Eternal Reverence Chapter 1015

“Only 7th rank?”

Li Fuchen had believed that advancing his Primary Extreme Sword Technique to the next level would secure him a spot within the top 5 of the Lord Rankings. However, it now seemed the top 10 positions of the Lord Rankings were far more challenging to attain than initially anticipated, with each ascent proving to be incredibly arduous.

“Still, it is sufficient.”

Some individuals possessed formidable qi presences but lacked proportional strength, while others boasted both potent qi and even greater might. Li Fuchen undeniably fell into the latter category. It was exceptionally rare for unparalleled lords to have cultivated their martial arts to the advanced stages of the Star Domain level.

“I am already 10,000 years old, yet I feel no different.”

Li Fuchen mused that he might be recalling past experiences, but currently, he felt no significant change. Ten thousand years, in the context of his entire lifespan, was barely more than an instant.

…

The God Grace Star Domain served as the headquarters for the God Hall. At its very center lay a boundless expanse of white clouds, stretching for hundreds of light-years without a discernible horizon. Suspended above the heart of these clouds were magnificent, towering palaces.

Within one of these palaces rested a long, immaculate jade table, complete with 18 seats arranged along its sides and ends. The Ice Fire God Lord and the Dusk God Lord occupied two of these positions.

Brilliance cascaded down, and a translucent figure materialized in one of the seats—a being radiating immeasurable light.

“Bright God Lord.” The Ice Fire God Lord and the Dusk God Lord turned their attention towards the newcomer.

“I am currently in the Feathering Ruin. What urgent matters require my attention, the two of you?” The Feathering Ruin was a place of immense peril, far exceeding the dangers of the Water God Tomb. Typically, such locations did not permit any form of communication.

The Ice Fire God Lord proceeded to recount the full details of the incident involving the Primary Extreme Lord.

“Wait for me for one millennium. After one thousand years, his demise shall occur.” The Bright God Lord’s expression remained utterly impassive.

The Dusk God Lord inquired, “Should we perhaps reach out to the god lords within the Half-God Domain?” The Bright God Lord, despite his considerable power, was aware that Li Fuchen was not an opponent to be easily vanquished. The Dusk God Lord found it difficult to believe that someone ranked 7th among the Lord Rankings could be eliminated so readily.

After a brief pause, the Bright God Lord responded, “You may contact the Fire Virtue God Lord.” Communicating with the god lords residing in the Half-God Domain necessitated a significant sacrifice. After all, transmitting even a simple message into peak-class ruins was a formidable task, let alone into the aloof Half-God Domain. Such an undertaking was deemed worthwhile, especially when compared to the value of a low-grade universe treasure.

Universe treasures came in various forms. Beyond those aiding cultivation, there were offensive and defensive types of immense worth. A low-grade defensive or offensive universe treasure could rival a tier 7 extreme-grade cardinal artifact, specifically one that consumed minimal energy from its wielder. This energy-saving attribute was not to be underestimated; in environments where energy replenishment was scarce, universe treasures that conserved the user’s own energy could serve as vital life-saving tools. Should one’s energy reserves dwindle, a universe treasure could still be employed as a potent weapon, unlike adversaries who relied solely on their personal energy and would eventually be depleted.

Alternatively, a universe treasure could be utilized in combat, drawing upon its own energy reserves with little drain on the user. A mid-grade defensive or offensive universe treasure would surpass any standard cardinal artifact in value, possessing capabilities almost equivalent to half-god equipment.

Li Fuchen’s Chaos Fire Lotus, for instance, was a multifaceted universe treasure. It not only supported his fire dao cultivation but could also be used offensively. If Li Fuchen were a cultivator of the fire dao, he could even extract the chaos fire dao source, enabling him to rapidly replenish his energy even in locales with scarce universal energy, thus negating any concerns about energy depletion.

Finally, high-grade universe treasures were exceedingly rare and valuable, comparable in power to standard half-god equipment. Items such as the Universe Spirit Sphere, World Fruit, Plane Core, and the Tree of Life were all examples of high-grade universe treasures. Li Fuchen’s World Fruit, while undoubtedly a universe treasure, was merely a fruit produced by the World Tree and was insignificant in comparison to the colossal tree itself.

To claim one could achieve demigod status by obtaining a high-grade universe treasure wouldn't be an overstatement; such an item would grant strength comparable to a regular demigod. Consequently, the Battlefield of Gods presented a significant opportunity for acquiring demigod equipment.

The true value of demigod equipment lay in its ability to purify the user's physical form, transforming their energy into demigod energy. Wielding this purified energy with the equipment naturally elevated one's power to an entirely different echelon. Without this cleansing property, demigod equipment would merely be equivalent to mid-grade universe treasures.

“The Fire Virtue God Lord?”

The Dusk God Lord was familiar with the esteemed Fire Virtue God Lord. Even before achieving his own lord status, the Fire Virtue God Lord had already been a god lord within the god race. By the time the Dusk God Lord ascended, the Fire Virtue God Lord had entered the Half-God Domain. It was surprising to learn he was still alive after countless years, though it seemed he hadn't yet reached true demigod status.

“His combat prowess?” the Ice Fire God Lord inquired.

If the Fire Virtue God Lord's strength rivaled that of the Bright God Lord, the prospects for eliminating Li Fuchen would considerably improve.

After all, the Bright God Lord was historically recognized as one of the most formidable god lords within the god race.

The Bright God Lord responded, “He has acquired a shard of demigod equipment and is now stronger than I am.”

