North River Boat Master and the mighty Ancient Tree World Lord, shockingly, treated Xu Jingming as an equal! This unexpected behavior left not only Xu Jingming, but also the dean, Tower Master, and Island Lord, utterly bewildered and increasingly curious.
What could make them so deferential to Jingming? Even if a new half-step third-realm cultivator emerged, the esteemed Ancient Tree World Lord wouldn't typically pay a personal visit for congratulations, mused the dean.
Tensions and factions were known to exist among half-step third-realms.
Ancient Tree World Lord was undeniably the most powerful half-step third-realm being in the dominion, with a reputation extending across neighboring dominions. North River Boat Master himself had shown humility before Ancient Tree World Lord.
But now… Ancient Tree World Lord was displaying great humility towards Xu Jingming.
What could be the reason? Xu Jingming, the dean, and the others were utterly puzzled.
"Indeed, we're all equals here," North River Boat Master added.
"Brother Wu Ming, won't you invite us in?" Ancient Tree World Lord asked with a smile.
Xu Jingming quickly replied, "Ancient Tree World Lord, North River Boat Master, please."
The four of them led the way, welcoming the two half-step third-realm powerhouses onto the island.
In a grand hall on Myriad Star Island, the dean and company treated Ancient Tree World Lord and North River Boat Master with the utmost respect, offering a feast of exquisite wines and delicacies.
"We're equals, so no need to distinguish our seats," Ancient Tree World Lord said with a smile. The original seating arrangement in the hall had been designed for the two distinguished guests, but with a wave of his hand, the World Lord altered the setup. Now, six seats were arranged in a circle, with no discernible hierarchy.
Ancient Tree World Lord and North River Boat Master took their seats first.
Xu Jingming and the others followed suit. As natural high-dimensional lifeforms residing on Myriad Star Island served the feast with reverence, they couldn't help but feel excited.
"In my hundreds of millions of years on Myriad Star Island, I've never seen a half-step third-realm powerhouse visit."
"Serving such powerful beings is an honor I'll brag about for the rest of my life."
The lifeforms exchanged their excitement through voice transmission after leaving the hall. For them, serving half-step third realm food and drink brought a rare spark to their otherwise mundane lives.
Back in the hall, North River Boat Master smiled. "Brother Wu Ming, this is my first visit, and I've prepared a small gift."
He produced a dark-green vessel filled with dazzling starlight, the stars seemingly swimming inside.
Xu Jingming, the dean, Tower Master, and Island Lord were taken aback by the sight of the vessel's starlight.
Th-this aura?
"This is a third-realm weapon I stumbled upon, the 8,000 Galaxies. Once activated, it can envelop Myriad Star Island in 8,000 galaxies, making it nearly impenetrable for other half-step third-realm powerhouses," North River Boat Master explained with a grin.
"It's far too precious," Xu Jingming protested.
"It's nothing," North River Boat Master dismissed, shaking his head. "Thearch Dragon Island Lord gifted you Primordial Gold worth 60 drops of Abyssal Mother Blood. I'm much poorer than him; the 8,000 Galaxies is all I can offer, worth only 30 drops of Abyssal Mother Blood."
The 8,000 Galaxies needed an intricate setup to protect a lair.
As a non-mobile weapon, it was considered one of the weakest third-realm armaments.
"North River Boat Master possesses only three third-realm weapons," Ancient Tree World Lord remarked with a grin. "Parting with the 8,000 Galaxies was no small matter for him."
It couldn't be helped; he wasn't exactly wealthy!
"Brother Wu Ming, please accept it." North River Boat Master gestured, and the dark-green vessel shimmering with starlight flew towards Xu Jingming.
Upon witnessing this, Ancient Tree World Lord announced, "Brother Wu Ming, if you wish to learn a legacy, you can easily do so in Feather Fire City! I've given it some thought and prepared a small trinket for you."
With that, he flipped his hand, revealing void beads in his palm. Each bead appeared ethereal, emanating an invisible magical power.
The dean, Tower Master, and Island Lord felt their minds sway just by gazing upon them.
"Heart Spirit Bead?" Xu Jingming asked, astonished.
The Heart Realm produced numerous high-dimensional materials, the most common of which were Sin Beads. Xu Jingming had refined a significant number of Sin Beads to forge psychic weapons!
Among the materials found in the Heart Realm, Heart Spirit Beads were the most coveted. A single Heart Spirit Bead was typically worth three drops of Abyssal Mother Blood.
"Collecting this trinket was no easy task. I enlisted the help of a few friends and managed to gather 34 Heart Spirit Beads," Ancient Tree World Lord explained. "When you eventually reach the half-step third realm, you can use these Heart Spirit Beads to cultivate and refine a psychic weapon that suits you."
"This is too precious. I…" Xu Jingming understood the significance. Unlike Abyssal Mother Blood, which could be obtained in a stable supply through sufficient sacrifice, Heart Spirit Beads required extensive exploration of the Heart Realm and a stroke of luck to find. Accumulating 34 Heart Spirit Beads was far more challenging than collecting 100 drops of Abyssal Mother Blood.
As his power grew, particularly once he reached the half-step third realm, his psychic weapon—crafted solely from Sin Beads—would prove somewhat feeble. If he were to face an Abyss Sovereign in the future, his psychic weapon could be corroded and destroyed. Adding a few Heart Spirit Beads could transform his weapon.
"Ancient Tree World Lord, North River Boat Master, your gifts are too generous." Xu Jingming stared at the star-filled vessel and the hovering Heart Spirit Beads before him. The weight of the gifts stirred anxiety within him.
