It's Black Abyss Fire. The Black Abyss Fire roared to life, dark flames erupting from Xu Jingming's body. But his form transformed into an intangible Luminous Ember, impervious to the black inferno.
Light a lamp to illuminate my heart and vanquish the darkness. Xu Jingming's entire being now comprised Heart Realm Force. As a living weapon, his resilience surged when he executed the second move of the Golden Halberd's Luminous Ember. Although still in pain, it remained within his limits.
Xu Jingming glanced around, witnessing the other high-dimensional lifeforms crumbling to ash in the flames.
"Brother."
"Naruya!"
"No—"
These high-dimensional lifeforms had been in high spirits, poised to ascend Feather Fire Mountain. Who could have anticipated this catastrophe? They watched friends and loved ones perish in agony as they shared the same torment!
"An Abyss Sovereign."
"Sovereign Yaming!!!"
"Sovereign Yaming, I curse you!!!"
Many high-dimensional lifeforms were reduced to ashes, dying in bitterness and anguish.
In a mere 30 seconds, only seven high-dimensional lifeforms survived the Black Abyssal flames! Five were half-step third-realm powerhouses, and the other two were of comparable strength. Their abilities were dazzling.
Xu Jingming was among the seven survivors.
"Sovereign Yaming." A fiery-red-scaled lifeform glared menacingly. "You slaughtered my brothers and disciples! One clone is one thing, but you killed all the others in distant dominions?"
Sovereign Yaming's brow furrowed at the distant challenge and flicked his finger casually.
Whoosh!
A black vessel burst from his fingertip. Initially minuscule, it expanded rapidly, crushing the red-scaled lifeform, who attempted to fend it off with a long staff but was obliterated.
"What kind of trash dares question me?" Sovereign Yaming sneered. With a sweep of his hand, the treasures of over 10,000 high-dimensional lifeforms flew toward him.
The remaining six survivors held their tongues, hyper-vigilant.
Sovereign Yaming cast a glance at the six survivors and grinned before soaring away.
Once he vanished, the remaining six high-dimensional lifeforms exhaled.
"Brother Yufeng let his anger get the better of him. He foolishly confronted Sovereign Yaming and lost a clone. Wasn't that a futile sacrifice?"
"It's just one clone. Sovereign Yaming may be powerful enough to kill Brother Yufeng easily, but he can't eradicate all his clones across dominions through karma."
"Yaming deserves death!"
"My disciple and kin were murdered before my eyes. He deserves death."
The six high-dimensional lifeforms had not brought companions when they ventured out alone. They remained composed, but those who lost their allies seethed with rage. Their hatred blazed.
"There's no feud between us. He massacred over 10,000 high-dimensional lifeforms on a whim. We few survived, yet Sovereign Yaming was indifferent. He couldn't be bothered to eliminate us and prevent future issues. That's right—he's an Abyss Sovereign! His true form is in the Abyss… rendering him immortal unless confronted by a third-realm existence."
"Sovereign Yaming, I swear vengeance! Mark my words!" A half-step third-realm powerhouse's eyes burned with hatred.
…
I have a few more enemies.
Sovereign Yaming soared through the air, sensing a few intense karmic ties. The hatred is potent.
Come on, come on. Enter the Abyss, my domain. Give me everything you've got. Hahaha… Sovereign Yaming relished the challenge. He killed at will, never bothering to eliminate the root of his problems.
Wouldn't life be far less thrilling without enemies?
Days grow more vibrant with a plethora of foes. Regrettably, these enemies are mere trash. Despite ascending to Sovereignty through countless Abyss Sacrifices, none have posed a threat.
Such days are achingly lonely and dull. Sovereign Yaming shook his head.
He saw no hope of reaching the third realm.
As an Abyss Sovereign, he reigned supreme below the third realm! Even those half-step third-realm invincible beings couldn't menace his true form within the Abyss.
He felt life growing increasingly monotonous.
Remaining in Feather Fire City no longer matters. Time to leave. Sovereign Yaming, expelled by Feather Snake, had no desire to linger.
******
Xu Jingming flew towards Feather Fire Mountain, freeing the dean, Tower Master, Island Lord, and Redmond.
"We've arrived at Feather Fire Mountain." The dean and the others beamed with excitement. They had yearned for a third-realm legacy for years, and it was finally within reach.
Redmond noticed Xu Jingming's somber demeanor and inquired, "Jingming, you seem troubled?"
"Just before ascending the mountain, the Abyss Sovereign, Sovereign Yaming, descended. Without provocation, he unleashed his fury on every high-dimensional lifeform in sight," Xu Jingming revealed. "Of the 10,000-plus lifeforms, only six survived! The rest were slaughtered on the spot."
"He attacked for no reason?" The dean, Tower Master, Island Lord, and Redmond's expressions darkened.
Though they knew proximity to powerful beings could easily embroil them in danger, the senseless massacre of so many high-dimensional lifeforms was chilling.
