Chapter 347: Ultimate Divine Marquis! Number One Among a Thousand Marquises! Huge Improvement!

Chapter 347: The Ultimate God-Marquis! First Among a Thousand! A Colossal Ascension!

……

Silence.

A silence as profound as death.

Across the battlefield, the ripples of law that had been boiling from the great clash seemed to freeze in this very instant.

Within the human camp, a King-ranked warrior, who had only moments ago been mourning the fall of a dear friend, suddenly jerked his head up. His bloodshot eyes stared fixedly at those words, his lips trembling, yet he could not utter a single syllable.

Counter-slaying a King?

At the rank of Marquis, he had slain a… true King?

How could this be possible!

Marquis and King, though separated by only a single realm, are in truth divided by a chasm. It is the fundamental difference between a Dao Seal and a Law, a vast gulf in the hierarchy of life.

History was not without its monstrous Marquis-ranked geniuses who could barely contend with a newly ascended King, but that was merely contention—the ability to hold out for a time under the opponent’s hand before eventually retreating with composure.

But to "slay"—that is a concept of an entirely different nature!

It means that in a head-on confrontation, the weak has overcome the strong, utterly erasing a King who has mastered the laws of the universe!

Such a thing, in the recorded history of the cosmos, is like a myth or legend, existing only in the most ancient of texts, deemed a miracle almost impossible to replicate.

Yet now, this miracle had unfolded right before their eyes.

And the one who had wrought this miracle was the very young man they had just risked their lives to cover as he retreated—Qin Feng!

"Haha..."

A low laugh broke the frozen silence.

The crowd followed the sound to see the supreme commander of the human camp, the Heaven-Swallowing King, slowly lifting his head.

The exhaustion and heaviness on his face had been swept away, replaced by an indescribable, wild ecstasy and pride.

"Hahahahahaha——!!!"

The laughter grew louder and more resonant, finally transforming into a heroic roar that shook the galaxy!

Within this laughter lay gratification, excitement, absolute affirmation of his own judgment, and supreme pride in the monumental achievement of his disciple!

He struck his chest with a fist, the sound echoing like a beating war drum, and spoke to the stunned Thunder-Storm King and the other human Kings beside him, his voice filled with unquestionable dominance and joy:

"My disciple, Qin Feng!"

"Good! A truly Ultimate God-Marquis! A glorious counter-slayer of Kings!"

The Heaven-Swallowing King roared at the heavens, the pent-up gloom in his heart vanishing.

The sorrow of fallen comrades was heavy indeed, but the potential and value Qin Feng had displayed gave the human race a glimpse of a far brighter future!

This was a star… no, this was no longer merely a rising star.

This was a scorching sun that had begun to radiate its own light and heat!

A sun capable of illuminating the path forward for the human race in the coming Golden Age!

He was filled with deep emotion, his mind drifting back to the time after the genius tournament when he had defied all opposition to take Qin Feng as his disciple.

He knew this disciple’s future achievements would be limitless; perhaps he could reach the top of the King Rankings, or even have the hope of challenging the Emperor level.

But he had never imagined that Qin Feng’s growth would be so rapid, so terrifying!

"First on the Marquis Rankings… this is only the beginning."

The Heaven-Swallowing King muttered to himself, his eyes flashing with a searing radiance. "Once he digests all his foundations, successfully sublimates his Dao Seal into Law, and ascends to the King realm… then the approaching Golden Age will no longer be a blood-soaked quagmire fraught with crisis for him, but a broad, unobstructed highway where he may gallop to his heart’s content!"

He had this confidence.

A monster who could counter-slay a King while still a Marquis—once he stepped into the King realm himself, what a sight that would be!

Ordinary Kings would likely be like clay chickens and pottery dogs before him, unable to withstand a single blow!

"The Golden Age… the myriad races struggling to cross the tide…"

A cold, sharp smile curled the corner of the Heaven-Swallowing King’s mouth. "With Qin Feng, my human race shall stand at the crest of the tide, overlooking the currents of eternity!"

On the other side, the Thunder-Storm King also recovered from his initial shock.

