Dongbo Xueying gazed at the massive crimson cauldron, feeling the terrifying pressure emanating from it. His pupils contracted involuntarily. “A Cosmic-tier treasure? And likely one of the highest echelons among Cosmic-tier treasures at that.” His experience was limited, but this was undoubtedly the most formidable treasure he had ever laid eyes on—its value far surpassing the previous ‘Twelve Blackwater Pearls.’
“This is the ‘Flame Prison Triworld Cauldron,'” a hoarse voice intoned.
Dongbo Xueying turned to see a hunched figure clad in black robes emerging from the depths of the corridor. The man’s cold, shadowed eyes fixed upon the cauldron as he continued, “Its origins are unknown. My master, the Ninecloud Divine Emperor, obtained it by chance during the era of the Primordial Ancient Sacred World. Even in death, my master failed to unravel the true mysteries of this cauldron. Even its name was only learned from the Sacred Master. And it… was the primary reason for my master’s demise.”
“Hmm?” Dongbo Xueying was stunned. This cauldron was the reason the Ninecloud Divine Emperor fell?
“Once the Sacred Master learned of my master’s possession of this cauldron, he came to demand it. Only then did my master learn its true name—clearly, the Sacred Master knew its origins and its secrets.” The hunched black-robed man let out a chilling laugh. “But alas, the Sacred Master was too tyrannical! As the undisputed strongest of the Primordial Ancient Sacred World at the time, the terms he offered my master were far too meager. How could my master accept?”
“So the Sacred Master targeted my master again and again.”
“In the final battle… the Sacred Master unleashed his full might, focusing primarily on my master, leaving him grievously wounded. Though my master escaped, he perished soon after.” The black-robed man’s voice dripped with hatred. “A pity, a great pity. The Sacred Master has always coveted this cauldron, yet he shall never obtain it.”
Dongbo Xueying felt a chill in his heart.
The Sacred Master…
Though nearly all the supreme existences bore grudges against him, he remained the most radiant, standing at the pinnacle, looking down upon all others. He alone dominated the strongest of the Five Sacred Worlds—the Ancient Sacred World—forcing the other three Sacred Worlds to unite against him. As for the Matriarch, though she had founded the ‘Matriarch Sect’ and ranked among the top three in strength, she was still incomparable to the Sacred Master.
The Sacred Master stood entirely above all other supreme existences.
“The grudge between the Sacred Master and the Ninecloud Divine Emperor… the Sacred Master’s desire for this Flame Prison Triworld Cauldron?” Dongbo Xueying mused silently. “Such a monumental secret, revealed to a mere Unity-level junior like me?”
Even the likes of the Voidsky Palace’s Ancestor Tianyu and the Swordmaster were weaker than the Ninecloud Divine Emperor, let alone the Sacred Master.
From the intelligence he had gathered, the supreme existences were ranked thus:
The Sacred Master—undisputedly the strongest, the first tier.
Next came the Matriarch, the World Ancestor, the Witch Ancestor, the Blade Emperor, the Primordial Demon Mountain Founder, and a scant few others, forming the second tier. The fallen Ninecloud Divine Emperor also belonged here.
The vast majority of Cosmic Gods—Ancestor Tianyu, the Swordmaster, the Void Ancestor, the Bone Ancestor, the Pure One Dharma Ancestor, and others—were of the third tier.
Among them, one was unique: the Myriad Realms Tower Master. With countless avatars, none could kill him, and none wished to oppose him. He was the most peculiar of Cosmic Gods.
“Do you know why I’ve told you all this?” The hunched black-robed man fixed his cold gaze upon Dongbo Xueying, his hoarse voice thick with hatred and killing intent. “Because my master hated the Sacred Master above all else. Even in death, he sought to oppose him.”
Dongbo Xueying faintly realized that this black-robed man was likely a construct.
For a construct to harbor such hatred and bloodlust, it spoke volumes of the Ninecloud Divine Emperor’s enmity toward the Sacred Master.
“With my master gone, successors are needed to carry on his will,” the black-robed man said. “And you are one of them.”
