Chapter 579: Plundering Forces

"We were just talking about you," said Bone Mountain Lord, a skeletal figure draped in robes. Bone Mountain Lord hailed from a medium-tier life world, where his cultivation focused on the 'Bone Body,' ultimately transforming him into a complete bone lifeform.

"Even though Cang Alliance members are spread across the River of Spacetime, there are still only about ten individuals who cultivate both the Five Tribulation Body and the Five Tribulation Soul simultaneously. If you also factor in those who master two Five Tribulation realm laws, there are only two," said Futon, a plump figure as round as a ball, with an infectious smile. "Brother Dongning is the third. Naturally, such a person must be befriended."

Meng Chuan smiled, "I've heard Brother Futon's esteemed name many times as well."

"Is it because I like exploring ruins, even if it means risking my life?" Futon chuckled.

Cang Alliance members come from various places, each with their own distinct style of conduct.

Futon loved adventure and exploring ruins! Due to his explorations, he had died numerous times.

"Futon, how many times has your true body in the outer realms died while exploring ruins?" Ziyao asked with a smile. "I recall you told me it was thirty-five times last we spoke."

"Thirty-seven times," Futon replied, a hint of helplessness in his voice. "While exploring ruins yields rewards, losing my true body in the outer realms repeatedly, even if I can cultivate it back, leaves me quite poor."

Each time a true body in the outer realms died, all the treasures it carried were lost! Cultivating a true body in the outer realms also required a significant amount of treasure.

As a result, Futon was unwilling to invest too much in cultivating his 'true body.' Although he mastered two Five Tribulation realm laws, his physical cultivation was relatively weak, placing his overall strength at an average level among Five Tribulation realm cultivators. However, he was recognized as the most experienced ruin explorer in the Cang Alliance, and various parties were willing to befriend him and invite him along on their explorations.

After Meng Chuan, Futon, Bone Mountain Lord, Old Demon Heifeng, and Ziyao chatted for a long time, they gradually departed.

Gatherings in the Cang Alliance space were also opportunities to make friends.

After all, those who could join the Cang Alliance were at least mighty Five Tribulation realm experts, each a hegemon of a star system.

Over the past six months, he had met over a hundred members in the Cang Alliance space. Social individuals like Old Demon Heifeng had befriended far more members than Meng Chuan in that same period.

"Now that they're gone, let's talk business," Futon said, looking at Old Demon Heifeng with a smile.

"Leaving me alone, what is it you wish to discuss?" Old Demon Heifeng inquired.

"I'm preparing to explore a ruin," Futon nodded. "I wanted to ask if you're interested in coming along?"

"You're exploring ruins again?" Old Demon Heifeng knew Futon was obsessed with this. "Can't you just explore alone? Why did you think of inviting me?"

Futon gently shook his head. "This time is different. This ruin is somewhat special, and I've already died twice during preliminary explorations. I must have a companion. Your cultivation methods should be quite suitable for venturing in. That's why I'm inviting you."

"Where is this ruin?" Old Demon Heifeng pressed.

"It's in the Six Desires River System," Futon replied.

"That's quite far from our Goddess River System. It would take me over a year to travel there," Old Demon Heifeng stated.

"It's just over a year of travel, are you coming or not?" Futon pressed. "The rewards from exploring the ruin will depend on our individual abilities."

Old Demon Heifeng pondered for a moment, then looked at Futon.

While Five Tribulation realm cultivators had another true body hidden in their home worlds, making them virtually immortal, exploring ruins meant risking death and the loss of both treasures and physical bodies. Such losses could amount to thousands of units, or even more, so caution was naturally required. Few were as reckless as Futon in exploring ruins.

Old Demon Heifeng thought to himself, "Futon's physical cultivation is weak, and his Tribulation realm secret treasures are inferior, yet he masters two Five Tribulation realm laws, so his strength is no less than mine. He has a good reputation in the Cang Alliance for his many ruin explorations, and he's already made two preliminary attempts at this one, so it must be very special and appealing to him. I can give it a try. However, I should bring fewer treasures, just enough to exert seventy to eighty percent of my strength."

Futon waited patiently for Old Demon Heifeng's decision.

"Alright, I'll set off immediately and meet you in the Six Desires River System," Old Demon Heifeng nodded. "Just you and I, exploring the ruin together."

"Just you and I," Futon confirmed with a nod.

Old Demon Heifeng made some quick arrangements that day and immediately departed for the distant Six Desires River System to meet Futon.

Meanwhile, Meng Chuan remained focused on his secluded cultivation in the Three Bay River System, practicing the third volume of the 'Void Tome,' the foremost unique art of the Void lineage in the River of Spacetime.

