As the two continued, it became apparent that the Lord of Destiny had discovered something amiss. While examining the Goddess of Destiny, she found a new power emerging within her.
This power, though not surpassing Destiny Power or Battle Heaven Power, possessed a significant advantage over both: it could alter the many drawbacks inherent in the other two. In essence, it was the most optimal power to have been born since antiquity.
The Lord of Destiny was overjoyed by this discovery, recognizing its immense value. When the calamitous event would strike, it could very well turn the tide of the war.
Consequently, she immediately took control of the Goddess of Destiny.
"So, you're going to kill me now?"
Yun Fan had no idea what the Lord of Destiny was planning, but he knew that his life was now in grave danger. He was certain that the Lord of Destiny would kill him. He couldn't fathom any reason for her to spare him.
At that moment, the Lord of Destiny spoke, "You've guessed wrong. From today onwards, not only will I not kill you, I will also treat you exceptionally well!"
"Treat me exceptionally well?"
Yun Fan looked at her in confusion, as if she were joking.
"That's right, exceptionally well!"
The Lord of Destiny said, "All you need to do is obediently follow my instructions!"
"What do you want me to do?"
Yun Fan asked, bewildered.
She then said to Yun Fan, "You'll know soon enough!"
The next moment, she pushed Yun Fan onto the ground.
"What are you doing?"
Yun Fan was stunned. He had considered every possible outcome except this one. At this moment, he truly had no idea what the Lord of Destiny's intentions were.
Immediately, the Lord of Destiny kissed him.
"Help… help me!"
Yun Fan weakly called out for help, unsure if anyone could save him or if anyone could possibly contend with the Lord of Destiny. He suspected there was no one.
By the time it was over, a full day had passed.
"You… you're shameless!"
Yun Fan was furious. He had never imagined that he would be taken advantage of by the Lord of Destiny, especially against his will.
Alas, his young heart could not bear such a profound trauma.
At this, the Lord of Destiny said to Yun Fan, "You only realize how detestable this is now, but why did you do the same to me back then?"
Yun Fan was rendered speechless by her words. After all, he had been the one to initiate this action. He couldn't blame her for retaliating. He was just genuinely angry!
Could it be that the Lord of Destiny was seeking revenge?
At this moment, Yun Fan was lost. He could only surmise that if he were standing on the second level, the Lord of Destiny was at least on the seventh. Their understanding was simply not on the same plane.
The Lord of Destiny then said to Yun Fan, "For a long time to come, we will be doing this every day!"
"What if I refuse?"
In Yun Fan's opinion, while the Lord of Destiny was beautiful, the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, he still had his pride. He absolutely could not compromise at this point.
From another perspective, they had essentially cancelled each other out. He had made a mistake once, and now the Lord of Destiny had gotten her own back. They should, therefore, be even.
The Lord of Destiny then said to Yun Fan, "If you refuse, not only will you die, but she will die too. Don't forget, she is still under my control, and her life and death are in my hands!"
"You…"
Yun Fan lost all his composure. For the sake of himself and the Goddess of Destiny, he had no choice but to compromise. Sometimes, life was just this frustrating.
The Lord of Destiny continued, "Of course, it's not entirely a threat. There are also benefits involved!"
"What benefits?"
Yun Fan was completely unable to fathom the Lord of Destiny's intentions.
The Lord of Destiny then said, "If you cooperate with me, I will no longer target your lower realm. How about that?"
"Is that true?"
"My promise is never broken!"
Upon hearing this, Yun Fan's gloom vanished, replaced by boundless joy. He hadn't expected such a benefit. He didn't mind "selling his body" anymore. After all, a man should make sacrifices when necessary.
Therefore, Yun Fan assured the Lord of Destiny, "Don't worry, I will cooperate fully!"
"That's more like it!"
The Lord of Destiny left with a triumphant air. Even if Yun Fan was a wild horse, he had been tamed by her words.
...
A full hundred days later.
The Lord of Destiny felt that her condition was excellent. She had discovered that her Destiny Power had been completely replaced by this new power, which she named the Strongest Power. Indeed, it was the strongest power, surpassing both Battle Heaven Power and Destiny Power in its advantages.
Since she had reached the optimal state, Yun Fan no longer had any use. Therefore, before she went into seclusion, she had to resolve this matter. Upon her emergence, she would undoubtedly have ascended to the pinnacle of power. She was very confident of this.
Thus, she found Yun Fan that day.
"From today onwards, we no longer need to cultivate together!"
"No problem!"
Yun Fan asked, "So, will you kill me?"
"I really should kill you!"
The Lord of Destiny said coldly.
Upon hearing this, Yun Fan trembled. He hadn't expected the Lord of Destiny to betray him so readily. He had already understood her plan: to fuse his power with Destiny Power to create a Strongest Power. Her current attitude made it clear that she had succeeded. This meant the Lord of Destiny could end him at any moment, as he was now useless.
Yun Fan prepared himself to face his fate.
"I can die, but you must not break your promise to me!"
