Lin Yuan stood before the Liyang Ancestor, behaving with utmost humility.
This was the first time he had ever faced a time-being. Although the thirteenth-rank inheritance Infinite Void and the thirteenth-rank weapon Heavenly Void Cauldron he acquired in the Chaos Void were also tied to time-beings, the thirteenth-rank existences behind them had never paid him any attention—let alone spoken to him directly.
“It’s said that every Ultimate Heavenly Sovereign who redeems the Ancestor Possession opportunity receives some form of guidance from the Ancestor. As a time-being, the Ancestor can observe various futures, and any guidance they give is based on that individual's possible futures.”
Lin Yuan thought to himself, yearning for such guidance from a time-being.
After all, insights based on precise views of the future amounted to a kind of trial-and-error cheat.
Previously in the Chaos Void, Lin Yuan had glimpsed fragments of his future while studying the Heavenly Void Cauldron. But those glimpses were incomplete and possibly drawn from minor branches of future timelines.
They offered little real guidance.
However, the futures observed by thirteenth-rank Ancestors were extremely detailed, and by examining multiple future timelines, they could confirm various outcomes.
Lin Yuan wasn’t worried about the “Gate of Myriad Realms” being exposed.
When he advanced to the twelfth rank, information from the depths of the Gate had made it clear—
The Gate of Myriad Realms transcended all timelines. It existed beyond past, present, and future.
Unless Lin Yuan actively used the Gate and left residual traces in a dimension, a thirteenth-rank time-being from that dimension wouldn’t be able to detect it.
And since arriving in this Source World, Lin Yuan had never used the Gate—not even its world-breaking power.
“I wonder what my future looks like through the eyes of an Ancestor. How likely am I to reach the thirteenth rank…”
Lin Yuan pondered. In theory, every twelfth-rank peak lifeform had the potential to step into the thirteenth rank—but that was just theory.
For some twelfth-rank peak lifeforms, only one in a million or even a billion timelines ended in reaching the thirteenth rank—that was the actual probability.
In fact, one successful timeline among a billion was already considered high.
Most twelfth-rank peak beings had not even one thirteenth-rank breakthrough in trillions upon trillions of timelines.
While Lin Yuan waited patiently...
The Liyang Ancestor, still watching the branching future timelines, grew increasingly shocked.
“These futures?”
The Ancestor couldn’t believe it. “I just viewed several dozen timelines, and although they all varied… in every one, this little guy reached the thirteenth rank.”
The Liyang Ancestor was dumbfounded. For other twelfth-rank peak beings, you’d have to sift through countless timelines just to find one where they made the leap.
But with Lin Yuan, every timeline the Ancestor casually viewed ended with him achieving thirteenth rank.
Such a future was terrifying. Even though the Liyang Ancestor hadn’t viewed all of Lin Yuan’s future timelines, just the outcomes of these few dozen were enough to conclude that Lin Yuan had a very high probability of ascending.
Thirteenth rank?
High probability?
The Liyang Ancestor fell into silence.
“I established an ancient kingdom, left behind countless inheritances and techniques, nurtured my descendants over countless ages… and still haven’t produced a single thirteenth-rank being.”
The Ancestor’s thoughts expanded—not just in the Liyang Kingdom, but the other five kingdoms as well.
In the end, all six Ancestors reached the same conclusion: a thirteenth-rank time-being could not be cultivated.
As Ancestors, they could nurture someone to become the Strongest One—but to reach the thirteenth rank? That required luck.
Indeed, the Grand Ancient Void Kingdom had produced two thirteenth-rank Ancestors, but their rise had little to do with the original Void Ancestor. Before their breakthrough, they weren’t even highly regarded within the kingdom.
Even the Void Ancestor himself hadn’t paid much attention to them.
Meanwhile, his favored descendants were still stuck in time loops… while the ones he ignored had ascended.
“But this one…”
The Liyang Ancestor looked at Lin Yuan, unsure what to say.
