External Manifestations

Luo Feng's Blood Shadow Blade could cleave through all matter and energy. With the aid of six Lords, it easily sliced apart the many obstructing forces.

With a flash of blade light, they completely shook off the Ancestors' interception.

"Whew."

After the interference was greatly weakened, Xingmang's control over space-time rose sharply, allowing that blade light to pierce through space-time in an instant. In the blink of an eye, the Ancestors gave up any thought of pursuit.

"We can't catch up." The Ancestors stopped.

"Luo Feng's blade is very unusual," Ice Peak Progenitor said. "Every force that obstructs it seems to split itself in two."

"It's completely unstoppable." Wugu Progenitor agreed. "Even if the obstructing force were one or two times stronger, it still couldn't stop that blade light."

Mother of Space-Time said, "Yuan can perfectly unify different powers, multiplying the battle formation's might severalfold. Luo Feng, on the other hand, is powerful as an individual. If he wants to leave, there's no way we can stop him."

"Luo Feng is indeed formidable." Initial Progenitor had also felt the deterrence of that blade edge.

"Whether they flee or not makes little difference." Infinite Serpent Ancestor was in an excellent mood, its voice echoing through the surroundings. "The eight Lords are all undying and indestructible. Even if we occasionally destroy one or two of their main battle avatars, they will quickly recover! So whether they flee is unimportant! What matters is... Yuan has indeed suffered a grievous blow!"

Yanhuo Progenitor agreed. "Yuan has lost all perception of the outside world and is completely unable to resist. That is why Luo Feng and the others fled in such disarray, not daring to continue fighting."

"He has fallen completely into it. It seems the results are excellent." Mogus smiled softly.

While every Ancestor present felt fortunate, they also grew even more wary of Mogus.

Mogus, who wielded the highest level of soul power, had actually managed to severely injure Yuan's mind with the aid of six companions? Then could the other Ancestors withstand such a soul technique?

"With enough time, he should be able to recover, right?" Ice Peak Progenitor was somewhat worried, and Shazhou also looked toward Mogus.

"Hmph."

Mogus said confidently, "I originally thought he would retain a trace of clarity and be able to display ten or twenty percent of his strength. But the actual result was better than I expected. He has completely lost his perception of the outside world! By my estimation, even if he regains clarity, he will remain affected forever."

"Affected forever?" Ice Peak Progenitor, Shazhou, Infinite Serpent Ancestor, and the others each had their own thoughts.

"Even if he spends an eternity recovering, he can only barely suppress the effects. It would already be impressive if he could wield fifty percent of his strength." Mogus was quite confident.

"Can an undying and indestructible existence really be affected so deeply?" Wugu Progenitor asked.

"Undying and indestructible?"

Mogus swept his gaze over the surroundings and said calmly, "Who decided that you are undying and indestructible?"

The Ancestors present were slightly stunned.

Undying and indestructible?

This was also a universally accepted standard.

For example, after refining and controlling a mysterious land, one's Life Core merged into the mysterious land's origin. If the mysterious land remained intact, one would remain intact as well! And throughout history, no mysterious land had ever been destroyed... Thus, "controlling a mysterious land" was considered undying and indestructible.

A Life Core could completely merge with the highest-level power and condense into manifestation within any one of one's countless avatars. This too was considered undying and indestructible.

The Lords had mastered Primal Chaos-level Dao. Dao was part of life itself; if the Dao did not perish, neither would they. This too was considered undying and indestructible.

"Undying and indestructible is merely what you yourselves believe." Mogus sneered. "If one day someone can destroy a mysterious land, then controlling a mysterious land will no longer count as undying and indestructible. If one day some power can instantly wipe out every thought and every avatar you have scattered throughout Infinite Primal Chaos Space... then no matter where your Life Core hides, it will be unable to escape."

"Even Cultivator Lords? If, from the perspective of the soul, their cognition is erased, or even new memories are created for them, do you think they can still be considered undying and indestructible?" Mogus laughed heartily.

The Ancestors around him fell silent.

"Only I!" Mogus was incomparably confident. "I wield the highest level of soul power, so no one can affect my soul! My power is scattered among countless lifeforms below the Ancestor level, and even among lifeforms within countless Source Worlds... No one can erase me!"

"Mogus, stop making alarmist claims." Ice Peak Progenitor said calmly. "Over such a vast distance, even if Luo Feng sent down a wisp of power from afar, he could not kill a World-tier Primal Chaos being. Therefore, exterminating every avatar an Ancestor has scattered throughout Infinite Primal Chaos Space is impossible."

"Destroying a mysterious land? Refining one is already so difficult, and destroying one? We have never even heard of such a thing."

Although these Ancestors were cooperating with Mogus, they disliked it inwardly.

After all...

