Chapter 700

At the center of the world, within the hidden realm—

The many figures stared at the scene within the projected image, their minds momentarily blank.

Even as Sect Masters of the Eternal Sects, witnessing this moment left their minds empty, unable to react for quite some time.

Just one sword stroke had swept clean an entire region of all ‘Demons’, including a Source Demon.

This level of power?

Taking down Great Demons and Giant Demons was one thing—

But even a Source Demon had crumbled under that single strike?

That was a Source Demon!

A being whose strength surpassed that of Eternal Sons.

Even the Eternal Sects would have to expend considerable resources to kill just one Source Demon.

After the Demon Calamity, most Source Demons had gathered at the center of the world, but a few still slumbered in the outer regions.

“That wasn’t an illusion.”

“Just now, I used an Eternal Treasure to observe the world. That terrifying strike just now really happened—it matched the sword from the image.”

At that moment, one of the Eternal Sect Masters let out a deep breath and spoke with a grave tone.

The so-called Eternal Treasures were thirteenth-rank weapons—left behind by the Eternal Lords to serve as a Sect’s foundation.

“Unbelievable…”

“Rivaling a Source Demon? This is what you call rivaling?”

“How could such a powerful cultivator even exist in this world?”

Moments later, the figures finally recovered.

Although they had only seen the strike through the communication rune, and the experience was vague—

Not being there in person meant it could have been some kind of illusion.

But at the same time—

Each of their Eternal Treasures had sensed, at nearly the same moment, an unimaginably terrifying strike erupting in that direction.

It basically confirmed the image as real.

“The power of that attack was nearly equal to our Sects’ strongest blows using our full foundations.”

The Sect Master of the Eternal Immeasurable Sect spoke softly, his expression filled with disbelief.

Even when channeling the full might of their foundations, they could barely match that level—

And doing so came with a cost. Once used, their treasures were diminished.

But Lin Yuan?

It was impossible to tell how much of his strength had gone into that one sword—

But clearly, he paid no price for it.

From the start of the strike to its end,

Lin Yuan’s aura remained steady, completely unaffected.

Meaning, this was a repeatable move.

At most, it consumed more energy.

Compared to a one-time blow from an Eternal Sect’s strongest technique, this was beyond comprehension.

“A cultivator this powerful…”

Many of the Eternal Sect leaders were visibly stirred.

Since the great upheaval of heaven and earth, they had fallen into a sort of despair.

The ‘Demons’ were endless. The Demon God overlooked all from above.

Even the Eternal Sects saw little hope.

They were merely dragging out survival.

But now, in Lin Yuan—they saw hope for the first time.

With such strength—while perhaps not invincible below the Demon God—

He could still wipe out the vast majority of Source Demons with ease.

Compared to the excitement in the secret realm of the Eternal Sects, the silver-eyed man and the other two Eternal Envoys on site were trembling in both body and soul.

That sword Lin Yuan unleashed wasn’t even aimed at them—yet just watching it left them shaken to their core.

“Too strong…”

The silver-eyed man’s heart trembled.

He had thought Lin Yuan’s strength perhaps rivaled a Source Demon—

But now? It went far beyond that.

They had just witnessed a Source Demon dissolve under that one strike.

The other two Eternal Envoys weren’t doing much better.

The pressure Lin Yuan exerted on them was almost equal to that of the Eternal Treasures in their Sects.

“Well?”

With both hands behind his back, Lin Yuan looked toward the image projected by the green communication rune.

Not long ago, the Yang Primordial Spirit had scouted this area and discovered a slumbering Source Demon.

But with only his two Primordial Spirits and incarnations, it was difficult to ensure success in suppressing a Source Demon.

One incarnation of Lin Yuan could match a Source Demon; the Yin and Yang Primordial Spirits were even stronger.

But defeating a Source Demon was one thing—suppressing it was another matter entirely.

Suppression was far harder than defeat—

Especially since Lin Yuan wanted to suppress it instantly.

If dragged out, it might alert other Source Demons—or even the Demon God.

So this time, Lin Yuan had chosen to act with his true body, wiping out the Source Demon and the surrounding Demons and Giant Demons in one move.

“No problem.”

“We’ll send all rune inheritances and intelligence regarding the ‘Demons’ to you immediately.”

From the other side of the image, the Sect Master of the Eternal Immeasurable Sect responded decisively.

None of the other Eternal Sect Masters objected.

What objections could they possibly have?

Now that such a powerful cultivator had appeared on their side—

Even if Lin Yuan hadn’t agreed to fight the Source Demons, they would have handed over their rune inheritances anyway—

All in hopes of increasing his chances of becoming an Eternal Lord.

Because if Lin Yuan could become an Eternal Lord, he could sweep away all the ‘Demons’ from this world.

The three Eternal Envoys—including the silver-eyed man—stood respectfully to the side.

At this moment, they too realized how important Lin Yuan was—

Perhaps he was the key to ending the Demon Calamity that had ravaged the world.

Dozens of breaths later—

The Eternal Immeasurable Sect and the other Eternal Sects transmitted all of their rune inheritance, including those left by Eternal Lords, through the green communication rune to Lin Yuan.

