Just like the outside world, this so-called "Pure Land" was nothing but a vast, endless expanse of white mist, appearing utterly unremarkable.

However, the moment he stepped inside, that desire-stirring, soul-caressing Jìmì Fēng (Nirvana Wind) vanished without a trace. Here, his spirit felt as if it were submerged in a strangely warm and gentle river, granting him profound comfort throughout his entire being.

An incredibly subtle ripple suddenly approached him from all directions, surging into his mind in an instant. In that brief moment, some kind of imprint settled within his consciousness, making him intimately aware of everything in this place.

It was as if he had entered the Tàixū Huànjìng (Illusory Void Realm); he seemed capable of commanding everything within it.

With a mere shift of thought, a massive flat expanse materialized from the swirling white fog. As his awareness evolved, rivers began to sprout from this land, mountains rose into view, and flora and trees began to emerge.

A vibrant, living world formed out of nothing in an incredibly short span of time.

Cut.

He felt like the sovereign of this world, able to fathom every facet of it at will. He was the god of this domain, the master of all its laws.

It was an indescribably wondrous sensation.

Closing his eyes, Ji Changkong carefully absorbed the marvelous feelings welling up inside him, losing track of time and forgetting everything. Within his Sea of Souls, he began to sketch the contours of everything here, roaming this space, taking in all knowledge of this domain into the deepest part of his heart.

After an indeterminate time, Ji Changkong abruptly awoke.

Lingmeng had already appeared within this created space. Frowning slightly, she said calmly, "You have already obtained the master control imprint of the Pure Land?"

"What?" Ji Changkong was surprised.

A voice rang out. "Whoever enters the Pure Land first is most likely to gain control of it!" It was Zihan’s voice. A flash of light appeared, and Zihan, looking distinctly unwell, also entered the domain.

"I don't understand what you mean," Ji Changkong shook his head.

"The Pure Land is the purest region of the Heart of the Cosmos, utterly unpolluted. Before anyone had ever set foot in it, all of our respective universes began merely as a single Pure Land. It was only after beings ventured in that the great stars gradually evolved and life emerged. The first being to enter and control the Pure Land becomes its master," Lingmeng replied, hesitating slightly and seemingly unwillingly.

"You mean the myriad universes in this Chaotic Sea of Boundaries slowly evolved from a Pure Land?" Ji Changkong asked uncertainly.

"Mmm," Lingmeng nodded.

Her answer filled Ji Changkong with utter astonishment. He stared blankly at the vast continent that had sprung forth purely from his thoughts, and the plants and trees upon it. For a moment, he felt as if he were trapped in a dream, experiencing a sense of unreality.

"Stop dawdling. Seal the Pure Land. Lock down every fluctuation that connects to the outside world, and be sure to shut the pathway we used to enter tightly, otherwise those liquid metal beings will track us down," Zihan scoffed.

"How do I do that?"

"You know how!"

Ji Changkong paused again, then closed his eyes, sinking once more into that strange state. Within his Sea of Souls, he projected everything contained within this space.

All knowledge pertaining to this world gradually surfaced in his mind. Under the influence of his power, this world began to change slowly. The strange powers constantly surging through this world were gradually weakened, and bit by bit, all fluctuations were sealed within a very small area.

A bizarre, sunken area flashed in his Sea of Souls. With a thought, he immediately recognized it as the entrance connected to the Heart of the Cosmos, because various strange powers were attempting to penetrate from within.

Just as Ji Changkong prepared to seal that spot, a wave of spatial distortion erupted from it. The next instant, a completely exhausted Aosuos burst forth and immediately shrieked, "I'm out! I made it!"

"Quick! Seal the entrance!" Lingmeng cried out urgently, sensing imminent danger.

No longer hesitating, Ji Changkong held his breath, centering his spirit, adjusting his mental focus to its utmost clarity. Only one thought remained in his mind: Seal everything.

It was profoundly strange.

Under his command, the entrance connecting to the outside world seemed to be violently severed by a sharp blade. All the marvelous energies from the exterior vanished in an instant.

"Good work!" Lingmeng finally breathed a sigh of relief. "You did well. That way, those liquid metal figures won't be able to detect us."

"We can't leave immediately," Zihan said helplessly. "Those fellows are definitely still searching for us outside. We have to stay in this Pure Land for a while."

"That would be for the best," Ji Changkong smiled happily.

Since entering the Chaotic Sea of Boundaries, he had to remain constantly vigilant against omnipresent dangers. Tongtian Guimu (Heaven-Piercing Ghost Mother) had given him the newly refined Tongshen Pill (Spirit Attaining Pill) before he entered, but until now, he hadn't had the chance to consume it.

The Chaotic Sea of Boundaries held all manner of perils. He had been forced to keep the Tongshen Pill stored away because he thought he would never find an opportunity. Now, having entered this Pure Land, he finally could take the pill and elevate his strength once more.

