Chapter 2004

Bai Laogui’s voice grew cold. “War? This is the Forsaken Land, so it won’t even be a war. You people aren’t qualified to fight a war against us. Even if you do have five Semi-Progenitors, our four ruling powers alone can easily dispatch ten Semi-Progenitors, or even Progenitors, at any time.”

“Try it. When the Sixth Mainland invaded my Fifth Mainland, the Progenitor of Combat took action, only to suffer a disastrous defeat,” Highsage Grandmaster retorted.

Elder Gong’s gaze swept over Ni Huang and the other three. “This is the Fifth Mainland, your ancestral land. Humans have Progenitors, and places have their ancestors. Don’t underestimate your ancestral land.”

Xia De asked, “Where is my Xia family’s Semi-Progenitor? Why did he not come?”

Arch-Elder Zen looked at Xia De. “There was no need for him to come. There are four of you and four of us. This is just right.”

“Do you really want to start a war?” Ni Huang asked.

Arch-Elder Zen and Ni Huang stared at each other. “Obviously not. We came here because we needed to check something. Did you notice anything strange when dealing with Sky Creation Academy?”

Ni Huang and the others grew puzzled. “What sort of strangeness?”

Arch-Elder Zen grew solemn. “It’s very likely that Sky Creation Academy is a nest for Aeternus.”

Ni Huang and the others were all startled, but Wang Si quickly grew derisive. “What a joke! If you think that you can save Lu Xiaoxuan by relying on such slander, you’re too naïve. We are Semi-Progenitor, not ants! If Sky Creation Academy had a connection to Aeternus, then how could we have not noticed?”

Ni Huang shook his head. “Don’t bother trying to divide us. Such things are unnecessary. You’re being too naïve.”

Arch-Elder Zen tapped his gadget and brought up a video. It was the exact same one that Lu Yin had shown to Arch-Elder Zen before.

This was the video that recorded a certain corpse king’s final words: “Return to Sky Creation Academy.”

“This video led my Hall of Honor to send people deep into the Technocracy to investigate. I even happened to visit First Edition City, but the investigation proved fruitless. However, this video is unaltered. If you don’t believe me, check it yourselves. Your families rule over various civilizations, and there should be some technologically advanced ones among them,” said Arch-Elder Zen.

The atmosphere surrounding Ni Huang and the others grew somber. Arch-Elder Zen would not stoop to trying to deceive them with a fake video.

Wang Si also had no way to retort. If the video was real, then did Sky Creation Academy really have some sort of connection to Aeternus? Why else would a corpse king say, “Return to Sky Creation Academy?”

“The video is real, but the corpse king might not be,” Bai Laogui stated coldly.

Arch-Elder Zen looked at the man. “This video has been around for quite some time already. Actually, it was taken before you even met Lu Xiaoxuan on the Sophic Rift battlefield. The reason why they were even there was because of this video. It was only after you met him that we learned that Lu Yin is Lu Xiaoxuan.”

“Before that time?” Wang Si was surprised.

Ni Huang looked at her. “Is that when you two came here before?”

Wang Si’s expression grew dark. “That’s right. Bai Laogui and I met Lu Xiaoxuan on the Sophic Rift battlefield. Thinking back, the people here had no idea that he was Lu Xiaoxuan when we arrived.”

Xia De grew solemn. “Then it seems that the timings align, which indicates that this video is real. Since Aeternus would never suffer from any sort of infighting, then if the corpse king really said it, Sky Creation Academy most likely really is related to Aeternus.”

Arch-Elder Zen said, “We wouldn’t risk sending our people into the Technocracy to investigate if not for that. Lu Yin already represented the peak of our Fifth Mainland’s youth at that time, and we also did not know of his identity as Lu Xiaoxuan. Would you let your direct descendants risk investigating such a dangerous place? There is nowhere to hide in the entire Technocracy, and only one out of ten people who enter are able to escape alive. Even your Semi-Progenitors were trapped here.”

For a while, everyone remained silent as various thoughts ran through their minds.

“A single video is not conclusive proof that Sky Creation Academy is related to Aeternus.” Wang Si finally broke the silence.

Arch-Elder Zen replied, “Of course, which is why I am hoping that you can investigate Sky Creation Academy. You were able to travel to the Fifth Mainland because you received their help, but it’s very possible that Sky Creation Academy had already hid all traces of their collaboration with Aeternus before reaching an agreement with you.”

