Swallowing the Stars: Heart of the Martial God

Chapter 225 The Supreme Treasure Palace Exchanged for Cao Benqi
Lord Lanzang felt even more heartbroken seeing his disciple's stubborn and unrepentant state.

He slowly drew out an ancient battle sword, its blade emanating a heavy aura.

"Today, I will personally settle this matter." Lord Lanzang's tone was resolute, but a careful listener could hear the hidden pain within it.

With a swing of the battle blade, a condensed and refined light tore through the starry sky. This strike, seemingly simple and unadorned, contained a power capable of splitting the heavens and earth.

As the blade flashed, space compressed layer upon layer, as if to suppress the entire star field within it.

Cao Benqi's expression changed, and he hurriedly raised his halberd to meet the attack.

The nine fireballs collided violently with the condensed blade light.

“BOOM!!!!”

A terrifying explosion swept across the starry sky, and an energy storm swept away the surrounding interstellar dust.

Cao Benqi was forced to retreat repeatedly under the furious attack of the Lord of Lanzang, his divine body clearly damaged. Facing the hateful attack of a veteran fourth-order universe lord burning his divine power, even the top-grade treasure, the Calamity Armor, could not fully protect his divine body.

The Lord of Ice Peaks drew his longsword, the Ice Peak Sword tracing a mysterious trajectory.

In an instant, time and space seemed to freeze across the entire star field, and an ice river that stretched across the starry sky appeared out of thin air.

"The Ice Age."

An extreme chill spread, and Cao Benqi's Nine Suns Burning the World rapidly dimmed under the erosion of the glacier.

The divine flames on the surface of the fireball extinguished at a visible speed, eventually transforming into nine enormous ice spheres that solidified within the glacier.

The Lord of the Storm's blade flashed in quick succession, perfectly complementing the Lord of the Ice Peak's icy domain, forming an overwhelming offensive.

Although the two veteran rulers of the universe usually belong to different forces, they cooperated perfectly at this moment for the greater good of their race.

Cao Benqi was in a sorry state under the combined attack of the two universe masters.

He wildly brandished the Flaming God Halberd, acting like a madman, constantly roaring, "Why? Why is everyone forcing me? In what way is Cao Benqi inferior to Ling Xuan?"

The armor shimmered with light, protecting his divine body from severe damage, but the depletion of his divine power was increasing rapidly.

But he stubbornly refused to admit defeat, his eyes filled with madness and resentment.

Just as the two sides were locked in fierce combat, the laws governing the entire starry sky suddenly underwent a fundamental change.

Time and space seemed to be gently smoothed by an invisible hand. The Ice Peak Lord's icy domain, which was enough to freeze the Milky Way, the Storm Lord's sword light, which was as heavy as a mountain, and Cao Benqi's Nine Suns Burning the World, which could burn the sky and boil the sea, all the attacks were strangely frozen at this moment, and then disappeared quietly as if they had been erased by an eraser.

It wasn't that they were suppressed by a more powerful force, but rather that the "concept" of these attacks was directly negated by some higher-level being.

"The strongest in the universe?" The thought arose simultaneously in the minds of the Ice Peak Lord and the Storm Lord. They hurriedly stopped and retreated, their expressions extremely solemn.

They could clearly feel that the spacetime they controlled was stripped away in an instant, and the primordial laws manifested clear patterns around them, yet they seemed to be afraid of something, and they all retreated in all directions.

This power, where words become law and rules yield, can only be achieved by the strongest beings in the universe.

"Who is the strongest being to descend upon our human territory?" the Ice Peak Lord proclaimed, his voice echoing through the starry sky. "This is an internal affair of the human race; please refrain from interfering. If they are visiting as guests, I have already informed my clan's Flame Emperor, who will soon come to greet them."

"well"

A long sigh echoed through the starry sky, a sound that seemed to come from the beginning of the universe, containing endless vicissitudes.

With that sigh, the spacetime structure of the entire star field subtly adjusted, and the trajectories of the stars underwent subtle changes, as if welcoming the arrival of a supreme being.

An old man, whose height was over 90,000 kilometers, whose body was faintly glowing with black light, who wore seemingly ordinary blue armor, and who had two crystal-clear horns on his forehead, appeared before everyone.

