Xu Jingming didn't see the harm in taking out one of the Abyss Thousand-Eyed Spider Demon's consciousness carriers. After all, it would be a joke if anything unexpected were to occur during an attack by an Eternal Realm clone of the Heart Realm lineage against a consciousness carrier.
How poor. Xu Jingming arrived at the lair where the consciousness carrier of the Abyss Thousand-Eyed Spider Demon was stationed permanently and looted it.
The arachnid had prepared various weapons, fruits, blood, scales, and high-dimensional plants for the low-dimensional lifeforms, but even all of these combined were not worth an Eternal weapon.
The low-dimensional lifeforms that are nurtured by the arachnid in this dominion are known as Magiplants. Xu Jingming, dressed in black robes, stood at a distance and surveyed the vast territory.
This dominion spanned across 51 cosmic sectors, making it much larger than the original human dominion.
While the overall strength of this universe was weaker than that of humans, the Abyss Thousand-Eyed Spider Demon Sinan was a formidable foe. It was only natural for humans to choose a challenging opponent when migrating to new dominions.
Magiplants… Xu Jingming observed the Magiplants, which were intelligent plant lifeforms that grew by rooting in the ground and absorbing nutrients. They had a ferocious nature and were known to devour each other.
Fortunately, their living environment is different from that of humans, making it easy for us to migrate. Xu Jingming nodded in approval.
Habitable planets suitable for humans were not suitable for the Magiplants, as some of them needed a high-temperature environment of 200 to 300 degrees Celsius for extended periods, which would be a nightmare for humans.
A very good dominion. Xu Jingming was delighted.
"Xu Jingming." Suddenly, a voice sounded in his mind.
"Island Lord." Xu Jingming's expression remained unchanged, knowing that the dean, Tower Master, and Island Lord were hiding in the Mother Stream, which only those with the strength to travel in it could discover.
Spacetime Island Lord sent a voice transmission to Xu Jingming. "We're hiding in the Mother Stream, but you're out in the open… The Abyss Thousand-Eyed Spider Demon's corrupted personality has been influenced by the Abyss for an extended period, and it will undoubtedly seek revenge. Even though you're from the Heart Realm lineage and have strong life-preservation capabilities, you have to be careful."
"I'll be very careful. Once they appear, I'll dissipate this clone," Xu Jingming reassured the Spacetime Island Lord via voice transmission.
Despite his confidence in his life-preservation abilities as an Eternal of the Heart Realm lineage, Xu Jingming did not underestimate the ferocious Abyss Thousand-Eyed Spider Demon, which had survived for so long despite sacrificing numerous high-dimensional lifeforms.
…
On the second day after the attack on the consciousness carrier, the Abyss Thousand-Eyed Spider Demon Sinan, Asinus, and Dome Wishswan left the Abyss and arrived near the universe using Dome Wishswan's traveling abilities.
Buzz.
An invisible force surrounded the three of them as they spied on Xu Jingming's clone guarding the dominion.
"It's him. He destroyed my consciousness carrier and seized this territory. I'm very curious as to what gave him the guts to provoke me. I'm worried that there's a conspiracy behind it," the Abyss Thousand-Eyed Spider Demon said in a soft and deep voice.
Dome Wishswan chuckled and reassured the demon that no matter how bizarre the conspiracy was, it was nothing in the face of strength.
Huh?
Asinus was spying on Xu Jingming's clone from afar and was surprised to see him. "It's him?"
"You know him?" Abyss Thousand-Eyed Spider Demon Sinan asked.
"He changed his appearance, and I only confirmed his identity after sensing his aura at close range," Asinus explained. "He once conducted survivability experiments on a habitable planet in my territory, and I destroyed his experimental planet. He even arrogantly destroyed my consciousness carrier."
Dome Wishswan was taken aback upon hearing that Xu Jingming had destroyed Asinus's consciousness carrier as well, and wondered aloud if Xu Jingming had clones in different dominions since Asinus and Sinan were not from the same dominion.
Little did they know, Xu Jingming's clones were spread across almost 2,000 dominions.
"He was still at the peak of the Firstborn realm back then," Asinus said. "I sacrificed over ten high-dimensional lifeforms to unleash Karma Slaying, hoping to wipe out all his clones. However, I sensed that I had wiped out only a portion of his clones; he remained alive and well."
"He dared provoke you while still at the Firstborn realm? For an Eternal, bullying the likes of you is par for the course. Perhaps there's no conspiracy here—just arrogance befitting one of the Heart Realm lineage."
The Abyss Thousand-Eyed Spider Demon and Dome Wishswan exchanged glances.
"Perhaps he really is just arrogant," Dome Wishswan conceded.
"Regardless, the sacrificial price has already been paid," the Abyss Thousand-Eyed Spider Demon said grimly. "We stick to the plan."
******
Xu Jingming remained oblivious to the three terrifying Abyssal entities lurking concealed to the side. Intent on the fifth level of the Eight Directions Map, the Great Joy realm, he had overcome the map's trials of comfort and greed—only to falter at the final obstacle: desire for superiority.
