Catching a "Big Fish"

Within Merrick First Governing Planet, a massive amount of experience points were infused.

That familiar feeling of elevation returned, icy and refreshing, captivating him.

Now, under the scrutiny of its own will, Lister has a new deconstruction of this improvement.

This power is like the culmination of various combat experiences and techniques from different life forms.

For him, it was also a great supplement.

Notification: Congratulations on your level being upgraded.

[LV241→LV250]

In just ten years, through the deployment of a single dimension, he advanced ten levels.

This energized Lister, who prepared to launch an expansion plan to more dimensions.

As the current number one person in the universe, once Lister's idea takes hold, it is implemented and executed at the fastest speed.

A new round of recruitment notices was issued within the Machine-Slaying Federation.

This time, unlike the previous practice where Lister actively selected people, it was a genuine large-scale recruitment drive.

Over the past decade, he has plundered a great deal of Power of the Plane.

The current strategy involves deploying small units across multiple dimensions of the universe.

Merrick Ninth Administrative Planet.

Within a month, all previous government affairs were transferred.

The entire planet has been extensively transformed and is now a massive and highly efficient interdimensional command center.

After all, this is one of the things that Lister values most in the future, so the needs of this conscription command are indispensable and need to be gradually standardized and proceduralized.

With the start of conscription, a large number of management soldiers poured into this ninth administrative star.

Soon, the planet became overburdened and had to continuously set up waiting areas in the outer star system ring.

Lister sat upright in the headquarters, his consciousness encompassing all the recruitment branches.

At most of the conscription sites, the lines stretched as far as the eye could see.

A diverse cast of powerful individuals, of various races and forms, mingled among them, conversing in hushed tones. The air was thick with excitement, tension, and a thirst for power.

Lilina was in charge of overseeing the process, verifying identities one by one and issuing "Plane Pass" that had been approved by Lister's authority.

A special beacon that integrates a system-on-a-chip.

Those who obtain the beacon will be directly locked by the system and summoned by Lister to a designated plane at an appropriate time.

"Next up, Kane Ironhammer, Galactic 7th Legion, Tier 19, A-rank combat power..."

"Kane Ironhammer confirms that the Plane Pass has been issued, target dimension: 'Elemental Plane' (number E-7)."

"Next up, Harold Shadowblade, leader of the Shadow Kill Mercenary Corps, Rank 21..."

The massive queue moved forward in an orderly fashion, with some selected and others not selected but awaiting the next draft.

Lister targeted 300,000 people for this deployment.

He has already connected all twenty-seven dimensional universes and is preparing to distribute them.

Just three months later, the initial call for submissions was completed.

Lister's actions were naturally even faster, his will connecting different dimensions while simultaneously controlling the system's core.

The large-scale simultaneous activation of these warriors' "Plane Pass" has begun, in preparation for the first simultaneous deployment across multiple dimensions.

This is a far more complex operation than before, requiring precise positioning and the support of massive Power of the Plane.

The golden Power of the Plane lake rippled violently as the system frantically drained its energy.

"Elemental Plane", "Dawn Plane", "Witchcraft Universe", and so on... a series of medium and large-scale cosmic planes were broken and deployed by it.

Countless elite warriors also replicated the model of the Elf Plane Vanguard.

From the initial cautious exploration to discovering the system's resurrection ability and the effects of its auxiliary enhancements.

The killing becomes uncontrollable, and in the end, all that remains in their eyes is the desire for experience points and advancement through killing.

In some ways, Lister's current actions and actions are no less impressive than those of the Church of the End.

The ultimate purpose of the Church of the End is to bring about the ultimate Destruction of the universe.

And Lister's actions now are even more so; the warriors in this alternate dimension are like killing machines.

Like a locust swarm passing through, everything they do becomes an opportunity for them to gain experience points.

At the same time, this was especially true for Lister was behind everyone else.

For him, however, the pressure now has long since become the collection of Power of the Plane.

Fortunately, the Tree of Eternity has many avatars, an existence whose existence is immeasurable over time. With the current cosmic avatars fearing it, Lister's path of plundering has become even more urgent.

This cycle of repeated plundering and looting, followed by the deployment of soldiers, and so on.

In a mere three hundred years, Lister has already reached over 200 planes and deployed over 6 million warriors.

