The Cosmic Starry Sky.
All the strongest beings' faces changed.
Everything that happened atop the peak of Tianshan in the two-dimensional world was known to them at the first moment.
The Divine King, the frail elder, and other legendary rank-eleven beings, upon contact with the human 'Blood Rain,' were gravely injured and on the brink of death.
The two sides were on entirely different levels; the former had no ability to resist or struggle against the latter.
Even though they had protective artifacts, in the two-dimensional world, those artifacts could only exert a fraction of their power, and they were completely unable to block Lin Yuan's attacks.
"Xia Qin, have your human evolver stop," a strong member of the Starry Sky Alliance could no longer sit still.
The Divine King was the most promising rank-eleven lifeforms within the Starry Sky Alliance to become ultimate beings. If he died so easily in the two-dimensional world and suffered core losses to his mental will, it was uncertain how long it would take for him to recover.
There was even a high possibility he could never recover, drastically reducing his chances of becoming ultimate beings.
"Xia Qin, let's talk this over," another strong figure of the Prison Clan immediately transmitted their voice, as two of the five rank-eleven lifeforms came from their clan.
Rank-eleven legendary lifeforms were the very foundation of even the most powerful clans, considered candidates for the ultimate level, and it was unknown how long it would take for one to be born.
Although only a clone would perish in the two-dimensional world, the core loss would decrease the ultimate potential, making it almost equivalent to a true death.
The chance of successfully becoming an ultimate being was already slim, and if reduced further, attempting it would be tantamount to suicide.
"Oh?"
Xia Qin glanced at the other ultimates who kept transmitting messages to him.
"We agreed not to interfere with our clansmen's actions in the two-dimensional world, so it's difficult for me to intervene if you ask me now," Xia Qin said without revealing any emotion.
"I am willing to pay," the strong figure of the Starry Sky Alliance quickly said.
In the end, the Starry Sky Alliance offered a price that satisfied Xia Qin.
"Alright, let me ask."
Xia Qin glanced at the Prison Clan's strongest figure.
"Our clan is willing to pay as well," the Prison Clan's strongest said with great reluctance, his voice stiff.
The Virtual World.
Lin Yuan stood within the personal world of the strongest being, gazing at Xia Qin, who sat high on his throne.
"The strongest one wants me to spare the Divine King for now," Lin Yuan thought to himself, vaguely guessing that Xia Qin might be negotiating with the other ultimate beings.
A moment later.
A smile appeared on Xia Qin's face as he sat on his throne.
"Hahaha."
"Those old fellows had to bleed heavily for this."
Xia Qin's tone was full of joy as he spoke.
"Bleed?"
Lin Yuan looked at Xia Qin.
"Yes."
Xia Qin nodded. "To save their clansmen, how could they not pay a price?"
Xia Qin looked at Lin Yuan with satisfaction. "You don't need to kill the Divine King. I'll give you eighty percent of the price they paid."
"Alright."
Lin Yuan agreed immediately.
Xia Qin only asked him to spare the lives of the Divine King and the frail elder. He never said anything about sparing their treasures.
Lin Yuan could take all the treasures from the Divine King and the frail elder, then spare their lives.
"By the way, there's no need to forcibly extract the ultimate weapon fused into the Divine King," Xia Qin added. "The Starry Sky Alliance agreed to exchange it for two ultimate weapons."
"Understood."
Lin Yuan nodded.
For him, the Divine King' ultimate weapon was no different from any ordinary treasure.
Exchanging one for two was a huge gain.
In the Two-Dimensional World.
At the mountain's peak, Lin Yuan's overwhelming aura enveloped the entire peak. The Divine King, the frail elder, and the other six powerful beings had completely lost their ability to resist.
The many powerful beings of various clans at the foot of the mountain were in an uproar.
Lin Yuan's displayed power was terrifying, far surpassing the gap between the Divine King and the other rank-ten and rank-eleven beings.
"Why has 'Blood Rain,' the lord of human civilization, stopped attacking?"
