Sensing the profound and unfathomable void formation within the Black Gourd, Dongbo Xueying began to activate and manipulate it. Having reached the Dominator Realm, his soul had grown even more powerful, allowing him to harness a greater portion of the fireball within the gourd—a force comparable to the Solar Star. Yet Dongbo Xueying remained cautious, for he knew that if such power were unleashed recklessly, it could bring an end to this cosmic epoch!
Just as mortal worlds within the Material Realm, when destroyed, would collapse and then swiftly regenerate, the duration of each cosmic epoch was not fixed. Factors such as the proliferation of life, the emergence of Dominators and Void Gods, the absorption of cosmic energy, and direct damage to the universe all determined the length of an epoch.
The second level of the Black Gourd wielded power capable of forcing even ordinary Void Gods to retreat, naturally posing a threat to the universe itself. If Dongbo Xueying were to become a Void God and manipulate the third level of the Black Gourd, a single strike might be enough to terminate an entire cosmic epoch!
In truth, the power of a Void God was already sufficient to harm the universe. Hence, the three Emperors of the Demonic Mountain Universe, for instance, only sparred within the confines of the Ancestral Demonic Mountain, never engaging in battle elsewhere.
“Be careful. Control the range,” Dongbo Xueying murmured to himself. “Destroy this sacrificial tower, then stop immediately.”
At this moment, the Ancestral Cult and Gu Qianluo were far more concerned with Bloodblade Divine Emperor and his allies, paying little heed to Dongbo Xueying. In their eyes, the Black Gourd might be effective against two or three Dominators, but in a war of this scale—where the Ancestral Cult had mobilized its entire heritage and Gu Qianluo was lending his aid—the gourd seemed insignificant.
Even Bloodblade Divine Emperor, Qing Jun, Yuanchu Master, and the others secretly shook their heads. “The power of the Black Gourd may offer some assistance, but it won’t alter the course of the battle.”
Yet Dongbo Xueying remained vigilant. His soul trembled under the overwhelming pressure of the power he wielded—a force that surpassed his current level. Were it not for the gourd’s recognition of him as its master, such terrifying energy would have grievously wounded his soul.
“Perish, Ancestral Cult,” Dongbo Xueying muttered, a glint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes.
“Whoosh—”
A blinding light erupted.
So dazzling that both sides of the conflict instinctively turned their gazes toward it. Gu Qianluo within the Chaos Ark, the Ancestral Cult’s leaders, and the Dominators of the cultivator faction all stared in shock at the Black Gourd.
From its mouth, a radiant golden beam shot forth at incredible speed, streaking toward the First Sacrificial Tower. This golden light, resembling a liquid flame, was the most brilliant spectacle in the cosmos—far brighter than the Solar Star itself. The moment it appeared, the surrounding temperature skyrocketed, distorting and shattering the void. Any Dominator foolish enough to touch it would be reduced to ashes in an instant.
“Hisss—” The protective roots of the Xumu Battleship guarding the tower disintegrated instantly under the golden liquid’s assault, rendered utterly powerless. Even the Chaos Ark’s spatial manipulation around the tower’s base was effortlessly breached, offering no resistance whatsoever.
“Block it!” The two Ancestral Cult leaders controlling the tower’s defensive formation panicked. This formation was their last line of defense.
“Hisssss—” The golden liquid surged like a tidal wave, yet its speed and power were beyond comprehension. The defensive formation flared with blinding light, its purple patterns trembling violently before shattering into fragments. Within half a breath, the formation collapsed entirely, and the golden radiance engulfed the three Ancestral Cult leaders—two operating the formation and one activating the tower—along with the First Sacrificial Tower itself.
The three leaders turned to ashes instantly.
Neither the Xumu Battleship nor the Chaos Ark dared approach.
The searing golden light enveloped the tower but did not spread further, restrained with remarkable precision.
“Solar Golden Flame?”
“Is that the Solar Golden Flame?”
Bloodblade Divine Emperor, Yuanchu Master, and the others were stunned. They knew it well—the Solar Star consisted of six layers, with the fifth, the Solar Abyss, containing this very liquid flame. Deeper still lay the Solar Core, the star’s true heart.
The Solar Golden Flame’s power was so immense that Dominators dared not approach, for even proximity brought the sensation of impending doom. Legends left by predecessors like the Heartsword Island Lord and the Demonic Ancestor warned that Dominators touching the flame would be incinerated instantly, and even Void Gods could not endure it for long.
