Consuming Earths, Devouring Skies

In the night sky hung the silver moon in full. Beneath this moon was a myriad of lifeforms, but two, in particular, stood out. A young man and woman sat at the peak of a pyramid structure. The surrounding area was flat, but sandy. In the distance and all around, sand existed like an ocean.

The two were eating. In their hands were halva, something often eaten by the indigenous population.

For the first time in her life, Pinaka felt the taste of food. She had tried all sorts of foods from this planet in a single day, from burritos to burgers, to falafels, and many more! The different foods left her feeling awed.

"This world has so many tastes!" She exclaimed, her mouth stuffed with halva.

Yan Zaizen nodded. "Not only that, it seems to contain the cultures of many different worlds in one. Even the culture of the 27th Heaven, and religious practices of the 7th Heaven is taken here in many forms. I suspect...this place may contain the culture of all thirty-three heavens!" His words may sound far-fetched, but he believed it so.

Not only that, there was far too much variety in this world. There were quadrupeds that resembled divine beasts but in a much smaller scale. Even the pyramid they sat on signified the burial location of a king, similar to the 27th heaven.

"Mhm, so good!" Exclaiming in delight, she ignored Yan Zaizen’s observation. He could only softly chuckle at this. He knew she wished to indulge in the simplicity and delight of this world, not wanting to dwell on its intrigue.

"She’s more of a foodie than me! I must...keep my cake safe." Yan Zaizen made a mental note to protect his.

The days passed. It was beyond peaceful and exciting. The mountains that pierced the clouds, the oceans that touched the lowest portion of the surface layer of the planet, and even underwater volcanoes! They were like tourists traveling the world to see its wonders. With their strength, there was no limit to their freedom.

On their seventh day, Yan Zaizen and Pinaka stayed within an abandoned building in a busy society. The humans went too and fro on mechanical machines and communicated with small boxes. Yan Zaizen learned they were called ’vehicles’ and ’phones’ respectively. They weren’t much different than skyships or transmission talismans, but they were so profound.

However, not a single heavenly law influenced anything on this planet. It was as if the heavens were forbidden from affecting this world. Even his cultivation bases, including his soul cultivation, was restricted completely. However, there was no sense of discomfort.

The two enjoyed the world’s mysteries as they ate something called ’pizza’ - a mixture of a pasted vegetable, cheese, and various meats - which was delicious.

Looking at this beautiful girl pig out not caring about her image, Yan Zaizen felt his heart experience an extraordinary peace. Was this the life of the mortals in this world? If so, maybe only living for a short period of time was worth it. This thought felt further reinforced every time he saw that smile. The one that seemed to brighten the world.

"Perhaps this will never end?" The thought of staying here forever was oddly appealing, yet he felt that if he did, he would regret it. Only after some thought did he realize where that instinct stemmed from. If he stayed, then Pinaka would never obtain her own physical body.

They could never do anything more.

Thinking here, his eyes traced Pinaka’s sky-blue body. Her legs were slim yet oddly plump, her breasts and buttocks were full and perky. If he could...

Gulping, he turned his eyes away. "Unfortunately...there’s nothing down there. Haaa..." This thought reminded him of his virginity, never having tasted the deep physical intimacy between a man and a woman. However, he wasn’t dissuaded.

"My day will come." With that, he ate another slice of pizza.

"Yan Zaizen." A voice surged in his soul, it belonged to Eloah. Yan Zaizen felt a slight tremble as he looked at Pinaka. She was currently gazing at him, a soft smile with eyes filled with reluctance but readiness. It seems Eloah had also sent her a message.

Opening his mouth to speak, she shook her head and grabbed his hand. Her grip was tight, but her eyes remained honed on his. "This isn’t our life." Her words were soft and stable.

"Yet."

A few minutes later, Yan Zaizen in outer space in the Milky Way Realm. His eyes looked at the blue planet with fond memories. Those few days of peace could easily be the best days of his life.