"Obviously, the ultimate being behind the Divine King has negotiated with the strongest one of human civilization."
"That's right. Other special lifeform clones, even if they die here, the Starry Sky Alliance wouldn't care, but not the Divine King. He's their best hope of becoming an ultimate being."
The powerful beings of various clans were in awe, their souls trembling as they looked at Lin Yuan standing at the peak.
If they hadn't confirmed that only rank-eleven and below lifeforms had entered this two-dimensional world, they would have suspected Lin Yuan was an ultimate being himself.
Without being an ultimate, how could he have trained at a speed so far beyond that of the Divine King in this suppressive two-dimensional world?
A difference of one or two ranks was understandable, and even three or four could be accepted.
But the gap between Lin Yuan and the Divine King was probably ten or twenty ranks! Many people believed he was an ultimate being.
At the Mountain's Peak.
Lin Yuan opened his eyes and looked at the Divine King, the frail elder, and the other powerful beings. "Hand over all your treasures, and you can leave."
"Hand over our treasures?"
The Divine King and the other five looked at each other, slightly relieved.
Though it pained them to give up their treasures, at least they could keep their clones.
"The ultimate weapon fused into my body…" the Divine King muttered.
"You can keep it," Lin Yuan replied with a glance.
This was specifically instructed by Xia Qin.
The ultimate weapon in the Divine King' body held little meaning to Lin Yuan.
Soon, the six powerful beings handed over all their excess treasures.
The Divine King had four treasures, the frail elder five, and the other four combined had eighteen.
In this single battle, Lin Yuan obtained twenty-seven treasures. Combined with what he'd acquired in the last three hundred years, the number of treasures he owned surpassed thirty.
And that wasn't even counting the price the external strong beings had paid to buy the lives of the Divine King and the other six powerful beings from Lin Yuan.
In short, as long as Lin Yuan could safely leave the two-dimensional world, his gains would be unprecedented—greater than what a rank-eleven being could accumulate in ten lifetimes.
Lin Yuan stored all the treasures in the mirror's internal space, then suppressed his aura. The overwhelming field of blood energy that had covered the entire peak gradually dissipated.
"You may leave."
Lin Yuan turned and stood once more before the Heavenly Gate.
The battle against the Divine King, their total suppression, and receiving Xia Qin's instructions had not taken much time.
At this moment, the Heavenly Gate had not yet fully manifested.
"Are you an ultimate being?" the Divine King asked just before leaving.
If Lin Yuan were an ultimate being, he would feel less humiliated. Losing to an ultimate being wasn't such a disgrace.
"An ultimate being?" Lin Yuan shook his head. "No, I'm not."
He wasn't just not an ultimate; he wasn't even a rank-eleven lifeform.
Not an ultimate being… The Divine King fell silent. With Lin Yuan's strength, he had no reason to lie. He was likely a hidden rank-eleven evolver of human civilization.
"I will remember this battle for the rest of my life," the Divine King said, giving Lin Yuan a long look before leaving.
From the time he was born until now, the Divine King had never lost so thoroughly, with such utter defeat.
"And I will remember it for a few seconds, now scram" said Lin Yuan.
With a swoosh, the Divine King sped off.
The injuries Lin Yuan had inflicted on him were nearly healed. For a being like him, as long as his brain and heart weren't destroyed, all other wounds would rapidly recover.
"We should go as well."
The frail elder and the other five strong beings also left quickly.
In no time, Lin Yuan was the only one left at the peak.
To be precise, at the edge of the peak were Xuan Yuan Duo and other human evolvers.
Aside from them, all the strong beings of other clans, including rank-eleven ones, had retreated down the mountain, only daring to watch from afar at mid-mountain.
"Too strong."
Hou Zhu of the Prison Clan stood in a corner near the peak, looking at Lin Yuan in front of the Heavenly Gate, feeling a deep sense of despair.
Initially, he thought that with the mysteries of his blood-colored long blade, he could compete for a chance to enter the Heavenly Gate when it opened.
But reality had dealt him a harsh blow.
