CHAPTER 255: THE AWAKENING OF THE TWO ANCESTORS OF THE TWO KINGDOMS

On the Origin Continent, within the holy land of the Ancient Thunder Kingdom — “Thunder Mountain.”

Hidden deep within Thunder Mountain were countless worlds. In one of these vast worlds, a figure lay quietly upon an endless grassland. The grass withered and grew again countless times, yet that figure lying upon the plain remained untouched by even the faintest speck of dust.

No one knew how long had passed before that figure finally opened his eyes.

He was none other than the Ancestor of the Ancient Thunder Kingdom.

“To personally dissect the corpse of a high-rank Primordial Lifeform… I could even obtain a few materials from it,” the Thunder Ancestor said in exhilaration. “This harvest is tremendous. Senior Yuan and the others must be in great haste — even allowing us to purchase the corpse of a high-rank Primordial Lifeform.”

Low-rank Primordial Lifeforms — those, Thunder Ancestor and Flame Wind Ancestor were qualified to hunt.

But a high-rank Primordial Lifeform was an entirely different matter — a qualitative leap! With a single step, it could crush billions of low-rank Primordial Lifeforms. A single breath could reduce them all to ashes. Any cultivator who had yet to break free from the Caged World, even if protected by an “Inner World Avatar,” might still have their soul contaminated and perish completely upon encountering such a being.

“For Senior Yuan and the others to bring out even a high-rank Primordial Lifeform’s corpse for us juniors,” Thunder Ancestor mused, “the rumors are probably true.”

“The Beigu World Cluster must have completely fallen.”

“Our cultivator faction has lost the war!”

The Beigu World Cluster was a collection of worlds created by Senior Yuan and several others at great cost to nurture cultivators.

Rumor had it that the faction of Innate Primordial Lifeforms had set their eyes on the Beigu World Cluster. They delighted in devouring cultivators — and even more so in devouring worlds! When they launched their large-scale assault, Senior Yuan and the others mobilized their forces to resist.

However…

In the end, the cultivator faction still lost!

At first, Thunder Ancestor and Flame Wind Ancestor had only half-believed such rumors. But recently, as Senior Yuan and the others had provided even more resources to assist them Divine Emperors, they began to realize the truth.

“I only hope those Innate Primordial Lifeforms don’t come to the Origin Continent,” Thunder Ancestor murmured anxiously.

There was nothing he could do.

In the clashes between the two factions, the Innate Primordial Lifeform tribes always held the advantage!

They were far too vast in number — even losing some meant nothing to them. But the cultivator faction had far too few beings who had transcended the Caged World.

If it came to attrition, the cultivator faction simply could not endure!

Thunder Ancestor stepped out from that dormant world and appeared atop Thunder Mountain.

“Hm?” The moment he appeared, Thunder Ancestor immediately received reports from his monarchs.

“During my seclusion, a Lord of the Milky Way appeared on the Origin Continent? He even sparred with Emperor Qing — and with a nine-story tower treasure, he gained the upper hand?” Thunder Ancestor showed genuine surprise.

…

Within a grand ancient hall atop Thunder Mountain.

“Ancestor.”

Nine monarchs gathered, all kneeling in reverent submission.

Thunder Ancestor sat high upon his throne, overlooking the nine monarchs below.

Between him and these monarchs lay a gulf of several Source World eras — how could there be any affection? The reason he and Flame Wind Ancestor had fostered descendants was simply to have their lineage occupy more Treasure Lands and gather more resources. 𝘳А₦ȰꞖЕṣ

By distributing a few resources needed by Divine Kings and some early-stage Divine Emperor treasures, they could grant their bloodlines an absolute advantage upon the Origin Continent — while also placing them in great debt, compelling them to gather treasures in return.

“Ancestor, this Lord of the Milky Way acts overbearingly. Even those two royal clans that committed great sins — he dared to slaughter them both. Even Emperor Yuan died by his hand.” The monarchs all gazed at Thunder Ancestor expectantly.

