https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-350-The-Ancient-God-of-the-Tuoba/12532160/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-352-Lin-Yuan-s-Adventure-in-the-Mysterious-Yellow-Secret-Realm/12532227/
Chapter 351: The Secret Realm Closes
Chapter 351: The Secret Realm Closes (5000 characters, please subscribe)
"I don't have it," Lin Yuan replied, shaking his head.
In truth, Lin Yuan did possess a treasure that could enhance his ultimate probability. It was the mysterious gourd, capable of breaking the shackles of his inner world.
By absorbing the seven-colored liquid within the gourd, he could increase the perceived size of his inner world by more than twenty times.
As an eleventh-tier life form on the verge of transcending, his inner world would undergo a metamorphosis, aspiring towards an inner universe.
The richer the foundation of his inner world, the smoother this transformation would be, thus indirectly increasing his chances of success in transcending.
However, there was no way Lin Yuan would use the mysterious gourd as a bargaining chip.
He had kept it a secret even from the Human Civilization; how could he reveal it to Tai Bai Gu Shen?
Lin Yuan speculated that should he dare to disclose even a hint of information about the mysterious gourd, it would attract the direct intervention of the Utmost Powerhouses.
In the eyes of these mighty beings, no matter how talented and gifted Lin Yuan was, he was still just a blip in the river of time.
Unable to break free from the constraints of time, he would eventually grow old and die.
Thus, geniuses were not truly valued by the Utmost Powerhouses.
But the mysterious gourd? It was undoubtedly a supreme treasure beyond even the Eternal Spring, one of the twelve cosmic wonders of the Twelve Star Universe.
Lin Yuan had no doubt that the Utmost Powerhouses would engage in slaughter and conflict for its possession.
"I know you don't have it," Tai Bai Gu Shen said, "but the Human Civilization definitely does."
"The mental will I took belongs to your close friend, the Galaxy Master. Do you think he will stand by and watch as his memories are experienced by me?" Tai Bai Gu Shen asked.
Once Fang Qing's mental will was imprinted upon by Tai Bai Gu Shen, it would be completely obliterated.
"I'll consider it," Lin Yuan said, neither accepting nor refusing outright. With that, he disappeared, leaving the temporarily constructed virtual network world behind.
After Lin Yuan's departure, only Tai Bai Gu Shen and Si Zhong Gu Shen remained in the virtual space.
"Tai Bai!" Si Zhong Gu Shen's face twisted with displeasure as he glared at Tai Bai Gu Shen. All this time, he had cultivated a friendly and amiable image, but at this moment, he was genuinely furious.
"A mere mental will of a sixth-tier life form, and you think it's worth a treasure that can enhance the probability of transcending?" Si Zhong Gu Shen's eyes turned icy. "Even if you bear a grudge against the Human Civilization, now that I've stepped in, you shouldn't have made such an excessive demand."
"A mere sixth-tier life form?" Tai Bai Gu Shen smiled faintly. "While that is true from our perspective, I've also found out that Fang Qing has a debt of gratitude with the Galaxy Master."
"The Galaxy Master is too young. He should value this debt of gratitude greatly. Anyway, I'm just making a casual suggestion. It doesn't matter if the negotiations fall through," Tai Bai Gu Shen said nonchalantly.
Although he believed that the chances of the Galaxy Master producing such a treasure were slim, what if he did? What if the Galaxy Master lost his temper over this matter?
Even if, in the end, the Galaxy Master truly couldn't produce the treasure, Tai Bai Gu Shen could continue to make other demands. After all, he held Fang Qing's mental will in his hands, giving him leverage over the Galaxy Master at any time.
"Are you not afraid of offending the Galaxy Master and, by extension, the entire Human Civilization?" Si Zhong Gu Shen asked after a moment of silence.
Regardless of the final outcome, Tai Bai Gu Shen had already alienated the Galaxy Master with his actions.
And to offend the Galaxy Master was to offend the Human Civilization.
"What's there to fear? My lifespan is almost at its end," Tai Bai Gu Shen said indifferently. "Within the next million years, I will attempt to transcend. If I fail, everything about me will be erased. So, what does it matter if I offend ten Galaxy Masters? And if I succeed, I will become an Utmost Powerhouse. What then can the Galaxy Master do, even in his anger?"
Tai Bai Gu Shen shook his head. "Si Zhong, over these long years, you've cultivated relationships with various geniuses, but in my eyes, it's all meaningless. What's the point of having connections if you don't become an Utmost Powerhouse yourself?"
