Chapter 490 – Star Lord of Divine Radiance

“Prompt: You possess a total of 168 hours of Secret Realm stay time.”

“Prompt: While inside this Secret Realm, the Lord’s Mark is temporarily sealed, unable to summon or recall troops.”

“Prompt: Combat is forbidden within the Apocalypse Secret Realm. Violators will face expulsion from the realm at minimum.”

“Prompt: Upon expiration of stay duration, you will be transferred to the Secret Realm waiting area.”

Passing through the barrier gate, Mu Yuan officially stepped into the Apocalypse Secret Realm.

Before him stretched a winding path paved with bluestone, disappearing into the horizon.

Ancient trees stood lush around him, while ethereal white mist curled upward. Faint, mysterious melodies seemed to drift down from the heavens above.

Merely standing here plunged Mu Yuan into a state of serene tranquility, beyond joy or sorrow. In this place, one could completely shed worldly distractions and immerse wholly in cultivation, where even the desire for conflict unconsciously dwindled to nothingness.

Mu Yuan glanced around, noticing many cultivators appearing as if they’d “achieved enlightenment.”

The usually talkative Bearded Bro seemed to have entered a vow of silence, merely tossing out a “May you find your own gains” before hurrying off into the distance.

Clearly, Bearded Bro had done his homework, his destination obvious.

This wasn’t true silence – he was simply seizing every precious moment.

After all, the countdown began the instant they stepped inside. Opportunities to enter the Apocalypse Secret Realm were rare, each minute worth millions, if not more.

“You should each go cultivate as well. You’ve already scouted your target areas, right?”

Mu Yuan looked toward Deadbone, Dolai, and Isloria.

Deadbone and Isloria certainly had clear objectives.

Dolai chimed in, “Yes, yes.”

Though its voice carried a note of uncertainty.

“You can wander around the outer areas first if you like.”

Mu Yuan patted its head.

He had indeed identified some target areas for Dolai, but Epiphany depended on fate. As an intuition-based powerhouse, letting Dolai explore might yield unexpected gains.

Anyway, the admission price for this outer region wasn’t expensive for him.

Mu Yuan produced a guide map of the Apocalypse Secret Realm.

The ordinary areas contained 1,008 Revelation Pillars, each imbued with different profound powers. Naturally, some pillars were popular while others remained obscure.

Mu Yuan’s first target was the ‘Myriad Manifestations’ Revelation Pillar.

‘Myriad Manifestations’ was the name cultivators had given it – in truth, none of the revelation pillars bore specific names, only enigmatic symbols carved into the mountainous pillars reaching for the sky.

“They say the Myriad Manifestations Pillar encompasses all things. This pillar is actually quite advanced – most cultivators struggle to gain insights before it. But those who do often receive revelations perfectly suited to themselves. Thus, it remains one of the most popular cultivation spots in the Apocalypse Secret Realm.”

Recalling this, Mu Yuan walked along the bluestone path.

He walked for some time, yet the distant mountains remained distant – towering, majestic, but still just thin lines on the horizon.

He remained far from even the nearest Revelation Pillar, let alone the Myriad Manifestations Pillar.

“Right then.”

Mu Yuan glanced around, finding himself completely alone. No one else ambled along as leisurely as he did, moving like some retired official.”No wonder this Secret Realm only prohibits conflict but doesn’t seal off power.”

As this thought crossed his mind, his consciousness grasped the vast cosmic might surrounding him, lifting his entire body.

He rose into the air.

“Wind.”

Azure winds encircled his form.

“Thunder.”

Arcs of lightning crackled and danced.

Wind and thunder coalesced into a pair of cyan-purple wings behind him. With these wings, Mu Yuan soared through heaven and earth like lightning, passing by the nearest Revelation Pillar in mere breaths.

Several minutes later.

“This should be the place.”

Mu Yuan gradually slowed his flight, and the scenery blurring past his vision gradually came into focus.

Ahead stood a majestic, sheer peak piercing through the clouds. On this peculiar mountain resembling a raised finger, a massive, mysterious symbol was engraved.

Representing “Myriad Forms.”

At the foot of the extraordinary peak lay a broad, flat land where dozens of powerful cultivators were training.

The Bearded Bro from earlier was among them.

The man stood in a horse stance, eyes wide and fixed intently on the Myriad Forms Revelation Peak before him, his face flushed crimson as if straining with all his might yet unable to produce results.

After a long while,

He stumbled back two steps, muttering to himself in dismay, “Why is it still not working? I clearly feel I’m only a hair’s breadth away! Just a hair’s breadth!”