"He obliterated countless lifeforms and even eradicated all the clones of these beings through karma," Xu Jingming continued. "Though it was merely a casual strike from Sovereign Yaming, I believe 99% of the high-dimensional lifeforms are utterly annihilated."
The dean and the others shuddered. "A casual strike that killed so many, even tracking them down through karma?"
Such ruthlessness!
"The Abyss Sacrifice lineage is composed of madmen who dismiss other lifeforms with disdain. As for the most fearsome Abyss Sovereigns, they're terrifyingly insane," Eternal Tower Master whispered. "They might obliterate an entire dominion on a whim. To them, it's merely a game, simple amusement."
"The Abyss Sovereigns are deranged. It's astonishing that so many high-dimensional lifeforms reside in Feather Fire City," Redmond said.
"Feather Fire City suppresses the Heart Realm, the Mother Stream, karma, and other powers, forcing us to fly slowly. Abyss Sovereigns and half-step third-realm powerhouses dwell in the inner city, while ordinary high-dimensional lifeforms cower far away in the outer city," Xu Jingming explained. "Countless lifeforms and myriad opportunities abound here. It's worth taking some risks."
Xu Jingming gazed at the mountaintop. "Let's ascend the mountain."
"Let's ascend." The dean and the others dismissed their worries.
The Abyss Sacrifice lineage comprised demons, and Abyss Overlords or higher-level Abyss Sovereigns defied logic. To ordinary high-dimensional lifeforms, they were maniacs corrupted by the Abyss!
Abyss Sovereign! Xu Jingming's mood was soured, disturbed by witnessing the slaughter of innocents. He had been prudent enough to keep the dean and the others out of harm's way. Had he been careless and released them too soon, letting them fly alongside him, what might have transpired?
How many of them would have survived the Black Abyssal flames?
Undoubtedly, Redmond would have perished. The dean and the others would likely have met their demise under the relentless onslaught of an Abyss Sovereign's Black Abyssal flames.
Though Xu Jingming seethed with frustration, there was little he could do. He had no choice but to endure when confronted with the madness of an Abyss Sovereign.
******
Within a cavernous space hewn into the mountainside, a lone figure stood.
White wings unfurled behind Him, His body wreathed in flames that lit up the entire area.
He had been there for an indeterminable length of time, eyes filled with bewilderment.
He had far too many questions. There was so much He failed to comprehend.
"Ultimate, ultimate," He murmured, "The closer I approach, the smaller I become. I have a multitude of questions needing answers. Only by resolving them all can I hope to take that final step. I'm still too far away."
His gaze abruptly fell upon Xu Jingming and the others as they climbed the mountain.
In His eyes, a wealth of information about the five individuals unfolded. Details of their past, myriad possible futures, and even glimpses of alternate timelines—even faint auras from distant parallel spacetimes came into focus.
Huh? He expressed mild surprise as His gaze locked onto Xu Jingming.
Is there truly such a prodigy among the innumerable dominions? He found it inconceivable. Regardless of my actions, I cannot hinder his ascent. Even if I were to obliterate all possibilities of his existence in this spacetime, he can still rise in other parallel spacetimes?
Though a third-realm being transcends time and remains enigmatic, based on his numerous potential futures, his odds of reaching the third realm are high.
I cannot thwart him even if I desired to. His ascension to the third realm seems all but guaranteed.
Feather Fire Lord grew intrigued.
It's peculiar. I've cultivated countless high-dimensional lifeforms for innumerable years, yet not one has succeeded. Feather Fire Lord appraised Xu Jingming. He seems unstoppable.
Although Feather Fire Lord felt disheartened by His inability to successfully nurture even one, He deemed it relatively normal.
According to probability, successfully cultivating one among the boundless high-dimensional lifeforms should be expected! Nevertheless, the absence of such an outcome wasn't shocking either.
Third-realm powerhouses were exceedingly scarce to begin with.
If I were to accept him as a disciple, would I have trained a third-realm pupil? Feather Fire Lord chuckled ruefully. It would be mortifying! He doesn't require my guidance or even the aid of the Eight Directions Map. His innate talent alone will propel him steadily toward the third realm.
This is his individual brilliance.
This signifies that reaching the third realm hinges on one's inherent talent. All my efforts to groom them are futile. Feather Fire Lord gently shook His head. Half-step third realms and even invincible half-step third realms can be groomed, but third-realm beings cannot be nurtured. The individual is paramount.
Feather Fire Lord studied Xu Jingming, His admiration growing with each passing moment. Xu Jingming will become the most exceptional disciple, flourishing even without a Master's care.
Though we meet for the first time, I sense a kinship with him.
Feather Fire Lord's expression abruptly shifted. He gazed into the distance as countless timelines unfurled before Him. He even discerned faint images from other parallel spacetimes.
He scrutinized the myriad timelines and all the traces they bore.
Something is amiss. What could it be? Feather Fire Lord furrowed His brow, meticulously examining the innumerable timelines, particularly the interactions between Himself and Xu Jingming across different timelines.
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