Hundredfold True Realm Versus the Power of the Third Realm!

Disintegration! Frantic disintegration! For the very first time, Lu Changsheng truly experienced the power of the Third Realm. The True Realm Plane he took such immense pride in was thoroughly overwhelmed for the first time. The plane was being broken down—an irresistible, inescapable deconstruction. Time ticked away, second by second. One hour, two hours, three hours... The Lord Gods of Ephemera Temple went from initial exhilaration to increasingly grim, heavy expressions. They stared intently at Lu Changsheng's True Realm Plane. It truly was powerless to withstand the might of the Third Realm. Indeed, Lu Changsheng's True Realm Plane was actively unraveling. Yet after all this time, just how much had actually disintegrated? Lu Changsheng probed it for a moment. Ten percent! After several hours, only ten percent of his True Realm Plane had unraveled. That was equivalent to breaking down ten times the volume of an ordinary True Realm. It was already astonishing. If this continued, the total collapse of Lu Changsheng's True Realm would merely be a matter of time. However, the crux of the issue was precisely time. Could Ephemera Temple's foundation hold out for that long? The temple's foundation was an immortal true intent housed within immortal substance. And that immortal true intent was finite. Every bit used was a bit lost forever. Back then, the Third Realm Sovereign of Ephemera Temple had employed an extraordinary method to seal the immortal true intent inside the immortal substance, enabling it to be preserved down through the ages as the temple's ultimate foundation. It had already been deployed once before, which had introduced a hairline crack across the immortal substance. Immortal substance itself was indestructible. Naturally, the crack was not on the immortal substance itself, but on the other materials bound to it. Yet if those supplementary materials fractured, the immortal substance would no longer be able to contain the immortal true intent. When that happened, their foundation would be completely spent. Without its foundation, how could Ephemera Temple maintain its standing as a top-tier faction in the Moke Universe? "Hold on a little longer! The God-Slaying Mighty Figure is only barely holding out. His world will definitely crumble soon!" The Hall Master of Ephemera Temple gritted his teeth, holding the line with all his might. In truth, his guess was not wrong. Lu Changsheng was indeed straining to endure. His True Realm Plane was rapidly decomposing. Ten percent, twenty percent, thirty percent... It had to be said that the power of the Third Realm was terrifyingly potent. Thirty percent of Lu Changsheng's True Realm's power had been broken down—meaning thirty times its original volume had been reduced to dust. Of course, that energy still lingered within this void of the universe. Lu Changsheng could even "devour" it anew to restore his True Realm. Unfortunately, the rate of restoration was far too slow. It was impossible to slowly replenish it amidst an active battle. Now, it had become an endurance contest to see who could outlast the other. Lu Changsheng's True Realm appeared as if it were about to be ground down to nothing. After all, he had initially only unfurled half of his True Realm—at most, a fiftyfold volume. Thirtyfold had already disintegrated. Hope rekindled in the hearts of the cultivators from Ephemera Temple. Perhaps holding out just a fraction longer would be enough to utterly defeat the God-Slaying Mighty Figure. However, Lu Changsheng took a deep breath. This time, he held nothing back. *Rumble!* Lu Changsheng's True Realm continued to unfurl. This time, the entirety of his True Realm Plane unfolded into existence. It was equivalent to adding another fiftyfold volume. When that additional fiftyfold volume spread across the void, the elders of Ephemera Temple were left slack-jawed, their expressions turning ghastly. "How can he unleash such a massive world again? Wasn't his world almost entirely broken down?" "How does he still have strength left in reserve?" "His world is simply too vast! Even if it can't prevent decomposition by a Sovereign's power, its sheer bulk requires continuous expenditure. How much power does our temple's foundation have left to burn?" "This is an utterly unreasonable way of fighting—relying purely on overwhelming bulk to force an attrition battle..." "If this were a true Third Realm Sovereign, they could obliterate a world of this scale in an instant! But we can't!" "The foundation is about to give out..." Before the words had even faded... *Crack!