The Marauders Have Arrived After All! Crisis in Chaos and the Dark Domain!

Lu Changsheng gained a general understanding of the various treasures available for trade through the Eternal Light Chamber of Commerce. They were truly treasures—all manner of natural treasures from the Great Universe. Out of curiosity, Lu Changsheng inquired about the Divine Tree of Fortune. As it turned out, its price was an astronomical figure. It was not that Lu Changsheng had no treasures of his own; it was simply that the tree was currently being refined by Lin Qingluan. Now, two paths lay before him. The first was to wait patiently and, like the other Emperors and source lifeforms, search chaos and the Dark Domain for treasures to trade with the Eternal Light Chamber of Commerce. He could amass source crystals and eventually purchase items that would aid the transformation of his Illusory Realm. The second was to head straight into the Great Universe and attempt the transformation there. As for a third option—pledging one hundred thousand years of service to the Eternal Light Chamber of Commerce? Lu Changsheng had never even considered it. The first path was sound and sensible, but it would require an immense amount of time. Who knew whether he could even find treasures that the chamber desired? Besides, even if he did find them, how high an acquisition price would the chamber offer? Lu Changsheng had no idea how long it would take to gather a vast fortune in source crystals. "To truly earn source crystals, one must venture out and forge a path in the Great Universe. "Relying solely on the Eternal Light Chamber of Commerce will only leave me at their mercy. Even if I sell rare and precious items, I won't gain many source crystals in return." After weighing every angle, Lu Changsheng concluded that only one path truly suited him: going directly to the Great Universe to make his breakthrough. He had already reconstructed three thousand Great Daos. His Illusory Realm was now exceptionally stable. Lu Changsheng was brimming with confidence. Even without supplementary treasures, he was largely certain of successfully transforming the Illusory Realm. There was no need to waste time accumulating source crystals for auxiliary items. Just as Lu Changsheng was about to depart, a Transcendent flew down from the pioneer flying boat. He handed Lu Changsheng a message transmission stone. "My name is Mo Wen, a pioneer for the Eternal Light Chamber of Commerce and a cultivator of the first realm of Transcendence. "If you roam the Great Universe in the future and need anything, you may contact me directly. "By the way, if you intend to make your breakthrough in the Great Universe, you had best do so quickly. Now that your plane's coordinates have been exposed, marauders from the Great Universe might descend before our chamber has even established a foothold. Those marauders make their living through pillage, and their information networks are remarkably swift..." Lu Changsheng looked at Mo Wen. The man was showing clear goodwill. Evidently, he wished to forge a friendly connection with Lu Changsheng. After all, Lu Changsheng walked the path of a Realm Lord. In the Realm Lord system, failing to become a true Realm Lord was one thing, but once someone truly succeeded, they would ascend to the heavens in a single leap. It was only natural for Mo Wen to sow seeds of goodwill in advance. "My thanks for the information, Fellow Daoist Mo." Lu Changsheng accepted the message transmission stone. It differed from the message transmission stones used in the Dark Domain and chaos; it seemed capable of transmitting messages across the Great Universe. However, it still had a range limit and could not transmit across excessive distances. A stone like this was worth at least one or two source crystals. Though hardly valuable by Great Universe standards, it was nonetheless a gesture of goodwill from Mo Wen. *Whoosh.* Lu Changsheng turned and flew straight toward the Great Universe passage. Facing the passage before him, he took a deep breath. Stepping forward, he plunged directly inside. *Hum.