The Control Center of the Pyre Secret Realm.
Countless pieces of information converged here.
"Oasis Six has encountered a catastrophic-level wave of aberrations, requiring reinforcements of over six Demigod-level powerhouses, or the presence of a High-level existence."
"The Court of Silent Night has sent out a distress signal. Twelve rescue teams composed of Mythic-level individuals have already departed."
"The White Sun Kingdom has issued an urgent plea for help. Their situation is extremely dire and they require Demigod-level reinforcements. They are willing to pay a hefty reward."
"Contact signals from the Gilded City have vanished. It is assessed that they may have met with misfortune. Should the relief teams be recalled?"
"Dispatch two more Demigod teams to the Gilded City to ascertain the situation."
Fang You's voice resounded, invigorating all the staff present.
He didn't need to be physically present to manage matters efficiently, but he still came, to stabilize morale.
The Starfall Great Domain was exceptionally peaceful, and any aberrant waves were quickly repelled. Within the organization, most powerhouses were constantly hunting aberrations, as if aberrant waves and calamities were easily vanquished.
However, only those working here, who witnessed the shocking intelligence reports firsthand, truly understood the destructive power of these calamities.
Within a day... no, within an hour, countless oases were erased from the great map of the Aberrant Realm.
The Gilded City, a powerful super-oasis force, had vanished without a trace. Ten years prior, in their eyes, the Gilded City had still been a colossal entity.
Before its collapse, the Gilded City could at least send out an emergency distress signal. Many oasis forces likely ceased to exist before they could even send out a signal.
Their demise was silent.
"In a mere hour, four super-oasis forces have been annihilated. This tide of calamity has arrived with great ferocity."
A dozen more super-oases, had it not been for the timely reinforcements from the Pyre and other paramount forces, would likely have also been annihilated.
Several hours later, a rescue team led by a Demigod arrived at the domain where the Gilded City was located and managed to rescue the strong individuals of the Gilded City, who had fought and retreated, having battled valiantly for hours.
The Demigods and several Mythic-level individuals were alive, though severely wounded, and their hearts were even more deeply scarred.
For the entire Gilded City had been completely destroyed.
Including a secret realm rooted within the Gilded City oasis, and over twenty surrounding oases.
Of these oases, and their hundreds of millions of inhabitants, none survived except for a few hundred or thousand who were placed into palace-like aberrant artifacts during the city's fall!
The Gilded City, a single super force, had utterly become dust in the annals of history.
Having witnessed such events repeatedly, Fang You gradually became accustomed to them, his heart largely undisturbed. He merely constantly warned himself not to slacken, to continuously enhance his strength, and to reinforce the oasis defenses. Otherwise, his own oasis might one day follow the fate of the Gilded City.
...
The most perilous trial during this tide of calamity was the colossal wave of gray fog that churned and surged from the depths of the Aberrant Realm at the peak of the tide's eruption.
The surging waves were like the descent of an entire world, pouring forth immeasurably potent filth that could, in an instant, pollute a vibrant oasis, causing it to sink and perish.
After this ordeal passed, the attrition rate of oases across various regions significantly decreased.
Many oases stabilized their situations.
Facing conventional aberrant wave impacts and the influence of calamity sources, the oases of various domains understood how to resist... at least, they had enough time to send out distress signals.
Fang You remained at the control center for two days before returning to his private courtyard.
With a flick of his hand, a panel opened before him, and he turned to a specific page.
[Apostle Tab - Statistics Page]
This was a page he had compiled himself, detailing the ranks, realms, and other information of all Fate Apostles and Secondary Apostles.
Compared to two years ago, there was a very noticeable increase in both the number of top-tier combatants and the number of mid-tier Mythic-level individuals.
[Tenth Realm Origin: 7 individuals]
[Ninth Realm High-level: 11 individuals]
[Eighth Realm Demigod: 42 individuals]
[Seventh Realm Mythic: 6,636 individuals]
Mythic-level individuals were everywhere!
In the eyes of outsiders, the Pyre Organization had a large number of Mythic-level individuals. Perhaps a hundred, perhaps two hundred. But no matter how exaggerated their guesses, they could never imagine that the Pyre had cultivated over six thousand Seven-Awakening Mythic individuals.
Mythic-level was not like common cabbage!
But Mythic-level was also not an unattainable realm.
The ancient Kandela Empire, with its rune techniques that reached the pinnacle, had created numerous awakening paths leading directly to the Mythic realm.