* A fissure split across the statue. This fracture was vastly larger than the first, stark and shocking to behold. With the appearance of this crack, the entire statue teetered on the verge of total collapse. The Hall Master's face drained of color. He knew Ephemera Temple had lost. After all, the foundation could no longer be drawn upon. Pushing it any further would exhaust it completely. Without its foundation, what would Ephemera Temple amount to? "It seems you have reached your limit..." Lu Changsheng's voice suddenly rang out. He clearly sensed that the Third Realm's power had vanished. And that statue of immortal substance now bore a massive crack. As for his True Realm, only half of its volume had been broken down. Yes, merely fiftyfold. He still had fifty times his original volume intact. Even with just this fiftyfold volume, he could effortlessly crush any Lord God or mighty figure. "Retreat!" Without the slightest hesitation, the Hall Master made a decisive call to withdraw. Clashing head-on with Lu Changsheng at this juncture meant certain death! Consequently, the forces of Ephemera Temple moved with extreme haste. Lu Changsheng's True Realm Plane swept forward directly. Within his plane, no one could hope to escape. Yet Ephemera Temple still possessed a trace of their foundation, which held the power of the Third Realm. Even though the immortal substance statue was cracked, channeling a minuscule wisp of Third Realm power was still within their means. And even that sliver retained the unique hallmarks of the Third Realm. In an instant, it dissolved a section of Lu Changsheng's True Realm Plane, tearing a gaping hole straight through it. The members of Ephemera Temple surged outward through the breach and vanished beyond the horizon in the blink of an eye. They had escaped. The people of Ephemera Temple fled without looking back. Ever since ascending to the Second Realm, this was the first time anyone had managed to forcibly tear through Lu Changsheng's True Realm Plane and flee right before his eyes. Yet Lu Changsheng did not pursue them. He had his own considerations. "The power of the Third Realm..." Lu Changsheng murmured softly. It truly lived up to its reputation. In his eyes, the power of the Third Realm seemed virtually unsolvable at present. That ability to deconstruct all things was genuinely terrifying. The only viable countermeasure was to continually bolster his world's mass and volume, then compete against that Third Realm power in a war of attrition. For instance, if his volume grew to the scale of the Boundary Sea, it would stand toe-to-toe with even an authentic Third Realm Sovereign. A Sovereign simply could not do anything against the Boundary Sea; its volume was just too colossal. *Whoosh.* Zhao Yi flew over. His horizons had truly been broadened today, leaving him deeply shaken. He had never imagined Ephemera Temple possessed such a dreadful foundation bearing the might of the Third Realm. Yet even so, Ephemera Temple had still lost. It had been a crushing, absolute defeat that forced them into a disgraceful flight. In a sense, didn't this mean Lu Changsheng had already surpassed half-step Sovereigns and rivaled the power of the Third Realm? Naturally, Lu Changsheng was still no match for an actual Third Realm Sovereign. One needed only to look at his True Realm Plane to see that—it was completely incapable of resisting decomposition by Third Realm power. Yet Lu Changsheng had won. History was written by the victors. Nothing else mattered. "Junior Brother Lu, leaving a wounded snake alive invites disaster. Why didn't you pursue them?" Zhao Yi asked. Lu Changsheng shook his head and said with deep meaning, "No rush. Let the news circulate for a while. Besides, I suffered considerable losses in this battle and need to recover first." A plan had long formed in Lu Changsheng's mind. He certainly had no intention of letting Ephemera Temple off the hook. Just not right now. Moreover, what he intended to do went far beyond a mere pursuit. He wanted to make a major statement. An event that would shake the entire Moke Universe! Therefore, he had to be at the absolute peak of his condition. At present, Lu Changsheng had lost fifty percent of his volume. He needed time to restore it. Fortunately, the energy of the lost True Realm Plane still lingered in this region of cosmic void. Lu Changsheng could recuperate at his own pace. Even if a portion was lost, he could replenish it by devouring the plane ruins within the Ephemeral Star Sea. His greatest fear was that if too much time passed, the dissipated energy would completely scatter across the universe. That would be a severe loss, making recovery exceedingly difficult. Zhao Yi fell into contemplation. He faintly grasped Lu Changsheng's intention. Yet