157] – [Brewed Winds from the Howling Storm]

Within a strange world. Pure darkness overflowed. The sky was pitch black, and so were the waves beneath it. The horizon could not be seen, no matter how hard one tried.

Deep into it, lost in its void, an island. It was the only source of light in this empty world. It was reflected on the sea around, a red light proudly residing.

The island was gigantic, yet looked so insignificant. A singular, perfectly shaped mountain, as if man made, was erected in its center. From its peak, a thin red light attempted to pierce the black clouds. It stopped high above, like a sword reaching its limits. And even above it, a gigantic ring of red ethereal light illuminated the darkness everywhere around.

Amidst the structures within the giant mountain, a pool of crimson was overflowing.

Bubbles forming on its surface, waves appeared.

With a loud burst, the crimson liquid was sent flying, a red figure emerging from the pool's depths.

Its bones creaking, this figure spoke.

"Ethan Hargon was it? You are nothing but a fool. A very foolish man. Do you believe this deity to be so easily enslaved? As a gift for this body you helped me build, I will let you live. There won't be a next time however."

A deep voice finished, the figure glanced at the begging man on the floor, only a few steps down, before vanishing deeper into the luxurious palace inserted within the mountain.

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Deep into the Core Territory, a meeting was being held inside the Saint Hall.

The marble white circular walls encompassing a round table, said table was surrounded by gloriously simple chairs. Some pillars supported the ceiling which had a hole in its middle portion, granting the light from an artifact to the table beneath.

Around the table, quite a few people were present. Out of the ten seats, only four remained lonely.

If not for how long it took the six people present to finally exit seclusion and arrive, the meeting would have been held even later.

"Lu Shu, please be mindful of your words. Are you claiming the Greater Primordial Deity to be making a comeback?" The middle aged man who spoke was clad in dark red flames and blazing energies. Small colorful stars orbiting around him. His words directly targeted Lu Shu's credibility.

"Listen Mu Ryl, this Lu is not about to mistake that red fruity face as someone else. Actually, don't you look like him a bit? On the stupid red face part." Quite a carefree man, Lu Shu loved to bully his fellow saints. If Alexander was here, he would know these words to be fairly similar with some of his own. He would certainly correct him, teaching how a tomato would be more appropriate.

A few veins popping out, Mu Ryl inhaled a deep breath.

"Lu Shu… If you have nothing to say-"

"Leave him alone. He's not wrong you know…" Interrupting the saint was an elegant woman of purple robes. An eerie aura permeated her surroundings, causing shivers to appear within many.

She was the Saintess of the Undead, Estia Manalur.

"Estia Malanur, please be careful on who you cut the words of. This Mu is-"

"Why are you always so serious little Mu, big sis Estia is already kind enough to let you talk." Angrily looking to the side, Mu Ryl glared daggers at a petite woman casually resting her feet on the table.

"Do you want to compare your little Dao to mine? If not, stop talking shit." His words made her fiery temperament explode inside. As the Saintess of Fire, Xania Yrtom disliked this Mu Ryl. The Saint of Chaos, Mu Ryl, possessed strange flames more potent then hers. Fortunately, she still knew his sore spot.

"No, I won't fight it out again. I know my limits, unlike someone else. But if you bully me, do you think sister Estia will let it go?"

"…" Even as the Saint of Chaos, the Saintess of the Undead knew some strange methods and arts. Her means were profound and powerful. Angering her casually was not a smart idea.

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"Fine, I won't push the matter further. So, going back on Lu Shu. What about the Greater Primordial Deity? He is everywhere, do you think I'll go look every nook and cranny of Limbo for this? He keeps coming back again and again. Yet, has he managed to recover his former glory?"

Mu Ryl's words were heavy on contempt and confidence. Yet, when Lu Shu spoke next, all saints at the table turned pale.

"This may have been the case… but his attitude was drastically different. He looked like a plan of his had finally worked. And during the time it took to hold this meeting this Lu has been on the lookout throughout the three territories."

"But since I have yet to find anything, even after utilizing all of my peons, then this can only mean one thing."

"You don't mean…"

"There are some chances that the Greater Primordial Deity has reappeared, not in the Core Territory, not in the Inner Territory and not even in the Outer Territory."

Heavy faces lost in thoughts, they did not need the next words to know.

"But beyond. He could already be past the Sealed Gate!"

Silence reigning effortlessly, its throne was soon overcome by incessant chatters of worry.

