Chapter 451: Changing Destiny

Urban Novel

No matter how chaotic the institute became, all developments on the internet were now clearly explained. After countless summaries and texts, "Your Doom 3000" wrote:

"Brothers! The situation has been fully explained. The ultra-ancient gods have provided an opportunity to reverse a destined future, making the creation of miracles possible!"

"But now, destiny has closed. Yet, it remains set because no other variables have joined. I am the sole variable who can change the entire trajectory of destiny. With you all by my side, I possess the greatest infinite possibilities!"

"Ahhhhh! Now, please lend me your world's destiny, talent, experience, and protagonist's aura! Let me gather the torrent of fate to reverse it and create a miracle!!"

Everyone: "......"

This passage had a strong chuunibyou vibe, but the general idea was to ask other players for help.

But how could they help?

There was no way.

He was at the Heavenly Emperor level, utterly unable to assist in the battle. Even if he was the sole variable, what then?

Akina Speed: "Don't panic, everyone. Speaking of which, we now completely understand why the future was destined.... At this moment, he truly needs to gather the Favored by Fortune from our other worlds, lending him our fortune, so he can defeat the Great Joy Emperor!"

Everyone was momentarily stunned; this person was also so melodramatic.

Akina Speed: "Alright, time is short, no more bragging. Helping is simple; he's already figured it out himself. Fellow players, unleash all the tricks you've been hiding.... Helping Du Xue might strengthen her in a short time.... I know how sneaky you've been."

Everyone hadn't fully reacted yet.

Player "Cute Girl Will Evolve into Dragon" sent a file: "Shushan Sword Forging: Complete Version."

Cute Girl: "Take it! This is the power of a Favored by Fortune! It took me a long time to trick it out of the Mortal Heavenly Empress—it's incredibly powerful.... Shushan mortal cultivation emphasizes fast cultivation. Though time is urgent now, if we can trick the three races into offering all their rare treasures, this sword could likely increase its power by four levels. Moreover, it contains the latest secret techniques, and with several gods actively sacrificing themselves for the sword, its grade might reach the Mid-Tier God realm in a short time."

Everyone was startled, instantly realizing: these scoundrel players were incredibly sneaky and cunning! What they had posted on the public forums were all incomplete, truncated versions?

As for Balloon Fish, who obtained these incomplete secret manuals from the forums, he probably further redacted some parts before providing them as skills for others to learn within the "Umbrella Corporation" Main God Space.

With layer upon layer of deductions, it would be good if even half the original power remained.

"Holy crap! Seizing an opportunity!" They immediately grew excited and quickly tried to download them. After all, the versions currently released on the forums were too incomplete, and they might need these for themselves when entering worlds in the future, allowing them to prepare for a rainy day.

However, a prompt instantly appeared:

"Only designated players can receive this file."

"Bastards," they cursed, spitting blood.

Player "Bear at the Top of the Food Chain" sent a file: "Witch Clan Golden Body Cultivation: Enhanced Version."

Bear: "Here's the enhanced, complete version. Take it. This is the brand-new version I've developed over the years. What you're using is a thousand-year-old version I gave to the Twelve Ancestral Witches back then. With this, even if it's not the Nine Revolutions Mystic Art, but the basic Meridian Ancestral Witch True Body, your strength should increase by about eight levels."

This was even more ruthless—he had cut out more than half?

Everyone vomited blood; these beasts were too good at hiding things.

Bear: "Cough, cough, cough, but time is too pressing now. We can only temporarily modify the cultivation path. It'll probably only increase by one level, so the power won't be too significant."

Everyone instantly understood: this was the variable.

It was also thanks to these scoundrels who hoarded and acted slyly, always keeping a trick up their sleeve to avoid others learning everything and "a clumsy fist killing a master." As a result, while Du Xue was completely seen through by the Humanoid Pillar God and couldn't influence the overall situation, this new variable—the completion of cultivation methods from other worlds—could instantly raise her realm, moving beyond calculations.

Moreover, the Shushan Sword Immortal lineage itself boasted incredible growth speed; as long as sufficient materials were available, the sword's grade could be rapidly elevated.

If those ordinary gods were willing to sacrifice themselves for the sword, and the three races poured out all their accumulated god-forming energy, Du Xue could potentially ascend to the Mid-Tier God realm in a short period. This was the unique advantage of the Shushan Sword Immortal lineage!

