Ephemera Temple Trampled into Ruin, Shaking the Moke Universe!

Boom! The grand array the Hall Master of Ephemera Temple relied on shattered completely after withstanding the impact for barely a single second. It offered virtually no resistance at all. A True Realm Plane with a hundredfold volume was an insurmountable force to anyone beneath the Third Realm. It was utterly unstoppable. As the True Realm Plane crashed downward, the grand array disintegrated, and the grand halls and pavilions of Ephemera Temple crumbled to dust and ash. Countless elders and disciples dissolved into powder amid shrill screams. The Hall Master of Ephemera Temple turned deathly pale. He knew Ephemera Temple was finished. Everything was finished. An orthodoxy spanning hundreds of millions of years was now doomed to be destroyed in his hands. Bang! The Hall Master self-detonated his fiendgod body. The power unleashed by the detonation was terrifying. Yet against the descending True Realm Plane, it accomplished nothing at all. As the Hall Master, this was the only way left for him to display his resolve. Many who had already fled the grounds watched from afar. Seeing this spectacle, their faces turned stark white. Their entire bodies trembled uncontrollably. From this day forward, Ephemera Temple would become nothing more than history. "Ephemera Temple is finished just like that?" "This was an orthodoxy that stood for hundreds of millions of years, a peak faction that once gave birth to a Third Realm Sovereign... yet it was trampled into ruin by the God-Slaying Mighty Figure all on his own..." "Is the God-Slaying Mighty Figure truly not a Sovereign?" "He isn't a Sovereign, yet he destroyed Ephemera Temple with such ease. Beneath the Sovereign realm, who could possibly be his match?" A chill settled over the hearts of many onlookers. Whatever the case, they were native cultivators of the Moke Universe. And now, they could only watch helplessly as a mighty figure from an alternate universe flattened Ephemera Temple into oblivion, powerless to intervene. Lu Changsheng stood quietly in the void. He cast his gaze downward at Ephemera Temple. In this moment, the entire sect had been leveled to the ground, reduced completely to ashes and dust. As for the Lord Gods and other cultivators who had remained within, every last one had been ground to powder. Lu Changsheng could feel piercing gazes brimming with killing intent pressing through the void. They were intense enough to send a cold shudder through his heart. Without question, those were the gazes of Third Realm Sovereigns. Yet Lu Changsheng remained unmoved. Gazes could not kill anyone. Even if the Third Realm Sovereigns were seething with rage, burning with the urge to annihilate him immediately, no amount of fury could harm him in the slightest. Besides, those Sovereigns seemed to be held in check. They could only observe the events here with their perception, unable to strike in person. They could not even set foot near Ephemera Temple. "Hmm?" Lu Changsheng noticed a faint, familiar aura lingering below. Whoosh! He reached out with a hand and caught it. Instantly, the object flew up into his grasp. "This is... the statue Ephemera Temple used to channel immortal true intent? It's formed entirely of immortal substance..." Lu Changsheng inspected the statue. It was almost purely composed of immortal substance—far more and far larger than any amount he had obtained before. It could even be used to house immortal true intent, thereby unleashing Third Realm power. This was an extraordinary treasure—the very foundation of Ephemera Temple! Regrettably, that foundation had now fallen into Lu Changsheng's hands. Even such an accumulation had failed to preserve Ephemera Temple's legacy. Lu Changsheng stowed the statue away. Immortal substance was exceedingly precious, but for now, he had no use for it. After all, he was still only a Second Realm mighty figure. Only Third Realm Sovereigns could gradually utilize immortal substance. Still, since he had come across it, stockpiling it now would serve as preparation for when he eventually ascended to the Third Realm. Whoosh! Just then, Zhao Yi flew over. He stared down at Ephemera Temple with a complicated expression. Ephemera Temple was no more. It had been completely leveled by Lu Changsheng's True Realm Plane. Nothing remained to even suggest that a peak faction had once stood upon this land. "Junior Brother Lu, what about them?" Following Zhao Yi's gaze, Lu Changsheng noticed cultivators lingering nearby, including quite a few Lord Gods. "Pay them no mind. We've accomplished our goal for today. Back to