The Metamorphic Empress decisively chose to withdraw upon realizing that the Milky Way Star Lord had reached the level of "invincible unless a twelfth-rank strongest one intervenes." Continuing the fight would only waste the resources of the Insect Race.
So far, the Insect Race had already paid a hefty price in this supermassive battlefield war. Close to a hundred strongest weapons, numerous eleventh-rank clones, and the life essence used to activate the Balance Scale—amounting to one-tenth of ten eleventh-rank completions’ life essence—were sacrificed. The recovery of these resources would require an indeterminate amount of time and effort.
While the Insect Race’s foundations remained stable as long as its Empresses were unharmed, any interruption in their eleventh-rank succession could prevent the birth of a new twelfth-rank Empress for billions or trillions of years.
Other peak factions, meanwhile, would likely see the emergence of new twelfth-rank strongest ones. If the Insect Race failed to keep up, its position among the twelve peak factions would weaken over time.
As for the price of conceding defeat? It was merely one ten-thousandth of their territory—a cost the Insect Race could bear.
“How did the Milky Way Star Lord achieve such overwhelming strength, far beyond the limits of an eleventh-rank completion? Could it be related to the final opportunity that human civilization obtained?”
The Metamorphic Empress scrutinized Lin Yuan from a distance, attempting to uncover some of his secrets, but Xuanyuan’s presence blocked her efforts. In terms of strength, Xuanyuan was her equal. In a desperate fight, the Metamorphic Empress would even be at a disadvantage.
Across the cosmic void, among the dozens of twelfth-rank strongest ones, the only ones who made Xuanyuan wary were the two strongest ones of the Calamity Race. However, the Calamity Race’s strongest ones dared not unleash their full power in the universe, as doing so risked suppression by the universe’s will.
“It’s just one supermassive war. When the next one begins, we’ll ensure the Milky Way Star Lord is barred from participation,” the Metamorphic Empress thought silently.
Supermassive battlefields were created collaboratively by the twelfth-rank strongest ones, and the rules governing these wars were likewise established by them. Whether for large-scale wars or supermassive wars, strongest ones often agreed on certain rules, such as prohibiting the participation of strongest one incarnations.
These battlefields were meant to constrain the destruction caused by conflict to a limited area. If strongest one incarnations could freely intervene, the concept of a battlefield would be meaningless. The destructive power of twelfth-rank strongest ones would wreak havoc on the entire universe.
After witnessing the Milky Way Star Lord’s power, the Metamorphic Empress had resolved to collaborate with other peak factions to draft new battlefield rules, ensuring that the Milky Way Star Lord would be added to the list of banned participants.
“Xuanyuan, could you return our twelfth-rank weapons? Rest assured, we are willing to exchange other resources for them,” the Metamorphic Empress said after some thought.
The numerous twelfth-rank weapons bestowed upon the Insect Race had fallen into the hands of the Milky Way Star Lord. The Metamorphic Empress hoped to recover them through legitimate trade.
“That will depend on the Milky Way Star Lord’s decision,” Xuanyuan replied with a smile.
To encourage human evolutionaries to fight on the battlefield, the Human Civilization Alliance had long established a rule that all battlefield gains belonged to the individual. Human civilization could only make suggestions, not decisions. This principle applied even more to the Milky Way Star Lord, who had absolute control over all his acquisitions.
“Milky Way Star Lord, what do you think? Feel free to state your demands, as long as they are within our means,” the Metamorphic Empress said, her gaze soft and her tone gentle. Ordinary peak eleventh-rank, even the strongest among them, would find it difficult not to succumb.
“I will consider it,” Lin Yuan replied calmly.
If the resources offered by the Insect Race were satisfactory, he wouldn’t rule out exchanging the twelfth-rank weapons. After all, Lin Yuan could only use so many weapons simultaneously. Trading them to human civilization wasn’t a practical option either; the sheer number of weapons—over six hundred—would overwhelm human civilization in the short term.