“Lu Xiaoxuan is very important, and I can understand your determination to capture him. However, Aeternus is far more important, and I’m certain that you don’t want to risk a future where Aeternus works against you through Sky Creation Academy.”

Ni Huang exchanged looks with the other Semi-Progenitors. They all remembered the strange events that they had run into during their negotiations with Sky Creation Academy after passing through the New Corridor. For example, first, White Sage had attacked Wang Yun and some others, and later, Sky Creation Academy had hesitated to grant passage through the New Corridor. Could these events have anything to do with Aeternus? Could Sky Creation Academy’s delays have actually been to cover up them erasing evidence of Aeternus’s presence?

That did not seem impossible.

At this moment, the same possibility occurred to Ni Huang, Wang Si, Bai Laogui, and Xia De. There was no other explanation for White Sage’s sudden attack, and how else could they explain Headmaster Senn’s hesitation to work with the Perennial World?

The puzzle pieces fit together perfectly.

At that moment, they all turned to face Sky Creation Academy, and they felt as though the temperature had suddenly dropped rather drastically.

***

Far away, in the Neoverse, at the top of Mt. Microcosms, Mu Tianlun returned to the Arbitration World and continued into the depths of the hidden world.

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“Judicial Commissioner Mu Tianlun requests a meeting.”

“What’s the matter?”

Mu Tianlun spoke in a respectful tone, “Shamrock Enterprise’s Leaf King is dead. I’m here to make a report.”

“Who caused his death?”

“Lu Yin,” replied Mu Tianlun in a deep voice.

“Reason?”

Mu Tianlun answered, “I don’t know yet, but Leaf King died half a year ago. The news has been suppressed until just now. Lord Chief Justice, Leaf King was given more than thirty Honor Points. Since he was killed by Lu Yin, should Lu Yin be arrested and judged?”

“Yes,” Chief Justice’s voice resounded.

Mu Tianlun respectfully replied, “Your subordinate will go now.”

He then turned and left the Arbitration World. After leaving, he looked up at Mt. Microcosms’ peak.

At this moment, Da Qiu also emerged from the Arbitration World, and he gave Mu Tianlun a slow bow. “I have met with the Chief Justice.”

Mu Tianlun looked at Da Qiu, “Are you heading out?”

Da Qiu replied, “Yes. It appears that another stronghold of the Neohuman Alliance has appeared.”

Mu Tianlun nodded. “Then go.”

Da Qiu quickly left Mt. Microcosms.

A cold glint flickered across Mu Tianlun’s eyes as he stared at Da Qiu’s back. “Consider yourself lucky.”

He then took out several sourceboxes from his cosmic ring. They arranged themselves automatically, which attracted a fair bit of attention.

One person after another opened their eyes on Mt. Microcosms and turned to look towards the entrance to the Arbitration World. “What’s going on? Is someone attacking Mt. Microcosms? Is it Highsage Wudi again?”

Li also turned to look at the entrance to the Arbitration World. When he saw Mu Tianlun, he shot through the air. “Lord Judicial Commissioner, what are you do-?”

Before Li could even finish speaking, he heard an eerie peal of laughter. “Sure enough, he’s not here! I didn’t stay hidden in the Perennial World for nothing! The Hall of Honor can finally meet its end today, hahahaha!”

Li’s expression changed drastically. “Who’s there?”.

Several people stepped out from the sourcebox array in front of Mu Tianlun. They were led by one of the Seven Skygods: Ancient God. Following behind him was Shaman God, Forgotten Ruins God, and Undying God. Four of the Seven Skygods descended onto Mt. Microcosms. Instantly, space started shattering around the mountain.

The Hall of Honor had endured many massive changes throughout time, but from the moment it had first been established, no one had ever successfully invaded it. Even if Ancient God destroyed other key locations in the Human Domain, Arch-Elder Zen had already been prepared for such attacks. At this moment, the Seven Skygods had descended upon Mt. Microcosms, which shocked the entire Honor Zone.

Li felt his scalp tingle when he saw the four Skygods.

Undying God glanced at the protector, and Li’s body disintegrated into ashes.