“He possesses strength beyond the Divine King-level. Even I, on the Origin Continent, can only suppress him slightly but cannot do anything to him,” Thunder Ancestor said from above. “Power dictates order. If any of you commit grave sins and are slain by the Lord of the Milky Way, there is nothing I can do. Be cautious in your actions henceforth.”

“Must we simply endure forever?” a monarch in golden robes asked anxiously.

Thunder Ancestor turned his gaze upon him.

The golden-robed monarch’s heart trembled — he instantly realized he had spoken wrongly!

An Ancestor’s commands were to be executed, not questioned.

For a long time, through “Ancestor Black Eagle,” he had harvested billions of living beings. Now, he was growing desperate.

“Ancestor, I—I…” the golden-robed figure stammered in unease.

The other eight monarchs dared not utter a word.

“Feng Xing,” Thunder Ancestor said coldly, “go to the ‘Wind Valley’ within the Heavenly Pillar Realm. Either obtain a treasure from within to atone for your sins — or die there.”

The golden-robed figure trembled. None of the other eight monarchs dared to intercede.

“Yes, Ancestor.” The golden-robed monarch, Monarch Fengxing, could only obey.

To the exalted Thunder Ancestor, these monarchs were nothing more than subordinates — tools.

With each new era, he would raise a new batch.

In the early phase of an era, he would still value them somewhat. But by the end, their worth had greatly diminished.

“As long as one who surpasses the Divine King is born on the Origin Continent, you must show respect,” Thunder Ancestor said from his throne. “Because within the Origin Continent, such beings are invincible.”

“However, you need not worry,” he continued. “Within the environment of the Origin Continent, Thunder Mountain remains absolutely safe. No one can break into Thunder Mountain.”

The eight monarchs understood immediately.

The Ancestor’s meaning was clear.

He could not do anything to the Lord of the Milky Way — but likewise, that Lord could not cause trouble atop Thunder Mountain.

“Did you gain anything while I was in seclusion?” Thunder Ancestor asked again.

“Reporting to Ancestor — we obtained a portion of the ‘Mind Radiance,’” Monarch Lei Xiao said respectfully as he presented the treasure.

Thunder Ancestor nodded slightly.

At the end of an era, obtaining treasures became increasingly difficult.

He looked at the liquid-like Mind Radiance within the box and nodded in satisfaction. “You may all leave.” The monarchs bowed and retreated.

“Flame Wind,” Thunder Ancestor called out mentally, reaching out to his old friend, Flame Wind Ancestor.

At the same time Thunder Ancestor emerged from seclusion, Flame Wind Ancestor had also awakened.

“Flame Wind, you’ve heard about the Lord of the Milky Way as well, haven’t you? What are you planning to do?” Thunder Ancestor asked.

“Outside the Source World, the Lord of the Milky Way might still be inexperienced. But within the Origin Continent, neither of us could do anything to him,” Flame Wind Ancestor replied with a laugh. “What else can I do? I’ll just endure.”

“How about we both go meet the youngster, give him a little warning?” Thunder Ancestor suggested. “He’ll eventually leave the Source World — and will come seeking our aid.”

Having cultivated through countless eras, both had deep foundations and vast networks of friendships.

Thunder Ancestor had cultivated to the Complete God Emperor stage, now pursuing that final step — the “Ultimate Bloodline Awakening,” to transcend the Caged World.

Flame Wind Ancestor was at the Late-Stage God Emperor realm, yet as an Enlightened One, his strength was not much inferior. Among cultivators, the Enlightened Ones were generally more respected.

“Since we’re from the same Source World, there’s no need to warn him,” Flame Wind Ancestor said. “Besides, if we truly push the Lord of the Milky Way too far — should he go mad, the order of the entire Origin Continent would collapse.”

Thunder Ancestor understood that well.

The supreme laws of the Origin Continent imposed limitations — above the Divine King level, none had to fear anything! Even the two Ancestors had to act with caution.

