Lin Yuan studied the golden mist for a while and quickly discovered its extraordinary nature.
Though the golden mist appeared like drifting clouds and could be gathered and confined, Lin Yuan couldn't actually touch it.
"Can't be touched?"
Lin Yuan's gaze turned curious. His divine ability "World" was constantly active, and all the surrounding space-time was under his control—yet he still couldn't physically interact with the golden mist.
"Interesting."
He stretched out his right hand, preparing to collect all the golden mist from the valley.
To ensure the golden mist wasn't damaged, he even transported the entire valley into his internal universe.
"It must be related to time."
Looking at the golden mist, Lin Yuan thought to himself.
He could sense faint temporal fluctuations from it. Combined with the time-reversal zone outside the treasure land, it was almost certain that this newly born top-tier treasure land was oriented toward the time attribute.
In fact, all the great ancient Kingdoms had speculated that the rare treasures within this treasure land would likely relate to time.
"Should I try probing it with my soul and mind?"
Lin Yuan considered it.
Many rare treasures born from treasure lands could only be absorbed or refined through special means.
For instance, the black jade from the Black Jade Nest could only be refined using mental willpower—anything else had no effect whatsoever.
"Forget it. Too risky."
After a brief moment of thought, Lin Yuan abandoned the idea.
The soul and mind were too important. If this golden treasure had some side effect or caused harm, it wouldn't be worth the risk.
He had dared to refine the black jade with his mind only because the Black Jade Nest had existed for countless billions of years, and the refining method had long been verified by numerous Heavenly Sovereigns—there were no hidden dangers.
But this golden mist? Who knew what it might do?
Lin Yuan had no reason to be overly hasty.
If he could obtain the golden mist from this valley, then other Ultimate Heavenly Sovereigns from the ancient Kingdoms could certainly do so as well.
Compared to the seasoned and experienced Ultimate Heavenly Sovereigns of the Six Great Ancient Kingdoms, Lin Yuan felt it wiser to wait a bit longer—until someone discovered the correct method of using the golden mist—before trying it himself.
"Keep searching for core Sky Pillars."
Lin Yuan didn't linger at the valley. After storing away all the golden mist, he continued his exploration.
Liyang Empire's capital, isolated space.
Hong Lian Heavenly Sovereign opened his eyes again. "I've found another core Sky Pillar."
With these words—
The surrounding Ultimate Heavenly Sovereigns all turned toward him.
Finding core Sky Pillars in the treasure land mostly came down to luck.
Among the twelve Ultimate Heavenly Sovereigns, Hong Lian's detection methods weren't especially strong, yet the number of core Sky Pillars he had found ranked in the top five—possibly even top three.
"Where is it?"
"You refine the outer portion first," Red Flame Heavenly Sovereign said.
Though core Sky Pillars were usually left for top-tier Ultimate Heavenly Sovereigns to refine, if one hadn't arrived yet, the one who discovered it would refine the outer layer first.
"Here."
Hong Lian quickly provided the coordinates, but his expression changed abruptly. "Another ancient Kingdom's Ultimate Heavenly Sovereign is approaching—one from the Grand Ancient Void Empire."
"Grand Ancient Void?"
Red Flame frowned and asked, "Which Ultimate Heavenly Sovereign?"
If it was a top-tier one, Red Flame would recommend that Hong Lian give up the pillar.
Not out of fear of Grand Ancient Void, but because someone at Hong Lian's level wouldn't last long against one of their top-tier Ultimate Heavenly Sovereigns.
Unless Hong Lian was hiding strength like Lin Yuan—though that seemed unlikely.
"It's Fu Dang Heavenly Sovereign," Hong Lian quickly replied.
He was very familiar with the twelve Ultimate Heavenly Sovereigns sent by Grand Ancient Void. Even if he hadn't fought them, he had reviewed their profiles in detail.
"Fu Dang?"
Red Flame felt reassured.
Among Grand Ancient Void's twelve Ultimate Heavenly Sovereigns, Fu Dang's strength was mid-tier—close to top-tier, stronger than Hong Lian, but not overwhelmingly so.
"Hold the Sky Pillar."
Red Flame instructed.
Grand Ancient Void might be powerful, but that didn't mean the Liyang Empire had to back down. As long as it wasn't Fuxu or the other top-tier figures, there was no reason to yield.
