Martial Evolution Tower.
It was enormous and towering, a full ten light-years tall, standing in the most vital heartland of human civilization, worshiped day and night by countless living beings.
Within the tower’s deepest chamber, Lin Yuan sat cross-legged. It was a vast domain, and not far away stood eighteen extraordinary trees swaying lightly in the breeze.
These eighteen trees could directly absorb chaos energy without undergoing any refining or purification. Their oppressive aura was no weaker than that of any Path-Clearing peak expert.
“They can directly take in chaos energy because they have some special internal structures that handle it,” Lin Yuan reflected, a surge of inspiration rippling through his mind.
Back at the 11th rank, he had obtained these eighteen Dominance-level trees and became intrigued that they could directly inhale and exhale chaos energy. He had researched them multiple times. After Lin Yuan reached the 12th rank, he finally completed the last piece of that research; all his scattered insights converged into a fully developed secret art.
[Your Unrivaled Insight has perceived the trees absorbing chaos energy. You have comprehended a secret art for directly taking in chaos energy.]
A secret art took shape in Lin Yuan’s mind. At its core, it made small adjustments to his internal universe so it could draw in chaos energy similarly to how the trees did.
“At last,” Lin Yuan said with a smile. The secret art increased his efficiency at using and absorbing chaos energy, so he no longer relied too heavily on chaos stones.
A Path-Clearing expert’s internal universe can indeed absorb chaos energy but only by going through multiple steps. Usually that’s fine, but in a critical moment—like during battle—who has time to absorb chaos energy at a slow pace? That’s when chaos stones become important.
Chaos stones, refined by Chaos Venerables themselves, contained exceptionally pure chaos energy ready to be absorbed straight away. Now Lin Yuan could do something similar, directly taking in chaos energy.
“The best part of this secret art is how it helps me understand chaos energy,” Lin Yuan mused.
Chaos energy is the most common power in the Chaos Void, the basis of everything. Precisely because it’s so common, 12th-rank experts often take it for granted.
…
Guming Chaos Continent, Mingchuan City.
Inside an inn.
Lin Yuan sat cross-legged, his aura gradually stabilizing.
“With my current grasp of chaos energy, the physical body of this avatar can fully attain the Path-Clearing peak.”
A small grin emerged on Lin Yuan’s face.
Previously, when he subdued dozens of alien 12th-rank experts in the universe, his dozens of avatars each had nearly Path-Clearing peak power. Roughly on par with Xuanyuan the Strongest one or the Mother Empress of Insect Race, maybe a bit stronger.
But now, each avatar genuinely reached the Path-Clearing peak.
Bear in mind, “close to the Path-Clearing peak” and “actual Path-Clearing peak” are two entirely different concepts. Xuanyuan, the Mother Empress, and the others had approached the Path-Clearing peak long ago, yet whether they could break through before the universe’s Great Destruction remained uncertain. Odds were against it.
As for the two Calamity Race powerhouses at the Path-Clearing peak, that was because they had cultivated through more than one cosmic epoch. Under normal conditions, hundreds or thousands of epochs might pass in a universe without spawning a single Path-Clearing peak being.
“Still, I need to be cautious. This isn’t my home universe.” Lin Yuan scanned his surroundings, calming his momentary excitement.
In his own universe, he was absolutely invincible, sweeping all opponents. But here on Guming Chaos Continent? Even if his avatars were at the Path-Clearing peak—and even if his true body possessed Dominance-level power—he couldn’t act recklessly.
A Dominance-level expert is indeed quite strong in the Chaos Void, but this is a Chaos Continent overseen by a Chaos Venerable, gathering countless 12th-rank beings from the wide surroundings. Path-Clearing experts are found everywhere, Dominance-level as well. There might even be the occasional Chaos-level being passing by.
“Hmm?”
“Someone’s looking for me?” Lin Yuan sensed it and glanced outside the inn.
“I’ve been here training ever since arriving on this Chaos Continent. Who’d want to see me?” He felt a bit surprised.
After pondering, Lin Yuan stood and made his way into another section of the inn.
The inn was large enough to be a minor world of its own, partitioned into different areas.
“Greetings, my lord.” Awaiting him was a woman whose gaze was gentle and manner respectful.
