Emperor Wu Shihuang's handwriting, do not go out of the Milky Way border

The Ghostly Venerable hesitated and said, "Although their plan was successful, what was that power just now?!"

"It looks like we're going to fail!" Venerable Xuantian said hesitantly.

"Just wait and see. According to legend, those who succeed in transcending will be blessed by heaven and earth, while those who fail will be punished by heaven. We will know whether they have succeeded or not then!" Venerable Youtian looked into the void, his words filled with doubt.

Ying Zheng did not speak about this, but other powerful figures would not ignore his presence.

Now that the World Ship has passed through most of its territory, it has been thoroughly scanned by that mighty power.

An invisible crisis began to approach, and fear began to rise in the hearts of Emperor Canglan and others.

"This chilling feeling is terrifying! Quickly gather the power of all living beings to defend against it!" The incantation in Emperor Canglan's hands began to change, driving the power of the All Living Beings Array to push the defensive power to its limit.

Even with such immense power striking, the Boundary Ship was instantly blasted into an unknown region outside of time and space.

Under the influence of this force, everyone was immobilized and everything was slowed down to the extreme.

They are like mosquitoes sealed in amber, drifting outside of time and space like ghosts.

There are more than a dozen World Ships here in the same state as them; they are all losers.

At the same time, images of the collapsing heaven and earth began to emanate from the void, and endless void power began to linger.

It was as if the wrath of the heavens was irresistible, and a force swept over Ying Zheng and the others. In an instant, they felt the shackles that heaven and earth had imposed on them. This was the punishment that the will of the world had given them.

Ying Zheng struggled to break free of the shackles binding him, but to no avail: "Heavenly punishment has appeared; they have failed!"

Upon hearing this, Venerable Ghost gritted his teeth and said, "Fortunately, we didn't board the Boundary Ship, otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable!"

A bitter smile appeared on Venerable Xuantian's face: "Yes, although we are being punished by heaven, at least we are still alive!"

"But what should we do next? Those wolves and tigers that were originally suppressed by the Canglan Universe Civilization will not let go of this opportunity to expand!" Qingzhu said hesitantly.

Many thoughts flashed in their eyes, and Ying Zheng also had his own ideas. The current Hongmeng universe civilization was too weak. If they could be brought together to join, it might be a good opportunity to grow stronger.

After all, Ying Zheng needs to cultivate in peace, but he needs a huge amount of resources to help him improve his cultivation.

Therefore, he needs to have a powerful enough force under his command to collect resources.

Now, Ying Zheng looked at everyone and said:
"Although those extraterrestrial civilizations are not as powerful as the Canglan extraterrestrial civilization, their sheer number of wolves and tigers is extremely disadvantageous to us. Moreover, we are currently under divine punishment, so I suggest that we stick together for warmth!"

After Ying Zheng spoke, the other powerful beings remained silent and instead turned their gazes to Xuan Tianzun and Youhun Zunzhe.

After all, Ying Zheng's strength was undeniable, and only the two Venerable Ones had the right to make that decision.

The Venerable Xuantian gazed intently at Ying Zheng and slowly said, "Fellow Daoist Hongmeng, it seems you have grand ambitions..."

Ying Zheng remained calm and responded without any fluctuation: "I do indeed have selfish motives, but the Venerable Xuantian should be well aware of the current situation. Those of us who have chosen to stay must ultimately seek a way to protect ourselves."

"Do you really want to end up like the Ghost Demons, constantly hunted down and living like stray dogs?"

These words caused everyone present to look grim.

Everyone was planning their own escape routes, but they had to admit that these arrangements might not be enough to withstand an attack from a powerful enemy eyeing them covetously.

Even if one chooses to align themselves with one of the factions, as a newcomer, how much trust can they gain? They will inevitably be excluded from the core of power.

Ying Zheng's proposal did indeed offer a new option.

The Ghostly Venerables stared at Ying Zheng, their eyes scrutinizing him. They didn't know much about Ying Zheng's temperament, but from his words just now, they could already glimpse his ambition to be extraordinary.

The reason these people didn't board the boundary ship to try their luck was precisely because they had long lost their fighting spirit. Asking them to follow Ying Zheng on another journey now would be asking the impossible.

However, as Ying Zheng had said, the current situation meant they could no longer remain unaffected. The Ghostly Venerable sighed, voicing the concerns in everyone's hearts: "Your suggestion is good, but we don't trust you!"

The Ghostly Venerable's words represented the sentiments of most of the powerful figures present. After all, they had no prior dealings with Ying Zheng and were unfamiliar with his character and conduct; if they were to be betrayed, the consequences would be unimaginable.

The Ghostly Venerable's straightforward statement secretly pleased Ying Zheng. The implication was that as long as their trust was gained, the alliance could be formed.

At that time, Ying Zheng will be able to recruit these dozens of powerful figures, along with the two Venerables, to his side, thus strengthening the prestige of the Hongmeng Universe.

