Chapter 350: The Ancient God of the Tuoba
Chapter 350: The Ancient God of the Tuoba (5000 characters, please subscribe)
In the Virtual World, within an individual's space, Lin Yuan sat quietly as an elderly man with a white beard appeared out of thin air.
"Greetings, Galaxy Master Lin," the white-bearded elder said, his voice carrying a hint of urgency, yet remaining respectful.
He was well aware that the young man before him was the legendary Galaxy Master Lin Yuan. Even peak ninth-tier and tenth-tier evolvers might not have the opportunity to meet him. For a mere artificial intelligence like himself to request an audience and be granted permission was already a favor owed to their past connections.
However, favors could only stretch so far. If he overstepped his bounds, this would likely be the last time he would be granted an audience.
"Are you the artificial intelligence that follows Fang Qing?" Lin Yuan glanced at the white-bearded elder and spoke in a calm tone.
Fang Qing was a close friend Lin Yuan had made back when he was still on Planet Canglan. Before breaking through to the sixth stage, Lin Yuan had to conceal his identity and face the oppressive public opinion of the Black Prison Family's Black Prison Claw. Fang Qing had resolutely stood by Lin Yuan's side and helped alleviate that pressure.
Although, looking at the bigger picture, whether or not Fang Qing had spoken up wouldn't have made much of a difference to Lin Yuan's situation. Nonetheless, he had helped.
Later, when Lin Yuan revealed his identity and became one of the thirteen peak lords of the Chi Chuan lineage, he summoned Fang Qing to join the thirteen peaks and entrusted him with an important task, thus repaying his debt.
It was common knowledge that if Fang Qing had followed the normal path of development within the Chi Chuan lineage, even if he dedicated himself for thousands or tens of thousands of years, he would have only become a core member at best. But as Lin Yuan's confidant, managing one of the thirteen peaks, he held a high position and immense power—second only to the Star Master and the thirteen peak lords within the Chi Chuan lineage.
Moreover, as Lin Yuan's strength grew, the status of the thirteen peaks within the Chi Chuan lineage also rose. Especially for Fang Qing, who had dared to stand up for the Galaxy Master—the peak lords all treated him with great respect because of this connection.
After Lin Yuan took control of the Galaxy Star Domain, he didn't pay much attention to the Chi Chuan main star. It was only recently that he heard Fang Qing had crossed into the sixth stage and become a well-known Falling Star.
Fang Qing's path of evolution was that of the 'Ancient God'. This evolutionary path was extremely risky, as one wrong step could lead to being polluted by the 'Ancient God'. However, if one could successfully navigate this path, their cultivation speed would be incredibly fast, comparable to those with bloodline powers.
After all, the essence of the Ancient God evolutionary path was to mimic the Ancient Gods as closely as possible, and those Ancient Gods dwelling in the depths of the universe were mostly eleventh-tier life forms. Having such powerful beings as a model meant there were virtually no restraints in the early stages of cultivation. As long as one could endure the pollution of the Ancient God, it could even be said to be a smooth journey.
As the manager of the thirteen peaks of the Chi Chuan lineage, Fang Qing enjoyed excellent treatment and benefits. Coupled with the uniqueness of the Ancient God evolutionary path, he was able to break through to the sixth stage in less than a century.
"Yes, Galaxy Master Lin," the white-bearded elder replied. "My master is Fang Qing. He... he's in trouble."
"What happened to Fang Qing?" Lin Yuan's eyebrows furrowed.
Anyone in human civilization who bothered to ask would know about Fang Qing's connection to him. Even if Fang Qing had truly offended someone and committed an unforgivable mistake, they would still contact Lin Yuan first.
Therefore, the reason for Fang Qing's predicament was likely external to human civilization. Could it be one of those foreign races? But what would they gain by targeting Fang Qing? To threaten him?
It was true that Fang Qing and Lin Yuan had a good relationship, but it was just that—a good relationship. If they wanted to threaten Lin Yuan, it would be more effective to target his parents or close relatives.
"Galaxy Master Lin, an hour ago, Fang Qing suddenly lost consciousness while cultivating. His vital signs are stable, and his soul fluctuations are normal, but his mental will has disappeared," the white-bearded elder quickly explained Fang Qing's situation.