"How I choose to act is none of your concern," Si Zhong Gu Shen said, his gaze unwavering as he looked at Tai Bai Gu Shen. "Tai Bai, I'll ask you one last time. Are you sure you want to stand in opposition to the Galaxy Master?"
"I advise against it. The Galaxy Master's potential is the greatest I've ever seen. Your actions will bring about endless troubles," Si Zhong Gu Shen said earnestly.
"The greatest potential?"
"Do you think the Galaxy Master can transcend within the next million years while I attempt the same?" Tai Bai Gu Shen scoffed. "Si Zhong, stop trying to be the peacemaker. As far as I'm concerned, the Galaxy Master is already my enemy."
"We are special life forms, exalted and above all else. Why should we care about the face of a mere Galaxy Master?"
"Even if the Galaxy Master seeks the help of one of the Human Civilization's Utmost Powerhouses, the most they can do is offer protection. I can always turn to the Tian Yu Clan of the Bug Tribe. They are more than capable of safeguarding me," Tai Bai Gu Shen said, his plans thoroughly considered. No matter how monstrous the Galaxy Master's talent was, he was not an Utmost Powerhouse.
The nine Utmost Powerhouses of the Human Civilization would not go to war with the Tian Yu Clan over the Galaxy Master, especially since the Galaxy Master himself was unharmed. As for the death of his friend? The Utmost Powerhouses of the Human Civilization wouldn't care about that in the slightest.
Si Zhong Gu Shen fell silent once more upon hearing these words.
"Now, I await the Galaxy Master's response," Tai Bai Gu Shen said, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "I hope for a pleasant surprise."
"In that case, Tai Bai, why don't you propose a new condition, and I'll convey it to the Galaxy Master on your behalf?" Si Zhong Gu Shen suggested after a moment's thought.
"Si Zhong, you'd best stay out of this," Tai Bai Gu Shen said, glancing at him. "For me, no matter how precious a treasure is, if it doesn't aid in my transcending, it's useless."
"Unless you can also produce a treasure that enhances the probability of transcending," Tai Bai Gu Shen added.
"How could I possibly have such a thing?" Si Zhong Gu Shen sighed. Even if he did, he wouldn't offer it.
Lin Yuan left the temporary virtual network world and returned to his personal space.
"Intelligence reports that Tai Bai Gu Shen is proud and ill-tempered, but now it seems he's also quite bold." Lin Yuan thought, daring to threaten him so openly.
Lin Yuan had rarely encountered such audacity.
"Makes sense, though. Tai Bai Gu Shen has no reason to fear me. In the eyes of most powerful beings, my limit is the eleventh tier. As for the ultimate tier? To reach that level has nothing to do with innate talent and qualities."
Lin Yuan mused that as an eleventh-tier being himself, Tai Bai Gu Shen, a special life form, had no reason to fear a human civilization's eleventh-tier being.
As for Lin Yuan breaking records and creating miracles at the eighth and ninth tiers?
The higher the tier, the more difficult it would be to replicate those feats.
Lin Yuan might have been able to kill same-tier beings as easily as slaughtering chickens at the eighth and ninth tiers, but could he do the same at the eleventh tier?
Killing eleventh-tier beings with such ease was a capability reserved for the strongest beings, and even some special eleventh-tier lives could put up a decent fight against the strongest.
For example, the 'Mother of the Tree World' was undoubtedly one of the strongest eleventh-tier lives.
A moment later.
Si Zhong Gu Shen contacted Lin Yuan.
"Galaxy Master, I'm sorry, I couldn't convince Tai Bai," Si Zhong Gu Shen said, somewhat embarrassed. He hadn't expected Tai Bai Gu Shen to be so reckless, making such outrageous demands.
"Tai Bai's lifespan is almost at its end, and he will soon be forced to attempt the ultimate transcendence. At this time, Galaxy Master, you should meet with him."
Si Zhong Gu Shen sighed.
If this had happened dozens of billions of years earlier, he would have been able to persuade Tai Bai Gu Shen, but now? Tai Bai Gu Shen's eyes were only on transcending, and he didn't care about offending one or two of the utmost powerhouses.
"I will continue to mediate on this matter."
"Based on my understanding of Tai Bai, his conditions should be able to come down a bit further."
Si Zhong Gu Shen spoke up.
"Understood."
"Thank you for your help, Si Zhong Gu Shen."
Lin Yuan nodded.
After Si Zhong Gu Shen left.
Lin Yuan remained seated.
"His conditions could be lowered further?"
Lin Yuan shook his head slightly. Based on his brief interaction with Tai Bai Gu Shen, he didn't think the chances were high.
Besides, Tai Bai Gu Shen had started with a demand for a treasure that enhanced the probability of transcending. Even if he lowered his demands, how much lower could he go?