* A powerful crushing force bore down on him in an instant. Yet the light of the Illusory Realm enveloped his body, and the crushing pressure vanished without a trace almost immediately. When Lu Changsheng steadied his footing, he found himself standing in an empty, boundless expanse of pitch-black void. There seemed to be nothing in this void at all. Yet an invisible force seemed to constantly press in, attempting to erode his flesh. Protected by the Illusory Realm, however, this erosive force could not penetrate the realm's light. "Is this the Great Universe?" Lu Changsheng looked back. He could no longer see the passage. In fact, he could not even see the planes of chaos or the Dark Domain. However, as a chaos lifeform native to this plane, he could sense the position of chaos through an unseen connection, so he did not have to worry about losing his way back. Lu Changsheng knew that the chaos plane remained hidden thanks to the grand concealment array jointly laid down by numerous source lifeforms and Emperors. Otherwise, cultivators from the Great Universe would have discovered it long ago. Lu Changsheng wandered about the Great Universe for a time, familiarizing himself with its environment. He even withdrew the light of the Illusory Realm, allowing the Great Universe's erosive force to wash over him. He was a chaos lifeform who had undergone three life leaps, and his physical body was exceedingly robust. Yet even with three life leaps, his body clearly felt strained against the erosive power of the Great Universe. While it would not render him completely helpless, prolonged exposure would undoubtedly cause severe harm. No wonder cultivators generally waited until becoming an Emperor or a source lifeform before venturing into the Great Universe. Lu Changsheng ceased his roaming. He had largely adapted to the environment, and this location was at a decent distance from the chaos plane—neither too close nor too far. It was an ideal spot for his breakthrough. *Hum.* With a wave of his hand, Lu Changsheng summoned the Black Light Pagoda. Lin Qingluan and the Fire Kui Beast were inside. "Qingluan, I am about to attempt the transformation of my Illusory Realm. It may take a very long time. Remain inside the Black Light Pagoda; I will grant you control of it so you can maneuver it as needed." "Very well. Focus on your breakthrough without worry—I will keep watch over you!" Lin Qingluan took Lu Changsheng's hand. She knew how critical this moment was for him. If he made a single misstep, failure meant death. Lu Changsheng nodded, then turned his gaze upon the Fire Kui Beast. The beast said eagerly, "Please rest assured, Master! I will protect Mistress with my life!" Lu Changsheng did not truly count on the Fire Kui Beast to protect Lin Qingluan, but since it was familiar with the Great Universe, its assistance gave him peace of mind. He had Lin Qingluan and the beast withdraw some distance. Once he began transforming the Illusory Realm, the disturbance would be colossal. Staying too close might inadvertently damage the Black Light Pagoda, so putting distance between them was safer. Standing alone in the void, Lu Changsheng called up his attribute panel with a thought. Host: Lu Changsheng Comprehension: Top-Tier Comprehension World Master: 100% (Nine Times) Chaos Lifeform: 86% (Three Leaps) On the attribute panel, Lu Changsheng had indeed regenerated the world nine times. What remained unlisted were the three thousand Great Daos. Lu Changsheng calculated the passage of time. He was roughly twenty-four thousand years old, nearing twenty-five thousand. At twenty-five thousand years of age, he was remarkably young for a chaos lifeform. Of course, he could not be compared to Emperors, as their cultivation systems were entirely different. Twenty-five thousand years had finally brought him to this step. "Begin." Lu Changsheng unleashed his Illusory Realm. It expanded freely, spreading outward until it reached its absolute limit. Having received the innate cultivation method of a Realm Lord, Lu Changsheng naturally understood how to undergo the transformation. Though he had not comprehended the Life Dao, Time Dao, or Space Dao, his Illusory Realm now contained nearly everything else. All manner of Great Daos were present. As for "life," so long as a world was complete, life would be born within it as a matter of course. "Collapse." In the next instant, the Illusory Realm began to collapse inward at tremendous speed. This process alone was arduous, taking a full decade. Once the collapse reached a critical threshold— *Boom!