Chapter 1453: Hidden

“We lie on the ground, secretly cultivating. Once Tu Xin defeats the Emperor, or if they both suffer severe injuries, we will make our move, ensuring a decisive victory.”

Zhi Zhu said softly, confidently, “He took 100 million years, which included the time spent deducing the realm. It’s impossible for us to take that long to learn it now. We have gathered the most astonishing geniuses and extraordinary talents in the universe, but it will still definitely take several millennia to break through to the next realm!”

Everyone nodded, deeply understanding as they discussed the new “battle plan.”

The more profound the cosmic realm, the longer it takes to master. Even with the combined strength of all the universe’s powerful figures, learning and deducing together, it would still take at least several millennia. If it were an individual life form, even with wisdom surpassing human limits and billions of years, there might not even be a one percent chance of deducing and comprehending the ultimate skill realm of that universe. The later the stage, the harder it is to cultivate.

“And clearly, a few millennia is not enough time for us,” Zhi Zhu continued. “However, we have Ren Jiu. He has recovered somewhat, and he can still accelerate time for us to cover several millennia in a short period.”

Zhi Zhu stated, “Who else can do this besides us? Even the Emperor cannot. We control the three supreme rules of the universe. We are unique, understand? Only we can learn it on the fly! It’s utterly impossible for anyone else!”

Everyone’s spirits were instantly lifted, sensing the perfect precision of this strategy.

“So that’s how it is!”

Several Insectoid Matriarchs were utterly terrified of this old monster. Under such circumstances, he could still devise such a devious and meticulously detailed plan, even keeping them in the dark about it beforehand. No wonder, in the old days, he, though seemingly the weakest of the three, managed to secure victory.

Zhi Zhu then calmly added, “From the very beginning, I never placed all my hopes on you... because your insectoids are too stagnant. Even evolving into ultimate life forms, you might not win! So I kept a contingency plan. I placed my hope in Tu Xin. I secretly observed his past battles and his defiant progress. In such a short time, he has constantly deduced singularities and opened new realms.”

He continued, “If he can achieve such astonishing progress in such a short time, and we happen to control the power of time, what if we give him another 100 million years? He will certainly deduce several more new realms. This way, he might have the combat power to directly confront the Emperor! And at the same time, we can secretly learn his new combat power and then constantly grow stronger. This is the path to victory!”

Everyone’s expressions instantly filled with astonishment, their minds blank. This was the true Lord of the Immortal Realm? His calculations and combat genius were simply astounding!

He had set the plan from the very beginning: Ren Jiu’s actions, the Insectoid Matriarchs’ movements, and even Tu Xin’s presence were deliberately orchestrated as part of his plan! Everything, up to this point, had secretly unfolded according to his scheme!

This way, they would master power on par with Tu Xin. Even if a sudden ambush couldn’t kill him, being in the same realm meant neither could truly defeat the other. They would return to the previous stalemate: both they and Tu Xin could wait for the era to arrive and break through to the eleventh stage, at least securing a stable, non-losing outcome.

Only at this moment did everyone truly witness the terrifying clash of these magnificent beings, arguably the most astonishing in the universe! The Emperor and Zhi Zhu, though perhaps stagnant in some ways, their talents still shone brilliantly, fully displayed even in desperate crises. A battle of wits and courage! It was so astonishing and full of twists that they gasped in horror.

Generations of Insectoid Matriarchs, and indeed, all the heroic figures from throughout the cosmos, immediately began to communicate.

“So cunning and treacherous. The Emperor, being so honorable and upright, will probably be ensnared and perish... Tu Xin will painstakingly defeat the Emperor, and then we will step in and reap the benefits.”

“Speaking of which, the Emperor is really quite pathetic.”

“Indeed. First, the Insectoid Matriarchs played dirty, secretly learning his martial arts and stealing his power core... Now it’s the Lord of the Immortal Realm’s turn to play dirty, constantly learning Tu Xin’s methods and secretly dealing a heavy blow to the Emperor!”

“The Emperor truly is honorable and upright, but such a person! Facing enemies who use dirty, despicable, and insidious tactics is extremely difficult and constantly damaging.”

In their hearts, they felt immense respect and profound emotion. The Emperor, the hidden manipulator of the ancient universe, the prehistoric deity who monopolized their future and blocked their path to breakthrough, now, for the first time, evoked genuine admiration due to his adversary’s personal charisma.

Honorable and upright. Preferring to die with honor, never yielding to the harsh winds. They seemed to vaguely perceive a powerful, proud entity disdaining schemes and tricks, confronting formidable and treacherous foes who repeatedly stabbed him in the back, yet still fighting honorably and fiercely. This being’s unwavering integrity, pure and clear soul, and eternally uncorrupted clear Dao heart were perhaps the reasons he could constantly push his potential and break through his limits.

They suddenly remembered the Insectoid Matriarch’s earlier words, filled with profound emotion:

“I admire your integrity and bravery; there has never been anyone like you! Who isn’t cunning and treacherous, secretly plotting against others? Only you are honorable and upright, allowing your opponents to grow to their peak before engaging them in battle!”

“Unfortunately... such integrity as yours won’t last long!”

“Heroes always become martyrs!”

Suddenly, they looked, their gazes filled with respect. The Emperor was still bathed in blood, his body shattered, relentlessly battling Tu Xin. However, despite their admiration, they remained shattered into countless particles, drifting apart in the heavens and earth, pretending to be dead, utterly still, fearing they might attract attention.

“Hurry and deduce! That fool Ren Jiu truly exhausted himself. He’s only just barely recovered, and can only accelerate time by a little over two thousand years. Time is too short,” Zhi Zhu urged all the heroic figures from ancient cosmic history to unite and diligently learn and deduce this cultivation method.

Crashing blows erupted! Tu Xin ceaselessly threw punches, his blood boiling, roaring loudly, “What else are you hiding? Or is this truly all you are capable of? If so, you disappoint me greatly!”

The Emperor continuously exploded into endless smoke, only to re-condense. Yet, from beginning to end, he showed no power to resist, as if being struck like a pitiful sandbag, unable to match the opponent’s speed or even discern their movements.

With a thunderous crash, the Emperor accelerated his disintegration.

But the Emperor vaguely felt a vast amount of knowledge converging in his mind. “Zhi Zhu is truly insidious! He was already hiding on the fourth layer, and even I didn’t detect his treachery. If I didn’t have an insider... I fear that according to his normal plan, we would all be completely played to death by him. What a terrifying individual...”

The Emperor exploded again, flying backward, teetering on the brink of death. But a strange aura was slowly burgeoning. The Emperor slowly rose again, his body shattered. Though minute, an unimaginable power seemed to be sprouting, like a tender shoot emerging from the soil. From his shattered form, amidst the vast mist, a pair of bright pupils emerged, within which a cycle of reincarnation seemed to spin.

Tu Xin paused slightly, his gaze sharpening. He strode forward rapidly.

“You’ve broken through... No, you truly have been hiding, deliberately acting that way all along, just like before.”