Chapter 697

Strictly speaking, the arrival of the Eternal Envoy should have been top secret within the Qingyun Sacred Sect.

After all, it concerned the Eternal Sects at the center of the world.

In a world overrun by the demon catastrophe, the fewer people who knew about such things, the better.

But the Sect Master understood clearly—Qingyun Sacred Sect’s survival now completely depended on Lin Yuan.

An Eternal Envoy?

Compared to Lin Yuan’s protection of the sect, what did an Eternal Envoy count for?

Even if all past Envoys’ aid was added together, it couldn’t compare to Lin Yuan wiping out every trace of “demon” near Qingyun Sacred Mountain.

So between the Eternal Envoy and Lin Yuan—

The Sect Master chose the latter without hesitation.

He told Lin Yuan everything about the Eternal Envoy’s imminent arrival, leaving nothing out.

Lin Yuan fell into brief thought.

In truth, he didn’t harbor much resentment toward the Eternal Sects at the world’s center.

In fact, his goals aligned with those of the Eternal Lords.

They didn’t want this source world to be destroyed by the demon catastrophe.

Neither did Lin Yuan.

Among the myriad worlds and infinite dimensional spaces, very few had reached the level of a source world.

A world like this could definitely become one of Lin Yuan’s strongholds to counter unknown threats.

The barriers between different dimensional realms were enough to block perception and attacks from Rank Thirteen Time Beings.

Even Time Lords would struggle to cross them.

“What business does the Eternal Envoy have here?”

Lin Yuan looked at the Sect Master and asked.

“Based on past visits, they usually investigate nearby demon activity and share some rune secret arts to help counter the demons.”

The Sect Master answered honestly.

“Besides that, they also tend to recruit some powerful cultivators from the sects—especially talented disciples—to bring back for training at the Eternal Sects.”

He continued.

So Qingyun Sacred Sect had always felt both hope and dread about the Envoys’ arrival.

The rune secret arts they shared were indeed useful.

But taking away talented disciples and strong cultivators? That posed the risk of a talent gap in the sect.

Disciples born in the small world within Qingyun Sacred Mountain already had less talent than outsiders.

And if the Eternal Sects kept siphoning them off?

In the short term, it might not matter much, but over time, the effects would be severe.

Right now, Qingyun Sacred Sect had only three or four peak experts in the Longevity Sixth Realm, far fewer than before the world upheaval.

The main reason was the widespread demon catastrophe—but the repeated recruitment by Eternal Envoys also played a role.

“I see.”

Lin Yuan nodded slightly.

Nothing unexpected there.

For sects like Qingyun Sacred Sect, their value to the Eternal Sects boiled down to two things:

First, to serve as a distraction to draw more demons away.

Second, to act as a talent reserve.

That was why the Eternal Sects were willing to send envoys to aid the major sacred sects.

Without sufficient benefit, the Eternal Sects—facing threats from one Source Demon after another—would never bother with such kindness.

“Give me the rune used to communicate with the Eternal Sects.”

Lin Yuan thought for a moment and spoke.

During the demon catastrophe, many means of communication were suppressed.

He was curious about how the Eternal Envoys directly contacted the sacred sects and pinpointed their exact locations.

After all, over the long years, to avoid powerful demons, Qingyun Sacred Mountain had shifted locations seven or eight times.

“Yes, sir.”

The Sect Master immediately took out a green rune and respectfully handed it to Lin Yuan.

“This rune?”

Lin Yuan examined it carefully.

At first glance, the green rune appeared ordinary.

But in Lin Yuan’s vision, it was composed of billions of smaller runes.

Each micro-rune spun endlessly, interweaving and colliding with others, forming a delicate balance.

“Interesting.”

Lin Yuan studied it.

He had already begun cultivating the fourth level of the inheritance left by the Lord of Heavenly Radiance, where all that one sees and senses is rune, and can be made use of.

This green rune was highly complex and obscure. Other than the Eternal Sect’s experts and the Qingyun Sacred Sect’s Master, no one else could use it.

Even the Sect Master could only utilize it in a crude way, mainly to receive occasional messages from the Eternal Envoy.

Anything beyond that... was impossible.