* The Illusory Realm exploded. In truth, transforming the Illusory Realm was just like his previous regenerations: an evolution from destruction. Only this time, it was not regenerating into an Illusory Realm again. It was evolving into a true, living world! This time, a qualitative leap was mandatory! The explosion of Lu Changsheng's Illusory Realm produced a terrifying shockwave. Even inside the Black Light Pagoda far away, Lin Qingluan felt the violent tremors. Yet there was nothing she could do. Compared to Lu Changsheng, her passive waiting was a true torment. Following the explosion, the evolution of the Illusory Realm began. It evolved time, space, mountains, rivers... Yet these were merely external manifestations. What was truly evolving were the rules and the Great Daos, mirroring the various Great Daos found within the Dark Domain. However, these were no longer simulated Great Daos, but true Great Daos of a real world! Furthermore, Lu Changsheng had used the Dark Domain as his blueprint all along. His Illusory Realm had continuously mirrored it. The Dark Domain was already thoroughly complete—it was an entire plane. In theory, the world born from a Realm Lord's transformation corresponded to a plane. Lu Changsheng's path was the correct one. Yet as time marched on, difficulties arose in his world evolution. No sooner had he evolved a batch of Great Daos than they began to crumble. They were not stable enough and collapsed immediately. With each Great Dao's collapse, violent turbulence tore through the entire evolving realm. This was the most perilous hurdle in advancing to Realm Lord. The vast majority of Realm Lords were halted at this juncture, failing their ascension because their Great Daos could not stabilize. As for why the Great Daos failed to hold firm, no one throughout history had ever found a definitive answer, and the solutions varied from person to person. Some relied on natural treasures to temporarily stabilize a portion of their Great Daos. With some luck, those stabilized Great Daos could guide and stabilize the others until the world transformation succeeded. That was why supplementary treasures were typically required for a world transformation. Yet Lu Changsheng possessed no such treasures. He was utterly destitute in this regard and could not afford them. He could rely only on himself! "I hold three thousand Great Daos. Can I truly fail to stabilize a single one?" Lu Changsheng's gaze was unwavering, his resolve ironclad. If they collapsed, let them collapse! If the first Great Dao fell, he had a second. Then a third, a fourth, and countless more... Ten, twenty, fifty, eighty, one hundred... Lu Changsheng was going to brute-force his way through to the very end. He was relying purely on probability to see just how many Great Daos could collapse before one held. No matter how wretched his luck might be, it was impossible for not a single one to stabilize. Such an extravagant approach was far more "luxurious" than relying on auxiliary treasures. Almost no one dared attempt it. Only Lu Changsheng possessed such an extraordinary foundation. With three thousand Great Daos at his command, who could match his confidence? Two hundred, three hundred... Finally, after three hundred and nineteen Great Daos had crumbled, one remained standing. That Great Dao stabilized. The significance of this first stabilized Great Dao was monumental—it was a leap from zero to one. And once the first held, a second and third followed... As more Great Daos solidified, fewer and fewer collapsed. It became a virtuous cycle. All that remained was to let time do its work. After all, a Realm Lord's evolution was equivalent to evolving an entire plane, which inevitably demanded vast spans of time. Far away inside the Black Light Pagoda, both the Fire Kui Beast and Lin Qingluan breathed a slight sigh of relief. Though neither walked the Realm Lord path, they could see that the turbulence of Lu Changsheng's evolution had subsided into tranquility, proceeding in an orderly fashion. Everything had settled onto the right track. Now, it was only a matter of gradual evolution over time. "I wonder how long you will need, Changsheng... But no matter how long it takes, I will guard you!" Lin Qingluan murmured softly. Controlling the Black Light Pagoda, she remained vigilant, constantly monitoring the surroundings. *** In chaos and the Dark Domain, the two-realm war had ground to a temporary halt. The Eternal Light Chamber of Commerce had successfully established its branch. Having obtained many natural treasures through trade with the chamber, the Emperors could now temporarily extend their lifespans and even live second or third lives. In comparison, the meager fortune contested in the two-realm war was no longer as crucial, leading to a ceasefire. This development benefited more than just Emperors and source lifeforms. For numerous Great Saints and chaos lifeforms, the chamber's arrival was an immense opportunity. Many of its treasures offered them a direct path upward. In particular, certain cultivation methods inherited from the Great Universe began to spread, igniting a fervent surge throughout chaos and the Dark Domain. The realms seemed to usher in the most prosperous golden age