691 Before the Migration

This is the first time I’m reviving low-dimensional lifeforms, Xu Jingming thought. As a high-dimensional lifeform, he had observed the River of Spacetime countless times and had a deep understanding of it. In fact, he needed to possess a profound comprehension of the river’s intricacies to create an inner universe.

Buzz!

With a single thought, Xu Jingming’s inner universe spread out, forcing the River of Spacetime to appear.

This is just this universe’s River of Spacetime. He peered at the countless amber-like figures floating in the river and noted, It holds low-dimensional lifeforms, so this River of Spacetime is naturally very weak.

The River of Spacetime was divided into levels.

In a universe, it contained all the low-dimensional life imprints that had died in that universe.

But a dominion-level River of Spacetime was even mightier, containing not only low-dimensional life imprints but also those of high-dimensional lifeforms that had perished in that dominion.

“Reviving high-dimensional lifeforms in a dominion-level River of Spacetime requires a third-realm being,” Xu Jingming thought.

Legend has it that there’s also a River of Spacetime in high-dimensional space that contains imprints of the dead, including third-realm beings, Xu Jingming thought. Then, he looked at the universe’s River of Spacetime before him. But for now, I’m only capable of reviving low-dimensional lifeforms.

Having read the name list, Xu Jingming quickly locked onto the floating amber figures in the River of Spacetime.

“Out!”

With a powerful surge of his inner universe, he forcefully ‘grabbed’ the amber figures, which floated to the side before waking up.

“They are revived just like that?” Primordial One, Whitejail, and Sherwood watched in amazement as Xu Jingming easily revived the low-dimensional lifeforms. From their perspective, the River of Spacetime was vast and complex, and it was not easy to stir up any commotion.

But Deputy Dean Xu Jingming sat calmly in front of the drawing board, stripping away the amber figures from the river without any obstruction.

We’ve watched the dean, Tower Master, and Island Lord carry out revivals, but it was never that easy, they thought to themselves.

But how would they know?

The dean and the others used consciousness carriers to carry out the revivals. They couldn’t travel in person due to the high frequency of the revivals. It took them a long time to complete the trip.

Thanks to the Heart Realm, those from the lineage were like psychic beings, able to teleport and descend in distant areas.

A universe’s River of Spacetime is indeed the weakest. Xu Jingming truly found it incredibly weak. It lacked consciousness and acted solely on instincts, making it vulnerable.

Any high-dimensional lifeform could enter, but they had to withstand the rejection and suppression for a brief period of time.

To stay here for extended periods, they would need to either reduce the pressure they exerted or provide some benefits to reduce the repulsion.

“I was revived too? I didn’t make enough contributions.”

“I was actually revived.”

Many of the revived candidates were disqualified in the past, having failed to qualify for the revival.

“Thank you, Deputy Dean,” some of the revived Origin lifeforms bowed respectfully, while others wondered.

“Deputy Dean?”

“Who’s this black-robed man?”

“Why haven’t I seen him before?”

These ancient beings had been brought back to life from tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, or even millions of years ago.

Xu Jingming sat motionless before his drawing board, peering at the horde of Origin lifeforms who bowed before him in reverence. “The earliest Origin lifeforms revived were from more than ten million years ago. In the past, you lacked the qualifications to be revived, but the human race has reached a turning point… Therefore, I decided to revive all of you.”

“Primordial One, make arrangements for these ancient Origin lifeforms,” Xu Jingming instructed.

“As you command, Deputy Dean,” replied Primordial One with a respectful bow.

As soon as Primordial One ushered the Origin lifeforms away—

Xu Jingming’s thoughts drifted to the migration to a new universe that lay ahead. “We need a sufficient number of Origin lifeforms to maintain stability. It’s crucial to invest heavily in the early stages and cultivate as many powerhouses as possible.”

Moving to an unfamiliar universe was no easy feat for high-dimensional lifeforms like him. They had to stand firm and take root, while grooming the low-dimensional human race to produce more cosmic legends. Who knows, they might even be able to nurture a new high-dimensional lifeform, which would be a most welcome surprise.

This was a special time, as the human race’s revival requirements were at an all-time low. As long as they showed promise or possessed great strength, they could be revived.

…

“I’ve been dead for more than eight million years, but my family has completely declined.”

“Where’s my family? It’s gone?”

“The family actually completely declined and split into dozens of branches.”

One after another, Origin lifeforms learned of their family’s shattered state. The relatives they once knew, the ones they held dear, were long gone. It was a devastating realization.

Some families remained prosperous because they had other Origin lifeforms.

******

On a planet that looked like a postcard come to life.

Xu Jingming and Li Miaomiao sat in a fancy restaurant, savoring their luxurious lunch.

Suddenly, Li Miaomiao’s gaze fell on the projection in front of her, and she gasped. “Jingming, the Void Celestials have announced their plan to migrate to a new universe! They’ll take all Origin lifeforms and cosmic lifeforms, but only one-tenth of planetary lifeforms will make the cut. There will be two more screenings, one in a thousand years, and another in the following thousand years, where they’ll select one-tenth each time. Of course, all Origin lifeforms and cosmic lifeforms will be taken away each round.”