“Attack quickly. Mt Microcosms is not a simple place. I even feel a familiar power here,” Ancient God growled. He then took a step forward and shot into the Arbitration World.

Shaman God, Undying God, and Forgotten Ruins God followed right behind him.

Mu Tianlun looked up as one Envoy after another appeared. These people were the elite protectors of Mt. Microcosms, and six of them were even androids. This was the strength of Mt. Microcosms. The Hall of Honor had not managed to keep control of the Fifth Mainland because of Arch-Elder Zen alone, but also because of the number of Envoys who belonged to the Hall of Honor.

Mu Tianlun just sneered before shooting into the Arbitration World.

***

Back at the border of the Technocracy, shock appeared on Arch-Elder Zen’s face the moment the Seven Skygods showed themselves. “Not good! Mt. Microcosms is being attacked!”

He turned to Highsage Grandmaster. “Quick! Send me back to Mt. Microcosms!”

Highsage Grandmaster raced to arrange a sourcebox array, as that was the only way to instantly teleport a person to Mt. Microcosms. “I need a bit of time. At least half an incense’s stick’s worth. A teleportation sourcebox array isn’t easy to set up.”

There was nothing that Arch-Elder Zen could do but wait impatiently. He regretted leaving. The deaths of the Seven Skygods in the Fifth Mainland had made the old man careless, and he had forgotten that the Perennial World also had Seven Skygods with the strength of Semi-Progenitors.

The Perennial World had already sent their army to the Fifth Mainland, which meant that Aeternus’s experts, as well as the Seven Skygods who were hiding within the Perennial World, had an opportunity to make the trip as well.

Arch-Elder Zen was growing increasingly nervous. Mt. Microcosms could not defend against any one of the Seven Skygods on their own, let alone several of them all at once.

Why had the Seven Skygods suddenly attacked Mt. Microcosms? The Seven Skygods had never openly revealed themselves for so many years. Even if they did fight against the Human Domain’s experts, the Skygods would always finish the battles quickly. They had only attacked Mt. Microcosms once, and that was when they had targeted the Human Domain’s various nodes. However, their attempt had been foiled by Progenitor Hui’s plan, so why had they returned at this time?

At this moment, Mt. Microcosms was the weakest it had ever been throughout all of history. Arch-Elder Zen was absent, as was Xiu Ming, and even the First Protector was missing. Qing Ping had gone to look into that matter. Could it be? Arch-Elder Zen suddenly thought of something, and his eyes grew bloodshot. He had underestimated the Seven Skygods’ desire for that thing.

“What’s going on?” Ni Huang suddenly asked.

Arch-Elder Zen looked at the other man and softly replied, “The Seven Skygods have appeared on Mt. Microcosms.”

Ni Huang’s expression changed. “The Seven Skygods? Are they in this place too?”

Arch-Elder Zen answered, “The Seven Skygods in the Human Domain were almost all killed when Burial Garden was sealed. The Skygods attacking Mt. Microcosms should be from your place.”

Xia De found the matter rather odd. “Why would they attack your Mt. Microcosms?”

Arch-Elder Zen remained silent as his mind raced. He was guessing that this attack was related to the black crystal that Qing Ping had taken back. Aeternus seemed to be more concerned with that item than they could have imagined. Just what the hell was it?

In the Arbitration World, Ancient God had already arrived in the depths of the hidden world, and he reached out with a grasping hand. “Qing Ping, get out here!”

As the voice rang out, a pair of scales emerged from the darkness and moved so that one side was under Ancient God’s feet.

“Judgment: Rule—Force. Let’s see if you have the strength to suppress me.” Qing Ping’s voice echoed.

Ancient God held his head high as his right foot touched the scales. The moment he made contact, his eyes changed from gray to green, and then to red. The aura he gave off soared higher and higher, and he even used the Assimilation secret technique. He roared as he completed the fourth level of the Corpse King Transformation: Specter Eye Transformation.

“Burial Garden’s Tombkeeper relied on the power of Yellow Springs to match up to one of my Semi-Progenitor incarnations, yet you dare try to cross realms to challenge someone like me? Since you want to be crushed, I will crush you!”

As Ancient God spoke, the scales beneath his feet cracked. The cracks spread into the darkness to reveal a young and heroic face.

The face belonged to none other than the Chief Justice, Qing Ping.

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