of cultivation in their history. Yet opportunity was often shadowed by peril. Many seemed to have forgotten that exposing the location of chaos and the Dark Domain invited the threat of marauders. And now, the marauders had arrived. A massive flying boat swiftly approached the twin plane of chaos and the Dark Domain. "We found it. It's right here." "A hidden plane uploaded to the Eternal Light Chamber of Commerce's star maps. I wonder what its strength is like?" "With the might of our Blood Oath Alliance, we may not sweep across every plane, but very few can stand against us." "Don't forget the Ninefold Plane last time. Our alliance suffered devastating losses back then." "The Ninefold Plane had a peculiar structure that birthed an absurd number of Transcendents. Running into them was sheer bad luck. We can't possibly remain unlucky forever, can we?" "Let's hope our luck turns this time..." With that, the massive flying boat turned into a streak of light and plunged violently into the plane passage. *Rumble!* The flying boat of the Blood Oath Alliance arrived, descending into the void of chaos. Countless cultivators witnessed the spectacle. "What is that?" "That's not a ship from the Eternal Light Chamber of Commerce. Could it be... marauders?" "The marauders are here..." Expressions shifted drastically across the plane. "Hahaha! It's actually a twin plane!" "We've struck it rich this time! Our luck truly has turned!" "This time, we must wring this twin plane dry!" Seeing the state of chaos and the Dark Domain, the Transcendents of the Blood Oath Alliance were ecstatic. A twin plane held boundless potential. To them, that meant an abundance of treasures to plunder. Even if they only gathered source crystals, the trip would be well worth their effort. "Hm?" "Marauders..." Source lifeforms and Emperors alike stared intently at the enormous vessel. Someone immediately went to inquire with the Eternal Light Chamber of Commerce. "Do you know who the marauders aboard that flying boat are?" The chamber's representatives narrowed their eyes, studying the insignia upon the vessel. "Judging by the emblem, it should be the Blood Oath Alliance. "They are not an easy group to handle. They boast at least three powerhouses at the peak of the first realm of Transcendence. By the way, the peak of the first realm corresponds to what you call invincible Emperors or invincible source lifeforms. "The Blood Oath Alliance possesses nine Transcendent cultivators in total: three peak powerhouses and six top-tier cultivators of the first realm. A lineup like this is generally sufficient to sweep through most planes. "Whether your twin plane can withstand them remains to be seen. Consider this information free of charge—a gift from our Eternal Light Chamber of Commerce." The chamber hid nothing, openly disclosing the details of the Blood Oath Alliance to the Emperors and source lifeforms. The intelligence was grave. Faces paled across both factions. Three powerhouses at the peak of the first realm of Transcendence? In the Dark Domain, that meant Divine Emperors. Three Divine Emperors? Along with six top-tier Emperors and source lifeforms? How could they possibly compare? The Dark Domain and chaos had indeed produced Divine Emperors and invincible source lifeforms in the past, but at most, only one or two appeared in a single era—and many eras saw none at all. At present, the Dark Domain possessed no Divine Emperor, and chaos had no invincible source lifeform. They were in dire straits. "No, we still hold an advantage, and that advantage is our numbers!" "The Blood Oath Alliance has only nine cultivators of the first realm. How many do we have across chaos and the Dark Domain combined? Well over a hundred source lifeforms and Emperors! Our numbers are more than tenfold theirs! "So long as we unite and work together, we can certainly hold them off!" a source lifeform spoke up. Yet as soon as the words left his mouth, a heavy silence fell. Source lifeforms and Emperors uniting? That was utterly impossible. The chasm between the two sides was not carved overnight. Ceasing the two-realm war was already a miracle; joining hands in complete trust to fight the Blood Oath Alliance was a pipe dream. Who would dare turn their back to the other? Thus, even knowing that this strategy was their only chance against the alliance, it was completely unrealistic. "Hmph! This Emperor does not believe they can truly rival a Divine Emperor!" The one speaking was Emperor Kuangmo. His entire rise had been forged through battle. He had fought all his life and never yielded to anyone. Even though the Blood Oath Alliance fielded peak powerhouses of the first realm of Transcendence on par with Divine Emperors, Emperor Kuangmo was determined to test their mettle. Such was his temperament, and such was his Dao! *Whoosh.