Chapter 3696: A Group Of People

Old Chief's expression grew somber. "Xi Wen, how much longer do you intend to hide for?"

Xi Wen was the female Luminary. When she heard Old Chief’s question, her face turned pale. Even so, she raised her hand and pointed a finger again. This time, her gesture was accompanied by the appearance of another sword. "Middle Heaven’s Blade."

As Xi Wen attacked, Old Chief raised his own hand. "Lower Heaven’s Blade."

The two consciousness swords sliced at the High Seraph. One came from the left and the other from the right.

His expression only changed lightly. While he might not care about being struck by a sword, these two sword attacks did pose a threat. They were not ordinary battle techniques.

Both of these attacks were consciousness techniques in the form of a sword, much like Heaven’s Blade, which Lu Yin had acquired from Wu Wei. These two sword slashes shared the same origin as Heaven's Blade.

Dominion's Mantle swept out to meet the two blades, only for the swords to slice through Dominion’s Mantle. However, in doing so, both sword slashes dissipated entirely.

Old Chief looked up. "Seal him!"

As he finished speaking, the consciousness that filled the sky suddenly trembled. The High Seraph stumbled, and his eyes again lost focus before revealing tremendous shock. Just what kind of consciousness technique was he incapable of withstanding?

"Now!"

All the Luminaries attacked. Everstone suddenly dropped down, stopping just above the High Seraph and blocking all the consciousness attacks. While the sequence base never stopped trembling, it still managed to protect the High Seraph.

He looked up at Old Chief. "You've hidden your strength well."

The ancient conscient took a deep breath. "High Seraph, this is the day when all of this will end."

He then fully released his consciousness for the first time.

As the oldest conscient in the entire megaverse, no one knew just how terrifying Old Chief's power truly was. Only at this moment was it revealed.

Alone, Old Chief was as strong as three, nearly four, Universe-realm conscients, and his consciousness instantly overturned Everstone, startling Gui Shaoqing, Shuangdao, the other Luminaries, and even the High Seraph.

The strength of Old Chief's consciousness far exceeded the High Seraph’s expectations.

Old Chief was the only conscient who could stand up to the High Seraph on his own, and he was finally releasing his full power.

"Heaven and Earth Lock." A deafening voice echoed across the cliffside as Old Chief attacked the High Seraph, pressing both hands down.

It was as if an invisible lock had descended upon the world, freezing the void, sealing time, and numbing the senses of a living creature. None of the other Luminaries had ever seen this technique, just as none had previously known that Xi Wen had mastered the Middle Heaven’s Blade. All of their hidden abilities were being drawn out in this battle as the conscients attempted to kill the High Seraph.

Old Chief was confident that even the High Seraph’s Everlasting Will would be rendered useless beneath the Heaven and Earth Lock.

As he was exposed beneath Everstone, the High Seraph looked up. He could feel that the lock was so close that it was practically touching him, and at that moment, consciousness, manifested thought, thoughts, and all senses were locked away. This was not a technique that belonged to a Dukkhan; it was an Immortal’s technique.

A streak of brilliant light illuminated the cliffside. It was like an unending light that overcame all darkness as it rose upwards, stabbing into the starry sky. Eventually, the streak exploded like a firework, lighting up the faces of Old Chief and the others on the ground, revealing the incredulous expressions on their faces.

The Heaven and Earth Lock had been broken.

The High Seraph still stood in the same place. He looked up at the sky, watching the beautiful light falling. "Don't you find it beautiful? Only the most beautiful light will fall upon the darkest place."

Old Chief stared at the High Seraph in a daze. "You...?"

The High Seraph turned his head to look over at Old Chief, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "It’s an impressive technique, very close to that of an Immortal, though it ultimately fails to qualify for that level. I will admit that you are qualified to fight me, but you have underestimated Everstone, and you have also underestimated my Everlasting Will."

The streak of light that had shot into the sky was the result of the High Seraph’s Everlasting Will merging with the endless, incredible sequence particles that belonged to Everstone.

Stars could move, and the universe could change, but Everstone alone would remain unshaken.

