Chapter 8: The Ancient Domain

While the Great Dominator's true body conversed with the flame beast, elsewhere in the palace, thirteen void thrones hung in the void.

One was a snow-white throne, the other twelve were golden thrones.

On the snow-white throne sat an old man with six curved horns, draped in a snow-white robe and a white beard. On the twelve golden thrones sat twelve golden-armored mighty ones, among them Woodflower Dao Lord.

"I summoned you for a matter," said the white-bearded old man with six curved horns, smiling. "As you know, our clan has gained a new member. This little one's talent is quite remarkable. In just a thousand years, it has emerged from the Star Island Abyss. Among the royal clan, it is among the most outstanding."

"Congratulations, Dominator."

"I believe this little one will soon break through to the 'King' level."

"The royal clan will gain another powerhouse."

The twelve golden-armored mighty ones present, each from one of the twelve palaces, spoke flattering words. Yet it was not mere flattery, for the Star Island Abyss was specially designed to temper the royal clan. Those newly guided royal members, having wandered alone without proper guidance, usually took a long time to pass the trials. Moreover, the royal clan was exceedingly rare, so each member was precious, and those with such high talent were even more so.

The Great Dominator chuckled, clearly pleased: "This little one's talent is extremely high, so I intend to send it into the other universe."

"The other universe?"

"The other universe?"

The twelve golden-armored mighty ones all changed expression.

"Dominator, that is another universe. None of us have ever been there." They were all deeply worried.

"Don't worry," said the Great Dominator. "When I comprehended spacetime, I discovered traces of another universe within it and opened a cosmic passage. However, due to the differences in the origins of the two universes, the passage is influenced by the rules of both, allowing only those below the Dao Lord level to pass... Yet my consciousness can penetrate into the other universe, luring some beings over. Over countless ages, many World-level beings from the other universe have come through the passage. By examining their memories, I have gained some understanding of that universe."

Discovering another universe and opening a passage between them—even if his true body could not cross, his consciousness could forcibly penetrate...

The Great Dominator's abilities were indeed terrifying.

"But that is still another universe," the twelve golden-armored mighty ones were all wary.

The Endless Territories...

Were vast and boundless, with many unknown places. In the past, some Eternal Emperors who broke through and wandered had vanished without a trace. This infinite region, as divided by the mighty, was merely one 'universe'.

A universe has its own cosmic origin.

An other universe represents a different yet similar origin. For example, the origin of the Sword Dao in the other universe differs from that in the Endless Territories. A slight sense would reveal the difference... Since the origins differ, there is a fundamental distinction.

"My consciousness has also permeated several chaos worlds at the exit of the other universe," said the Great Dominator. "Through countless ages of observation, I have come to understand it well. The differences between them and us are not great. Our Endless Territories are divided into multiple factions, but the other universe is a unified force."

"There is an 'Ancient Domain' there, a place countless cultivators in the other universe yearn to enter. Even Dao Lords desire to go, and World-level beings are as numerous as oxen hairs. Yet very few can enter, and even fewer emerge alive. But those who enter and come out alive all greatly increase their strength," the Great Dominator said with emotion. "Though it may be dangerous, if the path of cultivation is always safe, one may not go far."

"Between life and death, there is great danger, but also great wonder."

"This little one's talent is very high, rare among our royal clan. I have already prepared several dangerous places for it to explore. The Ancient Domain of the other universe is the first and most important. If it can return alive, it will surely be reborn. Moreover, by integrating the mysteries of both universes, its future will be boundless," said the Great Dominator.

The twelve golden-armored mighty ones were all tempted.

The path of cultivation indeed requires冒险 and exploration. The more one sees and experiences, the further one can go. If Ji Ning had buried himself in cultivation in the Three Realms, how far could he have gone? But by venturing out, going to the Ten Thousand Gods Mansion, and then to the Mangaya Kingdom, his strength had improved so rapidly.

The other universe... no one in the entire Endless Territories had ever been there!

Because the passage opened by the Great Dominator, restricted by the rules of both universes, only allowed those below the Dao Lord level to pass.

"Dominator, can those from our twelve palaces enter?" Thousand Waves Dao Lord suddenly asked.

"Yes, Dominator. Our twelve palaces have many World-level beings," said Flame Palace's Chunde Dao Lord, his red beard bristling with eagerness.

The Dominator was sending his own clan member, so he must have some confidence. After all, the Dominator cared deeply for his clan, even founding the Mangaya Kingdom and nurturing the twelve palaces to protect them. And that flame beast was among the most talented of the clan. Though they knew nothing of the other universe's 'Ancient Domain', it must be a good place.

Naturally, they had to fight for it.

"I invited you here because, over countless ages, I obtained several 'Ancient Domain Tokens' from the World-level beings I lured over. These tokens are necessary to enter the Ancient Domain, but they only grant entry. The Ancient Domain is fraught with danger," said the Great Dominator. "I am not entirely confident about the little one, so I ask you to select four World-level beings from the twelve palaces."

"Five Ancient Domain Tokens, five World-level beings," said the Great Dominator. "Select four from your twelve palaces to join my clan's little one. Together, your chances will be much greater."

"Yes."

"That's certain."

All nodded.

The Mangaya Kingdom was after all one of the top forces in the Endless Territories. Selecting only four World-level beings from it—each would be monstrous enough to overpower ordinary one-step Dao Lords. Going to the other universe, even the Ancient Domain, should give them considerable confidence.

"Dominator, only four? Could we have more?" Thousand Waves Dao Lord quickly said.

"Dominator, four is a bit hard to choose."

"Only four from twelve palaces... Our Blade Palace has eight Blade Lords among World-level beings." Everyone present began to fret.

The Great Dominator said, "Beta Leo and Dong Xiu are both rare monstrous geniuses our Mangaya Kingdom has seen in countless ages. They are likely preparing to break through to Dao Lord, so they won't go."

The twelve golden-armored mighty ones all nodded in agreement.

Beta Leo and Dong Xiu could be considered the true pinnacle of World-level beings. For them, training at the World level was no longer necessary. Especially Beta Leo—before joining the twelve palaces, he was already monstrous to the extreme. Dong Xiu reached this level only after joining the Blade Palace.

"All others in the twelve palaces who have gained recognition from the ancient pagodas are candidates," said the Great Dominator.

Each of the twelve palaces had an ancient pagoda forest.

The Sword Palace's ancient pagoda forest was called the 'Sword Pagoda Forest', the Flame Palace's was called the 'Flame Pagoda Forest'... all similar names. World-level beings in the twelve palaces needed to reach a very high level in their realm to gain recognition from the ancient pagodas.

For example, the Sword Palace had only six Sword Lords.

The Blade Palace had eight Blade Lords, but this time Dong Xiu was excluded, leaving seven.

"Currently, excluding Beta Leo and Dong Xiu, there are sixty-six World-level beings in the twelve palaces who have gained recognition from the ancient pagodas," said Thousand Waves Dao Lord. "From sixty-six, we need to pick four. How? They all probably desperately want to go."

The chance to go to the other universe—if missed this time, who knew when it would come again?

"No rush."

"The little one has just returned from the Star Island Abyss to the royal clan. I need to teach it some techniques," said the Great Dominator. "Observe carefully. When the little one is fully prepared, I will select the four strongest from among them."

With a wave of his hand, the Great Dominator conjured scenes in the void beside him—sixty-six scenes in total, each showing one of the sixty-six candidates, all recognized by the ancient pagodas.

Among them, naturally, there was no Ji Ning.

...