Lin Yuan studied the golden mist for a while and quickly discovered its extraordinary nature.
Though the golden mist appeared like drifting clouds and could be gathered and confined, Lin Yuan couldnât actually touch it.
âCanât be touched?â
Lin Yuanâs gaze turned curious. His divine ability "World" was constantly active, and all the surrounding space-time was under his controlâyet he still couldnât physically interact with the golden mist.
âInteresting.â
He stretched out his right hand, preparing to collect all the golden mist from the valley.
To ensure the golden mist wasnât damaged, he even transported the entire valley into his internal universe.
âIt must be related to time.â
Looking at the golden mist, Lin Yuan thought to himself.
He could sense faint temporal fluctuations from it. Combined with the time-reversal zone outside the treasure land, it was almost certain that this newly born top-tier treasure land was oriented toward the time attribute.
In fact, all the great ancient Kingdoms had speculated that the rare treasures within this treasure land would likely relate to time.
âShould I try probing it with my soul and mind?â
Lin Yuan considered it.
Many rare treasures born from treasure lands could only be absorbed or refined through special means.
For instance, the black jade from the Black Jade Nest could only be refined using mental willpowerâanything else had no effect whatsoever.
âForget it. Too risky.â
After a brief moment of thought, Lin Yuan abandoned the idea.
The soul and mind were too important. If this golden treasure had some side effect or caused harm, it wouldnât be worth the risk.
He had dared to refine the black jade with his mind only because the Black Jade Nest had existed for countless billions of years, and the refining method had long been verified by numerous Heavenly Sovereignsâthere were no hidden dangers.
But this golden mist? Who knew what it might do?
Lin Yuan had no reason to be overly hasty.
If he could obtain the golden mist from this valley, then other Ultimate Heavenly Sovereigns from the ancient Kingdoms could certainly do so as well.
Compared to the seasoned and experienced Ultimate Heavenly Sovereigns of the Six Great Ancient Kingdoms, Lin Yuan felt it wiser to wait a bit longerâuntil someone discovered the correct method of using the golden mistâbefore trying it himself.
âKeep searching for core Sky Pillars.â
Lin Yuan didnât linger at the valley. After storing away all the golden mist, he continued his exploration.
Liyang Empireâs capital, isolated space.
Hong Lian Heavenly Sovereign opened his eyes again. âIâve found another core Sky Pillar.â
With these wordsâ
The surrounding Ultimate Heavenly Sovereigns all turned toward him.
Finding core Sky Pillars in the treasure land mostly came down to luck.
Among the twelve Ultimate Heavenly Sovereigns, Hong Lianâs detection methods werenât especially strong, yet the number of core Sky Pillars he had found ranked in the top fiveâpossibly even top three.
âWhere is it?â
âYou refine the outer portion first,â Red Flame Heavenly Sovereign said.
Though core Sky Pillars were usually left for top-tier Ultimate Heavenly Sovereigns to refine, if one hadnât arrived yet, the one who discovered it would refine the outer layer first.
âHere.â
Hong Lian quickly provided the coordinates, but his expression changed abruptly. âAnother ancient Kingdomâs Ultimate Heavenly Sovereign is approachingâone from the Grand Ancient Void Empire.â
âGrand Ancient Void?â
Red Flame frowned and asked, âWhich Ultimate Heavenly Sovereign?â
If it was a top-tier one, Red Flame would recommend that Hong Lian give up the pillar.
Not out of fear of Grand Ancient Void, but because someone at Hong Lianâs level wouldnât last long against one of their top-tier Ultimate Heavenly Sovereigns.
Unless Hong Lian was hiding strength like Lin Yuanâthough that seemed unlikely.
âItâs Fu Dang Heavenly Sovereign,â Hong Lian quickly replied.
He was very familiar with the twelve Ultimate Heavenly Sovereigns sent by Grand Ancient Void. Even if he hadnât fought them, he had reviewed their profiles in detail.
âFu Dang?â
Red Flame felt reassured.
Among Grand Ancient Voidâs twelve Ultimate Heavenly Sovereigns, Fu Dangâs strength was mid-tierâclose to top-tier, stronger than Hong Lian, but not overwhelmingly so.
âHold the Sky Pillar.â
Red Flame instructed.
Grand Ancient Void might be powerful, but that didnât mean the Liyang Empire had to back down. As long as it wasnât Fuxu or the other top-tier figures, there was no reason to yield.