* Emperor Kuangmo flew straight toward the flying boat. All eyes locked onto his figure. "Scum of the Blood Oath Alliance, get out!" Emperor Kuangmo roared, devoid of any courtesy. He threw a punch. Instantly, Great Daos resonated with deafening force. An Emperor had forged the Great Daos into their very flesh; a single strike caused myriad Daos to roar with earth-shattering majesty. "From where did this barbarian crawl? Seeking death!" A chilling voice drifted from the flying boat. Simultaneously, a figure resembling a fiendgod stepped out from the vessel. A terrifying physical might surged outward in all directions, as though warping the very fabric of the void. It was pure physical power—a cultivation path identical to that of a source lifeform. The onlookers' expressions twisted in shock. "Suppressing all techniques with sheer brute strength, impervious to all arts... This truly is the pinnacle of a source lifeform, virtually invincible!" "The Eternal Light Chamber of Commerce spoke the truth. This Blood Oath Alliance is terrifyingly difficult to deal with." "Emperor Kuangmo is in grave danger." In truth, it was far beyond merely grave danger. As the Blood Oath Alliance powerhouse threw a single punch, the void seemed to shatter. Emperor Kuangmo's punch, which had stirred myriad Daos, shattered like brittle paper before that blow. *Bang!* A dull explosion rang out. Emperor Kuangmo's Great Daos snapped instantly. Not only did his Daos shatter, but his entire body was obliterated into fine dust under the force of that single strike. Silence fell. The entire expanse turned deathly still. Everyone stared dumbfounded into the void where Emperor Kuangmo had stood, unable to believe their eyes. That was Emperor Kuangmo—a warrior who had never tasted defeat in his life. And now, he was dead? Killed by a single punch, without offering the slightest resistance before being blasted apart. The scene was thoroughly harrowing. At that moment, everyone finally grasped the grim reality: the Blood Oath Alliance was an insurmountable foe. And that had been just one peak powerhouse of the first realm of Transcendence. The Blood Oath Alliance had three such figures! In the past, whenever a single Divine Emperor emerged in the Dark Domain, they could sweep away all opposition. Had a Divine Emperor been present during the two-realm war, chaos would have been routed at every turn. How could they face three terrifying beings on par with Divine Emperors? "Pathetic." "Natives will always be natives. You may have cultivation systems, but what future could you possibly have hiding inside a plane your entire lives? "I alone could sweep your entire plane clean! "If anyone else wishes to resist, step forward and try." As the powerhouse's gaze swept over the crowd, a shiver ran down the spines of the source lifeforms and Emperors. It was not as if they had never ventured out. In fact, it was precisely because they had stepped into the Great Universe that their reverence for it ran so deep. Many of them had ultimately scurried back to the Dark Domain or chaos. The Great Universe was simply too vast. Once severed from their native planes, they were nothing. Only the historical Divine Emperors and invincible source lifeforms had possessed the strength to forge a name for themselves out in the Great Universe. "Good. Now that you've learned your place, behave yourselves. "Third Brother, take the men into the depths of the plane and begin plundering. Take whatever treasures you see. If anyone dares to obstruct or resist, exterminate them on the spot. "I will hold the Great Universe passage. From this moment on, no one except the Eternal Light Chamber of Commerce is permitted to enter or leave. Stay obediently within your plane, or be executed without mercy!" The Blood Oath Alliance's flying boat positioned itself squarely before the Great Universe passage, blocking the exit. Although there were two passages—one in chaos and one in the Dark Domain—the alliance would inevitably dispatch forces to seal the other as well. A profound sense of humiliation gripped countless Emperors and source lifeforms. Yet what could they do? They were completely powerless. Thus, the Blood Oath Alliance split into three contingents. One contingent proceeded to the Dark Domain to guard the second Great Universe passage. Another began stripping the resources and treasures of chaos and the Dark Domain. The final contingent remained behind to