Chapter 297: Gap

The countless weapons, transformed into terrifying streaks of light, instantly tore through space and rained down upon Lin Qing.

Lin Qing's expression darkened slightly; he immediately retracted the divine artifact vessel and himself turned into a gray, swirling storm that plunged into the deepest layers of space, nearly touching the edge of the universe.

Those terrifying weapons tore through layer upon layer of space, yet failed to touch the storm Lin Qing had become.

"Hmph… not bad, a secret art of swift passage."

A mocking, sneering laugh echoed through the layered space, continuously solidifying and sealing the space.

At the same time, Lin Qing sensed invisible ripples seeping into the deepest layers of space, thinning into threads like fishing lines that curled toward him.

"So it's this technique…"

Lin Qing's eyes flashed with coldness.

In his simulations of the future, he had fought this Chaos Child from the Immortal Realm, and his Mist Pigeon Secret Art had been broken by this very technique.

The Mist Pigeon Secret Art is a primordial-level technique, best suited for evasion; when perfected at the Dominance stage, it allows one to sink into the deepest layers of space, nearly touching the universe's boundary—a powerful survival technique.

But this opponent possessed multiple primordial-level techniques, and the one he was now using was precisely the one that countered the Mist Pigeon Secret Art!

"Break!"

Lin Qing's eyes turned icy; his Black Flame avatar fused with him immediately burned his life force, and his aura surged over tenfold in an instant.

In an instant, boundless dark-gold light erupted from him in all directions, instantly forming a blazing sun; the thin threads of invisible ripples were momentarily stalled by the overwhelming energy surge.

Lin Qing seized this opportunity, slipping free like a fish darting through the closing gap of a net, instantly breaking free from the binding technique.

"Oh?"

A voice of mild surprise echoed, "You're quite good at escaping?"

Lin Qing didn't look back; he continued pushing the Mist Pigeon Secret Art toward the Mist Star Sea.

He knew clearly: at his current strength, even if he used the full set of Chaos divine artifacts—"Silent Vacuum"—he still couldn't match this opponent, let alone that he hadn't brought any divine artifacts at all, having come solely to explore the Mist Star Sea.

He was only at the twenty-first layer of Yu Xingyuan now; he couldn't even withstand one of the opponent's attacks—there was no point in fighting.

Moreover, the opponent was a Star God; if he were killed in this Star God rivalry, he would lose his Divine Core and his status as a Star God!

So he must escape.

"Fascinating… you flee without even engaging? Do you know me?"

The playful voice pierced through layer upon layer of space once more.

At the same time, Lin Qing suddenly felt everything before him grow hazy; his perception of the world blurred further, and strange forces began binding him—the thin threads of invisible ripples curled toward him again.

"A domain-type secret art?"

Lin Qing instantly understood the opponent's method—this was clearly another primordial technique pushed to its limit, and one focused on domain control.

Simultaneously, in his perception, the streaks of light formed by the weapons hung motionless in the void, while more strange primordial energies converged, coalescing into a magnificent pavilion towering hundreds of thousands of kilometers high, instantly concealing all the lethal weapons within.

Then, the towering, splendid pavilion stirred slightly—

"Boom!"

With just a simple tremor, the towering pavilion effortlessly shattered countless layers of space; its terrifying power fully exposed the colorful cosmic membrane.

Lin Qing's pupils contracted slightly: "It's a Supreme Secret Art!"

As an infinite-level Supreme Secret Art, its strength scales with the cultivator's power.

Under this Immortal Realm Chaos Child's use, the Supreme Secret Art was far stronger than a Chaos divine artifact still in its infancy.

Even someone as powerful as Yuan Huang might perish on the spot if he dared to block this attack head-on!

"Boom—rumble rumble——!!"

Layer upon layer of space were utterly shattered and annihilated; wherever the towering pavilion, brimming with boundless power, passed, everything dissolved into nothingness, crashing toward Lin Qing.

Though the massive pavilion appeared slow, it subtly transcended time and space, closing in on Lin Qing at terrifying speed.

Lin Qing didn't even glance back—he only pushed himself desperately toward the Mist Star Sea, where countless stars floated.

"Hmph…"

Far away, the figure clad in golden armor gazed at Lin Qing's fleeing form, his eyes holding a trace of pity.

He knew clearly: this Chaos Child, recently famed as the master of Shanhai Realm who might one day become a Chaos God, was already dead—he wouldn't reach the Mist Star Sea in time; he'd be crushed on the spot by this Supreme Secret Art.