the Ephemeral Star Sea!" Lu Changsheng had no desire to stir up needless complications. He had not come to the Moke Universe to lay waste to it, nor to make an enemy of the entire cosmos. Even regarding Ephemera Temple, they were the ones who had provoked him first. Furthermore, by crushing Ephemera Temple, Lu Changsheng's purpose was to send shockwaves throughout the Moke Universe and gather vast cosmic fortune. He could already feel waves of fortune converging toward him in a continuous stream. What he needed most now was quiet cultivation! "Let's go!" Lu Changsheng led Zhao Yi away from Ephemera Temple. Only after Lu Changsheng departed did the surrounding cultivators dare fly over to inspect the site. Yet Ephemera Temple was truly gone. It had genuinely been reduced to ashes. This sight sent even deeper shockwaves through the onlookers. "Ephemera Temple is truly done for..." "Indeed. Flattened by the God-Slaying Mighty Figure all on his own. This will inevitably shake the entire Moke Universe." "Ever since cultivators from the alternate universe descended upon our Moke Universe, this is the greatest loss we have ever suffered." "Yes, Ephemera Temple was one of our peak factions, yet it was wiped out just like that. It's truly difficult to believe, but the proof is right before our eyes." "The God-Slaying Mighty Figure... Today we have truly witnessed the terrifying might of an alternate universe's mighty figure!" Many murmured in heated discussion. All of them felt deeply unsettled. As native cultivators of the Moke Universe, they harbored an inherent hostility toward practitioners from the Great Universe. *** Lu Changsheng returned to the Ephemeral Star Sea. His strike against Ephemera Temple had been exceptionally high-profile, creating an enormous commotion. As time passed, Lu Changsheng clearly felt immense amounts of fortune gathering around him. This was precisely what he needed. Under this massive influx of fortune, his Purple Zenith Soul began to advance: 28%, 29%, 30%, 31%, 32%... The rate of increase for his Purple Zenith Soul was not particularly rapid. In fact, it was quite slow. However, it was remarkably steady. It grew bit by bit. The Purple Zenith Soul was undergoing a gradual transformation. At this pace, the total progress by the end would certainly be very considerable. Still, gathering this fortune would take a long time. After all, the sensation Lu Changsheng caused was enormous. News required time to spread, and the Moke Universe needed time to react. Fortune would arrive in wave after wave, continuous and unbroken. At the same time, Lu Changsheng steadily devoured the plane ruins across the Ephemeral Star Sea. He knew very well that he had now become a thorn in the side of the Third Realm Sovereigns of the Moke Universe. They wished for nothing more than to eliminate him. The only person he could rely on was himself. The greater his volume, the stronger his ability to protect himself. And so, time slipped away. In the blink of an eye, several centuries passed. Throughout those several hundred years, Lu Changsheng remained entirely motionless, staying within the Ephemeral Star Sea the entire time. Finally, when the plane ruins across the star sea had been devoured clean, Lu Changsheng opened his eyes. A divine gleam flashed through his gaze. He immediately called up his attribute panel to inspect his current condition: Host: Lu Changsheng Comprehension: Top-Tier Comprehension World Master: Second Realm True Realm Plane: 155-fold (expandable) Purple Zenith Soul: 42% (Inestimably exalted, capable of braving the surges within the River of Spacetime) Lu Changsheng's True Realm Plane had surged to 155 times its base volume. That was an increase of forty-three times over his previous scale. The enhancement was tremendous. Next was the Purple Zenith Soul. Its growth was even more pronounced, leaping from 27% to 42%—a full 15% advancement. This was the fruit of the cosmic fortune brought by trampling Ephemera Temple. It was truly colossal. "A volume of one hundred and fifty-five times is still too small, especially compared to a Third Realm Sovereign. "I still need to expand it further." Lu Changsheng withdrew his True Realm Plane. Zhao Yi immediately realized Lu Changsheng had concluded his cultivation and stepped forward at once. "Junior Brother Lu, you've finally finished your seclusion. "During the centuries you were cultivating, the Moke Universe has been quite lively. "It's said a fierce battle erupted between Third Realm Sovereigns. It was terrifying—the entire universe trembled! In the end, though, it seemed to end without resolution. No one