Unlike the Heaven-Swallowing King’s wild ecstasy and dominance, his face held more of a heartfelt gratification, as if seeing his own kin come into their own.

He exhaled a long, turbid breath, a breath that seemed to carry faint traces of electricity.

"Truly… unbelievable."

The Thunder-Storm King’s voice was somewhat hoarse, his thoughts drifting back to a long, long time ago.

Back then, he was still the Lord of the Thunder Universe City, tasked with guarding the inheritance of the Thunder Emperor.

A young man named Qin Feng, in order to escort his daughter Zhou Yu, had fought his way out of the perilous Thunder-Xiang Mountain, finally arriving before him.

At the time, although Qin Feng had already revealed extraordinary talent and a composure far beyond his peers, in the eyes of a King-ranked powerhouse like him, he was still just a "good seedling" worth watching.

He admired Qin Feng’s loyalty and valued his future, yet he had never imagined that this "future" would arrive so quickly, so violently.

How much time had passed?

For King-ranked powerhouses like them, who often went into seclusion for tens or hundreds of thousands of years, this amount of time was but the flick of a finger.

Yet in this mere flick of a finger, the genius who once needed his protection and wasn't even a Domain Lord had now grown to a height that even he had to look up to.

First on the Marquis Rankings!

This was not a ranking for some universe nation or star sector, but the ultimate list determined by the will of the universe itself, encompassing every race in the known cosmos!

Among a thousand Marquises, he was the undisputed first!

His title: The Ultimate God-Marquis!

His feat: Counter-slaying a King!

Every word was as heavy as Mount Tai, enough to leave all the prodigies of the same era breathless.

"The waves of the Yangtze River push the waves ahead…"

The Thunder-Storm King stroked his tangled beard and laughed aloud, his laughter filled with gratification. "Heaven-Swallowing, you took in a good disciple. Our human race has produced a true unicorn of a genius!"

The morale of the human camp was ignited in this moment.

Every King wore a smile, the previous sorrow and exhaustion seemingly diluted by this earth-shattering good news.

They knew that as long as Qin Feng did not fall, the human race of the future would possess an invincible pillar!

However, in stark contrast to the jubilation of the humans, the camp of the myriad races was filled with a deathly, oppressive silence and a terrifying murderous intent that threatened to solidify.

When the four words "Counter-slaying a King" appeared, all the Kings of the myriad races exploded.

"Who! Who has fallen!"

A Demon King, his body wreathed in black demonic flames, let out an angry roar.

Soon, news arrived.

Within the Monster race camp, the life-soul lamp of a newly ascended King known as the "Mad Slaughter King" had just been extinguished.

This Mad Butcher King was none other than the master of the Blood Butcher Marquis, whom Qin Feng had slain on the Isle of Dead Meteors.

The motive behind his pursuit of Qin Feng was known to all.

The answer was self-evident.

"A mere Marquis... killing a King..."

A Zerg Queen, her psychic emanations dripping with venom and cold malice, hissed, "This boy must not be allowed to live!"

"The Path of Extremity... the Divine Road..."

A Machine Race King, his body forged entirely of liquid metal, flickered with a dangerous crimson light within his electronic eyes as massive data streams churned frantically within his core. "Database comparison complete. This subject’s growth curve has transcended the category of 'prodigy' and is now defined as a 'threat.' Threat level: Maximum. Recommendation: At any cost, mobilize all available resources to eradicate him immediately!"

If their previous pursuit of Qin Feng had been driven by greed for his divine inheritance and the Primordial Fire,

Then now, faced with the record of a "Marquis slaying a King," that greed had been eclipsed by a more urgent emotion—terror!

They feared the velocity of Qin Feng’s ascent.

A monster capable of killing a King while still a Marquis—if allowed to grow, what would he become?

They dared not imagine.

They only knew that if this human sun were permitted to rise, the heads of all races would forever be shrouded in his shadow!

"He must be killed!"

"While he has yet to reach his full potential!"

"Issue a warrant! A warrant of the highest order!"

Amidst the chaotic and furious clamor, an ancient King of the Holy Light race, his aura unfathomably deep, spoke slowly. His voice was soft, yet it resonated clearly in the ears of every King present:

"Gentlemen, compose yourselves."

