The duration of this fusion far exceeded any previous attempt. In the past, the merging of several divine abilities into a single Chaos Esoteric Principle consumed a comparatively short amount of time.

This time, however, it was a fusion of Chaos Esoteric Principles with Chaos Esoteric Principles—the integration of nine such principles demanded an incredibly protracted period. Within his soul-sea, those various Chaos Esoteric Principles were constantly transforming, their progress painfully slow.

Furthermore, the organs taken from "It" within the Tianyuan Bead were being purified and cleansed, leveraging the bead’s power, but this process was nowhere near the stage of integration. This purification would consume even more time than the fusion of the Chaos Esoteric Principles.

Fortunately, the energy depleted during this phase belonged to the Tianyuan Bead itself, meaning he required minimal external power input. The Tianyuan Bead within his body was undergoing seismic transformations, and his own spirit soul was quietly navigating a complex metamorphosis.

Everything proceeded covertly; yet, Lingmeng and Zihan, who spoke with him intermittently, could sense absolutely nothing unusual emanating from him. ...they could sense absolutely nothing unusual emanating from him.

- This chapter is brought to you by Shushu.net - Hand-typed updates by the main portal - With the complete fusion of the Requiem’s upper and lower scrolls, he forged the Celestial Soul and stepped into the Primal Realm, inheriting all the memories of the High Priest Auro. In his comprehension of Soul Esoteric Principles, he had attained a state of marvelous, unbelievable profundity.

Even with the high cultivation of Lingmeng and Zihan, they could not detect the slightest anomaly. In the Chaotic Sea of Boundaries, the passage of time seemed agonizingly slow, yet the speed at which Ji Changkong and his party surged forward was lightning-fast.

Still, the time they spent entering the Source remained staggeringly long. Ji Changkong did not calculate the duration, but Zihan consistently employed a specialized method to track precisely how much time had elapsed since they departed the Capital toward the Source.

“Five hundred and twenty years… ” Zihan’s pretty face darkened with mounting impatience. “Why haven’t we reached the Source yet?

Ji Changkong, did you get the direction wrong? We should have been there by now after so long.” Lingmeng knitted her brows and chided, “Fellow Daoist Zihan, have some patience.

If the Celestial Venerable said the direction was correct, it won't be wrong. Since emerging from that Pure Land, the Celestial Venerable’s cultivation has advanced vastly; he would never make such a rudimentary error.” After leaving the Pure Land, the more perceptive Lingmeng had immediately noticed the change in Ji Changkong’s cultivation.

Because Lingmeng could not immediately gauge the depth of Ji Changkong’s power, she had secretly employed a secret method to probe his mind, hoping to extrapolate the level of his realm. However, when she activated the secret method and submerged her consciousness into Ji Changkong’s, she found herself entering a vast, limitless void.

Within that void, there was not the slightest tremor of a spirit, not a single thought that could be spied upon—as if everything had returned to nothingness. In that instant, Lingmeng realized that in terms of soul comprehension, Ji Changkong was already her equal, perhaps even superior in some aspects.

From that moment on, Lingmeng never dared to underestimate Ji Changkong or attempt to deceive him with frivolous lies. “Lingmeng, why do you always seem to be siding with him lately?

Did this brat say something to you?” Zihan grumbled, slightly displeased. Lingmeng smiled faintly and replied calmly, “We are in the same boat; we should cooperate and trust one another.

I believe he will offer us a clear explanation when the time comes.” Having said this, Lingmeng smiled and looked toward Ji Changkong. After exiting the Pure Land, Lingmeng not only sensed Ji Changkong’s massive leap in cultivation but also perceived that he seemed to have aged by a thousand years, growing significantly more composed and steady—another reason she hesitated to dismiss him lightly.

“Don’t worry, we still have a long way to go before reaching the Heart of the Universe; we haven’t even covered one-third of the journey,” Ji Changkong chuckled softly, glancing at Zihan. “I know you’re bored, but it’s fine.

In a while, I suspect you won't be bored anymore. You’ll have plenty to keep you busy then.” “What do you mean?” Zihan was taken aback.

“You’ll know soon enough.” Ji Changkong smiled mysteriously. One day, fifteen years later.

Lingmeng’s expression suddenly shifted drastically, and she exclaimed, “Not good!” “What is it?” Zihan knew Lingmeng possessed acute perception and high cultivation, and hearing this, she couldn't help but tense up. “It’s the Liquid Metal Men,” the one who answered was, surprisingly, Ji Changkong.

“You knew?” A dazzling light of surprise flashed in Lingmeng’s eyes. Nodding, Ji Changkong smiled.

“When I said you wouldn’t be bored, I was referring to these three Liquid Metal Men. With them around, I imagine Zihan will be quite busy.” “You deliberately led us this way?” Zihan’s cheeks twitched; she seemed genuinely enraged.

“No, no, no.” Ji Changkong shook his head and explained with earnest sincerity, “My destination is still correct—the Heart of the Universe. I just happened to sense the presence of these three fellows along the way and decided to detour over here.” “Do you know how powerful those three are?” Zihan’s anger intensified, finally breaking free of control.

She roared at him, “In the Chaotic Sea of Boundaries, we have clashed with them multiple times. Every single engagement ended in our ignominious retreat; we have never won once!

