Chapter 508: Leaving a Name on the Sky Ranking and Meeting the Plane Embryo
"It's time to meet the Plane Embryo of the Great Thousand World."
Within the thunder sea, Xiao Tiance muttered to himself. Just as he was about to depart, an overwhelming pressure suddenly descended from above.
The entire world seemed to freeze, and with a deafening crash, a massive entity plummeted from the sky. The pressure it emitted was so immense that even a peak level powerhouse like Xiao Tiance frowned slightly. For ordinary beings, even a fraction of this power could instantly pulverize them into dust.
"Boom!"
As the colossal object landed, Xiao Tiance squinted his eyes. Soon, a faint smile appeared on his face it was none other than the Sky Ranking.
The Sky Ranking
The Sky Ranking was a supreme artifact, an embodiment of the will of the Great Thousand World itself. According to the lore of the Great Ruler, Heavenly Sovereigns above the Saint stage could sense the world's will and summon the Sky Ranking.
By engraving their true names on it, they could harness the complete power of the Great Thousand World.
Per the original story, leaving one's surname marked transcendence above the Saint stage. Engraving one's full name signified ascension to the Ruler Realm.
The Immortal Emperor was the first to leave his surname on the Sky Ranking, sealing the Heavenly Evil God with his life.
The second and third were Flame Emperor Xiao Yan and Martial Ancestor Lin Dong, respectively.
The Child of Destiny, Mu Chen, became the fourth by engraving his full name, naming the Ruler Realm himself.
Later, 28 years after Mu Chen, Lin Dong and Xiao Yan left their full names, becoming the second and third Rulers of the Great Thousand World.
Having spent years in the Great Thousand World, Xiao Tiance was delighted to finally witness the Sky Ranking himself.
Marking His Name
As he observed the Sky Ranking, a golden character "Ye" stood out prominently the mark left by the Immortal Emperor.
"Truly remarkable," Xiao Tiance murmured. "Even after tens of thousands of years, the pressure emanating from the 'Ye' character is still so immense."
Suddenly, a thunderous voice resonated through the heavens:
"Leave your name on the Sky Ranking!"
Without hesitation, Xiao Tiance flashed to the Sky Ranking. Channeling his immense spiritual energy into his fingertip, he etched a single golden character: "Xiao" (萧).
After finishing, he intended to continue engraving his full name. Yet, as soon as he completed the character, he felt an invisible barrier an insurmountable limit preventing him from adding more unless he ascended further.
Defying the Limit
"Hmph, I refuse to accept this."
With a cold snort, Xiao Tiance unleashed his spiritual energy once again. His two clones appeared by his side.
"Merge as one!"
With a roar, the two clones fused into his main body. Though this wasn't the final technique of One Qi to Transform Three Purities, the mere act of merging drastically elevated his power.
Now fully unified, his strength soared beyond the peak Saint Heavenly Sovereign level, nearing the half step Ruler realm.
Channeling his power once more, Xiao Tiance managed to carve a second character, "Tian" (天).
As he attempted to add the final character, "Ce" (策), an indescribable force erupted from the Sky Ranking, sending him hurtling backward.
A Mark of Strength
Stabilizing himself mid air, Xiao Tiance noticed that the Sky Ranking now displayed the characters "Xiao Tian" (萧天), positioned above the "Ce" left by the Immortal Emperor.
"So close... I couldn't leave my full name." Xiao Tiance sighed with slight regret. However, the ranking validated his strength, acknowledging that he had surpassed the Immortal Emperor.
Suddenly, the "Tian" character was erased by an unseen power, leaving only "Xiao" on the Sky Ranking. Even so, its position above "Ye" symbolized that the artifact recognized Xiao Tiance's power as greater than that of the Immortal Emperor.
The Plane Embryo Appears
As the Sky Ranking trembled and ascended into the sky, disappearing into the void, Xiao Tiance sensed the presence of the Plane Embryo.
"Wait! I have something to discuss with you," Xiao Tiance called out.
A resonant voice responded: "By engraving your name, you've earned the recognition of the Great Thousand World's will. I will meet with you."
In an instant, the world around Xiao Tiance shifted. When he reopened his eyes, he stood in a void like space.
A luminous sphere hovered a few meters away. Xiao Tiance instantly recognized it as the manifestation of the Plane Embryo.
The Negotiation
"What do you wish to discuss?" the Plane Embryo asked, its voice calm yet authoritative.
"I want to propose a deal," Xiao Tiance stated directly.
"I do not make deals."
"You may change your mind once you hear me out," Xiao Tiance countered.
"Speak."
Xiao Tiance's expression grew serious as he began: **"The Heavenly Evil God. Once I ascend to the Ruler Realm, I can help you eliminate him permanently.
He seeks your essence, but I do not. All I want is to ensure the safety of my family. However, if the Heavenly Evil God escapes his seal, his power will grow exponentially within years.
