The Lords who entered the Life Realm to compete for the Seed of the World came quickly and left just as fast.

Originally, the Great Emperors intended to obtain the Power of Transcendence through the Seed of the World, but the news that the World Tree’s life force was exhausted and the cycle initiation was upon them struck them like a thunderbolt, leaving them with no desire to linger in the Life Realm; they all hurried back to the Ten Thousand Realms Continent.

Regarding the legend of the Heaven-Reaching Road.

At first, only a very few of the older Great Emperors knew a little about it.

Not to mention the newly ascended Great Emperors, who at most had only heard snippets and couldn’t discern truth from fiction.

But now.

This news was finally confirmed, and while it shocked them, it also made them incredibly excited.

The Heaven-Reaching Road opens, leading to a higher-level world.

For those who have stood at the pinnacle of the continent and lived through long years, this is undoubtedly exhilarating.

Just as the Great Emperors of the Realm Alliance said.

They have been bound by this world’s rules for so long, they can hardly remember how long they have lived.

Now suddenly hearing this news, many naturally are longing for it.

Of course.

Some conservative ones do not have such a combative spirit.

These people have a simple thought.

If they can become widely revered Great Emperors in this world, why risk their lives starting over in an unfamiliar world?

Moreover, it might not be the beautiful world they imagine.

Better to be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big pond.

People have different ambitions.

But one thing is certain, whether conservative or radical, they all share a common goal.

That is to find a way to stop the cycle.

Because if the Ten Thousand Realms Continent is destroyed, they will inevitably suffer backlash, unless they can successfully traverse the Heaven-Reaching Road and completely escape the constraints of this world’s rules.

Otherwise, stopping the cycle is their top priority, as no one can guarantee they will succeed.

In case they cannot enter the Heaven-Reaching Road and the Ten Thousand Realms Continent faces destruction, even if they are powerful, they would be powerless to reverse the situation.

This is also to leave themselves a way out.

"After going back this time, we must speed up our advance."

In the void, the Dragon Emperor said to the Great Emperors traveling with him.

"Indeed, those guys from the Realm Alliance have gone mad in order to enter the Heaven-Reaching Road, we must eliminate this hidden danger."

"And eliminating them will also enhance our strength."

"That’s right."

At the mention of enhancing strength, the Great Emperors’ eyes flashed with a glint, and they finally agreed for once.

Since they could think of this, the Realm Alliance certainly could too.

After going back this time, another fierce storm is likely to arise.

...

Elsewhere.

Having left the top of the World Tree, Lin You was quickly led by the Saint Radiance Emperor and the Xiang Yue Emperor to the Celestial Curtain closest to Origin City.

"Let’s go, the space in the Life Realm is already becoming somewhat unstable, leave here first,"

the leading Saint Radiance Emperor said softly, crossing the Celestial Curtain and disappearing from sight.

Before leaving, Lin You couldn’t help but glance back at the ancient tree, his expression complex.

He wanted to do something.

But he was still too weak.

Then.

He looked in the other direction.

Most of the Lords have already started heading back, with some remaining in the Life Realm, continuing to search for their relatives.

He was unsure about Yan Lie’s situation and whether he found his sister.

Though he wanted to help, he had important matters to attend to.

After hesitating for a moment, he followed the Great Emperors across the Celestial Curtain.

"Boom!"

A terrifying pressure reappeared, pressing down on him from all directions.

When Lin You’s vision returned, he was already at the long-missed top of the Celestial Ladder.

However, his strength had greatly increased by this time.

The pressure that once nearly suffocated him and required his full strength to barely resist, now had little effect on him.

Looking down from above at the steps, he saw many Lords still tirelessly climbing the Celestial Ladder or competing for treasures that appeared on it from time to time.

Without stopping.

Amidst the amazed gazes of the Lords, he walked down the Celestial Ladder with Li Ke, Ji Xinghe, and others, reaching the meadow below.

After bidding each other farewell, they directly activated the transportation, returning to the Saint Protection Duchy.

Whish!

The light of transportation shot up into the sky in the palace.

After days of being away, Lin You finally returned to his familiar territory smoothly.

However, he had barely stood still when a rush of hurried footsteps came from a distance.

Xue Changgui hurriedly approached with a team of guards, looking urgently.

"Your Majesty, thank goodness you’re back! You had me worried sick!"

"What happened?" Lin You, seeing Xue Changgui’s anxious look, walked out of the territory in confusion, "Did something happen in the Duchy while I was away?"

"Something major has happened!" Xue Changgui said quickly.

"Your Majesty, during your absence, the Nanhua Duchy suddenly took over several cities along the southern Nine Bends River, claiming that they were originally their territory."

"Several Tier Nine Lords from within the Duchy rushed over to coordinate, but were all stopped by the Nanhua King."