After viewing dozens of future timelines, the Ancestor concluded that Lin Yuan reaching the thirteenth rank was almost a certainty. Whether or not he joined the Liyang royal lineage, he would become an Ancestor like himself.
“And…”
The Liyang Ancestor calmed his mind and began peering into different kinds of futures.
Timelines branched constantly, representing endless possibilities.
Now he examined timelines where he himself attempted to interfere—to stop or kill Lin Yuan.
Not that he had any such intentions. Lin Yuan was part of the Liyang royal line, and once he ascended, would surely remain an ally.
In fact, the Ancestor had every intention of helping Lin Yuan ascend smoothly.
But he was simply too curious. This seemingly guaranteed future drove him to test more possibilities.
Timelines rapidly extended—all showing him taking action against Lin Yuan.
“This is…”
The Ancestor’s expression shifted slightly.
At first, the timelines showed a smooth kill. As a thirteenth-rank time-being, Lin Yuan couldn’t resist at all.
But within hundreds of thousands or millions of years, Lin Yuan would return—appearing once more within the Liyang Kingdom.
This new Lin Yuan was already a thirteenth-rank time-being, having stepped into the domain of the Six Ancestors.
“I can’t stop him from ascending? Even if I kill him myself? He’ll still return somehow—and already as an Ancestor?”
The Liyang Ancestor took a deep breath, a chill creeping up his spine.
So far, in the more than a hundred future timelines he had seen…
Lin Yuan’s ascension to thirteenth rank was all but inevitable.
And no one could stop it—not even the Ancestor himself. At most, his interference would delay the ascension by a few million years. That was it.
“At this rate, my Liyang Genesis Kingdom is about to give rise to a new time-being…”
The Ancestor smiled at last. As incomprehensible as Lin Yuan’s future was, it was still good news.
The six Ancestors of this Source World were far from harmonious; they occasionally clashed, competing over future strategies and influence.
“Milky Way,” the Liyang Ancestor said with a smile, still seated cross-legged, gazing at the young Heavenly Sovereign.
After seeing Lin Yuan’s many future timelines, he had begun treating him as an equal—another of his rank. There was no trace of condescension.
Especially after discovering that even he couldn’t eliminate Lin Yuan, it would be foolish to act superior.
“You perfectly merged two thirteenth-rank techniques—one of which is the never-before-seen Void element? Milky Way, your talent surpasses that of any lifeform I’ve encountered.” The Ancestor smiled warmly and praised without reservation.
“From what I can see, you’ll soon become the seventh Ancestor of this world. Have you thought about what your ancient kingdom will be called?”
“An ancient kingdom’s name?” Lin Yuan was momentarily stunned.
He hadn’t expected that to be the first thing the Ancestor would ask.
That the Ancestor had seen through his cultivation of Infinite Void didn’t surprise Lin Yuan—thirteenth-rank time-beings had no secrets below their level.
He had even prepared a story to explain how he obtained that inheritance.
But the Ancestor didn’t ask about any of that.
“Ancestor,” Lin Yuan said at once, “establishing an ancient kingdom feels very far off for me.”
“True,” the Ancestor nodded. “Your top priority now is stepping into the thirteenth rank—to transform into a time-being.”
“I want to ascend too, but I’m not confident in overcoming the time loop,” Lin Yuan replied honestly.
Whether in the Chaos Void or the Source World, countless brilliant twelfth-rank peak beings were trapped in time loops.
Though Lin Yuan had made many preparations—like spreading the martial path evolution branch—he still lacked full confidence.
Which was only natural. Before achieving the breakthrough, no one could be completely sure.
“You don’t need to worry too much,” the Ancestor said after thinking for a moment. “Just maintain a calm mindset.”
“Alright.”
Lin Yuan nodded.
The trials within a time loop were entirely unfamiliar; worrying served no purpose. Maintaining inner calm was the best approach.
“Ancestor, about the inheritance I cultivated—” Lin Yuan began to explain the origin of Infinite Void.
