3,500 years.
The great reckoning of the world ended.
It was the beginning of the next great world, the first year.
The entire star region was reckoned, but other places were far less severe, as no great emperor had emerged.
The most serious issue was that some at the Firmament Realm developed demonic minds, somewhat impacting their future cultivation paths, but far from fatal.
The seven major sects around Blue Sky Sword Sea basically encountered no major incidents, surviving the end of the previous great world. They were considered new figures of this great world.
The new great world represented new fortunes and opportunities, even the emergence of new great emperors.
The greatest opportunity was the now collapsed Blue Sky Sword Sea.
As one of the most prosperous sects in the last few great worlds, its foundations were strong enough to shock those at the Firmament Realm.
Now it had collapsed, its foundations should not have vanished, so these were all opportunities.
But a single sect would not dare enter the ruins of Blue Sky Sword Sea, mainly because they were afraid.
Afraid of all kinds of accidents, afraid that Blue Sky Sword Sea was not completely dead, and the saints were still struggling, making final desperate attempts.
But no matter how they struggled, they were still saints, terrifying existences who could crush them with a flick of the finger.
So the seven major sects discussed and decided each would send a master at the Firmament Realm to lead several cultivators at the Overturning Realm to explore together, hoping to find opportunities. If they found nothing, it would still be an experience.
Frankly, even if something really happened, they would die together.
If all seven major sects lost a master at the Firmament Realm, their powers would be roughly equal, still starting from the same line.
The fear was that one or two sects' masters at the Firmament Realm escaped faster, surviving by luck without dying and obtaining opportunities.
All seven major sects hoped they would be those one or two sects.
To rise in the future, they had to seize the most critical early opportunities in the beginning of the great world, obtain Blue Sky Sword Sea's foundations as one of the first steps!
The seven major sects did not hesitate much. Each sent their master at the Firmament Realm to embark, taking ferries straight into the galaxy, heading towards Blue Sky Sword Sea to explore.
There were hardly any meteors in the galaxy now. The reason was simple, almost all had been destroyed.
The ferries went straight, travelling millions of miles across the galaxy. Blue Sky Sword Sea could be seen after crossing the galaxy.
At a glance, only ruins could be seen. The sword sea still existed, but its surface was covered in fragmented buildings floating, along with countless chaotic debris. The sea water did not surge either, completely lifeless.
"No matter how prosperous, all sects will eventually arrive at this day." One master at the Firmament Realm could not help but sigh.
The current Blue Sky Sword Sea was truly too different from their memories, lacking its past aloofness, reduced to today's decay and lifelessness.
The masters at the Firmament Realm put away their complex feelings and stepped off the ferries, crossing through the space between galaxies. Remaining vigilant, they started probing into Blue Sky Sword Sea.
The great world had just ended with the dark reckoning. The decaying Blue Sky Sword Sea's circumstances were unclear. Not daring to be careless, they summoned magic treasures, prepared their mystic arts, and slowly probed towards the interior.
First they approached the fragmented planets drifting around, where some dark invasion still remained, but did not impact much.
Dark invasion had existed since the birth of the star region.
No one knew why there was dark invasion. It could only be explained as the will of heavens.
This was something even great emperors could not figure out, let alone them at the Firmament Realm.
"We will officially step into Blue Sky Sword Sea's territory next. Everyone must be vigilant, extremely careful, look out for each other, and not fight and scheme like before."
"As long as we can leave Blue Sky Sword Sea alive, our sects can all rise in the star region. In the future, it should be our seven major sects towering over the star region!"
The speaker was the Master of Jade Terrace Mountain sect.
"Alright, we'll slowly probe first. If anything happens, we'll face it together." Another master at the Firmament Realm concurred.
Everyone nodded in agreement. After all, if something happened to themselves, they still hoped others could help.
However, promising was one thing, actually doing it was another story.
For ordinary crises, they would be happy to help and gain favors.
But if it was really some saint's lingering soul, they would run first.
The few steadily advanced, already entering Blue Sky Sword Sea, roaming above the sword sea.
"That is Heavenly Pavilion in Blue Sky Sword Sea, containing mystic arts. It is floating above the sword sea."
The Master of Jade Terrace Mountain spoke excitedly. Obtaining the mystic arts in Heavenly Pavilion would be a great opportunity.
The other cultivators were also delighted. Mystic arts were the best opportunities to share since everyone could learn them without uneven distribution.
They were really fortunate to encounter such a great opportunity as soon as they entered. If they searched more, their gains would be abundant.
The few masters at the Firmament Realm quickly headed towards Heavenly Pavilion, wanting to collect it. Just as they approached and were about to reach out, their bodies suddenly froze.
Because they saw that in the distance of the sword sea, a figure was standing with its back facing them.
The Master of Jade Terrace Mountain's pupils instantly expanded as he cried out.
"Run..."
He had only shouted half of the word when the figure turned around. It was Blue Sky Sword Sea's Guardian Elder, Old Fisherman.
His expression and appearance were the same, but his eyes were pitch black, filled with swirling dark invasion.
When he turned, his figure instantly crossed the great distance from the edge of the sword sea to right in front of the masters at the Firmament Realm.
A short cry rang out in the decaying Blue Sky Sword Sea.
Then it was quiet again after a moment, the initial lifelessness restored without any more sounds.
After waiting 100 years without the return of the masters at the Firmament Realm, the seven major sects sent elders skilled in concealment arts to explore Blue Sky Sword Sea's ruins.
That same year, the exploring elders returned, their expressions horrified, seeming to have witnessed great terror. Their bodies shook, minds unclear, appearing insane.
"Dead... all dead... hung outside... heads hanging... all dead..."
While the exact details were unclear, at least half could be guessed from his words.
The masters at the Firmament Realm who went seeking opportunities had died!
Blue Sky Sword Sea was immediately deemed a forbidden zone by the seven major sects. No one was sent again, and they no longer dared to explore for opportunities there, abandoning all ideas.
In the following millennium, the seven major sects surrounding Blue Sky Sword Sea also gradually moved away, establishing new sects in other parts of the star region.
The previously desolate ferries deteriorated until collapsing. No more ferries could be seen, nor people arriving.
The Blue Sky Sword Sea region, spanning the star region, finally completely declined. No figures could be seen, no lights either, only the dark starry sky.
Perhaps new sects would emerge in the future.
But there would be no more Blue Sky Sword Sea.