CHAPTER 869: CHAPTER 592: HEAVENLY ESCAPE EIGHTH LAYER

At the same time.

Inside the Mountain and Sea Tower.

The Shadow Stream Dominator swept his telekinesis over the Seventh Realm experts without restraint, almost going insane.

"Damn it, where is Lu Chenzhou?"

"Senior, your probing of us all like this is a bit much." Someone spoke up.

"That’s right, who here isn’t a top figure of their own world? Though you are Eighth Realm, you’d best not go too far either."

The Seventh Realms who dared only be angry but not speak out now voiced their discontent one after another once someone led the charge against Achilles.

"Just Seventh Realm and you dare proclaim yourselves top level?"

Achilles sneered at them, relying on the Forbidden Zone and not caring about these ants.

He said, "Today, I put a bounty here in the Mountain and Sea Tower. Whoever can kill Lu Chenzhou of Tianxia and present me with his corpse, this [White Bone Blade] in my hand will be yours!"

Saying this, a giant pale blade appeared in Achilles’ hand, about one zhang long and as wide as a door, covered in rust, with carvings of the Ten Yama Courts, Yakshas, and evil ghosts. Savage Evil Qi shot up, condensing into a [Great Asura Devouring Hundred Ghosts Painting].

In an instant, countless eyes were drawn to this White Bone Blade, including some Eighth Realm experts.

"It’s actually that vicious blade."

"Rank 72 on the Spiritual Weapon List, Eighth Rank Middle Grade Spiritual Weapon, one of the top five supreme savage blades among Great Wilderness Divine Blades."

"Never thought the treasure famed as the White Bone Blade Saint’s, is actually in his hands."

Any treasure ranked in the top hundred of the Spiritual Weapon List had countless legends, renowned across all realms. If an ordinary Seventh Realm obtained one, they could dominate their peers and even escape an Eighth Realm’s hands.

Back then, the reason Da Xia’s heroes could gravely injure the Black Mountain Demon Saint was—firstly the array, and secondly Eighth Rank Spiritual Weapons like [Divine Phoenix Immortal Armor], [Wufeng’s Name], all famous treasures.

In a flash, countless greedy gazes turned to Achilles, all wondering—who is this Lu Chenzhou?

"Lu Chenzhou? Is he really that strong?"

"To be bounty-hunted by the ruler of the Shadow Killing Realm... what secret is on him?"

Inwardly, Achilles sneered coldly.

This [White Bone Blade] was taken from slaying a Seventh Realm, but it was too hard to tame, so it had only gathered dust since. He also owns the 24th ranked [Shadow God Blade] of the Spiritual Weapon List, an authentic supreme treasure, so he disdained this blade.

The Wangliang Finger Bone was more important.

"Heh, Achilles, you’ve sided with the Evil God, and dare talk so big in the Mountain and Sea Tower?"

A middle-aged man carrying a long spear stepped forth from the crowd, with an aura approaching late stage. Among the thousand Seventh Realms, he was top-tier—the Sea Covering Spear himself.

He cupped his fists and said, "Everyone, this Dominator of the Shadow Stream has secretly submitted to the Forbidden Zone’s Witch Master. Over the past millennium, he has assassinated thousands of Tianxia’s geniuses across the Three Thousand Worlds. Do not fall into his trap."

"Evil God’s lackey!"

The Xuanwu Daoist also stepped forward, his Late Stage Seventh Realm aura unleashed without restraint, soaring sky-high.

"In Tianxia’s human civilization today, our Seventh Realms are as numerous as clouds, with the Eternal Immortal of Eighth Realm as our anchor. Lu Chenzhou is our civilization’s leader. To act against him is a declaration of war on us, not a wise move."

An old monk appeared at some unknown time.

He was Four Symbols Personnel.

And also Late Stage Seventh Realm.

"Amitabha, now as the Great Universe sits at the brink of life and death, continued infighting will only lead to our doom once the Evil God revives. There will be no survivors beneath a fallen nest."