“No need.”
The Ancestor shook his head. “That’s your secret. You don’t need to explain it to me.”
He continued, “At the thirteenth rank, secrets lose their meaning. In fact, when this world was first formed, the first lifeform born was called Yuanlong.” (Literally Origin Dragon)
“His talent was truly terrifying. Every particle of his body contained a vast world. A single attack could wipe out all experts of that era. But in the end, he was still easily slain by the Void Ancestor.”
The Ancestor looked at Lin Yuan.
“Yuanlong…”
Lin Yuan recalled the Blood of the Dragon Abyss he had just obtained.
He had sensed that the original lifeform was terrifying—but hearing the Ancestor describe him now, he realized Yuanlong had been even more terrifying than he had imagined.
At the very least, the implication was that his current strength—internal universes and Chaos Tai Chi combined—was still not on par with Yuanlong.
“Of course, compared to you, Milky Way, Yuanlong’s talent is nothing.”
The Ancestor said calmly.
For Great Sovereigns and Heavenly Sovereigns, talent meant bloodline, secret techniques, divine abilities…
But to a thirteenth-rank time-being, true talent was the likelihood of reaching the thirteenth rank.
And in that regard, who could compare to Lin Yuan?
“By the way, you came here this time to undergo possession?” The Ancestor suddenly recalled, smiling.
He’d been so shocked since seeing Lin Yuan that he almost forgot.
“Yes.”
Lin Yuan nodded.
He had come specifically to undergo Ancestor Possession—to experience the world through the eyes of a time-being.
To build a stronger foundation for his future ascension.
“You’re not planning to break through to thirteenth rank anytime soon, are you?” the Ancestor asked after some thought.
“No,” Lin Yuan replied.
According to his plan, he wouldn’t attempt ascension until the martial path evolution branch had thoroughly spread through all six ancient kingdoms.
And even then, he might continue waiting—exploring more of the Source World.
After all, stepping into thirteenth rank was no trivial matter. It was either success or being trapped in the time loop. Without knowing whether the Gate of Myriad Realms could resist that loop…
He had to be as prepared as possible.
“Then let me give you a suggestion,” the Ancestor said, looking at Lin Yuan. “Of course, just a suggestion.”
“Please,” Lin Yuan replied solemnly.
Advice from a thirteenth-rank time-being was not something to take lightly.
“With your foundation, there’s no need to undergo possession so soon. Wait until just before your breakthrough—then come back for possession.”
Many Ultimate Heavenly Sovereigns in the kingdom had redeemed possession multiple times. But Lin Yuan was different. For him, doing it early or repeatedly might have negative effects.
“Alright.”
Lin Yuan nodded.
Though he didn’t know the reason behind the Ancestor’s advice, he trusted there must be one.
“Though, Ancestor, I already spent a hundred billion merit points on this…” Lin Yuan couldn’t help but ask.
He had used that massive amount to redeem the possession opportunity.
“A hundred billion merit?” The Ancestor grinned. “When you return, feel free to choose from any of the inheritance guides in the treasury—no merit required.”
“Thank you, Ancestor.”
Lin Yuan’s eyes lit up.
He had been struggling to choose between the six supreme inheritances. With three hundred billion merit left after redeeming possession, he could only afford two.
But now, with the Ancestor’s words, the entire treasury was basically at his disposal.
“Ancestor… do you know the probability of me reaching thirteenth rank in the future?” Before leaving, Lin Yuan finally asked.
As a time-being, the Ancestor could observe future timelines. He should have a clear idea of Lin Yuan’s odds.
“The probability…”
The Ancestor looked at Lin Yuan. Almost every Ultimate Heavenly Sovereign who came for possession asked this question.
Usually, the Ancestor would give a few encouraging words. After all, their chances were slim. To even find a successful timeline, he’d have to search through countless billions.
But facing Lin Yuan’s question...
The Ancestor paused briefly, then said, “Very high.”
...
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