Provocation

"90,000 times the pinnacle True God willpower—it seems that to break through to 100,000 times, I'll need Void-level willpower."

Shi Yan stood in the void, the powerful willpower assault already causing faint pain to flicker across his face. If he pressed forward any further, he likely wouldn't make it much farther before his entire body trembled and he lost control.

"That Star Lord Beichi's willpower has indeed reached the level of a Void True God."

The place where Star Lord Beichi cultivated year-round had a time acceleration multiplier of 110,000 times.

Considering that extreme willpower assaults could significantly disrupt a powerhouse's focus, rendering cultivation impossible, it was estimated that the limit Star Lord Beichi could withstand was far higher than 110,000 times—perhaps as much as 170,000 or 180,000 times or more.

Such willpower was already respectable even among Void True Gods.

"Over two Reincarnation Eras of cultivation—no wonder he's no simple figure." Shi Yan felt great admiration for Star Lord Beichi.

Just that willpower alone, combined with a soul-type treasure for soul attacks, would be very difficult for him to withstand. No wonder even the lawless Rampaging Demon God chose to stay on good terms with Star Lord Beichi.

"The Secret Patterns carved on this Black-Veined Stone Pillar are also profoundly mysterious. I'll cultivate here for a while and see if it can help me break through to the Eighth Order." Shi Yan looked up at the Heaven-Reaching Demon Pillar that connected sky and earth.

Then, he began to slowly retreat. Under the 90,000-times willpower assault, Shi Yan couldn't maintain a state of calm cultivation.

80,000 times... 70,000 times...

He kept retreating until he reached roughly 55,000 times the willpower assault. At that point, Shi Yan felt the impact would no longer interfere with his comprehension.

Whoosh!

A massive rock several kilometers in diameter shot past Shi Yan. With a flicker of his form, he landed on the rock, crossed his legs, and began to observe the intricate Secret Patterns carved on the Black-Veined Stone Pillar.

Just a brief glance left him feeling somewhat at a loss.

The Secret Patterns carved on the Black-Veined Stone Pillar were naturally profound beyond measure, but they far exceeded his current level of understanding.

It was like asking a student who had just learned basic elementary functions to solve complex function problems—they would only see things through a fog.

After a short while, Shi Yan changed his approach.

"My fundamental path lies in Time and Space. I achieved True Godhood using the Beast God Path as nourishment, ultimately breaking through from the direction of Time and Space.

The Secret Patterns carved on this Black-Veined Stone Pillar are immensely profound, containing countless mysteries from different directions. I'll only comprehend the parts related to the mysteries of Time and Space."

Having made up his mind, Shi Yan began to observe in a rough, sweeping manner, searching for those Secret Patterns that might be related to Time and Space.

But because the level of the Black-Veined Stone Pillar was too high, Shi Yan couldn't definitively identify which parts of the Secret Patterns were related to Time and Space.

At his current realm, he could only determine which Secret Patterns were more likely to be connected to the Path of Time and Space, then choose the most probable ones to observe and comprehend in detail.

Most of the time, he gained little, but occasionally, a flash of insight deepened his accumulation, and the Eighth-Order bottleneck blocking him grew increasingly shaky.

Shi Yan spent 600 eras in this state of comprehension. Of course, under the 50,000-plus times time acceleration, only a little over 100 years had passed in the outside world.

In those hundred years, the Primal Universe stirred again. Two Universe Masters of the Monster Race broke through, calling themselves Dream Demon Ancestor and Starry Sky Ancestor respectively. With three Universe Supreme Beings in their ranks, the Monster Race of the Primal Universe rose in prestige once more.

After all, even a peak race that had gone through a full Reincarnation Era typically had only three to five Universe Supreme Beings. That the Monster Race now had three made them truly dominant in the Primal Universe.

For a time, the major powers of the Primal Universe seemed to be leaning toward joining forces against the Monster Race.

The various factions of the Universe Ocean, however, showed little interest in the turmoil of the Primal Universe. The vast world of the Primal Universe was no longer their era. With no major events occurring in the Universe Ocean and no news of precious treasures emerging, the factions were quite harmonious.

"Hmph... how boring. Those Universe Masters are all hiding out at that old geezer Beichi's place. This Demon God doesn't even have anyone to have fun with." In the Black-Veined Stone Pillar Space, the Rampaging Demon God drifted aimlessly, utterly bored.

He was a lone Universe Supreme Being of the Second Reincarnation Era, always free and unrestrained by nature. His strength was fairly high among True Gods, and with the Supreme Treasure Divine Armor protecting him, few powerhouses in the entire Universe Ocean could threaten him alone.

Only beings like Original Ancestor or Star Lord Beichi, who excelled in soul attacks, could make the Rampaging Demon God feel some fear.

Moreover, as a True God of the Second Reincarnation Era, with nearly two full Reincarnation Eras left to cultivate, the Rampaging Demon God didn't face the same pressure as the True Gods of the First Reincarnation Era.

"Oh? That's the 15th Stone Pillar. Someone new?" As the Rampaging Demon God wandered, he arrived at the outskirts of the 15th Stone Pillar Space where Shi Yan was cultivating.

A True God's words carried authority, allowing them to control everything around them. Thus, the Rampaging Demon God spotted the cross-legged Shi Yan from far away, and Shi Yan noticed him as well.

"Is that the Rampaging Demon God?"