He surveyed the assembly, his tone icy. "We all know that our race, along with the Humans and the other peak races of the universe, have our Kings, Sages, and even Venerables currently occupied in secret realms and battlefields, executing missions of cosmic will that concern the destiny of our respective peoples.

Those missions take precedence over all else.

For the time being, we cannot mobilize higher-tier combat power to deal with a single Qin Feng."

These words fell like a bucket of ice water upon the gathered Kings.

It was true.

The Golden Age was approaching, and the deep reaches of the universe were already roiling with undercurrents.

Those true powerhouses who could dictate the rise and fall of a race were locked in far more brutal and critical gambits.

Because of this, Kings were currently the highest conventional force the major races could openly deploy.

"But... even the Mad Butcher King was killed by him. Among ordinary Kings, who can guarantee a victory?"

One King asked, unwilling to accept the reality.

The Holy Light King’s eyes flashed with the cold light of calculated wisdom: "Just because we cannot kill him does not mean others cannot."

He paused, enunciating every word: "In the name of the Alliance of Ten Thousand Races, issue a 'God-Slaying Bounty' of the highest order across the entire universe!"

"Raise the reward to an unprecedented height! Beyond the vast resources, racial contribution points, and top-tier artifacts, we add one more condition—"

"Any being, regardless of race or origin, who successfully slays the human Qin Feng and returns with his Dao Seal core, shall be granted a guarantee by our ten peak races—including the Holy Light, Machine, and Demon races—to meet a 'Cosmic Venerable' and receive personal instruction!"

"Hiss—"

The moment these words were spoken, the entire hall was stunned.

Instruction from a Cosmic Venerable!

What kind of concept was that?

They were beings standing at the very apex of the cosmic pyramid, whose every word contained the ultimate truths of the universe.

A single pointer from them could enlighten a peak King, revealing the path to the Imperial level!

This was a stroke of fortune that countless powerhouses dreamed of, yet could never obtain in a lifetime.

To use such a reward to hunt a mere Marquis?

It was unprecedented, and would never be repeated!

"You’re mad! You’ve all lost your minds!"

"With such a bounty, those lone Kings hiding in the dark corners of the universe, those old monsters nearing the end of their lifespans and desperate for a breakthrough, will descend like sharks smelling blood!"

"And those... those prodigies who walk the Divine Road but lack cosmic wonders! The Primordial Fire in Qin Feng’s possession is their only hope for enlightenment!"

The Holy Light King sneered, "That is exactly the effect we desire. We want Qin Feng to become a piece of fat meat in the eyes of every opportunist in the universe, a walking, supreme treasure!"

"Not only that!"

He shifted his tone, his voice turning even more sinister, "Spread the news immediately! Claim that the human Qin Feng has not only obtained a complete divine inheritance and carries at least one complete divine art, but has also refined one of the thirty-six Primordial Fires! He is the key to unlocking the divine treasury!"

"We want everyone to know that killing him is equivalent to obtaining everything!"

"The Golden Age is coming. Prodigies who have slumbered for eons and monsters who sealed themselves away waiting for this moment will soon emerge from their seclusion to contend in this magnificent era."

"And Qin Feng, along with his treasures, will be the first grand gift we present to these awakening peerless geniuses!"

"No matter how strong he is, can he be stronger than an entire era? No matter how many he kills, can he kill every madman and opportunist in the universe?"

"He is a dead man walking."

As the Holy Light King’s plan was swiftly ratified, an invisible net, centered on the Seven Heavens Abyss, began to cast itself over the entire universe.

The human Qin Feng, the Ultimate Divine Marquis, had slain a King while in the Marquis realm, ascending to the top of the Marquis Rankings.

He possessed a complete divine inheritance and had refined the cosmic wonder, the Primordial Fire.

Slaying him would grant one personal audience for instruction from a Cosmic Venerable.

These three pieces of news, like three nuclear bombs detonating in the cosmos, spread to every corner with unprecedented speed.

Countless ancient beings in deep meditation slowly opened their eyes.

