At the center of the world, within the hidden realm—
The many figures stared at the scene within the projected image, their minds momentarily blank.
Even as Sect Masters of the Eternal Sects, witnessing this moment left their minds empty, unable to react for quite some time.
Just one sword stroke had swept clean an entire region of all 'Demons', including a Source Demon.
This level of power?
Taking down Great Demons and Giant Demons was one thing—
But even a Source Demon had crumbled under that single strike?
That was a Source Demon!
A being whose strength surpassed that of Eternal Sons.
Even the Eternal Sects would have to expend considerable resources to kill just one Source Demon.
After the Demon Calamity, most Source Demons had gathered at the center of the world, but a few still slumbered in the outer regions.
"That wasn't an illusion."
"Just now, I used an Eternal Treasure to observe the world. That terrifying strike just now really happened—it matched the sword from the image."
At that moment, one of the Eternal Sect Masters let out a deep breath and spoke with a grave tone.
The so-called Eternal Treasures were thirteenth-rank weapons—left behind by the Eternal Lords to serve as a Sect's foundation.
"Unbelievable…"
"Rivaling a Source Demon? This is what you call rivaling?"
"How could such a powerful cultivator even exist in this world?"
Moments later, the figures finally recovered.
Although they had only seen the strike through the communication rune, and the experience was vague—
Not being there in person meant it could have been some kind of illusion.
But at the same time—
Each of their Eternal Treasures had sensed, at nearly the same moment, an unimaginably terrifying strike erupting in that direction.
It basically confirmed the image as real.
"The power of that attack was nearly equal to our Sects' strongest blows using our full foundations."
The Sect Master of the Eternal Immeasurable Sect spoke softly, his expression filled with disbelief.
Even when channeling the full might of their foundations, they could barely match that level—
And doing so came with a cost. Once used, their treasures were diminished.
But Lin Yuan?
It was impossible to tell how much of his strength had gone into that one sword—
But clearly, he paid no price for it.
From the start of the strike to its end,
Lin Yuan's aura remained steady, completely unaffected.
Meaning, this was a repeatable move.
At most, it consumed more energy.
Compared to a one-time blow from an Eternal Sect's strongest technique, this was beyond comprehension.
"A cultivator this powerful…"
Many of the Eternal Sect leaders were visibly stirred.
Since the great upheaval of heaven and earth, they had fallen into a sort of despair.
The 'Demons' were endless. The Demon God overlooked all from above.
Even the Eternal Sects saw little hope.
They were merely dragging out survival.
But now, in Lin Yuan—they saw hope for the first time.
With such strength—while perhaps not invincible below the Demon God—
He could still wipe out the vast majority of Source Demons with ease.
Compared to the excitement in the secret realm of the Eternal Sects, the silver-eyed man and the other two Eternal Envoys on site were trembling in both body and soul.
That sword Lin Yuan unleashed wasn't even aimed at them—yet just watching it left them shaken to their core.
"Too strong…"
The silver-eyed man's heart trembled.
He had thought Lin Yuan's strength perhaps rivaled a Source Demon—
But now? It went far beyond that.
They had just witnessed a Source Demon dissolve under that one strike.
The other two Eternal Envoys weren't doing much better.
The pressure Lin Yuan exerted on them was almost equal to that of the Eternal Treasures in their Sects.
"Well?"
With both hands behind his back, Lin Yuan looked toward the image projected by the green communication rune.
Not long ago, the Yang Primordial Spirit had scouted this area and discovered a slumbering Source Demon.
But with only his two Primordial Spirits and incarnations, it was difficult to ensure success in suppressing a Source Demon.
One incarnation of Lin Yuan could match a Source Demon; the Yin and Yang Primordial Spirits were even stronger.
But defeating a Source Demon was one thing—suppressing it was another matter entirely.
Suppression was far harder than defeat—
Especially since Lin Yuan wanted to suppress it instantly.
If dragged out, it might alert other Source Demons—or even the Demon God.
So this time, Lin Yuan had chosen to act with his true body, wiping out the Source Demon and the surrounding Demons and Giant Demons in one move.
"No problem."
"We'll send all rune inheritances and intelligence regarding the 'Demons' to you immediately."
From the other side of the image, the Sect Master of the Eternal Immeasurable Sect responded decisively.
None of the other Eternal Sect Masters objected.
What objections could they possibly have?
Now that such a powerful cultivator had appeared on their side—
Even if Lin Yuan hadn't agreed to fight the Source Demons, they would have handed over their rune inheritances anyway—
All in hopes of increasing his chances of becoming an Eternal Lord.
Because if Lin Yuan could become an Eternal Lord, he could sweep away all the 'Demons' from this world.
The three Eternal Envoys—including the silver-eyed man—stood respectfully to the side.
At this moment, they too realized how important Lin Yuan was—
Perhaps he was the key to ending the Demon Calamity that had ravaged the world.
Dozens of breaths later—
The Eternal Immeasurable Sect and the other Eternal Sects transmitted all of their rune inheritance, including those left by Eternal Lords, through the green communication rune to Lin Yuan.
They also sent all their knowledge of the 'Demons'—
Especially intel on the Demon God.
"How should we address you?"
The Sect Master of the Eternal Immeasurable Sect asked respectfully.
In this world, strength ruled all.
