Chapter 718: Dispute

Inside a hall within Nebula Palace, an area under the jurisdiction of White Bird Hall.

"Dongning, sit," said the thin, gray-robed Master of White Bird Hall from the main seat.

Meng Chuan also sat down. There were five powerful beings in the hall. Besides Meng Chuan, they were the Master of White Bird Hall, the Master of Shadow Demon, Vice Master Blazing Sun, and Vice Master Azure Dragon. Although White Bird Hall had other Seven-Tribulation realm and Half-step Seven-Tribulation realm experts, these four were the true core. They now wished to include Meng Chuan in this core group.

Because Meng Chuan had not established any power of his own and was an Origin Spirit Seven-Tribulation realm expert, he could play a significant role.

Figures like the Master of Dongming, the Palace Master of Gourmet God, the Master of Shadows, the Heart Demon Sect Master, and the Master of Moye Mountain each had their own forces. Their relationship with White Bird Hall was more akin to a partnership.

"Congratulations, Dongning, on overcoming your heavenly tribulation," the Master of White Bird Hall said with a slight smile. "From now on, your path is wide open, and you won't need to worry about heavenly tribulations for a long time."

"Indeed," Meng Chuan replied.

Meng Chuan also smiled. "Ever since I became a Tribulation realm expert, these repeated heavenly tribulations have kept me quite tense. Now I can relax. I doubt I'll face the eighth Origin Spirit Tribulation before my life limit in this lifetime."

"Don't underestimate yourself," the Master of White Bird Hall said. "Eight-Tribulation realm experts also cultivate from the Seven-Tribulation realm. If our predecessors could achieve it, why can't we? Cultivation requires great resolve; without it, becoming an Eight-Tribulation realm expert is utterly hopeless."

"You are right, Master," Meng Chuan quickly agreed, though he muttered to himself inwardly.

He was merely being humble.

It wouldn't do to declare his ambition of becoming an Eight-Tribulation realm expert right away.

Moreover, as far as he knew, becoming an 'Origin Spirit Eight-Tribulation realm expert' was incredibly difficult. The first hurdle was mastering the 'rules of time and space' to become a Half-step Eight-Tribulation realm expert. In many eras, there were no Half-step Eight-Tribulation realm experts. It was extremely rare for two Half-step Eight-Tribulation realm experts to exist concurrently in the current era. Overcoming the first hurdle alone was not easy.

The second hurdle was the mind and will! The mind and will needed to be strong enough for the Origin Spirit World to withstand the evolution of time and space rules. This was an extremely high level of difficulty. According to recorded intelligence, it was far more difficult than cultivating an Eight-Tribulation realm physical body.

The third hurdle was the tribulation itself—the eighth Origin Spirit Tribulation, about which no information could be gathered at all.

When Meng Chuan stated that he doubted he would face the eighth Origin Spirit Tribulation before his life limit, it was partly out of humility. However, seeing the eighth heavenly tribulation would also signify having overcome the first two hurdles, meaning his Origin Spirit World could withstand the evolution of time and space rules.

Overcoming the first two hurdles meant that, even without the final tribulation, one's true strength would already be that of an 'Origin Spirit Eight-Tribulation realm expert'!

"It feels like the Master cares more about my cultivation than I do myself," Meng Chuan mused inwardly.

"Dongning," the Master of Shadow Demon, who rarely spoke, interjected, "You are still young, having cultivated for just over seven thousand years. You could entirely emulate the Master, reaching the Half-step Eight-Tribulation realm in twenty to thirty thousand years, and then aiming for the Eight-Tribulation realm."

Meng Chuan chuckled.

The Master's cultivation speed was indeed astonishing. Strictly speaking, he became a Half-step Eight-Tribulation realm expert in less than thirty thousand years. Could Meng Chuan achieve the same?

"Let's discuss official matters," the Master of White Bird Hall said, glancing at Vice Master Blazing Sun.

Vice Master Blazing Sun nodded slightly and said, "Now that Dongning has become an Origin Spirit Seven-Tribulation realm expert, he can also claim more resources."

"Claim resources?" Meng Chuan's heart stirred.

He knew that many precious resources in the River of Spacetime were almost entirely monopolized by Seven-Tribulation realm experts! The reason Six-Tribulation realm experts pledged allegiance to Seven-Tribulation realm experts was to get a share, like drinking soup while the powerful ones ate meat.

He definitely needed to claim some for himself! These resources could also become the foundation of Cangyuan Realm in the future.

Whoosh.

Vice Master Blazing Sun waved his hand, and a map of the Spacetime Territory appeared before them, with many areas on it shimmering with light.

"Currently, all the relatively easily obtainable resources throughout the entire River of Spacetime have been claimed," Vice Master Blazing Sun said, pointing to a branch of the River of Spacetime. "For example, the most famous 'Star Sand River.' Star sand is the best material for us to refine Tribulation realm talismans. Occupying Star Sand River and selling 'star sand' is an easy business. Now, over eighty percent of Star Sand River's territory is occupied by Palace Master Xuehong and Abbot Huangyi, who are also constantly in conflict."

