Lin Fei wasted no time. Upon hearing the call of the Supreme, he immediately made his way to the headquarters of the Ancient Covenant.
By now, the place had gathered many a Martial Ancestor and True Immortal, each wearing an expression of grave solemnity.
Clearly, they too understood that this summoning by the Supreme might well portend some significant crisis.
"Greetings to both Supremes!" Lin Fei said upon arrival, bowing respectfully to Azure Emperor Supreme and White Cloud Supreme.
"Martial Ancestor Lin, please take your seat," Azure Emperor Supreme gestured towards Lin Fei's designated spot.
Lin Fei's gaze fixed upon it. It was the first seat on the left—a position not lightly given. It is known that the arrangement of seats subtly reflects the status among the Martial Ancestors and True Immortals.
To the left sat the Martial Ancestors. Lin Fei noted that the Great Dream Ancestor had only managed the fourth seat on the left, a median position.
With Lin Fei included, the Ancient Covenant boasted nearly nine Martial Ancestors, and here he was in the premier position. The implication was unmistakable.
Seeing Lin Fei silent, Azure Emperor Supreme smiled slightly and said teasingly, "How now, Martial Ancestor Lin, who roams unmatched in the Yin-Yang Immortal Domain and even withdrew at ease from the clutches of the Dark Demon Supreme—do you hesitate to take a seat?"
Lin Fei was inwardly surprised. He hadn't expected that the Azure Emperor Supreme would be so thoroughly informed about his affairs, including his escape from Initial Demon Supreme—an incident not even disclosed to his master, the Great Dream Ancestor. How had the Azure Emperor Supreme come to know of this?
"Thank you, Supreme!"
Nevertheless, since the Supreme had spoken, Lin Fei took his place without further ado, sitting down in the foremost left-hand seat.
The assembled gazes upon Lin Fei turned complex. That seat almost certainly marked him now as the foremost Martial Ancestor of the Ancient Covenant, perhaps even the strongest beneath the two Supreme Ones!
And how long had Lin Fei been a Martial Ancestor? Such rapid advancement was nothing short of astounding. Despite any underlying resentments, those present couldn't help but feel genuine respect, especially considering his composed retreat from the Dark Demon Supreme. His prowess was undeniable—even among Martial Ancestors and True Immortals, few could boast of escaping a Supreme.
Upon seeing that everyone had arrived, White Cloud Supreme's demeanor turned stern, and he spoke in a grave tone: "Ladies and gentlemen, I believe you have already heard some rumors or have made some guesses. Blood rains from the sky, and a Supreme has fallen. This is not mere hearsay; indeed, a Supreme has truly perished.
In the Divine Realm, the Original Dao Supreme was ambushed by the Lord of Dark Demons and utterly annihilated. This marks the first demise of a Supreme in our Divine Realm to date! This news is currently kept in the strictest confidence. Once spread, it will inevitably cause panic.
I implore you all to keep this information buried deep within, not to be spoken of to anyone. I disclose this to you because I want you to make a choice. Some of our Supremes are preparing to leave the Divine Realm. They plan to venture into Chaos and find another realm to establish a second Divine Realm.
Therefore, we hope some of you will join them. As the seeds of the Divine Realm, to carry on its legacy. This is voluntary. Those willing to venture into the Chaos may register. Those who wish to remain may continue to stay in the Divine Realm."
As White Cloud Supreme's words fell, the minds of all present exploded in tumult, as if they could scarcely believe their ears.
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Were White Cloud Supreme and Azure Emperor Supreme truly contemplating leaving the Divine Realm? What did this signify?
This was an abandonment of the Divine Realm! A so-called seeding plan, but clearly, it was an outright relinquishment. The vast chaos beyond—abandoning the Divine Realm in search of another realm?
If a world without a master were so readily found, would the Lord of Dark Demons have needed to invade the Divine Realm?
A second Divine Realm, merely a pretext.
"Supreme ones, you cannot leave."
"Yes, Supremes, you are abandoning the entire Divine Realm."
"Once the Supremes leave, what hope remains for our Divine Realm?"
