Chapter 580-584 (Patreon)
Content
580. Heaven Sacrificial Ceremony
The Observing Heaven Sect ultimately merged with the Eternal Life Alliance, doing so without a trace of resentment. The three god-level cultivators of the sect acknowledged their defeat wholeheartedly.
Who would have thought that Lin Fei had already ascended to the rank of True Monarch? When a True Monarch descended upon the Ancient Continent, they became invincible, capable of dominating the entire land.
Indeed, the Ancient Continent of today was a far cry from the one that once bore true immortals and martial ancestors. In the current era, god-level cultivators stood at the pinnacle. As for True Monarchs, they had to ascend to the Divine Realm to reach such heights.
"What are your intentions, the three of you?" Lin Fei inquired of the three god-level cultivators from the Observing Heaven Sect. He had no intention of slaying these three god-level cultivators, for their behavior had been rather "astute," and there was no need to take their lives.
The three of them exchanged glances before respectfully stating, "Since we have chosen to remain in the Ancient Continent, it means we do not wish to go to the Divine Realm. If the True Monarch is willing to accept us, the three of us are willing to serve the True Monarch!"
These three god-level cultivators had actively chosen to join Lin Fei. After all, god-level cultivators within the Ancient Continent were considered top-tier existences.
With Lin Fei at the helm, toppling the Ancient Continent would be a straightforward matter for the Eternal Life Alliance. Thus, if they could join the Eternal Life Alliance now, it would be a boon for these three god-level cultivators.
"If the three god-level cultivators wish to join the Eternal Life Alliance, then the Eternal Life Alliance naturally welcomes it," Lin Fei readily agreed. "For now, the three god-level friends shall become elders of the Eternal Life Alliance. What say you?"
The three cultivators nodded in agreement. "We thank the True Monarch!"
In truth, their decision to join the Eternal Life Alliance served another purpose—to prevent the complete annihilation of the Observing Heaven Sect.
With their inclusion, the Observing Heaven Sect could gradually assimilate into the Eternal Life Alliance instead of being obliterated by Lin Fei. This was the last act they could perform on behalf of the Observing Heaven Sect.
Lin Fei did not linger in the Observing Heaven Sect for long. He promptly returned to the Eternal Life Alliance, leaving others to handle the integration of the Observing Heaven Sect. Lin Fei did not pay much attention to such trivial matters.
With the Observing Heaven Sect merging into the Eternal Life Alliance, and even its three god-level cultivators joining, the entire Ancient Continent was shaken to its core. Especially the various forces and strong individuals who had witnessed the entire process of Lin Fei's confrontation with the three god-level cultivators. At this moment, they fell silent.
Despite the Eternal Life Alliance continuously propagating this matter, these forces remained silent. It was not because they were unprepared. They knew that Lin Fei must have some backing to dare to take action against the Observing Heaven Sect. While the possibility of the Eternal Life Alliance obliterating the Observing Heaven Sect was slim, it did exist. Even if it happened, many powerful individuals or forces would not be surprised.
However, their current silence was due to the unexpected turn of events. They could never have imagined that Lin Fei was a True Monarch, surpassing Martial Gods. If he had been a Martial God, even a top-tier one, they would not have feared. After all, they would still have room to maneuver and negotiate in a battle against Martial Gods. But against a Martial True Monarch, what could they possibly use to resist?
Lin Fei also knew that once his True Monarch status was exposed, it would send shockwaves throughout the Ancient Continent's major forces. Therefore, he was not in a hurry to take further action. Instead, he patiently waited. He believed that many major forces would make their decisions accordingly. When the time came, Lin Fei might be able to achieve his goals without fighting, effectively sweeping across the entire Ancient Continent.
Days passed by, and after ten days, Lin Fei embarked on his next move. This time, his targets were the Three Immortal Caverns, the Nine Dragons Sect, and the Frozen Dao. These three major forces were rumored to have god-level cultivators presiding over them—extraordinary and formidable figures.
However, Lin Fei took action. Within a single day, he consecutively crushed three major forces. Among them, the Three Immortal Caverns put up a stubborn resistance. Lin Fei unleashed the Saber World, completely wiping out the Three Immortal Caverns.
Yes, completely wiped out. Every member of the Three Immortal Caverns, from those at the Deity Transformation, Nascent Soul, Golden Core, and others, all vanished within Lin Fei's Saber World. Not a trace remained; they were utterly extinguished. Even the sect's territory no longer bore any trace of the Three Immortal Caverns.
