Chapter 396: It

Endless chaotic currents drifted slowly, everything in a primal, disordered state, nurturing all possibilities.

Life, treasures, wonders, universes… all were possible.

“Arrived.”

Amidst a thunderous Zhendang of spacetime, Lin Qing emerged from the River of Time and Space, appearing within the endless chaotic currents.

The chaotic currents immediately began to slowly erode him.

Lin Qing shifted his intent, and the surrounding chaotic currents retreated of their own accord—any eternal existence could easily resist the erosion of chaotic currents.

“The Immortal Nest.”

Through the hazy chaotic currents, Lin Qing gazed across millions of light-years at the dark gold sphere, and information about the Immortal Nest surfaced in his mind.

The fact that this dark gold sphere could be seen clearly across millions of light-years revealed its immense size.

The Immortal Nest was a purely absolute sphere, exactly 380,000 light-years in diameter, its interior nurturing a world, mostly completely sealed shut.

It opened only once every 38 billion years, but when it did, ultimate existences were repelled by the Immortal Nest due to their internal universes and could not enter; other beings could enter only once.

The Immortal Spirit born from the Immortal Nest seemed to benefit the Cosmic Tree, so it was entirely claimed by the Void God Clan.

Since only beings below the ultimate level could enter once, each time the Immortal Nest opened, the Void God Clan would invite others inside to capture the Immortal Spirits.

In the endless chaos, there were no shortage of chaotic wonders and treasure sites claimed by the Void God Clan.

This time coincided with the Immortal Nest’s opening, so the Void God Clan used it as a contest for third-generation bloodlines, saving the cost of hiring others—killing two birds with one stone.

Even if it weren’t the Immortal Nest, other chaotic wonders would come up, serving as free labor.

“Huh!”

After exiting the River of Time and Space, Lin Qing shifted to spacetime traversal, and after merely a few teleports, arrived near the massive dark gold sphere.

Within the several-million-light-year radius of the Immortal Nest, it was entirely shrouded by strange bronze chains, their surging, terrifying power making even Lin Qing’s heart tremble.

It was said the Immortal Nest’s seal was forged by thirty-six True Gods of the Void God Clan, using cosmic chains crafted by a World God to completely lock the area, guarded long-term by a single Void God Clan True God.

Even multiple Sovereigns of Divine Realms could not forcibly break through.

“Palace?”

Within the cosmic chains, a majestic palace floated amid the chaotic currents, its entrance lined with numerous figures.

Holding the token given by Tianju True God, Lin Qing flew through the gaps between the cosmic chains, heading straight for the floating, towering palace.

The thirty-odd figures before the palace all turned to look at Lin Qing.

Lin Qing glanced over them and realized these individuals were all known from intelligence reports—each a famed Eternal Peak powerhouse, some with astonishing backgrounds.

Someone like Cangye Marquis or Yantian Marquis would be at the very bottom among this group.

Yet Lin Qing felt something odd—why hadn’t any of them disguised themselves?

Every single one was identifiable from intelligence reports, their auras unhidden.

“Another new face?”

“Which civilization?”

“Good disguise, pity…”

Each candidate now studied Lin Qing, some smirking, some gleeful, some pitying.

At that moment, one of them suddenly laughed: “Yu Tian Shen, can you recognize him?”

Lin Qing glanced at the speaker and recognized him as a nominal disciple of the Lord of Cangyue Divine Nation in the Immortal Realm.

As for… Yu Tian Shen?

Lin Qing turned to a long-haired youth in golden robes among the crowd, who was watching him with a faintly amused expression.

“Yu Tian Shen is here?” Lin Qing was slightly surprised.

The memories he gained from his last descent into the future contained no mention of Yu Tian Shen—apparently Yu Tian Shen possessed some treasure that concealed his future trajectory.

Yu Tian Shen was the direct disciple of an Immortal Realm Cosmic Lord.

And that Immortal Realm Cosmic Lord was unquestionably the strongest human alive today!

As a Cosmic Lord, he mastered dual spacetime laws and wielded a pillar-level cosmic treasure—his power was unimaginable.

The universally acknowledged strongest human!

Yu Tian Shen was his direct disciple, taken fifteen billion years ago.

