Chapter 917: Chapter 917

"I actually... lost?" muttered Supreme Great Heaven, expression grim.

He seemed unable to reconcile with the outcome.

He wasn't alone. The other Supremes felt the same.

A newly risen Supreme like Li Pin had managed to defeat Great Heaven?

Great Heaven's strength was considered top-tier even among them. If Li Pin could defeat him, didn't that mean he could defeat any of them?

"How is that possible?" Supreme Genesis muttered softly.

A person whom he had once hesitated to accept as a disciple had managed to surpass him in a few centuries?

He couldn't help but recall the Eternal Swordlight that Li Pin had struck at Supreme Great Heaven. It was constant and boundless.

Supreme Great Heaven had fought back with all his might to destroy it, but he hadn't managed to dim its radiance even a bit.

Instead, during the counterattack, his power continued to drain away. As time went on and his energy was nearly exhausted, the tide of battle was bound to reverse.

When that happened, the Eternal Swordlight would annihilate Supreme Great Heaven before crushing the bodies of all the Supremes present.

Li Pin, this Supreme of three hundred-odd years, had surpassed them all? He had the strength to defeat them, or even kill them? And it all came from that constant, eternal sword light?

At that moment, the gazes of Supremes Genesis, Primordial, and Ordainment turned to Li Pin. Their composure had long cracked, replaced with solemnity. Some even concealed deep awe and fear in their eyes.

Li Pin's inner spirit power echoed in the void. "This is the power of reincarnation. It contains the concepts of life and death, illusion and destruction, existence and void, creation and dissolution. Two opposing aspects represent the conflicts we perceive.

"It perfectly unifies contradictions and dissolves opposition into one complete whole, where all divisions cease to exist. Existence and nonexistence are the same concept."

Supreme Great Heaven listened to Li Pin's words and found them difficult to comprehend. If existence and nonexistence were the same, then what meaning did all their years of battle between the factions of Existence and Void hold?

"If creation and dissolution are both facets of one power," Supreme Primordial murmured, "then unless that power is annihilated instantly, it all becomes meaningless. The energy that collapses simply returns to being part of his power. As long as it doesn't exceed his upper limit, he exists in a constant state, undying and indestructible."

Supreme Ordainment murmured, as if entering an epiphany. "Animals eat plants. Then, upon death, they return as nutrients to the earth. The plants draw nourishment from the soil and grow, only to be eaten again. The power of reincarnation... what a profound power indeed."

Supreme Genesis, like Supreme Great Heaven, found it almost impossible to accept. "So, Abyssal Beasts and the void itself are essentially part of the universe? Merely a different expression of the same laws?"

This was tantamount to denying everything they had pursued their entire lives.

"No, that's not right," Supreme Great Heaven suddenly said, seemingly hit with realization. "Only by truly understanding the value of existence can one grasp the cruelty of the void. But the void, only by being constantly immersed in its own freedom and boundlessness, can it understand the struggles of a life confined by matter, energy, time, and space."

Clarity began to surface in his gaze.

"The city dwellers, reveling in material prosperity, laugh at those who dwell in the wilderness with nothing to their name. Yet the mountain dwellers laugh at the city dwellers who toil night and day, never finding rest. Yet both are merely different choices of life.

"Our mistake lies in trying to force the mountain dwellers into the bustling city to witness its splendor, while they, in turn, seek to draw us into the mountains and rivers to hear nature's song."

His words sounded poetic, but the reality of their conflict was far more brutal. Neither side tried to convince the other. Instead, both simply imposed their will through force, destroying the other in the process.

They were inherently two non-parallel lines, yet they were forced to align. This caused the inevitable clash between the two factions.

"If the Void Faction and Existence Faction form a single whole," muttered Prime Abyss Highlord thoughtfully, "then the ideals of the Existence Faction must influence the Void Faction as well. Perhaps... this is why Abyssal Beasts and Void Creatures have been increasing in number...."

His words struck the Supreme like thunder.

If their understanding was correct, then the war between the Existence and Void Factions was a vicious cycle. Their escalating desire to attack had inadvertently amplified the Void Faction's aggression, resulting in ever more violent clashes.

It was precisely this intensifying conflict that consumed all their attention and strength, keeping them locked in battle with the void. They had no time or clarity left to contemplate the true nature of Existence and Void. Thus, they couldn't realize that the two were one and ultimately comprehend the power of reincarnation.

