Chapter 901: Mysterious Cultivation

To achieve this success, the Three Gods completely exhausted their resources. They deployed the Divine Annihilation Array, the long-handled halberd refined over tens of thousands of years, and the 108 tribal domain treasures and fortunes they had amassed, all of which ultimately transformed into the Great Luo Starry Sky. Each of these elements was a supreme treasure in its own right.

The Great Luo Starry Sky, in particular, was terrifying beyond measure, transcending the level of domain treasures and reaching the realm of immortality.

This demonstrated the Three Gods' absolute determination for this transcendence. Yet, even with such immense preparations, it seemed insufficient, as the resistance proved astonishingly powerful.

At this crucial moment, a mysterious red paper figure appeared, a sight so unsettling it made even Er Niu's heart palpitate, shaking everyone present. However, the Three Gods were not without a means of resistance. They each ignited their divine essence, forming life-god flames that merged together. These conjoined flames burned through ancient and modern times, pierced through the fabric of time, and summoned their past lives, which materialized from their souls, from their memories, and from within the flames resembling reincarnation.

The figure was of utmost nobility. The moment it stepped forth, the heavens and earth changed color, and the eight directions reverberated. The newcomer was robed in imperial attire, crowned with an emperor's diadem. Its face was indistinct, yet its regal aura overshadowed all of creation, dominating the universe. Stepping out of the flames, it raised its right hand and gently lowered it towards the approaching red paper figure. The instant their touch occurred, no sound erupted, nor did a colossal storm manifest. Instead, precisely where the finger met the paper figure, a white hole appeared.

This hole emerged out of thin air, and the moment it manifested, a chilling sensation swept through everyone. This white hole defied all rules and laws, existing beyond divine omniscience. No cosmic principle, no magical art, could encompass it. It seemed to be an entity that ought not to exist, unfolding from the cycle of reincarnation, emerging from the currents of time, erupting into this realm, only to vanish from the memories of all who witnessed it. The red paper figure disappeared along with it.

Having ceased to exist, the hidden gods outside the Divine Realm all recoiled, staring at the figure emerging from the flames as if confronted by a formidable foe. The North Emperor's face remained indistinct, even now. One could only observe him standing in mid-air, seemingly glancing down at the Three Gods before letting out a soft sigh. In the next instant, he astonishingly raised his hand and struck!

He struck not the heavens, but within the flames themselves, severing his connection with the Three Gods. In a blink, the bodies of the Three Gods each jolted. The unified flame once more divided into three distinct colors, returning to each of them. Their eyes opened and closed as they gazed at the North Emperor, their expressions filled with complex emotions.

"From this moment, our karma is severed."

The North Emperor spoke softly, then looked up, gazing into the ancient heavens. "I can still exist for three breaths. I might as well give them one more push."

His murmured words echoed. The North Emperor took a single step outside the Divine Realm. The moment his foot landed, the eight directions rumbled, generating infinite lightning. All hidden deities instantly recoiled, their expressions shifting as they each grunted and rapidly departed. The surroundings emptied, clearing all obstructions.

Then, the North Emperor took another step, entering the void to pursue the red paper figure. The outcome remained unknown, but with his departure, the aura of transcendence enveloping the Three Gods intensified significantly. The immediate obstacle seemed to have vanished, yet their condition was far from ideal. Their faces were pale, and their souls exuded an undeniable weariness.

Just then, another change occurred!

The sky ignited, vast and overwhelming flames spreading everywhere before rapidly converging into a colossal flaming spear, which shot directly towards the Three Gods!

This spear was world-shattering and unstoppable, appearing capable of breaching any barrier and incinerating all existence.

With a thunderous roar, it hovered above the Three Gods, radiating immense pressure as if poised to annihilate everything upon descent. Faintly discernible behind the spear was an ethereal figure, towering as high as the heavens, emitting world-shaking tremors. It gazed at the Three Gods and uttered a divine pronouncement, like a solemn decree.

"By the decree of the Underworld, Northern Fate, and Scarlet Great Luo, let it be known to the Sun, Moon, and Star, and to the Yan Yue clan: a fourth god shall not emerge!"

The Moon God's eyes glowed intensely, while the Star God remained silent. The Grand High Priest, however, sighed inwardly.

Simultaneously, within the swirling Emperor Corpse, Xu Qing, who was undergoing his Dao Mark transformation, heard the Captain's voice.

"The Underworld Source Bone Clan, the Northern Fate Royal Clan, and the Scarlet Great Luo Clan are among the top five most powerful clans on the Ancient Continent today!"

Almost the instant the Captain's words reached him, the Sun God from outside spoke calmly, "Grand High Priest, we have done our utmost to fulfill the promise we made to you back then, as you can see. And the unexpected development we warned you about has, regrettably, come to pass."

"They do not wish for the Yan Yue Xuantian Clan to produce a fourth god. Therefore, you have two choices: either your clan is annihilated, and you may still ascend to godhood and shine alongside us, or you perish, and we will continue to exist to safeguard the Yan Yue clan's survival."

"Choose your clan, or choose to continue your path to godhood. The decision rests solely with you."

