Chapter 1422: The Key to Victory or Defeat

Even Xu Zhi hadn't anticipated Tu Xin's terrifying nature; he was simply a monster. Tu Xin repeatedly turned desperate situations around, eventually approaching him.

He was like the protagonist in those novels. Step by step, he defied the heavens and carved his own path, achieving one impossible feat after another as if cheating. Amidst everyone's shock, he continuously created miracles, drawing closer to the ancient being on the old throne. Would he ultimately overthrow the incredible mastermind?

"But I'm just a behind-the-scenes cultivator," Xu Zhi said, dumbfounded. He felt somewhat wronged. He never fought; he always sought peaceful ways to make a living, quietly developing behind the scenes, building one supernatural world after another.

Yet, upon reflection, he wasn't entirely wronged, because he had been cultivating the entire cosmos, intending to completely consume it.

Was Xu Zhi the powerful figure who ruled the old era, corrupt and aloof, blocking the path of future sentient beings? Was he the final boss? Xu Zhi knew perfectly well that he was a newcomer; how could he be that old? His age was pitifully young, but Tu Xin and the Longevity Saint didn't know that. They had already speculated that he was an ancient prehistoric cosmic entity. Even the Longevity Saint from the old days was not as ancient as him.

The Longevity Realm appeared to be the most insidious and mysterious mastermind, but in reality, he, the ancient cosmic entity hidden in prehistory, was one of the ultimate masterminds of this universe. Although this was a fabricated prehistoric cosmic history created by Xu Zhi, they had begun to believe that prehistoric cosmic entities truly existed, using the "Cosmic Rain of Myriad Heavens and Worlds" to manipulate the current grand trend.

Xu Zhi glanced at the gazes around him. After hearing Tu Xin's words, their expressions became increasingly numb, surprised, and shocked. The scope of these two beings' actions was astonishing, and their battle was truly breathtaking. Ordinary people couldn't even comprehend the Eleventh Tier, but these two had already transcended realms, using the Eleventh Tier as a point of contention, and even beginning to master a portion of its power.

Xu Zhi observed the astonished looks around him. At that moment, they were amazed by Tu Xin's power and his "cheating" methods, which he genuinely deserved. However, Xu Zhi himself was not like that.

"I don't want to be this final boss, but I'll have to grit my teeth and do it," he thought. Xu Zhi felt a pang of dread, knowing he was being forced into this. "If I honestly tell the truth to clear myself, they won't believe me. But if I lie and admit I'm manipulating things, they'll show an expression of 'I knew it was you all along.'"

Xu Zhi weighed his options. Having been forced into this position by Tu Xin, he had no choice but to forcefully engage him. But to engage, he would have to completely perfect his miraculous martial art. Otherwise, he would be completely exposed without sufficient capabilities, and that would be truly awkward.

"I've been deducing one, and I still haven't figured it out, but Tu Xin has already deduced several..." Xu Zhi was pondering a countermeasure when, at that moment, another great collapse began.

The thirtieth regression felt like a qualitative change; its momentum was many times greater than before. Matter flowed back, and the universe collapsed. Tu Xin's gaze was sharp. He wasn't rushing to act but instead looked from afar at the vortex. "Theoretically, it's possible to be drawn into the singularity and survive, exploiting its flaws... But in reality, it requires an understanding of the Eleventh Tier of 'Singularity' to reach a sufficiently high level!"

He stood ready. Although he had experienced becoming a singularity in the previous instance and had gained a significant understanding of this realm, forcing himself to instantly reach such an advanced level was still a great challenge. Tu Xin's voice was cold as he softly said, "This time, I'm not in a hurry. I can wait, continue transforming into a singularity, resist from the outside, and continue observing and studying... After all, once I enter the singularity, if I don't succeed, I'll surely die." He never fought a battle he wasn't confident in winning! Since his energy could still hold out for several more attempts, he would use all his energy, enduring until he could no longer sustain it, thereby accumulating enough experience before entering the singularity.

With a whoosh—

The great collapse fully commenced. As the singularity returned, Tu Xin began to skillfully transform into an ultra-small singularity, resisting from outside the main singularity, circling it like a satellite. Xu Zhi didn't hesitate either and, like Tu Xin, transformed into a singularity, becoming a satellite orbiting nearby.

"Are you still pretending?" Tu Xin saw this scene involving Emperorzun and sneered, "Whatever progress I make, you follow? How cunning. You're not letting me see your true method of evasion, to prevent me from comprehending it."

Emperorzun ignored Tu Xin and instead began to ponder, watching the singularity continue to collapse. He maintained his resisting posture, silently waiting for the singularity to collapse and shrink to its limit. If Tu Xin broke through, it would mean he would enter a dead end. While Tu Xin was still getting acquainted with the situation, he needed to find a solution, as he would soon be forced into a direct confrontation.

"My miraculous martial art, the nine universes in my hands, that's my winning card. I intended it that way from the start," Xu Zhi murmured softly, his expression incredibly solemn. "But how to compress these nine universes within my body and transform them into the nine internal spaces of the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Art? This problem is too complex and remains unsolved." He was not Tu Xin; he had no new insights into pioneering this path, which was unprecedented.

"However, I've also had some ideas. Tu Xin reminded me... The singularity is the power of the Eleventh Tier, the ultimate power of the universe. I can also enter the singularity with him and observe, learning the methods he proposed!" Xu Zhi pondered. This was a very practical problem. The singularity was the universe's strongest power, the Eleventh Tier! Just as Tu Xin had stated, if he could survive within it, he would gain a terrifying understanding of the singularity. Spiritually, he would already be equivalent to the Eleventh Tier; all that would be lacking was a breakthrough in physical manifestation.

If Xu Zhi, while inside, also reached the Eleventh Tier on a spiritual level, achieving an omniscient and omnipotent state, the power of this realm would be enough to perfect his cultivation technique. If he still couldn't perfect it? Then there was only one answer. The Nine Revolutions Mysterious Art he proposed was fundamentally impossible to complete!

"It's worth a try. Tu Xin is striving to become an Eleventh Tier on a spiritual level, and what about me? I can also strive to become an Eleventh Tier in terms of spiritual realm..." Xu Zhi stared intently at the singularity before him. He was extremely confident in this aspect. When it came to deducing new paths, as a pioneer and forerunner, his talent might not match Tu Xin's. However, for existing paths, by cultivating along the paths Tu Xin had opened up, his learning ability would definitely surpass Tu Xin's. He could even refine Tu Xin's crude cultivation techniques based on his own vast knowledge base, improving upon them. He was practically another Emperor Qi, learning and then surpassing.

"Tu Xin, you might die because you talk too much. If you must blame someone, blame yourself for revealing the realm you pioneered to me," Xu Zhi's voice was low, his gaze fixed on the singularity.