Chapter 601

“The map… is expanding?”

Inside his inner universe, Lin Yuan’s avatar examined the changes on the beast hide map.

As the internal aura of the Mysterious Emperor Universe continued to spread outward, the map etched into the hide rapidly extended and expanded.

What once covered only one-fifth of the beast hide now grew—one-fourth, one-third, until finally half the hide’s surface was filled with map details.

“Besides the tomb, many other regions have appeared…”

Lin Yuan studied the map carefully. Each region was annotated with information.

For instance, there was a place called the Tower of the Floating Tathagata, a location meant for tempering the physical body. Any being who approached would be enveloped by its power.

Even Great Saints would be trapped momentarily.

Another area was the Nine Realms Pavilion, which linked to nine small worlds personally created by His Majesty the Mysterious Sovereign to imprison various wondrous lifeforms born of the Chaos Void—used for his research.

“With this map, once I enter the Mysterious Emperor Universe, I’ll definitely have a huge advantage.”

A smile spread across Lin Yuan’s face. Other powerful beings, even Chaos Great Saints, would be entering blind—unsure of where to go or what anything was worth.

To be precise, they wouldn’t know the value or danger of each area.

Charging in recklessly could lead them straight into the Nine Realms Pavilion or the Floating Tathagata Tower.

The Nine Realms Pavilion connected to nine sealed worlds—if a Great Saint stumbled into one, it might take them significant effort to escape.

The Tower of the Floating Tathagata was even worse; its power rivaled chaotic evolution energy. Designed specifically for tempering the body within the Mysterious Emperor Lineage, it could easily trap even a Great Saint in agony.

At the early stage of the universe’s opening, every second was precious. A delay could mean missing out on rare resources—step behind once, and you’d always be a step behind.

The latecomers could only watch helplessly.

“I’ll follow this route when I go in.”

Based on the map, Lin Yuan outlined his optimal path through the Mysterious Emperor Universe.

The route passed through areas where numerous treasures, rare items, and weapons were stored—carefully chosen to maximize gain.

To account for the randomness of his entry point, Lin Yuan planned over ten alternate routes—ready for almost any situation.

“Eventually, I’ll have to go to the tomb. That’s likely where His Majesty’s most precious items are stored.”

He looked toward the map’s central region—the tomb area revealed from the very beginning.

“But strange… why haven’t any other masters of the Mysterious Emperor Secret Realms arrived?”

Lin Yuan scanned the outside world, puzzled.

Those who had refined a Mysterious Emperor Secret Realm should be able to sense one another, even faintly.

Refining a realm meant becoming a disciple and inheritor of His Majesty. Members of the Mysterious Emperor Lineage had ways to recognize one another.

“Then again, it has been countless cosmic eras… Even if some still exist, they may not know the Mysterious Emperor Universe has appeared. And even if they did, they might not be able to get here.”

Lin Yuan reflected.

He had only identified this artificial universe as the Mysterious Emperor Universe because of the resonating beast hide map.

Without it, he wouldn’t have known what universe had emerged.

And if the distance was too great, the cost of traveling here would discourage most from getting involved.

Besides, becoming the master of a Mysterious Emperor Secret Realm was no easy feat. Lin Yuan had succeeded only because of his Unrivaled Insight.

For other beings, the difficulty would be immense.

Of the 33,333 Mysterious Emperor Secret Realms, how many had actually been refined was another question entirely.

Outside—

The collapse of that corner of the Mysterious Emperor Universe’s outer space-time finally exposed some internal aura, immediately exciting the many powerhouses who had been waiting.

Lin Yuan’s true body observed closely as well.

“Probably still a few more days…”

He estimated that the collapse had stirred a time-space storm inside. It would take a few more days before it stabilized enough for safe entry.

“Hm?”

While most of his attention was focused on the Mysterious Emperor Universe, Lin Yuan suddenly sensed an aura rapidly approaching.

“Shenfeng Venerable?”

He recognized the figure—an influential peak Chaos Venerable.

Behind Shenfeng were two more peak Chaos Venerables.

“No need for alarm. We mean no harm,” Shenfeng Venerable transmitted, halting a short distance away.

“What do you want?” Lin Yuan asked.

“You’ve probably seen the uniqueness of this artificial universe—its creator must’ve been an extraordinary Supreme Saint,” Shenfeng said. “But most of the treasures inside will end up in the hands of those nine Great Saints.”

He glanced at the nine towering figures closest to the breach.

At first, the Great Saints had suppressed their auras. But now that entry was near, they no longer held back—each was radiating terrifying pressure.

“For us Chaos Venerables, we’re lucky just to sip the leftovers. Even so, we have to watch out for each other.”

Shenfeng sighed.

Lin Yuan said nothing.

The nine Great Saints would be competing among themselves. Likewise, the Chaos Venerables—now numbering over a hundred—would have to fight over whatever scraps remained.

And the competition among Venerables was often even fiercer.

“What’s your point?” Lin Yuan asked.

“I want to invite you to join us,” Shenfeng said. “Us Venerables have to work together to stand a chance. We already have twelve members—four of them peak Venerables. Join us, and you won’t walk away empty-handed.”

