âDo I really not need to practice soul force?â Qing Yu looked blearily at Lu Yun after she put her clothes back on. Her dao partnerâs accomplishments in soul force were so great that she couldnât fully see them.
âMy current level of strength isnât a result of immortal dao. If my true cultivation is raised to the same level, then my soul force and six hellfires will immediately retreat, becoming pure immortal force.â Lu Yun chuckled, âWhat do we need to practice soul force for?â
Pure immortal force filled Qing Yuâs body; she was the Dao Sovereign and cultivated the immortal dao. Whether it was soul force or the ânothingâ of the fourth realm, all became immortal force once they entered her body.
Though the immortal dao was yet to traverse the Hongmeng, the third realm possessed its shape thanks to Qing Yu. Hence, Lu Yun used the methods heâd derived to forcefully raise Qing Yuâs cultivation level and strength.
There was no qi in the fourth realm or on the World Star. All beings cultivated ânothingâ. However, Lu Yun forcefully distilled qi out of the void through his formations and directed it into his dao partnerâs body.
This was qi of the fourth realm.
Qing Yu reached peak potentate level after three days with no negative consequences from this method of advancement. It wasnât too hard for Lu Yun to manage a feat like this since he was a Nihil World Sovereign.
âDo we go to the Sword Clan now?â Qing Yu breathed out more easily when she saw that her beloved was still present after she broke through. Sheâd been deeply concerned that Lu Yun would leave her behind and make the trip himself.
âNo, Iâm going to Ingress Sword Island,â Lu Yun shook his head. âJian Juexian has been locked up because of me, I canât hang him out to dry.â
âThen Iâll wait here for you.â Qing Yu didnât bother advising Lu Yun against his course of action; there was no way sheâd change his mind.
In the same vein, she wouldnât make the trip with him because thatâd only burden him. Heâd just end up putting her into his inner world. It would be better to wait for his return and then go to the Sword Clan together.
An enormous explosion sounded outside the World Star before he had a chance to respond.
âThe Great Brahma of the Luminaries has come. The Star Sect will swiftly open its doors in welcome!â echoed a dignified voice.
The entire World Plane began to shake and the multicolored ribbons outside the World Star undulated and tangled with each other as a disorderly ball, creating disaster upon disaster.
Worlds clashed together, consigning many beings to grisly deaths.
âThe Luminaries are here?â A bored Ah Zhi maintaining her door of order jerked her head up with a sharp look. âIs this a test?â She cocked her head and murmured to herself, âThey know that my primary body isnât here and that Iâve left only a replica to oversee the rules of the World Plane, so this so-called Great BrahmaâŚâ
âNo, this isnât a test. They know youâre not here and so have come to kill Xing Chen.â Yun Zhongzi raised his head to Ah Zhi standing at the peak of the mountain. Only he among the crowd knew that it wasnât her primary body present.
With the open door of sequence, the massive disruptions outside didnât affect anything on Divine Alchemist Mountain. Though it was just a replica, it was a replica thatâd set foot into sequence nonetheless.
âHow dare a mere Great Brahma try to kill Xing Chen?!â A stretch of stars reflected in Ah Zhiâs eyesâthe Great Brahma stood among them.
A trace of vicious cruelty appeared in her lazy expression. All of the World Plane was under her protection; this interloper had killed an untold number of denizens with a single move. This wasnât a probing gesture, it was outright provocation!
âThe Great Brahma is the foremost head disciple beneath the Sun Sovereign King of the Luminaries. He does indeed possess the strength to kill Xing Chen,â she said with resignation after a momentary pause.
The Luminaries were the strongest faction in the known expanses of the fourth realm because they possessed three sequence expertsâthe Sky Sovereign King, the Moon Sovereign King, and the Sun Sovereign King.
Theyâd once sought out the Ah Zhi and invited her to join them, thereby completing the sun, moon, and star trio. Sheâd sent them away with a simple response of âIâm too lazyâ.
The Star Sect was one of the few sects in the known expanses with a sequence expert holding down the fort. They held themselves removed from everything and rarely interfered in Luminaries business.
But this time, the faction came kicking down their door.
The Great Brahma was still showcasing his might outside the World Star, twisting the multicolored ribbons into knotted skeins and annihilating countless living beings. All of the World Starâs Nihil World Sovereigns were gathered on Divine Alchemist Mountain. Due to the protection of sequence, they didnât know what was taking place outside and remained enthusiastically conversing about the derivation of formula dao.
âIâll go,â Yun Zhongzi sighed. âThough the body Iâm possessing isnât a premier Nihil World Sovereign, I am confident that Iâll be able to send that Great Brahma away.â
He and the Hallowed Emperor had received invitations from the Luminaries as well, prior to the construction of the Tomb of the Hallowed Emperor. Theyâd also refused and subsequently been hunted down and harassed for it.
Yun Zhongzi didnât understand why the Luminaries were suddenly attackingâwere they not afraid of Ah Zhiâs wrath after she returned? According to his calculations, they should be attacking the Sword Clan first.
Regardless, this salvo indicated that the Luminaries were about to engage in a series of high profile maneuvers. The Nihil World Sovereign thatâd emerged from the Central Hongmeng was likely the spark thatâd lit the match.
In all of the Star Sect, Yun Zhongzi was the only one who could defy the Great Brahma.
But before he could take the field, an enormous ray of sword light erupted from one of the World Star residences and slashed at their attacker.
âWhat??â The Great Brahma watched the sword light descend upon him and could do nothing but let it crash into him, almost splitting his body into two. âSword dao from the Hongmeng? Or sword dao from the Sword Clan?â
He was one of the strongest Nihil World Sovereigns in the fourth realm and one of the most elite powerhouses in the Luminaries.
âNeither of the above,â rang out a cold voice. Grasping Quiet tightly in his hand, Lu Yun stepped forward with sword light circulating around him and his face and presence completely concealed. âSince the Luminaries have offered their head on a platter, this sovereign will not stand on ceremony.â
He operated the method of nothing and summoned the world of order, imbuing himself with the order of time and slashing forward at the Great Brahma. This stroke crossed endless empty space and was more terrifying than the one before.
âThereâs actually people who use cheap tricks to access sequence and wear it on themselves? What a joke!â the Great Brahma laughed heartily, the trace of alarm in his heart instantly dissolving into contempt. Accessing sequence through a shortcut? That made this upstart the same as the sealed overlord of Iceâutter jokes, both of them!
He reached out a hand to grasp the cutting sword light.
Radiant sword light flashed by and sliced off half of his hand.
ââŚthe Quiet Sovereign King! So you are indeed dead! Hahahaha!!â gasped the Great Brahma as shock quickly turned into delight.
Heâd recognized the swordâthe Quiet Sovereign King, first connate divine sword to form in the fourth realm and for the purpose of eliminating the Luminaries. The faction had refused to believe that heâd truly died, but since his sword form was grasped in a Nihil World Sovereignâs hand, that was proof that he was well and truly dead!
The Luminariesâ plan to root out the Sword Clan could finally begin.
<blockquote><b>Translator's Thoughts</b>Something something ironic...