Chapter 728: The journey is the starry sea

Six Paths of Reincarnation.

The Underworld.

Black lightning streaked across the overcast sky. Endless vortices swirled above, encircling a colossal, mysterious, and intricately designed wheel of the Six Paths of Reincarnation, adorned with delicate black patterns, suspended high above.

Now, several hundred years had passed.

As Xu Zhi's Celestial Emperor realm continuously advanced, the land of the Six Paths within his inner space expanded wildly, and the number of reincarnated beings grew to five million "magic cubes." These were now five million "Cthulhu Evil God" reincarnation mechs.

"This is the Underworld?""Ah! That's the Stone of Three Lives!"

On the Bridge of Helplessness, an endless queue of beings stretched far into the distance, a long human river composed of countless souls who had died in the Six Paths. The heavenly wheel of reincarnation vibrated violently.

Upon the ethereal imperial throne in the Hall of Reincarnation, a slender, dark-haired figure sat silently, high above. Their eyes seemed like two swirling vortexes of reincarnation, drawing in everything from the world.

"Your Majesty." Shangguan Man bowed slightly.

The majestic voice of the Underworld Judge of Reincarnation resonated, stating coldly, "There is an anomaly in the heavens and earth. A colossal, terrifying demon has been discovered outside our realm, hovering in the void fissures among the myriad worlds."

A memory sequence, like a fleeting glimpse, appeared in the minds of all the powerful beings in the Underworld: Black and White Impermanence, Ox-Head and Horse-Face, Judge Cui, Lady Meng, Cat Jumper...

"This...!?""What kind of creature is this?!"They beheld the terrifying behemoth, their minds profoundly shaken. Instantly, a storm of shock erupted. Even Lady Meng, who had visited other cosmic worlds and seen massive planets that were living beings, had never encountered such a terrifying super-life form. Not to mention Black and White Impermanence and the others; their understanding of the world was completely overturned. Witnessing that incredibly vast and terrifying super-cosmic life form made their brains reel as if the world were collapsing.

"Your Majesty, how can there be such a terrifying creature in this world? Even if it's vast, it's far larger than the combined lands of all Six Paths, isn't it?" Lady Meng couldn't help but ask.

"Far larger" was an understatement. They felt that the combined lands of all Six Paths might not even amount to one percent of its size! This was simply horrifying.

"A behemoth comparable to a world, or even unimaginably larger—this is an outer-realm demon," the Underworld Judge of Reincarnation said calmly from his high seat. "But there's no need to be surprised. Such a massive life form is merely at the Celestial Emperor realm."

Everyone was greatly astonished. "Merely... a Celestial Emperor?"

The Underworld Judge of Reincarnation remained perfectly calm: "This race of cosmic demons is incredibly large, but their lifespan is not particularly long—around 1,700 years."

The officials below exchanged glances. "1,700 years?""Was that considered short?"That was equivalent to the lifespan of more than two Celestial Emperors. Perhaps, for the Underworld Judge of Reincarnation, whose lifespan stretched across ancient eras, it was indeed a very short period.

"The myriad worlds are vast and unfathomable. Even the most ancient prehistoric great beings cannot measure one in a quadrillion of their lands. The immensity of the myriad worlds implies infinite possibilities. Naturally, some beings will have lifespans different from ours, either slightly longer or slightly shorter," Xu Zhi said. He had only noticed this after secretly observing the giant octopus. Previously, other than Earthlings, there were only the beings of the Zerg sandbox. Without comparison, he hadn't noticed. Now, he realized that the Zerg race's lifespan was naturally different from other races. The lifespan of a Zerg Celestial Emperor was 800 years. Based on Xu Zhi's observation of the octopus's cell decay cycle, this creature's Celestial Emperor lifespan was approximately 2,000 years. True to the Zerg, they reproduce quickly and have short lifespans. Of course, currently, there were too few races for comparison, so the true specifics remained unknown.

"But, Your Majesty, are we to wage war against such a terrifying outer-realm demon?!" Below, Lady Meng stepped forward and asked respectfully. In truth, their hearts churned with apprehension. Even if this terrifying octopus creature was only a Celestial Emperor, it was likely the strongest Celestial Emperor in history. At the same level, a giant whale could crush an ant! Yet, before their very eyes, His Majesty intended to wage war against this ancient, mysterious behemoth? They didn't doubt His Majesty's terrifying power, but they harbored reservations about their own capabilities.

Of course, over the years, though they couldn't ascend to the Divine realm, countless powerful beings had been stuck at the Seventh-tier Celestial Emperor level, leading to a proliferation of Celestial Emperors throughout the world, to the point where they were commonplace. In this era where Celestial Emperors were as common as dogs, a stronger combat power assessment naturally emerged within the Celestial Emperor realm: the Great Sage.

