"Tell me more about them," Lex said, as he sat cross-legged beneath the World Tree.
"First is a cosmic portal, which is the weakest innate ability I have. I can create stable passages between galaxies, realms, and even universes, although the universe passage is currently limited to just one at the moment."
"That's the weakest?" Lex said in an amazed tone.
Despite its limitations, he recognized its many potential uses and already began to formulate ideas on how to use it.
"The second ability is called Void Devouring. Through this ability, I can absorb and refine chaotic void energy from the Voidsea and transform it into nourishment. Furthermore, I am capable of consuming small universes and, once I attain the Dao Master realm, I can even consume medium universes to expedite my growth."
"What tier do you think this universe is?" Lex inquired. Even as its will, he remained uncertain of his own standing in the tiers of the universes, the terms "small universe" and "medium universe" were entirely novel to him.
The notion of her consuming universes didn't unsettle him; he understood the necessity for certain chaotic entities to do so. However, the recollection of Xeri in the Voidsea, and the possibility of her imminent arrival, spurred him.
He needed to accelerate his advancement to Dao Master, Dao Grandmaster, or even Dao King, if possible; time was of the essence.
Luna, who was about to continue explaining her innate abilities, stopped and closed her eyes, probing the very fabric of the universe.
"Infantile," she breathed, her voice filled with hushed astonishment. "This universe is barely born. How can it possess an origin energy that rivals those of a larger universes?"
Though the sheer volume of the origin energy had initially intrigued her, she'd assumed it stemmed from a mature, high-tier universe. But the raw, nascent state of its laws left her flabbergasted, a profound shock that silenced her.
Then, she thoroughly scanned the origin ocean. The sheer volume of energy made her think, "If outside powers discovered this much origin energy in a young universe, they'd try to seize control."
Even in the Voidsea, Origin energy is extremely valuable, far more so than when it is in the universe.
Then, her consciousness enveloped Lex, who was sitting below her. "What! What is this?" she gasped, her eyes widening as they caught sight of a deep and overwhelming force.
She saw all the laws of the universe, like luminous strands, emanating from Lex's body and disappearing into the distance.
"What are you?" Luna demanded. In her vast memory, there was no creature like Lex, one who possessed complete mastery over all the laws of the universe.
From her inherited memories, she knew that most beings possessed mastery over one, nine, or roughly eighty-one laws at their peak.
Only a rare few achieved mastery over one hundred and eighty laws. For a "boundling," mastering one hundred and eighty laws would require an impossible span of time, their lifespan expiring long before reaching that stage. Moreover, time alone was not the limiting factor; opportunities were the true limitation.
Beyond the confines of universes, non-chaotic beings possess superior opportunities. However, even the most formidable among them can only comprehend three thousand laws.
This prompted her to question Lex, whom she still believed to be a "boundling."
What further truly stunned her was the sight of the laws leaving him as if they were leaving their origin, an utter contradiction to her understanding.
"I am the will of the universe," Lex answered casually. He made no attempt to conceal it, knowing she would inevitably discover the truth one day.
She did not react immediately; instead, she focused her attention on Lex for a full minute, attempting to ascertain the veracity of his statement.
She scanned him repeatedly within three seconds before finally asking, "How? How can the will of the universe possess autonomy? And emotions? That is impossible."
According to her understanding, universal wills were purely mechanical constructs, existing solely to maintain equilibrium and prevent external invasions.
Furthermore, these wills deterred invasions by utilizing the universe's inhabitants; they remained incapable of independent action except in the face of imminent annihilation.
"Hahaha," Lex chuckled, then continued, "The 'how' is irrelevant; simply accept that an event of astronomical improbability has transpired."
Luna looked at him for a moment then continued her explanation of her abilities, she knew it was Lex's secret and a secret in the possession of two is no longer a secret.
"My third ability, Nihiltie's Embrace, allows me to erase my presence entirely from existence. No divination, prophecy, or fate can detect me, not even beings at the level of Dao masters can perceive my existence unless I allow it."
"It has its strengths, but it also has significant disadvantages that can sometimes lead to serious consequences."
"Oh! What are the consequences?" Lex asked.
"First, absolute control is required." she replied, Lex nodded as he contemplated this. "Absolute control, huh? I'll see what I can do about that."