With Lin Yuan's power, even in a time when Eternal Lords could not act due to the Demon Calamity—
He still ranked just below them.
Even before the great upheaval, he would have stood just beneath the Eternal Lords.
So the Sect Masters naturally treated him with the utmost respect.
Strength was everything.
With Lin Yuan's current combat strength—even an Eternal Son might not last a single move.
As for the Eternal Lords? They wouldn't intervene in matters below the third realm of Freedom.
And based on the strength Lin Yuan had shown, his chances of becoming an Eternal Lord far surpassed anyone else's.
Even the Eternal Lords would want to form good ties with him.
"Call me Milky Way."
Lin Yuan replied casually.
Milky Way—his name in the chaotic void, and one he'd already used in the first Source World.
Now, in the second Source World, he would continue using it.
"Lord Milky Way, all our Sects' rune inheritances are here. If you need anything else, you can contact us anytime."
The Sect Master of the Eternal Immeasurable Sect said respectfully.
"I'll have my disciple accompany you—he can contact me on your behalf."
"Mm."
Lin Yuan glanced at the silver-eyed man.
In truth, he could contact the Eternal Immeasurable Sect Master directly.
But it was fine having someone else pass the message.
"Go back."
With a wave of his hand, Lin Yuan took the silver-eyed man back to Qingyun Sacred Mountain.
The three Eternal Envoys respectfully left Qingyun Court.
At the peak of Qingyun Sacred Mountain—
"That wave of power…"
The Sacred Sect Master's expression grew serious. He too had sensed Lin Yuan's sword strike. But the distance was so great, he could only perceive the faintest trace.
Even so, he felt its terrifying nature.
Suddenly—
The Sacred Sect Master's expression shifted.
"Hm?"
He looked toward Qingyun Court—and his gaze landed on the three Eternal Envoys.
"Envoys!"
The Sect Master's expression changed slightly.
As the Sect Master, he was naturally familiar with the aura of Eternal Envoys.
Whoosh.
He instantly appeared beside them.
Though he no longer placed much value on Eternal Envoys thanks to Lin Yuan's protection—
He still had to respect the Eternal Sects. And since Lin Yuan held no hostility toward them—
The Sect Master went forward to greet them immediately.
"Envoys."
He walked up and greeted them with a respectful nod.
"Please, don't call us Envoys."
The silver-eyed man panicked slightly and quickly said, "The three of us are under orders from the Sect Master to follow Lord Milky Way's command."
"…Huh?"
The Sacred Sect Master blinked in confusion.
Lord Milky Way—he naturally understood that referred to Lin Yuan.
But the three Eternal Envoys… were taking orders from Lin Yuan?
On orders from their Sect Master?
He looked completely dumbfounded.
In the depths of Qingyun Courtryard—
Lin Yuan sat cross-legged.
The Sect Master of the Eternal Immeasurable Sect, along with the other Eternal Sect Masters, had sent him every last piece of their rune inheritance—
Including those established by the Eternal Lords.
Although he hadn't yet started studying them, Lin Yuan could already anticipate how much they would aid him.
However—
He didn't begin studying them right away.
Instead, he began examining the intelligence regarding the 'Demon God'.
"The Demon God… is essentially an Eternal Lord without a conscious mind? His actual combat strength is equivalent to a true Eternal Lord?"
Lin Yuan's expression turned serious.
He had long suspected that the Demon God corresponded to a thirteenth-rank time-based lifeform.
But a body without a conscious mind? That must mean the physical body of a thirteenth-rank time being.
No mental consciousness, yet capable of rivaling a true Eternal Lord—
That meant this being's body was unimaginably powerful.
To think that the physical form alone could match other time-based lifeforms—
It was staggering.
After all, for a living being, the mind and will were extremely important. Many secret techniques and abilities required conscious thought to be used.
Without a conscious mind, even if one possessed immense strength, they couldn't wield it effectively.
If the Demon God truly lacked a mind, yet still rivaled an Eternal Lord—
That meant that when this thirteenth-rank lifeform still had its consciousness, its strength must have been at an unfathomable level.
"Demon God… Demon Calamity…"
Lin Yuan's thoughts swirled. He sensed that the Demon Calamity was far from simple.
"Doesn't matter. Strength comes first."
He focused his mind and turned to studying the rune inheritance of the Eternal Sects.
These rune inheritance paths had all come from Eternal Lords—including those created by the Lord of Heavenly Radiance.
Not all Eternal Lords had founded Sects. Some had walked alone.
But their inheritances were preserved by other Eternal Sects.
As he studied the rune inheritances, Lin Yuan also began hunting Source Demons.
First, to continue expanding his world—Source Demons were excellent resources for this, far superior to Great or Giant Demons.
Second, to fulfill his side of the trade with the Eternal Sects.
And so—
Time passed quietly.
In the blink of an eye, ten thousand years had gone by.
...
Golden Mist Treasure Land.
Lin Yuan sat cross-legged in silence.
Not far away, the irregular rift that had once connected to the Origin of the Source World was finally healing completely.
"It's gone?"
A hint of regret crossed Lin Yuan's face.
Directly witnessing the operation of the Source World's Origin had allowed his comprehension of the great Dao's laws to grow at an astonishing rate every moment.
Unfortunately, such an opportunity could only be encountered when a new Treasure Land was first born.