The very laws of the universe trembled slightly around him, and his power to make his words lawful caused the entire starry sky to respond to his will.

Those seemingly cloudy eyes contained the wisdom to see through the birth and death of the universe.

"So it's the Mountain Hermit," Lord Lanzang said in a deep voice, his tone wary. "I've heard you're always elusive, appearing and disappearing like a dragon, always alone. Why have you suddenly arrived in my human territory today, and why are you interfering in my internal affairs?"

The mountain dweller's gaze first fell on Cao Benqi, and a clear look of disappointment flashed in his eyes.

Although this disciple is very talented, his temperament is too extreme, and he will ultimately find it difficult to achieve great things.

But considering their past relationship as master and disciple, he couldn't just sit idly by.

"This child has a karmic connection with me." The Mountain Hermit's voice was calm, yet contained a power that could shake the very rules of the universe. "I hope you two will grant me face and let this matter rest."

The Lord of Ice Peaks frowned deeply: "Mountain Dweller, Cao Benqi betrayed his race and killed an enforcer—this is an unforgivable crime. What right do you, a lone strongest warrior, have to interfere in the internal affairs of my human race?"

Just as the two sides were locked in a standoff, an even more astonishing change occurred in the starry sky.

If the arrival of the Mountain Guest caused the rules of the universe to retreat, then the changes at this moment are making the rules of the universe rejoice.

The laws of the entire star field suddenly became unusually active, and the ten fundamental laws seemed to have come to life, dancing joyfully in the starry sky.

The stars shone even brighter, the lines of time and space were clearly visible, and each star trembled slightly, radiating waves of joy.

A figure slowly walked out of the void. His appearance was without any warning, as if he had always been standing there, perfectly integrated with the starry sky.

Ling Xuan has arrived.

The supreme imperial might naturally spread out; this was not forced suppression, but rather a natural submission to all paths.

Around him, space and time automatically arranged themselves into mysterious trajectories, and starlight automatically converged into a dazzling halo, as if the entire starry sky was paying homage to their king.

At this moment, a silent hymn seemed to resound in the starry sky, as every elementary particle rejoiced and celebrated the arrival of the supreme being.

Ling Xuan's gaze fell on the Mountain Guest, a hint of seriousness flashing in his eyes.

Ling Xuan was indeed wary of this mysterious and unpredictable strongest being in the universe.

He knew that the true identity of the Mountain-Sitting Guest was the reincarnation of a god-king. Such an existence had unfathomable depths, and no one knew what astonishing methods he was hiding.

“The Mountain-Sitting Guest,” Ling Xuan spoke calmly, his voice carrying an undeniable authority, each word resonating through the starry sky, “You intend to protect this traitor?”

The mountain dweller looked at Ling Xuan with a gentle smile on his face, but deep in his eyes was an unprecedented solemnity.

He could sense that the rising star before him had already reached an astonishing level of strength.

What made him even more wary was that Ling Xuan seemed to be shrouded in a mysterious veil, which even he could not fully see through.

"Emperor Yan," the Mountain Hermit's tone remained calm, yet every word carried the majesty of the universe's strongest being, "this boy may have made mistakes, but his crimes do not warrant death. Considering the merits he once rendered to the human race, how about sparing his life?"

Ling Xuan sneered, and his supreme imperial aura naturally spread out, forming a balance of power with the aura of the Mountain Guest.

The auras of the two strongest beings clashed fiercely in the starry sky, causing the laws of the entire star field to tremble slightly.

On one side is the control of spacetime that makes the fundamental rules of the universe retreat, and on the other side is the supreme imperial might that makes all paths submit. These two completely different auras of power clash with each other, drawing a clear dividing line in the starry sky.

"Killing an enforcer and betraying one's race are unforgivable crimes," Ling Xuan's voice was icy. "Mountain Dweller, you are the strongest lone traveler; what right do you have to interfere in the internal affairs of my human race? Do you think that just because you are the strongest in the universe, you can do whatever you want within my human territory?"

The mountain dweller quickly weighed the options in his mind.

He certainly had the ability to forcibly take Cao Benqi away, but that would mean a complete falling out with Ling Xuan. Considering Ling Xuan's mysterious background and astonishing potential, he didn't want to make this an enemy.

