Chapter 172: The Original Ancestor Breaks Through

While Luo Feng was fully immersed in cultivation, the Original Ancestor suddenly contacted him.

"Original Ancestor." Luo Feng, knowing the Original Ancestor's nature, understood that he would not disturb his cultivation unless it was important, and immediately went to meet him.

"Luo Feng."

The Original Ancestor sat inside a pavilion, and upon seeing Luo Feng arrive, he smiled warmly and poured wine for him. "Come, have a drink."

"Original Ancestor, in a good mood?" Luo Feng noticed as well.

"Hahaha… finally comprehended the foundation of the Dao. Naturally, I'm delighted." The Original Ancestor said.

"You've unlocked the Chaotic Law?" Luo Feng was both shocked and delighted.

The Original Ancestor nodded. "Thanks to the vast resources you provided and the many legacies from the Heart Shadow Sect as nourishment, I cultivated so smoothly. Otherwise, it would've taken me ten or even a hundred times longer."

Those resources seized from the Heart Shadow Sect had seemed abundant at the time, but after Luo Feng received thirty billion cosmic sands at once from the Lord of Havoc City, that earlier amount became negligible.

Yet even those resources, if used freely by an Eternal True God, were still extravagantly excessive.

Luo Feng himself had been extremely poor when he was an Eternal True God.

"You achieved the Chaotic Realm in just over a hundred eons—and even created your own method." Luo Feng praised. "Original Ancestor, you have a real chance to challenge the God King Realm."

"God King is vastly harder than Chaotic Realm." The Original Ancestor chuckled. "One must walk the path step by step. I'm still very far away."

But Luo Feng understood clearly.

He himself had reached the Chaotic Realm in just over thirty eons, aided by the opportunity to directly confront the Source Dao of Life. The Original Ancestor achieved the Chaotic Realm in just over a hundred eons—despite ample legacies and resources, this speed was still astonishing.

"At the True God stage, you already unraveled the astonishing 'Virtual Universe' technique and became the strongest in the surrounding regions of the Original Universe. Truly, your talent is exceptional." Luo Feng had long recognized the Original Ancestor's brilliance, but only after arriving on the Origin Continent and being given sufficient resources did the Original Ancestor begin to truly shine.

Luo Feng was also delighted.

If humanity's entire future rested solely on him, the pressure of his actions on the Origin Continent would be immense. With another exceptionally gifted individual like the Original Ancestor to share the burden, Luo Feng could ease significantly.

"Hurry and break through your Small Universe. Let your divine body transform." Luo Feng said. "Use this chance to thoroughly study which Dao best suits you."

"I'm deeply interested in the 'World Source Dao.'" The Original Ancestor said.

"World?" Luo Feng understood.

Strictly speaking, the Original Ancestor's path was the 'Illusory World.' Extending beyond the Illusory World, one could delve deeper into the soul—but the soul path has no defined Dao; everything must be self-realized.

The Illusory World could also extend toward the 'World Source Dao.'

Just like Lei Ting.

The 'Infinite Source Dao' encompasses many forms of energy, such as thunder, fire, wind, and earth. Yet 'thunder' alone can also forge a complete 'Thunder Source Dao.'

The starting point is the same, but the endpoint may be utterly different.

"During my suppression by the Original Universe, I deeply comprehended the myriad forms of life and the workings of all things. I'm deeply drawn to it. This path of 'world' suits me perfectly." The Original Ancestor said.

He loved the Illusory World. He loved the Real World just as much.

This path offered him countless things to study.

"Only the Dao you love most, the one you're most passionate about, can carry you far enough." Luo Feng agreed.

…

That same day, in the homeland's Original Universe region.

A massive Small Universe expanded once more—this was the Original Ancestor's Small Universe.

"The Original Ancestor's Small Universe expanded again?"

"The Original Ancestor broke through so quickly?"

True Gods and Universe Lords from all factions gathered nearby, gazing from afar as the colossal Small Universe expanded once more.

The human race's elites were ecstatic. Humanity possessed the undisputed strongest in the surrounding Cosmic Sea—the Silver River Ancestor—whose Small Universe spanned a trillion light-years in diameter. Merely seeing that colossal Small Universe crushed any fighting spirit in other factions.

Now, the Original Ancestor, second only to the Silver River Ancestor, was also experiencing a massive surge in his Small Universe.

