In a desolate area outside the Shazu Palace, the gathered cultivators suddenly noticed two figures hovering in the air above.
“Look!”
“How dare they fly near the Shazu Palace?”
As the cultivators raised their heads to gaze at the Demon Ancestor and Dongbo Xueying, the Demon Ancestor frowned slightly, unleashing an invisible pressure. The cultivators below instantly found themselves unable to keep their eyes open, feeling an overwhelming oppression on their souls just from glimpsing his figure. They involuntarily lowered their heads.
Whether they were True Gods or Void Gods, all of them bowed their heads in unison.
Yet, their hearts trembled with even greater awe.
“His power is unfathomable.”
“Shazu is a legendary Chaos Realm expert. Even his disciples and subordinates land far away and enter the Shazu Palace on foot. Only someone at the Chaos Realm would dare to fly above the Shazu Palace.”
“A Chaos Realm expert?”
“Is this a Chaos Realm being?”
Some less experienced True Gods, despite feeling their souls nearly crushed by the oppressive force, still struggled to lift their heads for another glance—only to be forced back down by the terrifying pressure.
“A Chaos Realm expert… I never thought I’d see one in my lifetime.” Some True Gods trembled with excitement, barely able to contain themselves.
In the Sacred World, a Chaos Realm expert was a true titan—rare and mighty.
Even among those who managed to reach the Shazu Palace, the vast majority would be eliminated, with only a hundred being accepted as disciples. And even then, most would never have the chance to meet the supreme ruler of the Shazu Palace—Shazu himself.
—
High above the Shazu Palace, the Demon Ancestor remained cold and aloof, while Dongbo Xueying stood beside him.
Hearing the murmurs from below, Dongbo Xueying couldn’t help but ask, “Is it really this difficult to join a faction in the Sacred World?”
“Any faction that can truly stand firm must have at least a Chaos Realm expert overseeing it,” the Demon Ancestor replied indifferently. “Ordinary Void Gods or Unity Realm cultivators? They could be killed at any moment. Without true strength, stability, and deep foundations, they can never form a lasting faction.”
Dongbo Xueying nodded in agreement.
“Take the Eastern Mists Sacred World, for example. The factions led by the Bone Ancestor, the Blade Emperor, and the Void Primogenitor are the only ones with Cosmos Gods backing them,” the Demon Ancestor continued. “And the Void Primogenitor only shelters Void creatures and a select few who inherit his legacy—the Voidwalkers. For countless cultivators in the Sacred World, joining his faction is nothing but a dream.”
“City Lord Luo is even more detached. Though his strength rivals that of a Cosmos God, he never recruits disciples,” the Demon Ancestor added.
“So, in the Eastern Mists Sacred World, the only factions actively recruiting are those under the Blade Emperor, the Bone Ancestor, and a few dozen Chaos Realm experts,” he explained. “And each faction takes in only a handful of disciples. Compared to the vast population of the Sacred World, the number of those who can truly join them is pitifully small.”
“Why don’t they recruit more?” Dongbo Xueying asked. “If all factions expanded their ranks, wouldn’t they grow stronger while also helping more cultivators in the Sacred World?”
The Demon Ancestor glanced at him. “Naïve.”
Dongbo Xueying was taken aback.
“Why do cultivators seek to join a faction? Many cultivation methods are already widespread. So why do they still flock to the major powers?” the Demon Ancestor said coldly. “Resources.”
“Resources?” Dongbo Xueying pondered.
“The Mother Goddess system requires external materials for every breakthrough. The Bloodline system also relies on external aids. Even the strongest warriors need supplements for their bodies,” the Demon Ancestor elaborated. “As for the ‘Sorcerer’ and ‘Rule-Oriented’ paths—though they emphasize cultivation—sorcerers study all things in existence. They need vast archives of research left by predecessors and rare materials to assist them. Rule-Oriented cultivators face immense difficulty in breakthroughs and require extensive records of past insights to ease their path.”
“Even for paths like Sorcery and Rule-Oriented, which emphasize enlightenment, external resources can make the difference between remaining a Unity Realm expert for life or ascending to the Chaos Realm,” the Demon Ancestor said, eyeing Dongbo Xueying. “And for other systems? Without resources, progress is outright impossible.”
“How much can one scavenge alone in the Sacred World?”
“But by joining a major faction, disciples receive basic resources as support,” the Demon Ancestor continued. “Because resources must be allocated, every faction limits its recruitment.”
Dongbo Xueying nodded.
Resources. He himself was striving to obtain precious cultivation aids for Jingqiu and Yu’er.
“Moreover, recruitment must be cautious,” the Demon Ancestor said, glancing downward. “The Five Sacred Worlds and the Chaos Void are far from peaceful. Factions scheme against each other, and even Cosmos Gods can fall. Infiltrating enemy factions with spies is common. Hence, recruitment must be handled with extreme care.”