"Emperor Yan," the hermit said slowly, his gaze deep and unfathomable, "the path of cultivation is long. Let us leave a way out today so we can meet again in the future. Although this child has committed grave sins, he has after all rendered meritorious service to the human race. How about we each take a step back?"

Ling Xuan's eyes flickered as he quickly put his mind to work.

Although he was confident, he also knew how formidable a veteran powerhouse like Zuo Shan Ke was.

If a fight really breaks out, the outcome is unpredictable, and it could very well affect the entire territory of the human race.

He is now the leader of the human race (a weightlifting champion), bearing the heavy responsibility of the 1008 interdimensional kingdoms of the human race on his shoulders, and cannot act recklessly.

"Mountain Dweller, how do you intend to compromise?" Ling Xuan asked in a deep voice, his supreme imperial aura slightly restrained, but he remained vigilant.

The mountain dweller remained calm and composed. With a flick of his wrist, a pagoda radiating seven-colored light appeared in his palm.

The pagoda has nine levels, each with different secret patterns, exuding the aura of a supreme treasure that makes one's heart tremble.

"This treasure is called the 'Nine-Turned Tower,' a top-tier, supreme-grade treasure of the realm." The Mountain-Sitting Guest gently pushed the tower towards Ling Xuan. "It is a priceless treasure throughout the entire Primordial Universe. I will present it to Emperor Yan as a token of my sincerity."

Ling Xuan frowned. Although this supreme treasure of the highest level was precious, it seemed insufficient to compensate for the impact of a traitorous cosmic ruler on the human race.

The Mountain-Sitting Guest paused, then continued, "Of course, this is just a deposit and a small token of sincerity… I need some time to prepare. How about this: within ten thousand epochs, I will personally deliver a supreme treasure palace to settle this matter. Finally, I guarantee, in the name of the strongest being in the universe, that I will never allow Cao Benqi to become an enemy of humanity again."

Ling Xuan looked at the Nine-Tailed Tower in front of him and quickly weighed his options.

The fact that the Mountain-Sitting Guest is willing to vouch for him in the name of the strongest being in the universe carries significant weight.

Moreover, offering a top-tier, top-grade treasure of the domain as a deposit demonstrates sufficient sincerity.

There is another supreme treasure-level palace behind it. He believes that with the abilities of the Mountain-Sitting Guest God King Treasure Refiner, refining a supreme treasure-level palace should not be a problem.

More importantly, Ling Xuan could sense that the Mountain-Sitting Guest truly did not want to be his enemy.

Considering the methods of the Mountain Dwellers, avoiding enmity with such beings would be a wise move for the human race.

“Alright.” Ling Xuan finally spoke, accepting the Nine-Tailed Tower. “However, Cao Benqi is hereby expelled from the human race and will never return! The Yan God Clan will remain a member of the human race and will be protected by the Heavenly Court.”

The Mountain-Sitting Guest nodded slightly: "Thank you, Emperor Yan. I will definitely fulfill my promise within ten thousand epochs."

With that, he rolled up his sleeves and, along with Cao Benqi, whose face was full of resentment, vanished into the starry sky in an instant.

Their departure caused no spatial disturbance, as if they had simply been erased from existence in this universe.

Lord Lan Cang gazed in the direction where Zuo Shan Ke and Cao Ben Qi had disappeared, his expression complex and unreadable.

This usually calm and collected veteran ruler of the universe now had a face full of sorrow and regret.

Ling Xuan's gaze swept over the mess in the starry sky—Yan Shen Star had been shattered by the aftershocks of the previous battle.

He didn't say much, but with a slight thought, the power of the Lord of the Universe to control space and time naturally manifested.

In an instant, time and space in the entire star field began to reverse, the shattered stars reassembled, and the destroyed mountains and rivers were rapidly reshaped.

Seeing this, the Lord of Ice Peaks also released the members of the Flame God Clan who had been stored in his world ring.

The people of the Flame God Clan, whom he had protected at the start of the battle, were filled with gratitude as they watched their homeland being rebuilt.

"Thank you, Emperor Yan! Thank you, Lord of Ice Peak!"

Countless members of the Flame God Clan knelt and bowed in gratitude toward the two cosmic lords.

Ling Xuan's voice resounded throughout the entire star field: "From this day forward, the Yan God Clan will continue to be led by the Yan God Kingdom Lord and directly governed by the Heavenly Court."

