Difficult Choice

The voice of Duan Dong River Wu seemed to faintly echo within the control room's grand hall, further emphasizing the silence within. Lord Luchong, Lord Liujiu, Lord Ying'ai, Lord Wuliang, Lord Lihai, and Luo Feng all had looks of struggle and madness in their eyes. “To go or not to go! I hail from a Sacred Land Universe, eternally existing, never to fall... If I go, there's a risk of falling! But if I don't... this opportunity, one I couldn't even beg for, will be missed.” Lord Luchong struggled. “How powerful was that ancient civilization?” Lord Ying'ai's eyes narrowed, and the phantom of a single eye behind him flickered, clearly indicating intense inner turmoil. “To be able to create the Universe Boat! Many items, like the Black-Patterned Stone Pillar, are merely single objects within the Universe Boat. This inheritance, which Duan Dong River Wu speaks of, is unique even within that ancient civilization! What a noble inheritance... but the difficulty of such an inheritance is also imaginable...” “An opportunity, the only opportunity, the only opportunity!” Lord Lihai's eyes were filled with madness. “Grant me this chance!” “This time...” Hesitation was etched on Lord Liujiu's perfect face. Everyone present was struggling. Luo Feng was also struggling. His divine power surged uncontrollably throughout his body, causing ripples in the surroundings. He had thought this was a struggle for the Tomb Mausoleum Boat, but he hadn't expected... the Tomb Mausoleum Boat was merely an extra. More importantly, it contained an inheritance that was extremely powerful even in the ancient civilization. The inheritance was tempting! But it also carried the risk of falling! Luo Feng also understood that although he had clones, with the methods of an ancient civilization, since they dared to say, 'Whoever covets my lineage's inheritance shall surely die,' then any punishment would certainly not be as simple as dealing with just one clone. “Should I go?” “I, Luo Feng, have only cultivated for a dozen or so eras! Even without this opportunity, I believe that with my strength, becoming a Universe Master would be easy. And becoming a Universe Overlord afterward... there's also hope!” Luo Feng thought to himself. “But once I accept this inheritance, that's a true gamble!” “To risk or not to risk?” Luo Feng hesitated. “I only have confidence in becoming a Universe Master. As for becoming a Universe Overlord, I have no clue! Even if I become a Universe Overlord in the future, what then? I would only live for a maximum of three Reincarnation Eras.” Luo Feng mused. “To achieve true eternity, I must successfully pass through reincarnation.” “Alas, looking across the Universe Ocean, after countless eras, who has succeeded? Only those two Sacred Land Universes.” Luo Feng recalled the messages left by generations of space masters on the smooth cliff wall in the independent space of the black token secret room. The 1st... the 2nd... the 3rd... From Lord Jiufan, it was passed down one by one, until Lord Wuhun and Luo Feng! There had already been a full 20,295 space masters! As for how many space masters existed before Lord Jiufan, no one knew. Just these numbers alone showed how many Reincarnation Eras had passed. “In endless Reincarnation Eras, how many heaven-defying talents have there been? Yet there are only two Sacred Land Universes.” “Each Reincarnation Era has dozens of Universe Overlords. Over tens of thousands of Reincarnation Eras, or even longer, how many Universe Overlords have there been? Who can achieve eternity?” Luo Feng looked up, staring at the throne in the grand hall, his eyes burning with fervor: “This is an opportunity, an extremely powerful inheritance from that incredibly formidable ancient civilization! By all accounts, Duan Dong River Wu's status within the Universe Boat was among the highest. This opportunity was precious even within that ancient civilization.” “With this inheritance!” “I can see a longer path, a path higher than that of a Universe Overlord. With the inheritance guiding me, I can ascend even higher.” Just as everyone in the grand hall was struggling with their thoughts. Suddenly, an aura abruptly appeared. “Lord Jinfang, since you wish to come out, I shall allow it. How you choose is your own business.” Lord Wuliang said coldly. Beside him appeared a golden-armored man from the God-Eye Clan, none other than Lord Jinfang, who had been hiding inside his palace-type supreme treasure. Although he hadn't emerged, he had seen and heard everything happening outside clearly, and naturally, he could no longer hold back. Boom! Another figure emerged beside them, a tall, sinister figure entirely crimson, seemingly formed from blood-colored bones. It was a powerful expert from the Skeleton Clan. “Chiyao, this is a choice between life and death; I will not hinder you.” Lord Lihai stated directly. “Mm.” Lord Chiyao nodded. “You all seem to have helpers.” Lord Liujiu gently waved her hand, and beside her appeared a burly, tall giant with eight arms, his entire body like rock, emitting a low rumbling sound: “Liujiu, if you say go, I'll go. If you don't, I won't either.” “Lord Yanju? It seems wherever Lord Liujiu is, you, Yanju, are also there.” Lord Wuliang sneered. “Lord Luchong, do you have a helper?” “Yinhe, do you have a helper?” The God-Eye Clan, the Skeleton Clan, and the First Ancestral God Sect all had helpers, though each had only one hidden helper. This was quite normal; in the depths of the inner domain... unless one was as extremely confident as Lord Luchong, most would act in pairs. For instance, Lord Chiyao and Lord Lihai acted together, Lord Ying'ai and Lord Wuliang acted together, and