This top-tier treasure land might come down to just one core Sky Pillar—that was worth fighting for.
"Alright."
Hong Lian nodded.
Although Fu Dang was stronger, it wasn't a match to determine a winner—just a matter of delaying him, and that, Hong Lian was confident in.
"This location…"
Red Flame looked toward Lin Yuan. "Milky Way, among the four of us, you're closest to this location. I'll leave it to you."
"Understood."
Lin Yuan nodded.
As one of the Liyang Empire's four top-tier Ultimate Heavenly Sovereigns, it was his responsibility to refine core Sky Pillars.
If another Liyang Ultimate Heavenly Sovereign found a pillar close to him, Lin Yuan had to handle it.
"Is that Hong Lian?"
Inside the treasure land, Lin Yuan suddenly halted and looked in another direction.
Whoosh!
The next moment—
His figure vanished, and only then did ripples stir in the space-time he had left.
Normally, searching for core Sky Pillars required slow, methodical flight.
But to quickly reach a specific coordinate, one would traverse the void directly.
The towering Sky Pillar seemed both real and illusory.
Hong Lian stood before it, his expression tense, red lotus flames burning in space-time around him.
"Hong Lian, yield the Sky Pillar."
A cold voice echoed through the void.
Not far away stood a towering figure, his skin covered in purple scales—Fu Dang Heavenly Sovereign from the Grand Ancient Void Empire.
Among the twelve Grand Ancient Void Ultimate Heavenly Sovereigns, the strongest was Fuxu—one of the most powerful in the history of the Six Ancient Kingdoms, having mastered a supreme inheritance.
Below Fuxu were four top-tier Ultimate Heavenly Sovereigns. Fu Dang belonged to the third tier—below them.
"Hahaha! Fu Dang, who do you think you are? A top-tier Ultimate Heavenly Sovereign? Or Fuxu himself?" Hong Lian sneered.
He was buying time.
"Someone like me is enough to deal with you."
Fu Dang's gaze turned cold. He raised his right hand and slashed toward Hong Lian from afar.
Hong Lian reacted as if facing a great enemy, not underestimating him in the slightest. He immediately activated a defensive killing technique, causing red lotus flames to boil around him.
Chi chi chi—
In the next instant—
His protective red lotuses began to collapse. Under Fu Dang's strike, they quickly dissipated.
"He's this strong?"
Hong Lian felt the pressure. After just one exchange, half his defensive lotuses had already been destroyed. He doubted whether he could hold out until Lin Yuan arrived.
"No matter what—it must be defended."
Hong Lian clenched his teeth. The Sky Pillar behind him could determine the ownership of the treasure land. What if this was the final pillar needed for the Liyang Empire to claim it?
"Break!"
Fu Dang kept attacking. Each strike shattered more of Hong Lian's protective lotuses, though new ones kept forming just as quickly.
"This red lotus is really going all out."
Fu Dang understood that regenerating these lotuses wasn't free—it came at a cost.
"So what if you go all out?"
His eyes glowed purple, and each strike grew in power.
At first, one strike broke half a lotus shield. Now, it shattered most or all of them.
"Can't last much longer…"
Hong Lian sighed internally. In terms of strength, he was no match for Fu Dang.
And now, standing like a target to guard the Sky Pillar, he was taking hit after hit.
Under these circumstances, the fact that he'd held on this long was already impressive.
"If Fu Dang lands a blow that destroys all my lotus defenses, this battle body of mine will perish."
He knew—
In a normal fight, he could escape from Fu Dang.
But this wasn't a normal fight. He was taking hits head-on and refusing to retreat.
"Die!"
Fu Dang's aura surged. Purple light swirled around him as he prepared to unleash a devastating strike.
Just then—
The distant space-time twisted slightly, and a figure silently stepped out.
"Milky Way Heavenly Sovereign has arrived?"
Hong Lian rejoiced inwardly.
"Milky Way Heavenly Sovereign?"
Fu Dang's heart sank.
He had heard the rumors—how this man had crippled Lingyu's spiritual domain. That was definitely top-tier Ultimate Heavenly Sovereign strength.
"Even if you're here, Milky Way, he still has to die!"
Fu Dang roared in fury. If Hong Lian hadn't refused to retreat, he would've taken the Sky Pillar already.