"Mental will... disappeared?" Lin Yuan's expression turned slightly solemn.
For a life form, what was the most important aspect? The physical body? The soul?
No, it was the mental will.
The mental will carried the true spirit of a life form—it was the most essential part. Every time Lin Yuan traveled through the Myriad Worlds Gate, it was his mental will that departed.
Normally, the presence or absence of mental will was how one determined if a life form had died.
"Galaxy Master Lin, do you think Fang Qing is dead?" The white-bearded elder's voice trembled slightly. He had put so much effort into cultivating Fang Qing, and his predecessor's vengeance was yet to be fulfilled. Now, Fang Qing might be dead, and the years they had spent together had fostered a bond. Even artificial intelligence could develop emotions.
"Fang Qing is not dead," Lin Yuan shook his head.
In the moment he learned of Fang Qing's predicament, he immediately traced the 'causality' between them. As long as the causal line related to Fang Qing still existed, it meant that Fang Qing had not perished.
Lin Yuan continued to sense Fang Qing's causal line, wanting to lock onto his approximate location, but he found that the other end of the causal line was located deep in the universe, outside the boundaries of human civilization.
"Could it be that an Ancient God has made a move?" Lin Yuan wondered silently. Only those eleventh-tier Ancient Gods could instantly shift Fang Qing's mental will from the domain of human civilization to the depths of the universe, as far as he could tell.
Even for an Ancient God, there would be numerous restrictive conditions to fulfill before such an act could be accomplished. For example, the Ancient God that Fang Qing's evolutionary path ultimately aimed to mimic—the heavy causality between them due to Fang Qing's cultivation, which was entirely focused on emulating that Ancient God.
For that Ancient God to instantly 'take away' Fang Qing's mental will was within the realm of possibility.
"An Ancient God?"
"Is it the Ancient God of the evolutionary path?"
However, under normal circumstances, the Ancient Gods wouldn't bother with those who cultivate their evolutionary path. They consider them beneath their notice.
Those who are called Ancient Gods are usually unique and special life forms, each incredibly proud. They spread their evolutionary paths in pursuit of the ultimate leap to become the strongest.
Why would they target someone cultivating their path before achieving that goal?
While human civilization suppresses various Ancient God evolutionary paths, they don't completely eradicate them because they have their own designs regarding the Ancient Gods.
When an Ancient God attempts the ultimate leap and fails, it results in their total annihilation. In such a case, an evolver who has cultivated the corresponding evolutionary path may inherit everything from that Ancient God.
"Let's not rush into anything," Lin Yuan said as he glanced at the white-bearded elder. "I'll go and ask around."
"Yes," the white-bearded elder replied, his heart filled with anxiety, but he also knew that his worry wouldn't change anything.
After the white-bearded elder disappeared, Lin Yuan fell into deep thought.
"The Ancient God evolutionary path that Fang Qing cultivates..." Lin Yuan immediately used his privileges to search for information.
As an eighth-grade citizen and an evolutionary scholar, there was very little that Lin Yuan couldn't find within human civilization, aside from top-secret information.
Soon, Lin Yuan learned the details of the Ancient God evolutionary path that Fang Qing practiced.
"This Ancient God evolutionary path originates from the 'Tuoba Ancient God'?" Lin Yuan stroked his chin as he considered this new information, along with his perception of the causal line related to Fang Qing, confirming that the region where Fang Qing's mental will was located was indeed the Tuoba Ancient God's territory.
"It must be the Tuoba Ancient God who made a move," Lin Yuan thought silently.
"But what significance could the mental will of a mere sixth-stage life form have for a being like the Tuoba Ancient God?" Lin Yuan wondered.
The Tuoba Ancient God was a mysterious and unique life form who had long ago comprehended the rules of time and reached the pinnacle of space-time fusion. Even among the Ancient Gods, the Tuoba Ancient God was not considered weak.
Such a being would view a sixth-stage life form as insignificant as an ant, so why would they bother to take away Fang Qing's mental will? Lin Yuan couldn't fathom the reason.
"Let's see if we can get in touch with the Tuoba Ancient God first," Lin Yuan thought, believing that the matter could be resolved peacefully.
So far, there had been no conflicts or grudges between the Tuoba Ancient God and human civilization. As long as Lin Yuan was willing to pay a certain price, there was a good chance that he could retrieve Fang Qing's mental will from the Ancient God.
