Chapter 579: The Fourth Heaven

Standing atop the mountain peak, the mountain breeze brushing against him, Dongbo Xueying gazed upon the vast world before him. In the distance, endless grasslands stretched out, and beyond them lay farmlands, villages, nations, transcendent beings, and even deities…

Dongbo Xueying faintly glimpsed a long river.

Within that river, countless lives—humans, magical beasts, and more—were submerged in its depths, including deities and even World Gods. Among them, Dongbo Xueying sensed his own presence! He was like a towering giant, half his body already above the river’s surface, effortlessly looking down upon the countless lives around him. Yet this river possessed an inexorable pulling force, dragging and binding him, making it impossible to escape its grasp.

“The River of Time?” Dongbo Xueying nodded slightly.

Upon mastering the Spacetime Divine Heart, he had finally gained the ability to “see” the River of Time.

Legend had it.

Within the River of Time existed countless lives, even those that had long perished! Every life that had ever existed since the birth of the universe—so long as it had not transcended—resided within this river. And now, cultivators like Dongbo Xueying sought first and foremost to break free from the River of Time, to truly become eternal beings.

Otherwise, bound by the river’s influence and submerged within it, true eternity would remain elusive.

“The laws of heaven and earth are so orderly,” Dongbo Xueying mused as he observed the beauty around him. To his eyes, it was no longer mere scenery but the countless workings of cosmic rules.

Each fundamental law was like a string on a zither, together forming the “instrument” of the universe’s order.

And now, Dongbo Xueying had mastered four of these strings. With just these four, he could already compose wondrous melodies! It was akin to a grand bridge supported by nine pillars—yet just four were enough to hold it steady. Upon mastering four First-Class Divine Hearts, Dongbo Xueying had naturally attained an extraordinarily high level of comprehension over the cosmic laws.

Moreover, these four Divine Hearts represented the universe’s most fundamental truths, each reinforcing the others, allowing Dongbo Xueying to begin grasping insights into other First-Class Divine Hearts as well.

This was the principle of “understanding one thing to comprehend all.” Once one’s cultivation reached a sufficiently high level, further enlightenment would flow naturally. Even the profoundly mysterious Karmic Divine Heart—something Dongbo Xueying had already begun to sense—might not be fully mastered yet, but grasping most of it was now within reach.

Like Yu Jingqiu, who had comprehended most of it and could thus sense others through karma.

…

The universe was also like a tangled ball of yarn, seemingly chaotic and complex.

Yet, by grasping four of its main threads, unraveling the entire ball became far easier.

“I’ve finally reached this stage,” Dongbo Xueying smiled to himself. “But if I were to venture out now with my current strength, even mighty beings like Qihai Emperor could easily crush me.”

Comprehension was the foundation.

But true power was demonstrated through techniques, secret arts, and ultimate skills.

“Reaching the Fourth Rotation of the ‘Taihao’ or the fourth layer of ‘Extinction Profound Body’ will be extremely difficult,” Dongbo Xueying understood this well. “However, the principles required for ‘Taihao’ and ‘Extinction Profound Body’ differ. I should focus more on… hmm, ‘Extinction Profound Body.'”

Even if he achieved the Fourth Rotation of “Taihao,” venturing out now would still mean certain death!

The Fourth Rotation was formidable—placing him among the strongest of the mighty, even nearing the threshold of a Paragon. He might approach the level of the Nine Suns Palace Master or the Purple-Robed Witch Emperor, but matching them would still be beyond him. After all, the Nine Suns Palace Master, as a disciple of the Spacetime Island Lord and a mighty being in his own right, also possessed ultimate techniques.

The gap between a Fourth Heaven cultivator and a mighty one was small, as the former had already comprehended nearly all cosmic laws, leaving little difference in insight.

The Fourth Rotation of “Taihao” was comparable in power to the Second Rotation of its fifth chapter—the only difference being the laws employed. The fourth chapter used fragmented principles, while the fifth employed complete cosmic laws, making the latter easier to cultivate. Reaching the Third Rotation of the fifth chapter… would surpass the Fourth Rotation entirely!

As for the Fourth Rotation of the fifth chapter—achieving it would mean forging one’s own path, ascending to the rank of a Paragon. Thus, Dongbo Xueying was certain that the Nine Suns Palace Master and the Purple-Robed Witch Emperor were still one step away from this pinnacle.

“Though ‘Taihao’ is powerful, enhancing my strength and speed, I’d still be overwhelmed in a siege,” Dongbo Xueying knew this well. “And that’s not even considering the White Monarch lurking outside!”