In one look, Lin Yuan discerned she was an 11th-rank being. The cuffs of her robe bore the insignia of Guming Chaos Continent, meaning she served under Guming Venerable’s command.
Of course, she wouldn’t be a direct subordinate of Guming Venerable but at least someone working in his system.
“What is it?” Lin Yuan asked directly.
“Replying to your lordship, half a year from now, our Mingchuan City will host its ‘Thousand Treasures Gathering.’ During that event, many rare objects, seldom seen under normal circumstances, will be available. By order of the city lord, I’ve brought you a copy of the ‘Thousand Treasures Record.’ It lists the items for sale at this time.”
She produced a small compendium.
“Understood.” Lin Yuan’s expression did not shift as he took the volume.
“I’ll take my leave, then.” The woman departed at once.
Lin Yuan flipped through the ‘Thousand Treasures Record’ filled with numerous items.
Mingchuan City provided this record so he could prepare in advance, gathering chaos stones. Knowing in advance what would appear at the Thousand Treasures Gathering gave him time to get ready if there was something he desperately wanted.
“Mingchuan City’s ‘Thousand Treasures Gathering’ is backed by Guming Venerable. Its credibility is trustworthy. The items that appear are often extraordinary, drawing in many strong cultivators from the nearby Chaos Void.”
Lin Yuan had already learned much about the Thousand Treasures Gathering from the intelligence left behind by Cang Weiyang.
“This Gathering will feature 8,633 items, all of decent quality.”
He skimmed it.
“5,311 Path-Clearing artifacts, 1,476 Dominance-level items, and even six Chaos-level treasures? As for the rest, they’re various exotic flowers, bizarre fruits, unusual materials, and so forth.”
Lin Yuan noted that even a single Thousand Treasures Gathering showcased riches far beyond the entire net worth of Cang Weiyang, a Dominance-level powerhouse.
“Crystal of Time: Contains a high concentration of time power. Using it greatly speeds up comprehension of time-based laws, effective only below the seventh layer of time mastery.”
“Base price: 800 chaos stones.”
“A direct boost to time law comprehension? That’s quite uncommon,” Lin Yuan remarked, “but it won’t help me.”
His comprehension of time laws had already reached the ninth layer. Only a single step remained to transform it into Time Dao. Among the fundamental pillars, time rules are not as difficult as fusing space-time rules, so Lin Yuan reached the ninth layer quite early.
“Seven-Colored Thunder Stone: A strange rock fallen from the Chaos Thunder Pool, harboring seven-colored lightning. Immensely beneficial for a 12th-rank cultivator on the path of lightning.”
“Base price: 10,000 chaos stones.”
The Chaos Void teems with many strange locales, each requiring special conditions to enter. The Chaos Thunder Pool, for instance, is filled with endless destructive lightning. Only a Chaos Venerable specialized in lightning can enter.
Over lengthy intervals, it spits out certain stones—Seven-Colored Thunder Stones—imbued with some essence of the Chaos Thunder Pool and serving as a prime source of lightning for deepening lightning Dao.
“Lightning…” Lin Yuan paused for a moment. He had no urgent craving for lightning-based laws.
“Ten thousand chaos stones is about an average Dominance-level cultivator’s entire fortune,” Lin Yuan mused.
Still, the Seven-Colored Thunder Stone is so rare that it can be priceless. Being expensive is normal.
He continued browsing through the Thousand Treasures Record, many items piquing his interest, until he saw a particular listing.
Lin Yuan’s eyes narrowed subtly.
It was a golden box, weathered by time, likely ancient. In its lower-left corner lay a complex etching that struck Lin Yuan with a sense of familiarity.
“That’s the Mysterious Emperor lineage’s mark?” he realized.
Having inherited the Mysterious Emperor Secret Realm, Lin Yuan was considered a descendant of His Majesty the Mysterious Sovereign and thus recognized that insignia.
“This box might be from the Mysterious Emperor lineage…” he guessed.
He glanced at the notes on it in the Thousand Treasures Gathering’s info:
“Unknown Box: Emitting Chaos-level energy fluctuations of unclear origin and effect.”
“Base price: 30,000 chaos stones.”
The golden box had been in Mingchuan City for some time, and even Guming Venerable had failed to determine its background. But since it radiated Chaos-level power, they considered it a Chaos-level treasure and priced it at 30,000 chaos stones.