Worse, each time we meet them, our defeat is more complete—they always manage to exploit more of our weaknesses!” Lingmeng’s expression grew grave, and she sighed. “Ji Changkong, you are truly wrong this time.

These Liquid Metal Men are more terrifying than any expert you have ever encountered. We have fought them for so long, yet we cannot deduce any weaknesses.

Once we encounter them, we won't be able to protect you.” “They are here,” Ji Changkong stated calmly, seemingly unfazed by Lingmeng’s and Zihan’s warnings. “There is no Pure Land nearby to hide in, so let’s meet these Liquid Metal Men.

Perhaps we might gain something from them.” “If you want to court death, you can stay behind! I’m not joining you!” Zihan’s face changed drastically, and she urged anxiously, “Lingmeng, we must leave immediately!” “What are you so afraid of?

Why are the Liquid Metal Men relentlessly pursuing you? What exactly did you do to make them hate you so much?” Ji Changkong suddenly demanded sharply.

“It’s none of your business!” Zihan’s eyes shot out killing intent, her expression volatile, as if she had made the decision to eliminate Ji Changkong. “Don’t!” Lingmeng immediately intervened.

“At a time like this, we must stand united. Otherwise, none of us will make it out of this journey alive.” “Lingmeng, let’s go!!” Zihan urged desperately.

“It’s too late.” Lingmeng offered a bitter smile and turned to Ji Changkong. “Why must you insist on meeting them?” “I think you already know the reason,” Ji Changkong said gravely.

Lingmeng stiffened slightly, a look of contemplation crossing her face. She wasn't certain—she couldn't be sure if Ji Changkong had truly guessed something, which was why she didn't press the issue, standing still despite Zihan’s frantic urging.

“Zihan, don’t go; it’s too late to leave now.” Only when Zihan prepared to flee alone did Lingmeng speak again. Zihan’s delicate body jolted.

“They’re really here!” This time, even she sensed the presence of the Liquid Metal Men from the Mechanical Empire. Three dazzling beams of aurora shot in from the distance.

The light resembled rays capable of piercing anything, dissipating the vast mist and quickly revealing the area. The beams were too fast, exceeding Zihan’s estimation.

The moment she saw the beams, they seemed to leap across space and time, suddenly materializing right before them. The three Liquid Metal Men, their eyes flashing with informational signals and dotted with sparks of fire, emitting a strange ‘hissing’ sound, suddenly appeared directly in front of Ji Changkong.

Ji Changkong remained outwardly calm. He studied the three Liquid Metal Men intently for a moment, then nodded slightly.

“As expected. They are indeed the metal lifeforms created by the Mechanical Empire’s Central Intelligence.” “How do you know about the Central Intelligence?!” Zihan was horrified.

Lingmeng also looked astonished, staring at him strangely. Lingmeng had vaguely suspected that Ji Changkong must know some vital information for him to act so recklessly.

Hearing his words now, Lingmeng was finally certain of her guess: Ji Changkong was indeed not entirely ignorant. “I do know some things,” Ji Changkong said with a knowing smile.

“Like the Great Void, the Central Intelligence is a strange spiritual entity birthed by the Heart of the Universe, which eventually drifted into a completely different universe—the one where the Mechanical Empire resides. The arrival of the Central Intelligence transformed that barbaric universe into an era of technology.

Relying on its capabilities, the Central Intelligence bred generation after generation of metal lifeforms, constantly identifying flaws and implementing improvements. Over countless generations, the rank of the metal lifeforms increased, and they acquired the trait of evolving intelligence…” As Ji Changkong recounted the history of the Central Intelligence, not only were Lingmeng and Zihan utterly stunned, but even the three approaching Liquid Metal Men listened silently without interruption.

“How do you know about our Mechanical Empire?” Mechanical Man Number Nine inquired mechanically. Ji Changkong did not answer him immediately, instead smiling as he looked at Lingmeng.

“Why is there the aura of the Mechanical Empire’s Central Intelligence on you? You clearly cultivate the Dao techniques of the Great Void, yet you possess the Central Intelligence’s energy signature.

Who are you, really?” Lingmeng’s expression froze. “These two are thieves.

They stole one of the three primary chips of our Mechanical Empire’s Central Intelligence. Without that one chip, the Central Intelligence cannot survive in its specialized form.

We have been ordered to retrieve the incomplete chip,” Mechanical Man Number Nine stated. “I did not steal any chip!” Lingmeng retorted with a straight face.

“I inadvertently entered the Mechanical Empire through a black hole and found a star completely encased in metal. Out of curiosity, I entered that star.

I don’t know what formation I activated, but various attacks began to bombard me. While dodging, a strange shard shot directly into my body.

I have been trying to purge that shard ever since, but I can't remove it at all. I had no idea that shard was one of your Central Intelligence chips!” “You are lying,” Ji Changkong said with a smile, shaking his head.

“If you knew nothing, you wouldn't have been so shocked when I mentioned the Central Intelligence. If you were truly ignorant, you wouldn't have even heard the term ‘Central Intelligence,’ because mechanical civilization never existed in your universe; you couldn't possibly have known any information related to it.”