“To survive, I must cultivate ‘Extinction Profound Body.'”

Dongbo Xueying resolved.

The “Extinction Profound Body” was the most defensively supreme technique he had ever encountered. Even at the third layer, his defenses were already formidable. Reaching the fourth layer would render him nearly invulnerable to all but Paragons. Moreover, it would grant him immense strength and speed.

“I must focus and take it step by step.” Dongbo Xueying was acutely aware that mastering the fourth layer of “Extinction Profound Body” would be no easier than achieving the Fourth Rotation of “Taihao,” requiring considerable time.

The fourth layer of “Extinction Profound Body” began to reveal the true might of this ultimate technique.

Yet, as one progressed further, “Taihao” and “Extinction Profound Body” diverged into distinct paths.

“Taihao” cultivated energy—the power of Taihao.

“Extinction Profound Body” cultivated matter—the body itself, the armor! The two were fundamentally different. Thus, to save time, Dongbo Xueying could only choose one path to focus on.

He knew the fourth layer of “Extinction Profound Body” would be arduous.

But only upon beginning his training did he realize just how unimaginably difficult it truly was…

…

Dongbo Xueying’s ascension to a Fourth Heaven World God and his dedicated cultivation of “Extinction Profound Body” remained unknown to the outside world.

Beyond the Three-Headed Divine Mountain, above the clouds.

A table and chairs formed of mist.

The White Monarch sat there, sipping fine wine as he admired the beauty of the world.

“Whoosh.” A figure suddenly appeared beside him—a green-robed woman of human appearance, breathtakingly beautiful, with a divine sword strapped to her back and an aura restrained.

The White Monarch stiffened slightly at her presence, then smiled. “Your Majesty has arrived. Please, sit.”

The green-robed woman smiled faintly as she took her seat. “Old Ghost Bai.”

The White Monarch’s eye twitched slightly.

Few in the entire Dark Abyss dared call him “Old Ghost Bai” to his face—and even fewer could do so without incurring his wrath. She was the sole exception.

“What brings you here, Your Majesty?” the White Monarch asked with a smile.

“You’re truly at leisure, Old Ghost Bai,” the green-robed woman remarked, shaking her head. “Staying here all this time for a mere upper volume of an incomplete ultimate technique?”

“I’ve nothing better to do. The upper volume can still be used to teach disciples or traded with Jimo for treasures,” the White Monarch replied.

The green-robed woman’s expression turned grave. “Let me tell you of a major event.”

“Major event?” The White Monarch tensed.

“Yes.” She nodded. “While you’ve been idling here, the Overlord led me and the Witch Demon in an operation alongside the Bloodblade Divine Emperor and the Monarch of Destruction from the Divine Realm…” She began recounting the details.

“The Niro Overlord and the Bloodblade Divine Emperor?” The White Monarch listened intently.

“The Spacetime Island Lord is indeed the most cunning and insidious of all, slipping through every crack. This time, he, the Hall Master of Ten Thousand Gods, and Lady Ganhe joined forces. The Niro Overlord perished, the treasure we obtained was snatched away, and both my and the Witch Demon’s avatars were slain in battle. The Monarch of Destruction fell as well—only the Bloodblade Divine Emperor escaped, fighting one against three!” the green-robed woman said.

“What?! The Niro Overlord perished?” The White Monarch was stunned. Though it was merely an avatar, for one of the three great rulers of the Dark Abyss—the “Bloody Overlord” Niro—to lose even a single form spoke volumes of the battle’s ferocity.

“Lady Ganhe and the Bloodblade Divine Emperor were once close allies. To think even they would turn on each other,” the White Monarch sighed.

“For the sake of profit, betrayal is hardly unusual,” the green-robed woman countered. “Which of these Overlords isn’t striving to take that final step first?”

“What treasure was it, exactly?” the White Monarch pressed.

“Unclear. All I saw was a three-legged cauldron emanating a bloody aura. I suspect it’s related to the Demon Ancestor,” she replied. “The Niro Overlord was furious—absolutely livid—cursing the Spacetime Island Lord. Given his temper, we may soon see war between our forces and the Spacetime Island.”

The White Monarch chuckled softly. “Of the three rulers of the Dark Abyss, the Niro Overlord commands the weakest faction yet is the most hot-tempered. How laughable.”

The green-robed woman frowned. “Show some respect for the Overlord.”

“If you ever need assistance, you know where to find me,” the White Monarch said.