Seas could change, and continents could transform, while the Everlasting Will would remain immutable.

The High Seraph possessed both.

No matter how the wind and rain might beat down upon the earth from the sky, the Everlasting Will would continue to shine brilliantly. Was it not also a technique that belonged to the Immortal realm?

The High Seraph looked around at the shocked expressions on Old Chief and the others’ faces. Just as the man was about to attack, he was struck by the memories of the Willbound Spire that all who entered were forced to endure.

Old Chief’s eyes flared, and he instantly attacked. He unleashed the Lower Heaven’s Blade, though the High Seraph retaliated with a palm strike, but it instantly vanished. The Lower Heaven’s Blade passed through the High Seraph’s attack and struck his body.

Yu Ye had finally lashed out with their consciousness. Unlike the other Luminaries who continuously condensed their consciousness, Yu Ye instead constantly dispersed their consciousness. They did this to gain perfect control over the space within the conscient’s range of perception, which enabled them to change certain things. For example, they had sped up the Lower Heaven’s Blade, making it too fast for even the High Seraph to react to it.

While Yu Ye’s method could not be used offensively, they were able to coordinate with any of the other Luminaries, which made them an indispensable link in the trap to kill the High Seraph. Already, the link had proven effective.

This was also the basis for Yu Ye’s arrogance.

If not for the memories that the High Seraph had suddenly been forced to endure, he would not have shown any opening. It was not the Thirteen Luminaries who had forced the man to reveal a flaw, but rather the Willbound Spire.

After the sword slash landed, Old Chief fiercely roared, “Attack!”

The High Seraph was suffering a bout of vertigo, and his head was swimming. While he was certainly capable of enduring the memories, it was not easy. His consciousness was in no way inferior to most of the Thirteen Luminaries, but it was undoubtedly inferior to both Old Chief and Lu Yin’s.

When the High Seraph saw the six Luminaries closing in on him, he raised a hand. The earlier streak of brilliance reappeared. It was his Everlasting Will.

Old Chief and the other Luminaries hastily retreated. None of them wished to be slaughtered by the High Seraph’s Everlasting Will. Previously, when five of the Thirteen Luminaries had fought against the High Seraph, two had been killed by his Everlasting Will. That scene had left an indelible impression on all of the Luminaries.

However, the High Seraph was not aiming at the conscients, but rather at the face of the cliff.

The streak of light flashed like a shooting star, racing towards the steep cliff.

Old Chief and the other Luminaries reflexively looked over at the cliff that none could touch. The barrier or light that protected the cliff was as smooth as a mirror, and it was impossible to climb up. Additionally, higher up, the cliff seemed to become an elusive mirage. At those heights, it was not even a matter of being able to climb or not, but rather whether one could touch the cliff or not. It seemed to be separated from the rest of reality not only by space, but also by time.

Even if the High Seraph’s Everlasting Will was truly an Immortal technique, unless the man himself became an Immortal, the streak of light would never be able to touch the side of the cliff.

And yet, the outcome was completely unexpected. Everlasting Will did strike the wall of the cliff. While the attack landed a great deal below the palace at the top, it still struck the cliff.

This was something that Old Chief and the other conscients had attempted to do for countless years, only to continuously fail. They had just watched the High Seraph succeed.

Yet no one moved at this moment. Everyone was staring at the cliff. When Everlasting Will had struck the cliff, space had rippled before tearing apart. That tear had exposed a group of people.

The people had all been smiling, but those smiles gradually froze on their faces.

On the other hand, Old Chief and the Luminaries were all staring at the steep cliff as though looking at ghosts. How could there be people there?

The High Seraph’s expression remained calm. There was absolutely no surprise whatsoever.

A voice rang out from above the cliff, “Hey, hey, hey, what’s going on? Why are they able to see us? This has to be a joke! Weren’t we told that we would never be seen?”

“That’s what my maternal grandfather told me.”

“What was that just now? That light was beautiful.”

“Beautiful? Go ahead and touch it. I’m sure that it will kill you instantly.”

“How do you know?”

“Why don’t you just look at who produced that light?”

“Do you know who he is?”

“Hmph!”

