Chapter 434 The Long River of Chaos - Socially Anxious Witch in the Apocalypse

Are there really guardians of the River of Time? Su Miao glanced at the stone figure who had closed his eyes, permitting her passage, and felt a tinge of surprise. Since the stone figure didn't show any intention to stop her, she decided not to bother further. She directly passed the end of the Earth's cosmic timeline and entered an unknown realm. As he watched the witch disappear, the stone figure breathed a sigh of relief, having almost been shattered again. Guarding the River of Time—is it easy? "So this is what it feels like to leave Earth's universe?" Standing in the vacuum of space, Su Miao noted her peculiar surroundings in the pitch-black void. How exactly does one describe what's beyond the universe? The boundary of the universe? A cosmic crevice? Or perhaps an endless void? Let's just call it "beyond the universe." With a blink, Su Miao established her current location as the origin point. Her next task was to locate the River of Chaos beyond the universe. Using a human body as an analogy: Imagine each cell as a universe, with the DNA inside being the River of Time. The River of Chaos is like the circulatory system connecting various cellular universes... Through the River of Chaos, she can reach her desired destination. It's far more dangerous than the River of Time, requiring utmost caution. From this perspective, the Star Sea that destroys many cellular universes is an aberration that must be eliminated. Wielding her Starry Wand, Su Miao activated a complex magic circle beneath her feet. After a few minutes, she determined her direction. Off she went! Su Miao began her journey towards the distant unknown. Beyond the universe is filled with void and chaos. Traveling through it feels strange, requiring some time to adapt. There is no sound, no light, as if nothing exists, interrupted only occasionally by the appearance of a cosmic barrier. An ordinary person exiled here would surely go mad. However, Su Miao had grown accustomed to such an environment. After traversing a long distance, she arrived at a great river. It was a black river, with the occasional burst of surf revealing a glimmer or two of light. This was a tributary of the River of Chaos. The River of Chaos is extremely dangerous. Su Miao took out a map to confirm the location of this tributary. After verifying her position, she decided not to rush forward. Instead, she started researching the River of Chaos from the riverbank. Though termed as a law, the rules governing the River of Chaos are incredibly chaotic and destructive. One careless move could sweep anyone trying to approach into its depths. Su Miao's research deepened her understanding, revealing that the essence of the River of Chaos, the River of Time, and ordinary rivers are fundamentally the same. It's akin to how subatomic particle worlds, cellular worlds, bodies, and universes are seemingly similar. Could it be that both the universe and what's beyond it form one entity? Or some other organism? If so, what does that make mortals? Plants, insects, animals, and the gods? Such thoughts are increasingly terrifying. To grasp, yet not completely understand. The unknown is the most terrifying. If the endless universe forms one person, could there be countless others beyond this person, along with undiscovered lands, skies, worlds, cosmos—endless? "This doesn’t seem to concern me..." Su Miao murmured to herself. There's no need to ponder over the incomprehensible. She waved her Starry Wand and established a temporary camp by the tributary of the River of Chaos. For a campsite, trees are needed. Su Miao retrieved a mutated sapling from her magical space, and after a moment's thought, returned it. If the mutated tree could take root in the River of Chaos, it would be fine. But if its roots spread into the universe in the endless void, her actions would align with those who created the Star Sea. There’s no telling when the roots of this mutated tree might reach the Earth universe, causing significant trouble. Avoiding unnecessary complications, she decided not to plant it. Su Miao set up a temporary magical defensive barrier and took out a table, chair, and a meal of dry-cooked chicken over rice from her camp. When facing problems, having a meal first allows her to think clearly. Eating ensures she has the energy to research adequately. The dry-cooked chicken rice was delicious. Thus began a three-year study. Three years later, Su Miao stood confidently atop the River of Chaos, as if walking on solid ground. Standing on the tributary, Su Miao seemed to realize something, yet simultaneously understood nothing. She opened her right hand, revealing a piece of chaotic void