Chapter 732: Before the Storm (End of Volume 22)
Translator: Chaos_ Editor: Chaos_
Temporal Island Lord looked at the pitch-black circular hole in the midst of the starry sky in front of him. He then added, "It might be because your battle with the five Religious Leaders produced a disturbance so great that it created this time-space tunnel. It could also be possible that this time-space tunnel was concealed here all along."
"It seems like a small-scaled cosmos passage." Bloodshed God-Emperor extended his right hand, causing it to stretch in through the passage.
As his right hand entered the passage, the surrounding faint gray fog began trembling. An unseen power was repelling him.
"It is as I expected. Transcended True Gods aren't able to enter." Bloodshed God-Emperor said. He then looked at the confused Xue Ying by his side and laughed, "The stronger the cultivator, the greater the stress placed on the cosmos passage! From my understanding, the scale of cosmos passages can be classified into three categories. The lowest level passages are just like this - to be able to travel through this passage unhindered, the traveler must not have transcended and must still be within the River of Time, and be protected by the cosmos. As for the second level, the ordinary True Gods and Paragons can enter! The third level is the highest level, and even Rulers can enter."
"And this passage in front of us is of the lowest level." Bloodshed God-Emperor shook his head, "It's not worth much to us. If it was a large-scale cosmos passage, it would be more precious because we would have a chance to visit another cosmos, and that is a rare opportunity. Monarch Green, Purgatory Ruler and I have been to other cosmos, and all of us had broken through in the end."
Xue Ying nodded.
His Senior Disciple Brother Monarch Green was said to have broken through and become a Ruler after visiting another cosmos. Furthermore, according to the investigation carried out by the treasure spirit of the Black Gourd, in terms of power, he should be ranked third within the Cultivator Cosmos!
"Dong Bo Xue Ying, you've yet to transcend, maybe you could try it out." Temporal Island Lord suggested from the side.
"Right." Bloodshed God-Emperor agreed, "You can try your luck."
"But the war with the Ancestor Mother Religion..." Xue Ying could not help but ask.
Temporal Island Lord shook his head: "You don't have to participate in this war. With your current strength, you might just lose your life in a large-scale battle. At that time, it wouldn't just be an assassination attempt from a few Religious Leaders, but rather, it would the last struggle of the entire clan of Ancestor Mother Religion!"
Bloodshed God Emperor then added, "You can join us if you want. However, you would have to follow my orders. Xue Ying's Black Gourd could prove helpful."
Temporal Island Lord was stunned. He glanced at Bloodshed God Emperor before pursing his lips: "Alright. He is your disciple. You make the decision."
Saying that, the Temporal Island Lord immediately disappeared.
Bloodshed God Emperor looked at Xue Ying and laughed, "If you want to join the war against the Religious Leaders, you still have a long way to go. Every single Ruler has grasped an eternal Dao. Their Daos have turned into Laws, forming domains. Their words represent the Law itself. The battle with them is unlike that with the Paragons. This time, you should have personally experienced it after this assassination attempt. The Religious Leaders are much cruder than us Rulers in battling, however."
"I understand." Xue Ying answered solemnly.
That's right.
Previously, when he was ambushed, by the time he had discovered the enemies' presence, their weapons had already reached him. Throughout the entire chain of events, he had never found the actual bodies of the other party! Naturally, it was because the other party worked together to assassinate him. But this highlighted the gap in power! The other party had deliberately attempted to assassinate him, yet he could not discover them even with his 'Mirage World'.
'I should not be arrogant. With my current combat power, I might be able to wrestle with the Rulers by relying on the Black Gourd. But I would still lose! There's no need to even think about what would happen, fighting in a race war.' Xue Ying was roused inwardly.
"I'll send you away first to prevent the Ancestor Mother Religion from carrying out these shameless assassinations." Bloodshed God-Emperor said before constructing an array in their surroundings. The array enveloped and hid the cosmos passage: "This is the array for entry and exit! If the Ancestor Mother Religion comes, I'll definitely discover them."