One who could fight ten ordinary Celestial Emperors was a Primary Great Sage.One who could fight twenty ordinary Celestial Emperors was an Intermediate Great Sage.One who could fight thirty ordinary Celestial Emperors was a High Great Sage.One who could fight fifty ordinary Celestial Emperors was a Grand Accomplished Sage.

The previous Cloud Emperor, by converging all his talents, achieved over a hundredfold combat power, practically redefining the upper limit of a Celestial Emperor's strength. This showed how deeply this world had researched and how powerful its combat capabilities were within the Celestial Emperor realm! Many terrifying Great Sages of the current era possessed heaven-defying combat power. Some terrifying Great Sages even directly enslaved many Celestial Emperors, using them as sedan bearers for travel, as shoe-carrying servants, or as household attendants. It was a scene of great prosperity. Especially in the Dark Forbidden Zone, the Human-Head Tree, cultivated by the Underworld Judge of Youshan over the years, possessed indescribably exaggerated combat power. Below him, there were also Li Sansheng, the Daoist of a Hundred Lifetimes; Xu Yingluo, the Buddhist Saint; and Bodhisattva Taketori... One after another, terrifying, supreme Great Sages were campaigning in the Dark Forbidden Zone, marking an era of true flourishing.

"You underestimate us too much." The Underworld Judge of Reincarnation stood up, his expression utterly natural, exuding an inherent sense of dominance. "Even if none have broken through to the Divine realm, by treading another extreme path, constantly nurturing and refining our foundations, our world possesses the most powerful Celestial Emperors! Our world possesses the most potent ancient god bloodlines! You have never seen the life forms of other worlds, so you simply assume we are weak. You don't realize that our bloodlines are powerful to the extreme."

*Step!* Xu Zhi slowly descended the steps of the imperial throne, one deliberate and powerful step at a time. "The beings of our world are born with terrifying talents. Do not mistake my subjects for being merely Seventh-tier Celestial Emperors; their talents are unimaginable even for Eighth-tier Gods... The bloodline that distorts laws is a power that only the Ninth-tier can secretly wield."

The Celestial Emperors present were filled with astonishment. Even though they were only Celestial Emperors, their talent bloodlines were beyond the reach of Eighth-tier Gods, involving the unseen power of the Ninth-tier...?

Only Cat Jumper, hidden in the crowd, knew this fact. It was indeed so. Talents were disabled law phenomena connected to the path of the Ninth-tier. This extraordinary world, despite its highest-ranking Celestial Emperors, seemed like a backward civilization from the most primitive wizarding era, crude and undeveloped... But in reality? Its foundation was unfathomable. Talents were actually quite similar to the Three Pillar Gods' arcane arts. They were akin to an innate, born-with arcane art. However, they were ultimately a notch below the Three Pillar Gods' ancient lava land. After all, the talents in this world were innate and could not be further cultivated, making them a type of companion arcane art. In contrast, the Three Pillar Gods' arcane arts could be learned later and continuously developed. A powerful arcanist could be said to be a sorcerer who had mastered several types of talents. However, a Celestial Emperor involving Ninth-tier rules was like a cheat code. They might not necessarily be unable to defeat that ordinary Celestial Emperor, even with its super colossal size...

Cat Jumper, curled up in the shadows, felt a chill run down his spine. "This Underworld Judge of Reincarnation clearly intends to seize this opportunity to stir up trouble, planning to capitalize on the war between the three worlds to 'fish in troubled waters' and thoroughly ambush Di Qi from behind! With their talents, and the powerful beings in this world frantically pushing the limits of the Celestial Emperor realm, who knows how monstrous these Celestial Emperors have become at this stage... Unless this Celestial Emperor octopus also has a Ninth-tier being from the ancient era supporting it... Even if not a Ninth-tier being, at least a civilization that has embarked on the Ninth-tier path would be needed to provide the preliminary means of distorting laws... Otherwise, this group of monstrous Celestial Emperors might swarm it and tear it to death... Too shameless!" Cat Jumper kept thinking, his heart pounding.

"Everyone, do not be agitated." The Underworld Judge of Reincarnation calmly stated, "Prepare for some time, then we will immediately open the passage and enter the war. This time, the entrance will still be in a certain realm of the Deva Path."

As his voice fell, the entire Underworld erupted. As ghost officials of the Underworld, their true names were tied to reincarnation. Even if they died outside, they would return to the Underworld, having no fear of death. Only if the cycle of reincarnation itself was partially shattered, as in the ancient primordial era, and their true names completely destroyed, would they face true death.

