Calamity of Tomorrow

Amidst the shifting shadows, Zhou Bai discovered that the scene before him grew increasingly dim, as if forever enveloped in darkness.

In his heart, he mused: 'What is this memory scene about? Why can I still witness such records even after the 64 hexagrams were cast into the void?'

...

The dim scene emerged.

A million years later.

In a mountain valley, beneath layers of intertwining formations, a group of Immortals pinched their hands into Dao gestures. As the power of the Primordial Spirit surged within them, they emitted strange waves.

The land, grass, trees, and clouds all around began to distort, forming vortex after vortex.

Wisps of black smoke emerged, being channeled into a square seal.

The pattern on the square seal seemed to come alive, and the surrounding gravity suddenly shifted, with the light twisting alongside.

An Immortal with hair as white as a child's sighed: "What exactly is this power? It seems as if it were spiritual force, capable of even driving an Immortal Artifact."

A female Immortal said: "The Immortals and gods of the past once mastered a terrifying Dao technique, capable of truly altering the heavens and the earth, even resisting the Heavenly Dao. Unfortunately, it was lost, and I have searched through every tome, but found no detailed records of such a technique."

The Immortal with hair like a child's said: "The techniques created by predecessors can naturally be reinvented by successors."

Another Immortal in the appearance of a youth said: "This power is omnipresent, yet as if infinite; truly astonishing."

Female Immortal: "It's because our previous Dao practice was insufficient, and our methods incorrect, that we couldn't perceive this power. Just like how the earliest mortals couldn't sense the existence of spiritual force."

The Immortal with childlike hair: "Even if used directly as spiritual force, this power is enough to benefit the world, ensuring our people never face the threat of a spiritual force shortage again."

Suddenly, he furrowed his brow, looking at the others and asked: "Did you hear any sound?"

The other Immortals puzzled: "What sound?"

The Immortal with hair as white as a child's heard no strange noise again, and he shook his head: "Nothing."

The Immortal youth laughed: "What should we call this power? Could it also be considered a form of spiritual force?"

The Immortal with childlike hair said: "It's utterly different from spiritual force."

"It is shapeless and intangible, yet omnipresent."

"To the extreme of emptiness, preserve true void."

A mysterious expression flashed across the face of the Immortal with childlike hair: "How about calling it the Void?"

...

The scene grew darker, as though inside a cave, forcing Zhou Bai to look intently, fearful of missing any critical details.

Two thousand years later.

On a desolate plain, an old man lay on the ground, and a youth knelt before him: "Master."

The old man struggled to say: "Dong Ming, the Void seeps through; a great calamity is approaching."

"You must go notify all the Daoist sects in the world."

"We must seal the Void and sever its connection with our world."

"Otherwise, the Heavenly Dao will distort, and all creatures under the heavens will…"

...

In an ever-darkening scene, the youth Dong Ming traveled the world, gradually transforming from a boy into an old man.

With the collective research, exploration, and efforts of many masters around the world,

the seepage of the Void became increasingly severe, yet ultimately, the 64 hexagrams were crafted.

The old man transformed from the youth, Dong Ming, looked at the 64 hexagrams beside him and sighed deeply: "The void leak must be remedied today."

An Immortal said: "Dong Ming, these 64 hexagrams are a magical treasure we've crafted based on information from the Void, and they must temporarily sever the connection between the Void and the Material World."

"Afterwards, we only need to ban all Void Dao techniques across the world and destroy all information related to the Void."

Assisted by the Immortals and gods, Dong Ming carried the 64 hexagrams charging towards the Void.

...

Witnessing this scene, Zhou Bai sighed, his eyes flashing with a contemplative look.

As the scene before him, with Dong Ming manipulating the 64 hexagrams into the Void, once again turned pitch-black.

Just as Zhou Bai wondered if it would reveal the history after Dong Ming mended the void, a figure emerged from this darkness.

...

After entering the Void, Dong Ming felt he could neither see nor hear anything, faced with endless darkness.

He floated in this darkness, his mind seemingly ceasing its thoughts.

Until in this darkness, a man slowly appeared, walking towards him.

Dong Ming exclaimed in surprise: "Who are you? Why are you here?"

The man's face was a blur, without features like eyes, ears, mouth, or nose, creating an incomparably eerie feeling.

Yet even so, the man began to speak, his voice hoarse: "My name... should be Ji Wufan."

Dong Ming furrowed his brow, unable to recall who Ji Wufan was: "Is this inside the Void? Why are you here?"

The faceless Ji Wufan spoke to himself: "In my youth, due to my lowly status, I was barred from learning the Dao."

"Later, an accident occurred, and I saved a nobleman. To repay my lifesaving grace, he introduced me to the Daoist sect."

"I worked hard in cultivation, progressing swiftly, but unfortunately encountered the great calamity of the heavens… the Void seeping into the Material World."

"To combat the catastrophe, I had to exhaust my wits, uniting with all humanity, aiming to seal the Void with the 64 hexagrams."

"I thwarted the great calamity, severed the connection between the Void and the Material World."

"But henceforth, I was left upon the breach of the Void, watching the cycles of the Material World."

"I watched as people, under my guidance, gradually treaded a path of light."

"And watched them repeatedly repeat all the errors humans have made."

"I once guided the world to ban all Void-related techniques, burying them completely."

"Only to see humanity eventually rediscover the Void, exploiting its power again."

"I watched as my name was extolled for generations."

"And then watched as it was gradually forgotten by the world."

Listening to him, Dong Ming felt a chilling sensation rise within his heart: "Is what you're saying true? This isn't the first Void seepage?"

The faceless Ji Wufan paused, then slowly said: "I thought I'd already conquered the fear of death."

"But watching as the world forgets me completely, with no trace of me left, I felt loneliness."

"Seeing humanity, without my guidance, repeatedly commit the errors I once prevented, leaves me helpless."

"Seeing them rediscover the Void and attempt to exploit it again, I feel a bit of despair."

"I sacrificed myself, imprisoned here in the Void for millions of years, and all I gained in return is endless loneliness, helplessness, and despair."

Dong Ming shouted: "What do you want to say?"

Ji Wufan laughed: "Aren't you here to repair the Void? Then come."