"Don't other Seven-Tribulation realm experts contend for it?" Meng Chuan asked.

"In the entire River of Spacetime, in terms of backing and influence, the strongest is the Master of Peach Mountain," Vice Master Blazing Sun explained. "After him are Palace Master Xuehong and Abbot Huangyi. The Master of Peach Mountain occupies Peach Mountain, and no one dares to covet it. Palace Master Xuehong and Abbot Huangyi primarily occupy Star Sand River... but because Star Sand River is so vast, even their best efforts have only secured eighty percent."

"What kind of backing do they have?" Meng Chuan recalled that the intelligence he had received earlier was vague on this matter.

"The information given to you earlier was already quite detailed," the Master of White Bird Hall said. "What wasn't elaborated on was concerning Eight-Tribulation realm experts. We didn't want to distract you before your tribulation."

"Eight-Tribulation realm experts?" Meng Chuan's heart skipped a beat.

"Throughout the entire River of Spacetime, dozens of Eight-Tribulation realm experts have emerged since the birth of the universe," the Master of White Bird Hall stated. "While some are now difficult to trace, with even their information completely obscured, some Eight-Tribulation realm experts actively left behind forces. Examples include Eternal Tower, Nebula Palace, Black Demon Hall, and so on. Many of the traces left by these Eight-Tribulation realm experts... have a profound impact on our River of Spacetime."

Vice Master Azure Dragon spoke up: "The Master of Peach Mountain is said to have strong backing because he solved a problem that troubled our Dragon Clan's Ancestor. The Ancestor was very pleased and granted him permission to intervene on his behalf three times."

"Even if a Six-Tribulation realm or Half-step Seven-Tribulation realm dragon from our clan falls in battle, the Ancestor wouldn't care. Only Seven-Tribulation realm dragons receive some favor," Vice Master Azure Dragon sighed. "Yet, an outsider can cause the Ancestor to intervene three times."

Meng Chuan understood.

This was why no one wanted to offend the Master of Peach Mountain. If the Master of Peach Mountain were to summon the 'Dragon Clan's Ancestor' to appear in this era, who could stop him?

"The Master of Peach Mountain merely occupies the cosmic treasure land 'Peach Mountain,' calling himself 'Master of Peach Mountain.' He dedicates himself to secluded cultivation, refrains from any disputes, and has never asked our Ancestor for help," Vice Master Azure Dragon said with a hint of admiration. "He could have gained much more, but he was content with just Peach Mountain."

"The Master of Peach Mountain, Palace Master Xuehong, and Abbot Huangyi all have Eight-Tribulation realm experts assisting them. The Eight-Tribulation realm expert behind Abbot Huangyi is from another universe," the Master of White Bird Hall explained. "Other Seven-Tribulation realm experts, perhaps a very small number, might have seen an 'Eight-Tribulation realm expert,' but it's very difficult for them to get an Eight-Tribulation realm expert's help. Most Seven-Tribulation realm experts... have never even seen an Eight-Tribulation realm expert."

Meng Chuan nodded slightly.

Even Patriarch Cangyuan had only seen an Eight-Tribulation realm expert once in his lifetime.

"The River of Spacetime has many treasure lands. Apart from Star Sand River and Peach Mountain, which are free of disputes, most other places are filled with conflicts," Vice Master Blazing Sun said, pointing to the shimmering areas on the Spacetime Territory map. "Seven-Tribulation realm experts and Half-step Seven-Tribulation realm experts are involved in all of them, with as few as two or three contending, and as many as over ten."

Meng Chuan observed carefully.

As lights flickered across the Spacetime Territory map, a closer look revealed a wealth of information.

He had known that Seven-Tribulation realm experts contended for resources, but only today did he truly understand the specifics of their struggle.

Meng Chuan could faintly discern that White Bird Hall and Six Directions Heaven were the two largest forces, with their influence widespread, occupying more than half of the resources between them. Other Seven-Tribulation realm and Half-step Seven-Tribulation realm experts had also claimed numerous regional resources.

"Take a good look," Vice Master Blazing Sun said. "Dongning, you are an Origin Spirit Seven-Tribulation realm expert, so you should claim a treasure land that matches your strength. Oh, and Ancestor Jie said earlier that once you became an Origin Spirit Seven-Tribulation realm expert, he would grant you a treasure land."

"Ancestor Jie is granting it to me?" Meng Chuan was surprised.

"It's said to be granted, but you'll still need to claim it yourself," Vice Master Blazing Sun explained. "Ancestor Jie is old, and in recent years, he wanted to transfer many of the treasure lands he occupied to his friends. However, the Nightmare Hall Master from Black Demon Hall disapproved and tried to seize them by force, which provoked Ancestor Jie into a fierce confrontation with him. Many Seven-Tribulation realm experts also got involved. Ancestor Jie's numerous Origin Spirit avatars occupy too many resources, which has also attracted envy."