"This can't be! The sages are no fools. If the Greater Primordial Deity reappears, wouldn't the sages deal with him on the spot?"

"What do you know? Have you ever been there?! We know nothing but rumors and exaggerated stories from the sages coming over!"

"You know what? Let's just ask them then!"

"Good!"

"Perfect."

A decision made, Mu Ryl activated a powerful array in the middle of the table. A bright rainbow glowing from a glass sphere, a laser shot downward, piercing the table and the earth.

Waiting for a few months like it was nothing, a rainbow light emerged from the glass sphere once more.

"Finally…" Waving his arm, Mu Ryl forced an hologram to form. An old withering man of long white beard and hair appearing, he spoke like a recording.

"We have received your message, and have already confirmed the matter. Do not worry about it, this issue is already past your capabilities. We have found traces of the Greater Primordial Deity from the Terlos Circle's surrounding territory. This will be all." Fading away, the glass sphere returned to its neutral state.

As for the saints, they were appalled. Especially one.

"The Terlos Circle?!" An aged man of short brown hair and fluffy brown beard, his brown eyes reflected fear.

If Alexander were to be present, he would recognize him with some difficulty.

"Do you know about him, Ysh Zul?"

This man was none other than Ysh Zul, the Saint of the World. And the current him could not be compared to his yellow projection. He did not look unfathomable, only frightened by the scope of this discovery.

"This… the Terlos Circle is a peak unorthodox power from the Sealed Gate. Its master, the Terlos Lord, is apparently as strong as the Cave Masters!"

"…"

In unison, their mouths remained shut.

Indeed, this matter was way past their level already. The Cave Masters were each peak entities of the Sealed Gate. There were rumors claiming some of them to be older than Limbo itself. True cultivation calamities secluding themselves for eons at a time.

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Inside the dark Trial Forest, a young man was exploring the area in search of worldly experiences. As a talent of the Chaos Dream Sect, he was respected by many.

His talent was even revered as one of the very bests since trillions of years. It was most likely an exaggerated tale, but still worthy of his accomplishments.

He was like a juicy piece of meat for all sects. Such a talent should be groomed and become a powerful figure in the future.

So it was understandable when a tall and dark shadow appeared behind him. He did not even have the time to take another breath when a dark red vortex plunged into his back.

His screams woke up even the secluded beasts, already used to it somewhat. It was not the first time such a scream had rang out since a few millions of years.

Glancing at a withered corpse on the grass, Alexander remained indifferent. His strength was the same, unchanged. However, this was only in preparation of a long and incredible seclusion.

Getting back inside the sealed world, Alexander saw Azvon wave at him. Nodding in response, he halted.

"I think it's time."

"Already?" Azvon curiously gazed at his fellow candidate.

"If you say so…" Shaking his head, he felt time to truly be a strange notion. Without realizing, he had to agree that billions of years had already passed. It was a dimension impossible to comprehend for mortals, while only a few moments for immortals of their caliber.

"I don't know when I'll exit, or if I'll end up stuck… but we'll see I guess…" Changing robes, Alexander massaged his face.

'Alright…' Exhaling, he entered a small room of stone carvings, a loud bang signaling the exit to be blocked off.

Sitting cross-legged, he carefully remembered his time with Azvon, teaching him about the Heaven Surpassing Realm.

It was divided into three minor realms. False Fate Understanding

, False Fate Nurturing

and False Fate Spark Condensing

.

'Here we go.'

A faint blue speck of light revolving around him, as if in orbit, he closed his three eyes. Within him, a multicolored lump glowing rainbows showed itself. From its radiance, Alexander felt his understanding to be rising exponentially. His mind and body were united through sheer talent.

A worldview he could never fathom prior was now exploding in his eyes. A vision sent to the sky, floating high above the clouds.

It was the culmination of billions of years of hard work, of tens of thousands of peerless talents swallowed. In a sense, his risk was just as high as the rewards.

Tens of thousands of clashing talents, tens of thousands of chances of ending up stuck. But he did not care any longer. He was not a lowly devil with a few millions of years of lifespan. He was not a fool nor a weak character.

His chaotic heart and darkened ambition were not enough to stop his ascension. A supremacy innate, he felt his next action to be a necessity.

The first step would not be to seriously cultivate.

It would be to steal the talents of others!

To absorb their point of view!

To assimilate a world he should have never entered!