Besides devouring the souls of countless Source World lifeforms, Mogus also devoured the souls of countless Innate Primal Chaos Lifeforms. These Ancestors simply could do nothing about it and could only tolerate it.

"Hmph." Mogus sneered. It could not be bothered to pretend.

Other than Xingmang, none of the other Ancestors could do anything to it. Why should it give them face? It simply looked down on these Ancestors. Even their so-called "undying and indestructible" nature still had flaws in its eyes.

"Even if Yuan regains clarity, his strength will be greatly weakened. The threat posed by the eight Lords joining forces will also be greatly reduced." Infinite Serpent Ancestor's voice boomed. "We can already count this battle as a great victory."

"Let us return first and hold a grand victory banquet. After the banquet, everyone may depart." Infinite Serpent Ancestor was in high spirits.

"Everyone, do not leave on your own, lest the eight Lords hunt you down one by one," Yanhuo Progenitor reminded them as well.

They needed to travel for several days and completely leave the Southern River Domain. Only then would it be much safer to disperse on their own.

Disperse now?

The Lords could catch up in moments and defeat them one by one.

"Let's go."

"Hahaha..."

The Ancestors chatted and laughed, all in excellent spirits.

"The Cultivator Faction has lost." Some Ancestors who had not participated in the battle had also watched from afar, including Giant God Emperor, Primal Chaos Beast Ancestor, Puchen Progenitor, Xiusaiwei, Demon Ruins, Kav Xiu, Feather Emperor, Hermit, and others.

"The Ancestors ultimately have greater numbers and too many ways to coordinate. Now that they have used a soul technique against Yuan, Yuan was unable to withstand it."

"Mogus bears an intense hatred for the Cultivator Faction. It has probably prepared this move for a long time."

The various spectators all sighed.

If Yuan could not return to his peak, and the eight Lords could only achieve sixty or seventy percent of their peak coordination, their deterrence would be much weaker.

Luo Feng and the other seven had already fled far away with Yuan. With Xingmang's attainments in space-time, he could ensure that the Ancestors could not catch them.

"Yuan has fallen completely into it."

The seven Lords watched Yuan.

Yuan's expression was calm, as though he were asleep.

"Brother Yuan has fallen completely into it and lost all perception of the outside world." Wulan watched this scene. "We cannot help him at all."

"Brother Yuan can only rely on himself," Xingmang said.

Luo Feng watched silently as well.

Yuan had always been the most trustworthy person in their entire faction! Yet now, he had fallen prey to this technique.

"I believe in Brother Yuan." Jin looked at Yuan, who seemed to be fast asleep. "We are about to take control of all Source Worlds. At a time like this, no one can stop Brother Yuan."

The seven Lords had no other choice but to wait patiently.

Yuan's mental world.

"I am already a Lord, standing at the peak of Infinite Primal Chaos Space! Why should I wrong myself? I should act as freely as I please!"

"These seven Lords all owe me favors! I am the true leader of the Cultivator Faction! As the leader, I should receive the most and the best! I have given too much. It is time for these Lords to give something in return!"

"Ice Peak has bullied me time and time again. I must get it all back! What he owes me, I will make him repay tenfold!"

"Hahaha, why care about so much? Throw it all aside! This is true freedom and carefree ease!"

"I have endured the Infinite Great Serpent Clan for too long. Time after time, they devour and slaughter... I am undying and indestructible, so why should I endure it? Kill my way over and slaughter to my heart's content. Like Xingmang and Luo Feng, slaughter those World-tier Primal Chaos beings until they no longer dare devour Source Worlds."

"Only by casting aside all restraints and becoming ruthless enough can one possess sufficient deterrence."

At this moment, Yuan had seven streams of consciousness.

Besides the self-consciousness he had formed over his long years, there were also six streams of consciousness born from the vast illusion he had experienced earlier. These six streams of consciousness had naturally developed in accordance with his true nature.

One sought absolute freedom and carefree ease!

One was domineering and forceful!

One was vicious and ruthless!

One demanded absolute fairness!

Throughout his years of cultivation, his nature had been suppressed by all sorts of external circumstances. But this time, those suppressed natures had been guided into forming separate sub-consciousnesses.

Every stream of consciousness had naturally developed from his countless thoughts. They were all parts of himself.

The seven streams of consciousness naturally fought for control.

"These are not my flaws." Yuan's primary consciousness sensed the six sub-consciousnesses. His primary consciousness had been forged through endless years of experience and was the strongest and most stable. It alone could suppress the six sub-consciousnesses.

But while suppressing them, the mental consciousness he could use in external battle was greatly weakened.

"These are all things I once desired."

"How could what I desired most deeply in my heart possibly be erased?" Yuan looked at the six sub-consciousnesses and smiled faintly. "What a Mogus. It actually used my countless thoughts as nourishment to cultivate new consciousnesses. Because they originated from myself, they cannot be erased."