The Grand High Priest closed his eyes upon hearing this, feeling no surprise. As the Sun God stated, he had been informed of all this years ago, including the possibility of this exact situation, which had now indeed materialized. The three powerful clans were not preventing *him* from becoming a god, but rather forbidding the Yan Yue clan from having a fourth deity. Had he not been the Grand High Priest, he might have severed ties with the Yan Yue clan to achieve godhood. However, his identity made such a separation impossible. The choice had long been clear in his heart, and despite any verbal pronouncements, he understood that his past "betrayal" was motivated by both the clan's well-being and his own ambition. Yet now, for reasons unknown, he found himself wavering. As for whether the Three Gods had orchestrated all this, he understood it clearly but no longer cared significantly. Whether it was planned or not, the Three Gods had, in truth, always presented him with the ultimate choice.

"So be it,"

The Grand High Priest sighed softly. Before his eyes, he saw Jiu Li's gaze at the moment of death—a look filled with hatred, bitterness, and regret. He also recalled his own words spoken to Jiu Li: "Your lineage perishes, to preserve a hope for the clan."

All those past scenes resurfaced in his mind. He envisioned himself in that ancient era, within the Divine Annihilation Array, progressively rising to become the Grand High Priest, governing the clan and guiding it from decline to resurgence. Then, he seemed to see Jiu Li once more, and this time, the words he had originally spoken appeared to come from Jiu Li's mouth in his memory.

His gaze, as if caught in a cycle of reincarnation, was complex. After a few moments, he shook his head and let out a self-deprecating chuckle. Some words, when repeated too often, even the speaker begins to believe.

The Grand High Priest closed his eyes. The divine fire, on the verge of completion within him, erupted instantly, rapidly spreading throughout his entire body. His flesh burned, his soul burned—everything was consumed by flames. Concurrently, within the Yan Yue Xuantian Clan, all members, tracing their lineage back to ancient bloodline origins, also began to show signs of burning. A sensation of impending death descended upon them. But in the very next instant, the flames on the Yan Yue clan members vanished, while the fire on the Grand High Priest intensified further, engulfing his form until he was reduced to ash. All that he was ceased to exist.

Regardless of his past thoughts or the agonizing decision he faced in that final moment, his ultimate choice was to relinquish godhood.

Only a brilliant divine talisman, imbued with the authority of the Divine Realm, flashed a few times before soaring towards the Sun God. This talisman was an entity surpassing even supreme treasures, for it contained the very power of the Divine Realm's godhead.

Apart from that, a final message echoed in all directions: "Honor the promise."

"We have always honored our promises. This is the very foundation of divinity."

The Sun God responded calmly. This scene evoked complex emotions within Xu Qing, yet at this critical juncture, he had no time to dwell on them. Within his body, the Void Earth was churning, reaching the pivotal moment of Dao Mark formation. Only upon the completion of these Dao Marks would he truly achieve his return to the Void. Meanwhile, outside, as the Grand High Priest turned to ash, the colossal flaming spear above the Three Gods abruptly vanished, as did the divine silhouette behind it. The heavens and earth returned to normal, as if nothing had occurred. The Three Gods closed their eyes, their inner Tribulation Flames poised to transcend, on the brink of reaching perfection. The Eye of the Scarred Face had also nearly closed, leaving only a narrow slit. But in the very next instant, the sky abruptly darkened. A massive black hand, seizing this opportune moment, descended, blotting out the heavens, and fiercely lunged towards the Three Gods, intent on seizing their opportunities and their divine fruits.

The appearance of this hand caused a drastic change in the Three Gods' expressions. Its timing was exceptionally precise, arriving at the very moment the Three Gods were on the cusp of success.

Having endured successive resistances, the Three Gods had by now completely depleted their resources. Just as the immense hand was poised to descend, a mysterious figure suddenly shattered the void, appearing abruptly beneath the colossal black hand. The aura emanating from this figure was not that of a deity, but of a cultivator!

While their specific clan remained indistinguishable, as the cultivator raised a hand, nine vast and astonishing grand worlds materialized across the heavens and earth. These nine worlds then incredibly transformed into nine stars, forming a brilliant galaxy!

Within this galaxy, countless scattered stars shimmered, subtly hinting at the formation of a true starfield. This was precisely the Sovereign Realm, the stage beyond the Nine God-Nurturing Realms!

This represents the pinnacle of the current Ancient Cultivation System, comparable to a deity. At the peak of the Sovereign Realm, one could even contend with Tribulation Fire.

The appearance of this cultivator sent a jolt through all the factions observing the scene, for according to the collective knowledge of various clans, Sovereigns on the Ancient Continent were currently few and far between, and all were merely in the early stages of their cultivation.

Within the cultivation system, the path beyond the Nine God-Nurturing Realms had been severed. Presently, achieving the Sovereign Realm was only possible through inherited bloodlines, other heaven-defying opportunities, or immense fortune. Yet, the mysterious cultivator who appeared now already displayed the rudimentary outline of a starfield, indicating they were not merely in the early stage of the Sovereign Realm, but had taken half a step into its very pinnacle!

A cultivator of this caliber would have been considered a hegemon in ancient times, yet according to all current tribal records, none exist in the present era!

Unless some ancient figures who had faked their deaths had re-emerged from hiding. The question of this cultivator's identity instantly flashed in the minds of all observing factions. As the starfield roared to life upon the cultivator's arrival, the encroaching massive hand also recoiled. Seizing this critical opening, the aura of the Three Gods finally surged dramatically.