"Supreme, why must it come to this? Even though the Original Dao Supreme has fallen, it was but an accident. Surely the Lord of Dark Demons cannot continue to slay Supremes; otherwise, would he not have employed such means already?"
"We in the Divine Realm can still resist the Dark Demons. The Supremes must not abandon us..."
Everyone knew that the Supremes were crucial. Once the Supremes left the Divine Realm, it would amount to forsaking it. How could those remaining withstand the invasion from the realm of Dark Demons?
These Martial Ancestors and True Immortals certainly did not wish to witness such a scenario. They would rather die in battle!
Of course, this was also because they had no other choice. True Immortals and Martial Ancestors, once they left the Divine Realm, could not survive in the Chaos. Relying on the Supremes would mean living in dependence for a lifetime. And who knew what might happen in the Chaos? What if they never reached another realm?
Dying in the Chaos would be the ultimate indignity. That was only a last resort. True Immortals and Martial Ancestors did not wish to leave the Divine Realm.
But the Supremes were different. The moment they achieved their status as Supreme, they had already transcended the Divine Realm.
Supremes could leave at any time. And it would have no impact. Following the demise of the Original Dao Supreme. The Supremes had indeed begun to diverge.
Many Supremes were willing to resist for a while longer. Yet some no longer wished to take risks. Not wanting to gamble whether the Lord of Dark Demons still possessed the means to slay Supremes.
Rather, they preferred to leave the Divine Realm, enter the chaos, and live freely. As for the life or death of the Divine Realm, those Supremes did not care.
Once one becomes a Supreme, it's like escaping a cage. In the eyes of a Supreme, the Divine Realm was merely another cage...better to be out than in.
For a moment, Lin Fei remained silent. He had not spoken, for he had long anticipated such a day. Self-reliance is more dependable than reliance on others. The fact that the Supremes could depart at any time meant they were never truly committed to a last stand. Unlike the True Immortals and Martial Ancestors, who had no choice but to fight desperately.
Now that the Supremes intended to abandon the Divine Realm, no one could stop them.
With a swift movement, Lin Fei raised his head, looking directly at Azure Emperor Supreme and White Cloud Supreme. He spoke slowly, "Azure Emperor Supreme, White Cloud Supreme, you are the founders of our Ancient Covenant. Indeed, you stand at the very pinnacle of the Divine Realm, without any concerns, free to leave whenever you choose. But we are not the same. We cannot leave. The Divine Realm is our foundation.
No matter what, I will protect the Divine Realm! If you truly intend to depart, then please forgive me for not agreeing. If the Supremes do not wish to protect the Divine Realm, then we shall protect it ourselves!"
With those words, Lin Fei stood up, no longer affording the Supremes any deference, and walked straight out of the Ancient Covenant hall.
"Supreme ones, I take my leave."
Following his lead, the Great Dream Ancestor also stood and departed. Many other True Immortals and Martial Ancestors chose to leave as well. The once-revered image of the Supremes seemed to crumble in an instant.
With a great calamity impending and the Supremes fleeing, how could they continue to respect these Supremes?
In a blink, the vast hall of the Ancient Covenant headquarters was left empty. Not a single True Immortal or Martial Ancestor remained. Only Azure Emperor Supreme and White Cloud Supreme were left in the immense hall.
Azure Emperor Supreme, with a complicated expression, murmured softly, "Could it be that we are in the wrong?"
"Wrong? We are not wrong. They are merely at the level of True Immortals and Martial Ancestors, unable to see the greater vistas or comprehend the terror of the Dark Demon Domain. Even if we fought to the death, at most, it would only lead to more Supremes falling; the outcome would not change.
Clouds rise and clouds fall; even the strongest realms inevitably meet their end. Perhaps, the Divine Realm has reached its moment of demise. This is the trend of fate, unstoppable by anyone. To think that some True Immortals and Martial Ancestors can protect the Divine Realm? That is naïve, utterly foolish!"
White Cloud Supreme's gaze was cold as he watched the direction in which the True Immortals and Martial Ancestors had disappeared, his voice tinged with a scornful laugh.
He simply did not believe. That desperation could be of any use. If desperation worked, what need was there for strength? What need was there for cultivation?
In White Cloud Supreme's view, Lin Fei and the others were simply foolish.