With that in mind, Lin Yuan immediately began to contact his friends.
At his sister Lin Yi's wedding, Lin Yuan had gotten to know a large group of tenth-stage evolvers.
As the strongest genius in the history of human civilization, many powerful beings were willing to give Lin Yuan face.
"What?"
"The Galaxy Master wants to get in touch with the Tuoba Ancient God?"
"I've heard that Ancient God has a terrible temper."
"I don't know the Tuoba Ancient God personally, but I know other Ancient Gods, and they should all be connected."
As the pinnacle race in the universe, human civilization held immense influence, and most tenth-stage evolvers had some connections. Soon, they brought results to Lin Yuan.
In Lin Yuan's personal space, a chubby figure appeared.
"Galaxy Master Lin," the chubby figure said with a complex expression.
"It's you?" Lin Yuan was slightly surprised.
The chubby figure was none other than Maso the Traveler from the Primordial Secret Realm.
Maso was also a unique life form and the offspring of an Ancient God from the depths of the universe.
Normally, the virtual world network of human civilization was not open to other races.
However, as a high-level evolver, Maso could apply for temporary access to set up a temporary virtual network for other races to connect to. But during this connection, their actions would be monitored and recorded.
"My ancestor knows the Tuoba Ancient God, and he said he can help with an introduction," Maso said directly.
Maso's ancestor, the Ancient God, had regretted not intervening during the Primordial Secret Realm incident, feeling that he had missed a good opportunity.
And now, upon hearing that the Galaxy Master wanted to get in touch with the Tuoba Ancient God, Maso's ancestor immediately saw another opportunity.
Although he didn't know why Lin Yuan wanted to contact the Tuoba Ancient God, the fact that he was seeking help so publicly indicated the importance he attached to the matter.
If he could help the Galaxy Master at this time, it might not be considered a favor, but it would at least earn him some respect from Lin Yuan.
After all, relationships were built gradually through the accumulation of small acts of goodwill.
"I see," Lin Yuan nodded. "Then please convey my thanks to the Ancient God of the Si Zhong."
Maso's ancestor, the Ancient God known as Si Zhong, was renowned for his extensive connections, so it was not surprising that he knew the Tuoba Ancient God.
"However, my ancestor said that the Tuoba Ancient God has a bad temper. Before meeting with the Tuoba Ancient God, my ancestor would like to meet with you, Galaxy Master Lin," Maso said.
"No problem," Lin Yuan agreed.
The meeting would likely take place in a temporarily constructed virtual world, so Lin Yuan didn't have to worry about his safety.
Soon, another chubby figure appeared, and compared to Maso, this figure gave Lin Yuan a much stronger sense of oppression.
This being was the second most powerful individual Lin Yuan had ever encountered, second only to the ultimate powerhouse, Xia Qin.
"Ancient God Si Zhong," Lin Yuan said.
"Galaxy Master Lin," Si Zhong greeted him with a smile, showing none of the arrogance one might expect from an eleventh-stage Ancient God.
"I have a close friend who cultivates the evolutionary path of the Tuoba Ancient God. Recently, his mental will disappeared, and through my causal perception, I confirmed that he is within Tuoba's territory," Lin Yuan explained without hiding anything.
"I understand," the Ancient God of Si Zhong nodded, suddenly frowning. "That old fellow Tuoba's lifespan is probably not long for this world. I estimate that within a billion years, he will forcefully attempt the ultimate leap."
As an eleventh-tier powerhouse, the Ancient God was able to slow down the flow of time around himself, achieving a unique form of 'eternity'. However, it was still just an imitation of true eternity. In reality, the lifespan of an eleventh-tier being was still slowly ticking away.
Tuoba, having been born at the dawn of the universe, had endured countless eons. Even with his ability to slow down time, his remaining lifespan was likely limited.
To continue existing, his only option was to attempt the ultimate leap to the twelfth tier before his lifespan ran out.
"A forced ultimate leap?" Lin Yuan was taken aback.
"But why would Tuoba take away my friend's mental will? He's only at the sixth stage," Lin Yuan voiced his confusion.
The Ancient God of Si Zhong laughed heartily and explained, "Oh, Galaxy Master Lin, there's something you don't know. We Ancient Gods are inherently very powerful, but as a trade-off, our mental will is comparatively weaker."