Such power thoroughly stunned numerous major forces across the Ancient Continent. No one dared to resist stubbornly any longer. Subsequently, the development of the Eternal Life Alliance went even smoother than Lin Fei had anticipated. Even if there were some slightly troublesome forces, the three god-level cultivators from the Observing Heaven Sect would step in to resolve those issues. Lin Fei himself didn't need to get involved.
In just three months, the entire Ancient Continent was essentially under the control of the Eternal Life Alliance. The Eternal Life Alliance had rapidly expanded, becoming a colossal entity. Of course, the current Eternal Life Alliance was diverse and fragmented. Only Lin Fei, who stood at the pinnacle, could completely suppress it. But Lin Fei didn't mind; as long as he achieved his goal.
"I've finally swept across the Ancient Continent, uniting it under my rule. Now, it's time to hold the Heaven Sacrificial Ceremony," Lin Fei murmured.
Lin Fei's true intentions were known only to Feng Ling and the Phoenix. Phoenix had also joined the Eternal Life Alliance and held the position of an elder.
The three god-level cultivators from the Observing Heaven Sect, upon joining the Eternal Life Alliance, learned that the Eternal Life Alliance wasn't just home to Lin Fei as the True Monarch. There was also a second True Monarch.
However, this second True Monarch appeared to be very unfamiliar. They seldom spoke and maintained a silent demeanor, making them even harder to approach than Lin Fei.
With Phoenix overseeing matters, regardless of how scattered and chaotic the Eternal Life Alliance was, it wouldn't collapse. This was sufficient assurance.
When Lin Fei conducted the Heaven Sacrificial Ceremony, it was not an ordinary ritual. It required numerous preparations, in essence, a display of sincerity. The Heaven Sacrificial Ceremony was a prayer to the heavens, and how could one perform it without sincerity?
Lin Fei had been preparing intermittently for about a month before everything was finally in order. In the Eternal Life Alliance, at the Altar of Heaven Sacrificial Ceremony, Lin Fei sat with Feng Ling by his side. Feng Ling held Lin Fei's hand with a hint of unease and asked, "Lin Fei, are you sure everything will be alright?"
Feng Ling also knew the reason behind Lin Fei holding the Heaven Sacrificial Ceremony. It was essentially a form of "prayer" to the Ancient Continent, hoping to gain insight into the grand Dao. To progress from a True Monarch to a Martial Ancestor and beyond required mastering a complete path. Feng Ling was well aware that Lin Fei was not far from achieving this.
This time, returning to the Ancient Continent, the most crucial matter was holding the Heaven Sacrificial Ceremony. The goal was to see if Lin Fei could master a complete Dao with the assistance of the Ancient Continent. However, the world had its own spirit, and no one knew what would happen when the Heaven Sacrificial Ceremony was performed. Even if there appeared to be no danger, it couldn't be guaranteed.
Lin Fei tightly gripped Feng Ling's hand and nodded gently, saying, "Don't worry; nothing will go wrong. I'll be cautious, and if any issues arise, I'll stop immediately."
"Alright, then be careful," Feng Ling finally let go of Lin Fei's hand.
With that, Lin Fei took one step after another until he stood on the Altar of Heaven Sacrificial Ceremony. At this moment, within the Eternal Life Alliance, countless eyes were focused on Lin Fei. Among the onlookers were god-level cultivators, Phoenix, and ordinary members. Everyone's gaze was fixed on Lin Fei.
After all, the Sky Ceremony represented not only the Eternal Life Alliance but also the entire Ancient Continent. In the event of any unexpected changes during the ceremony, the Eternal Life Alliance would halt it immediately.
Lin Fei swiftly stepped onto the high platform. In his hand, he held a Heaven Sacrificial Ceremony scripture that outlined his request, hoping to gain insight into the grand Dao of the world.
"Fire."
Flames erupted from Lin Fei's hand. In an instant, the Heaven Sacrificial Ceremony scripture was rapidly consumed by the roaring flames, turning into ashes.
581. The Origin Sea of the Ancient Continent
The sacrificial text had been burnt, marking the completion of the Heaven Sacrificial Ceremony. Now, all that remained was a period of quiet waiting. If the world consciousness of the Ancient Continent deemed Lin Fei worthy of representing the entire Ancient Continent, there would undoubtedly be some form of response.