“Three rounds of screening, one-tenth each time!” Xu Jingming nodded slightly. “They’re picking the cream of the crop through eugenics. The Void Celestials have the power to relocate all life, but they’re still conducting a screening.”

“Eugenics?” Li Miaomiao fell into thought.

“This is what I learned from watching the Void Celestial territory,” Xu Jingming explained. “Choose one-tenth of the most outstanding ones. In a thousand years, the older batch of planetary lifeforms will have long died, and another one-tenth will be selected from the few generations that come after. In another thousand years, another one-tenth will be selected. The species formed this way… will be better overall than in the past.”

Li Miaomiao nodded. “But what about those who stay in the dominion? Will they simply be given up?”

Xu Jingming sighed heavily.

“We humans will also be migrating,” he said, his voice low and serious. “Our migration ratio is far lesser than that of the Void Celestials.”

“What?” Li Miaomiao was surprised.

Her husband was one of the four high-dimensional Eternal lifeforms and the guardian of the species. What he said… was probably the final decision of the few high-dimensional human lifeforms.

“Preparations have already begun,” Xu Jingming continued, his voice laced with regret. “Unfortunately, the dean, I, and the others are limited and are far inferior to the Void Celestials’ high-dimensional lifeforms. The ratio of the people we can bring with us is naturally very low.”

“How low?” Li Miaomiao asked.

“Very.” Xu Jingming didn’t elaborate further.

How many percent could he transport using the Spacetime Prison? Xu Jingming had to make multiple trips to move just the cosmic lifeforms.

Li Miaomiao fell silent.

“Miaomiao, keep this a secret for the time being,” Xu Jingming said.

“Do we have to migrate?” Li Miaomiao asked.

“Definitely.” Xu Jingming nodded. “Even the Void Celestials have migrated. You should understand that this universe is hopeless.”

“The universe is hopeless?” Li Miaomiao nodded and didn’t say anything.

Xu Jingming was also in a bad mood.

They could only migrate a very, very few people. As high-dimensional lifeforms, they were incompetent.

Even if Xu Jingming didn’t mind the fatigue of repeatedly traveling back and forth, he could only ensure that he brought with him all the cosmic lifeforms.

As for the planetary lifeforms? Their reproduction speed was many times faster than him.

…

Heart Realm territory, in the beast hide space.

Xu Jingming wandered through the maze, studying the mesmerizing depths of the illusory realms.

My strength has hit a wall, Xu Jingming muttered to himself. The Eight Directions Map is a useful tool, but it’s just a tool. Red Lotus Fire and Three Threads of the Heart Realm are the only techniques that can push me to the next level. The Three Threads of the Heart Realm is mediocre compared to Red Lotus Fire; it can’t go beyond peak Eternal.

He scoffed at his own foolishness. I was too ambitious. I was lucky to have obtained Red Lotus Fire and forgot how precious a half-step third-realm legacy from the Heart Realm lineage is.

The dean and the others had only obtained a few half-step third-realm legacies. There was none from the Heart Realm lineage!

I can’t afford to buy one even if someone is willing to sell it, Xu Jingming thought.

His most prized possessions were the original Eight Directions Map and the beast hide space, and he wouldn’t part with them for any price. And the value of the other items was low.

I need to lower my standards.

The Three Threads of the Heart Realm isn’t too shabby, it being a complete legacy, Xu Jingming comforted himself. I can study the 300 illusory realms in this maze and incorporate them into the technique. That should elevate it to the next level.

As for what happens next…

Xu Jingming gazed out into the distance. It’s time to search for ruins on a large scale. This is zero cost; it’s suitable for a poor person like me!

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Strands of black lotus fire flew out and condensed into incarnations.

Many black lotus incarnations flew out of the Heart Realm and began flying into the distance in search of ruins.

Xu Jingming’s clones, spread out across 2,000 dominions, also sent out their own incarnations. A total of more than 10,000 black lotus incarnations began their carpet search.

It’s already quite a burden on my mind to maintain over 10,000 Black Lotus incarnations. Any more, and it will affect my comprehension of the legacies, Xu Jingming thought to himself, restraining the urge to create even more incarnations as he patiently carried out a search.

My greatest gain was from searching for ruins.

Almost every high-dimensional lifeform in the Heart Realm relies on searching for ruins to make a fortune.

I’ll also begin a large-scale search.

Xu Jingming was filled with anticipation.

He wasn’t in a hurry to begin cross-dominion trade. When the migration was complete, he could carry out some cross-dominion trade in peace.

Years passed.

The human race carried on with their mundane lives, oblivious to the grand designs of the universe. Xu Jingming, with over 10,000 black lotus incarnations, scoured the Heart Realm for ruins. Meanwhile, the Void Celestials next door were conducting their own search, their meticulous selection process unfolding over the course of millennia. The first batch would be chosen, followed by the second in a millennium, and the third in another.

Two thousand years elapsed like grains of sand slipping through fingers. The Void Celestial dominion completed their migration and selection, marking a new chapter in their existence.

And then, on one fateful day, a towering figure descended from the unknown corners of high-dimensional space and appeared in the human dominion.

The Progenitor actually wants me to come to the human race, Uke mused. The human race has really struck gold this time.