Here, he knew there were experts from other universes. Lingmeng and Zihan alone were beyond his current capability to handle, let alone the even more formidable liquid metal beings accompanying them.

With so many masters existing in the Chaotic Sea of Boundaries, he didn't know how he could continue his journey without sufficient self-preservation capabilities.

Evidently, by being the first to enter this Pure Land and being incredibly fortunate enough to become its master, he could now cultivate in peace, without constant caution. As long as they hadn't found the source, neither Zihan nor Lingmeng would turn against him. This was a rare, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"It has to be this way," Lingmeng also nodded reluctantly, then added, "Let's all stay here for a while to recover properly, or perhaps re-contemplate our recent experiences; there might be a breakthrough. When the time comes, I will let you know, and then we will leave from here."

"Good!" Ji Changkong was the first to agree. Then he said, "I will arrange places for everyone!"

With a shift of thought, three more massive continents suddenly appeared within the vast emptiness. Mountains, lakes, flowers, and trees rapidly sprang up on these lands as well—three more vibrant, living continents.

The four continents were separated by a thousand li, segmented by strange barriers. If anyone tried to cross a barrier, Ji Changkong would immediately sense it through telepathy.

"One continent each. Let's not cross boundaries until Lingmeng gives the word," Ji Changkong said with a smile.

Zihan snorted and voluntarily flew toward the nearest continent, soon coming to a halt on its surface.

Lingmeng smiled faintly, saying nothing much, and similarly settled on another continent. "Thank you for letting me in." With that, she also departed.

Ji Changkong surveyed his surroundings. Seeing that the three of them had taken their positions on the lands he had constructed, he established mental barriers between the continents, finally relaxing. He then sat down cross-legged himself.

The Tongshen Pill suddenly materialized in his palm. After being refined anew by Tongtian Guimu, the pill possessed a strange amber color, within which thin, luminous strands flowed like small rivers. The pill was the size of a longan fruit, exuding a delicate fragrance that made it difficult for Ji Changkong to control his senses as soon as it appeared in his hand.

Fearing that Tongtian Guimu might have played a trick, he released his divine sense and slowly probed the Tongshen Pill for a time. Aided by the marvelous sensing power of the Tàixū Mìlù (Grand Void Secret Record), he meticulously examined the added strands of energy within the pill and finally confirmed that the new energies were beneficial and harmless.

He then summoned Ji Du (Ji Poison) and asked directly, "Sense it. See if there are any harmful toxins present."

Ji Du emerged, emitting a grain-of-rice-sized mote of light that drifted through the Tongshen Pill. It confirmed, "None."

Only then did Ji Changkong relax. He instructed Ji Du, "Keep an eye on those three. I need to cultivate for a while."

"No problem." Ji Du nodded.

Ji Changkong finally closed his eyes slowly and swallowed the Tongshen Pill whole. The pill instantly dissolved upon contact, and threads of potent medicinal energy flowed into his abdomen, spreading through all his blood vessels and rapidly permeating his internal organs.

A surge of spiritual energy erupted from his throat. Suddenly, all seven hundred and twenty acupoints within Ji Changkong's body lit up simultaneously. At a glance, he resembled a sky full of stars, arranged in a pattern that flowed according to a specific trajectory.

The Tongshen Pill was inherently fierce, and after being re-refined by Tongtian Guimu with special medicinal ingredients, its potency seemed even more terrifying. As soon as the medicinal power dispersed, Ji Changkong felt a dull ache in his meridians and a strange illusion that his body was about to swell.

Instantly realizing the sheer strength of the Tongshen Pill's effects, without further hesitation, Ji Changkong quickly transformed into the form of the Purgatory Ghost Clan—his body covered in dense scales. The blood flowing within him, which had turned into blood crystals, seemed to fuse, making his body function like a great smelting furnace, re-refining his viscera and bones.

The pain arrived as expected, making him feel agonizingly uncomfortable, as if he were being burned alive. Ji Changkong gritted his teeth, enduring the agony, and began circulating the power within him. In his Sea of Souls, the divine abilities within the seven-colored Soul Imprints that he had not yet fully integrated suddenly became clear and lucid.

The Six Body Divine Abilities began to fuse again. Under the power of the Tàixū Mìlù, these six abilities intertwined, seemingly on the verge of creating a new Chaotic Profundity.

The Tàixū Mìlù could fuse any power, fuse the rules of any power, thereby creating new and stronger applications of profound meaning!

On the two distant continents, Zihan and Lingmeng suddenly opened their eyes; their gazes were incredibly bright.

A thousand li separated them, yet Lingmeng and Zihan exchanged a look—a strange glance filled with meaning—then the corners of their mouths lifted slightly, both displaying smiles that suggested everything was proceeding exactly as planned.

A: Just one chapter today, apologies. U