Old Chief and the others were startled by the group’s casual chatter. The Luminaries forgot about even forgot the High Seraph as they stared at the cliff, dumbfounded. “Who are these people?”

They were too shocked by what they were seeing. It was as if the megaverse they had once known had suddenly become unfamiliar. It was as though all that they knew was nothing more than a toy that someone else was playing with. How were they supposed to accept that?

How many years had passed, and how many powerful conscients had entered the Willbound Spire, trying every conceivable method to climb the steep cliff? Despite all of those failed efforts, an entire group of people had suddenly appeared atop the cliff, and those people were looking down at them as though they were a joke. It was as if they still believed themselves invisible to those down below.

What was the point of all those years of effort? What was the meaning of all that they had gone through?

Old Chief himself had entered the Willbound Spire repeatedly, and he had attempted to scale the sheer cliff countless times. How many people had watched those attempts?

The people up above were all very young. It was impossible for all of them to be transcendent masters, so what did their presence mean?

Above the cliff, a woman stood in front of the rest of the group. Her face was cold yet strikingly beautiful. As soon as her group had been exposed, she had stared at the High Seraph alone.

How could some pathetic lesser being who had been given his position have exposed them? So what if he was a Lesser Sancte? One of the Lesser Sancti titles had always been reserved for someone from the Spirit Nidus, regardless of whether it was the current title holder or someone else. Even in the Nine Odysseys Megaverse, there was a growing discontent towards the High Seraph, and yet he had still dared to expose their presence.

Still, just how had he accomplished it? How did he know the secret of the Willbound Spire? Why did he have the ability to expose those who were hidden?

According to their records, the bottom and the top of the steep cliff were two different worlds, and not even a Lesser Sancte could cross that separation. So how had the High Seraph done so?

From the bottom of the cliff, the High Seraph was staring back at the woman. He had never seen her before, but her very presence in this place meant that her background was anything but ordinary. That was also clear from how she looked down at those from the Spirit Nidus. The arrogance fit perfectly, despite the fact that being exposed was a terrible crime on the woman’s part.

Seeing the hatred of the woman come his way, the High Seraph slowly stepped back.

Old Chief turned to look at the High Seraph, wanting to understand exactly where the people atop the cliff had come from, as well as what the Willbound Spire was all about. There was clearly a secret concerning the Consciousness Megaverse, yet it also seemed to have nothing whatsoever to do with the conscients.

However, the High Seraph had already left.

"Who are you people?" Shuangdao shouted at the top of the cliff.

The group up above continued to laugh and chat casually. They seemed ignorant of just how serious it was that they had been exposed. Still, they were not the ones who would be held accountable. They were only here to follow along in the trial. Only the woman who had led them would be held responsible for everything.

The woman looked down from the sheer cliff with a dismissive expression.

Pathetic conscients. If not for the Greater Sancti’s decree, you would have been exterminated from this megaverse long ago

.

While she had originally felt that leaving the conscients alive could provide a good show, after being exposed, even that small amusement had vanished.

The woman turned to look in the opposite direction.

The steep cliff did not consist of a single face; instead, it curved to form a semicircular arc. Old Chief and those with him were only able to see the side where the woman and those with her stood, but she was able to see another group of people, one led by a man who was staring at her with mocking, laughing eyes. Clearly he found her situation amusing.

The woman’s eyes narrowed, and she suddenly attacked. The void twisted and created a ripple that spread across the face of the cliff.

The man’s expression instantly changed. "You're insane!"

"Hmph! If you want to watch, then we should watch together," the woman said with a sneer.

The man gritted his teeth. "Crazy hag."

As he spoke, the side of the cliff seemed to be drawn back like a curtain, and the second group of people were exposed.

Old Chief and the rest of the conscients stared on in stupefaction. Was there really another group of people?

If a day came when the sky was torn open and a pair of eyes were revealed in the sky, an ordinary person’s understanding of reality would completely shatter.

No matter how impressive Old Chief and the other Luminaries’ strength might be, at this moment, their understanding of reality had shattered.

They stared at the two groups on the cliff in a daze, like ants gazing up at the sky.