Countless prodigies sealed in divine sources, waiting for the Golden Age, shattered their shackles.

Countless bounty hunters wandering the cosmic frontiers, living by the blade, bared their greedy teeth.

The entire universe was shaken and driven into a frenzy by the name of one man.

And at the center of the storm, Qin Feng remained entirely unaware.

He had just survived a life-or-death battle and was silently licking his wounds in an unknown galaxy, preparing to digest the spoils of his victory.

He did not know that a hunt far more terrifying than any before, one that would sweep across the entire universe, had already quietly begun.

He had become the first ultimate prey in this coming Golden Age, marked by every hunter in existence.

...

Time flowed in silence, and the stars drifted in their courses.

Far from the central cosmic shipping lanes, on a C-class life planet named "Emerald Heart" within the territory of the Heavenly Wolf Empire, three thousand years passed in quietude.

Seventy percent of the planet was covered by primeval forests and azure oceans. With moderate spiritual energy and a civilization still in the early stages of planetary navigation, it was as ordinary as a grain of sand in a vast desert, utterly unremarkable to the wider universe.

It was precisely because of its ordinariness that it had become a perfect place to hide.

Deep within the southern continent of the planet, in the heart of a mountain range known as the "Emerald Dragon's Spine," a figure sat cross-legged inside a cavern concealed by both natural illusions and dense, overgrown vegetation. He slowly opened his eyes.

What eyes they were.

In the instant they parted, it was as if a billion stars were born and perished within the cave; the chaotic aura of the universe’s dawn and the deathly silence of all things ending flickered alternately within his gaze.

A mere unconscious leak of his intent caused the cavern walls—harder than high-grade alloys—to fracture with dense, intricate patterns of Dao, as if they might be annihilated at any moment by the pressure of a higher dimension.

Qin Feng exhaled a long, steady breath.

This breath, like a white rainbow condensed to its absolute limit, shot out of the cave and pierced the heavens, instantly boring through the clouds ten thousand meters above to form a massive, circular void that refused to dissipate.

Three thousand years of recuperation had finally, on this day, reached a state of perfect completion.

The price paid for slaying a King while still a Marquis was far greater than he had imagined.

The backlash of the laws from the Mad Butcher King at the moment of his death had nearly torn his "Silver-White Body" asunder, and the origin of his Dao Seal had suffered a violent, jarring shock.

For these three thousand years, he had engaged in no high-intensity cultivation, living instead like an ascetic, immersing his entire spirit in the refinement of his being and the insights gained from that singular battle.

Now, his aura was entirely internalized, making him appear no different from an ordinary human; only the occasional divine light flashing in his eyes betrayed the world-shattering power contained within this frame.

"Hoo..."

Qin Feng stood up and stretched his limbs, the movement triggering a terrifying sound like the simultaneous trumpeting of primordial dragon-elephants, causing the entire cavern to tremble violently.

"My wounds are fully healed, and my foundation is firmly established in the 'God-Forbidden' realm," he murmured to himself, beginning a comprehensive review of his state.

"Yet, the distance to the true King realm remains vast."

Qin Feng’s brows furrowed slightly as he fell into deep contemplation.

These three thousand years of sedimentation had granted him a far clearer and more profound understanding of the "Path to Kingship" than ever before.

Kingship is not merely an accumulation of power, but an ultimate leap in the hierarchy of life.

Its core lies in condensing and sublimating everything one has learned, realized, and created, ultimately forging it into a unique "Law" that can be recognized and permanently inscribed by the will of the universe.

Your Law is the ultimate proof of your existence within this cosmos.

For other practitioners, the Dao Seal constructs a small world within the body. But for a King, their Law adds an entirely new rule to the grand world of the universe.

"My Dao is the Dao of 'Limits.' My foundation consists of two main cores."

With a thought, Qin Feng turned his gaze inward.

The first, located in his Dantian, was the [Primal Furnace].

It represented consumption, smelting, and unification; it was the source of Qin Feng’s power.

The second was the supreme system woven throughout his limbs, bones, and every single cell and particle—the [Limit Body], constructed from hundreds of millions of top-tier secret arrays.

