Chapter 1635: The Grand Saint

The day of the second court session arrived, and everybody came on time. Even Ying Zheng sent a projection. Everybody in the room, except for a few, was a Primal, and they sat cross-legged with their factions, with Maitreya’s facing them. However, there is a small group with a few familiar individuals, and Wang Wei recognized one of them.

"I’m glad everybody is here, or the fact that I didn’t have to take action a second time," Maitreya started, which made the room awkward.

"Many of you know me, so you should understand I don’t want to behave like this, but most of you fail to grasp the severity of the disaster we are facing," Maitreya continued. "Do you know who our enemy is?"

No one was able to deduce such information, so they remained silent.

"The Land of Exile."

The response of everybody was puzzlement instead of shock. The Land of Exile was somewhat infamous. People generally knew that it was a unique timeline from which no one ever returned. And even the people who do usually die soon afterward.

"It’s not surprising that you don’t know since the truth or secret of that timeline is almost a taboo," Maitreya stated. "The world is unfair, and nothing proves that more than Grand Dao’s treatment of the other timelines. You all should be praising your luck for being born in the Primordial Timeline."

Everybody listened attentively.

"The Saint Path is severely limited in other timelines, and when a cultivator starts their transcendent journey, they will confront an ugly truth: are they an [Original Being] or a [Alternate]. I think you can deduce what these words mean."

The atmosphere became somber. The other timelines are created when significant moments of history diverged into many paths. The divergences are typically based on the choices made by individuals in the Primordial Timeline. No one knows why the Grand Dao allows time to diverge into numerous possibilities, but there are two widespread and popular theories.

The Improvement Theory posits that the Grand Dao is learning from these diverging timelines to perfect the Primordial Timeline. The Preservation Theory posits that Grand Dao utilized these timelines as a means to repair or replace the Primordial Timeline in the event of a catastrophic failure.

Based on Maitreya’s words, these cultivators realized something they might have overlooked. In these timelines, their variants or alternate selves exist, but there are also entities born as a result of the divergence, meaning they do not have counterparts in the Primordial Timeline.

"The [Origin Beings] are freed to pursue the transcendent path, but if an [Alternate] wishes to do so, they must first eliminate their counterparts from the Primordial Timeline," Maitreya continued.

"But Saint, it’s forbidden for these people to enter the Primordial Timeline."

"Exactly. So, you can imagine how challenging it is for them," Maitreya nodded.

"The Infinite Trichiolocosm has too many timelines, so the chances for an [Alternate] to encounter their Primordial Self are absurdly low," someone commented. Wang Wei almost rolled his eyes as this guy, who casually named everybody the [Primordial Self]. Albeit, he had to admit it was a catchy and dignified name.

"That’s assuming they even know that is one of the requirements for the transcendent path. After all, it’s in the best interest of Grand Dao and the ruling class in these timelines to keep this information secret as a means of control and to prevent mass panic and chaos."

"That’s a fair analysis. But after putting it that way, these people have it rough. I don’t think I would have a chance if I were an [Alternate]."

"It’s not bad. It’s feasible as long as you can lure your Primordial Self from the safety of their timelines."

"You make it sound easy, but the problem is how to actually do it with all these limits and restraints?"

"I’m sure there is a way."

"Of course, there is, but the people who have succeeded are truly extraordinary."

"They probably have Dao Lords and Overlords’ intelligence and wisdom."

"Most definitely."

A few eyes glanced at Wang Wei and Qiyuan, before looking around at certain individuals they believed might have the mind for such an arduous task. The atmosphere was momentarily strange as certain people who believed in their own wisdom felt offended by the fact that others did not immediately think of them.

"On another note, I’ve always felt his lingering feeling of worry, or maybe even dread, every time I travel through the Infinite Trichililocosm. Is this the reason?"

"I’ve felt the same way, too. That’s why I don’t like traveling to other timelines."