Xue Ying received the method to enter and leave the array via his communication treasure.
Following which, Bloodshed God-Emperor brought Xue Ying and teleported through time-space. He first sent Xue Ying back to the Black Fog Sea before returning to the Bloodshed God Palace.
...
Within the vast hall of the Ancestor Mother Religion.
The fanged Religious Leader sat down cross-legged looking at the five Religious Leaders who appeared. All five of them were injured, with the black-armored female Religious Leader having the heaviest injuries–there was a huge hole in her abdomen that penetrated through her entire body. But it was currently recovering.
"You guys are in such a sorry situation?" The fanged Religious Leader looked at them.
"We met the Bloodshed God-Emperor. He suddenly ambushed us, causing us to suffer."
"And the Black Gourd?"
"Dong Bo Xue Ying is only injured despite being ambushed by the five of us. He then deployed the Black Gourd immediately, forcing the five of us back. We failed to assassinate him, and it was almost certain that we couldn't kill him in that short period. We were also worried that the Bloodshed God-Emperor and other Rulers might arrive. Thus, we had to retreat, but the Bloodshed God-Emperor still caught up to us."
The Religious Leaders were sullen.
They could not even kill a little brat who was only at the Opening realm, despite working together.
The fanged Religious Leader turned silent. He did not continue his questioning.
Since they failed, it meant that Xue Ying's survival capabilities were much more outstanding than stated in the intelligence report.
"Go and have a rest." The fanged Religious Leader indifferently said, "This time, there are two reasons for us to deal against Dong Bo Xue Ying. One, it is to vent our anger. Two, for the sake of the Black Gourd! The Black Gourd might be useful, but it is fine even if we don't obtain it. The Ancestor Mother Religion's plot has already been uncovered by them, so there isn't any need for us to remain hidden. Make use of the time to gather all the resources that we can, before the Void Twin Extreme Array of Bloodshed God-Emperor discovers us, so that we can be amply prepared for the final battle!"
"Mn." The five Religious Leaders nodded.
Previously, they were afraid of revealing their actions. But now? Since both races had entered a conflict, there was naturally no need to hide their collection of resources!
"We must do our best to fight for our lives. Our cosmos has accumulated an endless amount of resource; if all of us were to fight to the death, we definitely have a chance of turning this around. After killing all the Rulers, we will win the war. We will then construct the Ancestor Mother Altar... and this cosmos will belong to us." The fanged Religious Leader's eyes were burning with a mad passion.
'Now, we're just left with the final battle.' The five Religious Leaders were also surging with fighting spirit.
******
Within the courtyard of the wooden house in the Bloodshed God Palace.
Primal Master, Abyss Primogenitor and Bloodshed God Emperor were all present.
"The Ancestor Mother Religion's activities are getting increasingly ruthless. They do not even care about hiding anymore." Primal Master frowned and said in a solemn tone, "In the past, they had been quietly collecting resources. But from now on, they would be taking them wantonly."
"The Bloodshed Tavern and Temporal God Palace are currently collecting the resources now. Furthermore, if any supervisor emissary discovers someone collecting resources in large amounts, they will immediately investigate that person. If he or she is a traitor, they will capture them, dead or alive." Bloodshed God-Emperor said emotionlessly.
Abyss Primogenitor forcefully asked, "Bloodshed, your avatar technique has both been learned by Primal and me. Who do you plan on imparting it next?"
Bloodshed God-Emperor was contemplating over it. He said, "I'll have to think through this. Honestly speaking, ever since Bamboo Mountain turned traitor amongst the Paragons, I became even more worried that there would be Rulers betraying us too. The two of you are the oldest Rulers. It is impossible for you two to be traitors since Ancestor Mother Religion hasn't invaded our cosmos. However, I can't be so certain of the other Rulers."