that idea was simply too daring, so Zhao Yi chose not to pry. Lu Changsheng began resting and reorganizing in the Ephemeral Star Sea, steadily recovering the volume of his True Realm Plane. Meanwhile, the forces of Ephemera Temple had successfully fled back to their headquarters. Upon returning to the great hall, the numerous elders and the Hall Master all let out long sighs of relief. "We made it back at last. We almost didn't make it out of there." "Our Ephemera Temple brought out our ultimate foundation, yet we still lost. Just thinking about it feels inconceivable." "Before the battle, I wouldn't have believed for a moment that the God-Slaying Mighty Figure could contend with our temple's foundation. But now, I believe it..." "The issue now isn't how to deal with the God-Slaying Mighty Figure, but how our Ephemera Temple will protect itself. Will he hunt his way to the temple to exact revenge?" "It's very possible. We must make thorough preparations..." The elders discussed the matter frantically. They were finally feeling dread and terror. And before? Every single one of them had spoken with supreme confidence, convinced that deploying their foundation would easily defeat or slay the God-Slaying Mighty Figure. Now, however, they understood the gravity of the situation. This concerned the very survival of Ephemera Temple! "Enough!" The Hall Master suddenly broke the chatter. His face was sullen, his heart churning with boundless fury—a fury mingled with panic and helplessness. The esteemed Hall Master of Ephemera Temple, a peak Lord God, was actually feeling panicked and helpless? If word got out, hardly anyone would believe it. Yet that was the cold, hard reality. At this moment, profound panic and helplessness gripped his heart, born entirely of his terror toward Lu Changsheng's strength. Most critically, their foundation was virtually spent. This was an irreplaceable expenditure; every bit used was lost forever. Unless a second Third Realm Sovereign was willing to re-infuse their immortal true intent and reforge the vessel, Ephemera Temple's foundation was as good as unusable. Sustaining another battle would be nearly impossible. At best, it could only be tapped briefly during a desperate escape when a small barrier needed deconstructing. Even then, they had to be fast. And after two or three more uses at most, the foundation would become completely defunct. Now, a very pressing question loomed. What about the God-Slaying Mighty Figure? What if he pursued them here? Just because he hadn't followed them right away didn't mean he wouldn't come later. If he did, given the temple's current state, what could they do? "Speak your minds. If the God-Slaying Mighty Figure seeks vengeance and descends upon Ephemera Temple, how shall we respond?" the Hall Master asked slowly. The elders froze slightly. They exchanged glances. How could they respond? In the temple's current condition, they had no means to deal with him at all. "Hall Master, the God-Slaying Mighty Figure shouldn't dare come to our Ephemera Temple, right? After all, our temple still carries prestige as one of the Moke Universe's top factions, closely monitored by the Sovereigns. Would he dare?" "Indeed. The current situation in the Moke Universe is in a stalemate where no side can easily act. If the God-Slaying Mighty Figure attacks our Ephemera Temple, it would shatter the equilibrium, leading to unpredictable fallout and triggering a massive upheaval across the universe. In their fury, the Sovereigns would likely strike him down. That is certainly not an outcome he would want." "The God-Slaying Mighty Figure may be powerful, but how could he truly stand against a Sovereign? Unless he has lost his mind, he will simply remain entrenched in the Ephemeral Star Sea and won't actually destroy our temple. At worst, we can pay some price to appease him." "Quite right, there's no need to worry excessively about him..." The Hall Master's gaze turned chillingly cold as he swept his eyes across the elders in the hall. Even at this stage, these elders still thought of relying on Ephemera Temple's past "prestige" to "deter" the God-Slaying Mighty Figure. Could that prestige deter him? Every one of them was still clinging to the fading afterglow of Ephemera Temple's golden days, utterly oblivious to the perilous situation they were in. Ephemera Temple was rotten from top to bottom. Their fighting spirit had long withered. Not a single one among them could sense the mortal danger at hand. The Hall Master felt deep disappointment. Yet the greatest share of responsibility rested on his shoulders. After all, he had been the one to override all opposition and insist on using the foundation against the God-Slaying Mighty Figure. That move had directly enraged the mighty figure. Whatever fallout ensued would have to be borne by him. *Never mind. Relying on others is worse than relying on oneself. Besides, seeking help at a time like this is futile; we can only depend on the temple itself...