Kandela's awakeners had a considerable guarantee in their awakening and breakthrough. Genius awakeners could even apply for advanced safety measures during breakthroughs, posing no threat to their lives.
As a result, the breakthrough speed of genius awakeners in the Kandela Empire was quite rapid.
Seven-Awakening Mythic individuals in their twenties or thirties were far from being just one or two.
However,
Within the Pyre Organization, the path from mortal to Seven-Awakening Mythic was broader, more stable, and faster!
If one's talent was high enough and they possessed sufficient determination, it would only take a mere...
Two years!
To achieve this, he had established ample incentive plans and created competitive projects like the Genius Tournament and the Hunting Contest to select talented individuals.
In recent years, countless geniuses had emerged from Blue Star.
The number of geniuses selected from other outer-world realms or Aberrant Realm oases was also not insignificant.
There were dozens of individuals with Golden Legendary-tier talent.
Of course, within the Pyre, talent was not as important as disposition, character, and diligence.
Geniuses received more resource allocation, but they were also required to go to the battlefield to fight aberrations, explore the depths of the Aberrant Realm, and contribute to the organization and human forces.
"The number of Mythic-level powerhouses in our Pyre has likely surpassed that of the Kandela Empire at its peak, by quite a margin. It's a pity..."
"We have too few Demigod-level powerhouses, and most of our Mythic-level individuals are merely 'newly ascended Mythic' with only one divine nature."
This was unavoidable. Compared to cultivating from mortal to Mythic-level, the path from Mythic to Demigod took much longer.
Unless one could constantly cultivate with divine crystals and occasionally enter the Age Secret Realm, it was possible to advance from Mythic to Demigod within a few years.
But this was impossible.
Even if he, Mentor Fang, were willing, he could not afford it.
Even if the Pyre grew a hundred times larger, it would still be impossible to provide divine crystals for six thousand Mythic individuals.
He could only nurture a select few geniuses and great contributors. As a result, the number of Demigod-level individuals was very small, only a little over forty.
However, the thousands of 'newly ascended Mythic' individuals in his Pyre Organization were by no means weak. Although their rank was slightly inferior, they possessed epic-level skills and were considerably stronger than ordinary Mythic individuals in combat power.
"Teams of Mythic-level individuals can move freely in most regions of the Aberrant Realm, efficiently exploring and obtaining treasures and materials. Even now, with the tide of calamity arriving and the aberrations becoming more agitated, difficult to deal with, and more frenzied, Mythic-level teams are still capable of traversing between great domains."
It was precisely because of this large number of Seven-Awakening Mythic individuals that the Pyre could undertake numerous rescue missions and still handle them with ease.
Their High-level individuals could, at this time, continue their cultivation without external interference.
The ten oases under the Pyre's jurisdiction, along with the Pyre Academy and the Holy Court, were all quite stable.
But compared to the Pyre, other forces were not as secure.
"Drip, drip, Master, here is the latest news."
Xiao Huan, pawing at the edge of the panel, poked out half her body.
She extended a piece of paper with text and images. Initially, the paper existed in data form, but when handed to Fang You, it transformed from ethereal to tangible.
The illustration depicted the boundless starry sky beyond the Aberrant Realm.
A massive world crystal wall occupied more than half the frame, with several vehicle-like shapes resembling warships rapidly flying around it.
"Some forces are transporting personnel to outer-world realms?"
"Yes, because these outer-world realms are not contiguous with the Aberrant Realm, they cannot be entered via descent rituals. Therefore, they have chosen the most traditional method of transportation... This outer-world realm is a high-level world very, very far from the Aberrant Realm."
The force Xiao Huan had chanced upon was the Seven Stars Alliance.
They were dispatching large warships to transport batches of young talents into outer-world realms, perhaps as a contingency plan.
They did not hide it much, which was how Xiao Huan discovered it.
Paramount forces with similar ideas were not few.
Many paramount forces already had some operations in the outer realms. And for paramount forces, building transport ships capable of carrying large populations was not difficult.
The specifications of airships and warships in the Aberrant Realm were usually not large because they had to contend with gray fog erosion.
The more population they carried, the more prone to accidents they became.
The outer realms were different. With no gray fog interference, they could build transport ships as large as they wished.
The real difficulty lay in how to enter these outer-world realms that did not belong to them.
A small number of people entering was not difficult, but sending a large number of personnel was unlikely.
"That's right. The Seven Stars Alliance is likely preparing to build a massive star city next to this high-level world, which could perhaps accommodate a million inhabitants."
Xiao Huan said.