But in Lin Yuan’s eyes, he began rapidly seizing control of every micro-rune.

Whoosh—

The next moment, the complete green rune suddenly disintegrated, forming billions of micro-runes floating in front of Lin Yuan.

In mere moments, those billions of micro-runes recombined, reforming the original green rune.

But now, this green rune was completely under Lin Yuan’s control.

“This—”

The Sect Master, watching from the side, was utterly shocked.

Even though he didn’t know why the green rune collapsed,

he could see clearly that the recombined rune was no longer the same.

If the original green rune still essentially belonged to the Eternal Sect, with the Sect Master having only limited access— then now, this green rune had completely shifted from being theirs to being Lin Yuan’s.

But how was that possible?

The green rune came from the Eternal Sect. According to the previous Eternal Envoy, these runes were personally crafted by Eternal Lords, used as a last resort communication tool between the sacred sects and the Eternal Sects.

And now?

That same technique of an Eternal Lord had been cracked by Lin Yuan?

The Sect Master felt a deep confusion.

Even with the demon catastrophe raging, he had never doubted the capabilities of the Eternal Lords.

Sure, the green rune could be destroyed—but to reforge and take control of it, like Lin Yuan just did?

That was far beyond the Sect Master’s understanding.

In his view, only other Eternal Lords could do something like this.

But Lin Yuan?

“Don’t overthink it. I just used a clever trick.”

Lin Yuan gave the Sect Master a glance and casually explained.

If he had tried to forcibly refine the green rune, he wouldn’t have been able to.

But using the Lord of Heavenly Radiance’s understanding of rune essence—where all that is seen and sensed can be used, he could restructure the rune, bypassing the Eternal Lord’s technique.

Having cultivated the fourth level of that inheritance, Lin Yuan was already on par with many Eternal Lords.

“Yes, sir.”

The Sect Master composed himself and answered respectfully.

Although Lin Yuan called it a trick, the Sect Master didn’t see it that way at all.

To overpower a method crafted by an Eternal Lord and reforge the green rune—this was a clear sign of supreme strength.

A trick?

Eternal Lords can use tricks too?

“Our Qingyun Sacred Sect is truly blessed.”

The Sect Master couldn’t help but think.

The stronger Lin Yuan became, the more pleased he felt.

After all, Lin Yuan still held some sentiment for the sect.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have stayed.

With his terrifying ability to slay Demon Titans like ants, the outside world plagued by demons wasn’t much different from within the sect.

Those vicious, brutal demons—before Lin Yuan, they were like ants.

—

After fully taking control of the green rune,

Lin Yuan naturally discovered all of its functions.

For example, through it, he sensed the exact coordinates of other sacred sects and Supreme Sacred Sects within the source world.

“There are currently 892 surviving sacred sects, and a little over 20 Supreme Sacred Sects.”

By obtaining the “highest authority” of the green rune, Lin Yuan easily accessed all this information.

“The losses really are severe.”

Lin Yuan shook his head.

Compared to the number of sects before the great upheaval in this world— the number of surviving sacred and Supreme Sacred Sects had dropped by more than ninety percent.

And among the nearly 900 surviving sacred sects and 20-odd Supreme Sacred Sects, who could say whether they still possessed the true foundation of a sacred sect?

Take Qingyun Sacred Sect, for instance.

In name, it was a sacred sect.

But who knows how long it had been since it had a Freedom Realm cultivator in residence.

Before the great upheaval, it wouldn’t have counted as a sacred sect at all.

“The locations of these sects…”

With the green rune’s highest authority, Lin Yuan easily locked them in.

To ensure survival under the demon catastrophe, every sacred sect had concealed itself well.

Even Lin Yuan would have had trouble finding them without being nearby.

But with the green rune, the location of every sacred and Supreme Sacred Sect was crystal clear to him.

He could even track movements in real time—if a sect moved, he would see the trajectory.

“I can send clones to infiltrate these sects and acquire their rune inheritances.”

Lin Yuan thought to himself. This was something he had long intended to do, but he hadn’t been able to locate the sects.

Now?

That problem no longer existed.

Even the rune inheritances of ordinary sacred sects had reference value for him.

“…This is…”

Through the green rune, Lin Yuan sensed several fast-approaching auras.

