Chapter 656: Weakness and Strength

Episode 1: Secret Technique "Three Autumn Leaves"

By: I Eat Tomatoes

Meng Chuan continued walking, feeling the vast sound characters from the mountaintop. Suddenly, he paused slightly, looking up.

A corpulent figure flew down from above, a smile gracing its face. Yet, the oppressive aura emanating from this fleshy figure as it descended caused Meng Chuan's heart to involuntarily tremble. It was like an ant encountering a terrifying monster charging head-on, the mere gusts of wind from its presence capable of crushing it.

"What a terrifying aura," Meng Chuan thought, startled.

He had met beings like Patriarch Realm, Pavilion Master Blazing Sun, and Mountain Lord Moxie, but he had never encountered an aura with such overwhelming pressure. He feared that even some Six-Calamity Realm mighty figures with weaker mental fortitude would be stunned for a while upon meeting this being.

"Dongning greets the Guild Master," Meng Chuan said, seeing the other clearly and immediately bowing.

Across the entire River of Spacetime, there were only just over twenty Seven-Calamity Realm experts, each of them a legend. The corpulent being before him had once briefly stood at the very pinnacle of the River of Spacetime! He was 'Guild Master Demonic Eye'. Over eighty thousand years ago, after cultivating for just over thirty thousand years, Guild Master Demonic Eye had subtly emerged as the paramount figure of the River of Spacetime, the strongest among the physical body Seven-Calamity Realm experts. The only one who could rival him was Patriarch Realm.

For a time, many Six-Calamity Realm mighty figures had served under Guild Master Demonic Eye… and even some of the mighty figures who were now Seven-Calamity Realm experts had followed him when they were weaker. Later, Guild Master Demonic Eye disappeared! He vanished for nearly thirty thousand years. Although he had a true body in his homeworld, he simply didn't appear, and outsiders couldn't see him at all. Consequently, his once largest organization, the 'Demonic Eye Guild', disintegrated.

During his period of disappearance, Ancestral Witch King obtained the inheritance of an eternal being, the 'Witch Lineage'. His strength advanced further, no less than Guild Master Demonic Eye before his disappearance, and he became the strongest physical body Seven-Calamity Realm expert of that era, enjoying glory for tens of thousands of years… At that time, Patriarch Realm remained the strongest Primordial Spirit Seven-Calamity Realm expert. Subsequently, it was the rise of Emperor Wanxing and Pavilion Master White Bird. The emergence of these two 'Half-Step Eight-Calamity Realm' beings completely suppressed the contemporary era.

Guild Master Demonic Eye had disappeared for nearly thirty thousand years, and various legends circulated externally, with some speculating he had suffered severe injuries. Later, he re-emerged from his homeworld and rebuilt the Demonic Eye Guild. He openly admitted that… he had once, by chance, left the universe and encountered a formidable enemy outside of it, sustaining extremely serious injuries. Even now, though his injuries were stable, his strength had declined, and he had become much more low-key and reserved. His demonic aura once covered the entire River of Spacetime, but now it was greatly restrained. He always claimed he only possessed the strength of an ordinary Seven-Calamity Realm expert. However, no one dared to underestimate him. After all, he had possessed the strength of Ancestral Witch King over eighty thousand years ago. Even after suffering heavy injuries, who knew what hidden methods he might have acquired after cultivating for eighty thousand years?

In the River of Spacetime, besides the two universally acknowledged strongest beings, there were seven top-tier Seven-Calamity Realm experts: Ancestral Witch King, Patriarch Realm, Palace Master Blood Phoenix, Leader of the Primal Realm, and the other three. Guild Master Demonic Eye was not included among them because, after reappearing with his injuries, he had never displayed the strength of a top-tier Seven-Calamity Realm expert. Nevertheless, all factions feared him.

"City Lord Dongning, Meng Chuan." Guild Master Demonic Eye's mouth was wide open, smiling joyfully. "The younger generation nowadays is truly impressive. Cultivating for just over three thousand years, and you've already traversed half of the Demonic Mountain Path. Seeing you all makes us feel increasingly old."

"Back then, Guild Master became a Seven-Calamity Realm expert after just over ten thousand years of cultivation, far more formidable than this junior," Meng Chuan humbly replied.