A Mid-Tier God, especially one with the exaggerated combat power of the Corpse Sword Immortal system, would be enough to change the course of the battle.

Boom!

In the sky, the Great Joy Emperor, the Daughter of the Prosperous Forest, and Subaru fought fiercely, shaking heaven and earth.

Mid-air, the Daughter of the Prosperous Forest looked at the Great Joy Emperor, her face resolute. "I once saw sorrow in your eyes when you laughed announcing your dominion over the world. You too are a puppet of destiny. Turn back! Without the three Pillar Gods behind us now, we are all free. Let us master our own destiny!"

"Master... my own destiny?"

The Great Joy Emperor trembled, as if moved, his face hidden in shadow, struggling and wavering.

"No one wants to be a puppet of destiny!" the Daughter of the Prosperous Forest spoke again, urging, "The Humanoid Pillar God can no longer control you. From today, we belong to ourselves. Let us face our inner choices!"

"Face... inner choices?" The Great Joy Emperor paused, silent for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter.

He cried and laughed, tears even glistening in his eyes. "Yes, yes, I am finally free! I am free! My life, my future—they are all mine to decide!"

The Daughter of the Prosperous Forest immediately showed a glimmer of hope.

The next second, the Great Joy Emperor struck, sending the Daughter of the Prosperous Forest flying with a boom. "I've tolerated you for too long! Get lost!"

He roared in anger, "Yes! I don't hit women, but you're not even human! A mere tree, a rigid, green-vine-covered wooden statue, trying to be my wife?!"

"Do! You! Really! Think! I'm! A! Pervert!?"

The Great Joy Emperor completely lost it, pointing maniacally at some of the female gods among the twenty-plus attackers, enunciating each word. "Look at you all! Grotesque, overgrown plants, furry black lionesses, winged lizard-women, a female wild dog—and you expect me to take you into my harem!? You haven't even transformed into human form. How could a living person..."

He began to sob nervously, a neurotic sickness. "If it weren't for the Pillar God..."

"You!" The Daughter of the Prosperous Forest's face was aghast.

She stood up, spitting a mouthful of blood, gazing in horror at the frenzied and excited Great Joy Emperor, as if seeing a madman, a complete lunatic.

The Great Joy Emperor laughed wildly, his expression sinister. "Yes! I want to establish the Twelve Palaces and gather all the world's women as my consorts, but I'm not some pervert interested in anything! I said I live to enjoy all the world's joys. I want to climb to the highest peak, fight the strongest enemies, drink the strongest wine, and sleep with the most beautiful women... not sleep with the wildest dogs!"

He flashed, charging towards the wolf-shaped Eighth-Tier god, violently sending it flying, enraged. "And thank you for helping me get rid of that Pillar God behind me! Now, I am master of my own destiny!"

He raised his arm high. "Come on! All of you, come at me! You are now the strongest enemies in this entire world!"

Xia Naiming looked up at the sky.

"Soon, you'll endure the harshest beating, ride the flashiest wheelchair, sleep in the most expensive coffin, and enjoy the coolest grave-side rave.... This, this is truly a perfect and magnificent life."

Others didn't understand the hint of sadness in the Great Joy Emperor's eyes earlier, thinking he was being forced.

But Xia Naiming, having heard the conversation between the two gods and the explanation of the stone of destiny, naturally understood the Great Joy Emperor's actions. It was simply the Great Joy Emperor's nature; he was just such a dark and twisted person.

It was because he made his own choices that destiny found him.

At this moment, the only thing he was truly forced to do was unify the other two races—the beast-type and plant-type—to achieve grand unification.

Xia Naiming lowered his head, looking at his private messages, and took a deep breath. "Got it. I owe a huge favor."

The reason he analyzed so much on the public internet was not just because reversing a desperate situation and winning against stronger opponents often requires a massive amount of information to understand the full situation.... It was also to demonstrate the power of this world to them!

Their willingness to invest in him and believe in his future was the true goal!

Proving the connection between the ancient lava land and the Wizard World, and the possibility of future inter-world travel, was why they were willing to pay such a high price to help him.

After all, the complete cultivation methods they obtained were truly heaven-defying! In any world, they would grant terrifying combat power to Eighth-Tier gods. One could say they were god-tier cultivation methods across all myriad worlds.

On the forums, providing even an incomplete version was already a great benefit, offering decent combat power at the same tier. As for the complete version, it was top secret!

