Dual Cultivation God Returns

Chapter 444 The World Beyond

Wu Long chuckled, happy to see both Lian Zhiqiu and Hua Ziyan benefited from his enlightenment even if not to the extent he did, and excited for the glimpse of the secrets of the Dao Rune he managed to peek at.

"What... what was that sound?"

Hua Ziyan carefully asked and he shook his head.

"I don't know. I never heard something like that either. I had sudden enlightenments before, and saw people in that condition, but never like that"

He was quite surprised as well, as he could hear that chanting as well, or, more exactly, that chanting was in a way the source of his enlightenment as most of the new comprehensions he had came from listening to it.

The only time he could hear the chanting that was similar was when Nie Changsheng's Soul Sea shattered and he could see the Dao Runes within. But both the runes and chanting strangely gave him a different feeling.

He could not quite put his finger on it, though, as it was only a vague feeling. But then again, all of this was an uncharted territory as far as Wu Long knew, so not really knowing what was the difference, or what was the meanings behind these phenomena was not anything surprising.

"Hah, I was worried I would be a country bumpkin, but if even you don't know I guess me not knowing is nothing embarrassing"

Lian Zhiqiu chuckled as she also waited for the reply.

"Hahaha, there is nothing embarrassing in not knowing what you never had the opportunity to learn, Zhiqiu. Although this fractured world has some legacies of the Seven Boundless Worlds, it ultimately lost the vast majority.

Not to mention, that even if this world was not fractured off from the rest, it is not located in the most prominent part"

Wu Long lightly caressed the beauty's side that he held as he spoke truthfully. Laughing at ignorance was only valid in his eyes if that ignorance was unjustified, like a fool who knew how to read standing in the library of the world's knowledge and remaining a fool forever.

"Prominent part? Is this world located in some outskirts?"

Hua Ziyan's eyes shone with curiosity as he nodded with a smile.

"Mm, you could call it that. The thing is, Seven Boundless Worlds has the number seven in it because each of the Boundless Worlds can be distinguished and thus its number is known.

As I learned first from the Tree Spirit, then confirmed with Old Man Zhao, and was suspecting before, we are located in the very first of those, called the Boundless Mortal World"

"Mortal... does that mean that there are no immortals in it?"

Lian Zhiqiu's curiosity also was piqued as she looked at him.

"Indeed, the highest realm most cultivators could achieve in the Boundless Mortal World is the first Major Realm of the Seven Profound Realms, the Essence Awakening Realm, with very few exceptions who can reach the second one"

Wu Long nodded, turning his gaze up at the night sky.

"Everything you see from here is the Boundless Mortal World. It is called Boundless because there are no known boundaries to it, and no one knows how many small, minor and major worlds it consists of"

"Wait, so a Boundless World is a collective of worlds like this one?"

"Correct, it is an intricately connected web of worlds that float in the Great Void, some worlds being connected with one world only, and others with dozens at the same time"

"So... in order to reach a certain minor world you first have to learn which worlds are connected to it?"

"Yes, there are maps commonly called 'Star Maps' which help navigate worlds that show which worlds are connected to which"

"But then, how can the boundaries not be known?"

"Well, to be exact, all of the territory our civilization occupies is known, though incredibly large, and in case of the Boundless Mortal World which boasts the largest territory so much so that it is almost impossible to completely travel in the lifetime of someone who lives here, but the worlds we live in are not all there is as the connections to more worlds continue far beyond what we explored.

The worlds in each of the Boundless Worlds that are not occupied by our civilization are collectively called 'The Great Wilderness', while the worlds bordering them are called 'Frontier Worlds'..."

He lightly chuckled to his memories as the two beauties in his arms also looked up at the stars in wonder, the water making a very subtle tranquil sound that made their conversation seem even more peaceful.

"And... no one knows what is there outside?"

"Haha, the Frontier Worlds are actually quite lively, especially in higher Boundless Worlds, sometimes even more than what is considered to be central parts. Business is prospering and there is always influx of people who wish to experience the Great Wilderness.

There are people who venture outside seeking new discoveries or simply for luck, some returning after finding great fortune and rising to prominence, though most are forever lost, swallowed by the dangers of the unknown.

There are even entire colonies that settle in new territories and expand the boundaries of our civilization further and becoming new Frontier Worlds, as the ones that they leave behind the line of the boundary start to dry up and decay, only living by as the transit between the new Frontier World and the rest of our civilization"

As Wu Long talked, a distant look with a smile appeared on his face.

"Your voice sounds nostalgic"

Lian Zhiqiu smiled as her curiosity was even more teased by his expression.

"Heh, indeed. I have traveled into the Great Wilderness on many occasions from different Frontier Worlds throughout the Seven Boundless Worlds"

"Isn't that a bit reckless?"

"Hahaha, you are right, Ziyan. It was quite reckless. But then again nothing good should be easy to obtain. Taking great risks others did not is how I was able to rise above the limits my talent and background imposed"

Wu Long lightly laughed as he remembered the recklessness which on numerous occasions almost cost him everything, but brought him benefits that made him stand above his peers and heavenly geniuses alike.

The beauties sank into thoughts, while leaning on to him, their eyes full of wonder toward the world beyond and bliss of the moment.

'But... what was that feeling?'

A thought ran through his mind as he settled down to continue their relaxed stay in the hot spring.

Amid his enlightenment, he felt a very subtle, almost imperceptible connection, as if something distant was beckoning him, resonating with his very soul.

That feeling was so fleeting that had he not grasped on to it, it would have been lost in all of the knowledge and comprehension he got from the enlightenment.

A light possibility appeared in his mind, but he could not guess why that would be the case, so he buried that thought for the time being.