To Seek Skin from a Tiger

"That old fossil Beichi is so stubborn." After Star Lord Beichi left, Blood Orchid Ancestor returned to the ninth stone pillar space she had long occupied.

Vines stretching millions of kilometers unfurled, branches writhing, betraying the anxiety and hesitation in Blood Orchid Ancestor's heart.

"Cultivation, cultivation—if bitter training were enough, wouldn't I have already broken through reincarnation? Take that Original Ancestor, stepping into the tenth rank in such a short time; he's practically guaranteed to pass reincarnation. If I had that kind of talent, would I still be stuck at this level after two whole reincarnation eras?" Blood Orchid Ancestor fumed inwardly, both bitter and furious. "That old Beichi isn't much stronger than me either. Thinking he can cross reincarnation is probably a pipe dream."

In the First Reincarnation Era of the Universe Ocean, Universe Supreme Beings with thoughts like Blood Orchid Ancestor's were far from rare. That had always been the case, but ever since Original Ancestor burst onto the scene, it had indeed shattered the mental state of many supreme beings.

At this thought, a flicker of madness passed through Blood Orchid Ancestor's eyes. She quietly sent a message to a Universe Master residing in her Miniature Universe.

Soon, a Universe Master under Blood Orchid Ancestor's command set out for the Miniature Universe of the God Eye Race's First True Master.

"You are Lord Black Lotus? I am Lord Anyong."

Outside the Miniature Universe of the God Eye Race's First True Master, a Universe Master with a phantom single eye behind him flew out from the Miniature Universe. After dozens of spatial shifts, he came face to face with a Universe Master clad in robes embroidered with lotus patterns.

"That's right. I represent Blood Orchid Ancestor and wish to cooperate with the God Eye Race." Lord Black Lotus's voice was pleasant to the ear.

"Blood Orchid Ancestor..."

Lord Anyong's expression carried a hint of meaning. The three Universe Supreme Beings who permanently resided in the Black-Veined Stone Pillar Space were quite famous throughout the Universe Ocean, but among them, the God Eye Race only truly respected Star Lord Beichi. As for Blood Orchid Ancestor and the Rampaging Demon God, the God Eye Race did not hold them in high regard.

Still, the God Eye Race was the God Eye Race. Lord Anyong was merely a Universe Master, and he maintained respect for a Universe Supreme Being: "May I ask what matter Blood Orchid Ancestor wishes to cooperate with my God Eye Race on?"

Lord Black Lotus understood the God Eye Race's arrogant style, so she wasted no words and got straight to the point: "Surely the God Eye Race is aware that in this era of the Primal Universe, a rare Universe Supreme Being-level Natural Beast God has appeared, known as the 'Time Beast God.'"

"Of course, my God Eye Race knows this." Lord Anyong nodded in acknowledgment.

Seeing this, Lord Black Lotus continued: "The Ancestor currently possesses the coordinates of this Time Beast God and is quite interested in him. She wishes to know... is the God Eye Race also interested in the Time Beast God?"

"..."

After Lord Black Lotus finished speaking, Lord Anyong did not answer immediately. Instead, he fell silent, clearly consulting God Eye True Master.

Lord Black Lotus was in no hurry. Though the two of them were the ones negotiating face to face, the ones truly calling the shots were undoubtedly the Universe Supreme Beings behind them.

"True Master, should we agree to her?"

"Not yet. First, test whether her information is reliable." God Eye True Master sent a message to Lord Anyong.

Receiving the order, Lord Anyong immediately asked: "A Universe Supreme Being-level Natural Beast God—of course my God Eye Race is interested. But the Time Beast God has never set foot in the Universe Ocean before, and Zhen Demon Ancestor of the Monster Race in the Primal Universe has been extremely tight-lipped. How did Blood Orchid Ancestor confirm the Time Beast God's identity?"

Lord Black Lotus replied: "Some days ago, an unfamiliar Universe Supreme Being fought the Rampaging Demon God in the Black-Veined Stone Pillar Space. The Ancestor observed the battle and believes there is a considerable chance that unfamiliar supreme being is the Time Beast God."

"Oh?" Lord Anyong's mind stirred. He relayed Lord Black Lotus's words to the First True Master and pressed further: "True Master, hasn't Lord Pure Eye been staying in the Black-Veined Stone Pillar Space? Why not ask him for information?"

The several True Masters of the God Eye Race hurriedly contacted Lord Pure Eye, only to be disappointed to learn that he had been cultivating that day and had not gone to watch the battle.

"Anyong, first ask Blood Orchid Ancestor what her conditions are." God Eye True Master pondered for a moment, then commanded Lord Anyong.

"The Ancestor also wishes to explore the secrets of the Time Beast God, so she hopes to cooperate with the God Eye Race. When the Time Beast God's corpse is obtained, the Ancestor needs a twenty percent share." Lord Black Lotus directly stated the conditions Blood Orchid Ancestor had told her in advance.

Lord Anyong relayed Lord Black Lotus's words verbatim to God Eye True Master.

"Teacher, this Blood Orchid Ancestor opens her mouth asking for twenty percent? She overestimates herself. My God Eye Race could surround and kill the Time Beast God without her cooperation. As for intelligence, the Time Beast God is roaming the Universe Ocean. My God Eye Race's clansmen are spread across the Three Great Forbidden Lands; we'll run into him sooner or later anyway."

Inside God Eye True Master's Miniature Universe, all seven True Masters of the God Eye Race were gathered. Of course, most were divine power avatars; only the First True Master and the Second True Master had their true bodies present.

The one who had just spoken was the Sixth True Master.