It was said Yu Tian Shen had a great fortune: one of his avatars fused with the primordial bloodline of the Chaos Lord, and he had trained in three terrifying legacies of Past World Gods; had he not sought mastery over dual spacetime laws, he would have already achieved ultimacy.

Lin Qing suddenly understood—no wonder none of them disguised themselves. Had Yu Tian Shen seen through them all?

He said nothing, merely exerting all his power to activate the chaotic treasure within him, “Wu Mian Shen.”

“Good disguise.”

After a brief observation, Yu Tian Shen failed to pierce the disguise, and a flicker of surprise crossed his face.

Then, as if intrigued, he smiled, narrowed his eyes, and his pale golden pupils slowly contracted into vertical slits, a strange aura spreading as he scrutinized Lin Qing closely.

In the next instant, Lin Qing felt Wu Mian Shen’s illusionary veil ripple—some intent was piercing through layer after layer of illusions—and he frowned slightly.

The other must already have seen his true face; if this continued, even his aura would be exposed.

He concealed his identity because his power was still inferior to Yu Gong’s—he planned to strike a decisive blow against the enemy camp during the Divine Nation war, and concealment was essential to avoid Yu Gong’s attention.

If his identity were revealed, wouldn’t that be troublesome?

Lin Qing immediately whispered: “Yu Tian Shen, I am Lin Qing, direct disciple of Tian Guang Divine Lord of the Lie Wang Realm. Please don’t reveal my identity.”

“Lin Qing?”

Yu Tian Shen glanced at him, then whispered back: “Oh, I remember—the genius Yu Gong mentioned?”

Lin Qing frowned slightly—did this man know Yu Gong?

“Don’t worry, my relationship with Yu Gong isn’t good.” Yu Tian Shen smiled faintly as he whispered: “I can agree to your request, but I have a small condition.”

“Go on?” Lin Qing looked at Yu Tian Shen.

“I heard… you’ve learned Illusionary Great Annihilation?”

Yu Tian Shen whispered: “I have a good chance in this contest, but Qi Gu Tian Shen of the Lin Yuan Realm is also here—I’m not certain. If you’re willing to fully distract Qi Gu Tian Shen and the others for me, I’ll help you. Deal?”

Lin Qing looked at him and whispered: “You mean I should abandon this contest and fully assist you?”

“Exactly.” Yu Tian Shen smiled as he whispered: “The Immortal Spirit is mine. But after capturing it, the Void God Clan will reward you with a certain amount of Golden Leaves based on the number and quality of Immortal Spirits. I’ll give you half of those Golden Leaves. How?”

In his view, this new disciple of Tian Guang Divine Lord could never refuse him.

Everyone else, upon seeing him Yu Tian Shen, had already abandoned this contest—only Qi Gu Tian Shen gave him slight trouble.

And Lin Qing practiced Illusionary Great Annihilation, useless for capturing Immortal Spirits, useful only in combat—how could he possibly compete with him?

In strength, he had trained three legacies of Past World Gods and possessed the primordial bloodline of the Chaos Lord “Yuanjie Lord”—undisputedly the strongest here!

So he believed his offer was generous, and it would be wise to cultivate goodwill with this genius said to have cultivated only a few million years.

“Sorry.”

Lin Qing whispered: “I am determined to win this third-generation bloodline from the Void God Clan. I can’t help you. Can we exchange the condition?”

“Determined to win?” Yu Tian Shen studied Lin Qing, then laughed.

He Landezaiduoshuo , and spoke directly: “Fine. Let’s see how capable Tian Guang Divine Lord’s new disciple really is.”

Lin Qing frowned slightly and had no desire to waste more words.

“Haha, Guoranbei Yu Tian Shen seen through!”

“With Yuanjie Lord’s bloodline and a detection-type chaotic treasure, how could you possibly hide?”

“Tian Guang Divine Lord’s new disciple?”

“Oh, I recall—Lin Qing, right? Supposedly cultivated only a few million years?”

“Tsk tsk tsk, so young?”

Each candidate from various human civilizations laughed—they had all been seen through by Yu Tian Shen, so they weren’t surprised.

They could all tell Lin Qing was displeased, but Yu Tian Shen, as the direct disciple of humanity’s strongest, held immense status, and this contest was meaningless anyway.