Chapter 1378, The Mark of Fate

Translator:  Ashish

Translation Checker: Silvain

 

“Do not panic… we have yet to determine whether the Void Sovereign possesses the power to corrupt the Divine Tree itself, or the far more dreadful ability, to corrupt all beings.

 

Until that is certain, we cannot form our defenses,” said Demi-Buddha, the Buddha of the Palm Realm, in a tranquil voice.

 

Hearing this, the gathered Buddhist Experts fell silent, before nodding in agreement, one after another.

 

Indeed, the corruption of the World Tree was an isolated event.

 

As of yet, there was no proof that the Void Hegemon could forcibly drag another Sacred Tree into corruption.

 

Of course, it was also possible that his power was not limited to the Divine Trees alone, perhaps even the powerhouses of Myriad Races can also get corrupted.

 

But speculation was all they had.

 

Beside raising their guards, they had no clear countermeasure.

 

“Haaaaa… a catastrophe is coming. All Races are in danger. Perhaps, this is a test for all of us…”

 

Seated atop a lotus throne, Demi-Buddha eyes softened with boundless compassion.

 

[This is a calamity for all Races, no one can escape it! We must make plans as soon as possible!]

 

As this thought flashed in his mind, he made up his mind: He would make a trip to the God Race, and try to persuade them to join forces.

 

He believed that if the Gods, the Demon Court, and the Buddhist Sect joined forces, their combined might just be enough to truly surround and wipe out the Void Clan from the face of this world.

 

…

 

Meanwhile, Yu Zi Yu remained unaware that the news of the God Race’s devastating defeat had already spread across the stars.

 

And it was no wonder.

 

For a race as mighty as the Gods, to be so grievously wounded, such an event was enough to shake the cosmos. Were it any lesser Force, extinction would have been inevitable.

 

Meanwhile, deep within the endless Void, a colossal continent drifted in silence.

 

Then suddenly….

 

*Boooom… boooom…* Thunderous tremors tore through the emptiness. Countless eyes across the Divine Demon Continent widened in horror as, far off in the distance, they saw a shadow too great for even the Void striding toward them.

 

*Boooom…* With each step, the Void quaked. Terrifying shockwaves, strong enough to shatter stars, rippled outward, creating massive storms that swept across the abyss itself.

 

And if one looked closer, even this immense Divine Demon Continent, which had already expanded countless leagues in the Void, seemed almost insignificant before that towering silhouette.

 

Vast, boundless, terrifying. None of these words could do it justice.

 

To the beings of the continent, only two words came to mind: ‘Utter horror.’

 

And then, a voice, calm yet sovereign, resounded across the emptiness, “Take root here.”

 

“Yes, my Lord…”

 

Followed by the humble yet resonant response…

 

*Booooom, booooom…* Terrifying rumbles erupted as this colossal tree, vast enough to uphold a world itself, drove its roots deep into the fabric of the Void.

 

Its roots spread outward, plunging into unseen depths, while its branches, thick as mountains, stretched ever higher and wider, weaving and expanding like the threads of creation itself.

 

Before long, an entire world began to take shape in the heart of the Void.

 

On its surface, mountains rose, rivers flowed, and life began to stir.

 

That was the World Tree, the Divine Tree capable of sustaining an entire world. Upon its branches and roots, innumerable beings lived and thrived.

 

These beings were the members of the God Race, but they were not the Gods. True Gods were few in number, the rest were their vassals, or subordinate race.

 

The vassal Races lived on the World Tree, multiplying and thriving. Rooted on the World Tree, they had become one with the World Tree.

 

At this moment, if one looked closely, they would see faint halos of light surrounding their cities and dwellings. This was the protection of the World Tree, shielding them from the chaos of the Void.

 

They were not the Gods. If one were to truly define them, one could say there were the children of the World Tree, equivalent to cells in the World Tree’s body, or perhaps even smaller than that.

 

But alas… their strength was too meager. Few among them had even reached Tier-4.

 

They were far from an army capable of war.

 

Otherwise, the Void might have likely gained another batch of fresh troops.

 

…

 

“Your True Body… it’s truly immense.” Staring blankly for a moment, even Yu Zi Yu’s eyes narrowed slightly.

 

The World Tree, Rahiel, had a True Form so vast it could almost rival his own Soaring Purple Dragon body.

 

“Hehe…” With a grin, Rahiel admitted without shame, “My kind have always possessed… formidable bodies.”

 

Then, with a light chuckle, the World Tree’s tone shifted, “But compared to you, my Lord, even we pale in awe. Among all the Races, your physique is probably the undisputed number one.”

 

“Haha…” Yu Zi Yu let out a quiet chuckle but didn’t bother denying it.

 

It was indeed true.

 

His Soaring Purple Dragon Form was nothing short of monstrous. Whenever he assumed that form, his gaze toward the Myriad Races was like a god looking down upon ants.

 

There was a huge chasm between their hierarchy, and this naturally made his mindset grow transcendent, untethered by the petty concerns of the lower beings.

 

If it weren’t for his need to plunder vast quantities of resources to pave his path to Eternity, he might not even bother to raise his hand against those fragile creatures anymore.

 

…

 

But then, as if remembering something, he lowered his head, his gaze settling upon his right arm.

 

There, glowing faintly beneath his scales, was a crimson cross-shaped mark, pulsing softly with an undying radiance.

 

Every time it pulsed, Yu Zi Yu felt a wave of cold and stabbing pain lancing through his nerves.

 

“The Spear of Fate…” A murmur escaped his lips, as a cold glint flashed within the depth of his eyes.

 

The Spear of Fate was truly terrifying.

 

It had even left an indelible mark on his Soaring Purple Dragon Form.

 

And not only that, even someone as powerful as him, was unable to erase it.

 

It was as if that mark was eternal.

 

“That is the Mark of Fate, an imprint left by the Spear of Fate. If you draw near to it, it would sense you,” Rahiel explained gravely.

 

“And worse still…” the World Tree’s tone darkened, “This mark will enhance the power of the Spear of Fate. Should it strike you again, the next blow will be even more dreadful.”

 

The Spear of Fate had always been the most fearsome Imperial Artifact in existence.

 

Among all the Imperial Artifacts, it ranked at the very pinnacle.

 

If not for the great price it once paid for tearing through the River of Time and altering the destiny of the God Race, its power might have rivaled that of the Primordial Imperial Artifacts of legend.

 

One could only imagine how dreadful it must have been in its prime.

 

Even now, weakened as it was, its current strength was already comparable to a mid-grade Imperial Artifact.

 

Otherwise, it would not have merely left a scar upon Yu Zi Yu’s arm.