The relationship between a Treasure Land and the Source World was like that of a mother tree and its fruit.
Before the fruit completely separated from the tree, one could glimpse the deepest essence of the mother tree through their connection.
Once that connection was severed, everything naturally returned to its original state.
Normally, the link between a Treasure Land and the Source World would last anywhere from a few centuries to tens of thousands of years.
The duration depended on the Treasure Land's grade.
As one of the highest first-class Treasure Lands, the Golden Mist Treasure Land had maintained its link to the Source World for over ten thousand years.
"It's a pity—the rift that connects directly to the Source World's Origin can't be forcibly reopened."
Lin Yuan shook his head slightly. Even an existence as powerful as an Ancestor could only perceive the Source World's Origin through their life level.
But to forcibly open a passage that directly pierced through to the Origin would incur the Source World's backlash.
That kind of backlash was something almost no life could endure for long.
Of course, if Lin Yuan truly asked, even the six Ancestors would risk suppression from the Source World itself to force the rift open.
But in doing so—
Lin Yuan would owe a tremendous debt of favor.
Besides, after over ten thousand years of comprehension, he believed he had already reached the pinnacle in every aspect.
Continuing to watch the Source World's Origin would no longer bring as much benefit as before.
"These ten thousand years of secluded cultivation have done wonders for my strength."
A smile appeared on Lin Yuan's lips.
At his level, even ten million or a trillion years might not yield any progress.
But Lin Yuan was different. With his Unrivaled Insight and the advantage of existing across multiple dimensions, his strength had undergone yet another transformation after these long ages.
"Space and time..."
In his sight, the spacetime of the Golden Mist Treasure Land and the spacetime of the outer world both appeared orderly, like countless fine threads running through existence itself.
With a single thought, Lin Yuan could influence and command them.
If he wished, he could at any time unleash a spacetime storm within the Source World that would annihilate ninety percent of all life.
Two thousand years ago, Lin Yuan had completely transcended in his comprehension of the fusion of time and space, and grasped the Dao of Space-Time.
The Dao of Space-Time—this was a domain that only beings of the thirteenth rank could touch. At that level, one became time and space itself, and time and space became one with them.
Back then, His Majesty the Mysterious Sovereign had reached the peak of the ninth level in his accumulation of time-related insight.
After obtaining the thirteenth-rank weapon, the Heavenly Void Cauldron, and studying its mysteries, he had barely stepped halfway into the fusion of space-time.
But Lin Yuan had taken that complete step—his comprehension of space-time rivaled that of time-born lifeforms.
"Every dimension, every layer of reality, has its own time and space. Spacetime is the foundation of all worlds."
Lin Yuan continued to observe the countless fine threads of spacetime within his vision, marveling ever more deeply.
Each thread maintained a delicate balance, and it was precisely that balance which allowed stable environments to exist—nurturing countless lives.
"The Supreme Origin Dao?"
Lin Yuan's gaze grew thoughtful.
At his current realm, he could faintly sense a certain power that permeated all dimensions, maintaining the fundamental operation of all worlds.
If any of these spacetime threads faltered, it would trigger catastrophe. Yet across endless eons, without external interference, spacetime remained astonishingly stable.
Clearly, an even higher power was subtly regulating it.
That power was what the six Ancestors called the Supreme Origin Dao.
Even thirteenth-rank time beings were still attempting to comprehend it.
"My life level is still too low."
After quietly sensing it for a while, Lin Yuan shook his head.
He could indeed feel that all-pervading force—but it was still hazy and indistinct.
"The Supreme Origin Dao is still far from my reach. I'd be better off pushing my comprehension of the Tao of Tai Chi to the third stage."
Lin Yuan gathered his thoughts.
Eight thousand years ago, he had stepped into the second stage of the Tao of Tai Chi.
Five thousand years ago, his comprehension had reached the peak of the second stage.
Even now, he remained trapped at that peak.
He was only half a step away from the perfected third stage.
Compared to the elusive Supreme Origin Dao, achieving the third stage of the Tao of Tai Chi would be both more attainable and more beneficial to him.
The First Source World had divided the path of chaotic evolution into three stages.
The third stage represented perfection—allowing cultivators, even without internal universes, to rival those who cultivated within the Chaotic Void, relying solely on a higher-level path of chaotic evolution.
The Tao of Tai Chi was far stronger than any other chaotic path. Even achieving its initial form required reaching the peak of the second level of chaotic rules.
To reach its third stage was countless times harder than other chaotic evolution paths.
Even Lin Yuan was momentarily halted by this bottleneck.
Exhaling softly, Lin Yuan's will stirred.
He descended into his internal universe.
Gazing upon the boundless expanse within himself—
His inner cosmos was now vast beyond measure, equivalent to tens of thousands of Void Realms combined, stretching on without end.
"'Infinite Void,' sixth layer."
Lin Yuan mused to himself.
Six thousand years ago, he had completed the fifth layer of this inherited art and stepped into the sixth.
The sixth layer was also the limit of this inheritance. As for the seventh— even its creator, a time being, had never mastered it. It existed only as a theoretical realm.
"My 'Infinite Void' has already surpassed the original inheritance."
He reflected inwardly. The original aim of the Infinite Void was to reach the Chaotic Void.
But now, his inner cosmos was evolving toward the fabled Perfect World.