"It's understandable that you all have doubts, but we can establish a Great Dao Covenant. With this constraint, you should be able to rest assured, right?" Ying Zheng looked around at everyone and solemnly proposed.

The cultivators present exchanged glances, and a look of relief flashed in Venerable Ghost's eyes: "If we can really establish an alliance, it's not impossible."

At this moment, Venerable Xuantian suddenly interrupted their conversation: "Since we are allies, there should be someone in charge. You are probably not qualified to be the leader."

Seeing that Venerable Xuantian was openly challenging his authority, Ying Zheng knew that things would not go smoothly. However, compared to the scene he had expected where everyone opposed him, the fact that only Venerable Xuantian stood up to question him was already a good outcome.

Ying Zheng immediately countered, "Then, in Fellow Daoist Xuantian's opinion, what should be done?"

"The law of the world is the survival of the fittest. If you want to lead us, you must have enough strength to establish a foothold in the void. As long as you defeat me, I will no longer object," Venerable Xuantian said decisively.

The others tacitly agreed to the suggestion. Just as Venerable Xuantian had said, the weak were indeed unworthy of leading them.

"Hehe... Fellow Daoist Xuantian said I am ambitious, it seems your ambitions are not small either. However, I accept your challenge!" Ying Zheng accepted the challenge with full confidence.

Seeing this, Venerable Ghost quickly stepped in to defuse the tense atmosphere: "We are currently burdened by divine punishment, and our strength is less than half of what it was at its peak. It would be better to wait until the power of the divine punishment is eliminated before we compete, so as not to damage our origins and suffer losses instead."

The Venerable Xuantian had no objection to the suggestion: "We shall follow what Fellow Daoist Youhun has said."

Ying Zheng suppressed his fighting spirit and said calmly, "Then let's heal our injuries first and fight again when we're back to our peak condition. As for those covetous outsiders, they are nothing to fear as long as no Emperor-level being makes a move."

Upon hearing Ying Zheng's boastful words, the Venerable Xuantian scoffed dismissively, but none of the other powerful figures objected.

Although it's unclear what methods Ying Zheng used to completely annihilate Tai Zun, preventing his resurrection, this achievement is undeniable. Xuan Tian Zun dared to act this way because of his Venerable-level cultivation, something they lacked.

If he were to fight Ying Zheng, he would probably be subdued in less than ten moves. What would become of his reputation then?
Afterwards, Ying Zheng led everyone to travel towards the Hongmeng Universe.

Many of these powerful beings control cosmic civilizations, but they are currently severely injured and in poor condition. If they return now, they might be ambushed. It would be better for them to travel together, work together to eliminate the power of divine punishment, and then return to reunite their former allies after they have recovered to their full strength.

When Ying Zheng and his entourage arrived in the Hongmeng Universe, many powerful beings, though their expressions were not outwardly disdainful of this universe that had only undergone four transformations, revealed their contempt in their eyes.

The current Hongmeng Universe has not even reached the level of an eternal world, which is vastly different from the Canglan World they once lived in, and is even inferior to some of the cosmic civilizations they ruled.

However, out of consideration for Ying Zheng, no one showed their feelings too obviously.

As Ying Zheng led his entourage to descend, although he concealed his aura, the immense pressure still enveloped the surrounding area, alarming the Great Mighty Saint Venerable and others.

Feeling the pressure of those dozens of powerful wills, Immortal Venerable Hongluo and the others couldn't help but feel apprehensive.

"I've only ever felt such a terrifying aura when facing the Great Emperor!"

"So many have appeared all at once, could it be that powerful beings have gathered together?"

“………”

Seeing the anxious and restless group of Immortal Venerable Hongluo gathered together, Ying Zheng appeared and gave the following instructions:

"The Canglan Universe Civilization's transcendence plan has failed, and these are all powerful beings and venerable figures who did not accompany us. Now that we have formed an alliance, the Hongmeng Universe must immediately prepare for war. After we emerge from seclusion, a fierce battle will surely follow!"

Upon hearing this, the Great Vajra Deity and the others were all greatly shocked.

Without the deterrent effect of the Canglan universe civilization, various forces within the Canglan universe will inevitably become restless, and the future situation is destined to be turbulent.

Fortunately, they have Ying Zheng in charge, and Ying Zheng has brought back more than ten powerful figures and two Venerables this time. This turmoil will eventually end with them dominating the whole situation!
"I humbly obey the Great Emperor's decree!"

Hearing the united response from everyone, Venerable Xuantian curled his lip in disdain.

Afterwards, Ying Zheng arranged quiet rooms for everyone to cultivate in seclusion.

After Ying Zheng and his entourage entered a state of seclusion, the high-ranking members of the Hongmeng Universe gathered in the main hall could no longer contain their excitement.

