CHAPTER 695: CHAPTER 263: THE STRONGEST OF THE FEDERATION, BITTER SEA

Its rank is only equivalent to the middle period of Heavenly Person, but its overall strength closely rivals a Grandmaster. Aside from being a bit reclusive, having an extremely slow growth cycle, and eating a lot, this creature has no flaws.

Furthermore, even in the Great Universe, the lifespan of a Void Giant Beast is terrifyingly long, blessed by heaven and earth, enjoying all its favors.

From ancient times to the present, the Void Giant Beast has always been the guardian Divine Beast coveted by countless civilizations.

After obtaining detailed information on the Wanwu Association from the War Control Department, Ji Jingqiu carefully read through it.

Currently, the Federation’s officials have set their sights on the Wanwu Association.

Wanwu Association is a major force at the forefront of the Heavenly Road, and as the Heavenly Road gathers many high-tier Martial Artists from the Federation, the number of Heavenly Persons in the Wanwu Association is truly frightening.

The organization was originally quite loose, similar to an alliance, but after Zhang Tiancheng took over the Wanwu Association, this organization gradually changed.

The most distinct change is that they started to become extremely "united."

On the Heavenly Road, small groups unite naturally at the expense of other Federation Martial Artists.

All sides on the Heavenly Road have numerous accusations against the Wanwu Association, including accusations of using their own Martial Artists as bait, literally selling out teammates.

Ji Jingqiu thoughtfully finished reading the list of core members of the Wanwu Association.

Some come from noble families, some are supplicants of corporate conglomerates, and others are Heavenly Persons from dojos...

The composition is very complex, but ultimately these people all became loyal followers of Zhang Tiancheng.

Ji Jingqiu lamented that this person’s methods are indeed extraordinary, able to gather so many Heavenly Persons under his banner.

The reason the Federation’s officials are now focused on the Wanwu Association is that the Wanwu Association is attempting to enter the Federation’s official system.

Heavenly Human Martial Artists from the same faction, and in considerable numbers, want to "enter the factory" at the same time...

The government is now sounding the alarms.

Ji Jingqiu scanned through the information, forwarding the news of the Wanwu Association’s attempt to recruit Meng Qianyun to Yan Ruhuo from the War Control Department.

He assessed the current structure of the Federation.

The West is tentatively stable, but the six major families are not completely peaceful, with currently only the Mu Family and Qin Family known to be stable.

The Ke family shows a trend of stabilization.

The Ji Family remains self-sealed, a fact Ji Jingqiu only learned later, that the Ji family’s Divine Weapon had been taken by several Great Grandmasters.

The condition of the Yang Family is slightly better.

The Li Family, however, is experiencing undercurrents.

A potential crisis exists in the Four Gods Church.

In addition, according to the intelligence from the War Control Department, the Holy Hall civilization has recently been restless.

The daughter of the Saint King has crossed into Heavenly Person!

Though Chi Ji’s talent is slightly behind him, she is also undeniably top-tier, once crossing into Heavenly Person, almost invincible in the current universe.

Most absurdly, this crazy woman actually sent a message to the Federation, wanting a descendant of the World Venerable Lineage to serve her.

Ji Jingqiu couldn’t help but shake his head.

Chi Ji looks quite beautiful, but one shouldn’t think too beautifully.

The reverse, perhaps.

The situation is fraught with internal and external troubles, now compounded by the Wanwu Association.

It’s like having too many fleas without itching.

Ji Jingqiu, however, became increasingly calm, approaching issues one by one, as the Federation hasn’t reached a state where internal conflict is irreparable.

Why is the Ke family showing signs of improvement, stability?

Naturally because a peerless talent emerged in the Federation, comparable to ancestors, single-handedly suppressing the West’s chaos.

At the Hundred Veins Conference in two months, he will give the Hundred Veins a surprise, first subduing them before plotting the Federation.

At least unify the Federation completely before the Great Universe’s transformation.

Ji Jingqiu once again set forth on his journey.