To achieve this, Lin Yuan had absorbed the strengths of the Chaotic Void, the First Source World, and the Second Source World—refining them into the perfection of his own universe.
"Perhaps the upper limit of my inner cosmos isn't the seventh layer... but the eighth, ninth, or even tenth."
After completing the sixth layer, the 'Infinite Void' inheritance no longer offered him guidance. The road ahead would have to be forged by his own hands.
This was the path every true powerhouse must take—the same way Lin Yuan had created his own martial evolution path.
"My current strength..."
Even Lin Yuan wasn't entirely certain anymore.
Ten thousand years ago, he had already lost clear awareness of his limits—since even an ordinary Invincible Supreme Saint of the Chaotic Void couldn't withstand a single strike from him.
After another ten thousand years of cultivation, every aspect of him had transformed again—his sixth layer of Infinite Void, his second-stage Tao of Tai Chi...
Each advancement alone would vastly boost his power—stacked together, the effect was immeasurable.
"The stronger my foundation, the greater the surge when I break through to the thirteenth rank."
He thought quietly.
When one advanced from the eleventh to the twelfth rank, they would receive an infusion of the Chaotic Void's origin power.
The amount depended on the individual's accumulation.
It was the same for the twelfth to the thirteenth rank—hence why each birth of a time being in the Chaotic Void shook countless realms.
"I just wonder—when the time comes, will the Chaotic Void even be able to withstand the infusion I'll draw?"
His thoughts drifted outward.
Given his current foundation, if he successfully entered the thirteenth rank, the origin power he could absorb might rival that of dozens, even hundreds, of other time beings combined.
Perhaps even more.
Would the Chaotic Void truly be able to fill him?
Within the Chaotic Void—
Drifting along streams of chaos, Lin Yuan arrived at a barren expanse.
"It'll be here."
After a brief look, he raised his hand and drew a line.
In an instant, space and time split apart—an acquired universe began to take shape.
An acquired universe differed from an internal one—it was created by a Supreme Saint and existed independently of its creator.
Even if the Supreme Saint perished, the acquired universe would not collapse.
Of course, unlike an internal universe, it couldn't exist eternally as long as its master lived.
Both acquired and innate universes would eventually collapse, but when an acquired universe collapsed, it did so completely—it couldn't be reborn like the innate ones.
The Mysterious Sovereign's Mysterious Emperor Universe was such an example—after countless cosmic eras, it had neared collapse, finally emerging due to the breakdown of its outer spacetime.
"Creating an acquired universe—experiencing a genesis—also helps organize one's comprehension of laws and the Dao."
Lin Yuan watched as the universe gradually took form. Countless rules and Daos began to operate as he established the environment he desired.
"Besides, this acquired universe can serve as the human civilization's stronghold."
"Even in the worst case—if I become trapped in a time loop—humanity won't be wiped out immediately."
Lin Yuan thought far ahead. It was time to make preparations.
Like creating a fallback for the human race.
As long as he lived, no power in the Chaotic Void dared provoke human civilization.
But if he became ensnared in a time loop...
The Mysterious Emperor Lineage and the Devil Jade Tower Lineage had already proven how fragile great powers could be.
Lin Yuan naturally had to prepare in advance.
After all, his rise had been far too rapid.
Human civilization could never keep pace.
Even now, not a single Chaos-level being had been born among them.
"With my means, there's no need to plant seeds in those innate universes."
He gazed at the nearly completed acquired universe.
Even Invincible Supreme Saints' acquired universes eventually collapsed.
Thus, most Saints placed inheritances within innate universes to ensure their legacies survived.
Like the Mysterious Secret Realm of his home universe—or the wooden hut of the Calamity Clan.
Innate universes, protected by the Chaotic Void, were absolutely secure and endlessly reborn—the ideal cradle for unbroken lineage.
But Lin Yuan had no such need.
With his current mastery over space and time, the acquired universes he created would never collapse—they could coexist eternally with the Chaotic Void.
As long as these acquired universes endured, humanity would have an invincible sanctuary. With additional safeguards, their civilization could endure for endless generations.
And if the Chaotic Void itself were to perish?
By that point, even time beings would be forced into dimensional rifts, and all inner life would be extinguished.
These preparations were merely Lin Yuan's contingency—assuming he failed to transcend the time loop.
In truth, according to the six Ancestors of the First Source World who had observed countless timelines, Lin Yuan's chances of reaching the thirteenth rank were extremely high.
Over the millennia, the six Ancestors had set aside everything else, continuously observing Lin Yuan's future timelines—and not one showed him trapped in a time loop.
Milky Way Chaos Continent.
"Milky Way."
"Milky Way."
The strongest ones led by Xuanyuan came forth to pay their respects.
Since Lin Yuan's rise, over twenty cultivators had reached the Path-Clearing stage within human civilization.
However, their status could never compare to the nine strongest ones like Xia Qin.
The human race's current cultivation environment was simply too favorable. Back in their home universe, they had battled the myriad races through blood and death just to produce each Strongest one.
"Milky Way, what brings you to summon us today?"
Xia Qin looked at Lin Yuan and asked.
Ever since humanity entered the Chaotic Void, Lin Yuan—their towering pillar—had rarely interfered in affairs.
Now that he had gathered them all, it was clearly no trivial matter.
