Chapter 610: Stirrings Across the Realm

Chapter 610: Stirrings Across the Realm

"Divine Lord."

Chen Mu murmured softly.

Then, he stood up, and with a slight shimmer, he disappeared from his original spot.

He briefly left the Dark Abyss, but instead of entering the Vangu Void, he arrived at a region below the Dark Abyss, stepping into the hazy void outside the Vangu Void, a crevice between the domains.

Buzz! Chen Mu fixed his gaze on the void ahead, and suddenly, his right hand rose, summoning a surging and vast Creation power. He condensed it into his right hand and then thrust it forward with great force.

With this single thrust, the void tore apart like a curtain, splitting into six layers. Chen Mu's finger pierced through these layers, directly poking the wall of the seventh layer. The entire void wall twisted and trembled, visibly bending before finally succumbing to the pressure and completely tearing apart under Chen Mu's attack!

Although Chen Mu had confirmed his strength should reach the Divine Lord level after fully mastering the fusion of Life and Ten Thousand Spirits Esoteric Art, it was only after personally tearing through the seven layers of the void that he truly validated this fact.

"Seven layers of the void..."

After tearing through the seven layers, Chen Mu's gaze deepened as he stared into the depths of the seventh layer. The density of the void power here was almost beyond the same dimension as the surface layer, and it couldn't even be described as 'viscous.'

The void power in this region was more like a highly condensed substance, almost solid.

Or perhaps,

The void above the seventh layer was constantly in a solidified state, and only those with the strength to shatter the seven layers could barely move within it, and even then, it was a struggle.

Chen Mu withdrew his right hand, and before his eyes, he saw a seven-petaled flower of shattered void slowly healing with time, disappearing in an instant, and everything returned to tranquility.

"Indeed, with my foundation and background, even without completing the final layer of Spirit Birth Divine Art, I can already unleash the power to shatter the seven layers. If I master the last layer, my strength will advance even further."

Chen Mu looked up, and with a shimmer, he disappeared from his original spot, returning to the border of the Dark Abyss.

Finally breaking through the seven layers and reaching the Divine Lord level, Chen Mu couldn't help but feel a surge of joy and exhilaration in his heart. After all, the gap between the seven layers was enormous, like a chasm, and those below the Divine Lord were like ants before them.

Only by crossing this hurdle could one truly travel between the domains as a powerful being.

Previously, even though he had reached the limit of the sixth layer and could defend himself against the Divine Lords of the seventh layer, that ability was ultimately minimal and only possible because of the protection from the Vangu Divine Lord.

The Divine Lords of the seventh layer, while unable to kill all his incarnations through means like causality and void manipulation, could still find and eliminate each of his incarnations one by one if they didn't have the protection of the Vangu Divine Lord. Someone like the Lord of Sorrow could easily do so.

But now, things were different.

His divine energy incarnation had truly gained the power to shatter the seven layers, entering the Divine Lord level.

Even though his strength had only reached the threshold of a Divine Lord, facing a peak seventh-layer figure like the Lord of Sorrow, he still had a significant power gap. However, at least he could resist and escape.

"With my current background, even without the aid of a superior divine armament, my strength is sufficient to enter the ranks of the strong in the seventh layer once I master the final layer of Spirit Birth Divine Art."

Chen Mu assessed his current strength.

There were also differences among Divine Lords.

Like him now, those who had just broken through the seven layers were in the minority.

Or, to be more precise, most Divine Lords were like Chen Mu when they first reached this level. However, after a long period of accumulation and refinement, they would thoroughly comprehend all the fundamental mysteries of the Primordial Dao and master various divine power secret arts, strengthening their divine bodies, and perhaps even possess superior divine armaments.

After a long period of accumulation, most Divine Lords would become powerful figures among their peers, or at least, they would possess the strength considered 'normal' for a Divine Lord.

Above them,

Were the peak seventh-layer Divine Lords.

This level was not easy to attain. Compared to the 'normal' Divine Lords, they were far more powerful. Most peak seventh-layer Divine Lords, having perfected various aspects of their cultivation, also mastered more than one fusion of mysteries!

It wasn't just about fusing three mysteries.

