At the headquarters of the Primordial Research Institute, Xu Jingming was on a mission of critical importance. He was deep within the secured chambers where Secretary General Blacksky's true form was being kept captive. With every moment that passed, Xu Jingming was delving deeper into the illusory realm, gathering precious data that would help him build the structure units of his high-dimensional body with greater efficiency.
Huh? His expression shifted. Something was amiss.
He quickly split off a clone of himself to meet the incoming visitor.
The dean's consciousness carrier had exited seclusion!
Hu! Hu! Hu!
The dean of the institute, along with Spacetime Island Lord and Eternal Tower Master, had appeared.
"Greetings, Dean. Greetings, Spacetime Island Lord, Eternal Tower Master," Xu Jingming said, rushing over to greet the trio. He was intrigued by their sudden arrival.
He could tell that they weren't here in person but were only communicating through their consciousness carriers.
What happened to make the three of them appear together? Xu Jingming couldn't help but wonder what was going on.
"Jingming," Dean Chu said, gazing at Xu Jingming. "Something big has happened in high-dimensional space. The situation isn't good."
"What's wrong?" Xu Jingming was puzzled.
"High-dimensional space is vast and boundless," Dean Chu said. "The area we live in is known as the Fengyi 97 dominion."
Fengyi 97 dominion? Xu Jingming thought about this. He had explored the Heart Realm ruins and was aware of how massive high-dimensional space was.
Eternal Tower Master added, "For example, Dean Chu and I can't leave Fengyi 97 without help. Different dominions are isolated by spatial layers, and even the flow of time is different. There's a huge difference."
Xu Jingming nodded in agreement.
One had to rely on the Mother Stream, Heart Realm, or other means to travel between dominions.
"The Fengyi 97 dominion is vast," Spacetime Island Lord said. "It's home to many high-dimensional lifeforms and has produced four half-step third realm powerhouses. These powerhouses are the strongest in Fengyi 97, including Void Celestial Gumo."
Dean Chu continued, "Recently, all four half-step third-realm powerhouses issued an order at the same time. They told all high-dimensional lifeforms traveling and adventuring to return."
Eternal Tower Master said seriously, "This is very abnormal. It's impossible for all high-dimensional lifeforms to stay in their nests, so it's common for them to be out traveling in search of opportunities. For the four half-step third-realm powerhouses to gather their subordinates at the same time is unprecedented in our long lives."
"In history, orders from the strongest half-step third-realm powerhouses in a dominion are major events that affect the entire dominion," Dean Chu said, sounding worried. "We have to figure out what's happening. If we're not careful, it could be a disaster for us."
"All the factions in Fengyi 97 are very uneasy," Spacetime Island Lord added. "We plan on visiting the Void Celestial dominion to find out the truth."
Xu Jingming could sense the worry of the three Paramounts.
"We'll set off first," Dean Chu said, and with that, he, Spacetime Island Lord, and Eternal Tower Master disappeared.
…
Void Celestial dominion.
The three leaders of humanity stood before a massive, spherical building, each accompanied only by their consciousness carriers. They couldn't risk the arrival of their true bodies causing alarm among the Void Celestials.
"Humans?" An illusory, stocky, and towering figure emerged from the building and looked them over.
Dean Chu recognized the figure as Supremacy Uke, one of the Void Celestial's nine supremacies.
"Did the simultaneous orders from Progenitor and the others spook you?" Uke asked with a sly smile.
But Dean Chu, Tower Master, and Island Lord remained stone-faced.
"You want the truth?" Uke said. "It's simple. Bring a drop of Abyssal Mother Blood or something of equal value to the Black Lotus Realm, and you'll be able to exchange for detailed information."
"A drop of Abyssal Mother Blood?" Dean Chu, Eternal Tower Master, and Spacetime Island Lord's expressions changed.
These three rich Eternals, with their fortuitous encounters in science and possession of forbidden weapons, had accumulated wealth through their unity. For example, they weren't stingy with their resources when grooming Redmond and Xu Jingming.
However, a drop of Abyssal Mother Blood still shocked them.
The abyss seeped into countless high-dimensional dominions, and it was considered too dangerous to travel through due to the powerful high-dimensional life forms compared to safer methods like traveling through the Mother Stream and the Heart Realm. Therefore, it was unrealistic to travel through the abyss.
Abyssal Mother Blood was one of the countless treasures in the abyss and was considered to be at the forefront.
"The three of us have never seen Abyssal Mother Blood," Eternal Tower Master said.
Uke offered, "Equivalent treasures are fine. You can also choose not to buy the intelligence, but I warn you, the four half-step third realm powerhouses have set a uniform price for the intelligence."