"I've created thirty-three acquired universes, scattered throughout the Chaotic Void. Send a group of evolvers into each."
"Keep these thirty-three acquired universes secret. Don't spread word of them. Choose the entrants mostly from first and second rank evolvers."
Lin Yuan spoke calmly.
Those thirty-three acquired universes were the sanctuaries he had prepared for humanity—their final foundation.
According to his set rules, once he attempted his thirteenth-rank breakthrough, these universes would only allow exit, never entry.
Not even human evolvers could locate them afterward; their coordinates would merge into the deepest Chaotic Void—beyond reach even for Invincible Supreme Saints.
A one-way refuge of eternal stability—these universes would continuously send fresh blood outward to sustain humanity.
"Milky Way, this is..."
Xuanyuan frowned, sensing something amiss.
To deliberately create thirty-three secret universes—it sounded suspiciously like... a final arrangement.
The other strongest ones exchanged uneasy looks.
There was only one thing that could drive the mighty Milky Way Saint to such lengths—
A breakthrough to the thirteenth rank.
"Don't worry."
Lin Yuan's expression remained serene as he glanced at them.
These strongest ones had all risen from his home universe, having witnessed his journey from weakness to invincibility. Beyond reverence, they also held deep respect and emotion for him.
So Lin Yuan offered them brief reassurance:
"This is merely preparation for the worst possible outcome."
...
The Second Source World.
At the center of heaven and earth, four or five colossal Source Demons fled in panic, their abyssal demonic aura spreading like a tide of darkness.
As beings second only to the Demon Gods, never since the dawn of the Demon Calamity had such a humiliating sight been seen—four or five Source Demons fleeing together.
Even when faced with the full might of the Eternal Sects' foundations, Source Demons would normally only retreat strategically, never truly run.
But now—
With a faint rustle, a young man silently appeared above them.
"Where do you think you can run?"
Lin Yuan gazed down upon the four or five Source Demons.
He raised his hand—
And time and space themselves were scooped up.
The Source Demons, like mere ants, appeared in Lin Yuan's palm.
The Yin-Yang Tai Chi Millstone turned, grinding them into dust billions of times in an instant, until all that remained was the purest essence—flowing into the microscopic particle worlds within Lin Yuan's body.
The essence born from those few Source Demons was immeasurable. In a single moment, over a trillion new particle worlds were created within him, and his aura subtly rose once more.
"The Source Demons in the world's center are all hiding now. It's getting harder to find them."
After refining the Source Demons, Lin Yuan sighed softly.
Ten thousand years ago, Lin Yuan had struck a deal with the Eternal Sects—he would help them eradicate the Source Demons.
Since then, he had begun his hunt, starting from the outer edges of the world.
Most Source Demons dwelled in the central region, but a smaller number lingered in the four directions.
At first, Lin Yuan had targeted those scattered Source Demons.
Nine thousand years ago, the ones in the four directions had been wiped out completely.
Then his gaze shifted to the center—where over ninety percent of all Source Demons gathered.
Unlike the scattered ones, every encounter in the center was with entire groups.
Eight thousand years ago, after Lin Yuan had exterminated nearly a third of the central Source Demons, the rest began to sense danger.
Though the Source Demons lacked sentience, instinct remained—and when that instinct sensed the drastic decline in their numbers, they began to hide.
Now—
The central heavens were shrouded in boundless demonic energy, yet not a single Source Demon's form could be seen.
They had all vanished into the darkness.
Since Source Demons were born from demonic qi itself, and the air was saturated with it, once they chose to hide within the miasma—even Lin Yuan could not easily locate them.
He could only probe little by little.
"After ten thousand years of hunting, the particle worlds within me now occupy ninety-nine percent of my body."
Feeling the vast, endless energy coursing within him, Lin Yuan nodded in satisfaction.
His body contained infinite grains of matter—each like a speck of sand in eternity. To open a world within every one of them meant creating infinite worlds from infinite particles.
And 'infinite' was no exaggeration.
Each of these particle worlds, sustained by runic power through the Infinite Void legacy, could rival the inner universes of Supreme Saints.
"The three main bodies I've manifested—the ones in the Chaotic Void, the First Source World, and this Second Source World—this one is undoubtedly the strongest."
Lin Yuan thought quietly.
Even if the power of his other two true bodies were combined and multiplied dozens of times, they would still fall short of this one.
Now, standing on the brink of completing the Infinite Particle Worlds, he felt confident that he could contend with even a thirteenth-rank temporal lifeform.
"So far, the process of opening the particle worlds has gone smoothly. Once it's complete, I can replicate it across my other two true bodies."
He mused inwardly.
Opening a single particle world—or even a few—was simple. But to open infinite particle worlds? A single mistake could cause the total collapse of one's true body.
Thus, Lin Yuan was experimenting only with this third true form.
Only after confirming this path carried no hidden dangers would he extend it to the others.
Would that waste time?
Not at all. Once one set of Infinite Particle Worlds was complete, reproducing it in his other bodies would take little effort.
His only real constraint now—was resources.
But with his other two bodies already gathering vast stores across the Chaotic Void and the First Source World, once this third body succeeded, the other two would follow swiftly.
"These ten thousand years of hunting weren't just about killing Source Demons. I've also mastered all the Eternal Sects' runic inheritances, absorbing and integrating the Daos once walked by the Eternal Lords themselves. Otherwise, I could never have expanded the particle worlds so quickly."