Lord Liujiu and Lord Yanju acted together. As for Lord Jinfang, he had simply stumbled upon this situation. “I have always traversed the Universe Ocean alone.” Lord Luchong stated directly. “I have no helper either.” Luo Feng shook his head. “Haha... three from the God-Eye Clan, two from the Skeleton Clan, two from the First Ancestral God Sect, and Yinhe and I, that makes nine in total!” Lord Luchong laughed heartily. “This choice is probably not easy, but such an opportunity is rare. Even in my Purple Moon Sacred Land, I've never heard of such a mysterious inheritance. There are some ordinary inheritances, likely left behind by common powerhouses within the Universe Boat back then... but they clearly can't compare to this Duan Dong River Wu! And even if those ordinary powerhouses fell, any dangers they left behind wouldn't threaten me.” “But this Duan Dong River Wu, since he dared to say such words, it's likely that even if he fell, the methods he left behind could deal with Universe Overlords.” Lord Luchong swept his gaze across them. “Everyone, you must think this through carefully.” Just as all parties were struggling in their hearts. On the throne above the grand hall, energy gathered, coalescing once more into the green-haired figure, none other than Duan Dong River. “Have you thought it through?” Duan Dong River rose, slowly descended, and looked at the nine figures below. Luo Feng, Lord Luchong, and the other beings all understood that this was likely just some 'intelligence' controlled by what Duan Dong River left behind; as for Duan Dong River himself, he had long since fallen. “Rise!” Duan Dong River pointed towards the grand hall's floor and softly commanded. Rumble! The grand hall immediately began to rise. A massive circular stone slab directly floated up, revealing a deep, dark chasm. Looking into that chasm... a faint crimson glow was visible, with occasional red energy waves twisting within... “If you are willing to accept the inheritance, then descend.” Duan Dong River stated directly. “I will select you according to the methods my Duan Dong River lineage uses to choose successors. As you pass through numerous trials, you will gradually come into contact with the inheritance. Once you touch the inheritance, it becomes a life-or-death crisis. Successfully accept all of it, and you live! Fail to fully accept it, even if you only accept a trace... you will surely die!” “If you are afraid now, you may leave immediately.” “The gate has opened; it will not close.” “You can even invite your clan members and friends to attempt it. The more who come, the better, as it increases the chance of a new Duan Dong River being born!” Duan Dong River's gaze swept over the nine figures present. “Choose.” Immediately after, his figure vibrated like dust, dissipating into nothingness. The circular stone slab floated high above. Below it, an endless crimson passage was revealed. To enter or not to enter? “My time is drawing near, yet I've received such an opportunity.” Lord Chiyao said in a low voice. “With the methods of an ancient civilization, even though I am from the First Reincarnation Era, I still have a chance to become a Universe Overlord, or even pass through reincarnation! Even if the ancient civilization... cannot break the limits, once I obtain the inheritance, I can guide the Universe Overlords of my Skeleton Clan. As long as one of them succeeds, then the third Sacred Land Universe will be born. Haha...” Whoosh! A crimson streak of light flashed and vanished, tracing a curve as it flew directly into the deep passage, disappearing from sight. “The only chance before my time runs out, how can I miss it?” Lord Liujiu smiled, also transforming into a streak of light and flying in. “Liujiu!” A deep, resonant voice rang out. “Where you go, I go.” Lord Yanju followed without hesitation, also transforming into a streak of light and flying in. “Ying'ai.” “Wuliang.” The couple looked at each other and smiled. “Let's go!” “Let's go!” One after another, they entered directly. “Haha!” Lord Jinfang laughed loudly. “If I die, it's just dying a moment sooner.” He also followed them in. After a moment, all the powerhouses from the First Universe Era had entered, leaving only Lord Luchong and Luo Feng outside. “Are you going?” Lord Luchong looked at Luo Feng. “What about you?” Luo Feng retorted. Lord Luchong's eyes were distant as he softly said, “What good are eternal years? The passion of my life lies in adventure... My clan wouldn't be affected if I were gone. A Sacred Land Universe exists eternally. This inheritance, a rare encounter in endless eras, if I miss it, I will regret it. This adventure might be my greatest one, but if I go and die in the adventure, it will be worth it.” “Haha... I'll go ahead.” Lord Luchong transformed into a streak of light and flew directly inside. Only Luo Feng remained in the entire grand hall. “If I fall, because I am a Universe Venerable, I still have a chance to be resurrected. The cost of resurrecting me might be great, but I can afford it.” Luo Feng looked at the crimson abyss. “I originally intended to have my Golden Horn Behemoth clone take the Star Tower and leave, but if I truly fall, the Star Tower would become ownerless, drifting within the Universe Boat, potentially swept into dangerous areas of the Universe Boat, or even seized by other factions.” “Then I'll take the Star Tower and venture in together. With the Star Tower, I'll have more confidence in facing numerous dangers.” “I'll bet everything on this one chance!” “If I succeed, my human race shall be eternal!” Whoosh! Luo Feng transformed into a streak of light and plunged directly into the crimson abyss.