Time passed slowly. A quarter of an hour had elapsed since the sacrificial text was consumed by flames. However, there seemed to be no response as of yet.
Lin Fei had meticulously inscribed his "request" onto the sacrificial text, believing that the world consciousness of the Ancient Continent was aware of his appeal.
But whether the Ancient Continent's world consciousness would grant his request was uncertain. Even True Immortals and Martial Ancestors couldn't predict the consciousness of an entire world.
Lin Fei remained patient. He had faith in the notion that the world had its own spirit, and he trusted the words of Great Dream Ancestor and Unity True Immortal.
Finally, an hour had passed.
Suddenly, the entire world began to tremble.
Simultaneously, above Lin Fei's head, a colossal vortex with the characters appeared faintly in the void. It was a spatial vortex, and nobody else could sense it, but Lin Fei felt it distinctly.
This was a Sea of Origin, an immensely vast Sea of Origin, perhaps only slightly smaller than the Divine Realm's.
However, apart from the Divine Realm, Lin Fei hadn't encountered a larger Sea of Origin. Although it had some differences compared to the Divine Realm's Sea of Origin, those differences were minor, primarily in scale. In essence, they were virtually identical. Lin Fei suddenly realized this in his heart.
"Perhaps, this is the reason why the Ancient Continent was capable of giving birth to True Immortals and Martial Ancestors," Lin Fei mused. "The power of the Origin here is not much different from the Divine Realm. Could it be that the True Immortal Realm is the same?"
At that moment, Lin Fei seemed to grasp the significance of the True Immortal Realm. However, despite its power, the True Immortal Realm could only give birth to True Immortals and Martial Ancestors, not Supreme Beings. Only the Divine Realm had the capability to birth Supreme Beings.
Yet, the true nature and levels of Supreme Beings remained a mystery to Lin Fei.
As the massive spatial vortex appeared, a beam of white light shot out from it. Although it was just a plain white light, Lin Fei felt the presence of the laws emanating from it—the essence of the world's laws.
In the next instant, Lin Fei found himself enveloped in the white light. His figure flickered, and both the white light and Lin Fei disappeared.
A commotion erupted within the Eternal Life Alliance. People were baffled and worried about Lin Fei's sudden disappearance.
"What's happening? Where's Leader Lin?"
"Isn't our Leader a True Monarch? How could he vanish like this?"
"Could something have gone wrong with the Heaven Sacrificial Ceremony?"
"What could possibly go wrong with the Ceremony?"
"Look at our Elders; they seem surprisingly calm. It's unlikely anything serious has occurred."
Many discussions were taking place, and everyone was astonished by Lin Fei's inexplicable disappearance.
Upon seeing Lin Fei vanish, Feng Ling felt a jolt of surprise but remained composed outwardly. She understood that this was not the time to panic; she needed to stay calm.
Shortly after, she received a transmission from the Phoenix: "Feng Ling, don't worry. True Monarch Lin has likely been transported to some other place by the world consciousness of the Ancient Continent. With True Monarch Lin's strength, there's no force within the Ancient Continent that can harm him. I believe it won't be long before he returns."
Hearing the transmission from the Phoenix, Feng Ling relaxed slightly and spoke slowly, "Lin Fei has gone to a place to comprehend the Dao. He won't be gone for long. The ceremony has already concluded. Everyone should disperse for now."
Feng Ling took charge and declared the conclusion of the Eternal Life Alliance's Ceremony.
However, not everyone was convinced by her explanation, and there were still some lingering doubts.
Yet, with the Phoenix and numerous god-level powerhouses of the Eternal Life Alliance present, they dared not voice their concerns.
Meanwhile, in a mysterious space, Lin Fei suddenly raised his head in surprise.
"Is this... within the laws of the Ancient Continent?" he wondered aloud. He could see countless intricate laws here, and these laws were incredibly familiar to him because they were the very same world laws that he had been comprehending all along.
"Could it be that the Ancient Continent has brought me into the world laws?" Lin Fei pondered. "No, this is not just the world laws. Could it be within the world's Dao?" He considered the possibility that he had entered the realm of the world's Dao.
Although Lin Fei had been comprehending the world's Dao for some time, he had never truly encountered it. Now, it appeared before him, even though it was a True Monarch-level world's Dao. However, it was no different from the world's Dao of the Divine Realm.
