Chapter 683: Pinnacle

To this day, the scope of energy, matter, time, and spatial radiation within the universe continued to extend beyond 100 billion light-years, even after the Ancient Astral World's collapse and its prolonged decay.

Traversing such a distance was a daunting challenge, even for the Supreme beings. As a result, not even these powerful entities could spread their influence to every corner of the universe. This was why the Sovereign Races had territorial divisions and disputes over their domains.

In essence, the range of a Supreme's power defined the absolute dominion of their race's territory. Beyond this sphere of influence lay the contested regions, where conflicts and rivalries unfolded.

Yet, at this very moment, an unprecedented disturbance was rippling through the cosmos, sending tremors across the vast expanse of space.

***

Planet Vanthor was a celestial body with a diameter of one hundred thousand kilometers. It belonged to a formidable interstellar civilization, one that had thrived for over a hundred thousand stellar years.

This civilization boasted more than a hundred life-sustaining planets and countless mineral-rich worlds. Throughout its vast history, it had amassed an unparalleled legacy. Counting just the Demigods alone, no fewer than ten had risen to prominence. Even now, three Demigods continued to oversee the civilization, while the ranks of Legendary figures were beyond counting.

Counting just the Demigods alone, at least ten had risen to prominence. Among them were many Tier Four Legends who have awakened the power of inner spirit.

The ruler of Planet Vanthor was the descendant of one such Legend. He himself possessed the strength of a Tier Three Legend. At just over a century old, he still had a chance to push forward, comprehend the inner spirit power, and ascend to the ruling class of their civilization.

At this moment, he awoke in a grand mountain villa and stepped out onto a spacious balcony. A dozen graceful young women quickly approached, attending to his needs.

He quietly enjoyed their service, his gaze sweeping across the vast landscape. Mountains, rivers, and endless plains stretched out before him.

At the horizon, a pale golden sun was rising, casting a radiant glow over the world, as if draping the heavens and earth in a golden veil. He admired the scenery like an emperor surveying his domain.

But after a few moments, a sense of unease gripped him.

The golden light... why is it growing brighter?

And... why is it approaching so fast?

It appeared to him as though the golden light was coming from the depths of the cosmos.

Buzz, buzz!

Before he could grasp what was happening, an explosion of resplendent golden light engulfed everything.

The mountain palace, the rivers, the forests, the plains, the towering cities, the people, their wealth—everything on the planet, including the planet itself, which spanned a hundred thousand kilometers in diameter—was instantly reduced to dust.

Nothing remained.

The destruction did not stop there. It extended to the planet's moon, the other planets in the star system, and even the star at the center, which accounted for ninety-nine percent of the system's mass.

Everything, absolutely everything, was obliterated in the sweeping wave of golden light.

If one were to zoom out and take in the broader view, it would become evident that this catastrophe was not limited to just one planet or even a single star system. It was spreading into the far reaches of the cosmos.

A visible golden ripple surged outward at a speed that defied the laws of physics, warping spacetime itself as it expanded in all directions.

Ten light-years. Thirty light-years. A hundred. Three hundred. A thousand.

Everything in its path—asteroids, planets, stars—was silently pulverized into dust. Even civilizations unfortunate enough to lie within its range were obliterated without warning, without even a moment to sense the impending doom.

It was as if an incomprehensible, transcendent force had swept through, erasing them from existence entirely, leaving not even a trace behind.

Not even the most extreme celestial bodies, neutron stars, or black holes, could withstand this overwhelming power. One by one, they were crushed and erased from the vast cosmos.

Finally... the wave of destruction came to an abrupt halt, just as it was about to engulf a vibrant and thriving star system.

***

Tracing back along the path of destruction, one would arrive at a vast, empty expanse tens of thousands of light-years away from the galaxy.

A few figures stood resolute amid this region, where time and space themselves seemed distorted as if by the pull of a Great Attractor.

Among them, two figures stood bathed in a sea of starlight, surrounded by countless swirling streams of light.

This was no ordinary starlight. Upon closer inspection, each speck of light revealed itself to be a radiant galaxy, shining with unparalleled brilliance.

At the heart of these galaxies, an unprecedented light emanated, while their spiral arms gracefully revolved around the luminous cores.

These galaxies, countless in number, gathered and intertwined slowly, forming a vast domain that enveloped the two figures.

If each glimmer of starlight represented a galaxy spanning a hundred thousand light-years, then the vast domain enveloping them spanned a cosmic expanse measuring billions of light-years in diameter.

It was just that this immense universe had been compressed to an unimaginable scale, so small that a single spark of light now symbolized an entire galactic system.