"I suspect that Tuoba took your friend's mental will to immerse himself in your friend's memories and experience a life of weakness. By doing so, he aims to temper his mental will."
"Usually, they choose lives that are highly similar to themselves, and I presume your friend was selected by Tuoba for this reason."
"I see," Lin Yuan nodded, understanding the situation.
For the ultimate leap, one's mental will must be strong, and for these ancient eleventh-tier beings, occasionally experiencing a life of weakness and vulnerability can be a unique and beneficial experience for the tempering of their mental will.
"This shouldn't be a difficult matter," the Ancient God of Si Zhong said. "With me mediating, it shouldn't be a problem."
To an eleventh-tier Ancient God, a mental will was not irreplaceable. If one disappeared, they could simply find another.
"Thank you, Ancient God of Si Zhong," Lin Yuan said solemnly.
"You're welcome," the Ancient God of Si Zhong replied, his mood pleasant. He had been waiting for Lin Yuan to express his gratitude.
"I'll contact Tuoba now," the Ancient God of Si Zhong said, not forgetting the task at hand.
Soon after, a skinny figure appeared in the temporarily constructed virtual network space. This figure exuded an indistinct aura, and his features were blurred, making it difficult to discern his facial characteristics.
"Tuoba, you've arrived," the Ancient God of Si Zhong said, turning to the skinny figure. "Let me introduce you to Galaxy Master Lin."
"I've already told you everything, and the mental will you took away belongs to a friend of Galaxy Master Lin. I believe it's not someone irreplaceable to you," the Ancient God of Si Zhong stated.
"Galaxy Master Lin," Tuoba addressed Lin Yuan without paying heed to the Ancient God of Si Zhong. A smile appeared on his blurry face as he said, "Even someone as old as I am has heard of your reputation, Galaxy Master Lin. You are truly remarkable."
"It's just a reputation," Lin Yuan shook his head modestly.
Without achieving true invincibility and transcending the river of time, even the most dazzling talent held little meaning.
"It's different for you, Galaxy Master Lin. You have the support of Human Civilization, and nine invincible powerhouses are favoring your future. Your chances of achieving the ultimate leap far surpass ours," Tuoba said.
"You have the talent and the backing of the entire Human Civilization. You will receive resources and cultivation that someone like me, without a race, can only dream of."
"The ultimate leap? That's still a distant goal for me," Lin Yuan frowned slightly.
Currently, he was only at the ninth tier. Ahead of him lay the tenth tier, and beyond that, the eleventh.
With two major realms to cross, Lin Yuan's path to the ultimate leap was indeed a long one.
"Ancient God Tuoba," Lin Yuan began.
"I'll get straight to the point," Lin Yuan continued after a moment's thought. "You took the mental will of my friend. As long as you return it to me, we can discuss the conditions."
Lin Yuan never expected Tuoba to hand over his friend's mental will without any demands. However, he believed the price wouldn't be too high. After all, it was just the mental will of a sixth-stage life form, and with the Ancient God of Si Zhong mediating, along with the might of Human Civilization as a backdrop, he was confident a deal could be struck.
"Conditions, good. Let's talk about conditions then," Tuoba said, his gaze fixed on Lin Yuan. "As Si Zhong has probably told you, my lifespan is almost at its end."
"If I continue to wait, my only option will be to forcefully attempt the ultimate leap," Tuoba continued slowly.
"But I don't have much confidence in my chances of success," Tuoba shook his head. "So, my condition is this: Galaxy Master Lin, if you can provide me with a treasure that increases my probability of a successful ultimate leap, I will return your friend's mental will."
"A treasure that increases the probability of a successful ultimate leap?" Lin Yuan was momentarily stunned.
Tuoba certainly had a bold request. How dare he make such a demand? The ultimate leap was the highest aspiration of all evolving life forms, and a treasure that enhanced the chances of success was incredibly precious.
"Tuoba, have you gone mad?" The Ancient God of Si Zhong was dumbfounded. He never expected Tuoba to actually voice such a condition.
"The conditions are set, Galaxy Master Lin. If you can fulfill them, we'll make the trade," Tuoba said with a smile. "I believe you have the capability to satisfy me."
(End of Chapter)
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