6.7 billion light-years.
The number exceeded anything anyone had imagined. Even the Eastern Emperor marveled at the strength of the Second Universe Era.
The times made heroes. Such was fate.
With his talent, if the Eastern Emperor had received the guidance of an Ancient Inheritance back then, his Miniature Universe might have grown far beyond its current 3.2 billion light-years.
Inside Mountain Guest's Miniature Universe.
Mountain Guest sensed that his Miniature Universe had stopped expanding and shook his head.
"The foundation was still lacking," Mountain Guest sighed.
The Primal Universe's Origin watched him at every moment, so Mountain Guest had not dared reveal too much. Even his breakthrough to True God had relied on relatively poor Law Comprehension. But the structure of his Miniature Universe was comparatively sound, allowing it to reach a diameter of 6.7 billion light-years.
If he had taken the Divine Power Path, he could not have been certain of reaching Luo Feng's degree of perfection, but he would have had better than a ninety percent chance of breaking through with a Third Level divine body.
"So be it." Mountain Guest knew that becoming a Void True God was only a step toward challenging the Reincarnation Passage.
His Sacred Land Universe would be fleeting.
Through the boundless void of his Miniature Universe, Mountain Guest saw the many powerful beings of the Second Reincarnation Era gathered around it. He shook his head.
Truthfully, Mountain Guest had little respect for them. They had given up on themselves before they had even begun; they were destined never to become truly powerful. Without Jin World, most of them probably would not even have become True Gods or Universe Masters.
"Come in, Puti." Mountain Guest sent a message to Puti alone.
"Yes, Teacher." Outside the membrane of the Miniature Universe, Puti received Mountain Guest's message. A passage opened directly before him, and he entered without hesitation.
In an instant, the Miniature Universe's Origin Power transported Puti straight to Mountain Guest.
Mountain Guest looked at his eldest disciple, his feelings mixed.
The disciples he had truly nurtured were Flame Emperor and Luo Feng. But Flame Emperor had disappointed him so deeply that he had later turned to Luo Feng. Luo Feng's achievements now far exceeded his expectations. As long as Luo Feng survived, surpassing him someday would probably be easy.
As for Puti, Mountain Guest had not truly nurtured him, but Puti had stayed by his side the longest.
Whatever else, he felt some affection for Puti, more even than he did for Flame Emperor.
"Teacher," Puti said respectfully.
"You're far more capable than your second junior brother. You may even achieve Transcendence of Reincarnation one day." Mountain Guest smiled.
In talent, Puti fell short of Flame Emperor, let alone Luo Feng. But in strength of character, he could perhaps rival Luo Feng and far surpassed Flame Emperor. Why had Mountain Guest created the Earth Lineage? To cultivate stronger minds capable of claiming the Star Tower.
Members of the Earth Lineage were exceptional in that respect.
Luo Feng and Hong were both examples.
Hong was not especially talented, but his resolve was extraordinary. That drive kept him moving toward the goal in his heart, until he became the Earth Lineage's first True God. If not for Luo Feng, Hong would have been considered a genius of the highest order.
Puti had exceptional character too. Given enough time, Transcendence of Reincarnation was not impossible for him. That was why Mountain Guest believed his disciple might take that next step. Whether he succeeded would depend on his own opportunities.
"Please guide me, Teacher." Puti trembled slightly.
Mountain Guest waved a hand. "If I say you have a chance, then you do. But that chance lies with you. I once said that of my three disciples, your third junior brother Luo Feng had the greatest potential, Flame Emperor came next, and you had the least. Now I think your potential exceeds your second junior brother's. He has demons in his heart. Until he overcomes them, he'll make no progress, much less achieve Transcendence of Reincarnation. You're far better off. In character, you're close to the Earth Lineage. The heart is the compass that guides the powerful forward, and it's the source of your hope."
Puti listened closely.
"The heart?" Puti considered this.
"You know I poured everything into guiding the Earth Lineage, and character was the key. Take Hong. His character is no weaker than Luo Feng's, though his talent and opportunities lag far behind. Yet he still became a True God, and one of the best at that," Mountain Guest said.
"As for whether you can do the same, that depends on you." Mountain Guest looked at Puti.
"I'll do everything I can, Teacher. I won't let you down!" Puti's voice rang with conviction.
"Good." Mountain Guest nodded. "Of my three disciples, you've been the most diligent, yet I've given you the least. I'll soon enter the Reincarnation Passage, and some things are no longer of use to me. So I made you a supreme Supreme Treasure Armor. It suits you perfectly and should strengthen you as much as possible. With it, you can roam the Universe Ocean unhindered."