This Supreme Secret Art, cultivated at the cost of boundless effort and countless treasures—even its partial power—was beyond the capacity of a mere Level-Two Civilization brat to withstand.

He hadn't underestimated the opponent because he came from a Level-Two Civilization.

Thus, after descending into this Void Sea and confirming the situation, his first target was this astonishingly promising master of Shanhai Realm.

On the path to becoming a Chaos God, he would spare no rival.

"To die by such a great technique is your honor…" The golden-armored youth watched coldly as Lin Qing was about to be crushed by the pavilion, as if observing a desperate, struggling ant.

Suddenly—

"Boom!"

A terrifying aura erupted from Lin Qing's body; the heavens and earth fell utterly silent as divine weapons flew out, dissolving into brilliant light that scattered everywhere, causing time and space to faintly halt.

The terrifying, towering pavilion also slowed slightly.

In a daze, the gray storm that was Lin Qing had already flown into the Mist Star Sea, where countless stars floated.

"Huh?" The golden-armored youth's expression changed.

The towering pavilion followed Lin Qing toward the Mist Star Sea, but Lin Qing vanished instantly among the stars at its edge.

The Mist Star Sea, as if awakened, stirred violently—each star shot off at breakneck speed, effortlessly tearing through space, hurtling at velocities exceeding a hundred million kilometers per second, until primordial energy streams crisscrossed, weaving into strange, curtain-like veils.

The towering pavilion, hundreds of thousands of kilometers tall, crashed into the Mist Star Sea; after barely shifting a few stars off their orbits, it could go no further.

The golden-armored youth's face darkened; he waved his hand and recalled the pavilion, battered and tossed about by countless stars.

"Mist Star Sea?"

He stood silently outside the Mist Star Sea, gazing at the countless stars slowly returning to calmness yet utterly inscrutable—he knew clearly that even if he entered, he would never find Lin Qing again.

Moreover, he had expended immense effort to send down this Star God avatar; there might be no second chance. If he dared to recklessly enter, he might be lost within forever.

If it becomes like this, how can he become the Chaotic God?

"But… this Lord of the Shanhai Realm also knows the Supreme Secret Art?"

The Jin Jia youth's face was icy. "What is the origin of the Level-3 civilization relic acquired by the Shanhai Realm? It cannot be the Lin Yuan Realm… Could it be the Primordial Realm, already extinct?"

He also knew that, along the vast timeline since the universe's birth, among all the transcendent civilizations born of humanity, only three had the qualification to be called semi-divine civilizations.

Primordial Realm, Immortal Realm, Lin Yuan Realm.

Yet…

The Primordial Realm, the oldest civilization of humanity, had perished, fallen back into the true universe, and lost all chance of transcendence.

Unless the great being who created the Secret Art personally bestowed its legacy, only these three semi-divine civilizations could preserve the inheritance of the Supreme Secret Art.

"Hmph…"

The Jin Jia youth cast one final glance, then turned and left. "Forget it. First deal with the other Chaotic Children. This level of power has no right to contend with me."

Moreover, with his methods, as soon as the Star God avatar of the Shanhai Realm's lord leaves the Shanhai Realm, he can find it—and strike at any moment.

…

Within the Misty Star Sea.

Countless stars of varying colors flew wildly, forming one after another trajectory of primordial energy; these trajectories interwove and converged, becoming layer upon layer of veils that sealed off all forward paths.

The veils formed by the interweaving flight of these countless stars were like wall after wall, naturally creating a ever-changing labyrinth!

Lin Qing transformed into a hazy, raging wind, constantly dodging the high-speed collisions of individual stars, while using the Qiyuanxiang Secret Art to seek an exit through this dynamic maze.

The rate of change in this dynamic labyrinth and the complexity of its routes were impossible to calculate or predict.

Had Lin Qing not possessed the Qiyuanxiang Secret Art, the Wujiu Secret Art for evasion, and sufficient strength to barely withstand the residual waves from passing stars, he would not have known how to pass through the Misty Star Sea.

"This Immortal Realm bastard arrived too quickly…"

Lin Qing frowned slightly. "Was I the first to be found this time… because I revealed too much of my edge?"

Though he had only exposed a fraction of his strength in this civilizational war, it still seemed to have shocked the Void Sea profoundly—so much so that even this Immortal Realm Chaotic Child had come early to act against him.

Yet Lin Qing had long rehearsed in his mind the scenario of confronting this Immortal Realm Chaotic Child, and he was confident he could escape.