"World's Dao, world laws..." Lin Fei realized that this was the "reward" from the Ancient Continent in response to his prayers during the Ceremony. He had asked to comprehend the world's Dao, and the world consciousness of the Ancient Continent had seemingly transported him into the realm of the world's Dao.
Such treatment was something Lin Fei had never heard of in the Divine Realm, and it was a rare opportunity. If he could seize this chance, it might greatly enhance his chances of becoming a Martial Ancestor.
"Let me see what the world's Dao is truly like," Lin Fei said as he began to extend his consciousness. He quickly enveloped the special space he was in, filled with countless intricate world laws that seemed endless.
However, these world laws appeared to be like branches, attached to a "great tree." That "great tree" was the world's Dao itself. Lin Fei witnessed a truly astonishing sight.
The world's Dao resembled a massive tree spanning the unknown void, and from this tree, countless branches extended, radiating throughout the world. These branches represented the world's laws.
The world's Dao, the "great tree," seemed to draw various energies from the void, maintaining its existence.
"I see now, the world's Dao serves as the cornerstone of the entire world," Lin Fei realized. "It's like a colossal tree. As long as this tree, the world's Dao, exists, the world won't collapse and will flourish. The branches of the world's Dao are the countless world laws, distributed throughout the world, sustaining its operation."
He contemplated, "So, if I want to master the complete world's Dao, what should I do?"
Lin Fei was deep in thought. Every Martial Ancestor needed to master a complete Dao to have a chance at becoming a Martial Ancestor. Regardless of how profound their understanding of the laws was, it was useless without a complete Dao.
He had touched the world's Dao and understood the relationship between the world's Dao and the world's laws. But how could he master the world's Dao himself?
"I need to master my unique world's Dao," Lin Fei thought. "Not the Ancient Continent's world's Dao, nor the Divine Realm's. Only by mastering my personal world's Dao can I become a Martial Ancestor. But how do I go about mastering my own world's Dao?"
Lin Fei was lost in thought, and in his mind, sparks of inspiration collided. This state was often referred to as "enlightenment" or "sudden realization."
582. Mastery of the World's Dao
Lin Fei was unaware of it, but at this moment, on his system panel, the numerical indicator for his progress along the World's Dao was undergoing constant change. Furthermore, within Lin Fei's mind, the resounding voice of the system echoed melodiously.
"Your comprehension of the World's Dao has entered a state of enlightenment."
"Your advancement along the World's Dao has increased by 1%."
"Your advancement along the World's Dao has increased by 2%."
"Your advancement along the World's Dao has increased by 3%."
These words continued to flow without interruption. Initially, Lin Fei's progress along the World's Dao had already reached an impressive 73%. The final 100% seemed within reach.
However, after reaching 73%, it appeared to stagnate as if immobilized by an invisible force. Regardless of his efforts, it refused to budge.
Nevertheless, the numerical representation was now slowly on the rise.
74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%...
Each increment was a mere 1%, but as time accumulated, Lin Fei's progress along the World's Dao seemed to know no limits. It continued to rise gradually, even reaching 80%.
This was the state of enlightenment—a moment of epiphany. In this state, Lin Fei's understanding of the World's Dao deepened with each passing moment. His mind was constantly illuminated by flashes of insight, thus causing his progress along the World's Dao to slowly ascend.
However, Lin Fei remained deeply engrossed in this state of enlightenment, not yet awakening. It was evident that he had encountered certain challenges along the way, challenges that remained unresolved. Consequently, the progress he made along the World's Dao began to slow down.
85%, 90%, 95%...
Upon reaching 95%, it appeared as though the World's Dao had come to a standstill.
"What am I missing?" Lin Fei pondered, his brow furrowed. He remained deep in contemplation, still caught in his state of enlightenment. Despite the constant flickering of insights, he had yet to grasp a complete path.
It seemed that something was amiss within the World's Dao. Lin Fei couldn't quite fathom what he was failing to comprehend fundamentally. As he continued his profound introspection, the missing piece slowly revealed itself.
"Wait, if I am to master the World's Dao," Lin Fei's thoughts raced, "where does the World's Dao originate? Where should I apply the World's Dao I master? Where does my source of power come from?"
A crucial realization dawned upon him. It was commonly said that a warrior's strength stemmed from within. In the same vein, a Martial Ancestor who possessed mastery over a complete path undoubtedly wielded unimaginable power. Otherwise, how could one attain the exalted status of a Martial Ancestor?