As for why they chose to build it next to a high-level world, it was for the future, to be able to exchange survival resources with that world. Compared to the movement of people, the transport of materials in and out was much easier.
In fact, their Pyre also had hidden agents in many outer-world realms.
However, the outer-world realms managed by the Pyre were mostly those adjacent to the Aberrant Realm, worlds that were or were about to be invaded. The hidden agents he had planted, and the preparations he had made, were all for transporting population outwards.
This was the opposite of what the paramount forces were doing.
Well, it couldn't be said to be entirely opposite.
He still possessed a top-tier world far exceeding high-level worlds – Blue Star – and he could control Blue Star to break free from the Aberrant Realm's invasion and fly towards the depths of space.
He possessed a more stable rear than these paramount forces.
However...
"Are outer-world realms truly safe?"
...
"Perhaps they are safe for now, but when the Evil Gods awaken and the calamities spread completely, those worlds outside the realm, barring any accidents, will shatter like bubbles."
In a courtyard on Moonflower Mountain in Burning Fire City, a woman said thus.
She had cascading, moon-silver hair, and an extremely profound crescent moon mark imprinted on her forehead. Even when she restrained all her divine aura, she remained sacred and noble, like the moon in the sky, not to be offended.
She was the Moon Lord, one of the most venerable and ancient beings in the Aberrant Realm.
She had arrived in Burning Fire City in her true form, found Yin Yueluoxi, and subtly revealed her identity.
She wanted to take Yin Yueluoxi and leave the Aberrant Realm, and even this universe, entirely!
"Outer-world realms are far from safe. Let alone me, even you have the ability to destroy an ordinary world. Not to mention those unspeakable Evil Gods."
During this meeting, the Moon Lord was quite surprised.
She discovered that Yin Yueluoxi had already advanced to the High-level realm and possessed a very impressive mastery of Moon Radiance Law. Was this not to be expected of her sister's reincarnation? She felt proud and honored.
This made it even more imperative to take this child, Yin Yueluoxi, away.
"Evil Gods are completely insurmountable. The only way to evade the calamity of Evil Gods is to completely leave this universe."
She explained:
"The Aberrant Realm is the center of this universe, a root world. The worlds outside it are mere embellishments. And you may not know, this vast and boundless starry universe also has boundaries. Beyond that lies 'nothingness'."
Ancient beings like them, or rather, powerhouses, were not particularly willing to leave the Aberrant Realm.
Although the Aberrant Realm was fraught with danger, it was also rich in resources. Only in the Aberrant Realm could they continuously enhance their strength... and for powerhouses, the Aberrant Realm was actually not that dangerous.
Ordinary awakeners, they would indeed want to leave the Aberrant Realm and live peacefully in an ordinary world, but they lacked the ability.
And now, the Aberrant Realm was becoming uninhabitable, forcing them to leave and go to the resource-poor outside.
"But if outer-world starry skies and outer-world realms are resource-poor, then beyond the starry universe is nothing at all."
"No resources, no energy, no mysterious factors, not even laws exist."
Leaving the universe, they would be like the blind, like the deaf, with nothing but absolute 'nothingness' before their eyes.
They had no goal, no destination.
Once they drifted outside the universe for too long, drifting for thousands or tens of thousands of years, even High-level individuals might deplete their strength due to lack of replenishment, ultimately perishing.
She, the Moon Lord, was a powerhouse among the Origin Realm, capable of using her authority as a boat to travel rapidly.
But given a choice, she would never want to leave this universe.
"Evil Gods, come from beyond the universe."
"There must be other life forms beyond the universe, and perhaps other universes, other worlds."
"As long as we can find any one of them, we can start a new life."
However, her confidence was not high.
Otherwise, with their world's long history, why would only Evil Gods be the only outsiders.
Yin Yueluoxi was also hearing these secrets for the first time.
Her eyes widened, her small mouth slightly agape, making her instantly adorable.
She felt a sense of closeness to this "big sister" whose status was so celestial, and she had not ruled out speculation about her own identity and past life.
Fragments of memories from her previous life would occasionally flash through her mind.
However,
"I'm very sorry, Moon... Sister, I must refuse your kind offer."
"Because Black Stone City is my hometown, and this is the place I wish to protect. The calamity has already arrived, and I must stay even more. I will not be a deserter."
"I also believe that overcoming the calamity and defeating the Evil Gods is by no means impossible."
"Under the leadership of my mentor."
Moon Lord: "!"
Did I say all that for nothing?!
A lock of white hair on her head suddenly stood on end and twitched, clearly enraged.