In a stretch of void in the outer reaches of the Three Bay River System.

Two Emperor Lords watched their surroundings with despair. Black ripples permeated tens of millions of miles of void around them, trapping them like insects caught in a spiderweb, making escape impossible.

"Senior, senior, we are willing to offer our treasures. Please spare our lives," the two Emperor Lords pleaded.

From within the spreading black ripples, an old man in black robes appeared. His eyes bore black patterns as he scrutinized the two Emperor Lords, speaking indifferently as if they were two tiny ants awaiting slaughter: "Hand over all your treasures, including your grotto-heavens and other possessions, and I will spare your lives."

"Hand over everything?" The two Emperor Lords exchanged glances.

Before a Tribulation realm mighty expert, they had no way to hide anything.

"It's our misfortune to have encountered this old villain, Bolan. Let's not hope for too much; we just hope to save the lives of the younger generation."

"Hopefully, old villain Bolan won't push us too far," they communicated via soul transmission.

Immediately, one Emperor Lord respectfully said, "We are willing to surrender all our treasures, but please spare the Venerables we carry within our portable grotto-heavens. All of their treasures will naturally also be offered."

"Venerables? Such weak little fellows are better off dead," the black-robed old man's eyes glinted with ferocity.

He enjoyed killing Venerables.

Why would he spare Emperor Lords? Because Emperor Lords had another true body in their home world; even if killed, they could cultivate themselves back.

However, killing a Venerable meant complete annihilation! The thought of completely destroying a cultivator's life thrilled the black-robed old man.

"Senior, killing them would bring you no benefit."

"Please, Senior, grant those Venerables a chance to live," the two Emperor Lords pleaded anxiously. Among the Venerables they carried, some were their followers, and others were Venerables from their home worlds. While the loss of treasures was acceptable, they had to protect the lives of the Venerables.

The black-robed old man chuckled sinisterly, his eyes, filled with black patterns, growing more fierce. "I'll give you two choices: quickly hand over your treasures and all the Venerables, then get lost. The other path is that I kill both of you."

"Senior!"

One Emperor Lord, suppressing his anger, maintained a respectful posture. "If you spare the Venerables, we will offer all our treasures. But if you don't grant them a way out, we will absolutely not surrender all our treasures; we will destroy as much as we can."

"Senior, why suffer significant losses for the sake of venting your anger?" the other Emperor Lord added.

"Threatening me?" The black-robed old man let out a sinister chuckle.

"Senior, as a mighty Tribulation realm expert, why quibble with juniors? If you show mercy, we will certainly be grateful for your kindness in sparing our lives," the two Emperor Lords continued to plead.

*Bang!*

Without warning, the power of the black ripples in the entire void domain erupted at full force, crashing down upon the two Emperor Lords.

"Old villain!" The two Emperor Lords' eyes turned red. In their anger and despair, they only had time to self-destruct, attempting to destroy as many of their carried treasures as possible.

However, many Tribulation realm secret treasures were indestructible, no matter how much they tried.

Soon, only some treasures remained! The two Emperor Lords and the twenty-three Venerables hiding in their grotto-heavens were all killed. While the Emperor Lords still had clones in their home worlds, the Venerables were truly and completely annihilated.

"Hahaha... I just love seeing your desperate expressions," the black-robed old man said, extending his long, three-forked tongue to lick his lips with a satisfied enjoyment. He relished the thrill of complete annihilation and the utter despair of the weak. Afterward, he collected the treasures with a flick of his hand and departed.

Half an hour later.

Inside a very secluded cave dwelling on a Lunar Star.

The black-robed old man returned to the cave dwelling. Inside, several Emperor Lords greeted him with immense respect.

"Bolan, you're back," said a red-robed man, who was sitting and eating meat heartily, looking up. "How was your harvest this time?"

"I roamed for half a year and only encountered three groups of cultivators, killing seven Emperor Lords and over fifty Venerables," the black-robed old man shook his head. "Those Venerables were all completely annihilated. It's a pity that Emperor Lords have true bodies in their life worlds, so they can't be truly eliminated. I truly envy these ants; we special lifeforms have no life worlds to hide in."

"They have home worlds to hide in, but they're still very weak," the red-robed man said, continuing to eat his meat. "By the way, from today onwards, we should also be more restrained."

"Restrained? Why?" the black-robed old man asked, puzzled.

"Our Three Bay River System has gained a new Five Tribulation realm expert," the red-robed man replied. "News from the Black Devil Palace indicates that the newly emerged Five Tribulation realm expert in the Three Bay River System is named 'City Lord Dongning'."