Chapter 1018: Two Halves Of The Macrocosm (1)

As Wu Yuan's qi refiner self departed, a resonant hum filled the air as the Bloodforge Spacetime’s arrays activated. Streams of crimson light surged forth, attempting to mend the spatial rift torn open by that single sword strike. Yet despite the violent churning of the light, the tear remained stubbornly open.

This sight caused the white-robed woman and Devil Sovereign Bloodforge to tremble even more, and gave them a clearer understanding of Wu Yuan's true might. With but a single sword strike, he had shattered layers of the Bloodforge Spacetime's outer defenses, piercing deep into its core.

Even after his departure, the lingering sword intent prevented the Bloodforge Spacetime array from repairing itself. What terrifying power this was!

This is a true Overlord! One who truly stands at the pinnacle of sempiternal life.

Devil Sovereign Bloodforge marveled inwardly, though he dared not show any outward reaction. He remained prostrate on the ground.

"Damn it! Damn it all!" Overlord Bloodforge stomped the metallic floor, unleashing a series of low roars. His furious bellows, brimming with boundless rage, echoed throughout the Bloodforge Spacetime. He didn't bother to control the pressure of his aura.

The white-robed woman and Devil Sovereign Bloodforge shivered, heads bowed respectfully.

In truth, they both felt their master's demands were far too extreme. Slaughtering an entire macrocosm to perform Divine Sacrifice was something that occurred occasionally throughout the vast megaverse. But to repeatedly slaughter and harvest countless lives from a macrocosm over a hundred million years? Such a thing was almost unheard of! At the very least, Devil Sovereign Bloodforge had never known anything like it.

This went far beyond simple notions of falling to evil or a fondness for killing. This was true madness, a complete descent into depravity.

"A mere brat who's cultivated for a hundred thousand years dares to refuse me?" Overlord Bloodforge gnashed his teeth as he roared. His blood-red eyes twisted like crimson flames, crazed and sinister.

As the former number one Overlord of the Ling Jiang Universe, he had once been extremely proud. He looked down on everyone, obsessed with achieving eternity. Madness and an unyielding drive to achieve his goals had always been part of his nature.

Later, he strayed further down a dark path, researching Divine Sacrifice and sinking deeper and deeper into insanity.

Countless years had passed. He remained trapped here, barely clinging to life through the consumption of ‘small amounts’ of animus, merely delaying the collapse of his remnant soul.

But to reverse his decline, the price required was simply too great. Without the aid of an Overlord-level powerhouse, he couldn't even establish the 550 arrays, let alone resist external forces. The various Saintdoms would never stand idly by.

"Worthless scum! Every last one of them! We're all Overlords of the divine court headquarters, yet they refuse to help me for the sake of some insects?" Overlord Bloodforge howled madly, "And Xin Ya, how dare he not offer aid proactively? He's courting death! When I revive and return, I'll crush him like the bug he is!

“True Saint! You aided me so many times in the past, why can't you help me this one last time? Why?

“You all deserve to die. If I achieve eternity, wouldn't that benefit you the most as well? None are willing to help me, but I won't give up. I will succeed!" Overlord Bloodforge's form suddenly began to disintegrate at a visible rate, eventually reduced to a single blood-red bone covered in cracks.

It resembled nothing so much as a sun-bleached skeleton one might find by the roadside, not even fit for a dog to gnaw on. Yet this single bone still emanated an aura of violent madness.

"I will return to life. Ming Jian? You've overpowered me this time, but when I return, I'll kill you along with the rest." The blood-colored bone vanished instantly from the hall.

The white-robed woman was left dumbfounded, and Devil Sovereign Bloodforge was utterly terrified.

If Overlord Bloodforge had merely railed against others, that would have been one thing. They were long accustomed to such outbursts. But to express dissatisfaction even towards the supreme True Saint?

He's gone mad. Truly and absolutely insane.

This single thought consumed Devil Sovereign Bloodforge's mind.

From this day forward, my true self will never enter the Bloodforge Spacetime again. Even my ether body shouldn’t come here too often.

"Devil Sovereign, you should return now," the white-robed woman suddenly sighed. "And I must trouble you to apologize to Overlord Ming Jian on our behalf. At least, ensure you're not implicated in this mess. Also, pay no mind to our master's final ravings."

"Thank you, Emissary Jing. I didn't hear our master say anything at the end," Devil Sovereign Bloodforge replied hastily.

With that, he transformed into a streak of light and fled without a backward glance.

...

Whoosh!

Wu Yuan's qi refiner self and mana body returned to the Ming Jian Realm in just two breaths, heading directly back to the Spacetime Sword Hall.

Truly a madman.

A cold gleam filled the eyes of Wu Yuan's qi refiner self, tinged with a hint of killing intent.

Just moments ago, he had felt a powerful urge to strike Overlord Bloodforge down.

When he received the invitation, Wu Yuan had given it some thought and decided to err on the side of caution. He had his qi refiner self wait outside the Bloodforge Spacetime, ready to act instantly if anything went wrong. After all, if his mana body were to perish, it would still take a million years to create a new one, even with Wu Yuan's numerous treasures.

However, upon seeing Overlord Bloodforge's current state, Wu Yuan no longer fretted. Overlord Bloodforge was reduced to a fragment of bone housing a remnant soul, with less than a thousandth of his former power. Even within the Bloodforge Spacetime, he could likely only muster the strength of a ninth-stage Sovereign at most.

Thus, even if things turned hostile, Wu Yuan had nothing to fear.

To think Divine Sacrifice could breed such a lunatic. Do the True Saint and the others not realize this?

Wu Yuan's brow furrowed slightly.

He believed that if he were in the True Saint's position, he would have eliminated Overlord Bloodforge long ago. What benefit was there in allowing such a madman to continue existing?