This time, he visited Tiangong Heavy Workshop, seeking assistance from Di Tieshan to reforge the Green Master.

Di Tieshan did not refuse, telling him to return since the knife would be delivered back in a month.

Ji Jingqiu thanked Senior Di and from the small realm of the Floating Temple, took out some rare minerals obtained from the Ancient Road.

Di Tieshan’s eyes instantly lit up, his large hands pushing him aside, obtaining them like treasures, then promptly issued an expulsion order, shutting himself in for secluded meditation.

Outside, waiting for quite a while, the workshop master of Tiangong Heavy Workshop personally came forward to invite Ji Jingqiu to a banquet.

Ji Jingqiu, being on an errand already, naturally found it inconvenient not to oblige.

After rounds of toasting and merriment, Ji Jingqiu left deep into the night.

This time, Ji Jingqiu directly returned to East Three Bright Star.

After a brief Spirit Communication to greet Master Yang and others, Ji Jingqiu headed straight for the Divine Temple of the Four Directions God.

Not long after.

Four blazing spiritual lights like Great Sun meteors fell into this sub-temple.

At Ji Jingqiu’s invitation, several Divine Lords gathered here.

Ji Jingqiu spoke directly: "Divine Lord, if the Twelve Divine Lords withdraw from my Inner Realm, ceasing to bear the weight of the Bitter Sea, could your departure be delayed?"

After a brief silence, one of them inquired:

[Have you already been able to bear the weight of this Illusion Sea of Suffering alone?]

"I can try!" Ji Jingqiu solemnly declared.

[Our end is not largely connected to the Illusion Sea of Suffering within you, there’s no need for you to worry.]

One of the Divine Lords calmly asserted.

Ji Jingqiu took a deep breath: "Then can you disclose to me roughly when you Divine Lords will depart?"

[Our end is related to the Wilderness Four Demons.]

Ji Jingqiu’s expression trembled: "Will the Four Demons act against the Federation next?!"

[They have never ceased their actions.]

[Certain matters indeed ought to reach a conclusion, even if only temporarily.]

Ji Jingqiu felt heavy-hearted, his brows furrowing deeply, realizing the plight faced by the Four Directions God was more precarious than he’d thought.

If the structure of Four Directions God and Twelve Divine Lords crumbles, the Federation will face the terror of the Spirit Ocean.

Only those planets with Heavenly Person Station can avoid most of the calamities.

But currently the Federation’s Heavenly Human Martial Artists are far from sufficient to cover all planets.

Furthermore...

[Ji Jingqiu, who do you think we are?]

Suddenly, a Divine Lord threw a baffling question at Ji Jingqiu.

Who are they?

Ji Jingqiu was stunned.

The Four Directions God was reconstructed from the psychic cores of the four generals of yesteryear, into four Gods.

In some sense, they are the former four generals themselves.

Yet from the divine perspective, over the stretch of a long thousand-year sacrifice, the masses’ will merged into their origin, even the powerful Original Divine Fire could be tainted and assimilated by the masses’ beliefs.

Today.

They are no longer themselves.

They are the masses.

Ji Jingqiu was momentarily speechless, unsure of how to respond.

[Ji Jingqiu, you need to be prepared, you are not yet sufficient to bear the weight of this Sea of Suffering, but that’s fine, before you are ready, we will aid you.]

[In exchange, when that day comes, we hope you can replace us and carry this Sea of Suffering’s weight.]

[Strive to grow, that day is still distant, your actions in the West exceeded our expectations, you have time.]

Ji Jingqiu interpreted an implication from these words.

He was silent for a moment, slowly stating:

"I heard from Hel, under the Four Guardian Stars’ Four Gods Temples suppresses the Federation’s greatest secret..."

It was unclear how much time passed.

Ji Jingqiu unexpectedly and dazedly walked out of the temple, standing on the steps, gazing at the night sky, the distant galaxy spanning the horizon like a river to the Other Shore.

"Bitter Sea..."

In the darkness, his soft murmur was swallowed by the wind.