Dongbo Xueying held the Black Gourd aloft, its mouth brimming with densely packed golden flames that twisted under pressure before erupting outward, engulfing the distant tower.
“Part,” he commanded.
The golden flames obediently split, forming a path as Dongbo Xueying strode forward, the fire parting respectfully around him.
Following the cleared path, he reached the First Sacrificial Tower. His right hand expanded, seizing the tower with monstrous strength. With a mighty tug, he severed its connection to the countless phantom towers scattered across the universe and stowed it away in his storage treasure.
The Ancestral Cult and Gu Qianluo could only watch helplessly, unable to intervene.
“It’s over,” the Ancestral Cult leaders aboard the Xumu Battleship were dumbfounded.
“The First Sacrificial Tower is lost. How can we forge a new one in such a short time?”
“And how can the defenses of all six towers withstand that terrifying golden flame?” Despair gripped them as the Black Gourd’s power left them hopeless.
Meanwhile, the cultivators were awestruck. A Dominator wielding the Solar Golden Flame on such a scale—who could stand against it?
Qing Jun, Yuanchu Master, and the others felt both exhilaration and envy. They now realized the Black Gourd was no ordinary treasure but something truly extraordinary, far surpassing any artifact they possessed.
“No wonder he rose so swiftly. His luck is beyond measure,” the Spacetime Island Lord thought bitterly, unable to suppress his jealousy. The same youth once denied entry to the Spacetime Temple now wielded power that even he coveted. Yet without Dongbo Xueying’s meteoric rise, he would never have passed the Voidwalker’s trials—trials the Spacetime Island Lord himself had failed due to inadequate comprehension and temperament.
Within the Chaos Ark, the colossal statue of Gu Qianluo wore an expression of shock and greed.
“A Dominator who hasn’t even left this universe possesses such a treasure?”
“As a Venerable One, the gourd unleashed shockwaves powerful enough to defy Dominators. Now it breathes forth flames capable of warding off Void Deities.”
“Different levels, different powers—and seemingly no backlash?”
“This must be a Guardian Artifact, meticulously crafted by a supreme being for their chosen heir!” Gu Qianluo’s insight was profound. As the Seventh Holy Son beneath the Bone Ancestor, only the top three Holy Sons had ever been bestowed with such treasures. He had never been deemed worthy.
“I must obtain it!”
“This treasure of the Pathfarer is far more precious than any relic the Ancestral Cult possesses—perhaps even surpassing my own Chaos Ark.”
(Note: “Treasure of the Pathfarer” is poetically rendered to evoke a mystical, guardian-like quality while maintaining fantasy resonance. The phrasing emphasizes grandeur and comparative weight befitting a high-stakes fantasy context.)
“Though such treasures are bound to their inheritors, if I bring it to my master, he can refine it for my use.” Gu Qianluo’s heart blazed with covetous fire. While his master would never forge a Dao-guarding treasure from nothing, reshaping an existing one would be child’s play.
“Seize it! At all costs!”
With the First Sacrificial Tower gone and the remaining five towers indefensible against the gourd, Gu Qianluo discarded all thoughts of aiding the Ancestral Cult.
His sole focus now was claiming the Black Gourd. Once his, he might spare some effort to assist them.
“Obtain it, and I can return triumphant.” Gu Qianluo had never expected to stumble upon a treasure of the Dao in this desolate corner of the cosmos. The golden flames alone hadn’t given it away—though their might was formidable, they were nothing compared to the Chaos Ark. But watching Dongbo Xueying wield it across different realms, its abilities shifting with each stage, unveiled its true essence. At the Void God level, its power would transcend into something utterly unparalleled!
—
Having seized the First Sacrificial Tower, Dongbo Xueying watched as the phantom towers across the universe dissolved, and the cosmic energy gradually stabilized.
“Cease,” he commanded, cutting off the Solar Golden Flame’s flow and sealing the gourd. Its power was too destructive to the universe.
“Master, beware! Gu Qianluo approaches!” the artifact spirit warned urgently.
A malevolent ripple surged forth from the Chaos Ark—swift, insidious, and deadly. Gu Qianluo’s eyes burned with madness. The Guardian Artifact would be his!
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