knows the exact details, but rumors claim it all started because you wiped out Ephemera Temple..." Zhao Yi recounted everything that had taken place in the Moke Universe over the past centuries. "A battle broke out between Third Realm Sovereigns? And it might be related to me?" Lu Changsheng pondered the thought. It was certainly not impossible. The Sovereigns of the Moke Universe, enraged by the destruction of Ephemera Temple, likely tried to strike at him. But the Sovereigns of the Great Universe had been holding them in check. When the Moke Sovereigns pushed aggressively, both sides naturally fought in earnest. As for the exact reason, Zhao Yi did not know, and Lu Changsheng was equally in the dark. When matters involved Third Realm Sovereigns, unless the Sovereigns spoke of them, no one else would ever know. "Oh, right. There's one more thing: Sovereign Gaoyuan wishes to see you," Zhao Yi said solemnly, enunciating each word. "Sovereign Gaoyuan? I've had no dealings with him before. Why would he want to see me?" Lu Changsheng asked, puzzled. "I'm not sure, but it most likely has to do with you destroying Ephemera Temple. "Still, don't worry, Junior Brother Lu. Sovereign Gaoyuan is close friends with Master. There shouldn't be any danger." Lu Changsheng understood. A friend of his master, Sovereign Feilong? Then there was nothing to worry about. This was the advantage of having a Sovereign as a backer. Even in an alternate universe, having background made an enormous difference compared to having none. "Very well. Take me to see Sovereign Gaoyuan." Lu Changsheng departed the Ephemeral Star Sea alongside Zhao Yi. The Ephemeral Star Sea had once been considered a sacred ground for cultivation. Unfortunately, with Lu Changsheng having devoured its plane ruins, that unique environment was gone. It would no longer produce special cultivation resources. As time passed, it was bound to be forgotten, turning completely into an ordinary realm. Sovereign Gaoyuan resided in Gaoyuan City, also known as the Gaoyuan Dao Field. Like Star Spirit City, it was one of several strongholds established by the Great Universe within the Moke Universe. Whoosh! Lu Changsheng arrived at Gaoyuan City. His arrival immediately drew the attention of many onlookers. "Is that... the God-Slaying Mighty Figure, Lu Changsheng?" "Yes, that's Lu Changsheng." "The God-Slaying Mighty Figure... they say he has surpassed half-step Sovereigns and can withstand the power of the Third Realm." "That's completely true! With his own strength, he trampled Ephemera Temple. Ephemera Temple's foundation could unleash Third Realm power, yet they were still flattened by him." "Withstanding the power of the Third Realm..." Many felt deep envy. Withstanding the power of the Third Realm was not the same as withstanding an actual Sovereign, of course. There was still a difference between the two. Yet even so, it was an astonishing feat, surpassing any half-step Sovereign. To many mighty figures, facing Lu Changsheng was virtually no different from facing a Third Realm Sovereign. Before him, Second Realm figures, no matter how powerful, could hardly escape death. In a sense, Lu Changsheng's current status was almost on par with a Third Realm Sovereign. Naturally, that was only in terms of status. In reality, Lu Changsheng knew he was still far from being a true Third Realm Sovereign. Lu Changsheng arrived before Sovereign Gaoyuan's cave dwelling. Outside stood a man and a woman, both Second Realm mighty figures, seemingly waiting to receive him. "Greetings, Fellow Daoist Lu. Master sent us specifically to welcome you." The two spoke with great respect. Although they were also Second Realm mighty figures, Lu Changsheng's status was noticeably higher than theirs. He was practically treated on the level of a Sovereign. They had even been sent specifically to receive him to demonstrate the importance placed upon his arrival. "Thank you both, Fellow Daoists." Lu Changsheng followed them into the cave dwelling. Soon, he met Sovereign Gaoyuan. This was Sovereign Gaoyuan's true body. His true self personally guarded Gaoyuan City, which naturally made the city impregnable. "Greetings, Sovereign Gaoyuan!" Lu Changsheng bowed respectfully. "No need for formalities. In the Moke Universe, your status now faintly rivals that of us Sovereigns," Sovereign Gaoyuan said with a smile. He waved a hand, and the two disciples respectfully withdrew. Only Lu Changsheng and Sovereign Gaoyuan remained in the grand hall. "Sovereign Gaoyuan flatters me. May I ask what you have summoned me for?" Lu Changsheng asked. He had had no prior interactions