"Got it... should be enough," he looked far into the sky. "The Great Joy Emperor's combat power is terrifying. It's incredibly hard to hit him, yet he can easily injure others. What's more, he can even reflect a portion of your attacks—that's his most terrifying aspect."

Due to the peculiar nature of his power system, he wasn't afraid of being ganged up on at all.

Those at a lower realm than him could basically not harm him.

The twenty ordinary gods could only stand by helplessly; even if they attacked him, not only would they fail to break his defense, but he would also seize the opportunity to absorb their energy. This would then allow him to use that energy to counter-attack the Daughter of the Prosperous Forest and Subaru, the two Mid-Tier gods, effectively hindering their allies.

And the Great Joy Emperor's formidable defense allowed him to take on two opponents simultaneously. Therefore, it was almost a guaranteed loss!

"But, the twenty-odd ordinary gods haven't entered the fray... plus the hidden Du Xue hasn't either.... They all have time, just enough to forge the sword! Forming a third combat force." He took a deep breath, called out to Du Xue in the distance, and then had Du Xue summon all the ordinary gods.

"A mere Heavenly Emperor, why call upon us?"

The surrounding ordinary gods descended and, after observing for a while, began to speak.

Xia Naiming said calmly, "Do you wish to defeat the Great Joy Emperor? I have a method that can change your destined fate of being ruled."

At first, they were surprised, and one god couldn't help but say, "You, a mere Heavenly Emperor?"

Xia Naiming, however, responded, "Do you sense my body? I am not within the trajectory of destiny; I am the sole variable in this world! Even if destiny has closed, it still exists... because no one can change it, or break its original path! But I can!"

The surrounding gods silently sensed him, their expressions subtly changing. He was indeed the sole variable, the only one among all living beings in this entire world who could change the course of the battle.

"The sole variable? State your idea." A god spoke from within a shroud of divine light.

Xia Naiming said, "The variable lies with this god, Du Xue. I can help her become stronger. Hand over all your heavenly materials and earthly treasures, all kinds of materials, to help forge this sword! Even sacrifice your lives to let this sword reach the Mid-Tier realm!"

Instantly, Du Xue's head split open, and a white light shot out.

This was a white jade sword with a bone-white blade, its two edges radiating a cold gleam, revealed before everyone.

Clang!

"Forging a sword from a spine?" The surrounding gods were stunned, naturally sensing the terror and extraordinariness of this system. Someone frowned and said, "Materials can certainly be provided. We, the gods of the three races, have each collected the world's finest materials. But to forge a sword with a god's life—wouldn't that mean we're sacrificing ourselves?"

"By my estimate, it will require the lives of about ten gods," Xia Naiming stated calmly, uttering a terrifying number. "Half of the Mid-Tier gods present here will have to die. This is the last resort. After all, if the Great Joy Emperor rules the world, you know the consequences; it's just a matter of dying sooner or later."

"I implore all gods to sacrifice yourselves for the common people of the world!"

He bowed deeply, earnestly pleading.

The expressions of the surrounding gods changed, showing hesitation.

After a moment of silence, the air thick with stillness, one god pursed his lips and stepped forward directly. "Count me in."

"I'll come too," a plant-type god stepped forward. He looked to a nearby plant-being also preparing to step out. "Miyah, you stay back. Our tribe must have one god left to maintain its prosperity."

That god pursed his lips, wanting to speak but holding back, and retreated.

After a pause, another powerful figure from a human tribe also stepped out. "My Changyan tribe will also participate. Thank you to all the other races for your help. It would be too ridiculous if no one from our human race stepped forward."

Time could not be delayed at all; every moment lost could mean a decrease in winning chances. Gods quickly stepped forward, showing great courage.

"Then, let's begin!" Xia Naiming took a deep breath. "The two Mid-Tier gods can buy us a long time. First, twenty gods will combine their efforts to forge their respective materials into a peerless treasure. Then, ten gods will throw themselves into the furnace, and the other ten gods will forge them!"

This was a cruel method, but everyone around quickly sprang into action.

While on this side, they forged Du Xue's sword, Du Xue herself didn't stop. She began to organize and seize the opportunity to improve her physical cultivation method, refining some of her circulation routes in a short time to enhance her combat power.

Boom!

The fiery furnace roared, flames reaching the sky.

In the distance, the Great Joy Emperor's expression changed slightly. "What are they doing? I've seen the trajectory of every worldline in this battle from the Pillar God, but none involved such actions."