However, Lin Fei's World's Dao was neither the World's Dao of the Divine Realm nor the World's Dao of the Ancient Continent. It was uniquely his own. Therefore, his World's Dao resided within himself.
The question remained: where could he find the power to support his ascent to Martial Ancestor through his own World's Dao?
"Could it be my physical body?" Lin Fei contemplated the potential of his own physical form. His body possessed boundless potential and strength, but how many Particle Worlds had he managed to create thus far?
A mere five thousand three hundred Particle Worlds. Yet, the number of particles within his physical body exceeded billions.
The sheer quantity of Particle Worlds his body could potentially generate was nearly unimaginable. However, Lin Fei couldn't help but sense that something was awry. He questioned whether he had veered off course.
As he accumulated Particle Worlds within his body, there came a point where his physical form couldn't bear the burden. The Particle Worlds remained separate entities, distinct from the rest of his body.
There was an intrinsic division between Particle Worlds and other particles within his flesh. In his Martial God and True Monarch states, this division wasn't a significant concern.
However, for Lin Fei to attain the status of a Martial Ancestor, presented a formidable challenge especially when he aimed to master the World's Dao—a way fundamentally rooted in the concept of the world itself.
The World's Dao had the power to create entire worlds, making it the most fundamental aspect of each world it governed.
"If my physical body could merge into a single entity," Lin Fei pondered, "and if all the particles could coalesce into one, then, with the World's Dao as its foundation, I could create a world. This world would consist of a single particle, and once created, all the particles would disappear. Yet, I could fully control this world and even possess a complete World's Dao, uniquely my own..."
Finally, the revelation struck Lin Fei. In his mind, a spark of insight ignited, unveiling what was missing in his path to attaining Martial Ancestor status. His World's Dao drew its power from within his own flesh.
"I see..." A slight smile curved on Lin Fei's lips. Without hesitation, he acted upon his newfound realization.
"Particle Worlds, merge!" he commanded.
A thunderous explosion resonated as Lin Fei's flesh, along with his five thousand three hundred Particle Worlds, erupted in a spectacular burst. Additionally, billions of individual flesh particles, each carrying the formidable essence of a True Monarch, detonated simultaneously.
This explosion differed from his previous encounters with adversaries. It was a genuine detonation, where all particles merged into a chaotic unity. Countless particles perished in the process, and Lin Fei's physical form disintegrated, transforming into ashes. Yet, Lin Fei himself did not die.
As long as a particle remained, Lin Fei's consciousness clung to it, ensuring his survival. These particles continuously exploded and fused, gradually converging into a singular whole. Even the five thousand three hundred Particle Worlds completely disintegrated and melded together.
Now, where Lin Fei had just experienced the explosion, a single particle emerged. Only one particle remained, but it was whole and complete, containing the entirety of his power. With this single particle's appearance, a message echoed within Lin Fei's mind.
"Your understanding of the World's Dao has reached its pinnacle, your World's Dao progress has reached 100%, achieving perfection."
Without hesitation, Lin Fei infused the recently mastered World's Dao into a single particle within his flesh. In that instant, the particle sprang to life, akin to the birth of consciousness within a world. However, this world consciousness was none other than Lin Fei's own.
Once a world possessed consciousness, limitless possibilities arose. It could ascend from a small world to a True Monarch-level world or even a True Immortal-level world if given the opportunity.
Yet, this was not the endpoint, for even the Divine Realm, strictly speaking, was a world—albeit an extraordinary one that surpassed all True Immortal-level worlds.
Lost in thought, Lin Fei's musings drifted far. He possessed extensive experience in creating worlds. Therefore, when he integrated the World's Dao into the particles, he created a world.
With a deafening explosion, Lin Fei's flesh particles erupted, unveiling a colossal world that emerged in all its grandeur. It expanded relentlessly, surpassing the confines of the Ancient Continent's World's Dao, for this was a genuine world.
583. Embodiment of the World!
In the Eternal Life Alliance, someone suddenly looked up. They beheld a scene in the void that left their face awash with shock.
"What's happening? Why has the sky darkened?"
"It seems even the light of the stars is being obscured."
"How terrifying, what on earth is this?"
"An eclipse of sun and moon, what sorcery is this?"
"Could it be the apocalypse?"