It represented endurance, creation, and immortality; it was the manifestation of Qin Feng’s Dao.

"The path of advancement for the [Primal Furnace] is relatively clear; it requires the consumption of higher-grade energy and matter. For instance, more [Primal Fire] or the legendary seventy-two Divine Golds to complete its metamorphosis."

"But for the [Limit Body] to sublimate into a 'Limit Law,' the difficulties are manifold."

Qin Feng’s thoughts centered on his physical form.

His [Silver-White Body] was indestructible and immune to all methods; its essence was a "mobile humanoid fortress" composed of countless high-precision, ultra-complex arrays.

These arrays were the crystallization of his knowledge and wisdom.

To upgrade this "fortress" into a "Law" capable of influencing cosmic rules, he required a "base"—an absolute core capable of bearing and commanding all arrays, elevating them from the "tangible" to the "intangible."

This core had to be of the highest quality—one of the universe’s supreme divine treasures.

"The seventy-two Divine Golds..."

A trace of helplessness flickered in Qin Feng’s eyes.

Back in the God’s Tomb, he had obtained a mysterious black divine gold. Its toughness was beyond imagination, and though it had been burned and refined in the [Primal Furnace] day and night, progress remained agonizingly slow.

Over three thousand years, by connecting to the cosmic network and scouring the massive, top-tier databases open to the Human Saint Academy, he had finally confirmed one thing.

"That divine gold, while of extremely high quality—surpassing even the primary materials of many King-level and Emperor-level treasures—is unfortunately not one of the seventy-two primordial divine golds that form the bedrock of the universe."

This was a problem neither small nor large, yet it was enough to choke his path to advancement.

It was like building a tower to the heavens: he possessed the most perfect blueprints (countless secret techniques), the finest craftsmen (himself), and vast quantities of high-quality materials (various heavenly treasures), yet he lacked that unique stone of creation to serve as the foundation.

Without it, everything was a castle in the air.

"And this is merely what is required to reach Kingship."

Qin Feng looked further ahead, his expression growing increasingly solemn.

"When I eventually strike at the Emperor realm, both the [Primal Furnace] and the [Limit Body] will need to undergo metamorphosis again. By then, I fear both will require more than one type of divine gold and [Primal Fire] as fuel for ascension. Every step forward on this 'Limit Path' will demand resources that are astronomical to ordinary practitioners."

The difficulty of the road ahead was beyond imagination.

Yet, correspondingly, should he succeed, his strength would far surpass his peers, reaching a terrifying, inconceivable level.

Every divine path is like this; without massive resources, one can only reach the realm of Kingship.

It is precisely for this reason that the slaughter in this Golden Age is so brutal.

"However, one must eat one bite at a time, and walk one step at a time."

Qin Feng quickly adjusted his mindset; excessive worry was meaningless.

He turned to evaluate his current combat strength.

"Slaying the Mad Butcher King was no fluke. It was the ultimate penetration of [Inch Brilliance], combined with the doubling of base attributes from the first layer of the [Nine Tribulations War Canon], stacked with the doubling of killing power from the first layer of the Primal Secret Art [Kill]. Only by combining these three did I achieve that earth-shattering strike."

"That strike exhausted ninety-nine percent of my power at the time. This means my conventional combat strength, or my sustained fighting capability, is still far from being able to easily crush those who have just entered the King realm."

Qin Feng analyzed calmly: "Overall, my current strength should be on par with those ordinary Kings who have been famous for a long time."

"I can reliably slay those who have just entered the King realm, but against those peak Kings who have been immersed in the King realm for tens of millions of years with deep foundations, the gap remains vast."

"As for those legendary Kings who have also stepped into the 'God-Forbidden' realm... I fear I would not even have the power to fight back."

"The gap in cultivation level is always the greatest chasm."

This was a clear and objective self-assessment. Though he had created a myth, he was not intoxicated by it.

"Fortunately, my greatest advantage is not my current combat power, but my potential for the future."

A confident smile curled the corners of Qin Feng’s mouth.

"The Primal Secret Art [Kill] is so domineering even at the first layer. If I can master the second or third? The amplification of its power will be an exponential explosion."