This top-tier treasure land might come down to just one core Sky Pillarâthat was worth fighting for.
âAlright.â
Hong Lian nodded.
Although Fu Dang was stronger, it wasnât a match to determine a winnerâjust a matter of delaying him, and that, Hong Lian was confident in.
âThis locationâŚâ
Red Flame looked toward Lin Yuan. âMilky Way, among the four of us, youâre closest to this location. Iâll leave it to you.â
âUnderstood.â
Lin Yuan nodded.
As one of the Liyang Empireâs four top-tier Ultimate Heavenly Sovereigns, it was his responsibility to refine core Sky Pillars.
If another Liyang Ultimate Heavenly Sovereign found a pillar close to him, Lin Yuan had to handle it.
âIs that Hong Lian?â
Inside the treasure land, Lin Yuan suddenly halted and looked in another direction.
Whoosh!
The next momentâ
His figure vanished, and only then did ripples stir in the space-time he had left.
Normally, searching for core Sky Pillars required slow, methodical flight.
But to quickly reach a specific coordinate, one would traverse the void directly.
The towering Sky Pillar seemed both real and illusory.
Hong Lian stood before it, his expression tense, red lotus flames burning in space-time around him.
âHong Lian, yield the Sky Pillar.â
A cold voice echoed through the void.
Not far away stood a towering figure, his skin covered in purple scalesâFu Dang Heavenly Sovereign from the Grand Ancient Void Empire.
Among the twelve Grand Ancient Void Ultimate Heavenly Sovereigns, the strongest was Fuxuâone of the most powerful in the history of the Six Ancient Kingdoms, having mastered a supreme inheritance.
Below Fuxu were four top-tier Ultimate Heavenly Sovereigns. Fu Dang belonged to the third tierâbelow them.
âHahaha! Fu Dang, who do you think you are? A top-tier Ultimate Heavenly Sovereign? Or Fuxu himself?â Hong Lian sneered.
He was buying time.
âSomeone like me is enough to deal with you.â
Fu Dangâs gaze turned cold. He raised his right hand and slashed toward Hong Lian from afar.
Hong Lian reacted as if facing a great enemy, not underestimating him in the slightest. He immediately activated a defensive killing technique, causing red lotus flames to boil around him.
Chi chi chiâ
In the next instantâ
His protective red lotuses began to collapse. Under Fu Dangâs strike, they quickly dissipated.
âHeâs this strong?â
Hong Lian felt the pressure. After just one exchange, half his defensive lotuses had already been destroyed. He doubted whether he could hold out until Lin Yuan arrived.
âNo matter whatâit must be defended.â
Hong Lian clenched his teeth. The Sky Pillar behind him could determine the ownership of the treasure land. What if this was the final pillar needed for the Liyang Empire to claim it?
âBreak!â
Fu Dang kept attacking. Each strike shattered more of Hong Lianâs protective lotuses, though new ones kept forming just as quickly.
âThis red lotus is really going all out.â
Fu Dang understood that regenerating these lotuses wasnât freeâit came at a cost.
âSo what if you go all out?â
His eyes glowed purple, and each strike grew in power.
At first, one strike broke half a lotus shield. Now, it shattered most or all of them.
âCanât last much longerâŚâ
Hong Lian sighed internally. In terms of strength, he was no match for Fu Dang.
And now, standing like a target to guard the Sky Pillar, he was taking hit after hit.
Under these circumstances, the fact that heâd held on this long was already impressive.
âIf Fu Dang lands a blow that destroys all my lotus defenses, this battle body of mine will perish.â
He knewâ
In a normal fight, he could escape from Fu Dang.
But this wasnât a normal fight. He was taking hits head-on and refusing to retreat.
âDie!â
Fu Dangâs aura surged. Purple light swirled around him as he prepared to unleash a devastating strike.
Just thenâ
The distant space-time twisted slightly, and a figure silently stepped out.
âMilky Way Heavenly Sovereign has arrived?â
Hong Lian rejoiced inwardly.
âMilky Way Heavenly Sovereign?â
Fu Dangâs heart sank.
He had heard the rumorsâhow this man had crippled Lingyuâs spiritual domain. That was definitely top-tier Ultimate Heavenly Sovereign strength.
âEven if youâre here, Milky Way, he still has to die!â
Fu Dang roared in fury. If Hong Lian hadnât refused to retreat, he wouldâve taken the Sky Pillar already.
âHm?â
Lin Yuan had just arrived and saw Fu Dang suppressing Hong Lian.