Fusing three mysteries was the path to the eighth layer, and many Divine Lords struggled to take that step even after endless years. So, they often settled for fusing two mysteries instead.

For example, Chen Mu had already comprehended the fusion of Life and Ten Thousand Spirits mysteries. If his next cultivation direction was to fuse Life, Ten Thousand Spirits, and Causality, he would likely choose to first attempt the fusion of 'Ten Thousand Spirits' and 'Causality' due to the difficulty of directly fusing three mysteries.

Building upon the fusion of Life and Ten Thousand Spirits, if he could further fuse Ten Thousand Spirits and Causality, he would undoubtedly master another complete Divine Lord-level divine power secret art and greatly enhance the Creation power he could wield.

This was the peak of the seventh layer.

Of course.

According to Chen Mu's knowledge, breaking through the eighth layer wasn't just about fusing three mysteries.

Even if one couldn't fuse three mysteries, mastering more two-way fusions of mysteries could also enhance their strength. Quantitative changes could lead to qualitative transformations, but Chen Mu wasn't sure how many two-way fusions were needed to break through the eighth layer. Still, he estimated it to be no less than three.

This path wasn't much easier than fusing three mysteries. After all, everyone had their strengths and weaknesses, making it easier to fuse two mysteries in their areas of expertise but extremely challenging to do so in areas of weakness.

"Next, I should quickly cultivate the final layer of the Spirit Birth Divine Art."

After the initial joy, Chen Mu's heart soon settled into a calm state.

Stepping into the Divine Lord level only grants one the initial ability to traverse the vast universe and a basic means of self-preservation. However, facing the boundless domains, safety is still not guaranteed.

Even someone as powerful as Jianmu Divine Lord, a peak Seventh Heaven existence who had comprehended multiple intertwined mysteries and wielded his own Superior Divine Armament, still perished amidst the schemes and assaults of numerous formidable foes.

Chen Mu, having just stepped into the Divine Lord level, naturally wouldn't develop any arrogance.

If he had no enemies, no past grudges, and didn't vie for precious resources, then as a newly ascended Seventh Heaven Divine Lord, he could indeed stand in the vast domains. No major power would easily antagonize a newly ascended Divine Lord.

After all, newly ascended Divine Lords are usually poor, possessing few resources worth fighting over, and each has their own means of self-preservation, making them difficult to kill. Even if killed, there's little benefit, and if they survive, a deadly feud is formed. No one can predict if a newly ascended Divine Lord might, after a long time, suddenly transform and ascend to the Eighth Heaven level, becoming a Divine Lord Tyrant ruling over a domain.

But this only applies to ordinary newly ascended Divine Lords.

Chen Mu knew he was different.

The grudges between him and the Demon Race were hard to resolve. Those who had killed Jianmu Divine Lord also had irreconcilable karma with him, and they wouldn't give up their enmity just because he had ascended to the Divine Lord level.

Ultimately, without the protection of Vanggu Divine Lord, even if he became a Divine Lord, he would still have to do everything possible to hide and escape in the Endless Domain, evading the Demon Race's Divine Lords and various enemies.

Storing up resources and biding one's time.

The principles of secular dynasties apply to the clashes of Divine Realm beings. At least, Chen Mu wouldn't start flaunting his strength and acting recklessly just because he had reached the Divine Lord level. He would remain cautious in everything.

But this cautious life wouldn't last long. As his strength steadily increased, the pressure in his heart gradually lessened.

The most difficult hurdle was over. The only thing he needed to look forward to was the Eighth Heaven.

Divine Lord Tyrant!

Only by reaching the Eighth Heaven could one truly traverse the domains with ease, even facing a massive force like the Demon Race that ruled an entire domain. One could even forcefully conquer and rule over weaker domains.

Chen Mu didn't set his sights too high. His cultivation path ahead was clear. First, he would cultivate the final layer of the Spirit Birth Divine Art. Then, he would master all ten mysteries of the Void and Time Lineages. After that, he could begin exploring his path to the Eighth Heaven, focusing on the fusion of three mysteries or the completion of multiple intertwined mysteries.

