Chapter 905: Resonating with the World Tree

Streaks of light tore open spatial rifts like blades.

On the other side of these spatial rifts lay worlds glittering with stars, each filled with varying degrees of cosmic energies and governed by stable Daos.

This domain of flowing light was filled not with ordinary cosmic energies but chaotic spatial ripples where spatial seams converged. Even the supreme will that transcended all rules found it difficult to focus its attention on this bizarre domain.

A crystalline fragmented land floated adrift in this hidden domain. Many beings with translucent bodies sat calmly on it, drawing in the surrounding spatial energy to temper their bloodlines. They numbered only a few dozen, with most not even having ascended to godhood.

Though ordinary Gods would struggle to survive in this domain, they remained completely at ease.

Only a handful of Gods knew of these beings born in this strange domain. They were known as the Void Race and were the most peculiar of all the races in the starry skies.

A mid-ranking God of the Void Race emerged from one of the spatial rifts and landed on the crystalline fragmented land, bowing to pay respect to the God of Space.

"Chief, I've found the hiding place of those True Gods. There are also a few new-generation True Gods who somehow managed to leave the Abyss. They're all gathered together."

A deep voice echoed through the strange domain, filled with solemn authority. "Come here."

The other members of the Void Race watched in astonishment as that mid-ranking God of the Void Race vanished into thin air.

***

Countless faceted prismatic crystals, each as large as a small mountain, floated in a vast, empty hall. Every face of these prismatic crystals corresponded to a different starry region, projecting real-time scenes that allowed Sovereign Tian Yu to see everything at a glance.

"Tell me what you saw."

The Sovereign of Space spent most of his time here, sending out strands of divine sense to watch the shifting images displayed within the prismatic crystals. He could, in a single breath, enter any starry region shown in the prismatic crystals and interfere if he so pleased.

"Lin Baixiang, Xu Ling, and those new-generation True Gods of the human race from the Abyss, like Li Wang and Zhu Ji, have all gathered in the Bewildering Dustlands. They seem to be discussing something important," reported the mid-ranking God named Zi Wu.

"Most of the older True Gods are either dead or crippled. They're no real threat anymore." Tian Yu's voice emanated calmly from the prismatic crystals. "Did you notify the other two of what you found?"

Zi Wu shook his lowered head. "Of course not. I had to report to you first, Chief."

"Very good," Tian Yu praised. "Don't use our own people. Go and deploy those Gods under the command of the other two. Have them handle things in the Bewildering Dustlands.

"Remember, the Void Race is only responsible for delivering them. Don't get too deeply involved in this battle. Our numbers are too few to be fighting. Our lives are more precious than those of any other race. I'd grieve for every single loss."

One of the many prismatic crystals showed a faint projection of the God of Space, Tian Yu.

𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

The Sovereign did not reveal his true body to Zi Wu. Instead, his projection waved a hand in a silent dismissal.

Zi Wu stood up and obediently withdrew from the hall.

Once Zi Wu was gone, Tian Yu stepped out of the prismatic crystal, as though emerging from another time and space altogether. The projection turned tangible, though its body remained translucent, like the others of the Void Race.

Had Zi Wu remained, he would have seen the streams of flowing light coursing through Tian Yu's veins, exactly like the streaks of light outside. It was as if Tian Yu had refined millions of spatial light blades within his own blood.

"The World God of the Abyss, Pang Jian..." Tian Yu muttered under his breath.

A frozen figure appeared in one of the prismatic crystals. It was a middle-aged man bearing a resemblance to Pang Jian. His temples were slightly graying, and his expression was calm. Both his body and soul gave off no trace of life, as if he were a corpse.

"You stirred up quite a storm back then. Now your son has appeared too." The God of Space stared at the man trapped within the prismatic crystal and said coldly, "Pang Qi, you failed, and your son will too."

A faint soul fluctuation rippled from the previously lifeless crystal in response to the God of Space's words.

The man inside the crystal forced his eyes open. His captivating gaze was as vast as the sea and as lofty as the sky.

"How is my son now?" His voice, as faint as a mosquito's buzz, carried a tremor of hope and excitement. "You went out of your way to mention him. That means he's making you feel pressured."

"Pressure? Aside from you back then, nobody in the bizarre mist can pressure me." The God of Space's tone was unruffled. "It's too bad the Exalted God Realm is an almost impassable barrier. You were the only one who ever even briefly reached it.