"But why would the apocalypse suddenly appear on the Ancient Continent?"
It was not only in the Eternal Life Alliance. This phenomenon appeared across many regions of the Ancient Continent as if the world itself was blocking the void of the Ancient Continent. On closer inspection, it was indeed a world—a real world!
A sound like a sharp swoosh cut through the air. God-level powerhouses acted, attempting to shatter this mysterious world.
However, their formidable power could not even make it tremble. Only Feng Ling's gaze held a trace of recognition.
"This world's aura, it's so familiar. It seems like Lin Fei's aura. Could it be that Lin Fei has made some breakthrough?"
Feng Ling immediately thought of Lin Fei. This aura was all too familiar. Though it wasn't the Saber World, it still contained the essence of Lin Fei. Feng Ling could not be mistaken.
Given the breadth of his experience, he harbored a bold conjecture: "Could it be that Lin Fei is mastering a complete Dao, thus achieving the status of Martial Ancestor?"
The Phoenix was astounded. The title of True Monarch had already been enough to amaze. But to become a Martial Ancestor? That was truly beyond belief.
At this moment, many were speculating, yet Lin Fei was in the midst of the Ancient Continent's great Dao, genuinely "transforming" into a world.
This was a true world, existing within reality. The world was Lin Fei, and Lin Fei was the world. This was entirely different from his earlier creation of a particle world within his physical body. Those particle worlds could not manifest in reality and certainly did not possess the power of a true world.
But now, things were different. When Lin Fei created a world, one that merged with the great Dao of worlds, it became a real world—personally crafted by Lin Fei!
The next moment, the entire Ancient Continent trembled. A terrible pressure instantly fell upon Lin Fei—or rather, upon the world of Lin Fei—as if "suppressing" his world. Lin Fei even faintly felt a sense of "warning." This was a warning from the Ancient Continent.
Lin Fei could create a world, or even transform into a world, but not within the Ancient Continent. Doing so might disrupt certain laws of the Ancient Continent, or even damage the very essence of the Ancient Continent's world. Thus, the Ancient Continent sought to suppress Lin Fei's world.
"Converge!"
With a thought, Lin Fei's form swiftly contracted. His body, a world unto itself, began to diminish.
Soon after, Lin Fei's figure reappeared. However, he had been expelled from the Dao World of the Ancient Continent.
Now, standing in the void, he experienced a power unlike any before—a force that seemed capable of shattering the Ancient Continent itself.
Of course, this was merely an illusion; not even true immortals or Martial Ancestors could annihilate the Ancient Continent.
Yet, Lin Fei felt as if the Ancient Continent was no longer formidable.
Moreover, Lin Fei could distinctly sense the "consciousness" of the Ancient Continent.
It is said that worlds possess spirit, but previously, Lin Fei could not perceive it unless under very special circumstances. Now, however, he could.
"System." Lin Fei immediately summoned the system to check his current state. He
vaguely understood his condition—most likely that of a Martial Ancestor, yet seemingly different from typical Martial Ancestors. Lin Fei needed to examine this closely.
Host: Lin Fei
Martial Realm: Martial Ancestor
World Dao: Perfection
World Level: Minor World (Progress 0%)
Lin Fei noted his realm. Indeed, he had become a Martial Ancestor. Yet, becoming a Martial Ancestor seemed to lack any stages like early, middle, or late phases.
Instead, there was a new category: World Level. Astonishingly, Lin Fei's World Level was only a Minor World, with zero progress, indicating that it was still challenging to advance.
"Wait, only a Minor World?" Lin Fei was startled. "I am a Martial Ancestor, so how could the world I've created be merely a Minor World?"
In Lin Fei's understanding, even Martial Gods or those undergoing Deity Transformation could disrupt or nearly collapse a Minor World. True Monarchs entering a Minor World could cause it to collapse.
How could such a world sustain the power of a Martial Ancestor like Lin Fei? Or was this Minor World not like other Minor Worlds?
However, Lin Fei's current strength was formidable. Every movement he made was imbued with unimaginable power.
Lin Fei wasn't sure how strong other Martial Ancestors or Dao Integration True Immortals were, but compared to his own past, all his previous skills and strengths combined were far inferior to his current Minor World capabilities.
Lin Fei estimated that his current strength was ten, perhaps even dozens of times greater than before—a transformation of a qualitative nature.
Yet, how could a Minor World possess a power a hundred times, or even more, greater than that of the top-tier True Monarchs?
