Above the heavens, five Great Civilizations were locked in battle.

They were all Civilization Vice-Masters, and their clashes shook the cosmos.

Every burst unleashed countless beams of light, energy surging outwards in every direction. Fortunately, the fighting raged a hundred thousand li away; otherwise, they would have been caught in the fallout already.

Lu Yuan had just defeated two figures from the Heavenly Rankings, yet now he felt the vast gulf between his own power and that of Civilization-level combat. His best effort was a single "Civilization Killing Song," but the intensity of even a casual strike from a Civilization Vice-Master vastly overshadowed it.

As Lu Yuan gazed upward, a subtle dread settled in his heart.

It was as he suspected!

When he killed Zhu Tianren and Wang Xueze earlier, the Vice-Master of the Heavenly Principles Civilization had not intervened, suggesting he was previously unable to. The fact that he could now target Lu Yuan meant only one thing: the Vice-Master of the Heavenly Principles Civilization likely held a significant advantage now.

“Breakthrough for me!” The Vice-Master of the Heavenly Principles Civilization roared mid-air combat, as countless huā of civilization condensed above his head—a breakthrough achieved right in the heat of battle!

Lu Yuan’s expression was as if he had seen a ghost.

Damn it, when had someone of the Vice-Master of the Heavenly Principles Civilization’s stature managed an in-battle breakthrough!

Hell, breaking through at a moment like this—what was everyone else supposed to do?

The Vice-Master of the Heavenly Principles Civilization was already slightly favored fighting alone against the Vice-Master of the Confucian Civilization and the Vice-Master of the Three Books Civilization. Now that he was breaking through, things were dire. Lu Yuan had thought killing Zhu Tianren and Wang Xueze could turn the tide, but now it seemed the situation was spiraling toward the worst possible outcome.

Indeed, everything was proceeding exactly as Lu Yuan foresaw—though one hardly needed foresight, as everyone with eyes could see how events unfolded.

“I am the Eighth Epoch; the power of the Epoch is mine to command.” In the sky, the Vice-Master of the Heavenly Principles Civilization roared, his tone indicating he had successfully achieved the power level of the Eighth Epoch. Eighth Epoch power—that essentially placed him at the absolute apex among Civilization Vice-Masters. The Vice-Master of the Confucian Civilization was originally Eighth Epoch but was severely wounded; the Vice-Master of the Heavenly Principles Civilization was originally Seventh Epoch, and the Vice-Master of the Three Books Civilization was Sixth Epoch.

The combined might of the Vice-Master of the Three Books Civilization and the heavily injured Vice-Master of the Confucian Civilization against the Vice-Master of the Heavenly Principles Civilization had been roughly equal, with the latter holding only a slight edge.

Now, the Vice-Master of the Heavenly Principles Civilization had violently surged to a full Eighth Epoch power.

Upon reaching the Eighth Epoch, his might was as vast as the ocean, his grace as profound as the mountains.

He was the eternal, ancient deity.

He was the singular being transcending heaven and earth.

A faint aroma emanated from him—the scent of the Lord!

The Lord of Origin!

Sovereign over all!

At the level of the Civilization Lord, that power was termed "Lord Power." The power of a Civilization Vice-Master was termed "Civilization Power," but the strength of a Civilization Lord was "Lord Power," capable of dominating everything.

The current Vice-Master of the Heavenly Principles Civilization carried the faint hint of Lord Power.

The Vice-Master of the Heavenly Principles Civilization flicked his right hand in the void, effortlessly pressing the Vice-Master of the Confucian Civilization beneath his five fingers: “Vice-Master of the Confucian Civilization, though you are also Eighth Epoch, your injuries are too severe. You cannot exert much strength now.” His left hand swooped toward the Vice-Master of the Three Books Civilization, who struggled fiercely to resist: “Vice-Master of the Three Books Civilization, merely Sixth Epoch power, and you dare contend with me?” The Vice-Master of the Heavenly Principles Civilization was now fighting two enemies simultaneously and held absolute command.

Simultaneously, he unleashed three chained strikes toward Lu Yuan. Each finger attack was more civilized and more boundless than the last. Lu Yuan knew this was a moment of ultimate danger. He pushed the Chuanzheng Immortal Scripture to its limit, unleashing his ultimate technique: one finger failed to break through, a second failed, and only on the third was he severely repelled. As a result, Lu Yuan’s record against the Civilization realm’s power reached a total of sixteen defeats.

The Vice-Master of the Heavenly Principles Civilization hovered in the void, seemingly the sole sovereign: “Not bad. To withstand three fingers of this Eighth Epoch Civilization without dying, Li Taishi, you have cause for pride. Unfortunately, you will perish here, and not just you—everyone in the Confucian Civilization must perish. I will execute you all, fulfilling my supreme doctrine: preserve Heavenly Principle, annihilate Human Desire.”

The Vice-Master of the Heavenly Principles Civilization was not boasting. With his current Eighth Epoch power, he truly possessed the right to speak such words. Lu Yuan fell in three moves; the others fared worse, unable to withstand even one strike.

Lu Yuan felt as if an unparalleled Primeval Beast was addressing him.

The Vice-Master of the Heavenly Principles Civilization had seized absolute dominance, controlling the flow of the battle.