blockade the passage in chaos. Each contingent was led by a powerhouse at the peak of the first realm of Transcendence. The native powerhouses did not submit entirely without resistance; they sought an opportunity to strike back. Seeing the alliance divide its forces, they believed their chance had arrived. Roughly thirty-eight source lifeforms and Emperors joined forces, forming a grand array to ambush the alliance cultivators plundering chaos. That battle shook the heavens and rocked the earth, sending shockwaves through both realms. The outcome: all thirty-eight source lifeforms and Emperors perished, completely wiped out! After that battle, the source lifeforms and Emperors of chaos and the Dark Domain were utterly broken in spirit. None dared make another reckless move. That had been merely one fraction of the invaders—only three alliance cultivators in total. Yet thirty-eight joined powerhouses had been thoroughly annihilated. What did chaos and the Dark Domain have left to resist the Blood Oath Alliance? No matter how bitter their resentment, they could only bow their heads and endure the relentless pillaging. Days turned into months, and a thousand years passed in the blink of an eye. Throughout that millennium, the Dark Domain and chaos lived beneath the dark shadow of the Blood Oath Alliance. The marauders looted unceasingly, wiping out countless sects and families and leaving widespread misery in their wake. Yet the Emperors and source lifeforms were powerless to fight back. Watching this unfold, the Eternal Light Chamber of Commerce merely shook their heads. In truth, newly discovered planes faced this exact ordeal all the time. Could the chamber intervene? It was not out of the question; they conducted any kind of business, including hiring powerful guardians to protect a plane. Yet it all came down to two words: source crystals. It required source crystals, and an exorbitant amount at that! So long as sufficient source crystals or other rare treasures were provided, the chamber would step in. Unfortunately, neither the Dark Domain nor chaos possessed the wealth required to enlist their aid. "Endure!" "All we can do now is endure!" "The Blood Oath Alliance are marauders; their only goal is to plunder resources and treasures. "Perhaps after this sacking, chaos and the Dark Domain won't recover for hundreds of millions of years. Cultivators below the Transcendent realm will see their cultivation resources drastically dwindle or vanish entirely. But as long as the alliance eventually leaves, our realms can slowly mend. "What we must fear is that they will pick our bones dry, siphoning the plane's origin power to condense source crystals. If the origin power suffers severe depletion, chaos and the Dark Domain will be utterly finished, spiraling toward total destruction. "If it truly comes to that, our only choice will be to sell the plane to the Eternal Light Chamber of Commerce. We would forfeit our trade autonomy and be forced to trade exclusively with them under heavy exploitation, but that is still better than having our bones picked clean by the Blood Oath Alliance and facing total annihilation..." A heavy dread weighed upon the hearts of the source lifeforms and Emperors. The Eternal Light Chamber of Commerce appeared neutral on the surface, yet they had uploaded the plane's coordinates to their star maps and sold them openly without ever consulting the inhabitants of chaos or the Dark Domain. In the end, it all stemmed from the weakness of their plane. In the boundless Great Universe, for a plane to survive and maintain its independence, it had to produce a powerhouse of the second realm of Transcendence. Only with a powerhouse of the second realm guarding the plane could its security be guaranteed, allowing it to stand on equal footing before the various factions of the Great Universe. Alas, let alone birthing such an exalted figure, not a single one of the native source lifeforms and Emperors had ever laid eyes on an expert of the second realm of Transcendence. "No, there is still one other way. "If a true Realm Lord were to emerge, even if they fell short of a second-realm Transcendent, they could still barely preserve the peace of a plane. "Lu Changsheng has been in the Great Universe for so long... has he succeeded?" Ancestor Qingchi murmured under his breath, gazing toward the Great Universe. Although he did not believe Lu Changsheng could truly become a Realm Lord, it was at least a glimmer of hope. Yet a thousand years had passed without a single word from Lu Changsheng. Perhaps he had already failed, perishing in the cold depths of the Great Universe...