Lin Yuan nodded slightly. The Infinite Particle Worlds relied on the Dao of Runes to function.
The more worlds he opened, the deeper his understanding of runes had to become. Ten thousand years ago, his comprehension would never have been sufficient to sustain ninety-nine percent of the Infinite Worlds now within him.
"Runes..."
He recalled the legacy created by the Lord of Heavenly Radiance.
That art aided breakthroughs toward the thirteenth rank and had five layers in total.
Ten thousand years ago, Lin Yuan had already reached the fourth.
Now, he had long stepped into the fifth.
But that fifth layer was unimaginably profound—representing the Lord of Heavenly Radiance's purest understanding of runes themselves.
Even Lin Yuan had yet to fully master it.
If the fourth layer allowed one to see and use runes in all things—
Then the fifth meant: "The heart moves, and the runes manifest."
In other words, the practitioner's control over runes transcended form and formlessness alike.
With a single thought, runes would gather.
"No wonder the Lord of Heavenly Radiance claimed that fully understanding this inheritance would greatly increase one's chances of becoming an Eternal Lord. In truth—it's far more than that."
Lin Yuan shook his head lightly.
With the fifth layer, one could freely command runic power even within a time loop—it was like possessing an infinite-ammo weapon in a stone-age war.
"Still, for any being below the thirteenth rank, mastering this fifth layer is... absurdly difficult."
He sighed softly.
Even among the Eternal Lords, most remained stuck at the fourth.
Lin Yuan had fused every runic legacy of this Source World within himself, and with his Unrivaled Insight and ten thousand years of effort, he still hadn't fully grasped the fifth layer. For anyone below the Eternal Lords, it was harder than becoming an Eternal Lord itself.
Indeed, many Eternal Lords had never achieved complete understanding of it.
"But I'm close."
Gathering his thoughts, Lin Yuan took a step—and vanished.
In a hidden world—
His figure appeared again.
This secret realm had once been the joint sanctuary of the great Eternal Sects—their final bastion.
But as Lin Yuan's relentless slaughter of Source Demons thinned their numbers, that sanctuary had become unnecessary.
Now, the hidden world was open to the public, and disciples from the Eternal Sects had begun venturing outward.
"Lord Milky Way!"
The Sect Master of the Eternal Immeasurable Sect and the others immediately bowed deeply.
Ten thousand years ago, after Lin Yuan had shown the power of a single sword, they had realized that the burden upon them might soon lessen.
But none of them had expected that within just ten thousand years, the entire situation between cultivators and demons in this world's center would be completely reversed.
Back then, Source Demons launched periodic assaults on the hidden world.
Now, not a single one could be seen.
Whenever one appeared, Lin Yuan would descend and crush it within moments.
Because of him—
The Eternal Sects now lived with a peace they had never known.
Were it not for the lingering demonic mists, they might have thought themselves back in the age before the great upheaval.
"Lord Milky Way, about that demonic fluctuation detected by the Eternal Treasure..." The Sect Master of the Eternal Immeasurable Sect ventured cautiously.
"It was indeed a few Source Demons. They've all been dealt with."
Lin Yuan nodded.
He had been able to pinpoint them thanks to the Eternal Treasures—artifacts crafted by the Eternal Lords before the upheaval to detect the slightest disturbance of demonic qi.
Originally, these artifacts had served as defensive measures—when Source Demons gathered, they caused ripples in the demonic energy that could be sensed.
But ever since Lin Yuan began his hunt, those same treasures had become tools for tracking rather than defense.
"Any other unusual fluctuations?"
Lin Yuan asked. He was nearly finished opening his Infinite Particle Worlds—only a final fraction remained.
"Not for now," the Sect Master replied, his tone complicated.
To think—terrifying Source Demons had become like hatchlings in Lin Yuan's hands.
"However, there is something else you should know, Lord Milky Way," he said gravely.
"Recently, the Eternal Treasure has detected that all the demonic energy in this world seems to be converging... as if drawn by some vast force."
Even a Source Demon could only influence a small portion of the demonic energy.
But all of it converging?
"You mean—the Demon God?"
Lin Yuan's voice remained calm.
"Yes."
"The Demon Gods usually slumber. But with your relentless hunting, the Source Demons' dwindling numbers may have awakened one."
The Sect Master's expression was tense.
Since the great upheaval, the Demon Gods had acted only once—
At the very beginning. Since then, they had either slept or occasionally awakened only to glance at the Eternal Sects before returning to slumber.
"I see."
Lin Yuan nodded lightly.
Hunting the Source Demons and stirring the Demon Gods—this was inevitable.
Even if he slowed down, once the number of Source Demons fell below a certain threshold, the Demon Gods would notice regardless.
With hands clasped behind his back, Lin Yuan gazed through the hidden world toward the central heavens, where the vast sea of demonic energy churned endlessly.
A faint gleam of anticipation flickered in his eyes.
It was time to weigh the might of a thirteenth-rank Demon God against his Infinite Particle Worlds.
...
After ten thousand years of cultivation, Lin Yuan had reached the brink of perfection in every aspect.
Even his grand goal of opening an Infinite Particle Worlds within himself was ninety-nine percent complete.