"Mn." Abyss Primogenitor nodded, "From the cultivation period, on our side of the Dark Abyss, I started the earliest. Next is Purgatory Ruler. Purgatory Ruler is someone I am very close to. I have even watched him grow through his journey, so I trust him very much. And after that is Bloody Ruler Nile. Ruler Nile is the youngest, and is someone you are closest with, Bloodshed."
"It is impossible for Pang Yi to be a traitor too. He is one of the Deity world's Fierce Five, and his cultivation time is quite close to mine." Primal Master said, "Empress Qian He should be clean. I still trust Temporal Island Lord too. Myriad God Palace Master has also cultivated from quite an early period. Instead, it is Monarch Green... this eldest disciple of yours that seems to have a huge change in character. However, it is highly improbable for him to be a traitor, as he could have easily helped the Ancestor Mother Religion obtain the Primal Chaos Flying Ship when he was a Paragon."
"Hearing this, it seems that none are suspicious?" Abyss Primogenitor asked.
"How many people from the Ancestor Mother Religion could reincarnate and reach the Ruler realm? That is an incredibly difficult feat." Bloodshed God Emperor said, "There are two possibilities. One, there are no traitors amongst us. Two, if there is, then it must be Bloody Ruler Nile! As for Monarch Green, I trust him very much! And I have long transmitted the avatar method over to him."
"You suspect Ruler Nile?"
Primal and Abyss Primogenitor felt startled.
"Right." Bloodshed God Emperor nodded. He then chuckled, "Actually, having a traitor is a good thing. We can make use of the traitor to give the Ancestor Mother Religion a huge setback."
The final battle was about to begin, but the Cultivators were all confident.
The Primal Chaos Flying Ship was a trump card they had. Bloodshed God-Emperor's avatar technique was similarly a trump card. By relying on the technique, they could borrow on Bloodshed God-Emperor's 'Cosmos Stone Heart' to cultivate. Each Ruler could then have a total of three bodies! It would drastically increase the overall combat force of the Rulers.
...
The Ancestor Mother Religion and Cultivators were all preparing for the final battle. The moment it began, that would be a battle that determined the fate of the entire cosmos.
And currently, Xue Ying had returned to the Black Fog Sea to accompany his wife.
Jing Qiu walked with her husband by the lake: 'It is a rare opportunity for you to visit another cosmos. Furthermore, you have mentioned that it is best if you improve your combat power before the final battle with the Ancestor Mother Religion begins.'
"This is a small-scaled cosmos passage. I should enter first and scout the place out. By then, I'll bring you in." Xue Ying said.
"Bring Qing Yao and Yu'er along with us too." Jing Qiu added.
"Mn, we'll go together."
Xue Ying laughed. He would never forget his family when coming across such an opportunity.
"Alright. I'll make my move first. It is best if we don't waste any time from now on." Xue Ying stated.
"Take care of yourself." Jing Qiu reminded him.
"Rest assured."
Xue Ying smiled before flying off into the sky. He tore through the time-space tunnel and left the place.
However, Xue Ying was not in a rush to leave. Instead, he returned to the material realm Xia Clan world and left all the important treasures behind, like the 'Black Gourd', the 'Starting Ground talisman' and 'Blood Serpent Spear'. He planned to bring only some commonly used items. Even the weapon he brought was the deep violet spear which he got from the protectors of Ancestor Mother Religion. Even though it could not compare with the Blood Serpent Spear, it was sharp and firm enough.
He dared not bring highly valuable items; after all, there were too many unknown variables in the other cosmos. He was afraid of dying there and losing all the important items he had.
'Hu~'
The starry sky was quiet.
Xue Ying turned into a stream of light. He had easily passed through the array that the Bloodshed God-Emperor had set. Soon after, he arrived at the pitch-black cosmos passage. The gray fog was still rolling around the entrance.
'Let's have a look.' Xue Ying was filled with expectations. Following that, he flew into the cosmos passage.