Not to mention anything else, just the Divine King and the frail elder could crush him, let alone Lin Yuan, who had crushed those beings.
"Lord Blood Rain's strength is this overwhelming?"
On the human side, Xuan Yuan Duo and the other evolvers were still in shock, their joy overwhelming. They had done nothing, and yet Lin Yuan was already standing before the Heavenly Gate, just waiting for it to fully manifest so he could enter.
"Why hasn't the Milky Way Star Lord arrived yet?"
Among the rank-eleven evolvers, Vice Tower Master Nalan composed himself and began scanning the mountainside, looking for the Milky Way Star Lord.
"So, this is the Heavenly Gate?"
Unlike the many shocked strong beings of various clans, Lin Yuan returned his gaze to the Heavenly Gate.
At this moment, the Heavenly Gate had almost fully manifested. The mysterious, complex patterns and the faint pressure it emitted made Lin Yuan's expression grow serious.
Though the Heavenly Gate felt far inferior to the Gate of the Ten Thousand Worlds, it still surpassed Xia Qin's strength.
Not long ago, Lin Yuan had witnessed Xia Qin reversing the river of time and resurrecting those who had died in the past.
Time passed.
Finally, the moment arrived.
The Heavenly Gate fully manifested.
Rumble.
As soon as the Heavenly Gate appeared, a terrifying pressure spread in all directions.
"Hmm?"
Lin Yuan furrowed his brow.
Something felt off.
With his strength, he could easily withstand this pressure.
But that was because Lin Yuan was a stage-fifty being. This pressure already exceeded the limit of what an ordinary rank-twenty being could endure.
If every opening of the Heavenly Gate came with such pressure, how did the native lifeforms, the Witch Emperors and Witch Ancestors, enter it in the past?
"Let's push it open first."
Lin Yuan gathered his thoughts. Now that the Heavenly Gate had fully manifested, all that remained was to push it open to enter.
This was the 'step' native strong beings had always needed to complete before entering the Heavenly Gate.
With this in mind, Lin Yuan raised both hands, placing them on the Heavenly Gate, and pushed.
"Hmm?"
After several breaths.
Lin Yuan's expression changed slightly.
He couldn't push the Heavenly Gate open.
...
I can hardly believe it—an entire year has passed since I first unveiled the opening chapter of this novel. Time flows like a river, unrelenting and swift, and now, CHL has ascended to a place of renown among the myriad stories of this vast literary realm.
Reflecting upon this journey, the feedback from readers has been as varied as the stars in the night sky. Some lament that the protagonist treads a path too cold, too detached—like a divine artifact forged without emotion. They find his stoic demeanor reminiscent of an unfeeling machine.
A few others voice their discontent over the absence of romance, craving the sweetness of bonds formed amid the storms of tribulation. Yet, these voices remain but a faint echo in the grand chorus.
For every critic who finds fault, there are many who revere this tale. They speak of its brilliance—the protagonist's unrivaled insight that pierces through the veils of heaven and earth, the wondrous transmigrations that ripple through the rivers of fate, and even the deliberate absence of romance, which grants the story its unique focus.
Above all, they praise the protagonist's caution, his meticulous strategies, and his refusal to fall prey to arrogance, even as he climbs higher in the cultivation of both body and spirit.
And now, as I stand at the precipice of this milestone, I find myself contemplating this book. What do I think of it? Is it flawed? Perfect? Divine? Mortal?
So I ask you, fellow readers, as you walk alongside this protagonist who wields unrivaled insight, as you traverse the tapestry of worlds interwoven by destiny, as you ponder the absence of romantic entanglements—what do you think of this novel? And perhaps more importantly... what has it taught you about the Dao of storytelling?
For me, this year has been nothing short of a divine tribulation, a test of persistence, creativity, and faith. And though the road ahead remains shrouded in mystery, I can only promise to continue pouring my heart into the pages, for this is my path, my Dao, and my offering to you.
Thank you for journeying with me thus far. May we ascend together to even greater heights!
20 chapters ahead on patreon: patreon.com/David_Lord
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