"Really?" Ancient Tree World Lord glanced at North River Boat Master. "We both believe these gifts to be quite ordinary."
"Quite ordinary indeed," North River Boat Master agreed, nodding.
In that moment, the dean, Tower Master, and Island Lord remained silent. Neither accepting the gifts on Xu Jingming's behalf nor rejecting them was within their purview.
Xu Jingming scrutinized the pair. "I need to understand why you've presented me with such lavish gifts. The greater the offering, the heavier the karmic burden. I must know your reasons."
He needed clarity, for he had far too many questions.
"Your talent," Ancient Tree World Lord replied, eyeing Xu Jingming.
"Talent?" Xu Jingming queried, perplexed.
"You are aware that half-step third-realm beings like us have infiltrated the entire spatial layer and even begun probing the timeline," Ancient Tree World Lord explained, "so we can glimpse fragments of the future."
North River Boat Master chimed in, "We're here precisely because we've observed a part of your future, Brother Wu Ming."
"The future is uncertain," Xu Jingming protested, baffled. "It's rife with variables. Why fixate on the hazy vision you see?"
"Your future, however, is certain," Ancient Tree World Lord countered, eyeing Xu Jingming. "Time and time again, I've seen it. Over a hundred different future branches… In every single one, you're destined to become an invincible force at the half-step third realm."
"I concur," North River Boat Master chimed in. "Your future is sealed."
Xu Jingming's expression shifted subtly.
The dean, Tower Master, and Island Lord were simultaneously astonished and incredulous. This phenomenon defied all logic. It was common knowledge that the actions of countless beings influenced the future, with variables increasing as the timeline stretched on.
Yet, as a high-dimensional being, Xu Jingming's future was predetermined!
"We can't explain it, but it's an honor to befriend such an indomitable half-step third-realm powerhouse," Ancient Tree World Lord declared.
"In the 10,000 surrounding dominions, there's only one Abyss Sovereign," North River Boat Master added. "As for invincible half-step third-realm beings, they're far scarcer than Abyss Sovereigns."
Xu Jingming's thoughts raced.
His future was set in stone?
Was an unseen force guiding him? Or was it merely his prodigious talent?
"Will revealing this to Jingming alter his future?" the dean inquired abruptly.
"As I've already stated, his future is certain," Ancient Tree World Lord reiterated. "Even if I wanted to, I couldn't prevent it."
The dean pondered the revelation.
"We have no other requests," Ancient Tree World Lord continued. "We simply seek friendship."
Xu Jingming studied the others before smiling. "Very well, I'll accept these two gifts."
Regardless of the future, he had to forge ahead with determination! These gifts, particularly the Heart Spirit Beads, would prove invaluable in his future evolution.
"Hahaha…" Ancient Tree World Lord and North River Boat Master grinned. Their intentions were transparent and devoid of malice; they merely sought to befriend Xu Jingming. By accepting their gifts, the karmic bond between them strengthened.
Even the impoverished North River Boat Master reluctantly surrendered the 8,000 Galaxies! He recognized that passing up this chance could mean never encountering such an opportunity again.
"Brother Wu Ming," North River Boat Master addressed him, "Five Demons Planet requested my aid in repurchasing their five clones from you. I won't impose my opinion. Sell if you choose, or disregard if you prefer. The highest they can offer is five drops of Abyssal Mother Blood."
"I'll sell them," Xu Jingming agreed.
Selling the five corpses to their original owners would yield the highest price. For any other high-dimensional being, the corpses held far less value.
The banquet concluded only when both guests and host were content.
A fixed future? Though he accepted the gift, Xu Jingming's enthusiasm was tempered.
If an invisible hand truly exists, I'll uncover it eventually, he mused. It seems to be aiding me. If no such force is at play… then my talent is beyond measure!
Xu Jingming pushed the matter aside. There was little sense in dwelling on it; his primary objective was to grow stronger continually.
…
Ancient Tree World Lord and North River Boat Master visited Wu Ming on Myriad Star Island, bearing congratulatory gifts. Word of this event rapidly spread throughout the South Pavilion 3609 Dominion.
The various factions in the dominion were left dumbfounded.
"Ancient Tree World Lord and North River Boat Master visited Wu Ming?"
"Instead of seizing the Primordial Gold, they actually brought gifts?"
"In my opinion, Wu Ming must've broken through ages ago. He's likely already half a step into the Heart Realm lineage."
"I also believe he's a half-step third-realm powerhouse of the Heart Realm lineage! How else could he effortlessly defeat Five Demons Planet? How else could Ancient Tree World Lord and North River Boat Master take the initiative to visit him?"
All the factions in the South Pavilion 3609 Dominion had been eagerly anticipating the reaction of Ancient Tree World Lord and North River Boat Master. They never foresaw that the pair would actively seek friendship with Myriad Star Island's Wu Ming, much like Thearch Dragon Island Lord.
This development reinforced one fact—alongside the original three overlords in the South Pavilion 3609 Dominion, another had emerged—Myriad Star Island's Wu Ming.
The various factions began to regard Wu Ming, Ancient Tree World Lord, North River Boat Master, and Thearch Dragon Island Lord as peers.
Time marched on, and the South Pavilion 3609 Dominion within the South Pavilion dominion returned to its customary tranquility. No faction dared challenge Xu Jingming's position. Five Demons Planet had succumbed to Xu Jingming's spear. The psychic weapon school was notorious for their ruthlessness—so who would risk their lives?
In the blink of an eye, 119 years had elapsed.
At last, Xu Jingming reached the dominion where Feather Fire City lay, accompanied by the dean, Tower Master, Island Lord, and Redmond's clones.
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