Cat Jumper curled up in the shadows, goosebumps rising on his skin. He quietly posted online:

"Brothers, this is bad! Just as Di Qi is about to engage the Three Pillar Gods for the second time, a fourth world power has entered the fray, preparing to raid Di Qi's backyard!!"

"What the f*ck?!""What the f*ck?!"The entire network exploded. All players of the Reincarnation World online game were stunned. This was too devious.

Now, after several days, how many batches of PVP server players had entered? In the Animal Path, they had already established a vast online game world. Sects and cities had spontaneously formed a perfect small society. On the streets, there were sect leaders recruiting new members, merchants selling and trading, auction houses, immortal cultivation caves, artifact forging associations, and even immortal mahjong parlors, as well as various other entertainment facilities. There were even recognized "red-name" evil organizations that killed to seize treasures, constantly being hunted down by others. As for cultivation? Many hardcore players, dedicated to grinding, had already reached near max level. Currently, the max level was 79, the peak of a Seventh-tier Celestial Emperor. Many top players were around level 71, with the fastest one already at level 79, beginning to enhance their combat power, hoping to achieve the exaggerated combat strength of a Great Sage as an ordinary peak Celestial Emperor. Of course, they were all single-profession cultivators. Most dual-profession cultivators were still around level 60.

Even the Deva Path and Human Path were astonished by these strange beings. All they did was cultivate, apart from eating. It was incredibly dry and boring, yet they persevered. Despite the significant difference in time flow rates between the Animal Path and their other two realms (the Animal Path's time flow rate was only comparable to the wizarding community), they weren't far behind. Even they had to marvel at the Animal Path's prosperity.

"Holy crap, Cat Jumper, you spy, well done!""This is clearly the start of a new main quest!""Brothers, a new dungeon has opened! Charge! Raid Di Qi's backyard, storm Di Qi's rear!""Let's fight the giant octopus!""The Fourth Great Calamity has finally mobilized! We're going to take on Di Qi, hahahaha!"

The forces of top sects swiftly formed alliances, and various sects began deploying war materials. This was clearly a world boss, and the entire world was going to besiege it. The entire online community erupted in excitement. They had thought that this time, they would quietly watch as several world-level powerhouses began a terrifying war. Who knew it would be their turn to participate? Raid Di Qi's rear! Truly the Reincarnation World, an online game world for players! They were highly motivated, their faces flushed with excitement! They imagined Di Qi, brimming with confidence, thinking his vault was secure, yet on the other side, it was being plundered...

As the Animal Path stirred, the powerful beings of the Deva Path and Human Path gradually learned of the situation, becoming greatly surprised.

"The Underworld is going to wage war outside the realm?""It's both an opportunity and a huge crisis.""We are not like the beings of the Underworld who can resurrect. If we truly die, we will genuinely only enter the Underworld for reincarnation, to be at their mercy." After all, they were different; they only had one life, and no one wanted to enter the Underworld. "But it is still an opportunity. If we don't go...""Fortune favors the bold.""It might even be a blatant scheme by the Underworld, to put us in danger so that if we die, we enter their Underworld."

One powerful being after another conversed, and even in the Dark Forbidden Zone, countless titans were awakening. Not long after, in the Burning Heavens of the Deva Realm, a thunderous boom resounded, as if a realm from beyond had opened. Endless vacuum pressure outside swept across the land, drawing away all the air from the entire area.

Countless Celestial Emperor level powerhouses rushed into it. This was a vast, infinitely brilliant, vacuum cosmic world. Ordinary creatures entering here would likely not survive for long. Only cosmic cultivators who practiced radiation and true qi methods could perfectly adapt to this environment.

"Brothers, charge with me!" A group of players brandished their long blades and rushed forward.

The Underworld Judge of Reincarnation stood calmly in the distance. "Reincarnation, originally a mechanical battle armor formed by my magic cubes, was always my exclusive Zerg personal guard... This is effectively their first battle, a training exercise." And those players, mingling among the Zerg's exclusive personal guard, were harmless.

*Whoosh!*

A sun hung suspended in the vast cosmos, emitting endless light and heat. As they drew closer, terrifying radiation waves made them feel as if they were bathing in golden sunlight. In the distance, a colossal octopus, the color of a dark meteorite, slowly circled in the sky, extending its tentacles. It seemed to transform into an arced dome, adopting a Dyson Sphere form, siphoning energy from the entire sun.

Suddenly, the octopus's hundreds of eyes slowly rotated. It had already spotted the peculiar ant-like creatures charging through the starry sky. First, there was endless confusion, then immense rage. The octopus's tentacles suddenly spread out, sweeping towards those laughable ants.