"The divine art [Nine Tribulations War Canon] is even more all-encompassing and profound."

"I have yet to fully grasp even the surface of the first layer, the 'Marquis Chapter.' The supreme theories contained within regarding Dao Seal amplification, physical tempering, and soul fortification are like an inexhaustible treasure trove."

"Every bit I comprehend allows me to deduce several brand-new, top-tier arrays that can perfectly integrate into my [Limit Body]."

These two supreme secret arts were the greatest guarantee for his future leaps in strength.

"Hoo..."

Having sorted through everything, the fog in Qin Feng’s heart dissipated, and the path forward became clear once more.

He withdrew the restrictions on the cavern and stepped out.

Three thousand years of seclusion had ended; it was time to return to the magnificent stage of the universe.

In the Sirius Sector, B-72 star system, lies the trade hub known as Anvil Star.

This is a world forged through total industrialization, its surface ninety percent encased in colossal metallic domes.

Beneath these shells rise skyscrapers that pierce the heavens, connected by a spiderweb of anti-gravity lanes teeming with traffic.

Billions of ships dock here, where beings of countless races and civilizations trade goods, swap secrets, and conduct business in the shadows.

It is a paradise for adventurers and a sanctuary for the damned.

Qin Feng walked along a bustling commercial thoroughfare.

Dressed in the humble garb of a mercenary, his presence dampened to the point of invisibility, he drifted through the diverse, surging crowds, entirely unremarkable.

Three thousand years is enough time for many things to ferment and settle.

He needed to grasp the latest movements of the galaxy.

Massive holographic screens draped over the buildings on either side of the street cycled through endless advertisements and news feeds.

There were displays for the latest curvature-drive starships, top-tier vintages from Elven life-worlds, and recruitment notices from powerful mercenary legions.

Suddenly, Qin Feng stopped.

He looked up at the largest holographic screen, which spanned the entire exterior of a thousand-story tower directly ahead.

It was not a commercial advertisement, but a warrant.

Set against a backdrop of the most striking blood-red in the universe, it was a "God-Slayer Bounty," issued personally by the Alliance of Ten Thousand Races.

At the center of the warrant hung a lifelike projection of a man.

Black hair, dark eyes, a face of resolute steel, and a gaze as deep as an abyss—it was his own likeness.

Beneath the projection, lines of text composed of Great Dao runes radiated a chilling, murderous intent:

[Target: Human, Qin Feng]

[Title: Ultimate Marquis (First on the Marquis Ranking)]

[Known Abilities: Suspected mastery of a complete divine inheritance; bearer of the cosmic artifact ‘Primordial Fire’; combat rating: God-Forbidden; confirmed record of slaying a King while a Marquis...]

[Bounty:]

[1. Three trillion cosmic credits from the Alliance of Ten Thousand Races, or equivalent resources.]

[2. One billion top-tier racial contribution points.]

[3. A choice of any peak King-level secret treasure.]

[4. ...]

[Final Reward: Guaranteed by the ten peak races, including the Holy Light, Necrotic, Star-Beast, and Demon clans, the recipient shall be granted an audience with a ‘Cosmic Venerable’ to receive personal instruction!]

...

This warrant played openly, twenty-four hours a day, in the heart of Anvil Star’s busiest commercial district.

Countless beings passing by would instinctively pause, their eyes reflecting a complex mix of awe, greed, and fanaticism.

"Tsk, tsk, so this is the legendary Ultimate Marquis? Killing a King while still a Marquis—what a monster."

"What does it matter if he’s a monster? He’s the public enemy of the entire universe now! I hear even those ancient horrors who’ve slept for millions of years are waking up, all for him!"

"More than that! Those ancient prodigies who have also stepped onto the ‘Divine Path’ are hunting him like madmen. To them, the [Primordial Fire] he carries is the only hope for their own enlightenment!"

"Instruction from a Cosmic Venerable... My god, if I could get that chance, let alone becoming a King, I might even challenge the rank of Emperor! Pity, I don’t have the life to claim it."

The murmurs washed over Qin Feng like a rising tide.