Red Whale Main Planet.
Lin Yuan's figure appeared silently.
It used to take Lin Yuan one or two years to travel from the Galaxy Main Planet to the Red Whale Main Planet when he was at the eighth tier.
But now, with his mastery of the 'Nine Steps of Time and Space,' it was a matter of just two or three steps.
Lin Yuan's surroundings twisted, easily evading the Red Whale Main Planet's defense system. None of the inhabitants of the planet were aware that the Galaxy Master had returned.
Soon.
Lin Yuan quickly made his way back to the Thirteen Peaks.
Then he entered Fang Qing's cultivation chamber.
News of Fang Qing's sudden coma had not yet spread, and aside from Lin Yuan and Si Zhong Gu Shen, no one else knew that he had contacted Tai Bai Gu Shen.
"Fang Qing."
Lin Yuan looked at Fang Qing, who was lying in the nutrition tank.
Whoosh.
The projection of the white-bearded old man appeared. As an intelligent life form, he could only manifest as a projection in the physical world, without a physical body.
"Galaxy Master, why have you returned?"
The white-bearded old man was shocked. He had just met the Galaxy Master not long ago and was still waiting for the Galaxy Master's notification, but Lin Yuan had returned in person?
"No need to make a fuss."
Lin Yuan glanced at the white-bearded old man. "Regarding Fang Qing, I will ask one of the Utmost Powerhouses to resurrect him when the opportunity arises."
The next moment.
Lin Yuan's thoughts stirred, and using Fang Qing's physical body as a 'medium,' he followed the causal connection and cast a curse to kill Fang Qing's mental will.
Fang Qing had just entered the sixth tier, while Lin Yuan was already a ninth-tier evolver, spanning three major realms. Moreover, Fang Qing's physical body was the 'medium' with the deepest connection.
It could be said that Fang Qing was doomed.
Causal rules were one of the most mysterious and profound rules in the universe. After reaching the ninth tier, Lin Yuan had specifically contemplated this kind of rule for a period of time.
If he had allowed Fang Qing's mental will to be imprinted upon by Tai Bai Gu Shen, Fang Qing's memories would have been completely polluted by the ancient god.
It would be similar to being deeply entangled in memory poison.
Even if he were resurrected with his memories intact, he would still go insane and die.
Rather than let that happen, Lin Yuan chose to kill Fang Qing himself.
With this method of death, Fang Qing would at least have a chance to be resurrected by one of the Utmost Powerhouses.
To increase the chances of completely killing Fang Qing, Lin Yuan's response to Tai Bai Gu Shen had been that he would 'consider it.'
This kept hope alive for Tai Bai Gu Shen, while Lin Yuan himself returned to the Red Whale Main Planet in secret, thus maximizing the success rate of the curse.
"Has the cause and effect disappeared?"
Upon completing the curse, Lin Yuan sensed the disappearance of the causal line belonging to Fang Qing.
Due to the vast difference in their tiers, Lin Yuan did not have to pay any price for this curse.
In fact, Lin Yuan had also prepared for the worst-case scenario, which was the failure of the curse, as Fang Qing's mental will was in Tai Bai Gu Shen's hands.
Such an ancient god might possess all sorts of abilities, perhaps even the ability to sever causal connections.
Causal curses were intangible and insubstantial, but they were not all-powerful, and there were countermeasures, such as the Primordial Mystery Realm, which could block causal curses.
Therefore—
In Lin Yuan's estimation.
If Tai Bai Gu Shen had blocked the curse.
Lin Yuan would have immediately asked Xia Qin, one of the Utmost Powerhouses, to cast the curse instead.
With the might of an Utmost Powerhouse, cursing a sixth-tier life would be effortless, unless Tai Bai Gu Shen also had a place like the Primordial Mystery Realm left behind by an Utmost Powerhouses. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to stop it.
"Resurrection in the future?" The white-bearded old man felt a mix of sadness and relief.
After learning from Lin Yuan that Fang Qing's coma was related to the ancient god, he had already braced himself for the worst-case scenario.
Ancient gods were formidable beings, and now it seemed that Fang Qing was indeed dead.
However, the Galaxy Master intended to ask one of the Utmost Powerhouses to resurrect him later on.
It was true that sixth-tier lives could imprint their mark upon the universe, forming a 'signpost' that made resurrection possible.
But there were billions upon billions of sixth-tier evolvers in the Human Civilization.
If an Utmost Powerhouse had to resurrect every single one of them, they would have no time to rest, devoting all their efforts solely to this task.
