Chapter 159: The Arrogant Raven's Extortion Campaign
The Emperor's face showed a flicker of interest. His consciousness stirred at this unexpected revelation. A universe where fantasy and technology existed together, truly, the countless universe held wonders beyond even His vast experience.
The delicate balance between such different forces intrigued Him greatly.
This realm named 'The Great Emperor' had indeed forged a unique path. It seamlessly blended technological prowess with cultivation practices to birth a civilisation of exceptional brilliance.
The Emperor left Undying Mountain and sought solitude in a secluded valley. There, in contemplative isolation, He began His examination of 'The Great Emperor's technological vessels. Each universe within the infinite expanse possessed its own destiny.
The Super Gene Universe, the Three-Body Universe, and the Marvel Universe all differed fundamentally in their approach to cosmic mastery.
If the Human Empire wants to transcend its current limitations and venture forth into the countless universes, it must draw wisdom from all sources. Eternity Planet's fusion of technology and mysticism offered profound enlightenment.
It gave Him a glimpse of what His Empire might one day become. This knowledge could enable the creation of technological artefacts imbued with psychic power. His legions could then campaign across realities themselves.
Raven had not accompanied the Emperor in this research.
Instead, the irreverent being had taken Valdo to continue his systematic extortion of the various forbidden zones, leveraging his unique mastery over Space and time laws to continue his extortion parade.
The Supreme beings remained reluctant to initiate warfare before the Immortal Path's opening, even when they realised well that Raven intended to bleed them thoroughly.
These so-called Supreme beings could only dominate within their territories of the Shrouding the Heavens Universe.
Within the broader Sacred Ruins Grand Universe, they would barely be a footnote in history's annals. Immortal Dao powerhouses were just cannon fodder in that greater realm, let alone a collection of Supreme beings who hadn't even glimpsed the Immortal Dao's threshold.
If he were against Immortal Emperor-level or Sacrificial Dao-level beings, Raven would not even consider doing an extortion parade in his current weak form.
Those entities had achieved the absolute pinnacle of their universe's power system. They were capable of arbitrarily distorting fundamental laws and travelling the river of time at will.
Every universe possessed its apex of combat power. On the mystical side, individual beings who had transcended mortal limitations. On the technological side, civilisations that had mastered the very fabric of reality.
Neither path was inherently superior at such an extreme level; the final idea was to merge all such development paths, forging the Ultimate civilisation.
When developed to their ultimate extremes, reshaping universes and creating existence itself became commonplace.
"Hey, old fossils! Hand over all your treasures, or I'm breaking down the door!" Raven shouted brazenly before the entrance to Taichu Ancient Mine.
The Saints observing this spectacle stood slack-jawed in disbelief. This Raven's arrogance knew no bounds.
Offending Undying Mountain had been outrageous enough, but now he dared provoke Taichu Ancient Mine itself. What kind of powerful lineage did he descend from to act with such reckless attitude?
"Could this guy be from the Golden Crow Clan?" one Saint whispered uncertainly.
"Don't spread rumours," another hissed back nervously.
The Golden Crow Clan maintained a presence on Burial Emperor Star, despite their past conflicts with the Sacred Body Ye Fan. Ye Fan had ruthlessly hunted their members.
Yet Burial Emperor Star remained Burial Emperor Star, a world where immortality persists. Even facing Ye Fan's relentless persecution, the Golden Crow Clan had stationed powerful cultivators to monitor the Immortal Path's emergence.
Hearing his careless speculation attributed to the Golden Crow Clan, the first Saint's face from that very same tribe drained of colour.
'Damn it! This is a pure malicious attack; these bastards are trying to drag our Golden Crow Clan into this mess.' If the restricted zone's Supreme beings held grudges, even the Golden Crow Clan's considerable strength wouldn't save them from annihilation.
"Don't push your luck!"
Chaotic qi spread forth as pairs of frigid eyes pierced the ancient mists. They fixed upon Raven with glacial contempt. Ancient voices echoed from the depths, carrying the weight of eons.
Raven snorted dismissively, his arrogance utterly undiminished. "I'm bullying you, so what? Don't like it? Come out and fight me!"
"You,!! " The Supreme being who had spoken found himself speechless with rage.
They had endured self-mutilation and self-sealing to survive these endless ages. Breaking their seals now would cause their lifespans to dwindle rapidly, leaving them precious little time.
"Even ancient Great Emperors like the Void Emperor and Hengyu Emperor were never as arrogant as you," another Supreme being intoned. His voice carried bone-deep chill and endless killing intent that made the very stars tremble.
The pressure alone caused the ancient azure heavens to roar as if they might collapse entirely. "Have you truly considered the consequences? Do you really wish to ignite a great war?"
"Oh!! never seen arrogance before, aye? Well, it's your lucky day, mister, cus you hit the jackpot," Raven replied with mocking laughter. "Now don't try to threaten me with such cheap trick you use to scare children. Seriously, A great war? With whom, Us? Who the fuck are you to think that Aye"
Raven's voice rose in theatrical grandeur: "Listen well, you discounted piece of shits, 'At the peak of immortality, I stand supreme! With me, The Great Raven, there is heaven itself! I could rule the world with one wing tied behind my back. Anybody who doesn't like it can come and suck me for all I care!"