Though these specks of light appeared tiny, each one contained an immeasurable, awe-inspiring energy, vast beyond comprehension.

Amid the ongoing battle, waves of matter, energy, time, and space rippled through this miniature cosmos, flooding the shattered and distorted void.

These forces worked to rebuild the fundamental laws of existence, crafting a new order, a set of rules unique to this microcosmic universe.

Not far from the two figures stood another pair of beings, each towering over a hundred thousand miles tall, their forms resembling small stars in scale. One of them retained a humanoid shape, encased in a suit of armor that shimmered with alternating hues of gold and violet, obscuring any discernible features. Behind him stretched six pairs of wings, their design imbued with a distinct metallic aesthetic.

Meanwhile, the other figure was a burly man, radiating raw power and a primal, untamed ferocity. He gripped a massive battle-axe, and his skin was bronzed and imposing. He was like an ancient giant forged from solid metal.

An ordinary person would feel unsettled by just a single glance at him. His presence radiated a savage, almost primal aura—so intense it could rattle the soul.

"Shall we continue this fight? I doubt Ancestral God Hentian would care, but Genesis and Primordial, can you both really stand by and watch as the shockwaves of our battle destroy this civilization?"

The axe-wielding giant cast a glance at the dazzling star system behind him. "This civilization alone is home to trillions of cosmic beings, isn't it?"

Bathed in the boundless radiance of starlight, Supreme Primordial cast his gaze toward him. "Black Abyss."

He spoke no further, but his voice echoed through the void, carried by the profound resonance between their beings and the cosmos itself. "How can you be so certain that what you're doing is right?"

"At the very least, it's better than standing idly by," Black Abyss responded.

Each of his words reverberated with the fundamental essence of the cosmos itself.

Cosmic Radiances with extraordinary perception could even glimpse the workings of the universe through the tremors in these words, gaining deeper insight into the cosmic order, advancing their own path in refining the universe.

"And what makes you believe we have stood idle? Over the years, the Supreme Council has meticulously refined the proposal for the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations—"

"Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations, my ass!"

The man known as Black Abyss cut him off without hesitation, his tone rough and unyielding. The sheer force of his words rippled through the cosmos, sweeping across space and drowning out all other disturbances.

"How long has it been since that proposal was introduced? Three epochs? And it's still not passed! How much longer will it take to approve it, implement it, and ensure it reaches every corner of the universe? Thirty epochs? Three hundred? Three thousand?

"And in that time, how many more so-called 'immortal' Astral Gods will continue leeching off the Astral World? How many more Abyssal Rifts will form?"

Supreme Genesis' tone remained calm, "The human race is different from the others. We are vast in number, yet our innate talents can't compare to those of the alien races. The reason they can endure this proposal is that they are few in number, and their individual strength grants them higher resistance to the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations. But as the highest authority of the human race, we have a responsibility to our own kind."

"Righteous words, but all you really want is to hoard more Fortune."

Black Abyss was as direct as ever, speaking his mind without the slightest regard for appearances,even toward these two human Supremes standing before him.

At that moment, Supreme Primordial, his presence vast as a galaxy itself, spoke, "We've found it."

Supreme Genesis responded with equal composure, "

Oh?

Then notify them to proceed."

Endless starlight cascaded from above.

Their brief exchange carried immense weight.

And the implications within it made Black Abyss's expression darken, his fury surging. "You're stalling for time. Using the information I left behind to trace and locate that world?"

His anger sent violent tremors through the surrounding space. The very atoms forming the fundamental matter and energy of the universe raged in upheaval, as if on the verge of triggering a cosmic disaster.

Supreme Genesis raised his hand. "Calm yourself."

A soft radiance of starlight descended.

The atoms, once ignited by Black Abyss's fury, instantly fell inert, returning to stillness.

"Black Abyss, do not force us into a true Supreme-level conflict. You should understand that the Supreme Council is fully capable of erasing you. It simply chooses not to bear the cost of doing so."

Supreme Genesis cast a sidelong glance at Ancestral God Hentian, whose metallic wings rippled like drifting currents. "Let's not make a spectacle of ourselves before outsiders."

Black Abyss restrained his anger slightly, his voice heavy. "You can take the others, but there's one person you must leave behind."

"Who?"

"Li Pin," said Black Abyss.

Supreme Genesis didn't need to guess—this person was undoubtedly the most outstanding participant from Black Abyss' experiment, someone with extraordinary talent.

However, to him, talent was still just potential, no matter how remarkable.

Now that Black Abyss had personally named him, they had no choice but to oblige. Otherwise, if they truly pushed this lunatic into a frenzy, igniting a battle... the cost would be far too great.

With that, Supreme Genesis gave a slight nod. "Fine."