with Sovereign Gaoyuan. A dignified Sovereign would hardly summon him for no reason. There had to be a purpose. Sovereign Gaoyuan smiled faintly and said, "Your master sent me a message asking me to look after you. Feilong rarely asks favors of me. Even when Zhao Yi came to the Moke Universe, Feilong didn't send a word. "Yet regarding you, your master places tremendous importance on you." Lu Changsheng said nothing. He knew his master valued him, but he hadn't realized that despite Zhao Yi's presence, Master had also contacted Sovereign Gaoyuan. Perhaps when Master sent him to the Moke Universe, it was not merely because Zhao Yi was here. The greater reason was likely that Sovereign Gaoyuan held watch over this place. With a Sovereign looking out for him, what trouble could possibly befall Lu Changsheng? "Your destruction of Ephemera Temple this time has indeed greatly bolstered our prestige. "However, the Sovereigns of the Moke Universe now view you as a thorn in their side. Earlier, one Sovereign fought desperately to break free of our containment to strike at you. I was the one who blocked him, and we even fought a major battle." Lu Changsheng experienced a flash of realization. So the battle between Sovereigns that Zhao Yi mentioned had involved Sovereign Gaoyuan. And at its root, it had indeed been because of Lu Changsheng. "Thank you for looking after me, Sovereign Gaoyuan!" Lu Changsheng bowed respectfully once more. He was not arrogant enough to believe he could contend with an actual Sovereign. If a true Sovereign descended, his situation would be exceedingly perilous. "Think nothing of it; it was a trivial matter. "Since Feilong spoke up, how could I not look out for you? "However, now that the Sovereigns of the Moke Universe have set their eyes on you, I cannot watch over you at every moment. If I fail to intercept one of them, disaster will follow. "Therefore, it is best that you temporarily leave the Moke Universe." Sovereign Gaoyuan's words struck Lu Changsheng's heart with a jolt. As expected, the very matter he had faintly worried about had come to pass. He had to leave the Moke Universe. And it was a forced departure. In truth, aside from the Ephemeral Star Sea, other regions in the Moke Universe surely possessed plane ruins. If he could devour those ruins, expanding his volume beyond two hundredfold would have been no issue at all. Unfortunately, he could no longer stay in the Moke Universe. If even Sovereign Gaoyuan was advising him to leave, it meant his situation was perilous in the extreme. Continuing to linger here carried immense danger. "Thank you for your guidance, Sovereign Gaoyuan. I will depart the Moke Universe shortly," Lu Changsheng replied respectfully. "Very good. You are neither arrogant nor conceited; that is commendable. "Your volume is indeed immense—enough to withstand the foundation of Ephemera Temple. But against a true Sovereign, you are still far outmatched. "However, once you leave the Moke Universe, have you thought about where to go?" Sovereign Gaoyuan asked. "Where to go?" Lu Changsheng paused slightly. Since Sovereign Gaoyuan had brought up this question, did he have a recommendation? Lu Changsheng looked at Sovereign Gaoyuan with an eager gaze. "I do not know where to go. Please grant me some guidance, Sovereign Gaoyuan," Lu Changsheng said respectfully. "Hahaha! You truly take after Feilong—neither of you lets go the moment you see a benefit. "Since your master asked me to look after you, and now I am having you leave the Moke Universe, naturally I must offer some compensation. "I have observed that your inner world grows by devouring planes—specifically plane ruins. If so, you could consider going to the Mingluo Universe. "The Mingluo Universe is already on the verge of collapse. After a thorough scouring by Sovereigns, virtually no natural treasures remain there. Yet vast numbers of Second Realm mighty figures still roam inside, hoping to stumble upon opportunities before the universe collapses completely. "And the Mingluo Universe is likely the most suitable place for you. With the universe teetering on destruction, plane ruins are ubiquitous. However, for Second Realm mighty figures, it is exceedingly dangerous. The Mingluo Universe holds not only practitioners from our Great Universe, but also cultivators from other universes, all competing for opportunities. A moment's carelessness can lead to death and doom. "You, however, are different. With your strength, you could thrive like a fish in water. Even so, there are always mountains beyond mountains and heavens beyond heavens; no one knows what terrifying entities