“Me?” Dongbo Xueying was taken aback. “Oppose the Sacred Master? Senior, you overestimate me.”
That was the Sacred Master!
Nearly every supreme existence bore grudges against him, yet he remained the most dazzling of them all. Even with his confidence, and the belief that he might one day ascend to the ranks of the supreme existences, Dongbo Xueying dared not imagine opposing the Sacred Master. After all, even the likes of the Matriarch, the World Ancestor, and the Witch Ancestor could not achieve that.
“Alone, you are insufficient. You are merely one of many.”
The black-robed man let out a rasping chuckle. “Do you think my master left his treasures behind for nothing? To simply scatter them to the winds? You are mistaken! The first and second floors of the Treasure Tower contain only common artifacts, worthless in my master’s eyes. They exist solely to lure in outside experts.”
“The third floor is the crux. The space you now stand in is where all sixteen treasures’ third floors converge.” The black-robed man spoke casually. “This is but one of sixteen halls within my master’s cultivation palace.”
“Each hall contains treasures of immense value.”
“Ordinary Chaos Realm experts may enter, but few can claim the treasures. Only those of exceptional strength or profound mastery in certain fields can succeed.” The black-robed man continued, “Those who retrieve treasures from the third floor are deemed ‘allies’ by my master. As for you? You are one such ally.”
Dongbo Xueying frowned. “Earlier, I failed to claim a single treasure in the hall. How, then, am I qualified to be an ‘ally’?”
“I see potential in you.” The black-robed man grinned, though his smile was unsettling. “In all the ages since my master’s treasures were left behind, you are the one with the greatest potential and comprehension I have encountered. Those Chaos Realm experts, bound by their long cultivation spans, can no longer advance. Some cannot even claim third-floor treasures—too weak to be of use. Only those who can retrieve the treasures have value.”
“As for you? Your potential and comprehension are extraordinary. Thus, I choose you as an ally.”
The black-robed man’s tone turned icy. “The terms for all allies are the same.”
“Slay one ‘Saint’ of the Ancient Sacred Sect, and you may claim treasures worth ten thousand Sourceworld Stones here. The more you slay, the greater your rewards.”
“Slay fifty ‘Saints’ or a Cosmic God of the Ancient Sacred Sect, and all my master’s remaining treasures shall be yours.”
Dongbo Xueying was stunned.
This was absurd.
Slay Saints? Saints were Chaos Realm overlords!
In the Sevenstar Sea Sacred World, the Voidsky Palace had twelve Chaos Realm overlords, while the Primordial Demon Mountain and the Radiant Holy Land also boasted many. Countless others roamed free, unaffiliated with any sacred land. In total, the Sevenstar Sea Sacred World had several dozen—perhaps nearing a hundred—Chaos Realm overlords.
“Fifty would be a grievous loss for the Ancient Sacred Sect,” Dongbo Xueying mused inwardly. “As for a Cosmic God? The Sacred Master has alienated too many supreme existences—only one Cosmic God serves him.”
Killing that one would sever a vital limb of the Sacred Master.
“I cannot slay Saints,” Dongbo Xueying said.
“Not now, but in the future.” The black-robed man rasped. “By your world’s standards, slaying ten Ancient Sacred Sect experts of ‘Star Tower’s fifth-tier’ strength equates to one Saint. A hundred fourth-tier experts equal one Saint. Fulfill the quota, and the rewards are the same.”
“The more you slay, the more you gain.”
The black-robed man’s eyes gleamed with madness. “In the end, slay fifty Saints or that Cosmic God, and this Flame Prison Triworld Cauldron—along with all other treasures—could be yours.”
“Do you truly believe I will aid the Ninecloud Divine Emperor?” Dongbo Xueying asked.
“Through secret arts, I have confirmed you are no follower of the Ancient Sacred Sect.” The black-robed man replied coolly. “In this era, all who oppose the Sacred Master are allies. This is merely a fair trade—treasures for deeds.”
“Very well.”
Dongbo Xueying understood now.
The treasures of the third floor were undoubtedly difficult to claim. If they were easily obtained, what would remain to entice these ‘allies’?
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