Chapter 1181: One Step to Dominance, Wanggu Echoes

Chapter 1181: One Step to Sovereign, Echoes from Antiquity

Entering the Fifth Layer world was immensely difficult!

This realm belonged only to those who had reached the level of Quasi-Immortal Emperors.

As for Sovereigns… unless one’s own Constitution had attained an extraordinary degree of refinement, there was barely a sliver of hope.

Such cultivators were as rare as phoenix feathers or unicorn horns.

Throughout the entire Fifth Star Ring, in this generation… it was universally acknowledged that only Xinghuanzi—the First Star—could achieve such a feat.

This was one of the reasons why Xinghuanzi stood so loftily above all other stars in their eyes.

It was also the very core of his ambition.

His Order Constitution had long ago reached the threshold capable of breaking through into Quasi-Immortality.

Yet he deliberately suppressed it, aiming instead to accumulate his Chains of Order up to nine hundred and ninety-nine.

Then, within this Fifth Layer—accessible only to Quasi-Immortals—he would absorb its boundless essence, using this layer’s aura as foundation and the power of the Immortal Palace as source, to summon forth the Constitution of the Fourth True Lord.

Thus, in one grand surge, he would break through and continue upon the path of the Fourth True Lord.

If he truly succeeded in this breakthrough, the moment he became a Quasi-Immortal, his starting point and accumulated foundation would be astonishing even among Quasi-Immortals—effectively bridging past and present.

His combat prowess would skyrocket.

He would become a formidable Quasi-Immortal!

And his future would be limitless!

Walking this path, his eventual ascension to Lower Immortal was virtually guaranteed.

This was precisely why he had come to this land of fallen immortals!

Yet ideals, however grand, often clashed with reality. His setback in the Fourth Layer world, the failure of his enforcement of order, not only prevented his Chains of Order from reaching the planned count of nine hundred and ninety-nine—

—they had even fractured several links.

This dealt him no small blow.

But Xinghuanzi, as the First Star, quickly adjusted his mindset after defeat. He chose to enter this Fifth Layer world to resume the path he had once walked.

And now, he stood on the verge of success.

Not only had his Chains of Order fully recovered, but the nine hundred and ninety-ninth chain was already more than half-forged.

Given just a little more time, he could complete it entirely.

Then, he would strike at the barrier of Sovereign, break through, and step into Quasi-Immortality.

Though the journey had taken unexpected turns, the outcome remained unchanged.

This was Xinghuanzi’s entire plan.

Moreover, in his understanding, among his peers who had entered this Immortal Palace, none but himself could possibly appear in this Fifth Layer.

Thus, no one would interfere.

As for the Quasi-Immortal Emperors residing here—if he did not provoke them directly before attaining Quasi-Immortality, they would not strike him.

This was the special protection granted by the Laws of the Fifth Star Ring to those bearing the title of Star.

Any who violated this law would suffer immense consequences.

Therefore, he had assumed his breakthrough would proceed without the slightest deviation.

Until now—when he saw Xu Qing…

Xu Qing’s appearance sent thunder crashing through Xinghuanzi’s heart, for the implications of this moment were enormous.

He further discerned traces of imminent breakthrough upon Xu Qing, realizing instantly that the other’s purpose here was identical to his own—to break through in this very place.

It was precisely this realization that stirred violent turbulence within Xinghuanzi’s mind.

“So… your cultivation level is Spirit-Concealment!”

Not only was he shaken—across the Fifth Layer world, the Quasi-Immortal Emperors meditating here all opened their eyes, gazing upon Xu Qing with varied expressions.

Each felt ripples within.

Especially given Xu Qing’s cultivation level… these ripples swelled even greater, as if amplified.

“Spirit-Concealment?”

“His Constitution…”

“To comprehend such a Constitution at Spirit-Concealment…”

“How intriguing. It seems the title of First Star in this generation may soon change hands.”

At that moment, an ethereal wind seemed to stir across the Fifth Layer world.

Amidst that wind, Xinghuanzi’s previously grim expression returned to calm. Slowly, he rose to his feet.