Eloah stood nearby, looking at Yan Zaizen with a neutral expression. In his hand was a pearl the size of a baseball. It was shiny and looked like a sapphire jewel. There was no distinctive aura, but it felt oddly spiritual.

"Here," Eloah sent the pearl forward. Yan Zaizen nodded, grabbing it.

"What is it?" He curiously scanned it with his heavenly sense and spiritual sense, but couldn’t find anything extraordinary about this pearl.

"It’s a life-saving treasure for a spiritual form. If you crush it, it’ll protect your soul or the soul of others for a century. However, only a century." Eloah calmly explained, but his eyes flickered with a profound light.

"A soul protecting talisman?" Yan Zaizen furrowed his brows. "Why?" Why would he need a soul protecting treasure?

Eloah was silent for a few seconds but only replied, "It may come in handy." That was all he said, the benevolent smile never reappearing on his face. This caused Yan Zaizen to furrow his brows even further. Eloah had always been a mystery, even his existence left him curious.

"This planet...Its name?" Yan Zaizen kept the pearl and looked at the blue planet. He would never reject a free gift.

Eloah closed his eyes. "Earth."

Yan Zaizen’s heart trembled violently at those words. That single word invoked a thought-provoking reaction, but Yan Zaizen felt unsure. His mind rumbled with theories, his eyes looking at this planet deeper than ever before.

"I’ll explain this, but after...be sure to remember that having faith is not a flaw of the mind, but the strength of the heart." Eloah’s words seemed to contain a strange force, lifting Yan Zaizen from his mess of thoughts.

"A piece of the Earths below." Eloah only said this single sentence.

Yan Zaizen’ body visibly shook. The Earths and Skies are below the heavens; The Earths and Skies are above the heavens. Yan Zaizen never understood the concept fully, but looking at this blue planet, his idea of it grew clearer.

The Black Hole once immersed him in the thoughts of devouring the Earth and consuming the Sky. He deduced that the Earth meant all things spiritual and the Sky was all things physical. The heavens were the essence, but he felt like it was far more complex.

There was still so many missing pieces to the unfathomable puzzle, albeit it was slightly clearer. This planet that embodied the basic form of the heavens. Humans that didn’t cultivate, beasts that looked like infant forms of divine beasts, and the myriad of brilliant places in this world untainter by heavenly laws. Even his cultivation bases were completely restricted.

It was as if he was looking at the beginning of life in all forms.

"If the Earths below is an infant state of life, then...? Could the Earths above contain gods?" At this thought, his heart quivered. To cultivators, gods often represented powerful cultivators, but could it be something far greater? Actual gods?

"What is God? Mind not your thoughts, only the truth before you." Eloah’s words were softly spoken, his eyes still closed.

With a piercing gaze, Yan Zaizen honed in Eloah’s spiritual form. Despite Eloah literally reading his thoughts, he didn’t say anything in response.

If what he says is true, then Eloah was protecting this planet. This piece of Earth. It might even be possible that he’s protecting more than that. However, he had a distinct feeling that any more questions will not be answered.

As if knowing his thoughts, "Your instincts are beyond this world, trust them." With that, he faded like a ghost in the night.

"...who are you..." Even though his instincts and intuition about things were often correct, it didn’t mean he was omniscient. He only felt a distinct feeling from people, events, or at a crossroad in his choices. This drove him in many of his actions. Such as finding Pinaka, not trusting the Xiantu Emperor, or seeing through Lang Xue’s lies.

"Thirty-three heavens, ninety-nine heavens. Earths and Skies, below and above. My tri-existence, me, the black hole, and the king. Why do I exist? What is a heaven? Why are there so many? Every step I take, every bit I learn, I feel as if three more questions emerge." With a sigh, he suddenly felt mentally exhausted.

Only after a long while did his eyes clear. "Hmph! They’ll come as they come. For now, I have other goals." His eyes flickered with an intense light of resolve. With a step, he arrived near the inter-heavenly spatial formation. "From now on, my path is the path I choose."