His gaze shifted. "That balloon creature... is a variable outside of destiny!"

The Great Joy Emperor swiftly descended, carrying astonishing killing intent.

"Hold him for half an hour!" Xia Naiming roared.

"Hahahahaha!" Subaru laughed, blocking his path. "You finally know fear! Great Joy Emperor, today you shall die!"

"Tenfold!"

A terrifying aura erupted once more.

"Subaru, Daughter of the Prosperous Forest, you two!!!" The Great Joy Emperor's voice, filled with shock and rage, echoed.

At this moment, over twenty gods combined their strength to reforge the sword. Their movements were extremely fast, wielding earth-shattering power. Ten of the gods were remarkably silent, knowing that they were about to step into the furnace.

"By the way, do you know about Umbrella?" Xia Naiming asked.

"Umbrella?"

The gods all shook their heads.

"Umbrella is a mysterious ancient organization, spanning countless parallel universes, with a special structure known as the Main God Space. We have two ancient gods behind us, a super organization that spans countless parallel universes! Umbrella—the umbrella protecting all heavens!" Xia Naiming declared, "You gods present here, if you join my Umbrella Corporation, you can obtain endless opportunities, various heaven-defying skills and cultivation methods. Even now, those who are about to die can be reborn in another parallel universe, starting another life."

They were immediately astonished.

"Do you ten wish to join my Umbrella?" Xia Naiming asked again.

The ten gods were surprised, then silently nodded.

This Heavenly Emperor, who lacked a magic core and was outside of destiny, truly held great secrets. Du Xue's cultivation system was composed of countless extraordinary cultivation methods, and now that they were on the verge of death, they had no choice.

"We join," they exchanged glances, gritting their teeth.

Xia Naiming chuckled, "Carry on."

The gods continued to forge Du Xue's sword, preparing to cast it into the furnace, while Du Xue on the other side sat cross-legged, cultivating.

Xia Naiming returned to the dense forest, where the two ancient gods were still discussing on the large stone.

He took a deep breath, hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward and addressed Caroline:

"Divine One, Du Xue and I are willing to become your agents in this world! We will help you establish a force that spans parallel universes, create a Main God Space, and manage the transmigrators."

"Manage... transmigrators?"

Caroline looked at him with a half-smile, knowing his recent actions.

"I have now brought you the lives of ten gods," Xia Naiming trembled, prostrating himself.

This was his biggest opportunity. He probably couldn't rely on the ultra-ancient gods, but if the other divine being was Caroline, she might, for Du Xue's sake, take them in and grant them immense opportunities.

"Here is the proposal."

Xia Naiming respectfully, as if at a job interview, said, "I hope you grant me an interview! Those transmigrators, relying on their powerful intellect from their former lives, might affect the world's dynamics and cause inequality. This proposal offers a method to restrict them, giving transmigrators a Main God Space to conceal their identities."

Caroline accepted the proposal, clearly surprised by the Main God Space concept within it. She smiled and said, "Very interesting. I'll take those ten gods and bring them to my universe.... If you wish to establish your so-called organization, it's fine. I can grant you temporary access to my world, but inter-world interference is forbidden, and you must not reveal anything to outsiders!"

"Thank you, Divine One!" Xia Naiming was overjoyed, prostrating himself again, tears streaming down his face internally. My advantage as a transmigrator has finally been unlocked; I've latched onto a super powerful backer!

Xu Zhi also looked at the kneeling Xia Naiming with a half-smile.

This person was very smart, adaptable, and indeed a talent. How he developed was his business; Xu Zhi was too lazy to interfere.

Not far away, a sudden burst of fire shot into the sky.

Rumbling sounds of forging echoed, like thunderclaps. A faint, ancient divine furnace flickered into view, seemingly existing since antiquity, exuding immense pressure. After bursts of blood-red light soared, a crisp clang rang out, and the divine weapon fully emerged, its majestic Mid-Tier God aura spreading.

The aura, however, was fleeting.

"Great Joy Emperor, I will surely kill you!"

A soft, clear voice rang out, and a woman holding a long sword disappeared into the fray.

In the fifty-first year of the Great Joy Emperor's reign, when the tyrant Great Joy Emperor sought to unify all things in the world, the Corpse Bone Immortal suddenly appeared, turning the tide of destiny, reversing the imminent catastrophe, and saving all beings from suffering!