The Shaolin Abbot had also arrived, his cultivation exceptionally deep—among the thousands present, ranking among the top, second only to Peak Seventh Realm old monsters.

"It’s Master Hui Kong!"

Someone whispered in the crowd.

Xuanwu, Hui Kong, and the first Heavenly Master Zhang all had reputations in the Three Thousand Worlds—especially in the Eastern Extreme Territory—second only to the Dragon King, Eternal Immortal, and others, famous acquaintances everywhere. Now revealing their true identities, many recognized them and realized they all belonged to Tianxia Civilization.

"This Tianxia Civilization is truly formidable. Seems the rumors were true—they’ve replaced Kunxu and become the hegemon of the Eastern Extreme Territory," someone commented.

The Three Thousand Worlds are vast and isolated—most worlds have no contact for lifetimes.

Although dozens of Red Extreme Palace’s experts have spared no effort to spread Tianxia’s culture and influence, their reach is still limited. Now, with the World’s First Tower opening, it’s a new way to make a name.

Thus, all the former incognito Da Xia experts revealed their own Martial Arts auras.

"Achilles, long time no see."

The Prince Northern Guardian sneered.

"Did your kind forget, when your race was routed by the Land Army Master of Xia Realm, fleeing in panic and with broken armor?" A flamboyantly armored, eagle-faced, human-bodied fighter arrived—the Sky King·Horus!

At his side, the Netherworld King, Corona Empress, Black Prison Grand Duke, and other Seventh Realm fighters with solar-bright qi-blood appeared, all at least Middle Stage.

"Heh, quite the crowd indeed."

The Po Suo Emperor, Heart Dream Emperor, and other Po Suo strong gathered as well, surrounding Achilles.

Achilles and the "Shadow Killing Eight Kings" beside him looked complicated now. He laughed angrily: "You say I joined the Evil God, do you have any proof?"

"Plenty of evidence."

The Prince Northern Guardian came prepared, playing the projection of the Shadow Kill Clan hunting the Human Clan in collusion with demon ghosts in Xia Realm, showing it to over a thousand Seventh Realm experts.

"It’s actually true."

"Collaborating with demon ghosts, truly despicable."

"In Cangming Realm, even our only Seventh Realm fought demons and monsters to the death. Never thought the Shadow Kill Clan, such an old-school extraordinary race, would yield to the Forbidden Zone first."

In an instant, many people seethed with righteous anger.

But many others remained indifferent—different races, different civilizations, little empathy.

"Who’s to say this isn’t a fake projection conjured by illusions? And even if it’s real—they join the Forbidden Zone, so what? Law of the jungle, survival of the fittest. Since the Divine Court era, it’s always been thus. Think about it—did the Divine Court ever truly treat you as humans? Divine Court ruling the universe, or the stars ruling it—what’s the difference? Cultivators, extraordinary races, even True Spirits—if not gods, we’re all ants in the rulers’ eyes. We weaklings following the strong—that’s only natural!"

Achilles spouted his arguments.

"Who said we cannot become gods?"

The Prince Northern Guardian countered.

"Then let me ask: since ancient times, apart from those primordial True Spirits, has any of the masses ever become a god?"

Achilles pressed his point.

"Just because it wasn’t possible before, doesn’t mean it’s impossible now. If the Four Emperors can slay gods, so can we!"

"Self-deluding."

No fighting inside the Mountain and Sea Tower—otherwise Achilles would just slap the Prince Northern Guardian out of existence.

As he left, he said maliciously, "By the way, you all may not know—the 42nd ranked Supreme Treasure, the Aurora Palace, is also in Lu Chenzhou’s hands. He’s inherited the Chasing Sun Dragon Emperor’s legacy. If anyone kills Lu Chenzhou and returns my ancestor’s finger bone to me, I’ll take none of the other treasures. If interested, contact me privately."

The Wangling’s Remains were full of viciousness. Achilles was sure that except for the Shadow Kill Clan, no one else—not even those proficient in Shadow Dao—could absorb or refine it.