As Yuan sensed these sub-consciousnesses, he knew that no matter how much time passed, he would be unable to erase them.

Because many of these sub-consciousnesses... were things he himself acknowledged.

"The operation of Primal Chaos Rules takes the origin as its core and can encompass all rules. It can be light, darkness, kindness, greed, ferocity, freedom..."

"These are all me."

Yuan made his decision without hesitation.

Using his strongest primary consciousness, he instantly and completely encompassed the six sub-consciousnesses. He guided them all with the Mind-Consciousness System of his Primal Chaos Rule Operation Way, causing the many consciousnesses to gradually merge into one.

Yuan's consciousness began to merge, and his cognition began to change.

"Guard the origin!"

"Everything else is merely an external manifestation!"

As the primary consciousness and the six other consciousnesses merged, they influenced one another. The operation of their consciousnesses became like the operation of Primal Chaos Rules. The "origin" remained unchanged, while the external manifestations transformed without end.

Luo Feng and the other seven suddenly sensed something and saw Yuan open his eyes.

"Hm?" Luo Feng and the others were somewhat surprised. They all sensed the change in Yuan's gaze.

The Yuan of the past had been gentle and reserved, kindly making friends in all directions.

But at this moment, Yuan's eyes were filled with curiosity. Like a newborn infant, he curiously examined this world.

"Brother Yuan," Jin said, "how are you?"

"Very well."

Yuan grinned, his smile somewhat exaggerated. "Better than ever before! I truly must thank Mogus. It has allowed me to know myself anew. This is the complete me, hahaha... Interesting, interesting. I never noticed before that the world is far more wonderful than I knew."

Different perspectives revealed different scenery.

Yuan now saw far more scenery.

The seven Lords exchanged glances. This Brother Yuan was somewhat different from the one they knew.

"Brother Yuan, your strength?" Lord Moman pressed.

"It has not been affected." Yuan said confidently. "Not in the slightest!"

This was also one reason why his original primary consciousness had chosen fusion. Only by merging all the sub-consciousnesses would there be no interference, allowing him to wield one hundred percent of his strength.

"These clothes are uncomfortable too." Yuan felt the colors of his robe were too dull. With a thought, his robe turned bright and multicolored. He even kicked off both shoes, exposing his toes. His toes wriggled comfortably a few times before he felt at ease.

The seven Lords all watched Yuan.

"Do not cling to external manifestations." Yuan shook his head and said casually, "Let us hurry and attend to serious matters. The Ancestors have not fled too far. Let us go kill them quickly."

Fled?

Luo Feng and the others fell silent. Had it not been the Lords who had fled just now?

"Mogus's soul technique is rather formidable." Yuan said, "Earlier, Mogus, Nirvana Ancestor, Thousand-Eyed Progenitor, Star Net Progenitor, Myriad-Touch Dragon Mother, Nightmare Progenitor, and Dream Weaver joined forces against me. If we battle again, we must first eliminate this soul technique threat. Otherwise, this soul technique will target Luo Feng and all of you."

"We do need to resolve this threat quickly." Minghuang looked at Yuan's exposed toes. She could not tolerate becoming like this herself.

"Use the long-range killing move we devised. First, eliminate the relatively physically frail Nightmare Progenitor. Then Thousand-Eyed, Myriad-Touch, Star Net... one after another. Killing even one is worthwhile." Yuan smiled. "Every one of them that dies will reduce the power of their combined technique by a portion. The more that die, the weaker the threat."

"Yuan, are you really all right?" Jin was somewhat worried about his old friend.

Yuan looked at Jin and gave a mischievous grin. "I have never been better!"

"Then let's depart," Xingmang said.

Luo Feng also suppressed his worries about Yuan. The eight Lords set out together once more, pursuing the Ancestors.

The Ancestors were returning in a vast procession through space-time. They had not dispersed.

"Hm?"

"The eight Lords are coming."

The Ancestors sensed them.

"Could Yuan have recovered his strength?" Infinite Serpent Ancestor, Ice Peak Progenitor, and the others all looked toward Mogus.

"Impossible." Mogus shook its head. "He cannot recover."

It was incomparably confident.

It had underestimated Yuan as he was now. Yuan's Primal Chaos Rule Operation Way was inherently adept in many paths, and his Mind-Consciousness System was also quite powerful. The Lie Yuan Art had been casually created by Yuan himself. Ever since he comprehended the Origin System and his Primal Chaos Rule Operation Way had truly reached perfection, Yuan's Mind-Consciousness System had grown increasingly powerful.

If another powerful being tried to merge vastly different consciousnesses, they would only become an uncontrollable madman. This was a form of "suicide."

But Yuan had stabilized the origin core of his Mind-Consciousness System.

Guard the origin; everything else was merely an external manifestation.