Chapter 853: Chapter 853

The core layer of the Astral World.

By now, the Light of Humanity warship had clearly slowed down as it rushed toward the Human Territory. If it weren't for a Cosmic Radiance taking over piloting the warship from the Solar Radiance pilot, they might have come to a complete halt while traversing the core layer.

Inside the warship, not a smile could be seen on the face of those present. Everyone's expressions were grave.

"The Astral Lord Council...."

"The Nine Astral Lords, and the Thirteen Elders."

"They created a tsunami using the power of the Eternal Oblivion, which ripples throughout the entire Astral World in waves. This not only rapidly purged Astral Gods with insufficient mastery but also entirely cut off the possibility of the Supremes interfering in Astral World affairs. In other words, the entire Astral World is now under lockdown."

"Previously, when Astral Gods descended with avatars, the burden didn't involve any exposure to the Eternal Oblivion Force. But now... the Eternal Oblivion has become so active that even avatars can't be sustained...."

Everyone looked at the intel sent from Supreme Ordainment and quickly compared it to their current environment.

All the descriptions matched without exception.

Heavenly Emperor Tai Yi spoke in a low voice. "Forget about Starshine and Solar Flares. Even Ultimate Lifeforms like us, who've condensed True Spirits, must be cautious in maintaining avatars. If we used to allocate less than a ten-thousandth of our power to keep several avatars functioning, now it takes at least ten percent."

Heavenly Emperor Heng He's expression was grim. "It's only ten percent for you. I left behind fourteen avatars, including three combat-specialized ones. The control power I must take on exceeds thirty percent.

"I've already planned to cut down my avatars. I'll retain one for communication to receive information, one combat-specialized avatar to maintain my faction's influence, and withdraw all others. Otherwise... if I encounter someone at my level, it would be nothing short of suicide to engage in battle."

"The Supreme Council did an emergency calculation using Galaxy One's deduction and came to the latest conclusion: The Eternal Oblivion Force is folding and intensifying in waves, up to nine times in total. We're only at the beginning. Based on the tsunami's pace, this power's sensitivity will increase by more than ten percent every year, reaching its peak in year nine, nearly double today's level. Then, it will gradually decline over the next nine years."

The Divine Martial Emperor suddenly added, "But that's not the end. One full cycle spans about twenty years. After that, the Eternal Oblivion Tsunami will begin anew."

"Stronger and stronger? In nine years, its sensitivity will double? On top of what it already is!?"

"It's not going to stop?"

"At its current sensitivity, most Starshine and Solar Flares can't withstand it. If it doubles again... unless the Cosmic Radiances never encounter danger, they'll face the Eternal Oblivion's backlash the moment they act."

Heavenly Emperor Dong Xu, Gu You, and Bi You looked even more somber.

It turned out that this wasn't even the worst-case scenario yet.

The Divine Martial Emperor quickly calculated a figure. "At this rate, in just one era, eighty to ninety percent of Starshines and Solar Flares will fall in the Astral World."

Heavenly Emperor Tai Yi glanced at him. "I'm afraid it'll be more than that. Don't forget, once even Cosmic Radiance faces the danger of the Eternal Oblivion when taking action, it means Tyrants, Sacred Monarchs, and we Heavenly Emperors aren't far from danger either. After all, we're all Ultimate Lifeforms."

He took a deep breath. "Once safety can no longer be guaranteed, those Sacred Monarchs and Heavenly Emperors who once protected a region by manifesting as continents will convert back into pure mass, returning to their divine bodies. Once they do, the Astral Gods living on those continents will lose their protection and have to face the Astral World's increasingly hostile environment alone... I wouldn't be surprised if ninety-nine percent perished in the end."

The moment he said this, the Heavenly Emperors' expressions grew grave.

Becoming mountains, rivers, and continents was more convenient for cultivation and understanding the Astral World than remaining in divine body form. However, it was also far more dangerous.

However, once they became Cosmic Radiances, especially Sacred Monarchs who mastered space, it became nearly impossible for them to die from external threats. That's why they dared to take the form of continents.

With greater mass and reach, they could sense the world more acutely.

However, once this became unsafe, the instinct for self-preservation would take over immediately. It was foreseeable that Sacred Monarchs and Heavenly Emperors would revert their energy and mass into divine body form. When that happened, those Solar Flares, Starshine, and ascendants who relied on them would all perish.

Ji Shun let out a sigh. "By now, only those Divine Emperors who claim to have mastered the ultimate realm, creating all techniques, secret arts, and battle skills from within themselves, can truly rest easy."

Emperor Gu You spoke with firm conviction. "This is likely why the Astral Lord Council has amplified the power of the Eternal Oblivion Disaster."

At that moment, the Divine Martial Emperor spoke, his gaze deep. "Alright, now is not the time for unfounded worries. Don't forget, Divine Emperor Yuan Jie might be pursuing us. We need to return to the human territory quickly and gather together to come up with a plan.

"Moreover, we must reclaim the Myriad Astral God Hall. When the Supremes find a way to counter the Astral World's backlash and rewrite the rules, the Astral God Hall's Creation Divine Jade will be essential."

The others nodded in agreement upon hearing this.