Dongbo Xueying was startled.
“You’re fortunate. Coming from our home universe and passing the trials of the Primordial Land, you directly became a Golden-robed Disciple of our Voidsky Palace,” the Demon Ancestor said. “Countless cultivators in the Sacred World envy you. Of course, those of us from the cosmos face greater challenges—our cultivation methods are lacking, and the path is harder. Here, even infants are born as Transcendents, and adults reach Deity-level effortlessly. Their cultivation is smoother, with countless methods available—though the competition for resources is fierce. The most supreme techniques, however, are never lightly shared.”
Dongbo Xueying nodded in understanding.
—
“Hahaha, Demon Ancestor, you left my place not long ago, yet here you are again?” A hearty voice rang out as a plump figure with six arms and green skin flew toward them, smiling warmly.
“Once my business was done, I had to return. I’ll trouble you to send me back to the Seven Star Sea Sacred World,” the Demon Ancestor said.
“Of course, of course! I’d be delighted,” the chubby Shazu replied, glancing at Dongbo Xueying. “Is this trip specifically for this little fellow?”
“A Golden-robed Disciple of Voidsky Palace,” the Demon Ancestor confirmed.
“Since you’re bringing an extra True God Dominator, I won’t charge extra,” Shazu chuckled. “You know the rules—don’t carry too many lives in your pocket dimension. If it exceeds my limits, the teleportation will fail.”
“I know. Only one more than when I came,” the Demon Ancestor said.
“Good. As usual—15 Sourceworld Stones,” Shazu said with a smile.
Dongbo Xueying inwardly gasped.
So ruthless!
A round trip cost 30 Sourceworld Stones. From what he knew, an ordinary Chaos-class flying vessel was worth about 50. But the Demon Ancestor had slaughtered his way through over two hundred landmasses, amassing treasures—this trip must have been profitable.
“Let’s go,” the Demon Ancestor said, flicking his hand. Strange, multicolored stones flew toward Shazu. Just looking at them stirred an inexplicable longing in the soul, a primal urge to devour them.
Sourceworld Stones…
When the original Primordial Sacred World shattered, fragments of its essence coalesced into these stones. Even Cosmos Gods prized them.
“Follow me,” Shazu said warmly, leading the way. His teleportation business catered only to the powerful—the weak either couldn’t afford the stones or wouldn’t spend them even if they could.
—
Shazu guided Dongbo Xueying and the Demon Ancestor into a vast hall, at the center of which stood a formation.
The Demon Ancestor stepped into the formation with Dongbo Xueying, familiar with the process.
“Hum.” Shazu’s eyes suddenly shot out two beams of light, enveloping the formation. A peculiar energy filled the space.
Dongbo Xueying held his breath.
Shazu belonged to the Ancient Cultivator system—the earliest cultivation path from the original Primordial Sacred World. Ancient Cultivators varied wildly in strength and abilities. Some could perceive events across vast distances, others could traverse between Sacred Worlds effortlessly, and some even possessed prophetic powers with over 80% accuracy.
Their capabilities were as bizarre as they were diverse.
Even the current supreme overlord of the Primordial Sacred World—the Sacred Master—was an Ancient Cultivator.
“Hum!”
Dongbo Xueying watched as space twisted and collapsed around them. Another distant point in space mirrored the distortion, forming a short void corridor.
An invisible force carried the Demon Ancestor and Dongbo Xueying into the corridor. Though space warped and pulled at them, in an instant, the scenery changed.
“Boom—!” Space stabilized around them.
The Demon Ancestor and Dongbo Xueying reappeared mid-air.
The Demon Ancestor scanned their surroundings and snorted. “The teleportation was off. We’ll have to travel the rest of the way.”
Over such vast distances, absolute precision was impossible.
“Rip—!” Tearing open a spatial vortex, the Demon Ancestor led Dongbo Xueying inside. This leg of the journey was brief—just half a day before they emerged again in the sky.
As they flew onward, they suddenly brushed against an invisible barrier. Ripples spread through the void, and the two vanished.
—
Dongbo Xueying blinked as the world around him transformed. He knew they had entered a unique space.
Before him floated majestic mountain peaks, each crowned with palaces and caves. At the center of these peaks lay a vast, suspended landmass, covered in sprawling palace complexes. Dominating it all was a radiant, towering palace—its light illuminating every corner of the realm.
“Voidsky Palace… I’ve arrived,” Dongbo Xueying murmured, a smile touching his lips.
In the distance, other cultivators—members of Voidsky Palace—glanced their way. Spotting the Punishment Hall Master, the Demon Ancestor, they quickly averted their eyes. Yet, they couldn’t help but whisper among themselves.
“The Punishment Hall Master has a True God Dominator with him… Who is that? Never seen him before.”
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