As for the potential threat of the Insect Race recovering these weapons and regaining their foundation, Lin Yuan wasn’t particularly concerned. If he converted these six hundred-plus strongest weapons into the resources needed to cultivate the “Mysterious Emperor Body,” he could likely elevate it to the peak of the eleventh rank.
An eleventh-rank completion of the “Mysterious Emperor Body,” built upon Lin Yuan’s physical foundation, could likely bring his physical body to the twelfth rank. By then, Lin Yuan’s mental willpower, law comprehension, and physical body would all reach the level of a strongest one.
The Metamorphic Empress's incarnation fell silent for a moment before her figure vanished, retreating into the Nightmare Realm. The strongest eleventh-rank being of the Insect Race glanced at Lin Yuan with a complex expression before turning to leave without hesitation.
Since the universe’s inception, no matter how powerful an eleventh-rank being, all had been cautious in the face of twelfth-rank strongest ones. Even the Mother of Trees and the peak Divine King were no exceptions. Yet the Milky Way Star Lord showed no fear. While part of this confidence stemmed from human civilization’s backing, Lin Yuan’s personal strength was equally critical.
With the Insect Race’s withdrawal from the supermassive war, other peak factions’ twelfth-rank strongest ones exchanged glances and reached the same decision. Like the Insect Race, they chose to withdraw, relinquishing the battlefield’s initial dominance.
There was no alternative. Despite their coalition of eleven peak factions, they had been utterly crushed by the Milky Way Star Lord. The Balance Scale’s attempts to weaken his life essence had proven futile. Now, with the Insect Race bowing out, they had even less hope of countering the Milky Way Star Lord. Rather than sending more of their strongmen to their deaths, it was better to withdraw decisively.
“Hahaha! My thanks, everyone,” Xuanyuan said, addressing the twelfth-rank strongest ones. The other eight strongest ones of human civilization also smiled.
Since the advent of the Star Sea Calendar, human civilization had consistently held the upper hand in wars against other races, but it had never been this effortless. A supermassive war, involving vast spatial dimensions, concluded within just ten years. This was only because the first decade had been spent preparing methods to deal with the Milky Way Star Lord.
“Xuanyuan, don’t get complacent. No matter how strong the Milky Way Star Lord is, he still faces the risk of total annihilation when attempting to ascend to the twelfth-rank,” one of the twelfth-rank strongest ones cautioned.
“Indeed. Ascension depends not only on foundation but also on luck. Even the strongest preparations don’t guarantee success,” another agreed.
While they had relinquished battlefield dominance, the twelfth-rank strongest ones refused to yield verbally. Ascension to the strongest one rank involved numerous thresholds, and luck played a significant role even when all other conditions were met. Without it, even a being ten or a hundred times stronger than Lin Yuan could fail.
“No need to concern yourselves with that,” Xuanyuan said coolly.
“For now, please expedite the division of territories with human civilization.”
The virtual world. Xia Qin, one of the strongest ones, smiled at Lin Yuan.
“Lin Yuan, you really didn’t care about those old fellows’ reactions, did you?” Xia Qin’s expression was one of delight. While human civilization had won many wars in the past, this was the first time the peak factions had exited in such humiliation.
“It’s a pity such opportunities only come once,” Xia Qin sighed.
“Only once?” Lin Yuan asked, slightly puzzled.
Xia Qin had mentioned that supermassive battlefields opened once every hundred thousand years. While this was a long time for lower and mid-level evolvers, for ninth-rank and higher evolvers, it was a blink of an eye. Lin Yuan’s plans included staying at the eleventh rank for a while, hoping to comprehend chaotic laws before attempting ascension. He thought he might even catch the next supermassive war.
“By the next supermassive war, those old fellows will ensure you’re barred from participation,” Xia Qin explained, almost certain of the outcome.
“Barred from participation?” Lin Yuan was taken aback.
“Do you think they’d let you in just to lose again?” Xia Qin shook his head.
“If the result is predetermined, who would join?”
