Chapter 440: Entering

“We will act alone,” the Lady of Cold Night from Extreme Cold Heaven spoke up. “The resources we each require are different, but our objective is the same. Gathering together will inevitably lead to disputes over distribution. It’s better if we each try our own luck. What we gain will be our own.”

“I agree.” The Ash Monarch of Hui Jing’s voice was hoarse and unpleasant, his words concise. He wasn’t familiar with the others, and from his attitude, it was clear he had no intention of getting to know them.

“I, on the other hand, plan to act alongside the Wind Calamity,” Zhang Xin Fan, the Bright Heart Association Leader from Haiming, said softly. “The Supreme Sea Abyss has granted me great authority. The abyss legions I can mobilize can reach the Annihilation level. This means I can command at least three Annihilation-level Sea Abyss experts on short notice.”

“This level… what tier is that equivalent to, exactly? Could you explain?” Lin Hui was a little curious.

“Annihilation level is what you would generally call world-destroying level. Basically, only those with a record of destroying three or more worlds are qualified to be called Annihilation-level. I don’t know exactly how strong they are, but I know I can’t beat them. The gap is immense,” Zhang Xin Fan replied.

Lin Hui had sensed his current energy level; it was basically on par with his own.

His Mental Power and the level of Disaster Energy within his body were both similar to his own.

Of course, actual combat wasn’t just a comparison of on-paper stats, but it at least indicated that Zhang Xin Fan’s tier wasn’t much different from his. They were all figures of the same caliber.

For someone like him to hold the Annihilation level in such high regard, their power was certainly guaranteed to be formidable.

‘Is that so? Then I’m actually looking forward to it…’ Lin Hui mentally simulated the potential situation and began to give the four parties a targeted briefing on the relevant power structures within the Endless Divine Domain.

“There is one complication,” the Lady of Cold Night spoke up. “Since our systems are different, if we’re to form an elite strike force to enter the Divine Domain, we’ll naturally need to understand each other’s general strength beforehand. So…”

“No problem. Once everyone is here, we can just spar a bit,” the Ash Monarch said bluntly. “Different systems, different ranks, and the powers we wield can’t be uniformly compared by any metric. A direct fight is the fastest way to sort out our strengths.”

At these words, everyone nodded slightly.

“In that case, how about I determine the location?” Lin Hui said with a smile.

“Fine.”

“Agreed.”

“No problem.”

The others all expressed their agreement.

“Considering the large number of experts in the Divine Domain, I’ve arranged a small-scale incursion to test the waters. This will also allow everyone to determine whether it’s worth committing to a large-scale investment later,” Lin Hui continued.

“Agreed.” There were no more disagreements among them.

*

*

*

「Several days later, at the Jiuxiao Sect.」

The once desolate and deserted Jiuxiao Sect residence was now officially welcoming powerful invited guests from other Realms.

Within the Jiuxiao Sect, which was composed of rows of white mountain peaks.

The Lady of Cold Night, with her human torso and snake tail, slowly walked out of the Celestial Reversal Wheel teleportation portal.

The Celestial Reversal Wheel was the only teleportation point for safe entry and exit within the Jiuxiao Sect. Invited guests who were not Disciples could legally enter the Sect through it without being destroyed by the mountain-protecting formation.

This massive, three-tiered, blue-gold Celestial Reversal Wheel, after many years, had finally been activated once more for its original purpose.

The Lady of Cold Night’s body was only as tall as an average person. She wore a suit of exquisite bone armor with a purple cape over it. As she moved forward, her serpentine lower body slithered, leaving long, white trails of frost on the ground.

From a distance, she looked no different from any other beautiful snake-woman.

‘So this is the vanguard’s assembly point?’ She narrowed her eyes, her blue-flamed gaze sweeping across the surroundings as her pupils constricted slightly.

The terrifying, boundless torrent of the Wind Calamity surrounding them made the Extreme Cold Disaster Energy inside her body instinctively contract, as if in a stress response, keeping her on high alert.

“The Wind Calamity… the Calamity that decomposes all…” the Lady of Cold Night murmured, slowly advancing toward Lin Hui, who was already waiting in the clearing ahead.

“Welcome. Extreme Cold Heaven is always the first to respond. Thank you for your cooperation.” Lin Hui raised a single hand, performing a slight Jiuxiao Sect salute.

“Because we are desperate,” the Lady of Cold Night replied. “Extreme Cold Heaven has repeatedly failed in resource competitions across many Black Domains, and the scale of our Calamity has begun to show signs of shrinking. This must be stopped. Therefore, once we confirm this path, we will stop at nothing!”

She was very direct about her current situation.

“Derivative Calamities are also threatened with shrinking?” Lin Hui was surprised.

“Naturally. Apart from the Source Calamity, all other Calamities must self-sustain and proliferate. Otherwise, their only fate is to be devoured and destroyed. The Calamity itself doesn’t care, but we Fusionists who exist within them are unwilling to see this happen. That is why there are various large factions within each major Calamity,” the Lady of Cold Night explained patiently.

As she spoke, she returned the salute slightly and also bowed respectfully in the direction of Qimei.

This was also Lin Hui’s goal.

Because no matter who came to the Jiuxiao Sect, the moment they stepped out of the Celestial Reversal Wheel, they would instantly feel the terrifying power of Qimei blanketing the entire sky like a dark cloud.

“Then please wait a moment. You can rest over here. Our other friends will be arriving soon.” Lin Hui pointed to a spacious white Daoist palace nearby, a building specifically for receiving and housing guests.

The Lady of Cold Night nodded slightly. After sensing Qimei’s aura, her attitude was noticeably much gentler than before.

