"Again?"
Tiga felt the terrifying aura drawing ever closer, his eyes full of weariness.
In the less than ten years since entering the Boundless Heavenly Pool, he had lost count of how many times these strange creatures had attacked him.
By all rights, lifeforms like these were rarely found in the Three Great Forbidden Lands, but there were always exceptions.
Some creatures in the Three Great Forbidden Lands existed independently of any universe.
For instance, in the waters of the Inclined Peak Realm lived a peculiar species known as Water Spirits. Most of them possessed the strength of a Universe Master.
Though only First-Order, they were incredibly numerous and skilled at fighting in groups, posing a major threat to Universe Masters who had only just begun exploring.
And in the Boundless Heavenly Pool, Tiga had encountered lifeforms of a similar kind.
Unlike Water Spirits, however, the creatures here seemed more like manifestations of the Law of Water.
They tended to fight alone, but were far stronger than Water Spirits.
As Tiga felt the aura drawing closer, a blade of light formed in his hand. The instant the water-shaped creature approached, he shattered its core. Its body immediately dissolved into the Boundless Heavenly Pool.
Tiga collected its core.
"A core comparable to an Ordinary Supreme Treasure. It's not very useful, but if I give it to my junior brother, it should add a little to the Human Race's reserves!"
With that, Tiga continued deeper into the waters.
From time to time, he encountered more water-like lifeforms, almost all of which he defeated with a single strike, taking their cores.
Other times, unknown boulders or ice crystals suddenly appeared in front of him through spatial rifts, but he dodged them all.
"As expected of the most mysterious of the Three Great Forbidden Lands, Flowing Heavy Mountain. Who would've thought this little Boundless Heavenly Pool could hold such dangers?"
Flowing Heavy Mountain was not merely filled with all kinds of dangers. Its most famous feature was the labyrinth of illusions formed by the Cloud Realm.
And as one of the Cloud Realm's sources, the Boundless Heavenly Pool naturally held secrets that could not be spoken of.
"Lord of Radiance? Weren't you..."
A voice suddenly rang out, catching Tiga's attention. He looked toward it and saw a familiar figure.
It was Star Crystal Lord, a Special Lifeform from the Second Reincarnation Era.
He was also one of the few close friends Tiga had made during his many years exploring the Universe Sea.
"Star Crystal Lord? What are you doing here?"
At the sight of Star Crystal Lord, Tiga couldn't help but pause in surprise. The two gradually drew closer.
"Alas! Five hundred years ago, I offended a powerful member of the God Eye Clan during a Supreme Treasure battle in the Cloud Realm.
"Who could've known he was a disciple of Green-Eyed True Lord? I panicked and fled, and ended up... Ah!"
Star Crystal Lord looked deeply troubled, but Tiga's expression grew solemn at his words.
Green-Eyed True Lord?
The Sixth True Lord of the God Eye Clan!
He was also the clan's third strongest member.
With Tiga's current strength, however, defeating him would be fairly easy. If killing a True God Level expert weren't so difficult, Tiga was confident he could kill him.
"Speaking of which, what are you doing here? Five hundred years ago, didn't you say you were heading to the Universe Boat?" Star Crystal Lord asked.
"That was the plan. But on my way to the Universe Boat, I ran into Blood Shadow Palace Master and traded with him for a map of Flowing Heavy Mountain.
"So I decided to follow the map and take a look."
In the Universe Sea, Tiga posed as a Special Lifeform from the Primal Universe of the current Reincarnation Era.
Belial had the same background!
It was thanks to this identity that several Guardian Divine Lords from the Second Reincarnation Era had befriended him.
Of course, Tiga knew perfectly well how sincere they really were.
"You have a map?"
Star Crystal Lord's face lit up with excitement. But as he looked at his longtime friend, he held back his desire to claim it for himself.
Tiga had become comparable to a Fifth-Order Universe Master in less than half a Reincarnation Era.
He also had a chance to achieve Transcendence of Reincarnation!
For someone like Star Crystal Lord, who still had more than one Reincarnation Era to wait out, turning against Tiga over a map wasn't worth it.
Besides, he knew that even if he attacked first, he wouldn't stand a chance against Tiga.
"What will you do? Leave, or...?"
Tiga's meaning was clear. The Boundless Heavenly Pool was full of dangers, and he couldn't be on his guard every moment.
With Star Crystal Lord along—a powerful fighter in his own right—he could at least avoid some of the more common threats.
As for betrayal?
Star Crystal Lord wasn't a fool. If Tiga had thought he might betray him, he would have killed him already. There'd be no point in this conversation.
"I'll come with you."
Whatever Star Crystal Lord chose, he wouldn't lose out. Without a map, it would take quite some effort to leave.
And if he followed Tiga, he might get a share of whatever scraps came their way.
If he happened to uncover some hidden inheritance, he'd be in luck.
"Good. Then follow me."
Seeing that Star Crystal Lord agreed, Tiga said no more and continued deeper into the Boundless Heavenly Pool.
Star Crystal Lord brought out his palace-type Peak Supreme Treasure, the Star God Palace, and followed closely behind Tiga.
Meanwhile, in the Primal Universe, Giant Axe's breakthrough put an end to the tense standoff that had lasted nearly a thousand years.
At the junction of the four races' territories, Giant Axe stood with his supreme Supreme Treasure, the Heaven Opening Axe in hand, and regarded the other four Universe Masters with pride.
"Gentlemen, let's talk."
Giant Axe had been a powerful Universe Master even before his breakthrough. With help from Yuan and Noah, as well as his own insight, he had created the Seventh-Order Secret Technique, Heaven Opening.
After breaking through to become a Universe Strongest, his mastery had reached the Eighth Order. With his improved secret technique and the power of his supreme Supreme Treasure, he could hold his own even against the Original Ancestor, were he still alive.
(Note: The Original Ancestor uses his pinky finger to fight Giant Axe.)
"The Machine Race is willing to compensate you with resources worth one Peak Supreme Treasure, as well as an entire star sector!" Mechanical Father God, the strongest among the three races, spoke first. "But the Human Race must release the Universe Venerables of our Machine Race who have been sealed!"
"Agreed. One Ordinary Supreme Treasure for each Elementary Venerable, two for an Intermediate Venerable, one High-grade Supreme Treasure for each High Venerable, and at least one Top-tier Supreme Treasure for each Overlord.
"As for Top Overlords... I want three times the price for them. That's only fair!"
Giant Axe Founder agreed to Mechanical Father God's terms without a moment's hesitation.
A flash of blue light crossed Mechanical Father God's eyes. Then he nodded and sent a Peak Supreme Treasure flying toward Giant Axe.
"I'll have Hengxian Master negotiate with your side over the rest."
As soon as Mechanical Father God finished speaking, he vanished from the universe's expanse.
"All right, Empress, and you two from the Monster Race. Let's continue!"
Before you continue