Luna continued, "Second, higher existences may resist; those that exist beyond causality or conceptual destruction, such as Dao Sovereigns could render it useless"
"That might be out of my reach for now, or maybe I could see if I can upgrade her ability," he considered again.
"Third, the strain is immense, each use drains vast energy, and overuse might damage the soul."
"Well, that, I can take care of it." he thought.
"And lastly universal laws may suppress it; if the wielder enters a universe with a dominant cosmic will, Nihility's Embrace could be restricted or nullified entirely, leaving them powerless at the worst moment."
"I can address two of the weaknesses," Lex stated confidently.
"Which two?" Luna asked, intrigued.
"First, I can manage the energy drain because I have a way to access unlimited energy. Second, we can work on upgrading the Nihility's Embrace, enhancing it to a level where even Dao Sovereigns wouldn't be able to perceive it," Lex explained.
Using the crystal ball, he could reduce the energy required for the ability to nearly zero, and he could also try to create a technique to amplify Nihility's Embrace.
Luna's eyebrows rose. "Unlimited energy? And bypass Dao Sovereign defenses? How?" she asked, her voice laced with skepticism.
"Explain the mechanics of these 'ways' you speak of. Dao Sovereigns exist beyond conceptual restraints. Do you truly believe you can 'boost' an ability to that degree?"
"And how much do you even know about Dao Sovereigns?" Luna asked.
To her, Dao Sovereigns were formidable entities, rare even within the vast expanse of the Voidsea. From her inherited memories, she recalled that the number of Dao Sovereigns could be counted on one hand.
A single gesture from them could destroy countless universes, and erase entire time periods. Even her last ancestor, a Dao Emperor, spoke of them with dread. So she questioned where Lex got this confidence.
Hearing this, Lex became quiet for a moment. Although he knew Dao Sovereigns possessed unmatched might, something within him refused to yield.
He didn't perceive them as an unscalable wall, but as transient hurdles in his path to eternity, and he knew that he would surpass them. Would someone who is afraid of setbacks even dream of eternity?
"I don't need to know much about them," Lex replied, his eyes gleaming with determination, a faint, almost imperceptible, smile playing on his lips. "Because one day, they will prostrate before my authority."
Luna stared at him, momentarily stunned by his unwavering confidence. Inwardly, she mused, "Sometimes, delusion is a powerful motivator."
To her, his words were no different from a powerless mortal proclaiming they would one day subjugate a god. Yet, in the end, only time would reveal whether his conviction was madness or prophecy.
Lex then stood, oblivious to her thoughts, and declared, "Let us test your cosmic portal." Luna, hovering above his shoulder, waved her tiny hand, and an ancient black door materialized instantly before them. He opened the door, envisioning his destination.
The door materialized in the middle of the snowy plains, its presence stark against the endless expanse of frozen wasteland. Stepping through, Lex found himself surrounded by the desolate tundra, where the biting wind howled across the ice, carrying with it an unforgiving chill.
He could have chosen to appear in a populated region in the immortal realm, but this was merely a test of the cosmic portal's functionality.
Without lingering, he turned and re-entered the door, emerging in the divine realm, a place of ethereal splendor, where divine energy suffused the very air. Yet, to Lex, the grandeur held no novelty.
Long before acquiring the World Tree, he had possessed the ability to traverse anywhere within his universe at will. His true ambition lay beyond such minor feats.
He desired to enter other universes, but the unknown dangers held him back. Before taking that step, he needed to conduct experiments to ensure a safe passage. He then returned to the origin ocean as he decided to formulate a plan to enter another universe.
Meanwhile, Luscith's clone soared through the skies of the Divine Realm, his gaze sweeping across the land as he searched for his twentieth target.
He was one of many working to spread the Devouring Scripture of Nine among the Ascendants, and he was far from alone in his efforts.
His fellow schemers had divided the task among themselves, each assigned a specific region to disseminate the scripture.
Uhtred, in particular, had taken his role to another level, spreading a simplified version of the technique across multiple galaxies. The full scripture was far too complex for the lesser beings to even understand it let alone master it and use, so he had carefully adjusted it to suit their limited comprehension.
But his plans did not stop there, he had also crafted hidden realms, seeding them with treasures to lure lesser beings into fierce competition. To them, it would seem like an opportunity for fortune and power, but in truth, they were stepping into a carefully laid trap