He stood silently, watching his own face—the face of a man hunted by the cosmos—without a trace of anger or panic.

He even... smiled.

The smile was faint, carrying a hint of realization, a touch of amusement, and a calm deep within his eyes that suggested he was watching a play for which the script had long been written.

Because all of this was within his expectations. In fact, it was part of his plan.

He had chosen to settle in this sector precisely because it remained within the radiation range of the [Eternal Mountain].

For three thousand years, he had never intended to flee this hornet's nest.

He knew his plan for a faked death required an executioner of sufficient weight and credibility.

And across the entire universe, no one was better suited for that role than the Golden Emperor.

Qin Feng turned slowly and melted back into the crowd, his thoughts swirling.

"To be honest, compared to the Golden Emperor, I fear those ancient King-level prodigies who crawled out of the dust and stepped onto the Divine Path even more."

In his mind, he saw the cold, greedy eyes of the Sky-Plundering King.

That was a terrifying existence who, even at the King level, dared to challenge Emperors.

He represented a different tier of combat power. In this Golden Age, there were many monsters like him.

These ancient prodigies possessed bizarre techniques and countless hidden cards, and every one of them harbored a death-defying obsession with the [Primordial Fire].

Once entangled with them, it would be endless trouble; even with the Twin Masks, he might truly risk falling.

The Golden Emperor was different.

Though powerful, a peak among Emperors, his goal was pure and direct—to slay him and excise a thorn in his side.

Qin Feng had already gathered a rough understanding of the Emperor's methods through the human intelligence network.

A powerful, predictable enemy was far easier to handle than a swarm of unknown, frantic ones.

Or rather, easier to... utilize.

Qin Feng stepped into a rowdy tavern filled with mercenaries of various races.

He found a corner, ordered the cheapest ale, and sipped it casually while spreading his vast mental energy like an invisible net, silently eavesdropping on every scrap of valuable intelligence in the room.

Soon, he had the information he sought.

"The Eternal Mountain... only ten thousand years left until it opens again."

"When that happens, the hundreds of thousands of Emperors trapped within will be released. The Golden Emperor will surely come for me the moment he emerges."

Ten thousand years.

It was not long, nor was it short.

"The original plan was to use the battle with the Golden Emperor after I reached the Marquis peak to 'fall' by his hand and fake my death," Qin Feng tapped his fingers against the rough wooden table.

"But now, it seems the plan needs a few small adjustments."

His rate of progress had exceeded his own expectations.

"Dying in battle" as a "God-Forbidden" Marquis was shocking, but perhaps it lacked the necessary weight.

It might not be enough to convince everyone that he had truly reached a dead end.

"Perhaps... I should be even more insane."

A thought, bold to the point of recklessness, slowly took shape in Qin Feng’s mind.

"Ten thousand years... if I can find one of the seventy-two Divine Golds before then, and let my [Ultimate Body] complete its final metamorphosis..."

"Then, I shall ascend to the rank of King, and in that guise, welcome the Golden Emperor’s wrath!"

With the peerless talent of a newly minted King, yet cursed to encounter a fated nemesis, he would perish in a cataclysmic duel against an Emperor, his lifeblood staining the star-strewn void...

Such a script was sufficiently tragic, sufficiently shattering, enough to make the entire universe heave a collective sigh of lamentation, and enough to convince every soul that this brilliant, limit-breaking Marquis had truly, irrevocably fallen.

Only then, shielded by the Twin-Faced Mask and the contingencies laid by his avatar, the Vanguard, could he retreat into the shadows, securing a precious, undisturbed epoch of cultivation at the dawn of this Golden Age.

At this thought, a sharp glint flickered in Qin Feng’s eyes.

He drained the remaining ale from his tankard, rose to his feet, and strode toward the information terminal in the tavern’s corner, where mercenary contracts were posted and claimed.

He was not there to accept a mission.

He was there to search, to purchase, to barter.

In these final ten thousand years, he would exhaust every means to unearth even the faintest clue regarding the legendary Seventy-Two Divine Metals.

The final piece of his grand deception, his staged demise, began its search from this very moment.

(End of chapter)