Chapter 1017: Contest of Strength

On the yellowish-brown crystal land of the white dwarf star, fallen enlightened beings descended in secret.

The Three Pillar Gods also transformed into three humanoid youths, mingling among several already infected enlightened beings as they descended onto this land.

"The contact should be here," the Three Pillar Gods murmured with a smile, surveying the market. As expected, a man with ferocious, pointed horns had been waiting for quite some time.

This was the market leader Caroline and her companions had met previously. While others had gone to besiege and delve into the cave labyrinth, he remained stationed here.

"Welcome, everyone," he said with a smile, stepping forward to greet them.

The Three Pillar Gods offered a faint smile.

A moment later, a demonic core had also sprouted in the mind of this being, which was now briefing them on the current situation.

Such was the horrifying infectious power of the Three Pillar Gods.

Anyone with significantly lower combat power would be forcibly infected and assimilated.

"These beings are much larger than us," the Three Pillar Gods chuckled. "The demonic cores on our bodies, each like a human head, seem no bigger than an ant. Now, the demonic cores formed from these colossal beings will likely be unimaginably vast. If they grow any larger, they could rival the cosmos!"

"Rival the cosmos?" the Beast Pillar God mused with a slight smile. "That is indeed possible, but they cannot expand any further. Any more growth in their cellular flesh structure would lead to collapse."

Just like an elephant, a flesh-and-blood creature whose spine and leg muscles can only support a certain size—what if it were tenfold larger?

Its spine would fracture, fascia would rupture, and cells would collapse under the pressure.

Similarly, the size limit for carbon-based life is akin to a giant octopus. They only managed to achieve their current size by acquiring the Machine Pillar God and pseudo-iron-based genes.

Otherwise, in combat, they would be utterly immobile—a mere heap of bloated, rotting flesh instantly obliterated.

This was the Three Pillar Gods' advantage: infinity.

Infinite size, infinite genes, infinite races...

Even their opponents were part of their own infinite nature, an incredibly preposterous and terrifying system.

However, they also had reservations, having observed the memories of this individual in charge.

"As expected, this fallen civilization is quite mysterious behind the scenes," they mused. "Terrifying entities are leading it, making them willingly submit. Among their high-ranking members, there's even a platform for exchanging various mysterious treasures..."

"Among these treasures is the 'Cloud Star Dao Fruit,' which these fallen enlightened beings covet. After a normal Ninth-tier breakthrough, they cannot recultivate and consolidate their genes, leading to a 'closure.' However, this miraculous item allows an enlightened being to temporarily break that closure and recultivate their previous genes. Though it's only temporary, it offers hope for recultivating and perfecting their genes."

They exchanged information.

They gleaned significant information from these enlightened beings.

Ninth-tiers with incomplete Dao foundations possess various methods to perfect their foundations, cultivate the four perfected genes, and thus gain the opportunity to advance to the Weak Tenth-tier.

The first method is to seize the Dao seeds integrated by other Weak Tenth-tiers. These seeds, representing half-genes cultivated within the body, are assimilated, allowing them to follow the original cultivator's path.

The second method involves miraculous natural treasures that can enable Ninth-tiers to perfect their Dao foundations. After all, the universe is vast and full of unimaginable wonders.

"This type of natural treasure, capable of distorting laws, likely originates from a specific race," the humanoid Pillar God remarked. "For instance, the Elemental Heart we see now is derived from the remains of an elemental race."

"Are you suggesting the Cloud Star Dao Fruit is produced by some kind of plant-based life form?" the Humanoid Pillar God chuckled. "It appears that anyone capable of controlling such a rare biological resource and consistently producing such wondrous treasures... must be quite formidable. To challenge a powerful civilization like the Abyssal Blue Divine Realm, they must also possess immense courage."

"Haha, we don't need to concern ourselves with that," they responded. "Our objective is simply to enter and besiege them. We must be cautious; our combat power isn't invincible, and other true powerhouses are likely to descend. We need to keep a low profile."

At this point, they no longer dared to act rashly.

Soon, they entered the tomb and began to merge with the main forces. There, they witnessed terrifying powerhouses so potent their hearts trembled, causing them to hide even deeper among the other enlightened beings.

"We are to besiege them," the person in charge, veiled in divine light, declared. "As for the three Abyssal Blue Heavenly Venerates? Our master will handle them." This individual's energy level was astonishingly over 50!

A monster!

The Three Pillar Gods concealed themselves even more thoroughly.

Their own energy level, having devoured several disabled 0.4 ordinary Ninth-tiers, was just over 3—the equivalent power of three complete enlightened beings. Yet, their opponent's energy level was comparable to fifty complete Ninth-tier enlightened beings.

The opponent's true power far surpassed their imagination.

"You may call me Juxiao," the leader stated. "Follow me. We already have a secret method for pinpointing their location." Under his guidance, dozens of beings slowly set off.

As Juxiao walked, he calmly remarked, "I hear nearly ten thousand Ninth-tier enlightened beings have also descended here. It's quite bizarre... truly astonishing."

"Nearly ten thousand? How is that possible?!" a fallen enlightened being nearby exclaimed, his face filled with disbelief. That number was astronomical.

"Many incredibly mysterious civilizations in the universe are beyond your imagination," Juxiao said with a smile. "Their bodies are very small, yet they are quantum life forms—extremely strange and unpredictable, capable of gathering and dispersing into solid forms. If we get the chance, we can try to capture them alive. Our superiors will offer ample rewards, such as... the Cloud Star Dao Fruit and the Divine Ring Lock!"

At his words, everyone's breathing quickened.

Many of those present had cultivated their own descendants, integrating genes identical to their own with extremely high compatibility. They would then seize the Dao seeds. With a lifespan of a hundred thousand years, theoretically, encountering a talented individual with decent aptitude would be enough to allow them to cultivate to the Weak Tenth-tier.

As long as a certain restriction—the Divine Ring Lock—was placed, the individual could not betray them.

And this Divine Ring Lock... was the key to their breakthrough!

They had also heard of many who had advanced to the Weak Tenth-tier using this method. These two treasures offered immense hope.

"We heard you were looking for us?"

Just then, a tiny white figure nearby, carrying a camera, spoke up: "We're not hard to find. Ladies and gentlemen, could you spare a moment for an interview? We are war correspondents. We heard you're about to launch a civilization-wide war."

War correspondents?

Juxiao was utterly stunned.

Civilizations across the universe were bizarre and varied.

But in this world, such a civilization existed?

The Three Pillar Gods' expressions also shifted. Hearing "quantum life" and "small size" earlier, they had already deduced it was these individuals. They hadn't expected them to show up here just to join the fun.

A few players winked at the Three Pillar Gods.

After all, the Three Pillar Gods were their allies.

The Three Pillar Gods, in turn, felt very uncomfortable observing them.

This was a level 50 monster. Were they truly asking for trouble by provoking an existence of this caliber?

"You are war correspondents?" Juxiao's face turned cold. With a casual grasp, the opponent instantly burst apart, and 'Carefree Roam' teleported away.

"Trying to flee?" Juxiao sneered. "Quantum particles, as the smallest particles, navigate the gaps within any matter. But they are not uncatchable. If a spell's density reaches that of a neutron star, forming a net with no gaps, it can capture you quantum 'fish'!"

He gently extended his hand and grasped.

An invisible dark curtain instantly enveloped the opponent, leaving no room for escape.

Yet, Juxiao frowned. "Self-destructed? What an outlandish system. Utterly nonsensical."

At that moment, however, the Three Pillar Gods noticed a small television inexplicably and quietly appear in their hands, displaying what seemed to be some form of transaction information.