Chapter Twelve: Gathering of the Mighty
In the outer space of Qianluo's dimension, the air was searing hot. Without the cultivation of the God-breaking stage or a flying treasure, entry was impossible. Moreover, dangers lurked everywhere here.
Traveling at high speeds, a head-on collision with a meteor could unleash the destructive force of a missile's explosion—such impact would overwhelm even a God-breaking cultivator.
Wuyun sighed deeply. Having left Luoshui Star, would Moonfall Hua and Xiao Qi heed his advice and strive to bear children? Why had he ever agreed to take on the dullest child as his disciple?
Hearing Wuyun’s concerns, Old Bear Third simply closed his eyes. He had always taken pride in being of the Thunder Bear clan, but the countless exotic beasts Wuyun casually mentioned all far outstripped his own race, by hundreds of thousands of times. Especially since Wuyun always spoke the truth!
“I don’t like hearing the truth. Could you at least tell a comforting lie?” Bear Third, vexed after seeing the cripple overtake Liu Ruyan, was agitated. The latter quickly changed his tune, “With an elder like me here, I’ll help you change your blood and renew your spirit—you’ll become a first-rank celestial beast, no doubt. Look, the treatment is working, see? It’s growing back a little!”
Bear Third could hardly breathe; whenever he grew angry, the other could always restrain him completely. Even when he deliberately exuded killing intent, it achieved nothing—on the contrary, he would only get a lecture!
Wuyun, like an old grandfather, saw right through the little black bear’s longing.
“Senior Wuyun, can you truly help me change my blood?”
“Mm. But in future, show me more respect. I’d rather die than suffer soft words!”
“Yes, yes!”
“Stop spending so many spirit stones—otherwise, that little woman from the Pagoda Sect won’t be able to keep up!”
“Yes, yes!”
They hurried along, soon arriving at the nearest massive meteor, where a cultivation sect was stationed. A gigantic, double-sided teleportation gate shimmered.
“Those bloodsuckers from the Multiverse Chamber of Commerce!” Bear Third muttered with pain, recalling his countless slaughters, yet when it came to spending his own money, he was instantly reluctant. He glared at Wuyun, threatening, “Did you get a token from the real mastermind behind the Multiverse Chamber?”
“Here,” Wuyun replied, “but taking it out will only bring you more trouble.”
These words made Bear Third hesitate, finally suppressing his impulse.
Reluctantly, he drew out heaps of high-grade spirit stones from his storage belt, handing them to the puppet sentry at the meteor’s formation. The puppet opened the array and guided them to the teleportation formation, where they waited for activation.
The barren platform was surrounded by emptiness; as soon as Wuyun stepped in, many familiar faces, gnashing their teeth, still greeted him.
The Eight Peak Chiefs were present, as were the former elders, stewards, and inner disciples of Sword Mountain Sect… Nearly all the core members were gathered here. When Bear Third appeared, a strong cultivator sneered, “Arriving so late—living must have gone to the dogs!”
Bear Third fumed, but before he could act, a huge humanoid puppet maintaining order rumbled, “You all know the rules of the Multiverse Chamber. Even if you ascend and leave this space, your debts will be tallied! Even if you die and your soul dissipates, it will still be collected!”
Bear Third aborted his move, put away his treasures, and stood with Wuyun atop a round dais.
“Senior Wuyun, save me!”
“Please, elder, save me…”
Seeing so many inner disciples and elders who had once listened to his lectures, Wuyun sighed. He wanted to plead with Bear Third, but the latter waved him off, “Don’t even think about it. Between you and me, there’s still the food chain!”
Wuyun waved his hand at the supplicants. “Saint Tyrant defied the heavens, inviting countless karmic retributions. When you joined, you were told the sect’s fall would mean your own. The fact that you’re still alive is already a stroke of fortune. On behalf of Sect Master Moonfall Hua, I permit you to pledge yourselves to other sects.”
“Tch, even with a bear’s paw hanging over your head, you still have the nerve to talk tough!” A cold, sarcastic voice sounded.
