Chapter 219 – The Oath of the Rules
Based on what he had glimpsed earlier, the Primordial Universe's Source Will immediately understood the true usage of the "World Beast Realm."
[Edict… Ancestor God… Hunt…]
The Source Will began to lash out, resorting to threats—if he didn't hand it over, it would decree the entire universe to hunt down both Jiang Zhe's true body and his second divine self.
Silver-clad Jiang Zhe merely sneered.
Normally, one avoided direct conflict with beings like planetary consciousness, world wills, or even Heaven's Dao—existences that were essentially living glitches.
But this was no ordinary situation.
Others might not see the truth, but he did.
The Primordial Universe was beset by external threats. Did it truly dare to expend its full strength purging him, a mere "internal problem"?
"Cousin, let's set aside for a moment whether the Supreme Rules even allow you to issue a kill order against an 'innocent.' Fine, maybe you can. But even if you did, and countless strong ones answered your call to hunt my true body… could they really kill me?"
"As long as you cannot act directly, as long as I escape the Primordial Universe and complete Primordial Evolution in the Cosmic Sea… cousin, you'll be in real trouble."
Suddenly, Jiang Zhe paused, as though remembering something.
"Oh, right. I've already heard the news. Within the Tilted Peak Domain of the Cosmic Sea, the Destruction Source has emerged. And in this very reincarnation cycle, it will mature—evolving into a full-blown World Beast calamity!"
"You and I are fighting over a mere dead object, but what you'll face in the future are billions of living World Beasts. Wherever they pass, life is extinguished, everything devoured… Cousin, have you decided who you'll beg for help? Or do you plan to lie down, play dead, and just sacrifice part of your Source?"
"Allow me to remind you—World Beasts are born with a genetic foundation at one hundred thousand times perfection. Even an ordinary True God struggles against a second-rank World Beast. To fight them properly, you need beings of the same life level…"
He clicked his tongue mockingly.
"For the Primordial Universe to produce even a single Universe Master with ten thousand eighty-one–fold perfected genes is already a miracle. To produce one who pushes divine power to the absolute peak? Even in 'ancient civilizations,' such geniuses were rare."
"Oh, what a headache this World Beast crisis will be."
Jiang Zhe's tone dripped with sarcasm.
[...]
The void trembled violently, pressure mounting—clear signs of the Source Will's rage.
But fury without power is just impotent rage.
Like when Sitting Mountain Guest had once exposed its secrets—it could only stew in anger, dissatisfied yet forced to compromise.
Jiang Zhe smacked his forehead in mock surprise.
"Wait a moment—one hundred thousand times genetic foundation?"
"Oh, silly me! You've gotten me so riled up I almost forgot… isn't that exactly what I am?"
His expression hardened, chest thumping with his fists.
"In the face of a World Beast crisis, protecting the Primordial Universe… is my solemn duty!"
But his bravado quickly faltered, voice trailing off, his act collapsing into theatrical despair.
"No… I can't do it. I can't protect anything. Cousin, just have someone slaughter my true body, then suppress me as well. When the World Beast calamity arrives, we'll both go down together."
Childish as it seemed, it was in fact cold leverage—using the "World Beast crisis" as a bargaining chip. Since it concerned the Primordial Universe's very survival, it could force the Source Will into concessions.
And by laying everything on the table, he made it clear he couldn't be tricked or strung along—reducing pointless tug-of-war in negotiations.
[Give it up… Swear… Do not devour the Source… and… Protect the Primordial Universe…]
Jiang Zhe pulled a deadpan "old man staring at his phone on the subway" face.
Then he sneered.
"Well, well, cousin, I didn't know you could be so shameless."
The Source Will was finally willing to give up its demand for the World Beast Realm, but only if Jiang Zhe swore never to covet its Source, and furthermore, to fight against the World Beasts to protect the Primordial Universe.
Absurd demands aside… did oaths even work?
Yes.
Swearing before the Supreme Rules—the governing mechanism of the entire Cosmic Sea—was binding. Both the Primordial Universe and the World Beasts were directly subject to those Rules.
It was like two corporate executives making a bet in front of the CEO.
As a being under the same jurisdiction, Jiang Zhe could indeed swear before the Supreme Rules on behalf of his true self. If he ever broke that oath, the Rules themselves would punish him.
After a mocking laugh, Jiang Zhe's voice softened.
"Cousin, let's be clear—right now, I hold the advantage. It's you who need something from me. So please, adjust your tone, show some sincerity, and don't think I'm an idiot you can deceive."
From the original text, it was known: every cycle, the Primordial Universe hoarded countless treasures. Jiang Zhe fully intended to squeeze some benefits here.
"Cousin, you mentioned two demands. Let's negotiate one at a time, shall we?"
[...]
After a long silence, the void quaked, and a reply came.
[Fine.]
A smile spread across Jiang Zhe's deer-headed face—an expression absurdly comical given his current form.
"Good brother! Why fight when we can profit in harmony? The Cosmic Sea isn't just about killing; there's room for tact and courtesy, too!"
"Let's get to it. First issue—"
"You're worried that if I obtain the World Beast Realm, I'll become another World Beast King and covet your Source. Fair point."
"But neither of us knows just how far the Spirit-Seeding Art can go. Still, I can agree to this: even if I do gain the abilities of a World Beast King, I swear never to devour your Source. However…"
"Cousin, you'll need to show some goodwill in return. When the Ancestor God Sect does your errands, you give them supreme treasures. You can't expect to get me cheap."