"Hm?"
Lin Yuan had just arrived and saw Fu Dang suppressing Hong Lian.
Hong Lian looked like a swaying boat in a storm—ready to be capsized by the next blow.
Whoosh—
The divine ability "World" activated. His external universe expanded instantly, transforming the surrounding trillion-mile radius into his domain.
Fu Dang was immediately suppressed, his swirling purple domain rapidly shrinking.
"What—"
His pupils contracted. He had completely lost control of the surrounding space-time.
"Milky Way's domain suppression is this powerful?" Fu Dang panicked.
The Grand Ling Kingdom had released intel on Lin Yuan, describing him as having strong domain suppression.
But Fu Dang had never expected it to be this overwhelming—he was completely suppressed upon arrival.
"Since you're here, Milky Way, our Grand Ancient Void Empire will yield this Sky Pillar."
Fu Dang called out loudly.
The pressure Lin Yuan exuded was immense. Among Grand Ancient Void's four top-tier Ultimate Heavenly Sovereigns, only two could pressure him this much.
After all, Grand Ancient Void controlled the most top-tier treasure lands and had access to the best resources. At the same level, their power exceeded that of the other five Kingdoms.
Realizing the situation, Fu Dang had only one thought—
Retreat immediately.
Whoosh—
Before finishing his words, Fu Dang activated his purple domain and fled.
But under Lin Yuan's domain suppression, he couldn't teleport through space.
"Trying to run?"
Lin Yuan looked toward him and instantly saw through Fu Dang's plan.
"Lingyu got away because he was too troublesome to kill. But you…"
He gazed at the purple domain.
"You'll be the first to taste my new killing move."
In an instant—
At the top of Lin Yuan's external universe, blazing suns began to form.
They floated gently… until one began to fall—heading straight for Fu Dang's retreating domain.
With the first sun's descent came the second, third, and fourth…
This killing move was called Falling Suns—the strongest technique Lin Yuan had created aside from detonating his external universe.
While detonating the universe had terrifying power, it left him temporarily weakened. Falling Suns had no such downside. Though less powerful, it could strike continuously.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom boom boom!!!
At first, Fu Dang withstood the blows.
But by the 200th, 300th, 400th falling sun, his purple domain began to collapse.
"Milky Way Heavenly Sovereign!"
He turned, staring at Lin Yuan—then, under the bombardment of the 2,000th and 3,000th suns, his body and soul were completely annihilated.
"Only lasted to the 3,000th?"
Lin Yuan shook his head. In theory, this technique could produce 33,463 falling suns.
"Too late?"
After collecting Fu Dang's belongings, Lin Yuan flew over to Hong Lian and spoke.
"Not at all."
Hong Lian was a little dazed.
He had struggled bitterly under Fu Dang's assault. Yet Fu Dang hadn't lasted even as long as him against Milky Way.
Then again, Fu Dang hadn't even tried to fight—he'd tried to flee and failed.
"Please refine the Sky Pillar, Heavenly Sovereign."
Hong Lian stepped aside to reveal the Sky Pillar behind him.
"Alright."
Lin Yuan didn't hesitate—this was the real objective.
Isolated space.
Red Flame Heavenly Sovereign looked at Lin Yuan in surprise. "Milky Way, you killed Fu Dang?"
Fu Dang, being close to top-tier, could normally survive against even top-tier opponents—unless they fought to the death.
"I created a technique that countered him."
Lin Yuan explained.
Simply put, Falling Suns suppressed any Heavenly Sovereign below the top-tier level.
Unless they could withstand thousands of solar strikes, no Ultimate Heavenly Sovereign could endure it.
Even top-tier ones had to devote some effort to defending against it.
"Countered…"
Red Flame gave Lin Yuan a deep look. At their level, most means were flawless—it was rare to be truly countered.
Afterward—
Lin Yuan continued to contest core Sky Pillars across the treasure land. With repeated clashes against other Kingdoms' powerhouses, Milky Way Heavenly Sovereign's name spread completely.
Then one day—
In the Liyang Empire's capital, isolated space—
Red Flame Heavenly Sovereign suddenly looked toward the other eleven Ultimate Heavenly Sovereigns, a smile on his face.
"Everyone,"
He said with a smile, "We've discovered how to absorb and use the golden mist born from the treasure land."
...