By this point, Lin Yuan could no longer even quantify the power of his true body in this Source World.
Ten thousand years ago, suppressing a single Source Demon had required him at least a strike or two.
Yet just a thousand years later, nine thousand years ago, he no longer needed even that, a mere thought, a ripple through his external universe, and the Source Demon would be crushed.
Now, only one being could serve as a proper measure of Lin Yuan's power, the Demon God, whose might stood on par with a thirteenth-rank existence.
As for the time beings in the Chaotic Void or the First Source World?
His true bodies in those dimensions had yet to open their own particle worlds.
They were far from their peak state.
Thus, they couldn't serve as an accurate comparison.
Which was precisely why Lin Yuan found himself truly anticipating an encounter with the Demon God of this Source World.
At the very least, by clashing with it, he could gauge the true gap between himself and a thirteenth-rank time being.
Yes, the direct difference in raw power.
For a typical thirteenth-rank lifeform, what was their greatest strength?
Physical might?
Divine arts and secret techniques?
Soul and will?
None of those.
What truly set thirteenth-rank time beings apart from the twelfth and below was their ability to see the future, to observe countless possible timelines.
By peering into these future strands, a thirteenth-rank being could ensure that whenever they acted, they almost never erred.
For example, the six Ancestors of the First Source World—
They would never choose to stand against Lin Yuan.
Instead, they sought to befriend him, because they had seen enough futures to know that was the wisest path.
That was the true advantage of a thirteenth-rank time being: choosing the best future among infinite possibilities.
But the Demon God of this Source World possessed no will, no mind, and thus could not perceive future timelines.
It wouldn't take one glance at Lin Yuan and flee, nor hide away so deeply that he'd never have the chance to face it directly.
Though Lin Yuan was curious to battle the Demon God head-on, he would not go seeking it himself, for a being of that level might yet harbor unknown powers.
Until he broke through to the thirteenth rank, Lin Yuan had no intention of confronting such an existence unless absolutely necessary.
He had always preferred to crush from strength, not gamble from weakness.
Victory by overwhelming power, not by risking his life, that was his way.
"First, I'll finish opening the Infinite Particle Worlds."
He thought quietly.
That grand design had been inspired by the flesh structure of the Abyssal Dragon from the First Source World, enhanced with the Infinite Void legacy from the Chaotic Void, and fused with the Rune Dao of this Second Source World, a synthesis of the strongest foundations known.
Once fully completed, every particle world would resonate with the others.
The combined power unleashed then would exceed his current ninety-nine percent foundation not just tenfold, but a hundredfold.
Only then would he have the confidence to confront the Demon God openly.
And if he also advanced his Chaotic Tao of Tai Chi to the third stage, his strength would soar even higher, though that path carried many uncertainties.
The Infinite Particle Worlds only demanded sufficient resources.
"Resources..."
Lin Yuan frowned slightly.
To reach his current ninety-nine percent completion, he had already hunted nearly every Source Demon in the world's center and drained most of the Eternal Sects' stored treasures.
Since the great upheaval, demonic energy had saturated everything, corrupting many of the world's renewable resources.
And after such long ages of consumption without replenishment, the Eternal Sects' reserves had grown thin, most of it already taken by Lin Yuan.
Of course, each sect still had hidden reserves, their ultimate resources, kept for activating Eternal Treasures in times of crisis.
But those were tied to their last lines of defense.
If he took them, they might not even survive the Demon God's arrival.
"No, I'll have to rely on the Source Demons again."
He thought.
To complete the Infinite Sands Worlds, he would need the essence of the Source Demons themselves.
They were immortal, undying beings. The ones Lin Yuan had slain were never truly dead, only hiding elsewhere, slowly regenerating.
Once the first batch recovered, he could begin the second round of hunts.
It was merely a matter of waiting a few thousand—or tens of thousands—of years.
"I just hope I can finish the Infinite Particle Worlds before the Demon God awakens."
Images of the Demon God flashed through Lin Yuan's mind.
Before this world's upheaval, the Demon God had acted once.
That scene had been recorded and preserved by the Eternal Sects, a record Lin Yuan had studied countless times.
In the beginning, endless demonic qi had flooded heaven and earth.
The Eternal Sects, long prepared, immediately activated their Eternal Treasures to dispel it.
In the future timelines foreseen by the Eternal Lords, if the demonic energy could be driven away at that first instant, the following crisis would be far easier, the numbers of Demon Spirits, Great Demons, and Source Demons all greatly reduced.
But then—
The Demon God appeared.
Its face was obscured, expression cold and hollow, a single horn rising from its head, a black robe cloaking its form, that robe itself radiating infinite darkness, as though all demonic energy in existence emanated from it.
Behind it stretched a colossal black tail spanning heaven and earth.
Even through those ancient recordings, Lin Yuan could feel its terrifying might.
Its appearance shattered the Eternal Sects' plan to cleanse the world.
With just a few steps forward, the Eternal Treasures themselves recoiled.
The boundless demonic qi surged forth, and from that moment on, the entire Source World was engulfed in blackness.
That was the only time the Demon God had acted.
Afterward, it vanished.
Only faint traces, detectable through Eternal Treasures, suggested it remained at the world's center, slumbering, never to move again.