“Before the next supermassive war, those old fellows will definitely revise the rules to prohibit your participation,” Xia Qin continued. This time, the war had begun before Lin Yuan had showcased much strength, as he had only just entered the eleventh rank.
By the time his abilities became evident—after annihilating tens of thousands of eleventh-rank beings—it was too late to change the rules. Next time, however, the peak factions would undoubtedly add new restrictions, effectively banning Lin Yuan.
“I see.” Lin Yuan nodded.
War, after all, was like gambling. Participants needed to see a glimmer of hope. If there was no hope, no one would join. If human civilization continued deploying Lin Yuan in supermassive wars, the other eleven peak factions would likely boycott the next one entirely.
“To think that an eleventh-rank being could influence the rules of supermassive warfare. You might be the first and last in this universe,” Xia Qin said, feeling both awed and fortunate that Lin Yuan was part of human civilization. If another peak faction had produced someone like Lin Yuan, Xia Qin would be in the same position as the twelfth-rank strongest ones just now.
“By the way, Xuanyuan asked me to check if you have any plans for those twelfth-rank weapons. The old fellows want to trade resources to get them back,” Xia Qin asked.
It wasn’t just the Metamorphic Empress who had this idea; the twelfth-rank strongest ones of other peak factions also intended to exchange resources for their respective twelfth-rank weapons. These weapons, over six hundred in total, were vital for their corresponding faction’s strongest ones.
Replacing them wasn’t as simple as finding another weapon. Compatibility mattered. For instance, a twelfth-rank strongest one specializing in spears would lose effectiveness if forced to use a sword.
“What’s the strongest ones’ stance?” Lin Yuan asked. Ideally, he’d prefer to integrate these weapons into human civilization.
“You should trade with those old fellows. Human civilization doesn’t have the resources to match what they can offer,” Xia Qin replied candidly.
The sheer value of six hundred strongest weapons required an astronomical amount of resources. Only the combined efforts of the eleven peak factions could meet such demands.
“No problem,” Lin Yuan agreed.
After all, these strongest weapons originally belonged to the eleven peak factions.
“Good. Let me know your terms, and I’ll relay them to those old fellows,” Xia Qin said. The eleven peak factions were desperate to recover their weapons, leaving Lin Yuan free to name his price.
Meanwhile, news of the supermassive battlefield’s events—especially the Metamorphic Empress’s admission that the Milky Way Star Lord had crushed tens of thousands of eleventh-rank beings without relying on any strongest one foundation—spread like wildfire across countless civilizations.
From the strongest to the weakest, beings across the universe were astounded.
“The Milky Way Star Lord killed tens of thousands of eleventh-rank beings without external help?”
“Are we sure he isn’t already a strongest one?”
“Impossible.”
“The reports must be accurate. Even the twelfth-rank strongest ones relinquished battlefield dominance and withdrew.”
“I heard the Milky Way Star Lord’s mental willpower has reached the twelfth rank. The Metamorphic Empress herself confirmed it.”
“Mental willpower? At the twelfth rank? How did he achieve that?”
“Exactly. Advancing even a single point of mental willpower is grueling. He just skipped straight to the twelfth rank?”
The universe was abuzz. The scale of Lin Yuan’s feats—shattering tens of thousands of eleventh-rank beings, including those wielding strongest weapons, and achieving twelfth-rank mental willpower—was unprecedented. Even secretive races in isolated realms took note.
“How old is the Milky Way Star Lord?”
“Less than a thousand years.”
“Less than a thousand years old, and he’s already accomplished this? Are we sure he’s not a strongest one in disguise?”
“Fools. If he were a strongest one, how would he have entered the supermassive battlefield? The other strongest ones would never have allowed their strongest ones to be slaughtered.”
Across the vast cosmos, countless beings debated Lin Yuan’s achievements. While some doubted, the overwhelming evidence silenced most skeptics.
When Lin Yuan first ascended to the eleventh rank, he had already become a household name. Now, the events of the supermassive battlefield had elevated him to universal renown. Lin Yuan was no longer just a genius; he was a legend.
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