The Time Lord stood at the peak of the thirteenth rank, at the very limit of perfection. At this stage, a time lifeform had already begun to draw in its own timelines, attempting to unify past, present, and future into one.
This was in preparation to strike at an even higher realm.
In the First Source World, among the six founding ancestors of the ancient kingdoms, even the mightiest—Ancestor Grand Ancient Void—was still infinitely far from a Time Lord.
Yet when Lin Yuan studied the rune Dao passed down by the Lord of Heavenly Radiance, he found that its description of the essence of runes far surpassed any thirteenth-rank inheritance he had ever seen.
Thus came the speculation that the Lord of Heavenly Radiance was a Time Lord.
“It could also just be a powerful time lifeform.”
Lin Yuan steadied his thoughts. His own level was still too low—not even at the thirteenth rank—so he could not possibly judge whether the Lord of Heavenly Radiance was truly a Time Lord.
“These rune Dao inheritances are of great help to me.”
Lin Yuan spent several days thoroughly comprehending the many inheritances hidden within the stone statue, especially those concerning the rune Dao. At last, he revealed a smile.
In particular, the rune inheritances from various Eternal Lords allowed Lin Yuan to clearly see the true nature of the path of runes. The ultimate pursuit of the Lord of Heavenly Radiance on this path was omnipotence.
The other Eternal Lords each had their own pursuits as well, and through them, Lin Yuan could faintly glimpse the methods of every Eternal Lord.
“Still far too few.”
Lin Yuan looked at the stone statue before him, feeling unsatisfied.
The inheritances left by the Eternal Lords were unimaginably precious. Even someone like ‘Li Hong,’ at the peak of the second realm of Freedom, had only obtained fragments. As for more? None at all.
“Continue excavating the ruins of other sects and powers.”
Lin Yuan gathered his thoughts, feeling certain that the path he had chosen was correct.
For the time being—at least until he had fully opened up an infinite sands-of-eternity world—he would not easily head to the central lands or risk contact with the Demon Gods.
But the inheritances left behind by the Eternal Lords could be obtained within countless sect ruins. Even if incomplete, they were more than enough for Lin Yuan.
“Sects at the level of Supreme Sacred Sects should hold even more Eternal Lord inheritances.”
Lin Yuan thought to himself. Those capable of founding a Supreme Sacred Sect were beings of the third realm of Freedom. Such powers almost always had deep ties with Eternal Sects. To step into the third realm of Freedom by oneself was simply too difficult.
With ties to the Eternal Sects, naturally they would leave behind more inheritances concerning Eternal Lords.
“Even a Supreme Sacred Sect, if targeted by a Source Demon, would hardly escape unscathed.”
Lin Yuan silently considered. Through ‘Li Hong,’ he knew well the power of a Source Demon—at least an existence on par with the Abyss Dragon.
Without a thousand years of cultivation, even Lin Yuan himself could not be completely certain of killing one.
The First Source World.
In the capital of the Liyang Kingdom, within the Milky Way Prince’s Manor—
Meng Shi and the other disciples Lin Yuan had accepted came as usual to seek audience.
This was also a rule Lin Yuan had set: every so often, his disciples could come to ask about their doubts in the martial path.
“Master.” Meng Shi and the disciples greeted respectfully. They looked at the young man seated cross-legged before them, countless runes weaving and colliding around him, faintly outlining a vast world. The runes’ level was far too high; no matter how much they strained their eyes, the disciples could not see the whole picture.
Yet even without fully grasping them, each disciple felt that every single rune contained infinite mysteries, as though they were fragments of the very essence of heaven and earth.
“Every rune before Master… just one alone feels greater than the entirety of those Ultimate Heavenly Sovereigns. What exactly are these runes?” The disciples’ hearts trembled.
They could feel that these runes were casually condensed by Lin Yuan—thousands upon thousands, endlessly weaving and clashing.
“It’s said Master is the undisputed number one expert of the six ancient kingdoms, so esteemed that even the six ancestors regard him with special respect. To become his disciples is the fortune of a lifetime.”
So thought Meng Shi and the others.
The longer they served under Lin Yuan, the more they realized the weight of the title “Milky Way Heavenly Sovereign.” Even the Ancestors themselves bowed and treated him with courtesy.
Within the six ancient kingdoms, the Ancestors were supreme. From the founding of the Grand Ancient Void Kingdom, no Heavenly Sovereign had ever compelled the Ancestors to such respect. Even the second and third Ancestors, while still at the Heavenly Sovereign level, had never drawn so much attention from Ancestor Grand Ancient Void.
“Back in the Thousand Fang Domain, I worried that I’d bring trouble to Master, fearing he couldn’t withstand the retaliation of the Thousand Fang King.”
Meng Shi reflected. “But now… what is the Thousand Fang Domain compared to Master? Even the emperor of the Great Ling Ancient Kingdom would have to bow before him.”
“If you have doubts in your cultivation, speak them.”
