Swallowed Star Chapter 1470: Release Teacher Origin
A fearsome Sector Beast fixed its gaze upon the skeletal being standing before it. "Skeleton Master? Halt!"
All of the countless Sector Beasts possessed the ability to communicate telepathically, and they immediately ceased their feeding.
"As per our established plan, we must capture at least one slave. Zhen Jia and Dragon Rock yielded no novel intelligence."
"Simply take this Skeleton Master."
"Seize him."
A collective agreement was reached through the synchronized transmissions of all 900,000 Sector Beasts.
"If you commit yourself to our cause," declared a black, grotesque Sector Beast, "I shall grant you an opportunity."
Skeleton Master's expression held a hint of sorrow, yet he conveyed his gratitude. "Yes," he responded with deference.
Suddenly, a crimson, engraved image materialized within each of the Sector Beast's solitary eyes. These two blood-red engravings began to rotate. As Skeleton Master observed these swirling images within the Sector Beast's eyes, his soul became utterly captivated.
******
"No!"
"Ah!"
"Father!"
The spatial fabric within a particular miniature universe began to rupture. The core of this small universe was practically depleted, leading to the inevitable disintegration and annihilation of all its internal spaces. With the origin completely vanishing, the entirety of the space fractured like brittle glass. Every life form within the miniature universe perished.
"Sector Beast, Sector Beast, Sector Beast!" A being adorned with three pairs of dark wings, concealed within the distant void, roared in fury. His miniature universe had just been annihilated, and with it, his entire race.
******
"You are utterly incompetent, Milky Way Horde Leader!" bellowed Golden Armor True God from the second universe era. "We placed our faith in you. Our race faces extinction, and your human race will soon follow!"
He made no attempt to flee, choosing instead to remain within his miniature universe, to share its ultimate fate alongside his people.
His race was gone, his miniature universe obliterated. There remained no possibility for him to transcend subsequent incarnations. Following the conclusion of the next universe era, he would inevitably perish. It seemed preferable to meet his end now, rather than face a solitary demise in the distant future.
******
"I am Divine Eye True Master, one of the eight supreme overlords, esteemed as the most formidable entity within the Universe Ocean in times past. I possess an abundance of vital information and am prepared to align myself with you."
Divine Eye True Master vocalized his plea across the expanse of space to the Sector Beasts.
Align with us? mused the formidable Sector Beast.
The other thousands of Sector Beasts, in the process of consuming this miniature universe, came to a halt.
"Very well," the Sector Beast assented with a nod. "I shall grant you this opportunity."
A wave of relief washed over Divine Eye True Master. Tendrils of dark energy surged forth from the Sector Beast's form, piercing Divine Eye True Master's own body. The armor and other valuable possessions adorning Divine Eye True Master's person offered no impediment, and he did not even attempt to resist.
"Devour," the Sector Beast commanded, commencing the absorption process immediately.
Even a true god, if resistant, would have been consumed in short order by a Sector Beast. For Divine Eye True Master, offering no resistance, the process was swift. In minimal time, half of his divine body had vanished.
"This is...!" Divine Eye True Master exclaimed in shock.
"Do not resist," the Sector Beast commanded sternly. "I must absorb nearly all of your godly essence to convert it into the power unique to Sector Beasts. Only then will you become our thrall."
Divine Eye True Master hesitated but ultimately chose to embrace the perilous path.
Soon, his entire godly essence was consumed. Moments before his ultimate demise, Divine Eye True Master finally grasped the gravity of the situation. A bitter smile touched his lips as he whispered, "Catastrophe!"
He was then utterly annihilated, leaving only a scattering of valuables adrift.
"Foolish," the Sector Beast sneered. "Eight great overlords? We already possess Skeleton Master as our slave. There is no requirement for any additional thralls."
With that, it opened its maw and ingested all the valuables salvaged from Divine Eye True Master's remains.
Sector Beasts were incapable of utilizing any armaments wielded by true gods. Their inherent power stood in direct opposition to that of true gods, rendering such equipment unusable. However, they could still employ these items as mere adornments or tools, such as clutching an axe. They could be treated as inert objects, but they could not be enlarged nor could their embedded inscriptions be activated.
******
An unsettling stillness descended upon all beings within the Universe Ocean.
Within the venerable East Emperor Holy Land, East Emperor Ancestor stood amidst the ancestral tree, observing the assembled individuals below.
"What course of action shall we pursue now, ancestor?"
"Let us venture forth."
"Let us confront and slay these Sector Beasts."
East Emperor Ancestor slowly shook his head. "There is no need for futile struggle. Let us await our inevitable destiny."
A palpable despair settled upon all his subordinates, yet they were powerless to alter their course.
“Ah…” The East Emperor Ancestor sighed, shaking his head. His ultimate measure was to employ his willpower, a strength at the pinnacle eternal true god level, to shield the origin and impede the Sector Beasts’ ravenous consumption. This defense, he knew, would considerably decelerate their onslaught. Furthermore, the core of his miniature universe possessed a resilience superior to that of the Purple Moon Ancestor.
“Huh?” The East Emperor Ancestor expressed his astonishment. “They’ve ceased?”
He could distinctly perceive that the Sector Beasts lurking beyond had halted their devouring of the universe’s origin.
******
“A golden opportunity has presented itself,” declared the Purple Moon Ancestor, “and I have not yet achieved my true potential! Is this to be my end? No! I refuse!”