In fact, that price would be deemed low for a Chaos-level treasure. Typically, any Chaos-level artifact would fetch 50,000, 100,000, or more chaos stones.
“So, 30,000 chaos stones. Guming Venerable must not know its true background,” Lin Yuan thought. His Majesty the Mysterious Sovereign had been a peerless Great Saint.
How could something passed down from a peerless Great Saint’s lineage be worth only 30,000 chaos stones?
Of course, that made sense. His Majesty the Mysterious Sovereign had existed countless cosmic epochs ago. Even back in the era of the Devil Jade Tower’s master, knowledge of him was already extremely rare. The Devil Jade Tower’s master learned of him only via ancient ruins.
“30,000 chaos stones. I’ll give it a shot,” Lin Yuan decided. None of the other 12th-rank cultivators, nor Guming Venerable himself, could figure out the box, but Lin Yuan was different, as he cultivated the Mysterious Emperor lineage. He could at least attempt it.
Any leftover treasure from the Mysterious Emperor’s lineage, surviving all these epochs, was bound to be extraordinary. Lesser items would have vanished long ago with the passing ages.
…
Deep in Guming Chaos Continent.
Guming Venerable abruptly opened his eyes, looking grave.
“Guming, what’s wrong? Did you discover the origin of the coming threat?” asked a nearby Chaos Dragon Beast.
Some time ago, the beast had foreseen a crisis drawing near and alerted Guming Venerable.
“Yes,” Guming answered with a nod, the weight never leaving his expression.
“What is it?” asked the Chaos Dragon Beast.
“Shadowfiend Great Saint and Nine Phoenix Great Saint are battling, and their fight will spill into this region,” Guming Venerable replied.
“Shadowfiend Great Saint and Nine Phoenix Great Saint…” The Chaos Dragon Beast’s heart lurched.
Those two were famous Great Saints. They had been archenemies since they first stepped into Chaos-level power, fighting each other constantly. They ascended to the Great Saint realm around the same time, and their feud continued for epoch upon epoch.
Ever since becoming Chaos Great Saints, they had waged unending war, ravaging large swathes of territory. Through inquiries with his contacts, Guming Venerable learned their battlefront would likely pass near Guming Chaos Continent.
Even the aftershocks of a battle between two Great Saints could plunge the entire continent into chaos. A being like the Chaos Dragon Beast, approaching Chaos-level, could be badly injured from residual blasts alone.
That’s if the Chaos Dragon Beast tried to dodge. When these two Great Saints fight, entire regions disintegrate. Even any universes nestled in their path might be forced into early Great Destruction.
Shadowfiend and Nine Phoenix had been clashing for tens of cosmic epochs, forcing many universes into ruin long before their time.
“Unlucky for us to be right in their route,” Guming Venerable murmured.
A normal Chaos Venerable is vastly weaker than a Chaos Great Saint. Killing a Chaos Venerable outright might not be easy for a Great Saint, but destroying everything around them is trivial.
“Indeed, we’re very unlucky,” the Chaos Dragon Beast sighed.
The Chaos Void was immeasurable, so even a widespread conflict might remain a small corner of the total cosmos. That was why no other Great Saints had tried to stop their fight; from the bigger picture, it wasn’t worth intervening.
“Guming, what do we do?” asked the Chaos Dragon Beast.
“I plan to drive this Chaos Continent away as far as possible,” Guming Venerable said. In principle, they could abandon the continent and flee, likely avoiding any danger. But Guming Venerable had poured nearly a hundred cosmic epochs of effort into this place; he didn’t want to let it go.
Guming Chaos Continent was huge as hundreds of universes combined, far too large for Guming’s internal universe to contain. So the only option was shifting the entire continent itself, hoping it could escape the region of destruction as the Great Saints passed.
Of course, moving a continent at that scale was much slower than Guming’s own flight, but it was a plan. Even if they couldn’t fully outrun the aftershocks, at least they wouldn’t be dead center, making survival more likely.
“There’s no other way,” the Chaos Dragon Beast agreed.
“This region is about to face annihilation,” Guming Venerable said softly.
As a Chaos Venerable, he could flee and survive. But the many universes in this vicinity—and the countless lives within them—lacked that luck.
...
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