Guild Master Demonic Eye's self-chosen title, 'Demonic Eye', reflected his overtly demonic conduct, which he showed no concern for. Faced with such a being, Meng Chuan naturally chose his words with greater caution.

"Haha…" Guild Master Demonic Eye laughed, "Perhaps you too will become a Seven-Calamity Realm expert in the future."

"Guild Master flatters me," Meng Chuan replied.

"Since you've traversed half of the Demonic Mountain Path, you must have received a fortuitous encounter bestowed by the Demonic Mountain Master, correct?" Guild Master Demonic Eye looked at Meng Chuan. "All of us who walked half of the path back then received one."

Meng Chuan knew he couldn't hide it, so he nodded and said, "Yes."

"Hand that fortuitous encounter over to me," Guild Master Demonic Eye said with a smile.

"Hand it over to the Guild Master?" Meng Chuan was slightly taken aback.

To be honest, Meng Chuan was wary of the Demonic Mountain Master. The so-called fortuitous encounters arranged by the Demonic Mountain Master had caused the deaths of countless Calamity Realm mighty figures. Was it truly a benevolent gift? Moreover, the Demonic Mountain Master had explicitly stated that the Land of Weary Bones was a place where fortune and misfortune were intertwined, and what one gained depended on their capability and luck.

If he could sell a 'fortune and misfortune intertwined' opportunity for tangible benefits, Meng Chuan would still be willing. After all, many of the advantages in the River of Spacetime were monopolized by the current Seven-Calamity Realm experts.

"May I ask what terms the Guild Master offers?" Meng Chuan inquired.

"Terms?" Guild Master Demonic Eye looked at Meng Chuan and smiled, "Young fellow, you're trying to negotiate terms with me? Not killing you, does that count as a term?"

Meng Chuan was stunned.

"Not killing you, does that count as a term?"

"The entire universe, and even beyond," Guild Master Demonic Eye said, smiling as he looked at Meng Chuan, "is like a vast jungle. The strong prey on the weak; sparing a life is already an act of benevolence. You are merely a newly advanced Six-Calamity Realm expert; you are still weak. Isn't it only proper for you to obediently hand over the fortuitous encounter in my presence? In the current River of Spacetime, the most valuable resources are held by Seven-Calamity Realm mighty figures. Even if something occasionally falls into the hands of a Six-Calamity Realm expert, a Seven-Calamity Realm expert will seize it. Without strength… you have no right to possess treasures, or else it is merely a path to death."

Meng Chuan stared at him.

"You've cultivated for a short time and experienced too few hardships," Guild Master Demonic Eye said. "Just hand over the fortuitous encounter obediently."

"Isn't such an action going too far?" Meng Chuan finally spoke.

"Going too far? This is perfectly normal. If you become stronger than me in the future, for instance, an Eight-Calamity Realm mighty figure, I would be pleased if you could kill me." Guild Master Demonic Eye smiled. "Dying at the hands of an Eight-Calamity Realm mighty figure, I'd have no complaints. Clearly, you are weaker than me. You now have only two choices: first, refuse me. I will destroy your numerous avatars in the outer void and issue a pursuit order. Your homeworld's faction will also be hunted down. Not a single clan member will be able to enter the outer realm. As long as I live, you will be confined to your homeworld forever, and your clan members will similarly have to hide forever, unable to step outside the outer realm."

Meng Chuan remained silent, just listening.

He had heard of such things. Once a Seven-Calamity Realm expert was angered, and a pursuit order was issued, the Seven-Calamity Realm expert would personally deal with the Six-Calamity Realm target. No Six-Calamity Realm avatar could cultivate safely outside; they would be annihilated the moment they left their homeworld. While Seven-Calamity Realm mighty figures disdained dealing with mere Venerables or Emperors, they commanded a large number of Six-Calamity and Five-Calamity Realm subordinates. These subordinates would swiftly wipe out the target's entire homeworld faction. If confined to one's homeworld, unable to venture into the outer realm and experience various trials, even great potential would likely only be realized by ten or twenty percent. For someone like Meng Chuan, the hope of becoming a Seven-Calamity Realm expert would drastically diminish.

"The other option is to agree to me and obediently hand over the fortuitous encounter," Guild Master Demonic Eye said with a smile. "I am also teaching you to adapt to the rules of the River of Spacetime."

Meng Chuan looked at him and calmly stated, "I refuse!"

(End of Chapter)