Chapter 1295: Entering the Game Personally

At this moment, within the Fourth Star-ring, the Fissure—one of the original four forbidden zones—completely collapsed. Everything within it ceased to exist, turning into a void. The very concept of its ‘existence’ was stripped away and shattered. Even the turbulence of time and space was encompassed, becoming part of this void, like an unalterable constant, eternally present there.

Meanwhile, outside, the perceptions from supreme beings—whether Immortal Venerables in the Fourth Star-ring or God-Venerables in other star-rings—were uniformly locked onto another region, with an air of profound gravity. What they observed was the starry sky of the Fourth Star-ring, near the Third Star-ring. That expanse of sky was rippling as if an existence, imperceptible to those of a rank lower than God-Venerable, was currently merging within it, moving forward in an inconceivable manner.

This scene was invisible and completely imperceptible to the beings living within that starry sky. It was something beyond their comprehension. Even the divine beings hidden there found it so. That peculiar mode of existence exceeded the limits of their understanding, as if it were merely an abstract concept. This concept was precisely the Old God-Venerable who had escaped from the Fissure!

His body covered the starry sky; his consciousness transcended time and space. His existence became a part of all things, so his speed could not be concretely imagined. And he was fleeing. Wherever he passed, he stirred up storms that pervaded the entire star-ring. Countless bizarre life forms were born within these storms, only to die in the next instant. They became both the beginning and the end, becoming destiny, part of a concept, and also the power for his advance. This enabled him to constantly approach the Third Star-ring.

However, his thoughts were turbulent. He knew very well that God-Venerables were entirely different from each other. Even though Shanghuang's injuries were clearly extremely severe, possessing a half-step divine rank meant he was at the absolute pinnacle of ascending cultivation. Every move he made would cause all God-Venerables to tremble with fear; he was irresistible! Not to mention, he was acutely aware that his current state was far from its peak. In the past, during a struggle for divine authority, he had been defeated by the current Fourth Star-ring God-Venerable and had been suppressed by him for countless ages. Continuous sealing and weakening had left him incredibly frail. In such a state, facing Shanghuang, who was a half-step divine being, he had no other option but to flee.

"The Divine Umbilical Cord cannot open for me.""The only path before me now seems to be to travel to other star-rings, using their divine aura to contain my concept and thus conceal myself!""However, the Fifth Star-ring is filled with immortal qi; it's unsuitable for the infiltration of a divine authority concept."

Within this concept, merged with the starry sky, the Old God-Venerable's divine sense fluctuated. After Shanghuang's arrival, all cause and effect collapsed. Countless hidden secrets were revealed, including traces of external manipulation. This allowed his omniscience, within these shattered causalities, to gradually complete and perfect the previously missing information. The moment it was fully complete, the Old God-Venerable smiled.

"That Immortal Venerable surpasses even divine beings in strategic calculations; indeed, he is worthy of being the only one in history to achieve Venerable status through immortal cultivation.""His initial scheme involved me: first, by combining the concept of the Chart of Fate, he used causality to compel the God-Venerable of the Chart of Fate, making him willing to sacrifice everything and enter the Divine Umbilical Cord.""Then, he drew Shanghuang here to drive me away, with the goal of forcing me into the Third Star-ring, thereby paving the way for his next step.""He calculated that I would go to the Third Star-ring, because there I would have a sliver of hope for survival.""And he also calculated that I couldn't enter the Fifth Star-ring—because there, I would surely die!""Step by step, ring by ring, and the origin point was those two individuals who were themselves part of Shanghuang's causality!"

Within that concept, the Old God-Venerable's divine sense fluctuated intensely. Laughter gradually rippled within that concept. "However, Immortal Venerable, you repeatedly used Shanghuang, even with a layer of separation to minimize the contamination of karma, but... do I truly have no other choice?!"

The next instant, a scene that shocked all observing beings violently erupted within this concept. The Old God-Venerable actually changed direction, instantly reversing his own concept, appearing in another location within the Fourth Star-ring! That location was infinitely close to the Fifth Star-ring! This scene immediately caused tremors in the other star-rings.

"Treating me as a mere pawn..."The moment the concept, in an indescribable manner, spread across the boundary and encroached upon the Fifth Star-ring, the Old God-Venerable's divine sense propagated throughout all thirty-six ascending star-rings. "This Venerable, a primordial divine being, has lived a life of supreme dignity, slaughtered countless foes, reached the God-Venerable realm, and gazed upon the path to true godhood—"

As the divine sense reverberated, the minds of all God-Venerables churned. And the concept that was the Old God-Venerable, at this moment, truly entered the Fifth Star-ring. The immortal qi present emitted intense struggles due to his arrival, forming ripples, and amidst this repulsion, the concept transformed from intangible to tangible. This caused a flaw in the Old God-Venerable's concealment, revealing his terrifying form. It was a colossal being covered in stars from head to toe. As countless tentacles swayed, stars were born and stars died. It was as if his very existence was an intrinsic part of the star-ring's operation. And his voice continued to reverberate.

"Those who scheme against me in this life shall all be subject to an unalterable destiny.""The Chart of Fate is like this, and you—."

This divine sense, within the hearts of all beings in the Fifth Star-ring, thundered like a celestial sound, resembling the shattering of endless lightning. It caused all living things to wail in agony and all things to wither. And he himself, amidst the spread of this divine sense, astonishingly chose to actively dispel his own concealment, making his form appear more complete and distinct within the Fifth Star-ring. This caused the Fifth Star-ring's destiny to emit unbearable fluctuations, while countless universes and stars trembled at that moment, as if having reached their limit of containment. After shedding his concealment, the Old God-Venerable, standing in the Fifth Star-ring, had his presence glow like an astonishing star. It attracted countless gazes, and it also attracted his pursuer.

Thus, in the next instant, within the void behind his true form, a pair of golden pupils suddenly appeared! They reflected all forms of life and matter, containing infinite universes, simultaneously vast beyond measure and filled with sanctity and inviolability. It was precisely the Eye of Shanghuang! The moment it appeared in the Fifth Star-ring, the minds of all cultivators throughout the entire Fifth Star-ring roared. Each of them felt an inexplicable terror, their hearts pounding ceaselessly, and their flesh began to twist. The same horror that had occurred on Wanggu Continent manifested in the Fifth Star-ring.

As all beings blanched, the Eye of Shanghuang's gaze fell upon the Old God-Venerable before it! Yet the Old God-Venerable, at this moment, was completely unconcerned; his eyes were cold, his expression resolute. His divine sense surged up in that instant, integrating his will within it, transforming into words that startled even immortals!

"No entity can treat me as a mere pawn!""If you use me as a pawn, then—the chessboard shall collapse!"

As the Old God-Venerable spoke, he suddenly turned, directly facing the Eye of Shanghuang. He allowed signs of his own dissolution to appear under Shanghuang's gaze, without the slightest evasion! Only his divine sense roared upwards!

"Immortal Venerable, this Venerable abandons the chance of survival in the Third Star-ring, choosing to use my death to make Shanghuang's aura eternally remain in your Fifth Star-ring!" The moment defiance emanated from his words, the Old God-Venerable's divine essence exploded outwards, transforming into countless concepts, forming a path of guidance.

And the next instant, Shanghuang's gaze completely enveloped his form, and followed the path formed by his concepts, instantly spreading outwards into the starry sky in all directions. The scope was immense, covering almost thirty percent of the entire Fifth Star-ring! Following this, a scene that shocked all beings and gods appeared.