Not far from the Bearded Bro, a middle-aged man with a goatee similarly failed to enter a state of immersive cultivation. He glanced at the Bearded Bro and said, “Old Wang, why not give up? You’ve already wasted two weeks in front of this Myriad Forms Revelation Peak. Why stubbornly fixate on this one peak?”

The Bearded Bro panted heavily and replied, “Old Liu, you’ve been here over ten days with nothing to show for it too. But I’m different—I gained something initially, Awakening an Advanced skill here!”

Thus, he always felt the Myriad Forms Revelation Peak had a connection with him.

Yet, since that initial Epiphany, the peak had never responded to him again.

The Bearded Bro looked toward Mu Yuan, who had flown over, and said, “Young brother, have you set your sights on this Myriad Forms Revelation Peak too? Excellent, excellent. Young people should have grand ambitions.”

The Goatee nearby, however, stared at Mu Yuan for a long moment. He nudged the Bearded Bro with his elbow and said, “Wait, Old Wang, this young man seems to be the legendary Tianyuan Lord.”

“Tianyuan?”

“I am Tianyuan. Pleased to meet you, both elder brothers.”

Mu Yuan wasn’t surprised that the Bearded Bro didn’t recognize him, nor that the Goatee was unfamiliar with him.

The name Tianyuan might be somewhat known to many, but he wasn’t a celebrity—it wasn’t as if he’d be recognized walking down the street.

Even during his last participation in the military parade, he was merely one among many representative Lords.

Beyond that, Mu Someone had never appeared in public nor engaged in self-promotion… He had always preferred to keep a low profile, avoiding having his name added to the watchlists of major powers like Divine Radiance.

Now, he no longer feared such things, but he had no intention of deliberately seeking the spotlight either—at most, he’d let things happen naturally.

Some of his peer Lords or younger Lords might be paying attention to him, but the Bearded Bro and Goatee were both veterans from a harsher era who had struggled their way up. Mu Yuan dared not act superior.

Though they didn’t recognize him, the Bearded Bro had clearly heard some of his exploits.

He said in surprise, “Not bad, young man. I heard you secured first place for our country in the Dragon Court Land. Impressive.”

He gave a thumbs-up.”This year, our Taixuan has received significantly more slots than previous years for recruiting wyverns and dragons from the Dragon Court Land—your contributions have been monumental.”

Bearded Bro grew even more enthusiastic.

He spoke of continuing to bring glory to Taixuan and driving out the monsters, among other things.

Mu Yuan said solemnly, “It is my duty.”

Since this was a cultivation ground, the three didn’t linger in casual conversation.

Bearded Bro and Goatee prepared to muster their strength and continue their desperate struggle at the Myriad Revelation Peak.

Mu Yuan also prepared to begin his observation.

At that moment, he sensed an intense gaze fixed directly upon him.

He frowned slightly.

When he glanced over, he saw a young man with golden hair, blue eyes, and a hooked nose.

Even as Mu Yuan looked his way, the hooked-nose youth still didn’t avert his gaze.

He stared straight back.

His scorching gaze was like a saber, sword, or flame, roaring toward him.

Hostility.

Battle Intent.

“But who exactly is this person?”

“He is the Divine Radiance Lord ‘Blazing Fire,’ also known as the man with the epithet Fire God.”

“Fire God?”

In the Eternal World, even as a mere title, the word ‘God’ wasn’t something just anyone was qualified to bear.

However, in Mu Yuan’s perception, the hooked-nose youth in the distance was indeed very strong.

He was like a blazing Great Sun, scorching and difficult to look at directly.

“He is one of the seven super lords continuously promoted by the Divine Radiance Empire.”

Goatee, still unable to enter a meditative state, noticed the situation and came over. “In our Taixuan, aren’t you and Cold Moon City Lord both highly renowned? The Divine Radiance Empire has thus promoted seven super lords, all considered part of the younger generation, to showcase that their national strength surpasses ours.”

“Hmm, showcasing, posturing.”

“But setting aside the posturing, from what I know, these seven Divine Radiance Lords are indeed quite capable.”

Mu Yuan recalled as well.

This ‘super hero’ project of Divine Radiance only began three or four months ago; Isloria had mentioned it to him in passing.

Mu Yuan had glanced over the public information.

Among these seven Divine Radiance Lords, the youngest was around Cold Moon City Lord’s age, while the oldest appeared to be in his forties or fifties.

But indeed, none of these seven could be underestimated.

In Divine Radiance, Fire God Blazing Fire and the others were already household names, and even beyond Divine Radiance, their fame spread far.

As expected, many on-site recognized Blazing Fire.

Some from Divine Radiance stared with increasingly fervent eyes, their faces flushing with admiration that crossed boundaries.

…

“You all are the worst batches our Divine Radiance has seen in years!”

