Chapter 745: Decision

The advanced life world, 'Starry Sky Realm'.

Above the clouds lay continuous, magnificent temples, where the numerous deities of the Starry Sky Realm resided.

At this moment, inside a colossal hall, the gods were enjoying delicious food and wine.

"Your Majesty, how should we respond to the intelligence report from 'White Bird Pavilion,' the foremost power in the outer void?" a Sixth Tribulation Realm mighty figure asked, seated.

"How should we respond?" The Emperor, seated high on his throne, smiled faintly. "In this era, a demon has emerged. Haven't we witnessed such things many times before? There's no need to concern ourselves with it."

"We have seen demons far more terrifying, ten or even a hundred times worse than Emperor Wanxing," a stout man seated there chuckled. "Do you remember more than five hundred million years ago, when an Eighth Tribulation Realm mighty figure secretly infiltrated, quietly guided the Seventh Tribulation Realm cultivators of that era, and after understanding the depths of our universe, he unleashed a great catastrophe? That Eighth Tribulation Realm mighty figure successively destroyed three advanced life worlds that lacked an Eighth Tribulation Realm protector, plundering them clean. Even when Dragon Ancestor personally intervened, the assailant still managed to escape."

"An Eighth Tribulation Realm expert, stepping outside the timeline, could act at a specific, frozen moment. The beings of those three advanced life worlds died without any pain or sensation. The Seventh Tribulation Realm cultivators of that era remained entirely oblivious. It was only when he targeted the fourth advanced life world, which had an Eighth Tribulation Realm mighty figure protecting it at the request of an old friend, that he was finally stopped, alerting Dragon Ancestor and the others."

The deities sighed. Acting outside the timeline was too terrifying. They couldn't even call for help!

Therefore, if an Eighth Tribulation Realm protector behind an advanced life world died, another Eighth Tribulation Realm expert would either be invited to arrange a true body for long-term guardianship – perhaps for ten thousand years. For an Eighth Tribulation Realm being, ten thousand years meant time flow was almost stagnant, while outside, billions of years or more might pass. Alternatively, powerful exotic treasures could be used to reinforce the 'advanced life world,' making it more difficult to destroy.

The Emperor, high on his throne, stated, "Currently, dark undercurrents surge in the outer realms. On the surface, Emperor Wanxing appears arrogant and has plundered numerous life worlds. However, he must eventually trade those plundered treasures with an Eighth Tribulation Realm being. There must be an Eighth Tribulation Realm entity backing him."

The gods below nodded solemnly.

They had little regard for the contemporary Seventh Tribulation Realm cultivators, as a single period of their own slumber could span hundreds of thousands of years, by which time the Seventh Tribulation Realm cultivators of that era would have aged and died. However, they held immense reverence for the Eighth Tribulation Realm! Eighth Tribulation Realm beings, rooted in space-time, comprehended and mastered various methods, even gradually deciphering the universe's space-time operation rules, making their abilities increasingly unfathomable. The true destiny of the entire universe was ultimately determined by those Eighth Tribulation Realm beings who appeared only occasionally.

"Yes, Emperor Wanxing, despite plundering so many treasures, can hardly utilize them! He must trade with an Eighth Tribulation Realm being to obtain what he needs," a female deity nodded. "Since an Eighth Tribulation Realm is involved, we must not disturb the Ancestor, nor alarm him."

The Ancestor of the Starry Sky Realm was an Eighth Tribulation Realm mighty figure, and the true support of the entire Starry Sky Realm.

As long as the Ancestor lived, the Starry Sky Realm would prosper and flourish. If the Ancestor were to fall, the Starry Sky Realm would face immense calamities.

These deities were unwilling to bring trouble to their Ancestor! Moreover, the Ancestor had given strict orders that he should only be awakened for a few truly significant matters.

"However, this era is truly extraordinary. Besides Wanxing and White Bird, this Dongning's cultivation speed is even more astonishing," the Emperor remarked with a sigh. "He became a Seventh Tribulation Realm expert not long ago, yet his power already surpasses that of ordinary peak Seventh Tribulation Realm cultivators. This era might see three 'half-step Eighth Tribulation Realm' beings coexisting."

"Three half-step Eighth Tribulation Realm beings coexisting in one era?" "Indeed, it's rare." "Hundreds of thousands of years from now, they will likely have vanished into the long river of space-time, unlike us, who are free, transcend reincarnation, and share the same lifespan as the heavens."

The deities in the hall also smiled. In terms of lifespan alone, they were enough to look down upon the Seventh Tribulation Realm cultivators from beyond their realm.

They were originally merely Sixth Tribulation Realm, Fifth Tribulation Realm, or even weaker beings. However, once their home world ascended to an 'advanced life world' and its historical space-time river became independent, it could form its own cycle of reincarnation. An Eighth Tribulation Realm mighty figure, as the master of an 'advanced life world,' could retrieve any being that had ever appeared in the history of their home world from the space-time river! These beings would then merge with the advanced life world, becoming a part of it.