Even with my current strength, I may not be able to stop him then."**
Xiao Tiance spoke directly, laying out his request.
"I hope you can help me comprehend the Ruler Realm."
The Plane Embryo remained silent for a long time before sighing softly.
"I'm sorry. It's not that I refuse it's that I simply cannot. Since the Outer Demonic Clan invaded the Great Thousand World, they have occupied nearly half of it. My remaining source power is only enough to maintain order in the half that remains."
After a pause, the Plane Embryo seemed to see through Xiao Tiance entirely.
"I also know your plans," it continued after a brief silence. **"If I refuse, you intend to help the Plane Embryo within your body devour me.
However, I must warn you not to act rashly. Compared to me, the source level of your internal Plane Embryo is vastly inferior.
At best, its level is only slightly higher than the Plane Embryo within that man named Lin Dong. If you aid it in consuming me, it will collapse under the weight of my power and self destruct.
When that happens, the plane it governs will also be destroyed. All the life within that plane including you will suffer devastating backlash. Ordinary beings, especially those with weak cultivation, will perish in an instant."**
Startling Revelation
Hearing this, Xiao Tiance's expression betrayed disbelief. He hadn't expected the Great Thousand World's Plane Embryo to see through his and Ling'er's plans so clearly.
Noticing his surprise, the Plane Embryo chuckled.
**"Surprised? There's no need to be.
This is my internal space. Within it, nothing no person, no thing can escape my detection. Time, space, elements, spiritual energy... everything here is within my control."**
Careful Consideration
Xiao Tiance's heart trembled. He realized he had been impulsive.
"I underestimated you," Xiao Tiance admitted, cupping his hands respectfully.
The Plane Embryo continued: **"We Plane Embryos are the sovereigns of our respective worlds. You can think of us as a unique race. Members of this race can devour each other to evolve.
However, my rank was the highest from the moment I was born. Even if I absorbed all the source power of the Intermediate Thousand Worlds, it would barely benefit me.
As such, you needn't worry I won't target the Plane Embryo within your body. It is merely the Plane Embryo of a Small Thousand World, and its rank is far too low to concern me."**
Xiao Tiance's Caution
Despite the assurance, Xiao Tiance didn't let his guard down.
He knew better than to trust strangers, especially when matters of life and death were at stake. The Great Thousand World's Plane Embryo exuded an aura of overwhelming power, making it impossible to disregard the sense of crisis it evoked.
Xiao Tiance nodded slightly. "Thank you for clarifying. Since you are the Plane Embryo of the Great Thousand World, you must know how to achieve the Ruler Realm."
The Truth About the Ruler Realm
The Plane Embryo fell silent briefly before speaking.
**"Ruler Realm? You've mentioned this term multiple times. Are you referring to the realm beyond the Saint Heavenly Sovereign?
Ruler... a fitting name.
I do know how to achieve it. However, it's not as simple as you think. You are not a native lifeform of the Great Thousand World. No matter how extraordinary your talent may be, without being born here, you cannot break through to the Ruler Realm.
Unless, one day, a native lifeform of the Great Thousand World achieves the Ruler Realm. Only then will you have the opportunity to succeed."**
Shock and Reflection
Xiao Tiance was stunned.
The Great Ruler novel had never mentioned such a limitation. He had always attributed Xiao Yan and Lin Dong's eventual breakthroughs 28 years after Mu Chen's ascension to their extraordinary talent and resources.
Now, he realized it wasn't just about talent. There were universal rules at play, designed to protect the Great Thousand World.
Without these rules, the Great Thousand World's Plane Embryo explained, invaders could easily surpass native lifeforms, leaving the world vulnerable.
A Difficult Choice
Xiao Tiance bowed slightly. "Thank you for explaining. So, according to your logic, I can only ascend if a native achieves the Ruler Realm first?"
The Plane Embryo confirmed: **"That's correct. However, this is not absolute.
While within the Great Thousand World, you are subject to its rules. But if you can find an Intermediate Thousand World, you might attempt to ascend there before your presence causes that world to collapse under your power.
However, this path is fraught with peril. If you fail, you and that world will perish together.
The safest course is to wait for a native of the Great Thousand World to achieve the Ruler Realm. Once that happens, the restrictions you face will be lifted."**
Weighing the Options
Xiao Tiance frowned. The suggested path was far more dangerous than he had anticipated.
Instead of remaining safe, he would risk total annihilation. Failure to ascend in an Intermediate Thousand World would mean not only his death but also the destruction of countless lives in that plane.
While Xiao Tiance had long since come to terms with the prospect of death, the thought of leaving behind his loved ones Medusa, his children, and the rest of the Xiao Clan gave him pause.
A Gamble
"Should I gamble?" Xiao Tiance murmured to himself.
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