"It's a pity. You were just a fleeting flower, gone in an instant. The two of us shattered your Immortal Divine Soul. There's likely no one remaining who can achieve that realm. I don't believe even your son can do it."

With that, Tian Yu raised a finger and snuffed out the wisp within the crystal.

The God of Space fell quiet in the silent hall filled with prismatic crystals.

Finally, he muttered, "Is the Exalted God Realm really so far above the Sovereigns? Otherwise, why would the supreme will of the bizarre mist believe that the emergence of an Exalted God from the Nether Race or human race could turn the tide?"

***

The starry skies were supposed to be boundless and infinite, but they seemed almost small in Pang Jian's perception.

His awareness roamed across different starry regions with the help of the Sanctum of Godly and Demonic Genesis and the Soulstream, searching for strong manifestations of the Dao of Life.

One day, his will descended upon a massive boulder in a dust-choked starry region, where he sensed an enormous tree brimming with incredible vitality.

Pang Ling!

The trunk and branches of the World Tree held subtle patterns imbued with the Dao of Life, associated with plants and blood essence. He then spotted the solid form of a young girl.

Pang Jian sent a strand of his will sinking into the tree.

The World Tree became his eyes. Every leaf served as a vessel for his gaze, allowing him to see Dong Tianze, Wu Yuan, Li Zhaotian, and the others. At that moment, he felt as if he had transformed into an exalted presence—an extension of the bizarre mist's will itself.

The Dao of Life.

Intricate patterns appeared above the verdant World Tree, imprinting the insights he had recently gained through the Sanctum of Godly and Demonic Genesis. Boundless vitality flowed through the vastness of space as though it did not exist and poured into the tree.

The World Tree radiated a blinding brilliance. Tangible insights into the Dao of Life were implanted into the World Tree and onto Pang Ling's small, delicate body. Vast reserves of life energy flooded into her without resistance.

The already massive World Tree shot up at a speed visible to the naked eye. Its trunk shone with an otherworldly brilliance. Each of the thousands upon thousands of leaves seemed to transform into its own little world, teeming with life.

"Ah!" Pang Ling's tangible body let out a delighted gasp and covered her mouth.

The World Tree's sudden transformation also left Lin Baixiang, Dong Tianze, Li Zhaotian, and Li Wang in shock.

"What's going on?" Li Zhaotian flew over, sensing the ocean-like waves of life energy. "What's happening? Why has the divine power from your body become so vast?"

Dong Tianze's heart raced. From the World Tree's trunk, he sensed a Heavenly Dao and strange energies that could help him break through. If he could just seize a portion of that energy, he would be able to advance to the next realm.

"I..." Lin Baixiang flew in on his sword, his face full of disbelief. "Your true body is carrying a miraculous life energy that could heal me!"

Pei Lin and the other severely wounded older True Gods looked even more agitated.

They had all accumulated injuries over the years of being hunted. Some suffered from strange venoms that infected their bodies, others from sinister powers that eroded their souls, and still others from shattered mental states.

The terrifying powers that the Outer Gods had left lingering in their bodies tormented them day and night, causing their cultivation realms to stagnate or even regress. Moreover, since they could not openly show themselves, they could not obtain high-grade healing elixirs and had little choice but to endure in silence.

Sensing the restorative life energy radiating from the World Tree, capable of healing their wounds, none of them could stay still. Soon, these injured True Gods were all gathered around the World Tree.

"Everyone, just grab hold of any branch you want!" Pang Ling said, her small face lighting up. "That God of the Spirit Race was looking for me. I caused you endless trouble by coming to your hiding spot, but I can finally try to make up for it!"

The True Gods all stared at her in astonishment.

"It's Father! I can feel Father's presence! I don't know where he is, but he's helping us!"

Pang Ling was so excited she nearly jumped for joy. "Not only can I heal you all, I can even break through to Rank thirteen without the Gods of the Wood Race or their offerings!"

The True Gods rejoiced.

"Pang Jian!"

"Pang Jian found us!"

"Is he coming here?"

As soon as Dong Tianze heard the name Pang Jian, he shot straight toward the World Tree.

"I'll go first!" he declared, picking a random branch and sitting down. Radiant energy immediately flowed into his body.

Dong Tianze was the Blood God of the Abyss and had ascended as a True God by comprehending the blood essence of many races.

Within those flowing lights were the bloodline mysteries of races both known and unknown, alongside a convergence of crystal bloodline chains. It was the ultimate nourishment he needed to ascend.

Endless streams of radiant light surrounded him.