"My master is breaking through." The Chaos City Master watched this scene with joy, turning to Luo Feng beside him. "Luo Feng, when can we enter the Cycle?"

The Chaos City Master had long been capable of becoming a Void True God but had deliberately suppressed his breakthrough.

Now, seeing his disciple Luo Feng reach a trillion-light-year-diameter Small Universe, and witnessing his own master, the Original Ancestor, break through consecutively, the Chaos City Master felt a growing itch to advance.

"The other side of the Cycle is teeming with powerful beings, unfathomably deep." Luo Feng said. "Stay and cultivate patiently in the Original Universe region. I estimate that before this Cycle ends, you'll be ready to depart."

One Cycle of the Original Universe lasted roughly ten thousand eons on the Origin Continent.

Luo Feng estimated that within such a long time, he should be able to resolve the issue with the Sky Whale Lord. Even if he couldn't, he would have sufficient power to protect humanity's elites and bring them to the Origin Continent.

"Good." The Chaos City Master nodded with a smile. "Actually, our cultivation progress here in the Original Universe region has slowed considerably."

"I know." Luo Feng nodded. "Though cultivation is difficult here in the Original Universe region, the harder it is, the more it forges you. It will benefit you far more in the future."

Those who adapt to harsh cultivation environments will naturally achieve far greater efficiency when they reach the Origin Continent.

The Chaos City Master nodded.

Luo Feng and the Original Ancestor had consistently prevented humanity's elites from entering the Cycle, urging them to wait patiently. This clearly indicated… the situation on the other side was so uncertain that even Luo Feng and the Original Ancestor lacked full confidence in handling it.

Chu Capital, Marquis Chu Yu's Mansion.

"Marquis Chu Yu." Luo Feng transmitted his voice from afar.

"Hmm?"

Emperor Chu Yu looked up and saw Luo Feng in the distance, smiling. "Luo He Brother."

Luo Feng then stepped forward and descended into the Marquis's mansion.

"Luo He Brother, you rarely come to me." Emperor Chu Yu carried himself with far greater poise now; thanks to the vast resources from the S-Class mission, over a hundred eons had passed, and he had long reached the peak of the Chaotic Realm. As an Infinite Divine Body, achieving such power was not difficult—only his realm still lagged slightly behind the bottleneck.

Yet with sufficient power and the powerful guest sage 'Luo He Grand Saint,' Emperor Chu Yu's path had been smooth. Other imperial clan First-Rank Marquises would never be foolish enough to challenge him.

"I do have a matter requiring your assistance." Luo Feng said directly.

"Oh?" Emperor Chu Yu's eyes lit up.

Good news.

As Luo He's power grew stronger, the opportunities for him to need help from a First-Rank Marquis like Emperor Chu Yu should have dwindled.

"It's this: my clansman 'Yuan' has become a Chaotic Realm cultivator." Luo Feng said. "I need a guest sage slot from the Yanfeng Ancient Nation."

"Guest sage slot?" Emperor Chu Yu frowned slightly. "Yuan is newly promoted to Chaotic Realm, right? Is he from the Law Line?"

"Law Line." Luo Feng nodded.

A Chaotic Realm cultivator from the Law Line was the minimum threshold for recruiting guest sages.

!.

"He barely meets the minimum threshold, and he's not an Infinite Divine Body." Emperor Chu Yu shook his head gently. "Any First-Rank Marquis seeking to recruit a guest sage would hesitate to waste a slot on him."

The guest sage slots of First-Rank Marquises were always used with extreme caution—they were their most vital assets.

"I'm not familiar with the imperial clan's internal affairs, so I came to ask you." Luo Feng said.

After becoming a Chaotic Realm cultivator, Yuan's first need for growth was the most suitable legacies and resources.

Luo Feng could at most try to obtain one or two God King-level legacies of the 'World Source Dao,' but they might not suit Yuan perfectly. The best solution… was to make Yuan a guest sage of the Yanfeng Ancient Nation. Then he could freely choose from the vast legacies in the Legacy Hall.

Must admit!

The guest sage system of the two Ancient Nations was an immense boon for Chaotic Realm cultivators. But guest sage slots were exceedingly rare—the two Ancient Nations clearly intended to cultivate only elites.

"I have two slots total, both already filled. As far as I know… among all the imperial clans, few still have vacant guest sage slots." Emperor Chu Yu said. "Especially after the recent S-Class mission, most First-Rank Marquises exhausted their slots at great cost."

