"You want me to forge you a new vessel…?" Yuan stared at Kulas' soul with wide eyes.
"What? Don't tell me you're going to refuse and force me to reincarnate..." Kulas remarked with a somewhat worried voice.
Yuan shook his head with a smile and said, "Why would I do that? If you don't want to reincarnate, then so be it. However, if you want me to craft you a vessel that'll fit your taste… it might be a little difficult."
"Hahaha!" Kulas suddenly burst out laughing, "Did you think I was asking you to forge me a giant's body? I couldn't care less about the size. You can forge me an ordinary body if you want."
"In that case, it's doable. However, you'll still have to wait until I finish with the trials since I don't have any ingredients on me at this moment."
"Fine, but don't make me wait too long, or I might accidentally reincarnate from boredom," said Kulas.
"Seeing how you can already make such jokes despite everything that has happened, I think you'll be fine," Yuan remarked with a smile.
Kulas fell silent for a moment before speaking again, "Although I had my ups and downs in life, it's nothing compared to what you have experienced. I'm merely inspired and following what you're doing."
"Is that so…"
"Anyway, go ahead and continue what you were doing. I may sound fine, but I am actually exhausted, so I'll take a quick nap. Wake me up when my new vessel is ready," Kulas said. "We can continue this conversation at that time."
"Alright. Sleep well."
Kulas' soul disappeared into the void shortly after, but he didn't vanish. Instead, Tian'er had taken his soul and placed him somewhere safe.
Ever since Tian Qiyuan crafted the Stairway to Heaven, Kulas' soul had resided within the treasure, arguably the safest in the Nine Heavens. After all, the Stairway to Heaven was used to traverse the Nine Heavens by its residents. It was a treasure that even the Celestial Emperor considered extremely valuable, so nobody has tried to covet or damage it.
Moreover, the Stairway to Heaven was one of Tian Qiyuan's masterpieces, rivaling Number One Under Heaven.
After Kulas left, Yuan focused solely on recovering his energy.
Meanwhile, Feng Yuxiang and the others chatted about the situation.
"I can't believe that such an ancient figure is still alive," Feng Yuxiang remarked. "Giant Emperor Kulas was one of the most powerful figures of the Primordial Era, predating even the Asura Clan," Xiao Hua said. "It's no exaggeration to say he was one of the key reasons the Celestial Emperor was able to rise into existence."
"Huh? What do you mean?" Feng Yuxiang looked at her with a puzzled face.
"The Celestial Emperor wasn't even a concept during his time," she explained. "Back then, the Nine Heavens—known as Divine Heavens were controlled by the Immortal Clans. One day, Giant Emperor Kulas waged war against the human race. He and the giant race, which was under his command, wreaked havoc across the Divine Heavens and killed countless people. The war forced the Immortal Clans and many other powerful families to come together for the first time."
"However, Giant Emperor Kulas suddenly vanished into thin air one day. Without their leader, the giant race quickly crumbled, and the war ended shortly after. To this day, nobody knows what happened to Giant Emperor Kulas—well, except us."
"Anyway," Xiao Hua continued, "after the war, the Immortal Clans and the other families went their separate ways. But those families, having once tasted what it felt like to command the entire world, couldn't let go of that power and began seeking ways to rule the world once more."
"The Immortal Clans and many other powerful families began fighting among themselves, each seeking to rule the Divine Heavens. Although the Immortal Clans had once been the strongest, their influence had been greatly weakened by a madman who targeted them specifically, ultimately causing them to lose the war."
"Of course, the Immortal Clans weren't the only powerful families. Many hidden families stepped out from the shadows to join the war as well. After many years of conflict, one family emerged victorious and became the first Celestial Family in history."
"Unfortunately, that family abused their newfound power to hell and back… and, well, you already know what happened after that, so I'll spare you the details."
Feng Yuxiang listened to Xiao Hua's history lesson with a loosened jaw.
"I've never heard anything about a war between the Giant Race and humans, and I've read countless ancient scrolls," she remarked.
"Well, it was ages ago—back when this world had only just come into existence. In those days, a few thousand years felt unimaginably long, unlike now, where cultivators can survive for tens of thousands of years with ease. I only know of this history because the Asura Clan once served the first Celestial Family. Because of that, we had access to records hidden from the rest of the world," Xiao Hua said with a light shrug.
Lan Yingying looked at Xiao Hua and remarked with a smile, "To me, you're just as ancient as the Giant Emperor."
Xiao Hua shook her head.
"Although we both existed within the same era—the Primordial Era—it doesn't feel like it. The world before the Celestial Family came into existence was vastly different."
Some time later, Yuan ended his cultivation and said, "I'm ready to begin the next trial."
At his words, the void stirred once more.
When the shifting finally settled, Yuan found himself standing above the clouds, surrounded by an endless expanse of blue sky.
<You have started your second trial in the Stairway to Heaven!>
<A majestic palace stands before your presence…>
A colossal palace emerged on the horizon, suspended atop a platform of clouds. It exuded a boundless, divine aura, as though it were the dwelling place of a god.
When Yuan saw the familiar-looking palace before him, he sighed. Unlike the first trial, he immediately knew what he had to do in this trial.
"That's… the Celestial Palace!" Xiao Hua exclaimed, her eyes widening at the sight.