Chen Tian was somewhat surprised when the Merfolk Emperor revealed his identity, not expecting the emperor to know he was an illegal immigrant. Noticing Chen Tian's momentary bewilderment, the Merfolk Emperor spoke, "No need to be nervous. Rest assured, I am not your enemy. After all, the passage to the Starfall Continent is forbidden for humans. Your presence here proves you are an illegal immigrant."
"No wonder the passage couldn't be opened before. So, the Starfall Continent doesn't allow humans to enter," Chen Tian mused.
"But what exactly happened on the Starfall Continent that allows your demi-human race to live here, while humans cannot? If humans ceased to exist, how did your demi-human race originate?"
Chen Tian voiced these myriad questions. The Merfolk Emperor sighed and looked up, "Alas, this all began thousands of years ago. In those days, this world was one where humans and spirits coexisted. Humans and spirits on the Starfall Continent lived in harmony."
"But thousands of years ago, humans suddenly discovered a mysterious object. From this object, humans found a way to create derivative races. Human bloodlines and spirit bloodlines could be used through special means to create special races, known as demi-humans."
"At that time, human scientists were conducting frantic research. There were many failures during the research, but they eventually found the determining factor: the Heavenly Dao did not permit such beings to exist. At that time, humans had to abandon this research, and demi-humans did not yet exist in this world."
"However, one scientist did not give up. Secretly, by studying the object, they discovered that as long as the Heavenly Dao was temporarily sealed, the restrictions of the Heavenly Dao would disappear. At that time, this research would become a powerful aid to humanity. The combat strength of the Starfall Continent in the past was very weak, with no comparison to the current Starfall Continent. Humans were seeking ways to become stronger. At that time, the method of creating demi-humans was the only way to make the Starfall Continent prosperous."
As he spoke, the Merfolk Emperor's demeanor turned sorrowful. If possible, he wished for such power not to exist. Was a harmonious world not better? Because of power, wars erupted, and because of power, the entire world descended into chaos.
The Merfolk Emperor continued, "Through studying that object, the scientists not only researched the method for creating demi-humans but also the method to seal the consciousness of the Heavenly Dao."
"Thus, step by step, the consciousness of the Heavenly Dao fell into a trap orchestrated by humans and was sealed within a container. The Heavenly Dao never imagined that it would be jointly sealed by the humans and spirits it was meant to protect."
"The Heavenly Dao of this world therefore harbored resentment towards all living beings in the world. Using its full might, it rewrote the rules of the entire world. From then on, this world ceased to have humans."
"All humans were transformed into the appearance of demi-humans. To the Heavenly Dao, this was punishment. The entire Starfall Continent fell into a state of self-imposed isolation. As long as an outside human entered, they would be detected by the Heavenly Dao, which, blinded by hatred, utterly loathed humans."
"Does that explain it? If you remain in this world, the Heavenly Dao will personally erase you."
"Thousands of years have passed since the sealing, and the consciousness of the Heavenly Dao has gradually awakened. Now, the first thing the Heavenly Dao, blinded by hatred, will do upon awakening is not to benefit the world, but to eradicate all humans in this world."
The Merfolk Emperor looked grave. Chen Tian said indifferently, "Heavenly Dao?"
Chen Tian looked up at the sky, thinking this must be the secret of the Starfall Continent.
The Heavenly Dao of the entire world had suffered betrayal from all beings in the world. Both humans and spirits had personally sealed it. It was only natural for the Heavenly Dao to resent humans, as its duty was to maintain world balance. However, in the midst of maintaining that balance, it had been personally sealed by the beings it trusted. How could the Heavenly Dao not be enraged?
Chen Tian had encountered such a situation before, in other worlds. He had not interfered and had simply left those worlds. After all, what became of those worlds, in the grand scheme of things, meant little to Chen Tian. He could completely ignore it. However, this time, Chen Tian had to intervene.
Chen Tian still remembered the primary reason for his arrival on the Starfall Continent: the dark disease affecting the Dragonfolk. Chen Tian could not stand by and watch an entire race perish, perhaps influenced by his own bloodline.
Chen Tian asked, "Do you know the specific location of the Dragonfolk?"
"The Dragonfolk? They are in the north, near the Dragon Tomb. It takes about ten days to get there."
"However, Chen Tian, I advise you to leave quickly."
The Merfolk Emperor's expression was grave. Chen Tian's mind suddenly went blank. He shook his head and sighed, "It seems I cannot leave."
Chen Tian vanished. He had no intention of causing a battle here, wanting to avoid involving any innocent parties. Chen Tian's figure suddenly disappeared, and the Merfolk Emperor understood what he meant.
He himself could sense the aura of the Heavenly Dao. It seemed that entity would not let Chen Tian go. The Heavenly Dao, blinded by hatred, had personally transformed the entire human race into demi-humans. And because it resented humans and spirits during the sealing, the entire Starfall Continent became this way.
If possible, the Merfolk Emperor wished for the Starfall Continent to return to its former state, but alas, everything was irreversible.
In the Sea of Chaos, Chen Tian stood on the surface of the sea. A figure stood before him, a phantom. Chen Tian looked at the phantom before him and said, "I have no intention of stirring up trouble in this world. I will leave after I accomplish my task."
"Human, kill them all, annihilate humans, traitors!"
The phantom was the manifestation of the Heavenly Dao. However, as the Heavenly Dao was still under seal, the manifested phantom only possessed limited power. Yet, even with limited power, Chen Tian was no match for it, being the Heavenly Dao of a world, a being at the apex of existence. Moreover, with its reason clouded by hatred, it had become incredibly wicked. Regardless of whether Chen Tian was a native of the Starfall Continent or not, as long as he was human, it would seek to kill him.
The Heavenly Dao immediately attacked. The phantom solidified, its appearance identical to Chen Tian's. Two Chen Tians stood in the sky. The Heavenly Dao was formless, and to engage in battle, it needed to materialize. The form it took was identical to Chen Tian's.
Although they looked identical, their methods were different. Chen Tian and the Heavenly Dao stared at each other. The Heavenly Dao's eyes glowed fiercely as it glared at Chen Tian, hatred burning like a raging fire within its gaze.
Chen Tian truly wished to help this world's Heavenly Dao, but he was powerless. He didn't even know where the Heavenly Dao was sealed. The beings of this world were not at fault. Was seeking power wrong? The cultivators of the Starfall Continent were weak and desired to become stronger; Chen Tian understood that.
However, they chose the wrong method. Sacrificing the Heavenly Dao to achieve the world's prosperity.
This idea was flawed. The Heavenly Dao attacked Chen Tian decisively. Chen Tian collided with the Heavenly Dao.
The surface of the Sea of Chaos churned.
Chen Tian and the Heavenly Dao clashed. Chen Tian was immediately at a disadvantage. How could Chen Tian possibly be a match for a world's Heavenly Dao? If the Heavenly Dao were not under seal, and if the current entity were not merely a physical manifestation of its residual aura, Chen Tian would have been instantly annihilated.