[Divine Energy Tempering Art: Spirit Birth Divine Art (Third Layer)]



[Experience: 19 points]



Chen Mu summoned the System Panel and took a look. As he had expected, after comprehending the fusion of Life and Ten Thousand Spirits Mystique, the Spirit Birth Divine Art, which had been unable to gain experience, was now unlocked, and experience accumulation for the next stage had begun.

The fourth and final layer of the Spirit Birth Divine Art required a full 100,000 points of experience.

This was no small number, but according to Chen Mu's estimation, at his current accumulation rate, it would take at most a thousand world years to gather these 100,000 points of experience and directly cultivate the final layer of the Spirit Birth Divine Art.

Without the System Panel's boost, relying solely on his own abilities to temper his divine body and cultivate the fourth layer of the Spirit Birth Divine Art would likely take at least two or three epochs to complete. The System Panel's efficiency boost remained exceptionally high.

...

In a certain domain membrane.

Amidst the void, a desolate ruin stood, its depths enveloped in silence as if devoid of life. Yet, merely gazing at the ruin's interior evoked an inexplicable sense of foreboding.

Not far from this ruin, near the Vanggu Domain, on a floating stone platform, Vanggu Divine Lord sat cross-legged.

This wasn't his divine energy incarnation but a battle body.

Suddenly, Vanggu Divine Lord's battle body opened its eyes, gazing towards the distant ruin.

The ruin remained silent, devoid of any movement, and the void showed no abnormalities. However, in Vanggu Divine Lord's pupils, several eerie shadows appeared, stealthily approaching him!

This ruin was an extremely dangerous secret realm called the 'Void Abyss,' where the interior void was complex and perilous. Even a Divine Lord might become trapped within and struggle to escape.

The eerie shadows, invisible to the naked eye, were Void Beasts, unique lifeforms within the Void Abyss.

They hid within the void's layers, and only those who had comprehended the Void Lineage could glimpse their true forms. They were undetectable through other means!

As several Void Beasts approached, Vanggu Divine Lord's battle body remained unperturbed, rising to confront them.

His battle body was stationed here to guard against these Void Beasts.

...

In another domain membrane.

Here, a mighty river flowed, its waters a crimson hue, marking one of the perilous locations within the domain membranes—the Crimson Sands River! This river existed deep within the void, connecting hundreds of domains!

Its interior was intricate and treacherous, even dangerous for Divine Lord-level beings. Jianmu Divine Lord's divine energy incarnation had fallen here after being ambushed and pursued.

Near the Vanggu Domain, the Crimson Sands River suddenly churned, sending ripples across the water. Crimson waters surged, encroaching upon the Vanggu Domain's borders.

Just as the river was about to spill into the Vanggu Domain's borders, one of Vanggu Divine Lord's incarnations silently appeared, unleashing a surging void power that forcefully blocked the river.

(End)

He stared at the Crimson Sands River before him, his brows furrowing slightly.

...

Another spatial rift.

Here, a serene and peaceful scene unfolded. A bright moon hung in the sky, casting its cold, clear light upon a vast expanse of silver-white land. Within this land, a unique garden could be seen, bathed in the moon's glow.

Under the moonlight, strange silver-white flowers bloomed.

This was one of the few safe secret realms within the rift, devoid of any danger. The unique environment even nurtured a precious resource, a spiritual object known as the Silver Moon Flower, and the land was thus named Silver Moon Land.

Silver Moon Land was close to the Vangu Void, a resource-rich area usually occupied by Vanggu Divine Lord's battle body, which rarely left.

Swish!

Vanggu Divine Lord, seated in meditation within the garden, suddenly opened his eyes, revealing a hint of indifference. He gazed into the distance and spoke with detachment, "Since you've come, why hide? What do you want?"

"Hehehehe, I've come only for ten Silver Moon Flowers. If the Vangu Domain Master can part with them, I'll leave immediately and never set foot in Silver Moon Land again. How's that?"

Accompanying the eerie laughter, a dark shadow flickered under the moonlight.

"Who are you?"

Looking at the shadow, Vanggu Divine Lord's face turned cold. To his perception, the figure seemed like a puppet, devoid of any familiar aura. It even blocked the probing of cause and effect.