Dean Chu, Eternal Tower Master, and Spacetime Island Lord exchanged looks.
"You'll make the right choice in buying the intelligence, trust me." Uke smiled. "Regret will haunt you if you don't take advantage of this opportunity"
Uke's gaze scanned the trio. "I know your scientific excavations have left you with more than enough funds. I wouldn't even bother mentioning it to those poor high-dimensional lifeforms who can't afford it."
"Listen closely," Uke warned, "time is of the essence. Don't wait to make your move, act now." And with that, Uke disappeared into the massive spherical building without another word.
The dean, Tower Master, and Island Lord were also communicating via voice transmission.
"What should we do?" Tower Master questioned.
"If the four half-step third realm powerhouses have truly set the same price," Dean Chu began, "that's all the confirmation we need. The situation is dire, and we need to buy it."
"I'll gather information from high-dimensional space. If things take a turn for the worse, I'll make the purchase," Spacetime Island Lord declared without hesitation.
Their lives were more important than their treasures. A sense of foreboding hung over them, and they knew they had to act fast.
…
Xu Jingming was perplexed. The dean and the others had gone searching for information, but there was no new update.
More than 30 years had passed when he was summoned to the dean's private chambers.
"Dean." Xu Jingming looked at the dean's body condensed from a miniature Primordial Star.
"Jingming." The dean's gaze was fixated on the universe outside, filled with worry. "We're in a world of trouble and so is our universe."
Xu Jingming was puzzled.
"We bought the intelligence at a hefty price," the dean continued, tapping Xu Jingming's forehead. "This information is restricted to only ten individuals, so you must keep it to yourself."
Xu Jingming nodded in understanding.
"Our Fengyi 97 is about to face an apocalyptic disaster," Dean Chu remarked with a calm tone. "If it happens, all life in this dominion and all the universes within will be erased."
Xu Jingming's expression changed. "Our home universe?"
"Like I said, all universes within! That includes our home universe." Dean Chu was very vexed. "The only solution is to escape to other dominions."
"It's not difficult for a small number of people to escape to other dominions. The difficult thing is… what about the entire human race?" Dean Chu's frustration showed.
Xu Jingming asked with urgency, "When will the apocalypse happen?"
"According to the intelligence gathered by the four half-step third-realm powerhouses, it's safe for the next 10,000 years," Dean Chu explained. "The probability of the apocalypse happening within 100,000 years is 0.012%. It's most likely to occur in 200,000 to 300,000 years."
"But it's best to start the species migration in 10,000 years for safety," Dean Chu added with worry. "However, it's too challenging. The weak planetary lifeforms are too fragile and might go extinct with a small change in the environment."
"And moving them in large numbers from one dominion to another?" Dean Chu's frustration was palpable. "Even if we use all of humanity's resources and savings, we still won't be able to do it."
To the Void Celestial, Gumo, it was something that could be done by paying a huge price.
The three human Paramounts couldn't do it even if they used everything.
"Race migration." Xu Jingming fell silent, realizing the enormity of the task at hand. With a massive population spread across 34 cosmic sectors, migrating even a small portion would be extremely difficult.
"For now, focus on your cultivation," Dean Chu said. "When you become a high-dimensional lifeform of the Heart Realm lineage, I'll need you to help me with some errands."
"Absolutely," Xu Jingming agreed, nodding in agreement.
The Heart Realm lineage had the ability to create multiple clones, and Xu Jingming could travel through the Heart Realm, making him a better choice for errand running compared to the other schools, including Spacetime Island Lord who could travel through the Mother Stream.
…
Xu Jingming felt the weight of time pressing down on him.
High-dimensional lifeforms placed great value on their own kind, as they had a long lifespan and could experience great loneliness as their loved ones died. Their species was the only thing that anchored them to anything.
Even Gumo, who was known for his ruthless treatment of other aliens, would spare no expense for his own species.
The three Paramounts of humanity wouldn't give up easily either. They were determined to save as many of their people as possible.
I must become a high-dimensional lifeform as soon as possible, Xu Jingming thought to himself. As a low-dimensional lifeform, I am useless.
I've been observing Secretary General Blacksky for 500 years. I can sense that the structure of the high-dimensional body I constructed is becoming more and more stable. I might succeed at any time. Xu Jingming hadn't publicized his improvement.
He fumbled around time and time again.
I hope it succeeds this time.
Finally, in the old residence on Earth, he sat in his study and began constructing a new high-dimensional physical structure. With his expertise, it only took him a month to complete.
Buzz.
A basic life structure constructed from Heart Realm Force floated in front of him.
Xu Jingming watched with a critical eye as the basic unit structure reacted in space.
