If before, Bloodline Strength was one of Konrad's mightiest foundations, as he refined the energy within the three Primogen Fruits, it undoubtedly became his strongest card. Though the breakthrough had yet to stabilize, and the energies still ran wild within his Chthonian Devil Heart, Konrad didn't doubt that even without his Auspicious Clouds, he could handle both the Overlord and the Warden in less than five moves.
As for his Auspicious Clouds, they could now reduce even Primal Law Embodiment's strength by fifty percent! But as elation welled up within his chest, Konrad felt his rising bloodline strength hit an invisible wall, preventing him from reaching his full potential. His eyes contorted into a frown, but little did he know that as he hit a bloodline bottleneck, in a distant dimension, his rise triggered an unexpected reaction.
…
Within the omniverse's number one world, in one of the Firmament's most honorable grounds, a towering, multicolor tree glittered in rainbow light while uncanny vibrations audible only to a few echoed from its trunk.
Regretless' wife and Dragon Warden's sword enemy, Blood Nether, opened her crimson eyes to, from a distance, peer into the tree's changes. And she wasn't the only one. Within their cultivation paradises, Cloud and Moon also awoke to observe the tree's changes. And were it not for their peculiar state, Night and Regretless would have done the same.
Though Night showed signs of awakening, Regretless's condition only seemed to be getting worse. But in that instant, it didn't matter. As the three Primordial Deities' eyes peered into the tree, they came to the same conclusion.
"The Firmament Tree resonates. A Quasi-Firmament Bloodline is born. A new candidate to the Firmament's Throne has risen, and so long as they breathe, we can no longer have access to the Firmament's resources."
The Firmament was not merely the pinnacle of cultivation worlds but a legacy whose master could rule the Omniverse throughout eternity. Though Regretless's house occupied the Firmament and enjoyed its unparalleled resources, they weren't its true master. Only a Supreme with a Firmament Bloodline, a Firmament Bridge, and a Firmament Physique could stand on the Firrmament's Throne and rule all throughout eternity.
Regretless wasn't that person. Who was it? Who stood on the threshold of unlocking a Firmament Bloodline? Throughout the omniverse, who possessed such skills? As puzzlement swirled within their ancient eyes, one name appeared within the three's minds.
In tandem, the three rose, following the Firmament Tree's vibrations to locate the source of the resonance. Their God-Senses crossed the omniverse's innumerable worlds to land on the Realm hiding the source of that resonance:
The Celestial Realm!
"Indeed, it is him. First, he built a Firmament Bridge. Now he stands on the threshold of unlocking a Firmament Bloodline. Who knows, perhaps he already has a Firmament Physique."
Blood Nether whispered while her eyes narrowed at the Celestial Realm. Although the Devil Bridge prevented her from spying on Konrad, throughout the Three Realms, who other than him could achieve that feat? And thinking of his incessant rise, the flames of fury welled up within her chest.
"I said it before. Regretless, you are muddled. I have not endured all this pain, and supported you to your throne to see my father's slayer rule the omniverse!"
Blood Nether bellowed and with one step, emerged from her cultivation paradise to land in the Firmament's sky, dressed in her crimson battle-armor that bore a striking resemblance to the new Valkyrie Armor model Verena donned. The original Valkyrie armors were designed based on Blood Nether's cloth. Naturally, resemblances were inevitable.
And now that Konrad gave them the same crimson shade, wings aside, they were virtually the same. Without further ado, Blood Nether turned into a ball of crimson flames and like a meteor, crossed countless verses to dive into the Three Realms!
Meanwhile, Cloud and Moon exchanged mental messages.
"What are you going to do?"
Cloud inquired in a tone that didn't conceal his amusement at this relatively perverse situation.
"Right back at you, elder brother. What do you plan to do?"
Moon leisurely replied, causing Cloud to shake his head with a hint of awkwardness.
"Between those two, only one can live. Be it due to his status as Dragon Warden, or his rising qualifications for the Firmament's throne, Regretless will never spare him. After all, who would willingly surrender the title of Omniarch to a young upstart? To Regretless, Konrad's threat is now greater than Celestial Slaughter's. When he awakes, the outcome needs not be discussed.
In the meantime…"
Cloud analyzed before lying on his back.
"…I will sleep and dream of the omniverse's clouds. These tedious matters your lot excels at wholly displease me. Do not count on my assistance."
As if to back his words, Cloud shut his eyes close. But now, it was Moon's turn to shake her head.
"If closing the eyes was enough to avoid tribulations, the cultivation road wouldn't be this bloody. Even if you do not wish to meddle, circumstances beyond your control will force you to take a stand."
Moon replied and stood up. Blood red lines swirled around her form as she stepped out of her cultivation paradise to stand within the Firmament's sky.
"Hahaha, having cultivated to this level, yet still unable to control the course of our destinies. Isn't that laughable?"
Cloud chortled with his eyes still closed, and as those words echoed in her mind, Moon nodded in approval.
"It is indeed laughable. However, isn't the whole cultivation path a sham? So what if you're Transcendent? So what if you're Supreme? None can truly rule destiny. Even a High Supreme such as Regretless remains trapped by his demons, to say nothing of lesser individuals.
Perhaps true Supremacy is in itself…a paradox."
Moon replied before leaving the Firmament behind to hurtle at the Celestial Realm.
…
Meanwhile, within the Celestial Realm, the world stood in awe, quivering under the Chthonian Primogen's dumbfounding display of might. Deities fell on their knees, and even from within his cultivation chambers, Surya dropped onto his rear, trembling in a mixture of fright and disbelief.
"The combined strength of the Overlord and the Warden…crushed by a single cultivator? How can this be? Who can save us?"
Surya stammered, for indeed, Heaven, no the entirety of the Higher Realms were in dire need of saving. The Chthonian Primogen's strength stood without rival. None could prevent him from repeating the events of two-hundred years ago, and unleash the Underworld to devour Heaven and Hell's Will!
All cultivators and deities throughout the Celestial Realm now dreaded that same thing, alas, there was nothing they could do to placate those fears!
But as if to answer their prayers, while Konrad stabilized his bloodline breakthrough, Heaven's sky turned bright red, with a crimson star appearing in its midst and dropping onto the Celestial World.
Seeing it, Konrad's eyes narrowed in puzzlement.
"Oh? Much earlier than expected."