A special puppet with the power of a Seventh Heaven, its controller remained unknown. Clearly, it was targeting him.

...

In the void, Chen Mu appeared silently. Before him were two deep abyssal lifeforms, their bodies shimmering in a deep blue hue, wandering through the void.

Upon sensing Chen Mu, the abyssal lifeforms didn't roar but transformed into two beams of deep blue light, rushing towards Chen Mu at an unbelievable speed.

Snap!

But as the two beams of blue light reached Chen Mu, an invisible force pressed them down. Chen Mu lifted his hands, and with a gentle motion, a surge of power erupted, crushing the abyssal lifeforms between his hands, grinding them to dust.

The overwhelming power, filled with the essence of death, instantly obliterated the abyssal lifeforms. Their crushed bodies turned to dust and scattered.

After eliminating the abyssal lifeforms, Chen Mu halted and turned his gaze towards the distant Dark Abyss, furrowing his brows slightly.

"Abyssal lifeforms appearing so frequently..."

"I didn't pay much attention before, but now it seems like the Dark Heaven Tide."

Less than ten world years had passed since he comprehended the fusion of the All-Life Essence. During this time, the changes in the Dark Abyss had become more pronounced and unusual.

In these ten world years, he had received more than one plea for help.

Originally, he was only responsible for a region spanning thirty trillion miles. However, due to the unusual pressure from the Dark Abyss, even the Divine Realm beings guarding their respective regions, like the Molten Fire Lord, had to retract.

Even Hongming Lord and Wing King, both at the Sixth Heaven, who each guarded a region of ten trillion miles, found it challenging to spare the necessary energy to support the Molten Fire Lord and others. Consequently, the central ten trillion miles of the thirty trillion-mile region near the Vangu Void, adjacent to the Dark Abyss, had essentially become Chen Mu's responsibility.

Beings like the Molten Fire Lord had formed a small group, and only through their combined efforts could they manage a portion of the Dark Heaven Tide.

Chen Mu wasn't overly concerned about this situation. Although the Dark Heaven Tide was formidable, it was only a threat to those below the level of Divine Lords. Any Divine Lord could easily block the tide, and even multiple Sixth Heaven powerhouses working together could handle it.

For the Vangu Void, as long as Vanggu Divine Lord's battle body was present, the tide could be held back.

Previous Dark Heaven Tides had passed in this manner.

However,

This time, the situation seemed peculiar.

As the Dark Heaven Tide intensified, Vanggu Divine Lord's battle body had yet to appear in the Dark Abyss. Even the Vangu Palace hadn't deployed enough Sixth Heaven Divine Realm beings to guard the area.

Standing in the void, Chen Mu closed his eyes slightly. His incarnation in the Vangu Palace quickly left his independent space and located the Taichen Lord's incarnation within the Vangu Palace.

From Taichen, Chen Mu soon received some news. Several special secret realms adjacent to the Vangu Void had experienced abnormalities, preventing Vanggu Divine Lord's battle body from being dispatched. Even Taichen's own Divine Energy Incarnation was busy dealing with an anomaly in a secret realm and couldn't spare the time to handle the Dark Heaven Tide in the Dark Abyss. They could only mobilize some Fifth and Sixth Heaven Divine Realm beings to support the Dark Abyss.

"Something's amiss."

Chen Mu stared at the Dark Abyss, narrowing his eyes.

A disturbance on the border was normal, but simultaneous anomalies in multiple secret realms, including the Dark Abyss, seemed unusual. It was as if someone was deliberately pushing the Vangu Void into a difficult situation.

This reminded him of the demon race's invasion of the Great Xuan World. Unlike before, when he had been oblivious to inter-void affairs, he now had a vague understanding. The demon race's invasion seemed like a test for Vanggu Divine Lord, and according to the intelligence he had gathered, Vanggu Divine Lord's situation in the recent epochs had indeed been slightly abnormal.

Chen Mu had never revealed his comprehension of the fusion of the All-Life Essence and his entry into the Seventh Heaven. Therefore, if this abnormal situation was deliberately orchestrated, it was unlikely to target him. Instead, it seemed more like another test for Vanggu Divine Lord.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end