"Wise one, what have you discovered?"
Fantian Lord sharply sensed the wise one's change before and after, immediately asking.
From his angle, looking up, even to the end of his line of sight, he couldn't see Lin Yuan's silhouette.
Other Legendary Lords who underwent three hundred million tribulations also looked towards the wise one.
As the first Legendary Lord to step onto the unified white jade steps, surely he felt something unusual.
"It turns out… the first one we competed to step onto the white jade steps… has long since left."
The wise one chuckled softly, self-mockingly.
With the wise one's mindset, if he was only slightly ahead, he would never feel such a sense of utter despair.
Were other Legendary Lords slightly ahead of him? Or did he never win against competing with Lord Haotian and Fantian Lord, among other Legendary Lords?
It would only stir greater motivation in the wise one.
But Lin Yuan?
At this moment, the wise one, though on the unified white jade steps, was separated from Lin Yuan by countless white jade steps, a gap as vast as a chasm.
No matter how great the motivation or competitiveness, it would be thoroughly worn away in the face of such disparity.
"Long since left?"
"Wise one, what do you mean?"
"Yes, could it be that someone climbed the unified white jade steps before you?"
Lord Wan Xiang, Lord Haotian, and other Legendary Lords, with their quick minds, immediately deduced most of the truth from the wise one's words.
Only this truth was hard for all Legendary Lords to believe.
Wasn't the wise one the first to ascend the unified white jade steps?
Then who was it?
From their position, they could already see a long stretch of the unified white jade steps.
They hadn't seen any other climbers.
"Did you not sense that there's another presence who hasn't appeared until now?"
The wise one sighed internally, then spoke.
"Are you referring to the Galaxy?"
Lord Wan Xiang's expression shifted slightly.
Not only had the wise one guarded against the Galaxy, but Lord Wan Xiang and others were also wary of the Galaxy Lord.
After all, in the small circle of Lord Wan Xiang, Lord Haotian, Fantian Lord, and other four Legendary Lords, there was a notion of jointly opposing the Galaxy Lord.
But even until the wise one ascended the unified white jade steps, the Galaxy Lord hadn't appeared.
"Yes."
"The Galaxy Lord, he ascended long ago."
The wise one spoke.
There was no need to conceal this fact.
"Ascended long ago?"
"What kind of means does the Galaxy Lord possess?"
Lord Haotian, Fantian Lord, and other Legendary Lords were silent for a moment, their expressions reflecting astonishment.
They did not doubt the wise one.
Because only this explanation made sense.
Otherwise, given the Galaxy Lord's strength surpassing Lord Haotian and Fantian Lord, why hadn't he appeared in front of the unified white jade steps until now?
It could only be explained by his having already crossed them.
"It seems the Galaxy Lord hid his strength when he acted against Lord Zhuo He."
"Indeed."
"Wise one, why can't I see how high the Galaxy Lord has climbed?"
"Yes, I can't see either. Could it be that only by stepping onto the unified white jade steps can one see the scene on the steps after unification?"
Lord Haotian and seven other Legendary Lords felt somewhat puzzled, speculating it might be a limitation of the steps' rules-that not stepping onto the unified steps restricts one's view of the scene on the steps after unification.
"You can't see… it's normal…"
The wise one glanced at each Legendary Lord and said in a mysterious tone: "The Galaxy Lord is currently at a very high position, so high that even I see it very faintly."
Lin Yuan continued climbing the white jade steps, casually glancing downward.
He saw the struggle among Lord Haotian and eight other Legendary Lords over who would be the first to step onto the unified white jade steps.
"Reached there just now?" Lin Yuan shook his head slightly. At this moment, it had been over ten thousand years since he first stepped onto the unified white jade steps.
Lin Yuan merely cast a glance and then paid no more attention.
After all, the gap between him and the Legendary Lords like Lord Haotian was really too large now.
There was no need to look more.
"The difficulty of climbing the white jade steps after unification…"
Lin Yuan's thoughts fluctuated, a smile appearing on his face. Although the climbing difficulty increased greatly, the effect was very significant.
After more than ten thousand years of climbing, Lin Yuan already comprehended the Chaotic Origin Taiji Dao, Chaotic Origin Tai Chu Dao, and Chaotic Origin Tai Shi Dao from the "Innate Five Great."
Plus his original Chaotic Origin Taiji Dao.