Raven's tone dripped with such obnoxious confidence that the restricted zone's Supreme beings trembled with fury. They nearly broke their seals to eliminate this insufferable pest at any cost.
"Besides," Raven continued with wicked amusement, "the Immortal Path is opening soon. You've endured for countless years, all for this single opportunity. Sure, if you come out today, you might kill me in dreams, but you definitely won't become immortals."
His malicious laughter echoed across the peaks. The Supreme beings were forced to swallow their rage once more. For the sake of longevity, they had abandoned family, lovers, and everything from their mortal lives.
They had even launched the dreaded Dark Turmoil to extend their existence, all for the chance at true immortality. Now, with the Immortal Path's opening imminent, just one step away, abandoning everything would be unbearably tragic.
"What do you want?" the Supreme being of Taichu Ancient Mine asked through gritted teeth, barely containing his wrath.
"Let's see... first, a million catties of Primordial Origin Stone. Then, twenty million tons of Divine Source. Oh, and throw in a few million catties of divine medicines while you're at it, I'm not asking for much, or am I?" Raven's demands were absolutely outrageous.
"Why don't you just rob us?!" the Supreme being snarled, his killing intent flowing.
In the past, even the Battle Saint Ape, wielding three Ancient Emperor Orders, had managed to obtain only a single piece of Primordial Origin Stone.
Now this accursed bird casually demanded a million catties, as if Primordial Origin Stone, Divine Source, and divine medicines were common roadside trash to be gathered at will!
Raven grinned wickedly. "I am robbing you, smartass. What else did you think this was?"
Every Saint present felt their jaws drop. Surely they were dreaming. Never had they witnessed such an arrogant bird. Even the Supreme beings of Undying Mountain felt a flutter of relief.
At least this obnoxious creature treated everyone equally. Thank the heavens they had paid their tribute early, or they might have suffered an even worse fate.
In Celestial Village, Ye Fan, the Hei Huang, the Sheng Huanzi, Ji Ziyue, and the others watched in absolute shock.
Taichu Ancient Mine, what kind of place was that?! An ancient restricted zone harbouring countless secrets, where Supreme beings slumbered while awaiting the Immortal Path's opening.
How many peerless prodigies had ventured inside, never to return intact, dying horribly and sometimes transforming into something far worse?
Whoosh!
Three blinding streaks of light burst from within the ancient mine. They blazed with lethal intent as they tore through space-time itself, striking directly at Raven.
Everyone's hearts clenched. The Taichu Ancient Mine's Supreme being had finally snapped and moved to kill.
[Detecting anomalous attack. Establishing computational model.]
[Allocating processing power. Distributing energy. Activating conceptual protection. Activating space-time barrier.]
Valdor stepped protectively before Raven. Along with the system's clinical announcements, a transparent barrier materialised. It reduced the Supreme Being's devastating attack to absolute nothingness.
"Getting cranky, are we?" Raven cackled maliciously. "You threw the first punch, so now it's our turn. Valdor, beat this motherfuckers ass who tried to hurt your loving friend. Hit him until his mama doesn't recognise this piece of trash!"
Valdor nodded silently and raised one hand. The most advanced Genetic Engine implanted within his enhanced physiology contained every conceivable conceptual and cosmic law-level attack methodology.
[Allocating computational power. Analyzing cosmic regulations.]
[Activating spatial two-dimensionalization. Establishing two-dimensionalization anchor point.]
[...]
Above Taichu Ancient Mine, a brilliant flash suddenly erupted. In the next instant, invisible gravitational forces exploded from nothingness, followed by dazzling light that blazed beyond mortal comprehension.
Everything the light touched began rapidly collapsing into two dimensions.
Every atom was projected onto a two-dimensional plane with absolutely precise geometric accuracy. The entire Taichu Ancient Mine was transforming into a grotesque, impossible painting.
Imperial-grade weapon auras erupted skyward. Their power covered heaven and earth, suppressing eternity itself.
The overwhelming presence struck terror into every living being, making even the Saints tremble and fight the involuntary urge to prostrate themselves.
Thunderous vibrations shook Taichu Ancient Mine as the Supreme beings activated their ultimate Imperial weapons. They unleashed unparalleled power that rocked eternal space-time across ten heavens and nine earths. Brilliant Emperor-level formations intertwined in dazzling displays of impossible beauty, desperately attempting to halt the spatial two-dimensionalisation.
But the Imperial weapons' attacks had no effect whatsoever. There was simply nothing physical to strike. Only the fundamental cosmic rules themselves had been altered. Space was collapsing inexorably into two dimensions.
Originally, this great universe had entered the Age of Dharma's Decline due to excessive extraction of primordial power. In that catastrophic era, even Immortals could not resist such changes to cosmic law.
How could a mere collection of Supreme beings possibly succeed?
"Stop! You win! Stop this madness! We agree to your terms!"
A terror-stricken voice rang out from within Taichu Ancient Mine. If this continued, the accursed bird might really erase their ancient sanctuary entirely.
"Sorry, boomer, your price just doubled!" Raven planted his hands on his hips, his tone reaching new heights of insufferable arrogance.
"You, !" One of the Taichu Ancient Mine's Supreme beings nearly choked on his own rage.
This damned bird was pushing things far too far!
[End of Chapter]
Oh yeah, trashtalker is back :)
UmU