While the demigod energy within a demigod equipment shard was insufficient to fully cleanse the owner's energy, it offered substantial attribute boosts. Certain shards could amplify vitality tenfold or even a hundredfold, bestowing near-immortal bodies. Others provided indestructible physiques, surpassing even peak unparalleled body refinement lords. There were even rare shards capable of enhancing the spirit soul.

“It appears the demise of this Primary Extreme Lord is now a certainty,” the Ice Fire God Lord and Dusk God Lord exchanged knowing glances, smirks playing on their lips.

…

Beyond the Primary Extreme Sword Technique reaching the mid-stage of star domain-rank, Li Fuchen's sword dao universe had also seen remarkable advancements over the past few millennia.

His initial sword dao universe, which was somewhat inferior to the Dusk God Lord's Dusk God Domain, had now surpassed it. It was rapidly approaching the level of the Taichi Sword Progenitor's taichi sword dao universe.

With his enhanced sword dao universe, coupled with the perfection-rank Sword Lock Universe, Li Fuchen felt confident in his ability to dispatch ordinary unparalleled lords with ease. Against more formidable unparalleled lords, he acknowledged that additional time would be required.

“My strength has truly hit a bottleneck this time.”

Frankly, Li Fuchen found himself unable to conceive of any method to augment his power further in the immediate future.

Elevating his sword art to the perfection state of star domain-level presented an immense challenge. Without a span of one to two million years, achieving this seemed virtually impossible.

This advancement was no longer a matter of perception but predominantly one of accumulation.

The perfection state of star domain-level represented the zenith of martial arts; the subsequent step would lead into the realm of the gods.

For Li Fuchen to truly perfect his sword art, he needed to immerse himself in a wider array of sword techniques. Only by synthesizing the strengths of diverse sword arts could he achieve that elusive next level.

Regarding his cultivation technique, breaking through to the high-state of star domain-rank carried a comparable level of difficulty for Li Fuchen, also demanding a significant duration.

While more potent secret techniques might exist, they would only offer marginal enhancements to Li Fuchen's capabilities. The Swordsmen Guild lacked any secret techniques that promised substantial power increases.

As for weaponry, Li Fuchen possessed the Primary Extreme Sword, already a tier 7 extreme-grade supreme-rate weapon.

Cardinal artifacts were not a pressing need for Li Fuchen. In terms of raw power, the most formidable cardinal artifact would be comparable, if not equivalent, to the strength of a peak unparalleled lord.

“Perhaps only universe treasures and demigod equipment can elevate my strength within this limited timeframe.”

The importance of demigod equipment as a key to achieving demigod status was self-evident. It was thus plausible that universe treasures could indeed bolster his power.

After extensive research, Li Fuchen discovered that the Chaos Fire Lotus could be utilized as an offensive artifact by channeling the fire dao source essence contained within. This allowed it to unleash lethal power far exceeding that of peak unparalleled lords.

However, the Chaos Fire Lotus was a mid-grade universe treasure, and Li Fuchen preferred to keep its existence concealed for the time being. He was uncertain what kind of unforeseen troubles might arise from its exposure.

Li Fuchen did not presume that he was the sole possessor of a mid-grade universe treasure across the entire cosmos. While he felt no fear towards other unparalleled lords wielding similar treasures, he saw no need to invite unnecessary complications.

Furthermore, it was common knowledge that universe treasures possessed complementary and counteracting properties.

Should Li Fuchen encounter a universe treasure capable of countering the Chaos Fire Lotus, he would surely be defeated, regardless of his superior strength.

“I wonder if this truly is the Tree of Life?” Li Fuchen produced a sapling from his spatial ring, a plant radiating boundless vitality.

This sapling had been discovered in a desolate region within the Deep Blue Plane. In its initial state, it was considerably smaller than it was now. Despite Li Fuchen’s persistent efforts and various methods over the years, he had only managed to increase its size modestly.

“If this is indeed the Tree of Life, its value, while perhaps not matching the World Tree, should not be significantly less.”

The Tree of Life was universally acknowledged as a high-grade universe treasure. Legends spoke of its ability not only to foster life but also to restore it.

Beyond that, its most significant purported benefit was bestowing upon its owner unending vitality.

Of course, this was contingent upon possessing a fully matured Tree of Life, not merely a sapling.

“The Tree of Life thrives on vital essence, such as Divine Leaf Sap. However, my previous trade of Divine Leaf Sap with Lord Blood Ax was insufficient. I would need to acquire an entire World Tree leaf.”

Li Fuchen’s lips parted slightly. An entire World Tree leaf would stimulate the Tree of Life's growth by hundreds, if not thousands, of times. Yet, achieving this would mean a complete severance of ties with the Undying Legion.

He retrieved a communication token and dispatched a message to Lord Blood Ax: “Lord Blood Ax, how fares the preparation of the Divine Leaf Sap?”

A reply came swiftly from the other end: “For millennia, I have turned away all requests, even from the Undying Legion’s battalion commanders. This time, the quantity of Divine Leaf Sap I have prepared is undeniably sufficient.”

“Good, I shall come to collect it immediately.”

Unless absolutely compelled, Li Fuchen preferred to avoid direct conflict with the Undying Legion.

Having already incurred the wrath of the God Hall and the Dark Council, antagonizing the Undying Legion as well would place him in a precarious position, even with the backing of the Swordsmen Guild.

Lord Blood Ax had indeed amassed a substantial amount of Divine Leaf Sap this time, far exceeding previous quantities. To ensure Li Fuchen's satisfaction, Lord Blood Ax had preemptively extracted the sap, rather than waiting for the World Tree leaf to secrete it naturally. It was known that forcibly extracting sap from a World Tree leaf, which was larger than a celestial city, could yield amounts equivalent to millions of years of natural secretion, though it carried the risk of damaging the leaf itself.