Vortex, was considered an excellent Cultivation seed, yet she might not compare to a monstrous talent like Li Yuqing.

That Pang Lin, Sun Bin felt it would be reasonable for her to reach Hollow Profound in a hundred years.

Later, thanks to the voluntary allegiance of the Heaven Phoenix Divine Bone, Pang Lin’s potential soared even further.

But now, after his trials in the Absolute Sky Forbidden Land, Pang Jian had far exceeded the Hollow Profound Realm, and Pang Lin likely wasn’t far behind.

Pang Jian pondered, his voice deep, "Are you saying that the times are shaping us?"

"Right, we’ve caught up with a time that’s the worst but also the best," Li Yuqing smiled slightly, saying, "The worst because the situation we’re facing will be more perilous than any era before. After all, in the past, there’s never been a scenario where Alien Clan directly flooded into Purgatory."

"Even less likely is the direct descent of Alien Gods in their true forms."

"As for whether more terrifying situations will arise later, no one can be sure."

"The best-case scenario is that we are growing at a rate that the older generation could never achieve, so that even if they fall, we will be able to quickly take their place. Moreover, once we become true gods, we should be stronger than the older generation!"

"The only way out for the older generation lies beyond the heavens, where they must face the blockades and encirclements of the alien gods from the outer realms."

Li Yuqing, who knew more insider information, sighed endlessly.

"The way out is only beyond the heavens? Is it not possible without leaving?" Pang Jian asked, puzzled.

"No."

Li Yuqing shook her head, her face solemn, and seriously answered the question, "The succession of the old and new true gods is imperative! The emerging ones like you and me, as well as some others, have even greater potential and abilities. When we successfully attain godhood, we will definitely surpass them, significantly enhancing the overall strength of the true gods of Purgatory!"

"Only if the combat power of the newly born true gods surges massively will we be able to face the rigorous conditions of Purgatory."

"And they..."

Li Yuqing fell silent for a moment before saying, "There is a limit to the number of godhoods. If they do not leave and depart from Purgatory, they are simply occupying the spots of godhood, blocking the path for those who follow."

"If they do not break out of Purgatory, new gods cannot emerge in large numbers. During peaceful times, this might not be a problem."

"But now, the alien tribes are rising up, bolstered by the invasion of the Filth Alien Power, and they have the cooperation of the alien gods from the Outer Domain. If they stay in Purgatory without being able to break through their own limits, while also occupying the godhood spots meant for the next generation of stronger true gods, their refusal to leave... would lead to the extinction of the Purgatory human tribe."

"So, this time, they must leave even if they do not wish to."

Li Yuqing spoke this shocking and cruel truth.

Pang Jian also looked up at the sky in a state of emotional upheaval.

His master Pu Zhaotian had never told him about this insider information, that there was a limit to the godhood in Purgatory, nor had he detailed the insurmountable problems faced by the true gods.

In the Outer Star River, due to the destruction of the Hall of Gods by the Human True God, the gods have been intercepting all true gods who step out of Purgatory.

A true god, at the moment of breaking through the Heaven Forbidden, must face the battle with resilience.

To step out of Purgatory is to court death nine out of ten times, fraught with grave dangers.

If they do not leave, they block the path of the rise of the subsequent stronger true gods. If they do not vacate godhood, then new true gods cannot forge their own Divine Tao.

Without the rise of stronger new true gods, they might not be able to handle the severe situation in Purgatory well, which could lead to the disappearance of the human race from Purgatory.

"I never thought that even the true gods, who reign supreme over Purgatory, also have their difficulties," muttered Pang Jian. He then added, "No wonder, the council of true gods lasted so long recently."

He could imagine a group of ancient beings, gathered together with furrowed brows.

"Oh, by the way, what do you know about the Heavenly Tribulation Pillars? There was a Copper Box in Bagua City, remember?" Pang Jian changed the subject and asked.

Li Yuqing exclaimed, "What do you want to know about the Universe Box for?"

"That thing, it isn’t on you, is it?"

Her gaze suddenly sharpened.

Pang Jian hastily shook his head in denial, "Just asking!"

"There are seven Heavenly Tribulation Pillars, with seven suppressive items, but I only know that the Universe Box is the most important, I do not remember the names of the others." Li Yuqing frowned, thought for a moment, and said, "My father told me that the Universe Box can reach the heavens above and connect to the endless darkness below, and contains the cosmos within it."

"That’s why it is called the Universe Box."

"This item..."

She hesitated slightly before saying, "It is said to be the suppressive item left by a mysterious Realm God when the seven Heavenly Tribulation Pillars were successfully forged."

"It is because of the disappearance of this item that the seven Heavenly Tribulation Pillars of the Fifth Realm have gradually developed problems."

"It is the most crucial part of the Heavenly Tribulation Pillars, more key than the other six items combined."

"My first journey to the Lower Realm was also to find the Universe Box, intending to bring it back to Bagua City. Unfortunately, even if we got the Universe Box now, it would be too late."

She sighed helplessly.

Pang Jian remained silent, his thoughts whirling.

From Li Yuqing’s words, he finally understood why, when he had the "Gate of Prison" and entered it, he could look up at the Outer Domain Galaxy; and without using the "Gate of Prison," it seemed as if he was in the endless darkness beneath Purgatory.

So, the Universe Box was also a legacy of the Realm God.

The two had always been deeply connected!

He made up his mind then and there that about the Copper Box, about the bronze medallion, he absolutely couldn’t say another word to Li Yuqing, lest the true gods of the world above blame him for the alien tribe’s surging up.

"If the box hadn’t disappeared, could all this have been avoided?" Pang Jian weakly asked again.

Li Yuqing shook her head, "It’s unavoidable. Even without the disappearance of the Universe Box, other events would occur. For beings who are beyond the Mysterious Fog and have defined Purgatory as a God and Demon Training Field, since the once-in-a-hundred-thousand-years event has arrived."

"Then, everything that is happening now, is still destined to happen."

...