It must be said, Calamity Supreme Bóyáng and Calamity Supreme Purple Star were extremely fortunate. After they found this independent space and discovered a space–time passage, they came in without really knowing what it was—and the first thing they encountered was this Divine Lotus.
The Divine Lotus was one of the few artifacts still usable when this world collapsed. Inside it were many records: this world was called the Divine Lotus World, and there was once a Supreme named the Divine Lotus Lord. Later the world perished and the Divine Lotus Lord fell, but in his final moment he gathered all his own power, drew together the world's power, and refined this Divine Lotus. The lotus survived the world's destruction, though grievously damaged; fortunately, the information recorded within wasn't completely lost.
From it, Bóyáng and Purple Star learned this was another world, and also learned a way to break through the Calamity Supreme realm. This realm-ruin had evolved many monsters; within them were Primordial Dawn Crystals. Hunt them, obtain the crystals, refine the Primordial Dawn Qi inside—this could help one break through Calamity Supreme. But it was only a possibility; to truly break through the Calamity Supreme realm still required many other conditions. It wasn't that simple.
The Divine Lotus World gave them hope, so they split into two lines of effort: Bóyáng continued acting according to Calamity Supreme Tianzai's layout, while Purple Star explored here. At first Purple Star explored alone—full of drawbacks; relying on the Divine Lotus, she could only barely proceed. Too many people couldn't be told of this, so they kept silent—until Lin Moyu was born.
Because Lin Moyu was the core of Tianzai's layout, everyone and everything connected to him would find their fates altered. Thus Purple Star took Ning Yiyi and the others away. Over the years she refined the Divine Lotus and obtained from it a cultivation method suited to exploring this world, as well as a powerful battle formation. She used these to train Ning Yiyi and the rest as her support. Later Lin Mohan came too—Bóyáng, who trusted her, told her, and she joined them.
Since things had been laid out, Purple Star explained it all. Lin Moyu listened quietly and, when she finished, asked, "Do you know what this method actually is?"
Purple Star was puzzled. "Isn't it just the cultivation method of the Divine Lotus World?"
Lin Moyu pressed, "With your experience, didn't you notice anything wrong with it?"
Purple Star shook her head—she hadn't.
Lin Mohan, however, had a sense of it: "I've studied the method too. It seems to specialize in soul and flesh, not Dao. I assumed the Divine Lotus World was just like that—but it seems it isn't."
Lin Moyu said, "Of course not. A method that cultivates only flesh and soul is one Supremes use to raise expedition teams." Seeing their baffled looks, he understood they simply didn't have this information—perhaps it was lost when the Divine Lotus World shattered, or perhaps the Divine Lotus Lord never recorded it; it's even possible the Divine Lotus Lord isn't entirely dead.
Silently, Lin Moyu told the Primal Chaos Gem, "Check whether the Supreme of this world left any backhand." The gem agreed readily. The Calamity Scepter flew off on its own into the distance.
Lin Moyu continued, "A world's Supreme will raise forces to explore other realm-ruins for him; those people cultivate only flesh and soul, not Dao. The method the Divine Lotus Lord left is exactly that."
Lin Mohan said, "Seems Xiaoyu knows far more than we do."
Lin Moyu didn't deny it. "This method isn't the proper path. Purple Star, you didn't know; I don't blame you. You had your reasons—I understand. Back then I was weak; now I intend to change things."
This time Purple Star didn't argue; she didn't have the standing to. Bigger fists, bigger truths—especially here.
"You want Primordial Dawn Qi," Lin Moyu went on, "but the qi in these crystals is too turbid. Even if you gathered billions of them, what you refined wouldn't be enough to break through Calamity Supreme. Tianzai's breakthrough involved factors beyond Primordial Dawn Qi—and he didn't fully succeed. He's stuck between Calamity Supreme and Supreme, neither here nor there—just like Dao."
The more Purple Star heard, the more outlandish it sounded—how could Lin Moyu know so much, when even they didn't?
Lin Mohan asked, "Then in your view, what will he do next?"
Lin Moyu said, "I don't know. Calamity Supreme Tianzai has his own designs—his city is deep; outsiders can't guess his mind. He doesn't need to be so elaborate anyway; he already has opponents—Dao, whom you know, and another one at Dao's level who's hidden behind the scenes."