"Although we have now broken free from the oppression of the Canglan Universe Civilization, we still face many difficulties if we want to truly develop and grow stronger." The Great Vajra Holy Venerable spoke with joy but also with hidden worries.

“That is indeed the case. Although the Great Emperor has invited more than ten powerful figures and two Venerables to assist us, our own strength is ultimately too weak. We cannot trouble the Great Emperor to personally handle everything.” Immortal Venerable Hongluo said with a resolute expression.

Nuwa and the others shared the same thought. Even with Ying Zheng and others as their backers, their cultivation level was at most the fifth rank of the Universe level, and they couldn't even find a single sixth, seventh, or even eighth-rank expert.

Ultimately, it's because the primordial universe lacks sufficient foundation; otherwise, why would it be in such a passive position?

"The Great Emperor and others are currently in seclusion. As previously instructed, we must quickly reorganize our troops in preparation for future battles."

"The most urgent task is to safeguard our foundation. No matter how chaotic the outside world may be, as long as it does not affect the primordial universe, we should remain still for the time being!"

The Crimson Immortal Venerable solemnly proposed.

"I second that!" everyone said in unison.

The proposal was unanimously approved. Given their current cultivation levels, if they were to rashly get involved in the external conflicts, their fate would be uncertain.

Within the Canglan Universe, various forces that had previously lay dormant are now revealing their strength. Those who had previously held back due to fear of the Canglan Universe civilization are now facing the consequences of the Canglan Transcendence Plan's failure. The power of divine punishment is sweeping across the universe, and anyone whose cultivation has reached a certain level can feel the destructive power fluctuations.

The ancestor of the Crimson Fire Universe Civilization, Venerable Crimson Fire, awoke from the sealed underground palace. The power of time around him dissipated, and a vast aura swept across the sky, with the concept of fire permeating heaven and earth.

The red-haired old man stroked his beard and laughed: "The failure of Canglan's transcendence is a golden opportunity for us to rise! We must gather resources with all our might, seize control of the universe, and the final victory will surely belong to us!"

Not only the Crimson Flame Ancestor, but other ninth-tier cosmic-level powerhouses also mobilized their subordinate civilizations to take action. Furthermore, an eighth-tier cosmic civilization lifted its suppression, prompting the world to transform into a ninth-tier civilization.

The immense power emanating from these civilizations intertwined and collided, thus setting the stage for a chaotic war.

Within the Canglan Universe Circle, the Liuguang Universe Civilization appears to be just an ordinary Level 8 civilization.

Its ruler, the Radiant God, was kneeling respectfully before a grand hall, from which faint spatial and temporal fluctuations could be heard.

"Your Excellency, the Dark Spirit God has sent a message demanding our submission to the Dark Spirit Universe Civilization. We humbly request Your Excellency's instructions!" said the Radiant God-King with utmost respect.

Within the hall, spatial fluctuations converged, manifesting the figure of the Time Spirit. However, his face was deathly pale, clearly indicating severe injuries, and he was barely regaining his mobility by absorbing a massive amount of faith power. In his palm rested a crystal as brilliant as a gemstone.

"How hateful! Canglan's grand scheme has failed in the end. If I hadn't had a backup plan, I probably wouldn't have been able to return with that treasure protecting me. Fortunately, I wasn't part of the main formation and wasn't targeted by that force, otherwise even with the treasure, I wouldn't have escaped this calamity!" Shi Ling said bitterly.

"Snapped!"

The crystal shattered instantly, and endless streams of light poured into Shi Ling's body, rapidly healing his injuries. In just a moment, Shi Ling had recovered to his peak condition, but the pain in his eyes was still undeniable.

"The path to transcendence is blocked; that power is beyond human resistance. Unless one transcends and reaches the other shore... Now, the only option is to focus on Ying Zheng. I must figure out the secret of how he controls that power!"

Shi Ling hissed in a low voice, as if she were going mad.

He looked up at the kneeling figure outside the hall, but the Flowing Light God Lord did not respond and remained calmly kneeling.

"What is Dark Spirit? He's just a disciple with a flawed Dao. I'll go and meet him myself."

"There's no need to hide it any longer. This is given to you. If you haven't achieved great power by the time we meet again, you know very well the consequences!"

As Shi Ling stepped out of the main hall, a shimmering light appeared in his palm, revealing a primordial crystal containing the concept of flowing light.

The Radiant Divine Lord was overjoyed: "This is... the core of the Great Dao!"

"That's right. This is the Dao concept left behind after the fall of a great being. After refining it, one can inherit its Dao lineage and easily advance to the level of a great being, but one will also be forever stuck there."

“There is even a risk that he might be reborn by possessing the original owner's body, but with me suppressing him, he won't be able to cause any trouble,” Shi Ling said confidently.

"Thank you for your grace, Your Excellency! I will certainly live up to your expectations!" The Divine Lord of Flowing Light excitedly accepted the core of the Great Dao with both hands. (End of Chapter)