Standing at the heart of his Purple Moon Holy Land’s origin, the Purple Moon Ancestor surveyed his surroundings, a cry of anguish escaping his lips.
Suddenly, a look of bewildered elation crossed his face. “They have stopped?”
******
The Sector Beasts advanced in unison, relaying messages amongst themselves.
“The origins of the two holy lands prove too formidable to devour swiftly. The East Emperor Holy Land exhibits the strongest resistance. While the Purple Moon Holy Land’s defenses are weaker, they still far surpass the miniature universes of mere true gods. Continued consumption would demand considerable time. As the two holy lands pose no significant hindrance, we shall bypass them for now. Time is of the essence; we must seize the moment. Luo Feng remains our paramount adversary.”
“Let us press onward.”
“Annihilate the first and second universe eras first.”
Moving as a cohesive unit, the Sector Beasts surged forward. Miniature universe after miniature universe, populated by countless races from the first and second universe eras, met their doom. Desperate pleas for aid and defiant curses echoed, yet the races dwelling within the original universe, Luo Feng included, remained silent.
******
An outpouring of cries for help, simmering resentments, and scathing imprecations flooded through the void. Every being within the original universe was gripped by terror as one civilization after another was systematically obliterated.
“Ancestral God School.”
Luo Feng and Primal Chaos City Leader materialized within the hallowed grounds of the Ancestral God secret region. As the foremost leaders of the original universe, their arrival at the Ancestral God School was prompted by the Sector Beasts’ relentless advance toward their home after decimating the first and second universe eras.
Sou! Sou!
They propelled themselves toward the ancestral god palace. The three ancestral gods, sensing their presence, relinquished their seals, enabling teleportation.
“Ancestral gods,” Luo Feng and Primal Chaos City Leader intoned as they entered the ancestral god palace.
Seated upon their respective thrones were the young ancestral god, the elder ancestral god, and the double-faced ancestral god.
The old ancestral god addressed them, “Milky Way Horde Leader and Primal Chaos City Leader, this is a moment of utmost criticality. The Sector Beasts could arrive within a day or two. Given this paramount juncture, what brings you both here? Rest assured, I shall dispatch emissaries from the Ancestral God School to the Milky Way Holy Land shortly.”
“The Sector Beasts are approaching,” Primal Chaos City Leader responded, his voice grave. “Their numbers are overwhelming, and they consume universal origins at an alarming rate. Milky Way Horde Leader and I have journeyed here in the hope that the original mind will permit Teacher Origin’s release! Without his willpower to safeguard his miniature universe, it faces immediate annihilation.”
While the miniature universes of true gods typically required minutes for several thousand Sector Beasts to devour, the primal universe, lacking the protective willpower of a true god, would succumb instantly.
“We implore you, original mind, release Teacher Origin,” Luo Feng pleaded.
“Release Teacher Origin?” The three ancestral gods exchanged glances.
Under ordinary circumstances, they would have summarily rejected Luo Feng and Primal Chaos City Leader’s petition. After all, Teacher Origin had incurred the wrath of the original mind, leading to his suppression, and it was unlikely the original mind would relent easily. However, the current situation was unprecedented—a moment that would define the very existence of all races within the original universe.
“Allow us to confer with the original mind first,” the old ancestral god stated.
“Very well.”
“We shall await your decision.”
Primal Chaos City Leader and Luo Feng acknowledged, yet an undeniable tension weighed upon them. Should Teacher Origin remain imprisoned, the primal universe was undeniably doomed to be consumed.
Hong!
An unseen force permeated the chamber—the arrival of the original mind. All three ancestral gods closed their eyes, entering a state of communion to decipher its will. After an extended silence, they reopened their eyes, casting looks of apology toward Luo Feng and Primal Chaos City Leader.
That shared expression of regret left Luo Feng stunned. The unspoken answer seemed to be a resounding “No!”
“Is the original mind unwilling to release Teacher Origin?” inquired Primal Chaos City Leader, his face ashen.
Luo Feng's gaze was fixed upon the three ancestral gods.
After exchanging glances, the youthful ancestral god spoke, "The primordial mind has apprised us of all aspects. Release of Teacher Origin is impossible. However, the primordial mind shall cease suppressing his willpower. This will permit him to form a godly power avatar within the primal universe, enabling him to safeguard his miniature universe through sheer willpower."
"Why would it do that?" Luo Feng questioned, his brow furrowed. "If his willpower is no longer suppressed, why not simply set him free?"
Teacher Origin's suppression extended to his willpower, preventing him from even manifesting a godly power avatar externally. This constraint was why Primal Chaos City Leader had been entrusted with overseeing the primal universe. Teacher Origin's "virtual universe" technique, which permeated all existence, allowed him to perceive everything, yet his original body and willpower remained under restraint.
"Milky Way," the elder ancestral god murmured with a sigh, "Teacher Origin wielded immense power previously, and his strength has magnified exponentially with the ancient civilization's inheritance! Should he be released, he would attain your level of power with the assistance of a machine-type treasure. With both your strengths combined, the original universe would face a significantly improved prospect. The primordial mind would gladly release him if it possessed the authority. To be candid, Teacher Origin previously violated the supreme laws, leading to his restraint by those very laws. This is the reason the primordial mind imposed the suppression and lacked the right to release him. Your success in resolving the Sector Beast issue will constitute a monumental contribution, and only then can Teacher Origin be set free."