The East Extremity Region Ancestor was willing to yield, but the Lord of the Milky Way might not.

“Forget it, we won’t see him then,” Thunder Ancestor said. “He’s just a junior. Once he leaves the Source World, we’ll have little connection.”

“Keeping distance is best for both sides,” Flame Wind Ancestor agreed.

Distance breeds calm.

Both sides could handle matters more rationally that way.

“How was your harvest from dissecting that high-rank Primordial Lifeform?” Thunder Ancestor asked. “Do you think you can reach the Complete God Emperor realm?”

“The harvest was great,” Flame Wind Ancestor said excitedly. “A high-rank Primordial Lifeform is countless times more complex than a low-rank one. After I study the results carefully, I believe I can take another step forward.”

“You always say that — yet you never reach completion,” Thunder Ancestor teased.

“Carving a path through darkness toward the Half-Primordial level is no easy feat,” Flame Wind Ancestor replied with a laugh. “Patience is key.”

The Half-Primordial level was the Complete God Emperor stage.

Enlightened Ones who had reached that level were exceedingly rare.

If an Enlightened One could advance further to the Primordial level — comprehending the “Dao of the Primordial Realm” — it would be an ascension to the heavens, becoming one of the most powerful Primordial Lifeforms. Even Senior Yuan and the others longed for such a peer to appear.

“I have patience, but I worry time is running out,” Thunder Ancestor said grimly. “The Innate Primordial Lifeform faction grows ever stronger. If one day they invade the Origin Continent — it’s over for both the continent and us.”

“Then that’s fate,” Flame Wind Ancestor replied calmly. “Worrying changes nothing.”

…

Atop Thunder Mountain.

“The Ancestor clearly condones the Lord of the Milky Way’s actions.”

“He also said no one can break into Thunder Mountain! In that case, as long as we remain inside for safety, we can still send our subordinates to capture living beings. The Origin Continent is approaching its end anyway. We’ll eventually leave to explore beyond — so we must capture more creatures to nourish our bloodlines.”

“You have an avatar, but I don’t.”

“Then hide your true body within Thunder Mountain, and send puppets to harvest instead — what’s the difference?”

Two monarchs whispered secretly.

They had endured for three hundred eras, once hoping Thunder Ancestor would intervene.

But with his stance now clear, only one path remained for them.

“Hmph, let’s see what the Lord of the Milky Way can do when our true bodies stay hidden within Thunder Mountain while puppets and subordinates do the work.” With that resolve, the two monarchs began their secret preparations.

Once again, they quietly resumed large-scale capture of living beings.

…

“Brother Milky Way, both Ancestors of the Two Kingdoms have emerged from seclusion. Be careful in your actions for a while,” Emperor Qing informed Luo Feng. “Flame Wind Ancestor is carefree by nature, but Thunder Ancestor — though unaffected by Primordial Bloodline — is domineering by temperament.”

“I understand,” Luo Feng replied calmly.

At this moment, Luo Feng’s true body sat within the Star Tower, carefully comprehending its secret patterns.

Over the course of three hundred eras since founding the Milky Way Divine Kingdom, Luo Feng had continuously used the rare treasure “Primordial Crystal.” His soul and willpower had grown to rival those of an early-stage God Emperor, though his physical body still lagged behind.

Each era, he could only consume at most thirty-three Primordial Crystals. Beyond that, the effect diminished sharply; exceeding forty would cause the benefit to plummet.

The ten thousand Primordial Crystals he had obtained from selling three treasures to Emperor Yuan were already depleted.

He had since sold some ordinary Dream Domain treasures to the two ancient kingdoms in exchange for another two thousand Primordial Crystals.

“The long-term consumption of Primordial Crystals is truly costly,” Luo Feng lamented. “Even thirty-three per era pains me. As my strength grows, the cost will only rise.”

Yet the effect of the Primordial Crystal was undeniably extraordinary!

In terms of value for effect, it was the most optimal auxiliary treasure.