"Bi Yan is right, Teacher. This Blood Orchid Ancestor's strength is mediocre, and she has no powerful treasures. How is she qualified to cooperate with my God Eye Race? Not to mention her information might not even be reliable." The Fourth True Master chimed in to echo.

Yet after a moment of contemplation, God Eye True Master said calmly: "I think we should agree to Blood Orchid Ancestor for now."

"Teacher, why?" The Sixth True Master pressed immediately.

God Eye True Master replied flatly: "Since Blood Orchid Ancestor dares to say this, she must be near the Time Beast God. If we refuse her, it's hard to say whether she might deliberately cause trouble and tell the Time Beast God about our intentions."

At God Eye True Master's words, the other six True Masters exchanged glances and fell silent for a time.

With the schemer catching the unwary off guard, the God Eye Race indeed had a decent chance of cornering the Time Beast God. But if he were alerted in advance, trapping a Universe Supreme Being would become exceedingly difficult—and the God Eye Race's Universe Masters might even end up in serious trouble.

"Anyong, agree to Blood Orchid Ancestor. We can cooperate with her." God Eye True Master directly sent a message to Lord Anyong, then cut off the transmission.

His gaze sweeping over the other Universe Supreme Beings of the God Eye Race, a flicker of disdain passed through God Eye True Master's eyes. "We can cooperate with Blood Orchid to surround and kill the Time Beast God, and we can give her twenty percent of his corpse. But... she also needs to have the ability to take that twenty percent away."

"Lord Anyong, since God Eye True Master has agreed to cooperate with the Ancestor, please ask the esteemed seniors of the God Eye Race to hurry to the Black-Veined Stone Pillar Space in the Universe Boat. The Ancestor awaits you there. Remember, the sooner the better." Lord Black Lotus repeated her instructions.

"Naturally." Lord Anyong gave a slight nod, then vanished with a spatial shift.

"..."

With no outsiders present, a trace of worry surfaced on Lord Black Lotus's face. "The Ancestor cooperating with the God Eye Race this time is like courting a tiger for its skin. The God Eye Race has always been domineering—when have they ever been so generous..."

Lord Black Lotus's life was bound to Blood Orchid Ancestor's Miniature Universe. If the latter fell, Lord Black Lotus would surely die as well.

As a lifeform of the First Reincarnation Era, Lord Black Lotus had no objection to taking risks. But she didn't believe a Natural Beast God's corpse would help transcend reincarnation. In her view, Blood Orchid Ancestor's gamble was driven by madness under the pressure of her approaching lifespan limit.

Even if the God Eye Race was equally mad, they had the strength to afford that madness. Blood Orchid Ancestor did not.

"Sigh..."

With a long sigh, Lord Black Lotus left helplessly. She could not stop Blood Orchid Ancestor. She could only pray that Blood Orchid Ancestor would gain something—or at least retreat unscathed.

With Lord Black Lotus and Lord Anyong having reached an agreement, Blood Orchid Ancestor, still in the Black-Veined Stone Pillar Space, soon received the news.

"Excellent."

The Blood Orchid Ancestor's vines and leaves, which had stretched for millions of kilometers, began to contract, quickly shrinking down. Before long, a towering figure emerged, surrounded by countless blood-colored flowers that coiled around their form like a majestic and domineering battle robe.

"Given the God Eye Race's pace, they'll likely reach here within seven days. I'll just wait outside the 15th Stone Pillar Space to make sure that Time Beast God doesn't slip away." Having made up their mind, the Blood Orchid Ancestor soon flew away from the 9th Stone Pillar Space, arrived outside the 15th Stone Pillar Space, and sat down cross-legged.

At present, the experts of the Black-Veined Stone Pillar Space had all gathered around Star Lord Beichi, while the Rampaging Demon God's whereabouts were unknown. Thus, no one noticed that the Blood Orchid Ancestor had left their long-term dwelling.

"Hoo..."

The 15th Stone Pillar Space.

Shi Yan slowly opened his eyes. It was now the fifth day since the battle with the Rampaging Demon God. Of course, under the Black-Veined Stone Pillar Space's 60,000-fold time acceleration, Shi Yan had actually cultivated for over eight hundred years more.

The gains from his fight with the Rampaging Demon God, along with some scattered insights from observing the Black-Veined Stone Pillar, had all been fully digested. The Secret Technique he had modified during the battle was now completely perfected.

At this moment, Shi Yan felt that the accumulation of countless epochs since his birth had been thoroughly exhausted. If he wanted to make any further breakthroughs in realm, it would require slow, painstaking effort.

"My earlier feeling was right. With my foundation, comprehending Chaos Evolution to break through to the Eighth Order is the natural path." Shi Yan sighed, then stood up. He glanced around and muttered to himself, "This Black-Veined Stone Pillar Space is indeed a treasure ground, but I've spent most of my life in secluded cultivation. Now it's time to go out and have some adventures."

Becoming an Eighth Order True God was Shi Yan's primary goal in coming to the Black-Veined Stone Pillar Space. Now that he had achieved it, he naturally wouldn't linger here any longer.

With a teleport, Shi Yan's figure appeared at the edge of the Black-Veined Stone Pillar Space. A thin layer of white mist swirled here, and beyond this point lay the area where teleportation was impossible—he would have to fly out.

The Silver Skiff flew out from within his body and rapidly expanded. However, just as Shi Yan was about to board the skiff, another figure suddenly appeared behind him.

"Friend, why the hurry to leave?" Shi Yan paused at the voice and turned around. It was none other than the Blood Orchid Ancestor.

"Blood Orchid Ancestor? May I ask why you're stopping me?"