As he stood, dense killing intent erupted continuously from his body. Within mere breaths, this intent coalesced into a storm, roaring outward in all directions, transforming into overwhelming pressure.

The instant he saw Xu Qing—amidst his earlier shock—he naturally recognized the other’s identity.

Even though he hadn’t seen Xu Qing’s true face in the Fourth Layer world, that gaze had seared itself deeply into his memory.

Thus, with just a glance exchanged, he understood everything.

This person before him was the cultivator who had possessed the young lord of Polar Light in the Fourth Layer!

This person was the hidden force who had stirred endless chaos from the shadows!

This person was the one who, through the characters inscribed upon a marriage contract, had driven him away!

“Since you’ve come…”

“Wishing to break through here…”

“I do not permit it!”

Xinghuanzi’s killing intent exploded forth like thunder. As he rose, the cultivation power that had been merely a hair’s breadth from breakthrough also roared violently.

He knew clearly: regardless of whether the other might interfere with his own advancement, he absolutely could not allow this rival to break through before his very eyes.

Already at Spirit-Concealment, this opponent had caused him considerable trouble. If the other truly broke through, though Xinghuanzi still believed he could suppress him, the mere thought filled him with deep unease.

Thus, the moment he stood, Xinghuanzi’s form blurred—and he shot toward Xu Qing without hesitation.

Around them, the Quasi-Immortal Emperors all fixed their gazes upon this scene.

To them, neither of these two could be dismissed as mere juniors; after all, merely reaching this place granted them the right to stand alongside these elders.

Yet whoever won mattered little to them.

So, amid their otherwise tedious cultivation, watching this duel promised rare entertainment.

But just as Xinghuanzi charged forth with heaven-shattering killing intent—and as the Quasi-Immortal Emperors turned their attention toward the confrontation—Xu Qing, having just arrived in the Fifth Layer and taken in his surroundings, furrowed his brow slightly.

He knew well that his current state was unsuited for battle.

Within his body, his Parallel Constitution churned restlessly, and the Ninth Realm was nearing perfection.

Thus, Xu Qing understood clearly: what mattered most for him now was to harness the aura of this place, gather all his strength in one push, shatter the Spirit-Concealment barrier, and step into Sovereignty.

And he was utterly certain.

Yet if, during this process, he himself intervened or was disturbed by others, even absolute certainty could not safeguard everything.

According to his original intention, he would not interfere with Xinghuanzi’s breakthrough; they would all simply break through together here, and battle afterward—there was no need to rush.

But now… Xinghuanzi refused to allow it.

“Then I refuse as well.”

Xu Qing’s gaze turned icy. The moment it fell upon Xinghuanzi, his right hand rose and gently swept toward the latter, who charged at him with murderous intent surging like a tide.

Softly, he uttered a single word:

“Banish!”

At once, the Fifth Layer world thundered violently. The storm intensified to its utmost limit, rippling across the entire realm, while countless whirlpools roared into furious rotation.

It was as though myriad eyes had opened simultaneously in that instant.

A terrifying force of repulsion erupted heaven-shatteringly—

and struck Xinghuanzi!

Xinghuanzi froze, attempting to resist, but under such overwhelming power, resistance was futile. In the next heartbeat, his figure blurred—

and vanished without a trace,

expelled from the Fifth Layer world!

With Xinghuanzi’s banishment, the repulsive force dissipated, and all returned to normal.

Yet the surrounding quasi-immortal emperors, who moments before had watched with idle curiosity, now wore expressions of profound gravity.

“Authority?”

“Qualification!”

“This man possesses clearance over the Immortal Palace!”

What others thought mattered little to Xu Qing now. Before departing, the Aurora Young Lord had granted him full authority over the entire Immortal Palace; thus, in theory, within any layer he could enter, he held the power to banish anyone.

Having expelled Xinghuanzi, Xu Qing sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and sank deep into his Ninth Pole!

The Ninth Pole—the Parallel Pole.