The Creation Divine Jade aside, the Myriad Astral God Hall itself was of great importance. The entire hall was protected by formations that could effectively block the Eternal Oblivion Force. It was foreseeable that the Myriad Astral God Hall would become the most crucial refuge for the Human Astral Gods in the future.

Moreover, Sovereign Heavenly Emperor Jin'que, who betrayed the Human Race and joined the Astral Lord Council, had to pay the price for his betrayal.

Just as the Emperors were speaking, Dong Xu, who possessed a SovereignDivine Weapon, suddenly said, "A warship is rapidly approaching our location."

"It's Yuan Jie," The Divine Martial Emperor confirmed with certainty. "He's here."

All the Heavenly Emperors present turned their gazes to the Divine Martial Emperor, who pondered in silence.

In the past, even though Yuan Jie was a Divine Emperor, they had many Heavenly Emperors on their side. They wouldn't necessarily have feared him despite being outmatched individually.

But now, the Eternal Oblivion Force would affect Heavenly Emperors whose power was imperfect. But it could not touch a Divine Emperor who had mastered the ultimate realm and reached the ceiling of the Astral World.

This widened the gap between them rapidly.

Unless the number of Heavenly Emperors on their side doubled, they would likely struggle to stand against him.

Furthermore, there was even a chance that Divine Emperor Yuan Jie didn't come alone.

"I'll pilot the Light of Humanity at full speed!" the Divine Martial Emperor declared.

"Full speed!? In that case... you'll surely be detected by the Eternal Oblivion Force..." Ji Shun exclaimed in shock.

"It doesn't matter," the Divine Martial Emperor said calmly. "I had already planned to step down from my duties after the Ten Thousand Tribes Dominion War and retire in the Myriad Astral God Hall. Even if I do end up burdened by the Eternal Oblivion Force... as long as we return and reclaim the halll, you all won't deny me at least a cushy post, right?"

He said this with a smile, doing his best to keep a relaxed tone, but none of the Heavenly Emperors in the room could bring themselves to smile.

Given the circumstances, having one Heavenly Emperor step up to pilot the Light of Humanity at full speed was indeed the best way to handle the crisis.

In another part of the warship, Li Pin quietly sensed this force.

"The Eternal Oblivion Force..."

This was a dissolving force birthed by the Astral World to preserve its normal operations.

Immortality itself was an act that disrupted the balance of the universe.

If the universe and the Astral World were likened to a human body, the immortals would be viruses within it.

The Eternal Oblivion Force represented the body's immune system. A small number of viruses could be tolerated, but once they grew in number and caused disease, the immune system would inevitably begin a purge.

And in today's Astral World, the number of immortals had grown to a point beyond what any Heavenly Emperor could calculate. Even the Myriad Astral God Hall, which was considered the governing body of the human race, likely no longer knew how many Astral Gods existed in their territory.

They only knew that there were many, far too many.

Normally, the viruses could disguise themselves. As long as they didn't stir trouble, the immune system might not purge them. But now, it had reached a point where purification was unavoidable. Thus, the immune system was fully activated, like a high fever, beginning to purge and cleanse the entire body.

"The Eternal Oblivion Force is in full effect, and the environment has become this hostile..."

Li Pin pondered for a moment. He had come to the Astral World to harness its unique environment in order to condense his True Spirit. Though he had not yet formed his True Spirit, he had mastered the Heavenly Fate Art. His purpose was, in essence, fulfilled

It was time to leave.

As for clashing with the geniuses of the various races, he had already enjoyed himself during the Ten Thousand Tribes Dominion War.

He would return to the Material World, find a place to seclude himself for a while, comprehend the power of time, then merge it with space and take the final step.

Li Pin felt a tinge of regret. "It's just a bit of a pity I didn't get to fight a Divine Emperor who is said to be the ceiling of the Astral World."

While he was deep in thought, Yao Ji, Emperor Ara, Yue Shu, Xuan Chengming, and the others were secretly observing him.

They really wanted to ask how exactly Li Pin had become so powerful.

Yue Shu and Xuan Chengming had been won over by him. Seeing him lost in thought, they dared not interrupt. As for Yao Ji and Emperor Ara, they simply couldn't set aside their pride.

Even though Li Pin had already swept through the Ten Thousand Tribes Dominion War, displaying power that far surpassed the two of them, and even though they acknowledged his achievements, their pride still wouldn't let them concede to him.

"Forget it." Yao Ji withdrew her gaze from Li Pin. "You've won this round of competition, but in the future, to become a Supreme..."

As she spoke, she immediately recalled the power Li Pin had displayed when fighting the Scorching Flame Divine Lord, a power that surpassed the extreme. She feared that even in the race to become the first to reach Supreme, she would fall short of Li Pin.

Could it be that she would be forever overshadowed by him, unable to catch her breath?

For a moment, a trace of loneliness appeared in Yao Ji's eyes.

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While the proud prodigies aboard the warship were each caught in their own thoughts, the Divine Martial Emperor was doing everything he could to propel the ship forward.

A sudden change erupted in the region ahead.

The next moment, a warship that had apparently been lying silently in wait in this area suddenly activated, ramming directly toward the Light of Humanity warship carrying them all.

It was the Divine Race warship that was the first to depart after the end of the Ten Thousand Tribes Dominion War.