The array diagrams on the second floor of the tower were indeed more profound. Dongbo Xueying meticulously analyzed and comprehended each one. Though he encountered some difficulties, with a bit more time, he managed to grasp them fully. Over a thousand years after entering the second floor, he had already deciphered eight of the diagrams. While studying the ninth, he suddenly froze.
“Three veins fused?” Though inwardly delighted, Dongbo Xueying wasn’t entirely surprised by this breakthrough.
After all, the Void Path consisted of nine veins. Upon reaching the second level of Cosmic God, early-stage fusions were generally quicker. Merging three or four veins wasn’t exceptionally difficult, but the challenges grew exponentially, with the final ‘Nine-Vein Fusion’ stopping even the most formidable experts in their tracks.
With his solid foundation and having observed the entire lifecycle of a ‘World Flower’—from bloom to withering—over ten million years, achieving the fusion of three veins felt like a natural progression.
But…
“It was the array diagrams. While studying them, I gained insights that coincidentally broke through the final bottleneck, allowing the Heavenly Phase, Earthly Phase, and Void Phase to merge seamlessly.” Dongbo Xueying gazed in exhilaration at the cylindrical diagrams before him. “These diagrams aren’t just tests—they’re also guides, leading me toward greater heights?”
Indeed, the diagrams grew increasingly abstruse.
Yet precisely because of this, as he deciphered them, his comprehension of the Void Path deepened, and his realm naturally ascended.
“The Hunyuan Tower isn’t just a trial—it’s an opportunity to guide one’s cultivation.” Dongbo Xueying’s heart swelled with joy.
The nine veins of the Void Path:
Heavenly Phase, Earthly Phase, Raging Phase, Mist Phase, True Phase, Void Phase, Thread Phase, Multiversal Phase, and Annihilation Phase.
For instance, the core of *Piercing the Firmament*, taught to Dongbo Xueying by the Southcloud Monarch, lay in the Void Phase. Only by using the Void Phase as a foundation and absorbing the essence of four other phases could one achieve perfection. Of course, Dongbo Xueying currently relied on the Southcloud Saint Body to unleash the full power of this perfected state.
“Let’s continue.”
Fresh from his three-vein fusion, inspiration surged within him like a spring. While his avatar in his home Chaos Void consolidated this breakthrough, his avatar in the Heart Realm Continent continued deciphering the array diagrams.
The ninth and tenth diagrams came easily. In truth, these two still guided the fusion of the Heavenly, Earthly, and Void Phases. Having already succeeded, he breezed through them.
“Guiding my cultivation?” Dongbo Xueying was overjoyed. He hadn’t realized this on the first floor because his time spent studying the World Flower had left him with such profound accumulation that he’d deciphered all ten diagrams there swiftly, barely noticing their impact. Immersed in his cultivation on the second floor, he hadn’t dwelled on it.
Only upon his breakthrough did he recognize how these diagrams had facilitated his three-vein fusion.
“The World Flower was an opportunity bestowed upon me by Lord Luo. And from the sound of it, it might be the only grand opportunity he’ll ever grant me.”
“The Hunyuan Tower is also a once-in-a-lifetime chance, available only to first-time holders of the Heart Realm Token.”
“Both of these grand opportunities are unique.”
Dongbo Xueying understood clearly—this might be the fastest period of growth in his Cosmic God journey, thanks to these two blessings. But the quicker his progress, the better! Missing this window meant such rapid advancement might never come again.
—
Time flowed on.
Within the Hunyuan Tower, Dongbo Xueying devoted himself entirely to cultivation, deciphering the array diagrams. Neither of his avatars in the two source worlds slacked for even a moment.
—
Meanwhile, in the Heart Realm Continent, many experts who had entered the Heart Realm Palace were being expelled one after another.
For instance, the ‘Springbloom Island Master,’ who had secured one of the four publicly contested slots from the Summerflame Sacred Land, was ejected after a mere three thousand years—the first among Summerflame’s twelve entrants to be ousted.
The second expulsion came over ten million years later: ‘Browwind Master,’ a first-level Cosmic God from the Cang Clan of Summerflame. With the support of the three great families’ Venerable Masters, lasting this long as a first-level Cosmic God was already impressive.
