Chapter 117: Myths and Legends

"Bang!"

Gu Sha yanked the Sky Serpent’s soul out of the magma and slammed it violently into the ground, shattering a large swath of buildings. Bound by the overwhelming power of inscriptions, the creature was rendered unable to move.

The Sky Serpent was stunned. Eight heads were not enough to process the situation; it could not fathom how things had suddenly turned out this way. However, before it could even begin to think, Gu Sha raised his hand and slowly curled his fingers into a fist.

"Hiss..."

The Sky Serpent let out a shrill, agonizing scream. Being a soul entity, it was largely immune to standard physical attacks—just moments ago, when Gu Sha had slammed it into the ground, it hadn't felt a shred of pain. But now, it was different. Gu Sha was using the power of inscriptions to crush its soul directly, inflicting agony so profound it felt as though its spirit was on the verge of scattering into nothingness.

"Ah..." The Sky Serpent shrieked, its eight heads squeezed together. "You... you are... a descendant of the ancient immortals and gods... you... you have all returned?"

Gu Sha’s expression remained blank. "I ask, you answer. Do you understand?"

The terrifying, tearing pressure left the Sky Serpent with no choice but to comply. "Ask," it stammered.

"What was the ancient world like? And what exactly are these 'immortals and gods'?" Gu Sha asked.

The Sky Serpent looked at him with suspicion. "Why... why are you asking such questions? Aren't you a descendant of the immortals?"

"Dammit, am I asking you, or are you asking me?" Gu Sha delivered a heavy slap that left the creature’s heads spinning.

The Sky Serpent hurried to explain: "In ancient times, this place was known as the Earth Immortal Realm—what you now call Earth. However, the Earth Immortal Realm was merely a small world within the universe; in modern terms, it was just one civilization among many. I don't know exactly what the Earth is like today; I only heard accounts from descendants of the Ghost Island who entered here a while ago. I cannot confirm if what they said was true, as I have been trapped here for countless years.

"According to their descriptions, today's Earth is not even a tenth of what it was in ancient times, and the cultivation civilization of the past has vanished. Back then, the Earth Immortal Realm was considered a significant civilization in the grand scope of the universe. But I truly know very little. I don't know what happened, but the Earth Immortal Realm suddenly died. Those immortals and gods left one after another, and those who couldn't leave carved out small, hidden pocket dimensions. I entered this pocket dimension shortly after gaining sapience; I only had the chance because my ancestors were mounts for the gods."

Gu Sha asked in a low voice, "Do immortals and gods truly exist?"

"Yes," the Sky Serpent replied. "Or rather, they were powerful cultivators. As for 'immortals'... I don't really understand that either."

Gu Sha continued, "You said that with the resurgence of Source Energy, those immortals would return. Is that true?"

"It is my speculation," the Sky Serpent said. "Back then, I witnessed the last god leave Earth on a spacecraft. He said the Earth Immortal Realm might recover, that he might return, and told me to wait for him."

"Wait," Gu Sha interrupted. "The spacecraft you mentioned—was it a magical artifact propelled by spiritual power?"

The Sky Serpent pondered for a moment. "Is there a possibility that it was driven by energy, manipulating the laws of spatial particles to traverse space and reach other civilizations? Apart from the Earth Immortal Realm, there are no other habitats in the entire galaxy. Do you really think a being powerful enough to leave the galaxy using only spiritual power would pay any attention to me?"

Gu Sha stared at the Sky Serpent, dumbfounded. "You understand spatial particles?"

The Sky Serpent went silent.

"Modern human civilization has only existed for a few thousand years, but how long has the universe existed? Do you truly think that after living for so many eons, the immortals’ understanding of universal laws would be inferior to the few thousand years of human civilization?"

Gu Sha felt as if he had just been looked down upon.

"I see it now," the Sky Serpent said. "You are just a modern human, not some descendant of gods returning to the Earth Immortal Realm. But with the resurgence of Source Energy having lasted such a short time, how can you be so powerful?"

Gu Sha tightened his grip slightly.

The Sky Serpent shrieked in pain, "I won't ask anymore! I'll tell you! I'll tell you!"

"The civilization of the ancient era was countless dimensions ahead of modern Earth. I don't know much, but the approach was different. Ancient civilization relied on Source Energy; there are many things modern Earth cannot explain. For example, summoning wind and rain is simply a cultivator using the energy within them to alter the laws of the air to achieve that effect. Or making withered wood bloom—that is also using energy to alter the internal particles of a plant to revitalize it."

The corner of Gu Sha’s mouth twitched violently. Many of the mysterious fantasies he held felt like they were collapsing.

"Continue," Gu Sha commanded.

"So, in reality, there isn't much difference between ancient times and now; the approach is just different. Ancient cultivation manuals, in your hands today, would essentially be nothing more than textbooks."

Gu Sha imagined everyone carrying a book titled *Three Years of Cultivation, Five Years to Form a Golden Core*.

"Are there many pocket dimensions like this one?"

"Many," the Sky Serpent said. "As I told you, today's Earth is less than a tenth of its original size. The rest of the territory was incorporated into these pocket dimensions. That is all I know. I was just a pet in the ancient Earth Immortal Realm; what I know is only what I picked up from the idle chatter of those gods."

Gu Sha narrowed his eyes. "Then... what is it that you want?"

"I felt the resurgence of Source Energy and wanted to find a new body to leave this wretched place. I’ve been driven to the brink of madness. Because there was no Source Energy, I had to abandon my own body back then, which is the only reason I’ve managed to survive until now. Furthermore, with the resurgence of Source Energy, many resources from the ancient Earth Immortal Realm will also reappear. Partner with me—I will teach you ancient secret techniques, and you help me reshape my body. In these early stages, if we join forces, we can reap the greatest rewards. Otherwise, once the immortals realize what is happening and return, we won't be able to grab anything."

Gu Sha remained indifferent.

The Sky Serpent added hurriedly, "I’m not lying to you! If you don't believe me, I can teach you an ancient technique right now. To be honest, your cultivation is high, but the way you use the energy within you is absolute trash. It’s like holding a piece of iron and only knowing how to use it as a hammer, never realizing it could be forged into a sword. Your application of energy is truly pathetic."

Gu Sha looked at the Sky Serpent and smiled. "So that’s why you were so cooperative. You were digging a hole for me to jump into!"

With that, Gu Sha squeezed his hand, and the Sky Serpent’s soul exploded.