Hong Lian looked like a swaying boat in a stormâready to be capsized by the next blow.
Whooshâ
The divine ability "World" activated. His external universe expanded instantly, transforming the surrounding trillion-mile radius into his domain.
Fu Dang was immediately suppressed, his swirling purple domain rapidly shrinking.
âWhatââ
His pupils contracted. He had completely lost control of the surrounding space-time.
âMilky Wayâs domain suppression is this powerful?â Fu Dang panicked.
The Grand Ling Kingdom had released intel on Lin Yuan, describing him as having strong domain suppression.
But Fu Dang had never expected it to be this overwhelmingâhe was completely suppressed upon arrival.
âSince youâre here, Milky Way, our Grand Ancient Void Empire will yield this Sky Pillar.â
Fu Dang called out loudly.
The pressure Lin Yuan exuded was immense. Among Grand Ancient Voidâs four top-tier Ultimate Heavenly Sovereigns, only two could pressure him this much.
After all, Grand Ancient Void controlled the most top-tier treasure lands and had access to the best resources. At the same level, their power exceeded that of the other five Kingdoms.
Realizing the situation, Fu Dang had only one thoughtâ
Retreat immediately.
Whooshâ
Before finishing his words, Fu Dang activated his purple domain and fled.
But under Lin Yuanâs domain suppression, he couldnât teleport through space.
âTrying to run?â
Lin Yuan looked toward him and instantly saw through Fu Dangâs plan.
âLingyu got away because he was too troublesome to kill. But youâŚâ
He gazed at the purple domain.
âYouâll be the first to taste my new killing move.â
In an instantâ
At the top of Lin Yuanâs external universe, blazing suns began to form.
They floated gently⌠until one began to fallâheading straight for Fu Dangâs retreating domain.
With the first sunâs descent came the second, third, and fourthâŚ
This killing move was called Falling Sunsâthe strongest technique Lin Yuan had created aside from detonating his external universe.
While detonating the universe had terrifying power, it left him temporarily weakened. Falling Suns had no such downside. Though less powerful, it could strike continuously.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom boom boom!!!
At first, Fu Dang withstood the blows.
But by the 200th, 300th, 400th falling sun, his purple domain began to collapse.
âMilky Way Heavenly Sovereign!â
He turned, staring at Lin Yuanâthen, under the bombardment of the 2,000th and 3,000th suns, his body and soul were completely annihilated.
âOnly lasted to the 3,000th?â
Lin Yuan shook his head. In theory, this technique could produce 33,463 falling suns.
âToo late?â
After collecting Fu Dangâs belongings, Lin Yuan flew over to Hong Lian and spoke.
âNot at all.â
Hong Lian was a little dazed.
He had struggled bitterly under Fu Dangâs assault. Yet Fu Dang hadnât lasted even as long as him against Milky Way.
Then again, Fu Dang hadnât even tried to fightâheâd tried to flee and failed.
âPlease refine the Sky Pillar, Heavenly Sovereign.â
Hong Lian stepped aside to reveal the Sky Pillar behind him.
âAlright.â
Lin Yuan didnât hesitateâthis was the real objective.
Isolated space.
Red Flame Heavenly Sovereign looked at Lin Yuan in surprise. âMilky Way, you killed Fu Dang?â
Fu Dang, being close to top-tier, could normally survive against even top-tier opponentsâunless they fought to the death.
âI created a technique that countered him.â
Lin Yuan explained.
Simply put, Falling Suns suppressed any Heavenly Sovereign below the top-tier level.
Unless they could withstand thousands of solar strikes, no Ultimate Heavenly Sovereign could endure it.
Even top-tier ones had to devote some effort to defending against it.
âCounteredâŚâ
Red Flame gave Lin Yuan a deep look. At their level, most means were flawlessâit was rare to be truly countered.
Afterwardâ
Lin Yuan continued to contest core Sky Pillars across the treasure land. With repeated clashes against other Kingdoms' powerhouses, Milky Way Heavenly Sovereignâs name spread completely.
Then one dayâ
TĘe source of this á´ontent ÉŞs novel~fire~net
In the Liyang Empireâs capital, isolated spaceâ
Red Flame Heavenly Sovereign suddenly looked toward the other eleven Ultimate Heavenly Sovereigns, a smile on his face.
âEveryone,â
He said with a smile, âWeâve discovered how to absorb and use the golden mist born from the treasure land.â
...
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