He was only short of the Chaotic Origin Tai Su Dao to theoretically match the five types of Chaotic Origin Dao that correspond to the "Innate Five Great."
"Once all five types of Chaotic Origin Dao are comprehended, it will be a qualitative metamorphosis for me, akin to the great leap from non-temporal life to temporal life!"
Lin Yuan felt a sense of insight.
"But why do I feel that even if I comprehend the Chaotic Origin Tai Su Dao, the 'Innate Five Great' completed by the five types of Chaotic Origin Dao would still be far from reaching the Supreme Rule Dao level?"
Lin Yuan was slightly puzzled.
The higher the realm and the stronger the power, the more clearly one perceives the distance from transcending levels as being unfathomable.
"Take it slow, first comprehend the Chaotic Origin Tai Su Dao." Lin Yuan restrained his thoughts, climbing the white jade steps, with the path to transcendence clearly visible. Lin Yuan only needed to continue walking down this path.
After unification, the white jade steps.
After the wise one, Lord Haotian, Fantian Lord, and other Legendary Lords also successively distinguished themselves, stepping into the second stage of the white jade steps.
Even with the Galaxy Lord far ahead, Lord Haotian and other Legendary Lords still held great expectations for climbing the white jade steps.
Even if Lin Yuan is leading, what does it matter?
At most, he can only seize one spot for transcendence.
No one knows how many transcendent beings can be born from the endless white jade steps on this path of transcendence.
What if it's two or three?
Then even if Lin Yuan is ahead, they still have a chance.
Even if we take a step back a million times, This path of transcendence can only birth one transcendent being.
Continuing to climb and perfect their own Chaotic Origin Dao will not be a loss.
Bear in mind, the more perfect the Chaotic Origin Dao, the greater the enhancement in their power.
Wise ones can rapidly increase their strength, reaching the level of Lord Haotian and Fantian Lord, just by climbing the white jade steps.
Similarly, before reaching the unified white jade steps, the strength of Legendary Lords such as Lord Haotian and Fantian Lord also grows, although not as obviously as that of wise ones.
Even so, the extent of improvement is roughly equivalent to overcoming one or two hundred calamities.
One or two hundred calamities? At the level of Lord Haotian and Fantian Lord, passing even one calamity requires facing extreme life-and-death crises, let alone one or two hundred?
Furthermore, the stronger one becomes, the more assured they are of overcoming future calamities.
Throughout the tens of billions of calamities, the majority depends on strength.
"Such terrifying pressure."
"And hallucinations, I must devote at least sixty percent of my energy to resist their influence."
Legendary Lords like Lord Haotian and Fantian Lord stand on the unified white jade steps, their expressions wavering.
Compared to the previous jade steps, they now face pressure beyond measure.
"I feel that to step onto the next step, at least ten thousand years of adaptation are needed, perhaps even a hundred thousand years."
Lord Wan Xiang silently pondered.
Now, standing on the first step after unification, the pressure he felt is immense. It's predictable that the pressure of the next step will only be greater.
"You said you could see the Galaxy Lord, wise one? Where is the Galaxy Lord now?"
Lord Haotian couldn't help but inquire.
At this moment, they stood with the wise ones on the same layer of steps, looking upwards into ethereal clouds, but seeing no presence. "Before you stepped up, the Galaxy Lord had already proceeded to the next step, not visible from here," the wise one stated honestly.
In fact, upon stepping onto the unified white jade steps, they realized that stepping first was not very significant.
They were destined to be trapped on the first step for a long time.
"The Galaxy Lord… How strong is He truly?"
Fantian Lord pondered for a moment, his tone revealing amazement.
Standing on the first step, feeling its terrifying pressure.
They increasingly realized just how frightening the Galaxy Lord, now beyond their sight, truly is.
The end of sight on the unified white jade steps, compared to the thirty-three thousand three hundred thirty-three steps before, is not of the same concept.
"Anyway, we are certainly far inferior."
Lord Wan Xiang said: "Perhaps only those who truly reach the end of a transcendence path can be on the same level as the Galaxy Lord?"
Those who've reached the end of a transcendence path?
In terms of the 'Infinite Calamity' path, it's the terrifying lords who've passed the last stage of thirty-two thousand calamities.
Whereas, Legendary Lords like Lord Wan Xiang and Lord Haotian have surpassed three billion calamities at most, only nearing the end of a transcendence path.
"I didn't expect our space-time to have such beings?"