Lin Fei closed his eyes, delving deep into the sensation of the world's force. It turned out that after the Dao of his world had merged into the world within his body and his consciousness had completely replaced that of the world, Lin Fei could mobilize the full power of the entire world.
And, in a dire situation, Lin Fei could even detonate his world to forcibly enhance his strength.
"I can now fully mobilize every fraction of power in this world," Lin Fei mused, contrasting it with those loose Minor Worlds. "In the common Minor Worlds of the Divine Realm, it's simply impossible to unleash all their power."
He acknowledged that while such worlds could at least release some of their might upon collapsing, they would only ever unleash, at best, a mere one percent of their original strength, often even less. "It's not to say that a Minor World is always that weak."
Lin Fei realized that a Minor World, when all its forces were mobilized, could indeed be terrifying. Furthermore, his world within did not yet harbor life. If life were to emerge, then the power of those lives could also serve him. In time, the power of Lin Fei's world would become even stronger!
"What about the Saber World?" Lin Fei pondered about another world he had access to. With a hum, the next moment, he summoned the Saber World with a thought. He still possessed the Saber World, which was a world transformed from the ethereal to the tangible.
Yet, it was vastly different from the true world. The Saber World, once comparable to a top-tier True Monarch, now seemed somewhat redundant since Lin Fei had ascended to the level of Martial Ancestor.
"If only the Saber World could be elevated to the level of a Martial Ancestor," he thought. Lin Fei shook his head; this was a challenging feat. His Dao of Worlds had already integrated into his physical world and could not merge with the Saber World.
"But wait, there's still the Shen in the Saber World. If the Shen could ascend to the level of a top-tier True Monarch, or even that of an Ancestor, wouldn't that also elevate the Saber World to the strength of a Martial Ancestor?"
Lin Fei's eyes sparkled with possibility. It seemed there was a way to enhance the Saber World after all, though it would require a lengthy period. Lin Fei would slowly explore these possibilities.
For now, however, it was time to return. With a swoosh, Lin Fei stepped forward, his figure instantly vanishing as he entered a void passage, disappearing without a trace.
584. Lin Fei Becomes the Martial Ancestor
In the Eternal Life Alliance, Feng Ling, with the aid of the phoenix, managed the affairs of the alliance.
Recently, the alliance had been relatively peaceful. However, some, restless due to Lin Fei's disappearance, had started causing minor disturbances. These were trivial and easily handled by the alliance's elders, not even necessitating the phoenix's intervention.
Yet, Lin Fei's prolonged absence was becoming a cause for concern.
Though Feng Ling appeared calm, inwardly he was anxious for Lin Fei's return, or at least for news of him.
Where had Lin Fei gone? Feng Ling was eager to know.
At that moment, faint ripples of space appeared in the grand hall. Suddenly, a figure burst forth from the void in an instant.
"Lin Fei?" Feng Ling looked up, joy rising in his heart as he recognized the figure. He had been worried during this time, especially since Lin Fei had vanished without leaving any message or word.
Although the Ancient Continent had recently undergone some changes—such as something obscuring the sky and bearing Lin Fei's aura, leading Feng Ling to speculate—it remained just speculation. Without seeing Lin Fei, his worries persisted.
Lin Fei, facing Feng Ling, sighed deeply and said, "Feng Ling, you've had a hard time during this period. And the phoenix elder, thank you for your efforts in overseeing the Eternal Life Alliance."
Yet the phoenix stared intently at Lin Fei as if seeing something unbelievable.
"Lin... True Monarch Lin, your aura seems... different. Could it be..."
The phoenix stuttered, overcome with unparalleled shock. As an ancient exotic beast, immortal and eternal, knowing far more than any ordinary Martial God or True Monarch, it immediately perceived the change.
Lin Fei was not the same; he had undergone a complete and thorough transformation. Even standing in the void, his presence seemed subdued. Yet, in the eyes of the phoenix, the myriad laws around Lin Fei seemed to be forcefully pushed aside by his mere presence.
And with every movement Lin Fei made, the void itself bore tremendous pressure, as if carelessness could tear it asunder.
This restraint by Lin Fei was intentional. Unrestrained, his sheer presence could stir up void storms wherever he passed. Such power was beyond what any True Monarch could achieve; even the strongest among them could not manifest such might. This kind of force, to a martial artist, indicated only one possibility: the Martial Ancestor!