might appear. In the vast cosmos, even we Sovereigns—though deemed omniscient and omnipotent—cannot fathom every mystery of the universe. "Therefore, whether to go to the Mingluo Universe is up to you. Going there carries grave danger, but it may also bring great harvest." Having finished speaking, Sovereign Gaoyuan quietly waited for Lu Changsheng's choice. Lu Changsheng carefully weighed the Sovereign's words in his mind. A universe on the verge of collapse? Where mighty figures from countless universes clashed over opportunities? Clearly, that was a universe devoid of any order. Such a place was exceptionally dangerous. The Great Universe was merely an unremarkable cosmos bordering the vast River of Spacetime. Lu Changsheng might stand at the pinnacle of Second Realm figures within the Great Universe, but other universes could easily have birthed terrifying life-forms—beings that might even be stronger than him. Yet so what? It possessed countless plane ruins. Once he devoured them, his volume would surge rapidly. What place could be more suitable for him than the Mingluo Universe? "Sovereign Gaoyuan, I am willing to go to the Mingluo Universe!" After a long silence, Lu Changsheng raised his head and made his decision. Sovereign Gaoyuan smiled. He did not seem surprised in the slightest. Lu Changsheng choosing to go to the Mingluo Universe was well within his expectations. "Good. "There is no rush to depart; you may make your preparations first. "When you are ready to set out, I will personally escort you to the perimeter of the Mingluo Universe." "Thank you, Sovereign." Lu Changsheng bowed respectfully. Afterward, he turned and left. He indeed needed to make thorough preparations, particularly in gathering intelligence regarding the Mingluo Universe. Since the Mingluo Universe was teetering on collapse, there was bound to be information available. Someone was sure to know. It was not that Lu Changsheng distrusted Sovereign Gaoyuan; rather, to prepare properly, he needed to know every detail about the Mingluo Universe. Exiting the grand hall, Lu Changsheng met Zhao Yi. "Senior Brother Zhao, do you know of the Mingluo Universe?" Lu Changsheng asked directly. "The Mingluo Universe? Yes, I know of it. That is a universe battered and fractured by the clashes of Sovereigns; it's said to be teetering on collapse. Countless cosmic mighty figures fight over various opportunities inside, devoid of any order. Many mighty figures have fallen there. "Why, Junior Brother Lu? Are you thinking of going to the Mingluo Universe?" Zhao Yi immediately guessed Lu Changsheng's intention. "It was Sovereign Gaoyuan's suggestion..." Lu Changsheng recounted Sovereign Gaoyuan's words in detail. Zhao Yi furrowed his brows. He had not expected the situation to become so severe that even Sovereigns had fought on Lu Changsheng's account. Fortunately, Sovereign Gaoyuan had been present this time; otherwise, Lu Changsheng would have been in grave peril. "Junior Brother Lu, to be honest, I'm not entirely familiar with the detailed conditions inside the Mingluo Universe. "However, I can inquire about it. Give me a few days, and I guarantee I'll gather the most detailed intelligence for you." "Then I leave it in your capable hands, Senior Brother Zhao." With that, Zhao Yi immediately went to investigate. Lu Changsheng waited quietly. A few days later, Zhao Yi returned. He had indeed gathered comprehensive details about the Mingluo Universe. The Mingluo Universe was truly on the verge of collapse, and just as Sovereign Gaoyuan had said, it held vast quantities of plane ruins. Yet it also harbored many peak cosmic mighty figures from other universes. It was extremely dangerous. Quite a few Second Realm mighty figures from the Great Universe who ventured there had perished. Those capable of entering the Mingluo Universe were all ruthless, formidable experts from their respective universes. However, what Lu Changsheng cared about most was still the Sovereigns. "Are you certain there are no Sovereigns?" Lu Changsheng asked. "That is confirmed. The Mingluo Universe is teetering on destruction and cannot bear the presence of a Sovereign. "If a Sovereign descends, the Mingluo Universe will immediately collapse completely. Therefore, inside the Mingluo Universe, there is truly no need to fear the threat of Sovereigns." Zhao Yi spoke with absolute certainty. A universe teeming with plane ruins, completely free from the threat of Third Realm Sovereigns—to Lu Changsheng, it was undeniably a prime opportunity. Lu Changsheng fell into deep, contemplative thought. In truth, his decision had already been made.