Lin Yuan dispersed the runes before him and looked to his disciples.
These disciples had been handpicked by Lin Yuan after traveling through the six ancient kingdoms—the ones most suited for martial cultivation, with the highest potential in martial Dao.
In the future, once Lin Yuan stepped into the thirteenth rank and founded the seventh ancient kingdom, many affairs would need to be entrusted to them. Thus, he made time to guide them regularly.
They would become the face of martial cultivators for ages to come, and Lin Yuan naturally wished to train them well.
“Master, time is like flowing water. But how does it flow, and where does it go?”
Meng Shi was the first to ask. With his martial Dao talent in time, Lin Yuan valued him greatly. Such talent was no less than the wondrous time-blooded lifeforms of the chaotic void.
At the twelfth-rank perfection, one could faintly sense possible visions of the future.
“Time…”
Lin Yuan pondered, then moved his mind. A rune condensed into being.
This rune was the ‘Time’ character of the Second Source World—unfathomably complex, yet when fully gathered, it resembled a winding river of time flowing endlessly.
The rune Dao of the Second Source World sought to replicate all of existence through runes—even the laws themselves were within its scope.
“This…?”
Meng Shi stared at the rune before Lin Yuan, feeling as though it were alive. He truly saw the vast Dao of Time.
“Thank you for your guidance, Master.”
Meng Shi gazed upon it with rapt attention, then bowed deeply.
To hear the Dao in the morning and die by evening was already enough. But he had not merely heard—it was as though he had seen the Dao itself. For him, the ‘Time’ rune Lin Yuan had casually condensed was his Dao.
The other disciples too observed the rune. Though they did not tread the path of time, beholding a rune that embodied the essence of a great Dao was of immeasurable benefit.
“Master, I…”
Soon the second and third disciples stepped forward with questions.
Lin Yuan answered each one, and in the end, even condensed corresponding runes for them.
The rune inheritances of the Second Source World, able to replicate the great Dao of laws, were nothing short of miraculous. They could greatly lower cultivation thresholds—especially when condensed by Lin Yuan, who laid bare the very essence of the laws.
The Second Source World.
Lin Yuan’s Yang soul sped swiftly toward a certain direction.
“I’ve already suppressed thirty-six Great Demons, sending their incarnations to my true body. I’ve also discovered the ruins of a Holy Sect, though compared to Li Hong’s sect, its value to me was not as great.” (Sacred Sect changed to Holy Sect)
Lin Yuan thought, glancing into the distance. “Time to push further.”
This Source World was vast beyond measure. According to the Qingyun Supreme Sacred Sect’s ‘map,’ his current position was near the edge of this realm.
“In fact, the ‘demon’ calamity of this Source World is more a boon than a curse for me—at least I avoid the scrutiny of the Eternal Lords.” Lin Yuan mused.
Were it not for this calamity, as Lin Yuan grew and gathered rune inheritances, he would inevitably draw the gaze of Eternal Sects, and even the Eternal Lords themselves.
As time lifeforms, Eternal Lords could observe countless future timelines. But with the Lord of Heavenly Radiance—a fathomless time lifeform—present in this Source World, they might not treat Lin Yuan with the same goodwill as the six Ancestors.
The six Ancestors only did so because they had seen the certainty of Lin Yuan’s future timeline.
But the Lord of Heavenly Radiance? If that being truly was a Time Lord, able to peer into far more and farther-reaching timelines, he might very well see the one where Lin Yuan failed to break into the thirteenth rank.
And thus, set his own plans in motion.
Of course, it was only a possibility.
But that alone was enough for Lin Yuan to be wary. Before reaching the thirteenth rank, he had no desire to entangle with time lifeforms of such power.
“What’s that?”
At that moment, Lin Yuan suddenly stopped, his gaze falling to a valley below. His brows lifted slightly.
He faintly sensed rune fluctuations within. “Another sect ruin?”
Joy stirred within him. To Lin Yuan, sect ruins were like free treasure troves. Even the weakest sect held value—perhaps not much, but still helpful.
“Let’s take a look.”
Rather than enter the valley directly, Lin Yuan drew near to observe carefully.
However—
As soon as he crossed a certain range, runes instantly spread throughout the surroundings. At the valley’s peak, a golden figure with a cold gaze condensed into form.
“What’s this…?”
Lin Yuan’s expression sharpened. The surrounding runes far surpassed those left behind by Li Hong’s sect. To reach such a level, this valley’s sect ruins had to be at least of the Supreme Sacred Sect tier.
“Since you’ve come, you too are a cultivator. The trial begins now. This sect’s inheritance is special—only by passing the trial may you comprehend it.”
The golden figure above the valley looked down on Lin Yuan, its voice calm. “Enter.”
With that, it waved its hand, attempting to move Lin Yuan into the trial space.
Hum—
An invisible wave enveloped Lin Yuan, trying to drag him inside.
“…Hmm?”
The golden figure froze slightly—realizing it could not move Lin Yuan at all.
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