“This Chaos Ark is bound by intangible rules that completely repel those whose strength reaches the level of a Ruler or Sect Master, making it impossible for them to enter,” the tusked giant shook his head. “Unfortunately, the sacred texts record very little—only some basic information about the Chaos Ark. But with this scant information, and considering that the ark has remained unclaimed for multiple cosmic epochs, it is likely ownerless. We have every chance to seize it.”
“Previously, the cultivator universe had Pang Yi and Qing Jun. Though our universe also boasts formidable guardians, we must admit they still fall short compared to Pang Yi and Qing Jun. Their mastery over the mysteries of the laws is profound and unfathomable. In battle, they can amplify one unit of strength into ten, and their techniques are unpredictable and elusive. With them around… our guardians stood no chance of victory.”
“But now, both of them have ascended to become Rulers!”
“The cultivator universe no longer has any truly powerful Reverends. The strongest among them now is someone called the Annihilation Emperor—ha! Though he’s decent, any one of our three Sacred Guardians could easily hold him off,” the tusked giant laughed.
“Exactly. Our guardians outnumber and outclass theirs in every aspect.”
“We have nine guardians whose cultivation has already reached the Sect Master level! They’re only held back by a lack of resources to break through.”
The Sect Masters were brimming with confidence.
In terms of sheer numbers alone, they held the advantage at the Sect Master (Ruler) level. Yet, without relying on treasures, they had no confidence in a direct confrontation! The Rulers of the cultivator universe could swiftly cultivate new avatars even if they fell in battle. Moreover, their mastery over the mysteries of the laws was terrifyingly profound, and each was cunning beyond measure. Take, for example, the ‘Island Master of Time and Space,’ who was notoriously elusive despite his weaker direct combat prowess—his manipulation of time and space was unmatched between the two universes. Every other Ruler had their own unique path at the Ruler level, and their overall combat prowess far surpassed that of the Sect Masters of the Ancestral Mother’s side.
Their only hope was to rely on numbers and the advantage of treasures to fight back!
They had always felt that launching a war now was too soon. If they could nurture more Sect Masters and simultaneously refine their understanding of the laws to an extremely high level, their combat power would naturally rise dramatically.
But there was no choice—Bloodblade Divine Emperor had activated the Void Bipolar Array, leaving them no time!
However—
When it came to the guardian (Reverend) level, they were brimming with confidence!
Nine of their guardians had already reached the Sect Master level in cultivation but failed to break through. Of course, their progress was more in the realm of the mind, offering little boost to actual strength. In Dongbo Xueying’s universe, a breakthrough in cultivation meant a qualitative transformation in both ‘Dao’ and power. The Ancestral Mother’s teachings were entirely different—once their cultivation advanced, they had to rely on resources to elevate themselves under the guidance of the ‘Ancestral Mother.’
Thus, the ‘Ancestral Mother Altar’ was indispensable!
Without it, their strength could not improve.
Still, those nine guardians had made some progress, and three among them had even forged unique paths, achieving significant advancements in power—earning them the title of ‘Sacred Guardians.’
“The Chaos Ark is an artifact recorded in the sacred texts, possessing incomparable might. Merely mastering its control would mean winning half the war! Even if we were defeated, with the ark, we could survive by leaving this universe,” the tusked giant declared. “So no matter the cost, even if it means sacrificing all our guardians, we must seize the Chaos Ark!”
“With Qing Jun ascending to Ruler status, they no longer have any truly formidable Reverends. This is the opportunity the Ancestral Mother has granted us,” the tusked giant’s eyes burned with anticipation.
“We stake everything on this!”
“Spare no cost!”
“Seize the Chaos Ark, conquer this universe, and erect the Ancestral Mother Altar! This shall be our universe!”
Within the vast hall, the eighteen figures seated cross-legged were all filled with unwavering resolve.
Because they could not afford to lose!
If they failed, their home universe was already collapsing. Unable to survive outside it and lacking the Chaos Ark’s protection, they would face total annihilation!
—
**Blackmist Sea, Dongbo Imperial Manor.**
Snowflakes drifted, blanketing the entire manor in thick white. Dongbo Xueying sat alone, warming wine. On the long table before him, aside from the simmering fruit wine, rested a large black gourd. Occasionally, he would cradle the gourd in his arms, stroking it absentmindedly—though in truth, he was channeling his techniques to sense the terrifying Void Array within.
The Void Array stretched boundlessly, like a river of stars in the sky, while Dongbo Xueying was but a mortal gazing up at it.
The gap in their realms was too vast!
Over the past 600,000 years, Dongbo Xueying had either focused on dissecting individual aspects of the Void Array or contemplated it as a vast, indistinct whole. Though he had gained some insights, refining the black gourd remained a distant goal.
“Xueying.” A voice suddenly echoed in his ear, tinged with urgency. “Come to the Cave Heaven Ark at once!”
“Master?” Dongbo Xueying was startled.
His master, Bloodblade Divine Emperor, was always composed and unflappable. What could have unsettled him so?
“Now!” Bloodblade Divine Emperor offered no explanation, only a firm command.
“Yes.”
Without hesitation, Dongbo Xueying grabbed the black gourd from the table and soared into the sky, leaving the manor behind. As he departed, he sent a mental message: “Jingqiu, urgent matters call me away.”
Yu Jingqiu teleported to the snowy spot where he had been warming wine moments ago. Gazing at the still-steaming wine pot on the table, she looked up as Dongbo Xueying vanished into a spatial rift high above. Silently, she prayed—knowing the gulf between their strengths, all she could do was support him from the shadows.
—
**Whoosh.**
Dongbo Xueying raced at full speed, his Void World expanding outward. Within it, he tore open a spatial tunnel, allowing him to traverse vast distances swiftly.
In barely half the time it took to drink a cup of tea—
**Swish!**
—he emerged from the spatial tunnel’s exit. Before him, floating in the starry void, was an ark roughly a thousand miles long—modest in the cosmic expanse. Yet its name, ‘Cave Heaven Ark,’ stemmed from its deceptive exterior: though outwardly small, its interior housed a vast cave heaven, a world unto itself.
“Master.” Dongbo Xueying quickly spotted Bloodblade Divine Emperor, along with the cold, black-robed Island Master of Time and Space, and the other Rulers—all ten had gathered here.
Aside from the Rulers, over a dozen Reverends had already arrived, including the likes of the Water Monarch and Fire Devil.
“I’ve long suspected this Cave Heaven Ark is extraordinary—perhaps not even native to our universe,” Bloodblade Divine Emperor said gravely. “What’s more bizarre is that Rulers cannot enter it! Based on the many mysteries we’ve uncovered, we ranked it third among the Five Great Relics. I’ve always believed it might be even more formidable than we imagined, which is why I’ve been reinforcing the surrounding arrays. Yet now, the Ancestral Mother’s forces have launched a full-scale assault—a horde of Sect Masters tore through my arrays effortlessly and sent a swarm of guardians into the ark.”
“For so many Sect Masters to act in unison…”
“And with so many guardians entering, they must know something—perhaps even how to control the Cave Heaven Ark.” Bloodblade Divine Emperor’s brow furrowed with concern.
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