But…

The cost would be exposing the Supreme Secret Art.

Though his strength was inferior to that of the Immortal Realm Chaotic Child, and though his own Supreme Secret Art was far weaker than the opponent's, it was still the Supreme Secret Art—enough to flee in time.

"His Supreme Secret Art doesn't merely synergize with several primordial arts—it has even fused his life weapon into the Supreme Secret Art…"

As Lin Qing activated the Wujiu Secret Art to navigate among the countless stars, he silently recalled the scene just now. "And he himself is vastly stronger than me. No wonder the power of his Supreme Secret Art was so immense—it was only a fraction revealed…"

Even if he truly obtained the fourth-generation Void Spirit bloodline within the Misty Star Sea, he had no chance of defeating this man.

He would need to forge at least one life weapon before he could dare to fight him.

"In the simulated futures, this man was also tricked by the Yu Xingyuan Monarch, and only killed when Yuan Huang broke through to become Yu Xingyuan Deputy Monarch…"

Lin Qing mused inwardly. "But this time, I must eliminate Yuan Huang before he breaks through—otherwise it's meaningless. Without Yuan Huang, I'd have to face this man alone…"

Once Yuan Huang breaks through and becomes Yu Xingyuan Deputy Monarch, he will destroy every Void Sanctuary, turning them into primordial energy that returns to the Void Sea.

This will cause the Yu Xingyuan Monarch to trigger the Great Extinction prematurely.

According to what he learned after becoming the Chaotic God—

The Void Sea is like a water bag; the Great Extinction launched by the Yu Xingyuan Monarch is like piercing the bag with a straw and sucking out its water.

But the Yu Xingyuan Monarch cannot trigger the Great Extinction at any time—he must wait until the bag is completely full, swollen to its limit, or else he cannot pierce it with the straw.

This does not mean the more Level-2 civilizations the Void Sea has, the better—if there are too many Level-2 civilizations, the Void Sea will expand on its own, accelerating the accumulation of primordial energy.

The birth of a Chaotic God also consumes vast amounts of primordial energy from the Void Sea.

"After becoming the Chaotic God, when I reincarnate into the Lie Wang Realm, I can ask the Lie Wang Realm to help divert some of the Void Sea's primordial energy…"

Lin Qing mused inwardly. "This Immortal Realm Chaotic Child can do the same—but… if I lose my Star God identity, the Shanhai Realm will be in trouble…"

Whether for himself or for the Shanhai Realm, he could never relinquish the Chaotic God title.

As long as he becomes the Chaotic God and ascends to the position of Main God, his comprehension of time-space and cosmic primordial energy will become far easier; his avatar in the Lie Wang Realm will then have greatly increased odds of transcending the universe.

Even if he reincarnates into the Lie Wang Realm, once he achieves cultivation success, he can find an opportunity to reincarnate back into the Shanhai Realm and reclaim his position as its lord.

Lin Qing's goal is to find the method to become a Level-3 civilization. When he is confident enough to elevate the Shanhai Realm to Level-3 status, he will reincarnate back from the Lie Wang Realm and transform the Shanhai Realm into a Level-3 civilization like the Lie Wang Realm.

Though the goal remains distant, at least there is still hope, isn't there?

"Chaotic God…"

Lin Qing took a deep breath, his gaze sharpening into something terrifying, and immediately resumed activating the Wujiu Secret Art, darting through the swirling stars.

He did not know how long it would take to cross the Misty Star Sea, nor where exactly the Level-3 civilization relic lay within it—he could only trust the Qiyuanxiang Secret Art.

In the simulated futures, after becoming the Chaotic God, he had spent thousands of years before finding the Level-3 civilization relic.

As for now, he was far less certain.

And… luck played a large part.

…

Years passed, one after another; before Lin Qing's eyes remained only the countless chaotic, flashing stars and layer upon layer of veils—he could no longer recall how vast a distance he had traversed.

He could only persistently advance through the Misty Star Sea.

Meanwhile, the Blood Cauldron King's avatar moved in secret, gathering treasures across the Void Sea according to locations revealed in the simulated futures, while also eliminating notorious space pirates to earn points from the Cosmic Star Patrol Alliance.

These would be indispensable when he eventually forged his life weapon set of Chaotic artifacts.

In the blink of an eye, seventy thousand years had passed.

On this day—

After exploring the Misty Star Sea for over seventy thousand years, Lin Qing suddenly saw the chaotic, flashing stars before him vanish entirely—his vision opened up abruptly.

"I'm out!"

(End of chapter)