They also sent all their knowledge of the ‘Demons’—

Especially intel on the Demon God.

“How should we address you?”

The Sect Master of the Eternal Immeasurable Sect asked respectfully.

In this world, strength ruled all.

With Lin Yuan’s power, even in a time when Eternal Lords could not act due to the Demon Calamity—

He still ranked just below them.

Even before the great upheaval, he would have stood just beneath the Eternal Lords.

So the Sect Masters naturally treated him with the utmost respect.

Strength was everything.

With Lin Yuan’s current combat strength—even an Eternal Son might not last a single move.

As for the Eternal Lords? They wouldn’t intervene in matters below the third realm of Freedom.

And based on the strength Lin Yuan had shown, his chances of becoming an Eternal Lord far surpassed anyone else’s.

Even the Eternal Lords would want to form good ties with him.

“Call me Milky Way.”

Lin Yuan replied casually.

Milky Way—his name in the chaotic void, and one he’d already used in the first Source World.

Now, in the second Source World, he would continue using it.

“Lord Milky Way, all our Sects’ rune inheritances are here. If you need anything else, you can contact us anytime.”

The Sect Master of the Eternal Immeasurable Sect said respectfully.

"I’ll have my disciple accompany you—he can contact me on your behalf.”

“Mm.”

Lin Yuan glanced at the silver-eyed man.

In truth, he could contact the Eternal Immeasurable Sect Master directly.

But it was fine having someone else pass the message.

“Go back.”

With a wave of his hand, Lin Yuan took the silver-eyed man back to Qingyun Sacred Mountain.

The three Eternal Envoys respectfully left Qingyun Court.

At the peak of Qingyun Sacred Mountain—

“That wave of power…”

The Sacred Sect Master’s expression grew serious. He too had sensed Lin Yuan’s sword strike. But the distance was so great, he could only perceive the faintest trace.

Even so, he felt its terrifying nature.

Suddenly—

The Sacred Sect Master’s expression shifted.

“Hm?”

He looked toward Qingyun Court—and his gaze landed on the three Eternal Envoys.

“Envoys!”

The Sect Master’s expression changed slightly.

As the Sect Master, he was naturally familiar with the aura of Eternal Envoys.

Whoosh.

He instantly appeared beside them.

Though he no longer placed much value on Eternal Envoys thanks to Lin Yuan’s protection—

He still had to respect the Eternal Sects. And since Lin Yuan held no hostility toward them—

The Sect Master went forward to greet them immediately.

“Envoys.”

He walked up and greeted them with a respectful nod.

“Please, don’t call us Envoys.”

The silver-eyed man panicked slightly and quickly said, “The three of us are under orders from the Sect Master to follow Lord Milky Way’s command.”

“…Huh?”

The Sacred Sect Master blinked in confusion.

Lord Milky Way—he naturally understood that referred to Lin Yuan.

But the three Eternal Envoys… were taking orders from Lin Yuan?

On orders from their Sect Master?

He looked completely dumbfounded.

In the depths of Qingyun Courtryard—

Lin Yuan sat cross-legged.

The Sect Master of the Eternal Immeasurable Sect, along with the other Eternal Sect Masters, had sent him every last piece of their rune inheritance—

Including those established by the Eternal Lords.

Although he hadn’t yet started studying them, Lin Yuan could already anticipate how much they would aid him.

However—

He didn’t begin studying them right away.

Instead, he began examining the intelligence regarding the ‘Demon God’.

“The Demon God… is essentially an Eternal Lord without a conscious mind? His actual combat strength is equivalent to a true Eternal Lord?”

Lin Yuan’s expression turned serious.

He had long suspected that the Demon God corresponded to a thirteenth-rank time-based lifeform.

But a body without a conscious mind? That must mean the physical body of a thirteenth-rank time being.

No mental consciousness, yet capable of rivaling a true Eternal Lord—

That meant this being’s body was unimaginably powerful.

To think that the physical form alone could match other time-based lifeforms—

It was staggering.

After all, for a living being, the mind and will were extremely important. Many secret techniques and abilities required conscious thought to be used.

Without a conscious mind, even if one possessed immense strength, they couldn’t wield it effectively.

If the Demon God truly lacked a mind, yet still rivaled an Eternal Lord—

That meant that when this thirteenth-rank lifeform still had its consciousness, its strength must have been at an unfathomable level.

“Demon God… Demon Calamity…”

Lin Yuan’s thoughts swirled. He sensed that the Demon Calamity was far from simple.

“Doesn’t matter. Strength comes first.”

He focused his mind and turned to studying the rune inheritance of the Eternal Sects.

These rune inheritance paths had all come from Eternal Lords—including those created by the Lord of Heavenly Radiance.

Not all Eternal Lords had founded Sects. Some had walked alone.

But their inheritances were preserved by other Eternal Sects.

As he studied the rune inheritances, Lin Yuan also began hunting Source Demons.

First, to continue expanding his world—Source Demons were excellent resources for this, far superior to Great or Giant Demons.

Second, to fulfill his side of the trade with the Eternal Sects.

And so—

Time passed quietly.

In the blink of an eye, ten thousand years had gone by.

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