in her palm. In an instant, the chaotic void shattered. A faint golden glow emitted from Su Miao's eyes; the spell to collapse the void had truly succeeded. "It's time to move on." Su Miao moved along the River of Chaos, crossing its tributary, and quickened her pace. Days later, she arrived at a wider part of the River of Chaos. Here, one could vaguely see objects floating up and down within the river, some being broken universes, others newly born, and some indiscernible things. To the average observer, it would resemble trash occasionally surfacing in floodwaters. This was likely the main stream of the River of Chaos. The path through here to the Star Sea would be swift. Yet the main stream and tributaries vary in danger, necessitating heightened caution. Su Miao ventured once more onto the River of Chaos, heading toward the Star Sea. As she journeyed along the river, a small boat drifted into her view from afar. An old man sat aboard this boat. He must have been there for quite a while, for when he spotted Su Miao walking on the River of Chaos, his face displayed shock beyond comprehension. Frozzen with fear, the old man dared not move. Su Miao found this surprising—was it possible to sail on the River of Chaos? However, the boat seemed fragile, as though near breaking. "Help!" "Senior, help!" The old man on the boat called out for Su Miao’s aid. Su Miao blinked but did not respond. She continued her journey forward. Knowing how to walk on the River of Chaos didn’t equate to knowing how to save someone. An attempt could imperil both, potentially dragging her into the river’s depths with uncertain survival. "It's over..." Watching Su Miao disappear, despair filled the old man's face. Before long, the boat broke apart, casting the old man into the River of Chaos. A wave washed over him, and he vanished without a trace, as though he had never existed. Further along her path, Su Miao encountered another small boat. A figure aboard resembled more a soul than a human. The soul noticed Su Miao, appearing somewhat confused. Compared to the previous old man’s vessel, this one seemed sturdier, surrounded by complex magical laws. Yet the essence within the boat seemed depleted. Was someone universe-hopping with the help of a system? Su Miao refrained from interfering. She continued onward. Her journey was lengthy, requiring time conservation. Soon, she encountered several other travelers. Among them were those with system aid, others imbued with universal will, cosmic laws, or cosmic essence. A commonality emerged: they all hailed from universes in ruin. "How can someone walk on the River of Chaos?" A soul voiced his incredulity. He seemed well-informed, his gaze on Su Miao brimming with fear, wariness, and a hint of hostility. Hostility, in Su Miao's eyes, meant malice. Dark as ink, it was easily recognizable. Su Miao stopped in her tracks, her gaze fixating eerily on the soul aboard the boat. The soul appeared battered and broken, as if having endured a fierce battle, its aura terribly weakened. Unlike other traveling souls, this one was powerful, essentially a remnant of a supreme god. Despite being a remnant, it retained the presence of a lord, though this was less than nothing in face of the River of Chaos. Moreover, this soul wasn't carrying a system but a vast shard of cosmic essence. The residual power was insufficient to house the large essence shard, forcing it to be carried externally. "My lord, it’s all a misunderstanding..." The soul, noticing Su Miao's attention, hastily offered respect. Understanding his initial hostility had provoked her notice: "I come from the Great Imperial Star Sea..." Su Miao wasted no time on conversation. She tapped her Starry Wand, directly binding the soul, and effortlessly drew it toward the River of Chaos. The soul's demeanor changed to sheer terror as he struggled and twisted, attempting to avoid the waters. In extreme dread, he tossed the cosmic essence he was holding. Su Miao deftly caught it, observed it momentarily with her Starry Flare to confirm no soul remnants were left, and stowed it into her magical space. As for the soul that had been controlled, the moment he touched the River of Chaos, his soul instantly disintegrated, vanishing like smoke, leaving nothing behind. Su Miao let the remaining boat drift away uncontrolled, floating into the distance. "So, is the Star Sea now openly plundering cosmic essences?" She contemplated as she glanced at the cosmic essence within her magical space. Cosmic essence carries memories from the five stages of a universe: birth, development, peak, decline, and obliteration. It's immensely useful for comprehending cosmic laws, mastering those laws, solidifying universes, and increasing the