Only those sixth-tier evolvers with exceptional talent and aptitude would be considered for resurrection by the Utmost Powerhouses.
And Fang Qing, unfortunately, did not meet these requirements. His cultivation of the ancient god's evolutionary path had always been a liability, making him susceptible to becoming a vessel for the ancient god.
Utmost Powerhouses generally would not resurrect this type of evolver.
But since Lin Yuan had mentioned it, the white-bearded old man immediately believed it to be true.
In the depths of the cosmic universe, within a secret realm...
Tai Bai Gu Shen sat cross-legged, his body as massive as a star. As a rare special life form, his physical body, when fully extended, would be as vast as a stellar system.
"The Galaxy Master said he would consider it," Tai Bai Gu Shen mused to himself.
"I wonder how his considerations are going?"
Tai Bai Gu Shen's true objective was not the treasure that increased the probability of transcending.
Even if the Human Civilization possessed such a treasure, they wouldn't let the Galaxy Master do as he pleased.
This was just a condition Tai Bai Gu Shen had casually thrown out, expecting the Galaxy Master to haggle and negotiate.
Tai Bai Gu Shen's ultimate goal was to have the Human Civilization promote his evolutionary path.
There were other ways to increase the probability of transcending besides treasures, such as spreading his evolutionary path more widely and having more cultivators follow it, which could achieve a similar effect.
However, the Human Civilization had been suppressing the dissemination of the ancient god's evolutionary path, causing Tai Bai Gu Shen some distress, but he had been unable to find a solution.
And now, the Galaxy Master presented a glimmer of hope.
"Galaxy Master, if you intervene, it shouldn't be difficult to get the Human Civilization to take a step back and spread my evolutionary path, right?" Tai Bai Gu Shen thought to himself as he waited for the Galaxy Master to contact him again.
Just then, a subtle vibration rippled through the void.
"Hmm?" Tai Bai Gu Shen was taken aback.
"Causality?" His expression changed as he realized what was happening.
"Not good!"
Tai Bai Gu Shen immediately sensed that the mental will of Fang Qing within him was rapidly dissipating.
"A curse?"
"Someone has cursed this mental will?"
Tai Bai Gu Shen found it unbelievable. "The secret realm I'm in has the effect of weakening causality."
"To cast a curse, one would need a deep connection, such as using the physical body as a 'medium'."
"Was it the Galaxy Master who cursed this mental will?"
Tai Bai Gu Shen quickly realized that he had misjudged the Galaxy Master's attachment to Fang Qing.
If the Galaxy Master truly valued Fang Qing, he would have tried to negotiate or bargain. To directly curse him was a risky move.
"Galaxy Master, are you unwilling to be threatened by me in any way?" Tai Bai Gu Shen remained silent for a moment as he understood the Galaxy Master's intentions.
He had a feeling that even if it had been the Galaxy Master's parents or close relatives in his hands, the outcome would have been the same.
After thoroughly eliminating the threat posed by Fang Qing, Lin Yuan swiftly returned to the Galaxy Main Planet.
As the Galaxy Master, it was fine for him to be away from the main planet for a short period, but it would be unwise to remain absent for an extended duration.
"The next time the Utmost Powerhouses attempt resurrection will probably be in two thousand years."
Lin Yuan thought to himself that the Utmost Powerhouses usually resurrected a fixed number of individuals at once, making it more convenient and efficient.
"In two thousand years, I should have reached the eleventh tier, and I can then ask one of the Utmost Powerhouses to resurrect Fang Qing."
Lin Yuan contemplated his plan.
If things went smoothly, he might even be on the verge of transcending or have already transcended by then.
Two thousand years in the main world didn't mean Lin Yuan would only experience two thousand years. With the Myriad Worlds Gate, he could traverse through countless worlds, and two thousand years could easily become twenty thousand.
With the myriad of techniques and his heaven-defying comprehension talent, Lin Yuan was confident that in twenty thousand years, he would be able to transcend or even become invincible.
Time passed slowly.
In the blink of an eye, another twenty years went by.
In the Xuan Huang Secret Realm...
Lin Yuan suddenly opened his eyes.
"A hundred years have almost passed."
"The Xuan Huang Secret Realm is about to close." Lin Yuan looked towards the outer region of the secret realm.
Numerous ninth-tier aliens and human civilization's ninth-tier evolvers had gathered in the outer region, while the inner region was also filled with many desperate ninth-tier aliens, forced there by the human civilization's evolvers.
"The secret realm is about to close. It's time for my harvest."
Lin Yuan's face broke into a smile as he gazed at the despairing ninth-tier aliens in the inner region.
(End of Chapter)
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