"Taken my territory?" Lin You’s eyebrows slightly furrowed.

The Nanhua Duchy is located at the southern end of the Saint Protection Duchy, bordering Saint Protection and the Great Wilderness.

And the Nine Bends River just happens to be the border between the two countries, with prosperous waterways and many cities rated above Tier Eight along its banks.

The daily taxes and faith provided rank among the top in the Duchy.

Lin You had originally planned to train a few trustworthy Tier Eight Lords to manage things there in the future, but unexpectedly, the Nanhua Duchy seized the opportunity to directly occupy it during his absence.

It seems his consistent low-profile actions are beginning to make some people disregard him.

"You can leave first, I’ll handle this matter myself."

With that said, he immediately vanished from sight.

After returning to the Ten Thousand Realms Continent, the ability for space travel can now be utilized.

With his current strength of eight Divine Fragments, he can cover a distance of up to 800 kilometers each time, making it very easy to reach the Duchy’s border.

And right as he was heading towards the southern part of the Duchy.

In the royal palace of the Nanhua Duchy’s capital, a guest had just arrived.

"Yo, Old Zhou, what brings you to my place today?"

The Nanhua King, who was listening to reports in the courtyard, looked at the other King appearing before him in surprise.

"Nothing much, just returned from the Life Realm and was preparing to attend some things at the Holy Radiance Empire, so I thought I’d stop by since I was passing through." The King known as Old Zhou smiled as he sat down at the table.

"You just returned from the Life Realm?" Nanhua became even more surprised, immediately dismissing the servants beside him, and slightly straightening his posture.

It’s known.

Previously, he had exerted all his might and barely reached around the 950th step of the Celestial Ladder but didn’t manage to enter the Life Realm’s gates.

Now upon hearing news about the Life Realm, he naturally perked up.

"Yes, went for a stroll." Old Zhou chuckled twice, picked up his tea, and drank it a bit bitterly.

After finishing the tea, he continued, "You wouldn’t believe how many strong players emerged within the Life Realm for the Seed of the World contest."

"With just a hundred spots available, I barely got up for a few minutes before being knocked down. The competition was incredibly fierce."

Evidently, he too experienced the quota contention at the Origin Conference.

But didn’t manage to secure a spot, getting eliminated early on.

"Even you didn’t secure a spot?" Nanhua exclaimed.

He was very aware of Old Zhou’s capabilities, possessing seven Divine Fragments, and his attributes were greatly enhanced.

And still unable to vie for that one percent spot.

The intensity of the competition could only be imagined.

"What about our Realm? Did anyone from our side secure a spot?" he immediately inquired.

"Our Realm?" Old Zhou was momentarily stunned, then his gaze instantly became passionate.

"Of course! You wouldn’t believe it, but our Realm produced a fierce character who directly suppressed the top experts from both the Realm Alliance and the Life Realm, even people of the level of the Mountain Guardian King from the Eternal Realm couldn’t force him to exert his full strength!"

"Gasp! So strong? Even the Mountain Guardian King was defeated!?" Nanhua’s eyes suddenly widened.

He had heard of the Mountain Guardian King, a recognized name in the Eternal Realm.

Even when encountering him on the battlefield, he had to steer clear.

Such a high-level powerhouse unable to force the opponent’s full power?

How is that possible!

Since when did the Primordial Realm produce such a formidable King, he had never heard.

"Unexpected, huh? That’s precisely why I’m hurrying to the Holy Radiance Empire." Old Zhou said with a proud smile.

He had already inquired about that monster-level individual’s identity on his way back.

Upon learning that the figure was near his Duchy, he hurriedly set off, intending to foster a connection and make an impression.

After all.

That person was on the verge of upgrading to Tier Eleven and establishing a Kingdom.

When else, if not now, to curry favor?

However.

He hadn’t noticed.

Beside him, Nanhua stiffened after hearing his words, his expression turning skeptical and uncertain.

"Holy Radiance Empire? You... did you just say the Holy Radiance Empire?"

His voice was evidently trembling, a sense of foreboding rising within.

"Yes, Holy Radiance Empire. Is there a problem?" Old Zhou asked, puzzled.

"The person you mentioned... could it be the King of the Saintly Protection Duchy under the Holy Radiance Empire?" Nanhua swallowed, staring tensely at Old Zhou.

And in the next second, Old Zhou’s words shattered his world.

"Yes, exactly, the Saintly Protection Duchy, the King who rose recently. Odd, how do you know?"

"..."

How do I know.

I damn well wish I knew sooner!

Upon hearing Old Zhou’s response, Nanhua’s face turned green.

Right at that moment, a direct message suddenly popped up before him.

"Your Majesty, the King of the Saintly Protection Duchy has arrived at Nine Bends City, requesting to meet you."

Thud!

Nanhua slid from his chair, eyes wide open.