Chapter 1160: The Transformation of Venerable Tianlan! Three-Star Ancient God Appears!

High above the Heavenly Realm, after the Ancient God Niku departed, silence once again settled over the place.

"Could this be a trick?"

After a while, a voice of an Ancient God sounded.

"So what if it's a trick? Unless we sit idly by and watch the Flame Lord grow stronger, we must eliminate him at any cost!"

Said one Ancient God.

"Exactly. We are already enemies with the Flame Lord. Given his nature, if he becomes a Main God, he will surely spare none of us. So this time, even if we must awaken a Great Venerable, we must kill him!"

Said another Ancient God.

Before acting, these Ancient Gods had already considered every possible scenario.

But after Lin Yan demonstrated sufficient threat, their choices and time had grown scarce.

Just like the Ancient Gods' conspiracy, Lin Yan's scheme this time was, in a sense, an open stratagem.

I'm growing this fast—either cower, or face me head-on!

Clearly, the Ancient Gods chose to confront Lin Yan head-on; every one of them had hardened their resolve to crush him.

At this moment, high in the Heavenly Realm, the battle between Lin Yan and Tianlan Zunzhu continued.

"Your strength has greatly exceeded my expectations."

Tianlan Zunzhu's clear voice rang out.

Of course, the watching gods could not hear her voice now.

What the watching gods heard was only what she allowed them to hear.

"Your threat this time is considerable. Such rapid growth may terrify the Ancient Gods—they might even send out Two-Star or Three-Star Ancient Gods."

Said Tianlan Zunzhu.

Seeing Lin Yan's slight confusion, Tianlan Zunzhu explained:

"After an Ancient God devours a star, the mark on their forehead ignites—that makes them a One-Star Ancient God. A Two-Star Ancient God must have devoured at least ten stars. A Three-Star Ancient God devours even more."

"A One-Star Ancient God equals the Gao Jie or even peak of the Fourth Tier. A Two-Star Ancient God reaches the level of a Law Lord. A Three-Star Ancient God is already comparable to a very powerful Law Lord!"

Lin Yan asked: "What is the highest star rank for an Ancient God?"

Tianlan Zunzhu said: "According to my knowledge, in ancient times, the highest recorded was a Five-Star Ancient God—one capable of fighting a Main God. Of course, they still ultimately lost to Main Gods."

Five-Star Ancient God—fights a Main God!

On the Continent of Gods, "nine" is still the ultimate number, but in the Heavenly Realm, five levels generally mark a major stage.

Based on the information Lin Yan received from the Goddess of Life, the Five-Star Ancient God was likely the strongest Ancient God of the past!

After speaking, Tianlan Zunzhu's bright eyes turned to Lin Yan: "If they send out a Three-Star or higher Ancient God, do you have confidence?"

Lin Yan was about to speak when Tianlan Zunzhu's expression changed: "Bad! She's coming out!"

She?

Lin Yan's expression shifted slightly.

Tianlan Zunzhu spoke quickly: "The past version of me is emerging. If she attacks you, don't hold back."

As she spoke, her expression rapidly changed.

Previously, though her appearance had shifted from a girl to a woman in her twenties, her demeanor and tone when speaking to Lin Yan remained the same as when he first met her in the palace.

But now, her entire aura was completely different.

She now seemed like a block of icy cold steel, radiating bone-chilling chill.

Her expression was filled with endless coldness, her gaze utterly frigid.

"Multiple personalities?"

Seeing this, Lin Yan's mind involuntarily formed those four words.

Could a powerful god who mastered the Law also develop multiple personalities?

Instinctively, Lin Yan felt the matter was not so simple.

Tianlan Zunzhu was a god, not a human. Every god has absolute control over their thoughts and intentions—multiple personalities could not occur.

In the Heavenly Realm, some gods create sub-god bodies or battle avatars, but their wills never split; they never lose control.

Moreover, Tianlan Zunzhu's current state is neither a sub-god body nor a battle avatar.

Lin Yan silently watched her.

The transformation of her aura was nearly instantaneous.

Now, Tianlan Zunzhu's face—though identical in appearance—felt to Lin Yan like that of a completely different person.

Yet Lin Yan could clearly sense that, on the soul level, she was not substantially different from before.

This meant Tianlan Zunzhu was still Tianlan Zunzhu.

"Flame Lord?"

Tianlan Zunzhu spoke. Her voice was not much different from before, but her tone was entirely altered.

It was utterly indifferent.

Lin Yan regarded her calmly.

Tianlan Zunzhu said: "Your enemy is coming. If you survive, we'll fight again."

As she spoke, she retracted her weapon, swept her sleeve—and instantly, all energy fluctuations on her side of the infinite heavens vanished completely.

"Huh? Already decided?"

Below, the many gods saw the scene in the infinite heavens.

They saw Lin Yan and Tianlan Zunzhu standing facing each other, neither showing any intention to fight further.

"This… who won?"

Some gods were instantly confused.

Then came something even more baffling to them: the Tianlan Zunzhu stepped back, instantly retreating an immeasurably vast distance, and then her voice, chillingly cold, rang out: