Chapter 637: Return

Dongbo Xueying smiled and asked, “Esteemed elder, is there anything that can greatly enhance my offensive capabilities?”

“Offensive capabilities?” The white-haired elder frowned. “Among the cultivation methods from other universes, there are indeed three extremely unique ones that can drastically boost your power. Unfortunately, you are not qualified to obtain them. Since you entered and survived as a World Deity, the treasures you can choose from are of the lowest tier.”

Dongbo Xueying chuckled wryly.

Well, the lowest tier it is.

“Are you certain you only need something for offense? The supreme techniques I possess include escape methods, domain types…” the white-haired elder said.

“Offense,” Dongbo Xueying nodded firmly.

Having established his own ‘Void Path’ and mastered the two supreme techniques, ‘Taihao’ and ‘Extinction Profound Body,’ he truly only needed enhancements in attack power.

“You must already possess supreme techniques; otherwise, you wouldn’t be this strong as a World Deity. To find a supreme technique that completely surpasses your current ones and specializes in offense—I cannot provide that,” the white-haired elder shook his head. “Whether cultivation methods or supreme techniques, they are intrinsic and can be continuously improved, making them relatively more precious. If you had passed the trial at the Heaven-Earth Realm, you would have had several options.”

Dongbo Xueying was inwardly astonished.

Something that completely surpasses his current techniques? One of his techniques was obtained from the Destruction Corps, and the other was bestowed by his master—their value was beyond question! To think that passing the trial at the Heaven-Earth Realm would grant even more advanced techniques. Unfortunately, he had only passed the World Deity trial.

“Only weapons can meet your needs,” the white-haired elder said. “Weapons are external and can most directly enhance your power. Their relative value is also lower than the top-tier cultivation methods or supreme techniques you seek.”

“Then weapons it is,” Dongbo Xueying nodded. “My future opponents will be Venerables and even Sovereigns, so I need weapons that can pose a significant threat to them.”

“Rest assured, within the limits set by the Ancestor, I will select the best and most suitable for you,” the white-haired elder smiled, then pushed open the wooden door of the thatched cottage.

As the door opened, the interior of the cottage was shrouded in darkness, faintly resembling a swirling vortex, making it impossible to see clearly inside. Only a sense of danger could be felt.

“I wonder what he’ll bring me,” Dongbo Xueying thought to himself.

The white-haired elder entered and emerged moments later.

Whoosh.

He stepped out of the cottage, casually closing the door behind him. In his hand was a black spear, its tip a deep crimson, with barely noticeable dark red patterns coiling around the shaft.

“Weapons are plentiful here. The Ancestor casually forged some, and there are also batches he occasionally acquired,” the white-haired elder chuckled. “Seeing that you wield a spear, I selected one for you. This spear is called the ‘Blood Serpent Spear’ by the Ancestor. It contains the ‘Path of Slaughter’—not forged by the Ancestor, but likely by a Sovereign. It fell into the Ancestor’s hands, and the Path of Slaughter within it has reached the Sovereign Realm. Additionally, this weapon is treacherously imbued with ‘Blood Serpent Venom.’ For those with weak physiques, a single stab could be fatal. Even for those with strong defenses, while it may not threaten their lives, the venomous serpents will coil within their bodies, making recovery during battle extremely difficult.”

Dongbo Xueying was instantly drawn to the black spear. Hearing its description filled him with exhilaration.

What a grand gesture.

His flying daggers contained two Paths, but both were only at the Creation Realm level.

This spear, however, contained a single Path—but one at the Sovereign Realm! And it came with the terrifying ‘Blood Serpent Venom.’ Ordinary True Divine artifacts might not impress Venerables, but a True Divine artifact with a Sovereign-level Path would make even them covetous.

“Here,” the white-haired elder handed it over. “Your previous trial was at the World Deity level, so this is the best treasure you can receive. Now that you’ve reached the Creation Realm, your next trial will be at that level—completely different. The rewards then will be a hundred, a thousand times greater than this! Enough to make Sovereigns envious.”

“The Creation Realm trial?” Dongbo Xueying smiled. “I suspect even at the peak of the Venerable Realm, entering would be a near-death experience.”

“Correct—provided you survive,” the white-haired elder admitted frankly.

Dongbo Xueying chuckled.

After this experience, he had come to understand the temperament of the Ancestor.

The trials set by him were designed for only the absolute pinnacle of each realm. How strong was he among World Deities? Yet he had barely scraped through.

The Creation Realm trial would undoubtedly be far, far more challenging than the one for the strongest World Deity.

“I’d like to revisit the illusory world before leaving,” Dongbo Xueying said. “You won’t rush me out, will you?”

“Stay as long as you wish,” the white-haired elder nodded, then leisurely walked away. The layers of the illusory world twisted around him, and soon he vanished from sight.

Dongbo Xueying lowered his gaze to the spear in his hand.

“Blood Serpent Spear?” He attempted to refine it. “Although my True Divine flying daggers also contain the Path of Slaughter, first, the two seem quite different, and second, the Path within this spear has reached the Sovereign Realm. Even just refining it will likely take considerable time.”

Though the weapon was formidable, his own realm had also advanced. Now at the Creation Realm, he was effectively at the Venerable level. Refining it should still be within his capabilities.

With a flick of his hand, he stored the spear and walked toward the illusory world. Layers of the world twisted and manifested as he carefully observed and contemplated.

…

Time flowed, and five years passed in the blink of an eye.

Dongbo Xueying traversed the small landmass in the primal chaos void of the Initial Land, soon finding the white-haired elder lying amidst the grass.

“Elder,” Dongbo Xueying called out.

The white-haired elder stretched lazily before sitting up, glancing at him. “Ready to leave?”

“Yes,” Dongbo Xueying nodded.

“Where to?” the elder asked.

“My homeland, the Xia Clan World. Do you know of it?” Dongbo Xueying inquired.

“Of course. In this cosmic epoch, there is little I cannot perceive if I wish to,” the white-haired elder replied. “Very well, I shall send you there now.”

Before Dongbo Xueying could say more, he felt a warm energy enveloping him.

Just like when he arrived, it was a comfortable sensation. In the blink of an eye, the scenery before him shifted. As a Lord of the Material Realm, he immediately knew he had returned to his homeland—the Xia Clan World.

“To be able to directly transport someone into a Material Realm…” Dongbo Xueying marveled inwardly. His gaze fell upon a castle nestled among the rolling mountains below—the place where he had grown up: Snowrock Castle.

“And he even sent me right to Snowrock Castle.”

He looked up at the sky, his vision piercing through the mortal world to see the countless rotating mortal realms beyond, and further still, the vast Divine Realm.

Dongbo Xueying gazed across the endless distance toward the Divine Realm. “Once I return, the various factions will likely know soon enough.”

The Mother Goddess Cult had ambushed him last time. Though they lacked karma, they surely had means to track him—perhaps through those who had defected to their side, aiding them in pinpointing his location.

His master, the Bloodblade Divine Emperor, would also know of his return.

Dongbo Xueying stroked his chin. “I wonder what my master will think when he learns I’ve reached the Creation Realm.”

Whoosh.

Setting aside his thoughts, he transformed into a streak of light, soaring freely across the skies of the Xia Clan World.

With his realm having advanced so significantly, Dongbo Xueying felt a deep sense of joy in his heart.