As long as the advanced life world remained undestroyed, they would live eternally. Thus, 'sharing the same lifespan as the heavens' was no idle boast.

However, there were also drawbacks. As part of the advanced life world, they could never step outside their home world throughout their eternal lives! Furthermore, their minds and wills could not endure such a long lifespan and would gradually twist and collapse, making drastic personality changes common. Therefore, the deities often chose to 'slumber' to alleviate the burden on their minds and wills, sometimes even ultimately resorting to 'reincarnation' in hopes that a new, vibrant life would forge their powerful minds and wills anew.

Regardless, divine positions were limited, and each deity position in an advanced life world was a coveted pursuit for cultivators from their home world.

This was something unimaginable for cultivators from lower or middle life worlds. Even powerful figures like Emperor Wanxing and the White Bird Pavilion Master would perish once their lifespans reached their limits.

The spherical Demon Eye Guild Master sat on his throne, looking at the intelligence report from White Bird Pavilion and the scene of Meng Chuan's formation described within. The Demon Eye Guild Master's mood was joyful: "It's exactly as I predicted. When I observed his future timeline, nearly half of it indicated he would reach at least the half-step Eighth Tribulation Realm, which I found unusual. At the Sixth Tribulation Realm, there should be many possibilities for the future, yet about half of his showed him reaching at least half-step Eighth Tribulation Realm. Evidently, there's a strong intrinsic reason that simply cannot be stopped."

"Now I can no longer see his future," he mused. "But judging by his cultivation speed, it's truly terrifying." The Demon Eye Guild Master was pleased to see this unfold.

"Emperor Wanxing is growing increasingly reckless in his pursuit of becoming an Eighth Tribulation Realm being," the Demon Eye Guild Master thought to himself. "His cultivation needs must be exchanged with an Eighth Tribulation Realm mighty figure. He has an Eighth Tribulation Realm backing him... White Bird still hopes that a 'benevolent and chivalrous' Eighth Tribulation Realm expert will appear in this space-time river? The possibility is very low. Most Eighth Tribulation Realm beings strictly forbid disturbances unless there's an extraordinary event. Their disciples and descendants would certainly not easily disturb their Ancestors."

"How is this Dongning so powerful?" The Dark Star Guild Master shivered slightly as he read the intelligence report. This Dongning City Lord had grown far too quickly. Their initial target for plunder now seemed like a miscalculation.

Inside a frozen palace, Palace Master Xuehong remained very calm as he reviewed the intelligence. He had once acquired a great opportunity to befriend an Eighth Tribulation Realm mighty figure, from whom he received a promise.

Palace Master Xuehong valued this promise greatly! It was the most crucial opportunity in his cultivation life, and he would not use it to deal with Emperor Wanxing. "Emperor Wanxing will become increasingly reckless. When he reaches his most frenzied point, he will touch the bottom line of a certain Eighth Tribulation Realm being, and that will be the moment of his death."

Before the cliff of Mount Painting Saint, Meng Chuan stood and called out, "Dao Lord!" After calling twice, Meng Chuan looked around, but Dao Lord Shanwu did not appear.

"Dao Lord Shanwu didn't give me a way to summon him; he probably doesn't want me to disturb him," Meng Chuan thought silently. He understood that Dao Lord Shanwu sending him to Qianyuan Mountain earlier was a task given by an Eternal Being! Anyone who mastered the 'Six-Stroke Talisman Seal' secret art could receive this opportunity. But afterward? Dao Lord Shanwu had no further obligation to help him. After all, despite getting the opportunity, he still had to undergo tribulation to become a Soul Eighth Tribulation Realm expert before he could become a disciple of an Eternal Being.

As the news spread, all factions knew that Emperor Wanxing was the one controlling forbidden creatures to devour life worlds. Yet, as time passed, no Eighth Tribulation Realm expert descended to confront Emperor Wanxing.

"I was too hopeful," the White Bird Pavilion Master murmured to himself, gazing into endless space-time. "Hoping for an Eighth Tribulation Realm expert to descend, but it seems unlikely anyone even reported the news to them."

The White Bird Pavilion Master knew very well. He was gravely injured, and in terms of prolonging life, he couldn't outlast Emperor Wanxing. Once he died, given the enmity he had accumulated with Emperor Wanxing over the years, Emperor Wanxing would certainly target his home world.

"I should have realized long ago that on this path, it's better to rely on oneself than others."

A silver token appeared in the White Bird Pavilion Master's hand. He looked down at the ordinary-looking token. "I suffered severe soul injuries just to earn this one promise from an Eighth Tribulation Realm expert. Today, I shall use this promise... to kill Wanxing." With that, he no longer hesitated and activated the token.