“The Eternal Envoys?”

A glint of thought crossed Lin Yuan’s face.

These moving auras were clearly different from those of sacred or Supreme Sacred Sects.

They were most likely the approaching Eternal Envoys.

Now that he had fully refined the green rune and obtained its highest authority—almost equivalent to an Eternal Lord—he could sense much more, including the movement of the envoys.

“Senior, how should we receive the Eternal Envoys?”

The Sect Master asked in a low voice. He had informed Lin Yuan of their arrival to understand his stance.

Lin Yuan’s stance would be the Qingyun Sacred Sect’s stance.

“Just greet them as usual.”

Lin Yuan said, “They’ll arrive in about a year. When they do, let me know.”

He was still quite curious about the current situation at the center of the world—and that information could come from the Eternal Envoys.

“They’ll arrive in a year?”

The Sect Master looked at Lin Yuan.

He had no way of knowing the exact arrival time.

Normally, after receiving a signal via the green rune, the Eternal Envoy would arrive in about a hundred years.

But Lin Yuan had pinned it down to a year?

“Yes.”

“Around that time.”

Lin Yuan nodded.

He had estimated it based on the envoys’ current location and speed, using the green rune.

Of course, delays could happen if they encountered a powerful demon.

But overall, the error margin wouldn’t be too large.

“Yes, understood.”

The Sect Master bowed and withdrew respectfully.

He had no doubts about Lin Yuan’s words.

—

First Source World.

In the capital of the Liyang Kingdom, Lin Yuan sat across from the Liyang Ancestor.

“Ancestor’s Flame God Drunk really is fine wine,” Lin Yuan said with a smile, taking a sip.

Flame God Drunk was brewed personally by the Liyang Ancestor. Even Rank Thirteen Time Beings would feel euphoric after one sip. Lin Yuan, strong as his body was, only dared to drink tiny amounts.

“Hahaha!”

The Liyang Ancestor laughed heartily. This was the finest wine in all creation—and he was its maker.

Only Lin Yuan could drink it. The other Ancestors didn’t even get a taste.

“How’s your cultivation going lately?” the ancestor asked. “Planning to take that step anytime soon?”

“No rush.”

Lin Yuan shook his head. “I’ll keep accumulating for now.”

“Alright then.”

The ancestor nodded.

He had seen many of Lin Yuan’s future timelines—very few showed Lin Yuan rushing to make the breakthrough.

“Ancestor… will this world be destroyed?” Lin Yuan looked out over the vast source world and casually asked.

“Destroyed?”

The ancestor thought for a moment, then nodded. “Naturally. All worlds end. But it’s not true destruction—just the beginning of something new.”

Lin Yuan nodded slightly at that.

In the Chaos Void, countless natural universes were born and then met great destruction, only to begin again.

It reflected the laws of countless worlds and heavens.

The source world was no exception. Compared to the Chaos Void, it was far more refined, and the cycle from birth to destruction lasted much longer.

“When this world is destroyed, we Time Beings will have to leave and wander the dimensional gaps.”

The Liyang Ancestor said, “But that day is still far off.”

“Mm. Still far off.”

Lin Yuan nodded.

The First Source World had existed far less time than the Second Source World.

—

Second Source World.

Demonic energy drifted.

Three indistinct figures pierced through thick demonic mist, heading in a particular direction.

These three concealed their presence extremely well. The spatial fluctuations caused by their teleportation were nearly nonexistent.

And with each jump through space, they exchanged thoughts.

“Should we head to Qingyun Sacred Sect next?”

“Amid the demon catastrophe, a sacred sect just barely qualifying like that… it’s a miracle it’s even survived.”

The two behind—one male, one female—looked around at the endless demonic energy, their expressions somewhat grim.

These three figures were none other than envoys from the Eternal Sects at the world’s center.

Just then—

The leading figure abruptly halted, eyes scanning the surroundings with high alert.

“Something’s not right.”

This man with silver eyes kept glancing around, his expression full of suspicion.

“What is it?”

The other two stopped as well, then asked through voice transmission.

“Don’t you notice? There isn’t a single proper demon in this entire area.”

The more he observed, the more suspicious the silver-eyed man became.

...

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