Setting aside the fact that he was gradually approaching death; if he were to successfully revive, would that not spell disaster for countless lives throughout the Ling Jiang Universe? It would surely bring calamity upon innumerable powerhouses of the Taiyuan Divine Court as well.

Hmph. He was prepared to slaughter even the denizens of the Eternal Sun Immortal World? Without a moment's hesitation?

Wu Yuan shook his head lightly.

Wu Yuan considered himself ruthless when it came to killing, but even when dealing with forces like the Greenridge Immortal World or the Voltari Temple, he would at most purge the members from their innermost core.

At the very least, when it came to the vast majority of mortal lifeforms, Wu Yuan never deliberately sought to slaughter them. It served no purpose. The only time his actions harmed them was indirectly, when they were unavoidable collateral damage from battle.

However, after considering the attitudes of the various Overlords of the divine court headquarters and True Saint Taiyuan, Wu Yuan ultimately resisted the impulse to deal the final blow to Overlord Bloodforge.

As for the opportunity his body refiner self had obtained in the past? That was part of the reason, but perhaps not the main one.

Hm?

Wu Yuan's eyes flickered suddenly.

Overlord Xue Li seeks an audience? He's certainly quick to respond.

After speaking with Overlord Xin Ya, Wu Yuan had gained some understanding of the relationships between the ten Overlords of the divine court headquarters.

Overlords like You Mei and Jiang Meng likely cared little for Overlord Bloodforge's fate. Overlord Xin Ya seemed unconcerned as well.

The only one who truly cared was Overlord Xue Li, followed by Overlord Yan Kui - they had a close relationship with Overlord Bloodforge.

Especially Overlord Xue Li—based on the information Overlord Xin Ya shared with me, their relationship may not be as close as the one I share with Grandmaster Bei You, but it is likely still very strong.

Wu Yuan mused inwardly.

With that thought, a strand of Wu Yuan's consciousness entered the Taiyuan Voidrealm, swiftly arriving at the special plane housing the Overlord Temple.

The void stretched vast and empty before the temple.

"Overlord Xue Li." Wu Yuan’s avatar materialized from thin air, immediately spotting the crimson-robed figure waiting nearby. It was indeed Overlord Xue Li.

"Overlord Ming Jian." Overlord Xue Li turned, a faint smile on his face. "I hope I haven't disturbed your cultivation."

This was not quite what Wu Yuan had anticipated. Overlord Xue Li seemed surprisingly courteous.

"Not at all," Wu Yuan replied with a smile. It wouldn't do to meet a friendly face with hostility. Besides, his grievance was with Overlord Bloodforge, not Overlord Xue Li.

"Please, have a seat." Overlord Xue Li waved his hand, conjuring a jade platform with tables and chairs. An array of fine wines and delicacies appeared atop the tables.

Wu Yuan nodded slightly and took a seat without ceremony.

"I've been informed of the events in the Bloodforge Spacetime. Allow me to apologize on Bloodforge's behalf," Overlord Xue Li said, looking at Wu Yuan as he raised his wine cup. "I hope you won't hold it against him."

"I was well aware of Overlord Bloodforge's volatile temperament," Wu Yuan replied with a faint smile. He did not raise his own cup in response, making his feelings clear.

"Ah, Bloodforge did indeed go too far. It's understandable if you're unwilling to forgive him," Overlord Xue Li sighed softly, slowly lowering his cup. "Truth be told, when the divine court headquarters was first established, Bloodforge was not like this."

Wu Yuan listened silently.

𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"Back then, Bloodforge was full of vigor and brilliance, truly a heavenly prodigy. When I became a Sovereign, he had not yet been born. I watched him rise to power step by step, until he surpassed me and became an Overlord first." Overlord Xue Li reminisced. "Later, I too ascended to Overlord.

“In those days, the cycle of samsara had just begun. The various macrocosms were either newly born or still in their earliest stages of evolution. The Saintdoms constantly vied for supremacy. Bloodforge and I often led the armies of the divine court headquarters into battle, conquering macrocosm after macrocosm for our territory.

“Bloodforge was hailed as our foremost general, our greatest warrior!" Overlord Xue Li's voice was thick with emotion as he recalled the past.

Wu Yuan remained silent.

"Later, in his pursuit of eternity, he strayed onto a dark path," Overlord Xue Li shook his head. "He began cultivating Divine Sacrifice, growing ever more twisted and mad. But we can't truly blame him for this - if there's fault to be found, it lies with the corrosive nature of the Divine Sacrifice's source... Even True Saint was powerless against it."

"Divine Sacrifice does indeed carry tremendous risks," Wu Yuan said softly.

Wu Yuan knew little about Divine Sacrifice, but Overlord Bloodforge's case was enough to make him wary of it. As for whether or not to enter the Azure Saint Tomb...Wu Yuan's hesitation grew.

"His attempt to achieve eternity failed, and Bloodforge is trapped in that small spacetime, barely surviving," Overlord Xue Li sighed. "But I've always believed that if he can fully revive, he will come to his senses and find his way back."

"Overlord Ming Jian," Overlord Xue Li looked at Wu Yuan. "I'm not demanding that you help Bloodforge. It's just that I can't bear to see an Overlord who once achieved glorious feats for the divine court headquarters and dominated the entire universe end up like this," Overlord Xue Li gazed at Wu Yuan and said softly. "So I hope that you can do your utmost to help Bloodforge within your abilities."

Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.

Instead of making threats, Overlord Xue Li had appealed to his emotions. Should he help?

A long moment passed.

"Overlord Xue Li," Wu Yuan slowly spoke.

Overlord Xue Li looked at Wu Yuan, a glimmer of hope in his eyes.