[Timeline Branch 101: The Nameless Kingdom]
[...]
[Timeline Branch 109: Triumphal Remains]
[...]
Countless, complex branches of fate reflected in Shi Ming’s eyes, their ends a future sixty minutes away. The outcome for most branches was "Ron’s Intended Destiny has been delayed." In a minority of cases, [Ron’s Intended Destiny] unfolded as expected, or in some twisted fashion, though the extent of the distortion was not detailed.
’Statistically speaking, in a clash between the Eye of Destiny and Destiny itself, the Eye of Destiny has won by a landslide!’
Without his interference, the most likely outcome, [The Cycle of Destiny], had a greater than 50% chance of happening.
To Shi Ming, this was not the most profitable outcome. Compared to [The Cycle of Destiny], both [Devouring Others, Devouring Self] and [The Ultimate Director] offered far greater rewards.
Shi Ming deliberated for a few seconds.
Having set the course for destiny, he selected a branch.
Then, the oppressive aura across the battlefield intensified. Most ships and life-forms couldn’t withstand the might of the Pillar Powerhouse, exploding one after another into clouds of blood mist.
The Sovereign’s search was swift and decisive.
Like great waves washing away sand, only those who survived the Pillar’s might were qualified to be his fated enemy.
As for his subjects...
Those who died were not his people.
...
"Found you!"
Hong Tuo’s voice boomed like a monastery bell, striking deep into the soul.
With his path of destiny locked in, Shi Ming stopped hiding. Now that he was discovered, he leaped into the air, revealing his three-headed, six-armed form. He brandished a massive stone pillar between his six arms, its oppressive aura rivaling that of a Pillar Powerhouse, and brought it crashing down on the Sovereign enthroned on high!
The Stone Pillar of Profanity and Transgression!
It radiated a divine presence, its aura comparable to that of a Pillar Powerhouse.
BOOM!
Space shattered into fragments, crumbling and falling away like decaying stardust. Yet the two Six-armed People, one large and one small, remained completely unaffected. Myriad rhythms flowed around the Sovereign, while in Shi Ming’s eyes, ethereal borers squirmed and searched, seeking a gap in his enemy’s defenses amidst the clash!
"Not bad."
"Impressive presence. But your power... is far from sufficient."
Ron’s expression remained unchanged as he simply defended.
It was like an old man toying with a mischievous child.
’If I were to go all-out right from the start against a mere "juvenile" not even a fraction of my age... wouldn’t the other Pillars laugh their heads off?! There are better ways to make a statement!’
"Mind Control!"
This was a skill loaded within Ron’s second Nirvana-rank ability, [Empty Shell]!
It was an extremely useful skill.
It used Spiritual Power to invade a target’s consciousness, altering their thoughts and instincts to turn them into a loyal slave. Its effect was even more domineering than the Contract Core Shi Ming had once acquired; the Contract Core required the target to be either defenseless or willing, whereas "Mind Control" was a direct psychic assault.
Anyone unable to resist would have their very mind rewritten.
Those controlled by this power become absolutely loyal.
Ron had used this technique to subjugate many followers, who came to be known as the Twelve Fixed Star Guards. The whereabouts of the Twelve Fixed Star Guards were a mystery, no intelligence on them ever circulated, and their true strength wasn’t reflected on any power rankings. However, it was known that at least three of them were Nirvana-rank powerhouses!
As Ron unleashed his Mind Control, countless puppet strings extended from him.
They were all invisible and unavoidable as they surged toward Shi Ming, silently piercing his flesh to strike directly at his Sea of Spirit.
’A spiritual attack?’
’Then you’ve just decided to attack my greatest strength!’
Mind Control was powerful, but its principle was simple: the strong overwhelming the weak.
Trying to use a force of "10" to control "infinity" was like an ant trying to shake a tree—doomed to fail. Ron had no idea of the true scale of Shi Ming’s Spiritual Power. When the invisible puppet strings entered Shi Ming’s body, they vanished like a clay ox sinking into the sea. It was as if they had entered an inviolable sanctum, melting away like spring snow before they could advance a single inch.
Astonished, Ron caught a faint glimpse through the fading connection of his Mind Control: standing tall within Shi Ming’s Sea of Spirit was a ninety-nine-story tower.
’A defensive secret art?’
Shi Ming had cultivated the to the ninety-ninth floor. Moreover, the Defense Power of his Sea of Spirit was far beyond what it had been during his battle with the Active Wormhole. Had he not practiced the , "Mind Control" would have pierced through unimpeded. Then, Ron might have witnessed an entirely different sight—one that would have shocked him even more profoundly...
The failure of his Mind Control sent ripples through Ron’s heart, though his expression remained impassive. He raised an ultimate defensive treasure, the Rebirth Mirror, to create a pocket of void that blocked the first wave of the attack from the Stone Pillar of Profanity and Transgression. Then, a paper umbrella materialized behind him. As it opened, countless souls swarmed out from within.
The ultimate treasure, the Floating Umbrella!
"Junior, you deceived my kinsman and stole an ultimate treasure of my Cosmic Country. I will not hold it against you. If you can withstand my Floating Umbrella, we will let bygones be bygones. But if you cannot, you will join the others inside my Floating Umbrella for a millennium-long stay!"
Ron’s voice was layered, resonating with a powerful echo.
Within the Floating Umbrella were spirits from every race.
The Giant Stone Race, the Six-Armed Race, the Star Spirit Race, the Purple Crystal Race... they were all souls of the dead, casualties of his conquests. They formed an army of the dead that only the Sovereign could command, a weapon used to overwhelm defiant civilizations through sheer numbers and expand his domain. And should one fall to the attacks of these souls, their own spirit would join the ranks, bound to the Floating Umbrella’s will.
"If you want to fight, then let’s fight. Spare me the righteous-sounding excuses. I’m itching for a good massacre anyway. I wonder if your army of the dead will be enough to entertain me!"
"I will ensure you are entertained."
"Good!"
A crimson coronet descended onto Shi Ming’s central head, a crown of blood. A power that felt eternal and relentless surged from his every cell, its exhilarating effect igniting a murderous intent that soared to the heavens.
The ultimate treasure, the Coronet of Slaughter.
KILL! KILL! KILL!
While wearing the coronet and maintaining a constant state of slaughter, the user enters an "Exhilarated" state. In this state, one’s Attack Power, Physical Strength, Endurance, and Spiritual Power remain at their absolute peak, never declining. You are tireless, inexhaustible, and 99% immune to all negative status effects!
It could be summed up in eight words:
So long as you live, you grow ever stronger!
When facing horde tactics, the Coronet of Slaughter was the switch for Unrivaled Mode.
Power surged through Shi Ming’s six arms. With a low roar, he swept a clear path through the army of the dead, swinging the ten-meter pillar sideways at the lofty Six-Armed Ron!
This time, the ultimate treasure, the Rebirth Mirror, failed to hold. The barrier it had erected began to crack!
A perfect chance!
[The Borer] seized the opportunity. Using the twisted inequality of "Rebirth Mirror’s defensive failure = Ron’s defensive failure," it found a loophole and burrowed into the body of the Six-Armed Race member.
It lay dormant, a bug in the system.
Undetectable even to a Pillar Powerhouse.