On the other front, the fights involving the Vice-Master of the Morality Extinguishing Civilization and the Vice-Master of the Integrity/Spirit Civilization had temporarily paused. There was no need; the situation concerning the Vice-Master of the Heavenly Principles Civilization was far more critical.

A voice echoed across the battlefield from the Vice-Master of the Confucian Civilization! “Vice-Master of the Heavenly Principles Civilization, do you truly believe I possess no means to counter you? You have worked alongside me for so many years; you know me, and I know you.” His voice was vast and grand, resounding like surging tides across the sky.

The Vice-Master of the Heavenly Principles Civilization calmed himself: “You can counter me? With your current strength, you think you can counter me? Laughable.” As he spoke, his divine sense scanned the void, surveying the surroundings. On the surface, he showed no fear, yet he maintained a deep caution regarding the Vice-Master of the Confucian Civilization. Even a dead tiger retains its might, and he vaguely sensed something was indeed amiss.

“You only realize it now? It is too late.” The Vice-Master of the Confucian Civilization looked directly at his adversary: “Prison of the Lord, Seal all things.” “Prison of the Lord, Heaven and Earth perish.” “Prison of the Lord, I master all.” “Prison of the Lord, Seal Civilization.” “Prison of the Lord, Civilization stagnates.” As the Vice-Master of the Confucian Civilization roared, sequence after sequence of mysterious spiritual powers resonated in the void. This was an invisible, intangible prison capable of dominating everything. The Vice-Master of the Heavenly Principles Civilization was shocked and enraged: “Prison of the Lord! You actually used the Prison of the Lord! If you use the Prison of the Lord in your current state, you will be finished!”

The Vice-Master of the Confucian Civilization smiled faintly: “My current body was already doomed to death. Using the Prison of the Lord now merely hastens my end by a few years. Does dying a few years earlier or later make a difference to me? Vice-Master of the Heavenly Principles Civilization, you were too careless. You thought you understood me too well, believing I wouldn't resort to trickery. In truth, I disdain resorting to tricks. I believe a gentleman should act uprightly. However, when necessary, I will play my hand. I prepared this Prison of the Lord long ago, intending it for a powerful foe. Since you are here, it shall be used against you.” The Prison of the Lord—what was this? Lu Yuan fell into contemplation.

Kong Ni, standing nearby, saw Lu Yuan’s confusion. Knowing his Junior Brother Li had lived a shorter life and possessed less experience, he transmitted his voice: “The Prison of the Lord is a cage utilized by those at the Civilization Lord level. It can completely imprison someone at the Civilization Vice-Master level. Rumor has it that one Civilization Lord once used the Prison of the Lord to trap a Vice-Master for a million years; he could not break free even after a full million years before being released.”

Lu Yuan inwardly gasped at the information—this was a true ultimate move.

He hadn't expected the Vice-Master of the Confucian Civilization to secretly prepare such a trump card. However, Lu Yuan clearly observed that both the Vice-Master of the Confucian Civilization and the Vice-Master of the Heavenly Principles Civilization were now standing within the area of the Prison of the Lord. Neither could escape. Lu Yuan could distinctly see the Vice-Master of the Confucian Civilization fighting desperately; if he didn't fight with all his might, the Vice-Master of the Heavenly Principles Civilization might escape. The Confucian Vice-Master was willingly trapping himself within the Prison of the Lord just to drag the Heavenly Principles Vice-Master in with him.

......

“Vice-Master of the Confucian Civilization, you truly do not value your life!” the Vice-Master of the Heavenly Principles Civilization roared.

“I had no life to begin with, at most a few decades remaining. What does it matter if I expend those final decades?” the Vice-Master of the Confucian Civilization shouted back. “If I restrain you and lock you in the Prison of the Lord, you can cause no more harm.”

The Prison of the Lord gradually solidified—it was a true Celestial Prison of Civilization. The figures of the two Vice-Masters gradually faded from view, though their voices could still be heard. Suddenly, a loud shout rang out: “Vice-Master of the Confucian Civilization, the true Prison of the Lord requires the power of a Civilization Lord to deploy. You cannot execute the real Prison of the Lord in your current state! Your Prison of the Lord has a flaw, a massive flaw. With this prison, you can hold me for thirty years at most.”

“Thirty years is thirty years,” the Vice-Master of the Confucian Civilization replied calmly.

“Well done, Vice-Master of the Confucian Civilization! What if you imprison me for thirty years? In thirty years, I will return. By then, I will send out pieces of your body—your eyes, your hands, your skull, every single part of you—to recruit experts from all quarters, making my Heavenly Principles Civilization even stronger. In thirty years, I will then destroy the Confucian Civilization.” This was a deep curse. In normal circumstances, if a Civilization realm expert perished, particularly one from the same sect, the body would often be entirely consumed by the Civilization Divine Fire—a final mark of respect.

But now, the Vice-Master of the Heavenly Principles Civilization cared nothing for such rites; he intended to dismember the Vice-Master of the Confucian Civilization’s corpse, using its parts to attract allies, strengthening the Heavenly Principles Civilization, and then annihilating the Confucian Civilization thirty years later.

The voices faded as the Prison of the Lord fully materialized.

This battle had essentially reached its conclusion in this strange manner.

The Prison of the Lord floated quietly in the void. Intense fighting must still be raging within, but for the next thirty years, it was detached from the outside world.

(First update delivered.)