longevity of universal life. Continuing her journey, Su Miao departed the River of Chaos and entered a void zone. Here, patches of land drifted through the void. These lands were shielded by special domains, allowing life to exist within them. Judging by their appearance, Su Miao surmised they were remnants from destroyed universes. Yet, even with protection, remaining perpetually in this chaos and void seemed excessively dangerous. Once their energy runs dry, these lands, along with their inhabitants, will be annihilated, won’t they? Casting a distant glance, Su Miao opted not to investigate further. In novels, isn’t this where bystanders A and B typically start fighting, and the protagonist is advised not to meddle? It couldn’t be, right? As this thought crossed her mind, the void trembled, and indeed two powerful deities began fighting. Su Miao, clutching her Starry Wand, was taken aback. She had merely entertained the thought—could it really manifest? "The Star Sea is handling its business. Those uninvolved should not meddle!" A domineering spiritual message swept through, urging Su Miao to leave. The implication was clear: if she didn’t leave, she would be killed along with them. The Star Sea yet again... Such arrogance. At this moment, another spiritual message came through, "Friend, leave now, it’s dangerous here. The beasts of the Star Sea aim for your soul’s annihilation." It seemed an expression of concern, but truly this person hoped to divert his pursuers' attention toward Su Miao. As long as his pursuers were distracted, he’d have a chance to escape. As for Su Miao's fate, he couldn’t care less. Boom! Boom! Boom! The two approached, as if by some unspoken agreement. Su Miao tightened her grip on the Starry Wand and frowned slightly—how many times had she encountered the gods of the Star Sea now? As they drew nearer, Su Miao could discern the combatants. One was a demon god, the other also a demon god. Their strength was at the seventh-level peak. Seeing their strength, Su Miao couldn’t help but find it peculiar. Such meager power, yet daring to fight in the void? Su Miao felt she needed to adjust her perceptions. As the battle moved closer, the two demon gods halted briefly. They realized they couldn’t perceive Su Miao’s true realm and power. If they had to comment, she seemed no more than an ant. Yet how could an ant traverse this void? Perhaps she sought to join the Star Sea? The Star Sea demon god sneered, "You’re here to join the Star Sea, aren’t you? But you’ll need an offering—a credential. Kill this person, and I’ll personally introduce you." So what if he couldn’t gauge her power? So what if she was more powerful than him? She still had to follow his orders. Ha! What a thrill! "Aren’t you moving?" The Star Sea demon god shouted, "Do you not wish to enter the Star Sea? There are countless strong ones wishing to join every day, but without a recommendation, it's impossible." [Hahaha!] [This feeling of commanding the strong is unbelievably refreshing!] […] Several seconds passed, yet Su Miao showed no intention of acting. "Friend, don’t believe the Star Sea’s lies. Those deceived into joining are either sent to mine or explore new territories—extremely dangerous." "Three million years ago, the Star Sea used this method to slaughter hundreds of thousands of demon gods, employing their divine personas to fuel the Star Sea's operations—a brutal act." The demon god under pursuit explained. Is that all? Su Miao blinked. Regardless of the circumstances, these two demon gods could both perish. Starry Domain! With a wave of her Starry Wand, the surrounding scenery transformed abruptly. The two demon gods gazed at the unfamiliar starry expanse, their expressions astounded. "What are you trying to do?" The Star Sea demon god yelled, realizing something was amiss. However, his voice lacked conviction. The other demon god became excited, "Hahaha, Star Sea’s lackey, you’re done for." Bind! Once again, Su Miao waved her Starry Wand, imprisoning the two demon gods in place. The expression of the gloating demon god was particularly amusing as he exclaimed, "My lord, we are not your enemies!" Not enemies? Then why transfer the battle near her—was it for fun? With a slight flick of her hand, Su Miao transformed the Starry Wand into the God-Slaying Silver Sword. A flash of sword light extracted the divine personas from both demon gods. Though their divine personas couldn't compare to Luo He, the fallen quasi-supreme deity, they held significant reference value. Her current domain was perfected by referencing various divine personas through this method. "Ah!" Finally realizing their loss, the demon gods screamed in fear. "Your highness, spare us! Spare us! Spare us!" Chapter End.