His strength continued to improve, reaching LV280.

With its current strength, it already possesses a certain degree of dominance, even in a super-large plane like the Abyss Plane.

Just as Lister stepped into yet another new plane, preparing to continue plundering the Power of the Plane absorbed by the Tree of Eternity's avatar...

A subtle, perceptual fluctuation, unlike anything I've ever felt in any other universe, swept through.

Given Lister's current strength, such subtle fluctuations in perception are certainly not a misperception.

An immense will was mobilized instantly, and without the need for assistance from life forms in this universe, it began to explore the entire universe directly.

In his eyes, the universe presents a strange "condensed state," where countless pale golden, hair-thin strands of energy converge and then silently flow to the infinite dimensions and timelines in all directions.

If a higher-dimensional will were to investigate, given enough time, nothing in the universe could truly hide.

At the center of a surge of energy, Lister discovered the true cause.

At the same time, a smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.

The "big fish" he's been searching for all these years has finally appeared!

Almost instantly upon contact of wills, Lister's body had already moved to this special point.

The surrounding spacetime was rapidly solidified by its will.

Within this familiar barrier, an avatar of the Tree of Eternity stands.

The timid canopy, the massive trunk desperately trying to escape, but alas, nothing can be done.

Lister's gaze swept over the clone, gradually landing behind it, and he slowly opened his mouth to speak.

"Since you're already here, don't hide."

"It's you again... you greedy plunderer."

Almost the instant Lister finished speaking, another will manifested in this space.

Grand, ancient, imbued with an indescribable sense of authority and a hint of... shock and anger suddenly descended, locking onto him as well.

This will within this plane is the true will of the Tree of Eternity.

As intercosmic life forms, the essence of the Tree of Eternity is also based on will.

At this moment, this will was filled with resentment and anger, as well as a hint of fear.

"Plunder?"

Lister's body slowly took shape, and as he spoke, he gripped the crimson longsword tightly in his hand.

"Actually, I was just collecting some interest on the way to find you."

Do you think I'm one of those clones?

"As a fellow being of wills that have undergone five stages of evolution, do you perhaps think you can threaten or keep me here?"

The Tree of Eternity spoke with considerable confidence.

Both being beings of will that have undergone five stages of evolution, their combat strength is related to the limitations of the universe they inhabit.

In terms of combat, he was indeed no match for Lister.

However, the annihilation among these beings who are all entities of will is on another level.

Without panicking, the shadows of the trees shifted, and the power of the rules of the entire universe was mobilized.

Invisible barriers blocked it layer by layer, and even the Power of the Planes was used to resist it.

This massive commotion immediately attracted the attention of powerful life forms in the current universe.

However, Lister completely disregarded the opponent's defense.

The crimson longsword in his hand, imbued with boundless killing intent, slashed out.

A slender, scarlet line, refined to its extreme and seemingly spanning across time and space, was drawn out with the long sword.

The entire Plane Barrier instantly became overwhelmed, and countless spiderweb-like patterns were broken invisibly, with space itself emitting a "crack" sound as if a physical entity was collapsing.

But this crimson thread, which seemed capable of severing everything, appeared to receive a real boost as it passed through the barrier in front of the Tree of Eternity.

The layers of power began to be analyzed by these dozens of rules and barriers.

The cutting power, sharpness, and inherent strength of the martial arts itself are stripped away layer by layer from this sword technique.

Even the most intense killing intent was stripped away as the thin lines of blade light sliced through these barriers.

As Tree of Eternity whose power primarily rests on the rule of law, it has considerable experience in combat in this area.

The crimson blade light had long since transformed into transparent energy fluctuations.

A sense of satisfaction flashed through his mind. As expected, his method was correct. Now, with only the last remaining transparent, thin blade of light, the enemy was completely unprepared and had no ability to strip away this last remaining power.

But the next instant, a grand, Twist roar of shock and rage resounded.

"No--!"

His voice was filled with indescribable pain.

The transparent blade of light, after slicing through his illusory Phantom, showed no sign of diminishing momentum.

Lister's strike was executed with absolutely no restraint.

The transparent blade of light sliced through the barrier of this dimensional space.

Outside the barrier, two World Annihilation had just surrounded it.