* The Hall Master made up his mind. Come what may, he had to make preparations. Yet deep down, he lacked even a shred of confidence as to whether those measures could hold back the God-Slaying Mighty Figure. *** In the blink of an eye, ten years passed. Over the course of that decade, Lu Changsheng's fame soared to even greater heights. Word had spread throughout the Moke Universe. The God-Slaying Mighty Figure had defeated dozens of Ephemera Temple's Lord Gods and even overcome the temple's foundation—a force suspected to carry the might of the Third Realm! For a time, the name of the God-Slaying Mighty Figure resounded through every corner of the Moke Universe. The resulting influx of fortune flowed in continuously. However, it was not excessively large. *Swish.* Lu Changsheng opened his eyes. "Finally restored..." For a full ten years, Lu Changsheng had dedicated himself to rebuilding the volume of his True Realm Plane. Only now was it completely restored. He immediately brought up his attribute panel to inspect his current condition. Host: Lu Changsheng Comprehension: Top-Tier Comprehension Realm Lord: Second Realm True Realm Plane: 112-fold (expandable) Purple Zenith Soul: 27% (Incomparably noble, capable of weathering the torrents of the River of Spacetime) On the attribute panel, not only had his True Realm Plane's volume fully recovered, but it had also grown by an additional fold. This was the harvest of his past ten years of cultivation. Naturally, his Purple Zenith Soul had also advanced by two percent. While modest, it proved that the fortune was indeed streaming in without pause. Lu Changsheng had taken the right step! Yet it was not enough. Far from enough. "Ten years is about enough time..." Lu Changsheng murmured softly. The next instant, he rose to his feet. His True Realm Plane swiftly contracted. Zhao Yi immediately noticed the shift. "Junior Brother Lu, have you recovered?" Zhao Yi asked. "More or less." "Now, it's time to pay a visit to Ephemera Temple," Lu Changsheng said calmly. "Go to Ephemera Temple?" Zhao Yi's pupils contracted slightly. A certain guess formed in his mind. What else would he be going to Ephemera Temple for at a time like this? His purpose was self-evident. "Junior Brother Lu, I must still advise you." "The Moke Universe is, after all, an alternate universe, and Ephemera Temple is one of its top factions. If it is wiped out, the shockwave will be monumental. You might very well become a thorn in the side of the local Sovereigns, something they will seek to eliminate at any cost." "We came to this alternate universe merely to seek opportunities. Putting yourself in such grave danger simply isn't worth it..." Zhao Yi reasoned patiently. Generally, Second Realm cultivators traveled to alternate universes purely to seek fortunate encounters, hoping to gain insight into immortal true intent. They didn't come to wage life-and-death campaigns against an alternate universe. There was no need to draw too much attention and become a target for the local Sovereigns. Being marked by a Sovereign was unimaginably dangerous. Who knew what might happen? Lu Changsheng merely smiled without offering an explanation. Ordinary Second Realm figures indeed traversed alternate universes to seek opportunities regarding immortal true intent. There was no reason for them to fight to the death across great universes. Yet Lu Changsheng was different. Or rather, while others were still striving to attain the Third Realm, Lu Changsheng was already laying the groundwork for what lay beyond it. What Lu Changsheng needed was fortune. A boundless sea of fortune. And fortune was inextricably tied to the soul. Lu Changsheng hoped to harness the fortune of various universes to achieve a complete qualitative metamorphosis of his soul. Otherwise, once he actually reached the level of a Third Realm Sovereign, obtaining fortune from an alternate universe would become virtually impossible. After all, whenever a Third Realm Sovereign descended into an alternate universe, they would inevitably face intense rejection from that cosmos and draw the acute vigilance of its local Sovereigns. Acquiring fortune under such conditions? Utterly out of the question! Not a single shred could be gained. Conversely, a Second Realm mighty figure like Lu Changsheng was like a fish in water within an alternate universe, capable of harvesting massive amounts of fortune. Lu Changsheng