In Xu Qing’s understanding, it resembled the most primordial grains of sand in the Desert of Time, shifting again and again to form countless timelines, birthing innumerable spacetimes.

Theoretically infinite, these spacetimes were ever-changing—

they could be real or illusory,

and equally, they could serve as doors.

Through these doors, one could connect with every version of oneself across all spacetimes, sharing thoughts and intentions as one.

Such unification was the essence of the Ninth Pole.

“It may also be called Convergent Cosmoses, Stacked Universes.”

As Xu Qing murmured inwardly, the Fifth Layer world trembled once more. From the void, Xinghuanzi’s form reappeared, his voice a low growl:

“You…”

But he managed only that single syllable before Xu Qing, without even glancing his way, raised his hand and banished him anew.

The ripples instantly dispersed. Xinghuanzi, having just stepped back into the Fifth Layer, vanished again—his frustration and fury expelled along with him.

Only the lingering echo of that solitary syllable remained, reverberating through the air.

Xu Qing kept his eyes shut, circulating the power of his Ninth Pole. As he linked across spacetimes, his strength steadily swelled, and the Ninth Realm bloomed like a radiant flower, growing ever more resplendent.

Then came fusion!

In that instant, the nine realms merged into one. Xu Qing’s cultivation surged upward, his aura swelling into something vast and majestic, his presence commanding the very heavens.

The disturbance he caused formed a vortex of its own—

roaring, spinning, expanding.

Within that vortex, Xu Qing sat cross-legged, and his soul… began to radiate outward!

The Sovereign realm was the stage of forming an Immortal Embryo; once fully formed, one became a quasi-immortal!

Thus, it comprised three tiers: Illusory Truth, Indestructibility, and Immortal Embryo!

Illusory Truth entailed the soul dispersing beyond the body, enveloping the physical form to manifest a True Body—illusory because born of soul, yet true because it was the genuine self. Hence, Illusory Truth.

Now, Xu Qing’s entire body shimmered with light. As his soul radiated outward, a luminous Dharma-body blazed into existence.

His seated form seemed colossal, and as brilliance flowed over him, he grew increasingly radiant, exuding the aura of a deity!

After all, the Sovereign stage corresponded precisely to the Divine Flame realm within the cultivator’s path!

Unlike other Sovereigns at this stage, Xu Qing’s Illusory Truth manifested with astonishing speed—shifting instantly from hazy to crystalline clarity, achieving perfection in mere moments.

Simultaneously, a boundless power surpassing even Soul-Nourishing erupted from him.

One step—and Sovereignhood was his!

At that same instant, far beyond the Immortal Palace, beyond the Fifth Star Ring, across endless starry voids within the Ninth Star Ring—

on Wanggu Continent, beneath Fenghai Prefecture, outside the Phoenix Hall where Zi Xuan meditated in seclusion—

a figure seated in meditation there also blazed with divine radiance, shaking heaven and earth.

It was Xu Qing’s Divine Body.

The moment his immortal form ascended to Sovereignhood, their fates resonated across dimensions, causing every ounce of divine authority within this body to ignite brilliantly.

Divine and Immortal—resonating as one!

The Patriarch of Vajra Sect standing nearby was startled.

Inside the Phoenix Hall, Zi Xuan’s eyelashes trembled faintly.

In the Human Imperial Palace, Emperor Li Xia lifted his head, gazing toward Fenghai Prefecture.

So too did Er Niu, who at that very moment was sprinting desperately through the Ancient Realm beneath Wanggu, clutching a skull the size of a small mountain—tasked with sealing away the Huangtian Divine Clan.

He was battered and disheveled, yet his eyes sparkled mischievously as he laughed wildly while running:

“Struck it rich! Struck it rich! This thing looks delicious—but kinda tough. Gotta find a spot to crack it open!”

Mid-stride, drooling already, he glanced around for a place to feast—when suddenly, he sensed something. Puzzled, he looked up, then nearly bulged his eyes out.

“Holy crap! Little A-Qing—what treasure did you gobble up? How’d you break through so fast?!”