Both Purple Star and Lin Mohan froze.
"There's another?" Purple Star blurted.
Lin Moyu nodded. "There is. He's never shown his face, always hidden."
"What do they all want to do?" Lin Mohan thought a step further.
"What else?" Lin Moyu said. "To become Supremes. And they have only one chance left. If they fail this time, they'll die—and this world will die. The Chaotic Ancient Wilds will be destroyed."
"That's impossible," Purple Star said, shaken.
"There's nothing impossible about it," Lin Moyu replied. "Didn't the Divine Lotus World perish? Worlds like it have shattered many, many times. Our Chaotic Ancient Wilds won't be an exception. Only the emergence of a Supreme can dispel a Great Calamity and buy the world time. Of course, such destruction is measured in tens or hundreds of billions of years; for most beings inside a world, it hardly matters—no one lives that long."
"I sensed changes in the Chaotic Ancient Wilds before," Lin Mohan said. "Was that the Great Calamity?"
Lin Moyu grunted assent. "The third Great Calamity of this world has begun—and it's the last. There won't be a fourth. So this is their final chance. It's hard, and even if someone does become a Supreme, it may not be one of them."
Suddenly Lin Moyu's tone changed, dropping low. "Sis—do you want to become a Supreme?"
Lin Mohan was taken aback and said casually, "Doesn't matter to me."
"Rather than letting them become Supremes," Lin Moyu said, "you should be the one."
Lin Mohan sighed. "Becoming a Supreme is easier said than done. Never mind that—even that next step I can't cross."
Lin Moyu said nothing—just gave her a look. He trusted his big sister to catch the meaning.
Purple Star interjected, "Since the Great Calamity is upon us and those three stand in a tripod, we all the more need someone here to oppose them. The Primordial Dawn Qi in the Divine Lotus World shouldn't be abandoned." She clearly hadn't given up on Ning Yiyi and the others.
Lin Moyu ignored her and looked to the distance. The Calamity Scepter was already flying back—with a pack of monsters trailing behind, creatures evolved after the Divine Lotus World's fall, though far weaker than the Godspring Beast King.
"I'll go," Lin Mohan said.
Lin Moyu smiled. "Been a while since I saw big sister's splendor."
Lin Mohan was the Great Sword Sovereign, number one in Sword Dao within the Chaotic Ancient Wilds. Though her strength was suppressed here, her sword intent was not—and that, truly, was what mattered. She flew out; the Divine Lotus Sword appeared at her back. One-Sword Severing Dao—sword light swept the void, sword intent surged like a tsunami. In that instant, there was nowhere the sword was not. The oncoming foes were engulfed by sword intent, instantly skewered by ten thousand blades; then a colossal sword cleaved down from the sky. Every monster was caught by that single stroke and torn to shreds. It was Lin Mohan's strongest strike; even in this realm-ruin, its might was vast. In the Chaotic Ancient Wilds, even Calamity Supremes would give way.
With one sword she slew dozens of monsters and, with a wave of her hand, gathered a haul of Primordial Dawn Crystals.
Lin Moyu didn't stint on praise: "Big Sis, mighty—no one can withstand that sword. Any Calamity Supreme who doesn't retreat—dies."
Landing back, Lin Mohan snorted. "Xiaoyu, your flattery hasn't improved at all."
Lin Moyu laughed. "These years were too lonely—no one to talk to, no one worth flattering. Naturally the skill hasn't progressed—it's still at childhood level."
A glint of reminiscence flashed in her eyes. "True. We're the same."
The Calamity Scepter returned to his hand. Lin Moyu communed inwardly with the Primal Chaos Gem. "How is it?"
"You guessed right," the gem said. "The Divine Lotus Lord isn't dead through. He left himself a thread of life—implanted in these monsters."
"As I expected," Lin Moyu said. "The more we kill, the more it benefits him, right?"
"Correct," said the gem. "We kill monsters and gain Primordial Dawn Crystals; his consciousness recovers a little. Kill enough and his consciousness will fully re-form."
"With a Supreme's ability," Lin Moyu said, "once he recovers—here in the Divine Lotus World—all he needs is to pick a suitable host to seize, and he'll complete rebirth, then enter another world."