According to the records left by the Eternal Lords, the Demon God's instinct was focused entirely on fighting the Source World's will itself, suppressing its consciousness, while its demonic energy and spawn eroded it from without.
As long as the Eternal Sects didn't stir too much trouble, the Demon God would remain dormant.
Even for it, destroying the Eternal Sects outright would demand enormous effort.
Better to spend that strength deepening the world's corruption.
"Lord Milky Way, we plan to recall all our disciples from the outside."
The Sect Master of the Eternal Immeasurable Sect spoke softly.
Ever since Lin Yuan had wiped out most of the Source Demons, their disciples had resumed exploration beyond their sanctuaries.
After all, Lin Yuan had slain not just Source Demons, but any beings formed from demonic qi.
The outside world had become safe—unnaturally so.
"Mm."
Lin Yuan nodded.
The signs of the Demon God's awakening were growing stronger.
Sending disciples out now would only invite disaster.
Better to summon them back, within the sects' strongholds, even the Demon God would find them hard to destroy.
Soon after, the order was sent—
Every disciple outside received the recall.
"The Sect Master wants us back? But Lord Milky Way's already cleansed the world of demons—why?"
"Yeah, with Lord Milky Way around, those 'demons' don't even have time to run."
The disciples murmured among themselves.
For the past ten millennia, Lin Yuan had been revered above all within the Eternal Sects, some even holding him in higher esteem than their own Eternal Lords.
After all, since the great upheaval, the Eternal Lords had not acted once.
But in these ten thousand years, Lin Yuan's every strike had been witnessed—
Absolute dominance.
Even the mighty Source Demons were fragile before him, shattering like ants, a sight that overturned everything the disciples once believed possible.
"If the Sect Master said return, we'll return."
"Right. It's safest near Lord Milky Way anyway."
They obeyed at once, heading back toward their sects' sanctuaries.
Although exploring the corrupted outer world could yield opportunities, and temper one's will through exposure to demonic qi, the risk was now too high.
Time flowed on—
Several years passed.
Lin Yuan appeared again, flipping his hand to suppress and refine two Source Demons hiding deep within space-time.
"At this rate... finishing the last tenth of the Infinite Sands Worlds might take centuries, even millennia."
He pondered.
By his earlier pace, the final tenth should have taken only a hundred years.
But with the number of Source Demons dwindling, finding enough would grow ever slower, perhaps thousands of years before completion.
"No matter. I'm in no rush."
Collecting his thoughts, he began probing for other hidden demons—
When suddenly—
Hum—
An invisible ripple swept across the entire Source World.
All the demonic energy trembled violently, like calm water suddenly rippling outward, and the ripples grew larger, larger, larger still.
"What... is this?"
Lin Yuan's expression turned solemn as his figure vanished soundlessly.
Within the hidden world—
The sect masters of the Eternal Sects stood ready.
Far away, a circular Eternal Treasure shone brightly.
Forged jointly by many Eternal Lords, it could observe even the faintest fluctuations in the entire world.
Now, it trembled.
At the world's center, boundless demonic energy surged together and within it, a figure emerged.
Its face was indistinct, its expression emotionless, its gaze hollow.
A single horn jutted from its head.
It wore a black robe woven of endless darkness, from which all demonic energy seemed to flow.
Behind it, a vast black tail stretched across the sky.
Its very presence made all demonic energy boil.
The hidden Source Demons immediately appeared, bowing in worship toward it.
"The Demon God... has awakened."
The sect masters' hearts trembled.
Countless millennia ago, this was the very being that had crushed their hope of purging the demonic plague.
At the time of the upheaval, the Eternal Sects had been at their peak and yet even then, the Demon God had suppressed them utterly.
If not for Lin Yuan's rise ten thousand years ago, they would still be struggling just against the Source Demon, let alone the Demon God.
"The Demon God..."
Lin Yuan gazed at the image projected by the Eternal Treasure.
The reflected figure filled him with awe.
"What incredible physical power," he thought.
Even viewing it indirectly, he could sense the terrifying might of its body.
Its mere presence shook the layers of space-time in this world, and the pervasive demonic qi itself was part of that body's essence.
"Such a powerful flesh... how was it formed? And what of its mind—its will?"
Lin Yuan's thoughts turned sharply.
There was no doubt: the Demon God was once a time being, an extraordinarily powerful one.
But now, only its body remained.
And that body's instincts endlessly exuded demonic energy, corrupting the entire world.
"I can only hope it wakes briefly... and soon returns to slumber."
The sect masters silently prayed.
In the past, the Demon God had stirred before, each time only to glance upon the world, then sink back into sleep.
They could only hope this would be the same.
The air trembled—
The demonic energy roiled.
The Demon God's hollow gaze swept the realm, as countless fragments of perception gathered within its mindless awareness.
Compared to the Great Demons and Source Demons, its instincts were clearer, to completely consume and assimilate the Source World.
That meant suppressing the world's consciousness from within, and unleashing demonic spawn to corrode it from without.
Both forces working together, devouring heaven and earth.
But this time, upon waking, the Demon God found its demonic legions nearly wiped out.
Most had reverted to nascent forms, reabsorbed into the demonic mists.
Even the surviving Source Demons cowered in hiding, too afraid to continue their corruption.
Boom!
The Demon God took a single step— and appeared above the hidden world, its hollow gaze descending upon it like the will of a nightmare.
...