"Same."

"It’s the same for me, but oddly enough, I once met one of my alternate selves and we had a great conversation comparing our lives. I dare say we even became friends."

"Friend, I think you were lucky you were not hunted."

"It’s hard to say who would hunt who."

"Alright," Maitreya said, stopping the conversation. "Despite the severe limitations, one man defied his fate and became a Grand Dao Saint." Everybody resisted the urge to display their shock. It was already so difficult for them to become a Primordial Saint in this timeline, but someone reached such a height under such difficult circumstances.

"However, after reaching the ceiling of the Chaos Universe, the Grand Saint realized his path forward was cut off. He realized only the Primordial Timeline had the resources to give birth to a True Transcendent. With this knowledge, he did the only logical thing: he tried to ascend to the main branch."

’She didn’t use his name or title?’ Wang Wei noticed. He had learned the hard way not to casually mention higher beings, but Maitreya was a Saint, separated by the protection of the Primordial Timeline, and she still did not dare reveal his name.

’Now that I think about it, there are many implications now that I know who is behind this invasion,’ Wang Wei analyzed. The fact that the Grand Saint has now successfully invaded the Primordial Timeline means whether Grand Dao is playing a dangerous game by using him as a pawn, or she is too occupied with something else to even deal with.

"I don’t know the details, but what I do know is that he failed," Maitreya continued. "Then, the Grand Saint changed his plan. Since he couldn’t access the Primordial Timeline, he would make his own."

Everyone was speechless. Only a Grand Dao Saint could think of such an approach.

"He started to invade, conquer, and fuse numerous timelines into a more perfect version — into what they called the Divine Timeline. He also slowly built his force by offering cultivators a fair transcendent path in exchange for their servitude. However, Grand Dao ’abandoned’ them by completely isolating their Divine Timeline from the Infinite Trichiolocosm, putting an end to their plans.

"As you can imagine, the Grand Saint would not accept such an outcome. After years of patience, amassing strength, and strategizing, he has found a way to invade the Primordial Timeline."

The room was eerily quiet: no sounds of breathing, movement, or even battling an eye. These cultivators who stand at the top of the Eternal Ascension World even lowered the voice of their inner monologue. This was too much information.

’There is no way Ying Zheng’s artifact allowed her to divine so much information,’ Wang Wei thought. In a war, information is power. No competent cultivator — let alone a Grand Dao Saint — would make the mistake of revealing their information. ’So, the only explanation is that Grand Dao fed it to her.’

Wang Wei suddenly frowned. ’Now that I know all of this, I’m kind of suspicious of Tian Xuan.’ He had to scrutinize whether this Son of Grand Dao had chosen to escape to the Land of Exile because he knew the information and had lied to Wang Wei when he said he didn’t know much, or whether he had been secretly manipulated.

’I should be more careful when dealing with him,’ Wang Wei reminded himself.

"Saint," said the Xiao Ancestor from the union. He did not hide the helplessness he felt. "What can we do in a war involving a Grand Dao Saint?" Everyone had the same thoughts. Disasters are supposed to be events with opportunity for surviving and even thriving if the right choices are made, but this one only screamed death and annihilation.

"You don’t have to worry too much about that," Maitreya reassured. "We are nothing but chess pieces on a board. Our role, while small, is significant. So, when the time is correct, there will be other pieces to deal with the things beyond our capabilities."

These words were both reassuring and a devastating blow. It was good to know they didn’t have to be involved in the fight of these Saints, but it also crushed many people’s spirits after realizing how insignificant they are in the grand scheme of the Chaos Universe.

Wang Wei secretly shook his head. Ruling over the world for so long has warped these people’s views of themselves. It also did not help that no Saints participated in the Second Origin War, leading them to believe their actions had a widespread influence when, in fact, they did not. As for him? He’s always known he was a pawn, and a long way from becoming a chess player. So, this information did not affect him as much.

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