The Lord of Nine Dragons couldn't help but speak.
Since the creation of infinite dimensions, many powerful and terrifying Legendary Lords have been born.
For instance, when the wise one first became a lord, Lord Wu You overlooked the infinite dimensions.
Yet these powerful and terrifying Legendary Lords mostly perished along some transcendence path.
Whether impacting the Perfect Time Being, dying during some 'Infinite Calamity, or quietly disappearing in some ancient forbidden space-time.
Lin Yuan stood on a certain white jade step, contemplating for a long time, "I see."
The next moment.
Lin Yuan stepped forward, landing on the next step.
At this moment-
Humming~ A strange and inexplicable fluctuation began to spread.
"Hmm?"
Lin Yuan opened his eyes and looked downward.
He saw a segment of the white jade step behind him silently dissolving.
Starting from this segment, both above and below slowly dissolved.
From a great distance, one would see an endlessly stretching white jade step breaking in the middle, with the break gradually widening and spreading in both directions.
"This?"
Lin Yuan's expression turned slightly grave.
He didn't feel pressured by this; the current dissolving speed of the white jade steps couldn't match his climbing speed. As long as he kept ascending, there would be no issues.
However, for the Time Lords below the broken steps, it was akin to the path of transcendence being cut off, unable to continue climbing, even forced to retreat as dissolution spread.
"Does the white jade step dissolve because it's time, or only when I step onto this position?"
Lin Yuan steadied himself, stopped thinking about it, and continued climbing.
Even though the dissolving white jade steps do not threaten him now, every situation must be considered with the worst-case scenario.
What if the dissolving speed of the later steps accelerates? Or a section above him starts dissolving?
Therefore,
Climbing at the fastest speed ensures the greatest benefits.
Lin Yuan noticed the change in the white jade steps, and similarly, many Legendary Lords below noticed it as well.
"Dissolve, a segment of white jade steps above begins to dissolve."
"How can this be? Doesn't this mean the path of transcendence is severed?"
Countless Legendary Lords displayed unwilling expressions, barely grasping the path of transcendence, even if they couldn't transcend in the end, they could greatly perfect their own Chaotic Origin Dao.
Who would've thought so soon, this path of transcendence would begin to dissolve?
"It's a segment of the white jade steps beneath the Galaxy Lord that's dissolving."
The wise one observed from afar, easily confirming that before and after the dissolution of that segment, the Galaxy Lord's presence was nowhere to be seen.
"It seems that only the Galaxy Lord has a chance to transcend on this path." Fantian Lord sighed, even though he'd been prepared for this, when faced with reality, he still felt a tinge of regret.
Rumble–
The change in the white jade steps was like a stone thrown into water, causing heavy ripples.
The Supreme Rule Dao aura descended spectacularly, yet blocked by the endless white jade steps, instantly spreading across every corner of the infinite dimensions.
This penetration was not limited to the current space-time; the past and future of infinite dimensions were all imbued with the Supreme Rule Dao aura. Simultaneously.
The Legendary Lords, with hearts flooded by some disappointment, like Fantian Lord and Lord Haotian, suddenly received an ancient and mysterious message in their minds- "Stop 'Galaxy' from continuing to climb the white jade steps, succeed and you'll be counted as having passed a thousand calamities, fail with no penalty!"
Fantian Lord, Lord Haotian, and the other Legendary Lords' pupils shrank abruptly.
Expressions revealed disbelief.
Stopping 'Galaxy' from continuing his ascent would be counted as passing a thousand calamities?
Even if they failed, no penalty would follow? Is this a tribulation personally decreed by the Supreme Rule Dao?
…
Chaos Void.
Lin Yuan closed his eyes, focusing most of his attention on climbing the white jade steps.
Suddenly.
The Purple Light Legendary Lord sent a message: "Galaxy, something is terribly wrong."
"What is it?"
Lin Yuan opened his eyes.
"Just now, the Supreme Rule Dao imposed the same tribulation on all Legendary Lords who've passed billions of calamities, which is to stop you from continuing to ascend the white jade steps."
"If successful, it'll be counted as normally passing a thousand calamities; even if failed, there'll be no punishment, no erasure by the Supreme Rule Dao."
The Purple Light Legendary Lord sounded somewhat anxious.
"The Supreme Rule Dao has set me as the tribulation target for Legendary Lords?"
Lin Yuan's expression changed slightly.