The Da Xia experts’ faces fell.

"Too despicable."

This was undoubtedly exposing Lu Chenzhou to the majority of strong figures across the Three Thousand Worlds. Ordinary Seventh Realms don’t matter—what’s worrying is if some Eighth Realm old monsters are tempted.

As long as Lu Chenzhou leaves the Xia Realm, these people with huge influence networks, if driven by greed, might secretly strike at him.

For many old monsters focused on becoming immortals and growing stronger, killing for treasures was just another day.

...

Kunxu Realm.

Star Palace. A middle-aged man with heroic features in a Daoist Robe embraced a graceful, mature beauty dressed in black gauze as they returned from the Mountain and Sea Tower.

"Wife, this time we obtained the Eighth Rank rare treasure [Double Star God Combination Wood]. If we refine it well, we’ll master the ancient technique ’Yin Yang Divine Music Scripture’, and break into the Eighth Realm together. Once we combine forces—even an Eighth Realm Middle Stage would not dare offend us," the man smiled.

"Husband, in the World’s First Tower, I seemed to see Ancestor Kunxu..." the beauty murmured.

"Now that the Ancestor has emerged, he’s likely to reach another level, infinitely close to Great Power. But such a being is too distant for us and won’t meddle in Kunxu’s mundane affairs, so there’s no need to worry."

"True. For the Ancestor, only achieving Great Power matters." The lady envied him.

The two returned to the palace, only to find a glossy Black Tiger with wings lying on the floor. This Black Tiger astonishingly had Peak Seventh Realm cultivation.

Their faces changed slightly.

"Greetings, Lord Hei Zhou."

On the Black Tiger’s back lounged a slender figure in thin gauze, with long hair flowing and a tiger mask.

A languid voice sounded: "Use the Star Palace’s energy to investigate news about Lu Chenzhou."

"As you wish."

The two looked up.

The Black Tiger was already gone.

"Husband, is Master really dead?"

"He was poisoned by a rare and strange toxin, then fell into demonization—certain death... Don’t worry too much, we were forced. That Black Boat Ancestor is a top expert in West River Territory, rules 4,399 worlds, and his cultivation nears the Late Stage of Eighth Realm—how could we resist him?" The man sighed.

"Forget it, let’s investigate Lu Chenzhou first. I remember some days ago, a foreign woman entered the Zhou Sword Immortal’s cave—she’s from Tianxia too."

"Then let’s start with her."

...

A month later.

Starspace of Xia Realm.

On the Death Star, Lu Chenzhou sat cross-legged, five hearts facing the sky, a stone stele before him shattered.

[Lightning: Fourth Rank (100%) → Fifth Rank (1%)]

[Chaos: Fifth Rank (42%) → Fifth Rank (50%)]

[Chasing Light·Heavenly Escape: Seventh Layer (100%) → Eighth Layer (1%)]

Rumble!

With the breakthrough of the "Sky Escape Chapter," the countless cells in Lu Chenzhou’s body, like billions of stars, each shining with a blue lightning on their surfaces.

His form blurred between quantum states, shifting between real and unreal. With billions of stellar cells burning at once, he instantly became a true lightning in a particle state, rushing out of the atmosphere.

Boom!

His initial burst was 3,000 times the speed of sound. Activating the Kun Character Technique, he transformed into a Golden Winged Great Peng, his speed soaring further, until it reached 6,666 times the speed of sound.

He dashed back and forth, his image appearing everywhere between heaven and earth, a single line of light. Like a drill, he pierced an asteroid before coming to a halt.

"I’m so fast."

"Only at the Ninth Layer of ’Heavenly Escape’ can one reach one percent of light speed—just over 8,000 times the speed of sound. The Eighth Layer is only 3,000 times, but with my Golden Roc Transformation, I’m already infinitely close to the Ninth Layer."

Beyond the Ninth Layer comes [Chasing Light].