[What… do you… want…]
Excellent. It was already halfway agreed.
Jiang Zhe's heart steadied. Time to raise the asking price.
He didn't want some standardized True God weapons—that would only make the Source Will laugh.
No, he wanted inheritance.
A legacy surpassing the True God level.
Something like the Eye of God, the Sin Codex, or the Array of Origins.
But which kind? He couldn't waste this chance by demanding something redundant.
He pondered carefully.
"For soul and will, I already have the Sin Codex. For fusion laws, I've got Mastering Five Thunders. The rest are trivial and won't last me long."
"I've roughly set my future path: soul cultivation, and the way of the spear. I don't know if I'll ever get Luo Feng's fortune—meeting Duan Dong River, stepping onto the true Blade Path. So I must prepare now."
Having decided, he said directly:
"Swear before the Supreme Rules. Give me every spear inheritance you hold. In return, I guarantee neither I nor my true body will ever covet your Source. How's that?"
[...￥#@%...]
The void shook so hard it seemed it might shatter.
The Source Will's reply was furious curses, accusing him of extortion.
Jiang Zhe casually picked at his ear.
Start high, let them bargain down?
No. He wouldn't let it cut down at all.
Spear inheritance—non-negotiable.
He pressed further with honeyed words:
"Cousin, I want the spear inheritance not for selfish gain, but to better prepare against the coming World Beast calamity."
"You know as well as I do—ten billion of them!"
"With my soul secret arts, I can attempt to enslave them. If I succeed, the oath will bind them not to covet your Source. That's a win for you, cousin!"
"If enslavement fails, then it comes down to brute force. But when the last World Beast inevitably evolves into a King, it will wield void-level power. Ordinary secret arts won't cut it. Only a supreme spear technique might let me slay it."
"Picture it, cousin—when the Beast King emerges, I pierce it with one strike! Won't that be glorious?"
"And it'll all be thanks to your guidance and generosity! You'll be the unsung hero of the universe!"
Laying it on thick, Jiang Zhe showered the Source Will with shameless flattery.
[...]
It worked—the Source Will wavered, though it still thought Jiang Zhe's appetite outrageous.
But Jiang Zhe smiled slyly and unveiled his real trump card.
"Cousin, you know how unusual my soul is. My will grows as easily as eating and drinking. Once I become a True God, I could soon sanctify my will."
"And as I recall, the conditions for seizing the Primordial Universe are… will sanctification, and having one's true body outside its domain, yes?"
[...￥#@#￥...]
The void's pressure surged, nearly crushing him—clear proof the Source Will truly considered suppressing him.
But Jiang Zhe knew where its bottom line lay. He danced at the edge, without crossing.
"Heh, don't forget—Dong Emperor and Purple Moon already left godly incarnations in minor universes. They're eyeing will sanctification too. Unlike them, cousin, I'm loyal! I'd even add a clause to our oath: we sign a mutual non-aggression pact. I will never seize the Primordial Universe. How's that for sincerity?"
Though his deer face smiled, the cunning in his eyes was that of a fox.
Of course there was a hidden catch.
With his second divine body cultivating Primordial Evolution, he never intended to seize the Source anyway. What he feared was the Source Will turning on him one day.
Now was the perfect time to secure protection against that possibility.
The crushing void pressure eased. The dead wind seemed to breathe again.
Jiang Zhe knew—the Source Will was tempted.
He pressed his advantage.
"Let's swear before the Supreme Rules: a mutual non-aggression pact. I will never covet or seize the Primordial Source. You will never persecute me.
And… you'll compensate me with all spear inheritances you hold, plus a full set of supreme treasures, and one Universe Master's ultimate secret art."
His "oath template" was crammed with private demands.
[…What?]
[…Supreme treasures?… A Universe Master's ultimate technique?]
[…％@￥＃...]
The Source Will raged at his ever-increasing terms.
But Jiang Zhe remained shameless.
"With your accumulation, coughing up thousands of supreme treasures wouldn't be hard. And that Universe Master technique—you owe it to my follower Oriana anyway! You clearly shorted her when she evolved into a perfect lifeform."
"For such trifles, in exchange for my lifelong vow never to seize you—cousin, this is the deal of the era!"
Was he not afraid of pushing too far?
No. The Source Will needed him alive for the World Beast crisis.
In truth, Jiang Zhe was now the single most promising hope of resisting it.
[...]
[...]
[...]
At last, though reluctant, the Source Will agreed.
Because what mattered most to it was not treasures, but survival.
[…Swear… Before the Supreme Rules… We will make the Oath of Rules…]
Jiang Zhe carefully reviewed the terms, ensuring no traps, then let the Source Will demonstrate first. He followed.
A greater will descended, freezing time and space—the Supreme Rules themselves.
The same entity that had once aided him in forging his second divine body through the Divine Crystal.
Soon, the Oath of Rules was sealed.
The Source Will began fulfilling its part.
In the void, jeweled spheres rained down like a storm of light.
Jiang Zhe spread his divine power, catching each "spear inheritance" and storing them within his inner world.
Far away in the Insectoid Domain, Oriana's consciousness was pulled into the Source Space, where she received the Universe Master's secret technique she had once been denied.
[…A full set… Five items… No more…]
Jiang Zhe rubbed his hands, grinning.
"Perfect. But I want the melee-type supreme treasure to be an axe."