had no intention of passing up such an opportunity. As for drawing the Sovereigns' attention? That was only natural. Even if Lu Changsheng refrained from destroying Ephemera Temple, would the Sovereigns simply ignore him? Nonsense. Lu Changsheng had likely been marked by them long ago. Yet due to various constraints, the Sovereigns of the Moke Universe simply could not spare the attention or make a move against him. "My mind is made up," Lu Changsheng stated firmly. Zhao Yi could only nod. "In that case, I will accompany you." Lu Changsheng naturally agreed. With that, the two departed straight for Ephemera Temple. The Ephemeral Star Sea was very close to Ephemera Temple. Before long, Lu Changsheng and Zhao Yi caught sight of the temple. Ephemera Temple possessed immense renown. Countless people yearned to gain entry into its ranks. Even though Lu Changsheng had previously defeated dozens of the temple's Lord Gods and tarnished its reputation, hordes of cultivators still hungered to join. Right now, this was the scene that met Lu Changsheng's eyes. "Quite a crowd," Lu Changsheng remarked as he looked down at the dense throngs gathered at the foot of Ephemera Temple's mountain, bustling with activity. After all, a starved camel was still bigger than a horse. No matter how far Ephemera Temple had declined, it remained a faction that had once given birth to a Sovereign, retaining its standing as a top-tier power. It possessed resources and cultivation methods; what else could one ask for? Naturally, those wishing to join would fight tooth and nail for a spot. Yet it was not as though these people were utterly uninformed about the temple's current plight. Several cultivators were murmuring among themselves. "Word has it that Ephemera Temple can barely protect itself right now. That God-Slaying Mighty Figure is simply too formidable—he battered dozens of the temple's Lord Gods until they fled back here in disgrace, never daring to step foot in the Ephemeral Star Sea again." "Is that so? No wonder all news from the Ephemeral Star Sea has gone quiet lately, turning it into a de facto forbidden zone where no one dares tread." "Just what kind of figure is this God-Slaying Mighty Figure? To rout Ephemera Temple single-handedly?" "I heard he's a mighty figure from an alternate universe..." Even though they were aware of these rumors, it did not dampen their desire to join Ephemera Temple. Such high-level conflicts were far too distant from them. Even if they entered the temple, they would only be at the very bottom rung. No matter how world-shaking the crisis, it had nothing to do with them. Little did they know that mortal danger was already descending upon them. Lu Changsheng stood poised in the void, gazing at Ephemera Temple from afar. He did not approach quietly; instead, he arrived with supreme fanfare. *Boom!* Lu Changsheng unfurled his True Realm. From a great distance, his True Realm unfurled with staggering momentum, swiftly blotting out the heavens. The sky plummeted into pitch-black darkness. Everyone below raised their heads in bewilderment. "What's going on? Why did the sky turn dark?" "Such horrifying pressure! That's... a world..." "Could it be that the God-Slaying Mighty Figure has arrived?" "I heard the God-Slaying Mighty Figure wields a gargantuan world. It must be him!" "The God-Slaying Mighty Figure has assaulted Ephemera Temple!" Panic instantly swept through the crowd. A mighty figure! How exalted and distant was such an existence to them? Even an ordinary Lord God was an entity they could only revere from afar, let alone the God-Slaying Mighty Figure. Now that this figure had launched an assault right at Ephemera Temple's gates, those with quick wits began fleeing the mountain at top speed. Lu Changsheng allowed them to leave. As long as they were not Lord Gods, he paid them no mind. Yet should any Lord God show themselves, he would show no mercy. Up in the void, the colossal True Realm descended like an engulfing shroud. The Hall Master of Ephemera Temple witnessed the spectacle, his heart sinking. As expected, this day had come after all. The God-Slaying Mighty Figure could not possibly let things slide; he was bound to strike. In hindsight, he had merely been waiting for the right moment. Now that the moment had arrived, he was here. "Hall Master, what do we do now?" "Yes, the God-Slaying Mighty Figure has come! Can our foundation still be used?" "Our temple still has the grand defensive array. Can it hold him off?" "Should we seek aid from other Sovereigns? At any cost, we must implore them to lend Ephemera Temple a hand..." The elders were gripped by panic. Having witnessed the God-Slaying Mighty Figure's terrifying prowess