Subsequent expulsions followed in quick succession.
Fifty million years later…
‘Slaughter Heaven Venerable’ and ‘Flame Demon Venerable’ were expelled simultaneously.
By then, few from Summerflame remained in the Heart Realm Palace—aside from the Summerflame Sacred Emperor, the Cang Emperor, and Grand Elder Fuyi, only Grand Elder Pusur, the Swordfiend Venerable, Monarch Wuhua (Xia Wuhua), and the sole guest elder, Flying Snow Emperor ‘Yingshan Xueying,’ remained.
“Monarch Wuhua is understandable—he’s a core member of the Xia Clan, suspected to be a reincarnated being. Not only does he have detailed intelligence, but he’s also protected by experts from the three great families. But the Flying Snow Emperor has no such intel and must navigate blindly. Even the Flame Demon Venerable was expelled—how is he still inside?”
“Another guest elder, the Springbloom Island Master, lasted only three thousand years without detailed intelligence.”
“Yet he’s been inside for over fifty million years?”
The Heart Realm Palace housed experts from all six sacred lands, so their higher-ups were naturally invested. While the other sacred lands marveled at the Flying Snow Emperor’s endurance, Summerflame’s leaders had mixed feelings. Conventionally, non-three-family members didn’t last long in the Heart Realm Palace—yet Yingshan Xueying had defied expectations.
—
“Could my disciple possess some unknown means? Was his eagerness to enter the Heart Realm Palace backed by confidence?” The Southcloud Monarch couldn’t help but marvel.
Surviving inside for fifty million years…
Was no small feat.
“The stronger he grows, the better.” Yet the Southcloud Monarch soon frowned, vexed as he studied a scroll in his hands. “Ah, my master is far too troublesome. I fear his actions may drag the Southcloud Nation into chaos.”
He held no affection for his master.
But back then, to obtain the *Two Realm Blade*, he had sworn a binding oath—one with severe conditions.
Normally, a master’s demands on a disciple weren’t excessive. When he took Dongbo Xueying as a disciple, his requirements had been lenient. Had he imposed harsher vows, Dongbo Xueying might have simply sought tutelage under Patriarch Fan instead!
“I had no choice back then.”
“The *Two Realm Blade* was my only hope for resurgence, and at the time, I believed he was already dead.” The Southcloud Monarch shook his head.
This nominal master of his was terrifying, malevolent—his very name synonymous with death.
The harsh oath he’d demanded was entirely in character.
No one had expected him to return alive to the Heart Realm Continent.
“Such peculiar materials, and in such vast quantities.” The Southcloud Monarch scanned the list on the scroll. “Many are tied to death. What could he possibly need them for in such amounts?”
A chill ran down his spine.
He had no recourse.
When the ‘Undying Nether Emperor’ once dominated the Heart Realm Continent, his infamy was unmatched—arguably the strongest existence of his era. Of course, the Summerflame Sacred Emperor back then hadn’t yet reached his current heights, being on par with the Cang Emperor and Patriarch Fan.
The Undying Nether Emperor had once single-handedly waged war against numerous invincible existences, plunging the Heart Realm Continent into turmoil—all before the First Sacred Land War.
“If he was so unrestrained back then, after all these eons, now that he’s returned with unfathomable power, how could he possibly remain low-key forever?” The Southcloud Monarch sighed. He’d once hoped the Undying Nether Emperor would perish in the Broken Tooth Mountain Range. Alas, the man had returned unscathed and tossed him this list.
Demanding these materials.
The Southcloud Monarch’s heart soured. He was shackled to this ship—unless he was prepared to break his oath and face the Undying Nether Emperor’s wrath, obedience was his only option.
But if the Undying Nether Emperor truly stirred another storm, while he himself could weather any crisis, the Southcloud Nation might not be so fortunate.
“How infuriating.”
The Southcloud Monarch seethed inwardly.
A man of such pride…
Now forced to endure in silence.
—
Meanwhile, within the Heart Realm Palace…
On the sixth floor of the Hunyuan Tower, the white-robed youth Dongbo Xueying sat cross-legged, eyes closed, deep in meditation.
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