Though Shi Yan had changed his appearance and had never met the Rampaging Demon God, the fact that he could detect him from such a distance meant he was undoubtedly a True God. That made it highly likely to be the Rampaging Demon God.

"A Universe Supreme Being? Silver-haired human form? Is that the one who made a name in the Universe Ocean recently?"

Their eyes met, and the Rampaging Demon God frowned, hesitating inwardly. He usually only bullied Universe Masters in the Black-Veined Stone Pillar Space. When facing Universe Supreme Beings, unless there was a grudge, he generally showed respect.

As a lone Universe Supreme Being, he had no faction to worry about, but Universe Supreme Beings all had their pride. If he offended too many, a few of them might band together to hunt him down—and that would be disastrous.

But before the Rampaging Demon God could decide, the unfamiliar silver-haired human directly teleported in front of him.

"Are you the Rampaging Demon God?" the silver-haired youth, Shi Yan, asked clearly.

"It's me," the Rampaging Demon God admitted outright.

"Excellent. Rampaging Demon God, during my time roaming the Universe Ocean, I've stumbled upon some insights. I'd like to spar with you, Demon God. What do you say?" Shi Yan smiled, revealing a row of white teeth.

Several eras of comprehending the Black-Veined Stone Pillar's Secret Patterns had given Shi Yan many scattered insights. Now, he felt his accumulation was sufficient, and he could break through to the Eighth Order at any moment. But the mass of insights still needed some integration and verification.

The Rampaging Demon God, relying on his Supreme Treasure, could only unleash Eighth-Order peak strength at best. And because of the type of treasure, he was better at defense, with attacks being slightly weaker. For Shi Yan, he was the perfect sparring partner.

Given the Rampaging Demon God's temperament, Shi Yan wasn't worried he'd refuse.

Sure enough, hearing Shi Yan's words, the Rampaging Demon God's temper flared: "Excellent, excellent! I've been in this Black-Veined Stone Pillar Space for so long, and you're the first to dare provoke me like this. Let me see what you, this sneaky bastard, are made of!"

With that, the Rampaging Demon God's aura surged. A blood-colored armor covered in intricate Secret Patterns materialized on his body, followed by an endless blaze of golden light.

"Blood Sea, charge!"

The vast consciousness impact surged from the Blood Sea Demon Armor toward Shi Yan's mind, and for a moment, he seemed to see an endless sea of blood drowning him in its killing aura.

Yet this consciousness impact from the Blood Sea Demon Armor was merely a side effect—a major threat to Universe Masters, but to Shi Yan's peak True God will, it was just child's play.

"Rampaging, don't embarrass yourself with such petty tricks. I'm no Universe Master," Shi Yan laughed. As his voice waves spread, the surrounding space-time twisted, and arcs of electricity crackled through the void.

"Chaotic Space-Time, twist! Thunder Punishment Prison, suppress me!"

Terrifying oppressive binding descended, and the Rampaging Demon God instantly felt as if trapped in quicksand. With Shi Yan's secret technique combined with the peak domain-type treasure "Thunder Punishment Prison," everything around him fell under his control.

"A domain secret technique? With a peak domain treasure, it has this kind of power?" The Rampaging Demon God was startled.

His long lifespan had allowed the Rampaging Demon God to witness many domain-type Supreme True Treasures, and in his view, this power was already comparable to some ordinary domain-type Supreme True Treasures.

"Hahaha... What, is the mighty Rampaging Demon God afraid?" Shi Yan's form turned into a beam of light, rapidly closing in on the Rampaging Demon God, while his right hand transformed into a Heaven-Reaching Palm and struck down.

"So what if you have a domain? It's just some binding and pressure—this domain's power can't harm me in the slightest!" Seeing Shi Yan so arrogant, the Rampaging Demon God grew furious.

With a Supreme True Treasure armor on his body, the Rampaging Demon God had nothing to fear.

Golden light burst forth as his body violently collided with Shi Yan's giant palm.

"Boom!"

The terrifying shockwave spread outward from the 15th Stone Pillar Space, and in an instant, all the powerful beings within the entire Black-Veined Stone Pillar Space turned their gazes this way.

"Battle shockwaves? Universe Supreme Being-level battle shockwaves? The source is... near the 15th Stone Pillar Space—is it the Rampaging Demon God and another Supreme Being?"

Sensing the terrifying battle shockwaves, the Universe Masters in the Black-Veined Stone Pillar Space quickly judged the strength of the combatants. Shockwaves of this magnitude would be difficult for a Universe Master to produce.

"..."

Star Lord Beichi, who had been cultivating in his usual calm manner, also opened his eyes and looked toward the source of the commotion. He furrowed his brow slightly, then vanished from the massive rock where he had sat for who knows how many epochs.

"Star Lord Beichi has left—probably to watch the battle. Should we go take a look too?"

Some Universe Masters stirred with restlessness. Battles between Universe Supreme Beings in the Universe Ocean were neither rare nor common, but most of the time, Universe Masters rarely encountered them.

Such battles might grant them insights, making them highly attractive to Universe Masters.

"A Universe Supreme Being-level battle—of course, I can't miss it."

"Jōgan, let's go together."

"I'll pass. I specialize in the soul aspect; a Universe Supreme Being's battle won't help me much."

"..."

Most Universe Masters rushed toward the 15th Stone Pillar Space, while only a few chose not to join the excitement.