Luo Feng understood.

"At least within our Emperor Chu lineage, no one is known to have a spare slot. The other twelve imperial clan lineages might still have some. I'll check." Emperor Chu Yu said.

"Any conditions are fine." Luo Feng said. "Even hundreds of billions of cosmic sands is trivial."

"Alright, I'll look into this immediately." Emperor Chu Yu promised.

…

That same day, Emperor Chu Yu departed Chu Capital with his personal guards, heading to the Yanfeng Ancient Nation's 'You Capital.'

You Capital was the ancestral home of the Emperor You lineage.

The Emperor You and Emperor Chu lineages had a good relationship, and their First-Rank Marquises frequently interacted.

"Chu Yu, why not just send a message? Why come to You Capital in person?" A man in purple robes smiled warmly.

"You Feng." Emperor Chu Yu sat across from him. "I know you still have one guest sage slot open."

Emperor You Feng looked at him and nodded with a smile. "Yes, everyone knows I have only one guest sage. I do still have one slot vacant. Many have asked me for it—numerous Chaotic Realm cultivators are willing to serve me."

"Luo He Grand Saint wants this slot." Emperor Chu Yu said.

"Luo He Grand Saint?" Emperor You Feng's heart leapt, then calmed. "If Luo He Grand Saint wished to be my guest sage, I'd gladly offer him the slot. But he's already your guest sage. He's asking for this slot on behalf of someone else, isn't he?"

Emperor Chu Yu nodded. "A newly promoted Chaotic Realm cultivator, Law Line."

"Newly promoted Chaotic Realm?" Emperor You Feng shook his head.

"Don't care who this Chaotic Realm cultivator is. The key is: Luo He Grand Saint wants this slot. Name your price." Emperor Chu Yu said. "You know Luo He Grand Saint will soon become a God King—and a dominant one at that."

Emperor You Feng looked at him. "Even if he becomes a dominant God King, how does that help a First-Rank Marquis? As a God King, he can't even participate in the struggles among First-Rank Marquises."

The competition among First-Rank Marquises occurred at the Chaotic Realm level. God Kings intervening would be considered bullying the weak and was forbidden.

"Name your price." Emperor Chu Yu said.

"I want to become a God King." Emperor You Feng said. "In the last S-Class mission, I ranked second in the Emperor You lineage. You know that a few resources won't move me. I need a guest sage who is both loyal to me and powerful enough."

"If I don't find a suitable candidate, I'd rather leave the slot empty. One vacant slot alone is enough to attract a host of Chaotic Realm cultivators to serve me. Lose this slot, and most of them will leave." Emperor You Feng said.

Emperor Chu Yu fell silent.

"Chu Yu Brother, you understand: only a hundred eons have passed since the S-Class mission, and no new First-Rank Marquis has been born in the imperial clan." Emperor You Feng said. "Those First-Rank Marquises who didn't use their slots during the S-Class mission—why would they give one away so easily to Luo He Grand Saint?"

"After all, a First-Rank Marquis only has two slots in his entire life." Emperor You Feng said. "Not every imperial clan First-Rank Marquis is as lucky as you, to have chosen Luo He Grand Saint as a guest sage."

"No way?" Emperor Chu Yu looked at Emperor You Feng.

"Here's my offer: I'll sell this slot for two million merit points. Don't say I'm overcharging." Emperor You Feng said. "Of course, I know Luo He Grand Saint won't spend so many treasures."

Two million merit points equaled roughly sixty billion cosmic sands.

Emperor Chu Yu could only stand up—this price was outrageous.

……

In just over ten days, Emperor Chu Yu met seven First-Rank Marquises of the Imperial Clan, all of whom refused.

Outside the two ancient nations, those in the Chaos Realm might fear the top Chaos Realm cultivator, or fear the future mighty Divine King. But to a First-Rank Marquis of the Imperial Clan? A Guest Divine King posed no threat and offered no help—they had no sufficient incentive, so naturally they paid no attention.

Tens of billions of cosmic grains may seem like a lot, but before the Heaven-Level missions, a First-Rank Marquis of the Imperial Clan might have accumulated only this much.

But now that Heaven-Level mission resources have been distributed, the First-Rank Marquises of the Imperial Clan are all wealthy; without a sufficiently grand lure, they won't be moved.

(End of Chapter)