With a flash of light, she suddenly entered the Daoist palace to rest for the time being.

About three minutes later, the Celestial Reversal Wheel lit up with blue light again, its three rings slowly beginning to turn.

The Bright Heart Association Leader, Zhang Xin Fan, walked slowly out of the wheel. He clasped his fist to Lin Hui in greeting, then bowed deeply in Qimei’s direction.

Following him was a tall, slender, humanoid monster from Haiming, clad in black, spiked armor with nine pairs of small, spiky wings on its back.

“Brother Lin, I finally see the foundation behind you. It wasn’t easy,” Zhang Xin Fan said with a wry smile.

“Brother Zhang, you flatter me. And this is?”

“Yan Jiu. One of the Annihilation-level Sea Abyss experts cooperating with me this time,” Zhang Xin Fan introduced him simply.

The being nodded at Lin Hui by way of greeting. The two were soon guided into the Daoist palace.

Next was the Ash Monarch. This small, humanoid giant, composed entirely of a large mass of gray mist with a golden light flickering faintly within, shuddered the moment it flew out of the Celestial Reversal Wheel. It quickly condensed into a humanoid form, bowed deeply in Qimei’s direction, and only then nodded at Lin Hui.

“Just you?” Lin Hui asked.

“It’s enough,” the Ash Monarch replied flatly. He then ignored Lin Hui and entered the Daoist palace.

Lin Hui didn’t mind. The Power of Ashes had a huge influence on one’s disposition. For this guy to have become the Ash Monarch, it was obvious he relied on an extremely powerful emotional Talent.

The last one missing was from Purgatory.

Lin Hui waited for a little over ten minutes. The appointed time was about to pass, and he was just about to ask the Duke about it.

BUZZ.

Just then, the Celestial Reversal Wheel trembled slightly and began to spin faster, its center rippling with a blinding, golden-red light.

SWOOSH!

The figure of the True Monarch of Seven Destructions silently appeared behind Lin Hui.

“A fellow Daoist has arrived in person, forgive me for not giving you a proper welcome.” A slightly crazed smile touched his lips as his gaze fixed on the Celestial Reversal Wheel.

From within the Celestial Reversal Wheel, a tall, golden-red figure slowly emerged.

The figure was clad in ornate armor of gold with red patterns. It wore an inverted-triangle, fully enclosed helmet, its faceplate a stiff, golden mask with a compassionate, closed-eyed expression.

A miniaturized burning star orbited behind it. The moment it stepped out of the Celestial Reversal Wheel, it unleashed waves of immense, terrifying, high-temperature radiation.

Lin Hui’s expression changed slightly.

Even his current physical body could feel a searing pain. One could only imagine how high the temperature must have been.

He knew that his current body, protected by the Wind of Surrounding and bolstered by its own inherent resilience, would normally treat a temperature of tens of thousands of degrees as nothing more than a hot bath.

‘But this guy…’

He unconsciously circulated his power to cover the surface of his body, resisting the spreading high-temperature radiation.

“The Jiuxiao Sect? Weren’t you annihilated in the tides of history long ago?” The newcomer’s voice was neither male nor female, carrying a faint gentleness.

“Oh? It seems this fellow Daoist has heard of my Jiuxiao Sect?” Qimei raised an eyebrow.

“I’ve heard a little. Since you are the collaborators this time, things should go much more smoothly than before,” the newcomer said calmly. “I am the Chaos Emperor. There should be no existence in Purgatory stronger than me at present. You may consider me the Lord of Purgatory.”

“Since you are an Emperor, personally making an appearance, surely you’ll dispatch a few more hands?” Qimei said with a smile.

“Naturally. Once we confirm the value is sufficient, the super-massive teleportation array is already prepared. It can transport over a hundred million units of the Power of Calamity in an hour,” the Chaos Emperor said flatly.

“Excellent, excellent. Truly a grand gesture.” Qimei clapped his hands and laughed. He reached out and lightly tapped Lin Hui’s shoulder, instantly transmitting the standard invasion methods commonly used by the Fusion Sect.

Lin Hui instantly understood the Chaos Emperor’s meaning.

In the eyes of an Upper Rank expert from the Fusion Sect, the essence of plunder wasn’t about how many experts you sent to kill how many opponents, but about how many units of the Power of Calamity you released to devour and contaminate the pure resources of the opposing world.

This was why many Calamities would dispatch large numbers of low-level monsters.

In reality, dispatching a hundred million low-level monsters, each representing one unit of the Power of Calamity, was more cost-effective than dispatching a single high-level monster worth a hundred million units.

Because the latter was extremely difficult to breed, while the former could be produced in almost any quantity desired.

Moreover, the diffusion range and speed of the latter were far inferior to the former.

Even if the former were destroyed and killed, as long as they died in the enemy world, they would achieve their purpose: contaminating the source of the enemy’s resources.

As for the latter, no one would be willing to throw one away as a one-time consumable.

And according to the standard, a Realm like the Fog People World could be mostly contaminated by an investment of just one hundred million units of the Power of Calamity. By then, the environment would be altered, and even if the enemy had top-tier experts, they would be helpless to do anything but flee.

And for the Endless Divine Domain, the Chaos Emperor was talking about a hundred million units right from the start. It was indeed a grand gesture.

“This way, fellow Daoist.” Qimei led the Chaos Emperor elsewhere to talk.

Only after the Chaos Emperor left was a familiar figure revealed behind him.

The Duke of Purgatory, along with his daughter Lanxi, leisurely descended the steps of the Celestial Reversal Wheel and clasped his fist toward Lin Hui.

“It seems we’ll finally be fighting side-by-side. You’re quite frank, Brother Lin, participating in this matter with your true body.”