“But understand—any gains from this operation will be handed over to me for allocation after the expedition.”

“Trust me, this is the only way to maximize profits. It’s in your best interest.”

Lin Yuan looked at him and shook his head. “All the gains go to you, and you decide who gets what?”

He hadn’t even considered joining, but the proposal still made him sigh. Did they think he was just free labor?

Who knew how Shenfeng would divide things?

“Not interested,” Lin Yuan said flatly.

“Not interested?” Shenfeng blinked. He’d already recruited many others, and most agreed with his reasoning.

Over a hundred Chaos Venerables had gathered. If some could form alliances, the advantages were real.

Among Venerables, even peak ones, the power gap wasn’t that wide—not like the chasm between Venerables and Great Saints.

So numbers mattered.

“Think it over,” Shenfeng added.

“I said no,” Lin Yuan frowned.

“Fine, it’s your choice.” Shenfeng fell silent, then turned and left. “But let me warn you—going solo will only hurt you.”

After he left—

“Shenfeng, you got rejected?” one of the peak Venerables beside him sneered. “Where’s this guy from? Doesn’t even know your name?”

“Facing such a massive conflict, and still insisting on working alone? How short-sighted.”

Shenfeng’s tone turned cold. “Once this artificial universe fully opens, and chaos erupts, he’ll realize what a mistake he’s made.”

“Yeah, what, does he think he’s a Great Saint or something?” another muttered, sure Lin Yuan would regret it.

To be invited personally by several peak Venerables and turn it down outright?

If the situation weren’t so sensitive—and if there weren’t so many others nearby—they might have already tried to teach him a lesson.

“Let’s go. Time to invite the next one.”

Shenfeng moved on. Every Venerable they recruited made them stronger for what was to come.

In the depths of layered space-time, the horned Dual-Source Great Saint gazed distantly at the fragment of universe.

“The Altar Spirit said this artificial universe was created by the Mysterious Sovereign—and that he was the Supreme Saint closest to being an invincible one?”

That intel was why he’d paid the steep price to come.

“To earn such praise from the Altar Spirit… that Sovereign must’ve been unmatched in his time.”

“This universe he left behind is worth fighting for with everything I have.”

A trace of excitement appeared in his eyes.

The Altar Spirit was akin to the Eye of Ten Thousand Laws—both had ties to Thirteenth-Rank time-lives. Dual-Source had only encountered the altar by incredible chance.

Even Supreme Saints rarely qualified to access it.

“This time, the only ones I need to watch for are Savage, Tianlu, and Heiyao. As for the other five…”

He glanced toward Nine Phoenix, Shadowfiend, and the rest.

He didn’t take them seriously.

Among the nine Great Saints present, there were clearly three tiers.

Tier One: Dual-Source, Savage, and Heiyao—these three had the strongest power, especially Dual-Source, whose path had real potential to reach Supreme Saint.

Whether a Chaos Great Saint could become a Supreme Saint depended entirely on the path they followed.

Tier Two: Tianlu and two others.

Tier Three: Shadowfiend, Nine Phoenix, and three newly ascended Great Saints.

“Why is Dual-Source here?” Savage Great Saint muttered as he glanced at him, frowning slightly.

Just tens of thousands of years ago, he’d heard that Dual-Source was exploring an ancient ruin on the opposite side of the void. Even for a Great Saint, it would take millions of years to get here.

“I used the Eye of Ten Thousand Laws to get here… what did Dual-Source use? Also the Eye?”

He wondered. He’d fought Dual-Source before and knew his strength was terrifying—barely managing to hold even.

At the time, he even suspected Dual-Source hadn’t used his full power.

“Doesn’t matter. Anyone who gets in my way, I’ll crush.”

Savage’s aura flared, tearing at the surrounding space-time.

He had paid three hundred million Chaos Stones to the Eye to get here. If he didn’t at least break even, it would be a huge loss.

As a war-type Great Saint, Savage had never taken a loss in his life.

“I’m not as strong as Dual-Source, Savage, or Heiyao,” Tianlu Great Saint admitted silently, carefully analyzing the battlefield.

“But winning treasures isn’t just about brute strength.”

Each Great Saint had their own unique path. Dual-Source, Savage, and Heiyao specialized in offense.

Tianlu? His specialty was survival.

“If I get the treasure first, they won’t be able to take it from me.”

He had no intention of clashing head-on. That would be foolish.

“Still, for Dual-Source to come here…”

Tianlu mused. He knew Dual-Source had been deep within a ruin, incredibly far from here.

To abandon that ruin and pay a high price to come—there could only be one reason:

The creator of this artificial universe was extraordinary, or there was something here Dual-Source urgently needed.

Nine Chaos Great Saints…

Lin Yuan observed them as well.

“Dual-Source Great Saint…” He looked toward the horned figure.

His chaotic path fused two forces—not as perfect as Lin Yuan’s own fusion of Yin and Yang into Tai Chi,

But not to be underestimated.

Most Great Saints, even if they walked two chaotic paths, couldn’t truly merge them. Doing so required immense control.

But if they succeeded, the boost in strength would be immense.

Lin Yuan’s own Chaos Evolution of Yin and Yang into Tai Chi had likely already reached the level of a Supreme Saint.

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