The Primal Chaos Gem confirmed it. This old thing had seen everything; such cases weren't unheard of. Still, Lin Moyu's easy read of it exceeded even the gem's expectations. The Divine Lotus Lord hadn't died cleanly. At death, he not only refined this Divine Lotus, but scattered his consciousness—akin to dissolving the body—pervading the entire world. After beings later evolved within the realm-ruin, he attached himself to them, borrowing life to carry intention—his first revival of sorts. When those beings died, the consciousness would reconverge. And how would those beings die? Inevitably to outsiders. Outsiders, seeing such a bountiful resource-type realm-ruin, would keep hunting its denizens. His consciousness would quickly gather again. And since outsiders must have opened a space–time passage, he could use it to leave this broken world, enter a new one with a new identity—a resurrection. Everything was within his calculation. Only he misjudged one thing: all worlds were breaking, not only the Divine Lotus World. So for a very long time, no outsiders came—until Calamity Supreme Bóyáng found this place, and his plan saw hope again.
"How far has he recovered now?" Lin Moyu asked—trusting the gem could tell.
"I've found the convergence point of his consciousness," the gem said. "About twenty percent restored. If he reaches thirty percent, he can manifest—then choose a host to seize and revive smoothly. Even at thirty percent, a former Supreme's will is terrifying."
"Good thing I came in time," Lin Moyu thought. "A few years later, we might have had a major problem." Purple Star and Lin Mohan certainly didn't know—but seeing Lin Moyu's deepening expression, they understood something was wrong.
"Xiaoyu, is there a problem?" Lin Mohan asked.
Lin Moyu shook his head. "I'll explain in a moment—let me think." He continued speaking to the gem. "I have an idea—tell me if it's doable."
The Primal Chaos Gem started, then realized what Lin Moyu had in mind. "Master… you don't mean—"
"I do," Lin Moyu said. "Since his consciousness hasn't revived, we have a window. I want Big Sis to break through to Calamity Supreme."
"Even unrevived, that's still a former Supreme's consciousness," the gem warned. "At twenty percent it's not something a quasi–Calamity Supreme can oppose."
"That's why I need you to act," Lin Moyu said. "I'm sure you have a way. I have more than enough Primordial Dawn Qi. Add in the residual power from a former Supreme's consciousness—I think it's feasible."
The gem thought. "In theory, yes. But becoming a Supreme is impossible here—she isn't native to the Divine Lotus World; this world won't acknowledge her and can't. At most she can break through to Calamity Supreme—like those three fellows. To become a Supreme, she'll still have to return to the Chaotic Ancient Wilds. And there's risk."
"The risk is in my sister's Dao-heart," Lin Moyu said. "I trust her—and I'll prepare thoroughly."
At last the gem agreed. "I'll follow your lead."
By now Lin Moyu had sketched a complete plan. He said to Lin Mohan, "Sis, there's an opportunity to break through Calamity Supreme right now."
Her eyes lit up. "What opportunity?"
"First—are you willing?" Lin Moyu said. "To be clear, there's risk—and not small. If you don't want to gamble, we'll find another way." There was a peculiar light in his eyes—one only the two siblings understood.
She got it. "What are the odds?"
"Just over twenty percent—not more than thirty," Lin Moyu said.
"If it fails?"
"Not sure," Lin Moyu said. "Most likely death—and death here, no chance to dissolve the body and reincarnate."
Listening off to the side, Purple Star, who had been itching to try, immediately cooled. The longer one lives, the less one wants to die. Her courage had once been large—she fought her way up to Calamity Supreme—but it had since shrunk.
Lin Mohan fell into thought. Lin Moyu once more sent out Life Power, continuing to treat Ning Yiyi and the others. Their injuries had piled up over years; healing them wouldn't be done in a moment. He wasn't in a hurry—he'd heal them slowly and wait for Lin Mohan's decision.
After a brief silence, Lin Mohan drew a deep breath. "I've decided. I'll bet."
"Sure?" Lin Moyu asked.
Purple Star frowned. "Sword Sovereign, are you truly set on this? The risk is too great—better to find another way."
Lin Mohan lightly bit her silver teeth. "Since he wants to scheme against me, I'm not going to let him have his way. Whether I break through to Calamity Supreme—or die—neither outcome is likely in his calculations."