The speaker, an elder in white, stood tall—it was Ancestor Ming of Luoming Star, known for his kindness. Yet here he was, kicking someone when they were down.
Around them stood others who had stayed silent: Southern Heaven, the overlord of Luohe Star; the Seven-Colored Tree Demon of Luoqing Star; Thousand-Handed Poison of Luoyuan Star; Seven Strange Beasts of Luobei Star; and the Shapeshifter of Luoguang Star.
These were all paragons among paragons, masters at the peak of the God-breaking stage. How had they managed to band together?
“In those days, Saint Tyrant defied fate, seizing our treasures. Now the time for revenge has come. Any inner disciple or above from his sect will be forcibly divided among us thirteen as recompense for the bitter grudge!”
It was Ancestor Ming who spoke, his emotion intense, recounting how Saint Tyrant had stolen his treasured tome. He concluded, “I’ve always been known for my temperance, but this matter calls for an eye for an eye. Hmph!”
Judging by the others’ expressions, Wuyun had already surmised the reason: as long as Saint Tyrant was present, they kept their distance; but once he left this dimension or died, they would all emerge to take their revenge, then ascend with a clear conscience.
Some inner disciples were forcibly made servants or slaves. Southern Heaven, for instance, captured the Eight Peak Chiefs, cut off their ears, branded them, and prepared to take them back as slaves.
“You so-called strong ones, Saint Tyrant wronged you, yet none of you dared face him…”
“Let me ask you, what is the oath upon joining Sword Mountain Sect? ‘Once a disciple, always a son; to follow Saint Tyrant unto death, to glorify the sect.’ Not just the inner disciples—even the outer ones have been claimed by Lord Zhang of Luoyang Star to mine his planets!”
“Everything of Sword Mountain Sect, from the sect master down to every dog and cat, must be eradicated—or vengeance is not complete!”
The Seven-Colored Tree Demon of Luoqing Star spoke slowly; with each word, the Sword Mountain inner disciples hanging from his branches wailed. He had suffered most at Saint Tyrant’s hands, so his revenge was cruel—drawing blood slowly, tormenting them to death.
Wuyun swept a cold glance over the scene but said nothing. Liu Ruyan and the crippled Battle King appeared, seemingly well aware of the circumstances, quietly standing behind Bear Third.
“Hm?” Southern Heaven noticed the Pagoda Sect’s guardian beast affectionately crawling at Wuyun’s feet, puzzled. Still, Wuyun was, after all, the spoils of Bear Third and the others, so he did not comment, only asking, “What of Moonfall Hua and Xiao Qi, and the rest of the Black Forest Town remnants?”
Liu Ruyan sneered in silence, while the Battle King limped forward and snorted, “They’re mine—no one else can touch them!”
“Hmph, the Sevenfold Dynasty of Luoke Star has injured four of their prime ministers. Their king is preparing to come in person to investigate Saint Tyrant’s origins. He’s already on his way.”
By “on his way,” Southern Heaven referred to this teleportation array; all relied on it to travel swiftly between stars.
The most powerful dozen or so figures in Qianluo’s dimension exchanged veiled words, then turned their gazes to Wuyun. According to the Eight Peak Chiefs and other core members, after the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder descended, Saint Tyrant failed to withstand it but turned a demon cloud into a human—this person survived the lightning tribulation!
“Anyone connected to Saint Tyrant must not be spared! Even if it’s a cloud that gained sentience…”
Before the words were finished, the Flood Dragon Eagle, Bear Third, and the Seven-Colored Tree Demon all began to tremble violently!
These three demon beasts had already reached the limits of their physical bloodlines. For something to make them tremble—could it be that Saint Tyrant had returned?
Even the two branch presidents stationed here from the Multiverse Chamber of Commerce showed shock. Since the departure of their supreme president and secret guide, who had ascended after passing his tribulation, the Chamber had been in turmoil.
That mystery had begun the moment he left Luoshui Star, in a blazing rush, carrying the thunder tribulation, and used the teleportation array—resulting in the array now functioning only as a one-way path inward.