The Lord of the Flame God Kingdom led all the Venerables in a respectful bow: "We humbly obey the decree of the Flame Emperor!"

Ling Xuan nodded slightly, turned around, took a step, and his figure disappeared into the starry sky.

The Lord of Ice Peak and the Lord of Stormy Retreat exchanged a glance and then departed one after the other.

……

The news of Cao Benqi's betrayal of the human race and his establishment of a separate sect was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, quickly creating ripples among billions of races in the universe.

It all started with that earth-shattering battle on the original planet.

Although the powerful figures from various races dared not openly observe in the face of Emperor Yan Lingxuan's supreme imperial might, their covert surveillance never ceased.

After all, the feelings of billions of races in the universe towards the increasingly powerful human race are complex.

Countless forces are secretly hoping for a rift to appear within the human race. If the two behemoths, the Giant Axe Arena and the Virtual Universe Company, could turn against each other because of this, it would undoubtedly be great news for other races.

However, the development of events was beyond the expectations of all bystanders.

Emperor Yan Lingxuan displayed an extraordinary vision, enforcing the law impartially with swift and decisive action, and forcefully quelled the storm.

But what surprised all parties the most was that Cao Benqi was able to escape unscathed from the domineering Yan Emperor and leave the human territory with a swagger.

"This is simply unbelievable!" Within the demon realm, the Lord of Annihilation spoke with the Dream Demon Ancestor in the Dream Ancestor's Secret Realm, his tone filled with bewilderment. "Given the Flame Emperor's character, there's no way he would let a traitor go so easily."

“That’s right. Given that brat’s temper, daring to slap him like that, Cao Benqi is definitely doomed. Giant Axe wouldn’t go against his own disciple for the sake of a Lord of Blazing Sun. Lord of Lan Cang may seem a bit muddle-headed, but he shouldn’t be stupid on matters of principle.” Dream Demon Ancestor was also full of doubts. “The Virtual Universe Company is even less likely to protect Cao Benqi, let alone let him betray his clan?”

Over the next tens of thousands of epochs, the major powers of the universe closely monitored the subsequent developments.

What's even more puzzling is that Cao Benqi not only lived well in the universe, but also met peacefully with other human universe masters on the original planet.

This unusual phenomenon finally made some top powers unable to hold back.

Initially, the top races that were hostile to the human race, such as the demon race and the mechanical race, were full of contradictions and probing in their attitude towards Cao Benqi.

The value of a fourth-order universe lord's surrender is undeniable. In fact, if a race could have a fourth-order universe lord, it could immediately become a powerful race and gain a foothold in the universe.

Even among the most powerful races, fourth-tier universe lords are the core of the force, and their numbers are not many.

However, precisely because of his high status and great strength, his "defection" process is full of illogical aspects - especially his ability to leave safely from the domineering and powerful Yan Emperor, and the fact that the human race did not launch a relentless pursuit afterward. This makes people wonder if this was a shocking conspiracy carefully planned by the human race's high-ranking officials, or perhaps by the Giant Axe Arena and the Virtual Universe Company.
The goal was to implant Cao Benqi, a crucial pawn, into the enemy's core.

Therefore, there was always an invisible barrier between these top forces and Cao Benqi.

Perhaps it was a demon race cosmic lord who "accidentally" encountered Cao Benqi in the cosmic sea. His words seemed warm, but in fact, every sentence was full of hidden sarcasm, trying to find out if he still had any secret connections with the human race; or perhaps it was the father god of the mechanical race who, through massive data processing, simulated thousands of possibilities for Cao Benqi to be a "spy".

The conditions they offered seemed generous, but they always maintained the most fundamental vigilance, never allowing Cao Benqi to touch their true tribal secrets.

Although Cao Benqi could sense the intention to recruit him, he also clearly perceived the pervasive sense of alienation and suspicion.

Despite his immense power, he was excluded from the true core of power due to suspicions of being a "spy," and this sense of isolation deepened his resentment.

He travels throughout the universe, partly to seek opportunities to improve his strength, and partly to actively search for a place that can truly accept him and provide him with sufficient status and resources.

The turning point came from the intervention of the mountain dweller.

(End of this chapter)