For 10,000 years, nothing had proved more difficult than transcending the drive to be best.
Xu Jingming had pursued first place since childhood, chasing strength and surpassing others. His obsession with superiority had long seeped into his bones. Without such fierce drive… he would never have reached his current heights.
Yet, this same obsession now hindered perfection of control.
I must harness desire to improve, yet negate all its ills. Bitterly, Xu Jingming studied the paradox—and a vast illusory realm condensed around him.
Countless beings in the illusion fought for better homes, finer clothes, superior tools… even glorified titles.
The longing to be best governed their lives.
Xu Jingming had studied over 10,000 experimental worlds for nearly 10,000 years, gaining profound insight into desire. Still, his mastery of the drive for supremacy fell short of true perfection.
"The desire for superiority," Xu Jingming whispered.
Suddenly—
Xu Jingming sensed the world freeze around him as an invisible force stayed his hand. Alarm flickered across his face at what lay ahead. Gray space enveloped the surroundings.
Above, a vast bird obscured the sky with wingspan stretched horizon to horizon. At its advent, Xu Jingming found himself devoid of will or motion.
Swish!
A beam of light materialized, with speed surpassing thought. No sooner had an idea sparked than the ray struck home.
Xu Jingming beheld its origin—a behemoth boasting a thousand scarlet eyes and dense, spindling legs. One baleful eye had loosed the light that now steeped his body and memories in corruption without end.
"Ming of the Heart Realm lineage, savor the Abyss's most terrible defilement!" intoned the source of this vision: the true form of the Abyss Thousand-Eyed Spider Demon.
Already Xu Jingming sensed abhorrent taint seeping into his consciousness to conquer all.
Bang!
Without hesitation, Xu Jingming detonated his inner universe. Its eruption blasted his clone's body to oblivion, corruption's vessel no more.
The explosion's shockwave spread unchecked—yet some scarlet droplets remained unscathed, floating untethered: dregs of taint immune to the blast.
Too swift was Xu Jingming's self-destruction. Though corruption had begun to seep its way in, but a fraction had fused with his being before escape was denied it.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The self-destruction's shockwave heralded three formidable auras' advent.
The thin dean emerged, with a black flame sphere floating behind him. An extremely sharp, formless aura tore through the mysterious space set up by Dome Wishswan, even flushing the hiding Asinus out.
Meanwhile, the plainly dressed Eternal Tower Master arrived with a weathered expression etched onto his face. An intricately crafted, golden mountain floated behind him, while an invisible aura suppressed the three Abyss lifeforms.
"Not good!" Abyss Thousand-Eyed Spider Demon Sinan, Dome Wishswan, and Asinus all felt the infinite pressure of the sharp aura as it sliced through their bodies.
As if things weren't bad enough, a faintly discernible woman appeared, a massive semi-circle floating behind her and casting an eerie light.
The moment these three powerhouses appeared, the terrifying Abyss creatures felt a huge threat looming over them.
"Damn it."
"This was Heart Realm lineage's Ming's ploy!"
"There were actually three terrifying powerhouses in the shadows."
As the battle raged on, high-dimensional lifeforms from other species in the universe paid close attention. They couldn't help but get excited at the huge commotion caused by Xu Jingming's ambush.
As expected, Abyss Thousand-Eyed Spider Demon retaliated with all his might.
How could they miss such a battle?
Be it the unfamiliar Ming or the Abyss Thousand-Eyed Spider Demons with enemies everywhere, they were quite happy to see any of them die.
But then, the dean and his companions appeared, causing the high-dimensional lifeforms to jump in fright.
They could sense the sheer power emanating from them with every attack.
"The three of them are terrifying. They are ranked in the top ten among the high-dimensional lifeforms I've seen," the high-dimensional lifeforms whispered, their fear palpable.
…
"There's really a conspiracy." Although Asinus, the Abyss Thousand-Eyed Spider Demon, and Dome Wishswan felt pressured, they remained very calm. They had faced countless dangers over the years, and they had always emerged victorious.
"Kill Abyss Thousand-Eyed Spider Demon first," the dean commanded, his voice echoing throughout the area.
The three Abyss lifeforms heard him loud and clear, as did the high-dimensional lifeforms watching from afar. It was clear that the dean wanted them to hear him.
"Alright," Spacetime Island Lord replied coldly, her gaze fixed on the Abyss Thousand-Eyed Spider Demon. Suddenly, the semicircle behind her lit up, and an invisible light enveloped it.
Time stood still for the Abyss Thousand-Eyed Spider Demon!
Time froze!
Spacetime Island Lord's forbidden weapon was a master at controlling time. She had the ability to unleash most of the weapon's power, and when she used it to trap Gumo, it only slowed down the flow of time. But when she aimed it at the Abyss Thousand-Eyed Spider Demon… time froze completely.
The Abyss Thousand-Eyed Spider Demon was unaware, trapped in a frozen moment.
Asinus and Dome Wishswan couldn't help but feel their hearts tremble at the sight!