At the same time, it continuously probed the interior of the barrier.

As the world was about to World Annihilation, this was the first time they had ever discovered such a special barrier space.

I thought some valuable resources would be created, but who knew that the barrier space would shatter on its own.

At the same time, an elusive blade of light flashed and slashed past the two of them in an instant.

The two auras of World Annihilation powerhouses were so powerful that they couldn't even resist or dodge them; they were directly annihilated by this transparent blade of light.

Lister's swordsmanship has always been known for its soul-slaying techniques.

The scarlet ultimate killing intent energy, including the power of sharpness and the accumulated power of its various passive abilities, is essentially just a power boost to the soul slash.

But even if these powers were stripped away, the actual damage from his sword strikes would still be earth-shattering.

Beneath a soul of unparalleled power, and now with such a massive improvement.

This strike directly wounded the will of the Tree of Eternity, making even thinking extremely difficult and painful for it.

Taking advantage of the moment, Lister's swordsmanship never stopped.

A figure flashed around, delivering several more swift strikes that severely wounded the Tree of Eternity.

In fact, if it weren't for the limitations of the current universe, he was confident that he could kill the Tree of Eternity in one or two strikes.

Outside the barrier, the newly gathered World Annihilation powerhouses immediately scattered and fled.

Having witnessed the deaths caused by the two World Annihilation events, and now facing these several overwhelming sword strikes, he no longer harbored any thought of daring to come and investigate.

Lister paused subtly as he drew his sword, merely manipulating the power of the rules with his will.

Completely seal off and remove the will of the Tree of Eternity.

Sensing the deep fear emanating from the other's will, Lister raised his longsword once more.

Although this Tree of Eternity is a life form that transcends the universe, it's utterly useless in combat.

He posed no threat whatsoever; if Lister wished, he could kill him right now within this universe.

"Stop! Don't continue!"

"Plunderer... no... Lister, didn't you want the Power of the Planes?!"

"We can discuss it."

Upon hearing this, Lister gently slid his knife down and nodded calmly.

"Fine! Hand it over!"

After so many years and so many instances of his clones plundering across different dimensions, he has finally managed to bump into the main body this time.

Slaying the Tree of Eternity meant little to him; these intercosmic life forms, which posed no threat to him, were simply his best hired hands.

On the contrary, after killing it, he could hardly guarantee whether the avatar of the Tree of Eternity would continue to survive, and whether it would still have the current ability to continue stealing the Power of the Planes in various universes.

The best approach is to catch them once and then wait it out.

Now?

"Otherwise what?"

Lister's voice was calm, but the pressure he exerted on the Tree of Eternity was immense.

Even now, the Tree of Eternity cannot help but harbor a sense of wishful thinking.

"Then lift the restrictions, and I'll go with you to this plane to retrieve it."

Upon hearing this, Lister raised his scarlet longsword once more.

The terrifying killing intent posed no threat to the Tree of Eternity, but the piercing pain inflicted on his soul by the blade made him tremble instantly.

"I say now—! Give me the Power of the Plane!"

"If you can't understand, then there's no need for you to continue existing!"

With another swing of his longsword, the Tree of Eternity once again endured the intense, soul-piercing pain.

Moreover, after this strike, the aura of the Tree of Eternity visibly weakened.

Unable to maintain the same level of resilience as before, if things continued like this, he might truly be killed by Lister.

At this moment, they didn't even dare to communicate, and under Lister's control, they opened the spatial passage.

Countless Power of the Plane are continuously pouring into this place from another unfamiliar dimension.

Lister also made a sweeping slash in mid-air, connecting the Plane Barrier of the original universe's Divine Rise Galaxy.

The lake of Power of the Plane, which had long been depleted, has now truly reaped a bountiful harvest.

Countless golden Power of the Plane flowed into the massive tube.

The vast lake is rising at a visible rate.

Just as the infusion was halfway complete, the will of the Tree of Eternity attempted to test it, but was alerted by the crimson longsword in Lister's hand.

Even after the lake was completely full, Lister continued to create a new space.

They had no intention of letting the Tree of Eternity go.

One lake after another was filled, and the Tree of Eternity finally stopped its work just as the eighth lake was about to be filled.

This time, even Lister's threats were ineffective.

It looks like they've really squeezed them dry!