Lin Fei had ascended to become a Martial Ancestor, possessing terrifying powers that not even a True Immortal, who merged with the Dao, could manifest.
True Immortals might blend with the Dao subtly, without the overt display of fearsome power seen in Lin Fei. Only a Martial Ancestor, with all his mighty power intrinsic to himself, could possess such formidable might.
"Martial Ancestor?" Feng Ling was equally shocked but her surprise was tinged with amazement. She naturally believed the phoenix's words, but Lin Fei's ascension to Martial Ancestor was bewilderingly rapid.
Perhaps previously, she did not fully grasp what being a Martial Ancestor meant. However, as Lin Fei returned from the Divine Realm, she came to understand the profound significance it held—essentially representing the pinnacle of the Divine Realm.
Moreover, like Dao Integration True Immortals, Martial Ancestors were immortal and indestructible, capable of stepping out of the river of time, truly living endlessly.
Even more, Martial Ancestors held an advantage over True Immortals; while a Dao Integration True Immortal could fall if their integrated world was destroyed, a Martial Ancestor, with all power residing within himself, feared no world's demise.
Lin Fei glanced at the stunned phoenix and the astonished Feng Ling, then nodded affirmatively, "Indeed, I have achieved the rank of Martial Ancestor!"
The phoenix's mind went blank, while Feng Ling, despite finding it almost inconceivable, felt overwhelming joy. "Truly becoming a Martial Ancestor is incredible. True Monarch Lin, no, Ancestor Lin, you only spent about two or three years in the Divine Realm."
"In less than three years, advancing from Martial God to True Monarch? That's utterly unbelievable." It was no wonder the phoenix was skeptical; if becoming a Martial Ancestor were so straightforward, they wouldn't be so rare across the entire Divine Realm.
"Lin Fei, is a Martial Ancestor truly immortal? Does it possess an endless lifespan?" Feng Ling finally couldn't help but ask.
Lin Fei was somewhat surprised, but after sensing carefully, he realized the truth about his lifespan. Whether as a Martial God or a True Monarch, one could usually sense their own life expectancy.
For example, even a robust True Monarch, despite powerful regenerative abilities, would face the erosion of their physical essence when their time limit approached.
This irreversible destruction is due to the sheer passage of time, which deactivates the life force, thus leading to the inevitability of death for a True Monarch. Maintaining an immortal and indestructible physical form is exceedingly challenging.
Lin Fei's knowledge of Martial Ancestors includes the Great Dream Ancestor, whose true form he has never seen. According to rumors, the Great Dream Ancestor's true form exists between dream and reality, making it a combination of the tangible and the intangible.
While the tangible can be destroyed, the intangible cannot. By harnessing the power of dreams, the Great Dream Ancestor achieves immortality, existing eternally.
Other Martial Ancestors, too, have achieved immortality to varying extents through their mastery over their respective Daos. As for Lin Fei, his Dao is the World Dao. His physical body has transformed into a Minor World. The particles of any body, no matter how robust, will eventually disintegrate when their time comes.
However, Lin Fei's physical particles have become a world unto themselves. Should these particles approach disintegration, the world within Lin Fei can rejuvenate them with a fresh influx of life force, thereby maintaining and even revitalizing his physical form. As long as the inner world exists, Lin Fei's physical particles will not collapse.
What if this internal world were to collapse? After all, worlds can come close to destruction, whether they are Minor Worlds, True Monarch-level worlds, or even True Immortal-level worlds.
However, Lin Fei's inner world differs from a typical Minor World or True Monarch-level world. A world collapses typically due to the prolonged operation of its laws, excessive life, or rampant conflict.
Initially, these may have little impact, but over time, the cumulative effect of broken laws can fundamentally destabilize a world. Once a world's foundation is shaken, collapse is imminent.
But Lin Fei is different. He controls the World Dao, and his consciousness merges with that of his inner world. Should any aspect of his inner world falter, Lin Fei can immediately adjust it.
Moreover, as long as the World Dao endures, his inner world will not be destroyed. If his world remains, Lin Fei remains immortal. In this sense, Lin Fei truly is immortal and indestructible!
In fact, this could be said of all Martial Ancestors. While others may not control the World Dao, they master other Daos. Lin Fei relies on his inner world for immortality, and other Martial Ancestors rely on their respective Daos to achieve the same state of undying existence.