“First, you were outshone and left far behind by a woman from Taixuan, Cold Moon. Now, even Taixuan Tianyuan, who is several years your junior, has surpassed you.”

“Trash!”

“But since you can stand here, you aren’t complete trash. What remains is for you to prove to me, to Divine Radiance, your worth and your strength!”

Over half a year ago, Blazing Fire Heller was selected for the ‘Super Lord Selection Plan.’

He learned that the Empire would invest heavily in cultivating and promoting seven young lords to bolster national prestige.

Three of these slots were pre-assigned to three young lords with the strongest backgrounds, reputations, and power.

He and other outstanding newcomers could compete for the remaining four slots.

It was a tremendous opportunity.

The Empire didn’t usually allocate significant resources to young experts like them.Blazing Fire Heller seized this opportunity, emerging from the selection program to become one of the seven brightest stars of Divine Radiance.

Fire God Blazing Fire.

“The man crowned with the name of Fire God!”

“Oh heavens, what Blazing Fire holds in his palm is the Blazing Sun!”

Screams of fans.

Clusters of flowers.

Endless praises.

All came flooding in alongside the title of Super Lord.

Power, influence, beauties, treasures—all became readily attainable in that moment.

He had become a major figure, a renowned Lord throughout Divine Radiance and even the entire world.

His name was chanted by millions.

What Taixuan Tianyuan, what Taixuan Han Yue—none could compare in fame to their group of seven.

“Go ask anyone on the street how many know of Taixuan Tianyuan, and how many don’t know me, the Winter Monarch.”

“So, our mission is already accomplished. What’s wrong with enjoying ourselves a little? Come on, buddy.”

The Winter Monarch, one of the seven Super Lords who also emerged from the selection program, held a pure-blooded elf beauty with one arm and raised a wine glass with the other, extending an invitation to Heller.

Indeed, power and beauties were already within reach.

Was this enough?

No, it wasn’t.

As strong liquor flowed down his throat, Blazing Fire Heller’s heart remained cold as ice.

How did formidable figures like Taixuan Han Yue and Taixuan Tianyuan earn their fearsome reputations?

Through countless battles.

By carving a path of blood through the entire Dragon Court Land to establish their mighty fame.

Not through publicity stunts or shows.

Heller understood this clearly.

He also knew the Empire’s higher-ups understood it too.

Their influence and fame might be loud enough among ordinary citizens, but on the international stage, among powerful figures of various nations, it remained insufficient—far from enough.

He needed to defeat Taixuan’s famous experts head-on.

Any method, any approach would do.

He must surpass Taixuan’s experts—only then could his status as a Divine Radiance Super Lord and his title of Fire God become truly deserved.

He would also gain more resource allocation from the Empire.

And if his opponent were Tianyuan, the achievement would carry even greater weight.

‘Let’s compete, Tianyuan.’

‘Let me witness what the so-called top rising star of Taixuan’s new generation, the Lord whose ascent surpasses even Han Yue’s in speed and ferocity, is capable of.’

‘Don’t disappoint me. I hope you’ll be as exceptional as anticipated.’

‘Because I will be even more exceptional.’

This was his confidence, his determination.

The resolve he had maintained without a moment’s rest since being selected as a Super Lord!

Blazing Fire Heller withdrew his gaze brimming with Battle Intent, then turned toward Revelation Peak and advanced step by step.

Mu Yuan roughly guessed Blazing Fire’s intention.

A competition to see who could achieve Epiphany? Who would shine brighter?

Hah, childish.

He had long outgrown the age of rivalry and aggression.

Mu Yuan slowly rolled up his sleeves and retrieved a Mind-Calming Treasure Pearl, placing it between his eyebrows.

His eyes closed, then opened.

Within his pupils shimmered brilliant golden light.

Heaven Rewards Diligence—activate!

Various elemental affinities brought by top-tier Devour—activate!

Willpower Light burning brightly!

Monarch’s Authority restrained internally!

Mind Power erupting vigorously!

A web of spiritual energy spread outward.

Mu Yuan’s mind gradually immersed within.

He gazed at the Myriad Revelation Peak, yet his vision wasn’t fixed upon it.

In his dazed state, he realized that revelation existed not only on the mountain peak, but throughout this entire expanse between heaven and earth.

His spirit began resonating with the world.

Before his eyes, the vague, sparse patterns of Heavenly Dao principles gradually grew clearer.He closed his eyes.

The symbol representing ‘All Phenomena’ on Revelation Peak appeared in his mind.

The symbol grew clearer and larger.

Faintly visible were the intricate patterns on the massive symbol.

The patterns gradually became distinct as well.

There, tens of thousands of law patterns were converging.

(End of Chapter)