firsthand, not a single elder wished to stand and fight. They knew all too well that resisting was futile. Now, their sole desire was survival. Surviving and preserving their heritage was all that mattered. The Hall Master sneered inwardly. These elders had grown far too complacent for far too long. Faced with a life-and-death crisis, every single one of them fell into shambles. Yet what was the use of panicking now? It was too late! The Hall Master, on the other hand, had long prepared himself. He would live or die alongside Ephemera Temple! After all, he was the Hall Master! "Activate the grand array!" "Elders, abandon all illusions! The God-Slaying Mighty Figure has come with the sole intent of extinguishing our Ephemera Temple's heritage!" "Only by fighting to the death might we carve out a sliver of hope!" The Hall Master's tone was ironclad and resolute. The elders felt their hearts tighten. A fight to the death? It seemed their doom was truly upon them. Lu Changsheng manifested a humanoid incarnation. He stood suspended in the void, hands clasped behind his back, looking down upon Ephemera Temple below. Everyone laid eyes upon him. Naturally, they understood that this was the famed God-Slaying Mighty Figure. Many had never seen him before, and this was their first glimpse of him. Yet this very first glimpse unfolded in such a suffocating scene. Lu Changsheng intended to "swallow" Ephemera Temple whole in a single gulp. He meant to thoroughly crush Ephemera Temple and sever its heritage forever! "Our Ephemera Temple is a Sovereign's lineage, passed down for countless eons! God-Slaying Mighty Figure, must you truly push things to this absolute extreme?" the Hall Master bellowed. His voice reverberated through the void like rolling thunder. Within Ephemera Temple, one towering fiendgod body after another emerged, far outnumbering those that had traveled to the Ephemeral Star Sea. This was only natural. Previously, only the Hall Master and core elders had ventured out, while Ephemera Temple possessed many other Lord Gods. Yet both the elders and the Hall Master understood clearly that numbers were utterly meaningless before the God-Slaying Mighty Figure. Once that boundless world descended, any number of fiendgod bodies would be ground into paste. Lu Changsheng gazed coldly down at the Hall Master. "Today, Ephemera Temple shall perish!" His voice rang with absolute, overbearing resolve. Indisputable! Leaving not a shred of leeway. Lu Changsheng intended to trample Ephemera Temple into oblivion this very day, before the eyes of the entire Moke Universe! He could even faintly sense several formidable gazes resting upon him. Sovereigns! Those were undeniably Sovereigns! Yet so what? Mere gazes could not save Ephemera Temple! The Hall Master's heart plummeted to rock bottom. He knew there was no turning back. Ever since he had resolved to deploy their foundation last time, their fate had already been sealed. "The heritage of Ephemera Temple must never end by my hand!" "If it comes to this, we can only stake our lives!" The Hall Master seemed to make a final resolution. *Swish.* With a flick of his wrist, the statue crafted from immortal substance reappeared in his palm. Instantly, a wave of immortal true intent permeated the entire temple. Simultaneously, under the impetus of this true intent, all of Ephemera Temple violently shuddered. The array personally laid down by a Sovereign was activated. Under normal circumstances, this array was exceedingly difficult to trigger. Each activation demanded a staggering price. And only the Hall Master knew what that price was; not even the core elders were privy to it. The cost of initiating the array was quite simple: Lord Gods! The array required Lord Gods as fuel. "Ah...!" "Hall Master, what is happening?" "Why is my fiendgod body collapsing?" "Hall Master, what are you doing?" One Lord God after another discovered in sheer horror that they were being "absorbed" by the grand array. Even their fiendgod bodies were disintegrating. This was happening not just to one or two Lord Gods, but to nearly all of them. Evidently, the Hall Master had gone entirely mad. He intended to sacrifice the lives of most of his Lord Gods to activate the array, unleashing its ultimate strike to contend against the God-Slaying Mighty Figure! "Good!" "A top-tier faction with an eons-old heritage and a Sovereign's lineage truly does have profound depths." "Now this is interesting..." Lu Changsheng showed no surprise at the sight. It was entirely expected. Without further hesitation, Lu Changsheng brought his True Realm Plane—possessing more than a hundredfold volume—smashing down upon Ephemera Temple with unvarnished, overwhelming force.