As he spoke, Mountain Guest turned his hand over. A bead the size of a football appeared in his palm. Brilliant colors shimmered across its surface, and waves of formidable pressure radiated from within.
The bead flew into Puti's hands.
"Thank you, Teacher. I won't let you down." Puti dropped to his knees and accepted the bead with trembling hands. He sent a thread of divine will into it and claimed it.
As with Mountain Guest's creations, it offered no information, but Puti could clearly sense the armor's power.
"Give it a name," Mountain Guest said.
Puti pondered. "Today, Teacher, you've achieved Transcendence of Reincarnation. I hope this armor will help me do the same. I'll call it Reincarnation Armor."
"Reincarnation Armor." Mountain Guest nodded. "Then may Reincarnation Armor help you achieve Transcendence of Reincarnation."
"Now that I've settled matters with you, I have no regrets left. I'll enter the Reincarnation Passage soon. If you have questions in the future, ask your third junior brother. I won't keep you any longer. I'll send you out now." Mountain Guest waved his hand, and a surge of the Universe Origin's power enveloped Puti and carried him out of the Miniature Universe.
"Thank you, Teacher!" Filled with gratitude, Puti soon appeared outside the universe's membrane.
Mountain Guest watched Puti leave, a faint ripple of emotion stirring in his heart.
His deep gaze crossed the boundless void, as though he could see the Primal Universe's embodied will watching him without pause.
"Don't worry. Now that I've broken through, I'll enter the Reincarnation Passage soon. You needn't keep staring at me." Mountain Guest shook his head and smiled.
Luo Feng had already passed through the Reincarnation Passage, and Mountain Guest's wishes in the Universe Ocean had been fulfilled. Only after he passed through it himself could he begin what he truly needed to do.
He had wandered the Universe Ocean for countless ages before reincarnating in the Primal Universe. Now it was time to leave.
There was nothing to hold him here.
Mountain Guest watched messages ripple through his Communication Token without much feeling. He had little to do with the races of the Universe Ocean, and never would again. He could not be bothered to answer them.
He had given up on Flame Emperor, and his last wish concerning Puti was fulfilled.
"It's time to leave." Mountain Guest took out a token. A message had arrived from Luo Feng.
"Teacher, are you about to enter the Reincarnation Passage?" It was Luo Feng's voice.
"Hahaha, your timing is perfect, my disciple. Your eldest senior brother was just here and has only just left." Mountain Guest laughed happily. "You're already on the other side, and nothing holds me here anymore. Of course I'll enter the Reincarnation Passage. Remember to look after your eldest senior brother for me."
"I'll see you on the other side."
In the Milky Way Holy Land Universe.
Within the Nine Realms Mountain.
Luo Feng stood before a murmuring stream, gazing into the boundless void. "Teacher is entering the Reincarnation Passage too. I wonder when we'll meet again," he murmured.
The Origin Continent was immense. It would likely be a very long time before they met again.
Outside Mountain Guest's Miniature Universe.
The strongest beings of every race were growing anxious. Their messages had gone unanswered. Did Mountain Guest not want to speak to them, or was he lost in contemplation? And what had it meant when they had just seen True God Puti enter and leave?
The Fourth Holy Land Universe!
It would exist forever. If they could secure a home for some of their people in Mountain Guest Holy Land Universe, their races could endure even if their True Gods failed to pass through the Reincarnation Passage after two Reincarnation Eras. They might not care about their own deaths, but they desperately wanted their peoples to survive.
Other lone wanderers, including Island Master Shihua and Void True Demon God, had some connection to Mountain Guest. They had come hoping to trade for useful guidance on breaking through, but it seemed they too had been ignored.
"What is Mountain Guest playing at?" Island Master Shihua muttered.
Suddenly.
Whoosh!
A black Palace-type Supreme Treasure flew out of the Miniature Universe. It was Mountain Guest's supreme Palace-type Supreme Treasure.
"Look! That's Mountain Guest's Palace Supreme Treasure! He's come out!" Someone spotted it first, their voice rolling outward on divine power.
"Mountain Guest, I'll trade you a supreme Supreme Treasure for guidance on breaking through. Will you accept?"
"Mountain Guest, the Demon Race will offer four supreme Supreme Treasures in exchange for a place for our people. We'll even honor you as our ancestor!"
"Mountain Guest, the Zerg will offer six supreme Supreme Treasures..."
"Mountain Guest..."
Messages borne on divine power poured into Mountain Guest's ears.
"I know what you all want. Everything else can wait until I've passed through the Reincarnation Passage." With only those words, Mountain Guest teleported across an immense distance. The Jin King Palace vanished, heading toward the Reincarnation Passage in Qingfeng Realm.
Soon, he reached its entrance.