"We invested too much effort in a meaningless struggle against the Void Faction, cutting off our own path to ascension," Supreme Ordainment said softly.

The other Supremes remained silent. A few of them did come to an awakening, but others were more filled with emotion than realization.

In their view, they were only shaken because Li Pin had laid the answer right in front of them.

Even still, their hands had been tied. Had they not continued to struggle against the Void Faction, the universe would've long been eroded by the Abyssal Beasts and Void Creatures.

There would have been no peaceful environment for their side to live in.

Even Li Pin's very opportunity to comprehend reincarnation's power and unveil the truth had been secured by their unceasing efforts over countless years. It was because they had pushed back the Void Creatures that he could grow in a peaceful environment and eventually bring forth the truth.

Otherwise, with a universe overrun by Void Creatures, Li Pin would have been devoured long ago, and the truth would have remained buried forever.

Therefore, even if they had been walking the wrong path, no one could deny the dedicated contribution they had made to the universe. When all was said and done, their intent had always been for the good of the universe.

Supreme Primordial seemed to realize something and abruptly asked, "Supreme Origin, I remember that just now you... mentioned an existence by the name of Creator Miao Ya?" The rıghtful source is novęlfire.net

His words drew a start from Supreme Genesis, whose pupils dilated. "You've met them?"

Earlier, although Li Pin had mentioned Miao Ya and the others, everyone's attention had been focused on his path, and they hadn't thought deeply about the information his words revealed.

Truth be told, they had dismissed his words at the start. After all, lords didn't scrutinize every word spoken by those beneath them. But now that Li Pin had proven his strength by defeating Great Heaven, every word that came out of his mouth deserved the deepest scrutiny.

"You're referring to the ones behind the Astral Lord Council, right?" Li Pin said, glancing at the Supremes. "Do you know their origins?"

Supreme Primordial and Supreme Genesis exchanged a look. Recalling their earlier speculations, the idea that had once seemed unthinkable resurfaced once more in their minds.

After a long pause, Supreme Primordial finally asked, "Origin... when you were in the Void Divine Treasure World... did you discover something?"

After saying it, he seemed to realize the question was too abrupt and rephrased it more tactfully. "I mean... was your journey into the Void Divine Treasure World different from everyone else's?"

Li Pin looked at Supreme Primordial, something stirring in his heart. He answered, "On my journey into the Void Divine Treasure World... I believe I saw the Void Emperor's true form."

He looked at the Supremes. "I recall the Supreme Council has long been trying to pull this powerful being from the Void Faction back into the Existence Faction. Then surely you all have some idea of his whereabouts? Could you tell me where he is?"

He suspected that the key to perfecting the fifth and sixth layers of his Phantom Space Law lay with the Void Emperor.

A faint realization stirred in his heart—this being was linked to the future of his path.

The two Supremes exchanged a look.

Supreme Primordial said honestly, "We have indeed been searching for the Void Emperor. But as you likely know, he belongs to the Void Faction. If he chooses to conceal himself, no one can detect him, not even a Transcendence of the same level...."

Then, he asked, "Is this Void Emperor... important?"

Li Pin nodded gravely. "Very important!"

He had a strong premonition that the key to fully comprehending his future true self also lay with the Void Emperor.

"I understand." Supreme Primordial nodded solemnly. "We will mobilize every resource we can to help you find the Void Emperor's whereabouts."

Li Pin gave a slight nod. "Much appreciated."

"Supreme Origin's strength has been acknowledged by all of us. By right, we should immediately hold a grand ascension ceremony for Supreme Origin to announce to the world that our human race has gained a new Supreme. But... considering the existence of those like Creator Miao Ya whom you've encountered, I hope, before holding the ceremony, that you'll come with us to meet someone first."

"Supreme Regalheaven."

"The vast sky is supreme[1], and the great heaven is unrivalled[2]..."

Li Pin had already begun to make his own guesses.

The path of Transcendence was likely tied to reincarnation and karma.

And as the only Transcendent of the Human Race—and whose whereabouts were known—Li Pin had long yearned to meet him.

"That is exactly my intention," said Li Pin, smiling.

1. This is the translation of the term that is also used for Supreme Regalheaven's title ☜

2. This is the translation of the term that is also used for the title Transcendent Equiheaven. The entire saying together with [1] is commonly used to refer to a form of greatest existence, describing the highest level of divine authority and power. ☜