Yun Fan knew that his family was still in the lower realm. His family was his greatest concern at this moment. He hadn't mentioned the Goddess of Destiny because he had already instructed the Lord of Destiny to release her earlier. That was why he had cooperated so readily. The Goddess of Destiny was currently guarding the lower realm, awaiting his return.
"If I were to kill you, would you hate me?"
The Lord of Destiny asked. She then reminded Yun Fan, "Answer with your heart. You cannot lie to me!"
"Alright!"
Yun Fan nodded and then said to the Lord of Destiny, "No! There's no need."
The Lord of Destiny nodded. "I understand!"
"You may leave."
"You're letting me go?"
Yun Fan stood there, at a loss. He couldn't fathom the Lord of Destiny's thoughts. Her mind was clearly far superior to his.
The Lord of Destiny then said to Yun Fan, "I am very grateful for your contributions over these past hundred days. Without your efforts, I would not have achieved the Strongest Power!"
"I can even share my Strongest Power with you!"
The Lord of Destiny had indeed softened. After cultivating together for so long, it was impossible for her not to have developed feelings for Yun Fan. Therefore, at this moment, she decided to spare Yun Fan.
"I don't need it!"
Yun Fan said, "Although this Strongest Power is truly flawless, I will still give it up!"
This was Yun Fan's response. He knew that this Strongest Power could be formed within the Lord of Destiny, and it could also be formed within himself. However, after careful consideration, he decided to abandon it. He firmly believed that his Battle Heaven Power was invincible and that he could forge ahead without any other power to support him. This stemmed from Yun Fan's absolute confidence.
The Lord of Destiny hadn't expected Yun Fan to be so resolute.
"Fine, you may leave!"
The Lord of Destiny said to Yun Fan, "From now on, you need not worry about your lower realm, for I will not harvest them!"
"Thank you!"
Yun Fan turned and left.
...
When Yun Fan arrived at the City of Time and Space, the Goddess of Destiny and his family were waiting for him. By now, the Goddess of Destiny was also considered family. She had been coerced by the Lord of Destiny to be with him. Initially, neither of them was willing, but soon they found they couldn't live without each other. Even the Goddess of Destiny's arrival at the City of Time and Space was voluntary. She understood Yun Fan's compromise for the peace of the lower realm. Therefore, she decided to stay in the City of Time and Space. Where Yun Fan was, was home.
After reuniting with them for half an era, Yun Fan began his seclusion, as his strength was about to advance another level. Of course, his exact power level after this advancement was unknown. At least, he and the Lord of Destiny were no longer enemies, so he could cultivate without fear of her. It had to be said that sometimes, things were truly bizarre.
...
By the time Yun Fan emerged from seclusion, an unknown amount of time had passed. On this day, a peculiar power began to seep into the City of Time and Space. If Yun Fan hadn't discovered it early and eradicated it with his Battle Heaven Power, it could have been a catastrophe for the City of Time and Space.
"What's going on?"
Yun Fan went alone to the infiltration point to observe. He discovered that this power was not Destiny Power, nor the Strongest Power. This ruled out the Lord of Destiny. Furthermore, the Lord of Destiny was likely still in seclusion. Yun Fan was very puzzled as to what kind of being this was.
Just then, within this mysterious power, a figure appeared. The being was powerful; Yun Fan knew that they were at the same level as himself, though not as strong.
"Who are you?"
Yun Fan asked, confused.
"A projection of the Lord of Fate!"
The figure replied directly.
"Lord of Fate?"
Yun Fan asked, "What is your relationship with the Lord of Destiny?"
It was no wonder this power felt unfamiliar. It was Fate Power, completely unrelated to Destiny Power. He had to admit, even a mere projection was so strong. The Lord of Fate, at their peak, was likely not weaker than the Lord of Destiny.
The figure then answered, "We are archenemies. I want to kill her and claim her world, and she wants to kill me and claim mine!"
Yun Fan understood immediately.
"Since you are archenemies, why did you come to my City of Time and Space instead of going to her?"
Yun Fan asked coldly. From the infiltrating power, Yun Fan knew that a battle was inevitable.
"You've already guessed it. That's right, I intend to turn these myriad barren worlds into the World of Fate, completely cutting off the Lord of Destiny's retreat!"
This was his plan. However, Yun Fan clearly would not allow him to succeed.
Therefore, Yun Fan immediately said, "This place does not need to become the so-called domain of Fate Power. Leave now! Do not force me to act!"
The Lord of Fate scoffed, "What's wrong with it becoming dominated by Fate Power? With your strength, you could become my most capable subordinate!"
Clearly, he was trying to recruit Yun Fan at this moment.
Yun Fan, however, said, "You're overthinking it. How could I possibly be recruited by you!"
"Since you won't leave, then don't expect to!"
Yun Fan attacked decisively. It was merely a projection, so there was no need to fear.
"You dare to attack me, boy? You're courting death!"
The Lord of Fate was truly enraged by Yun Fan at this moment. He decided to eliminate Yun Fan, this stumbling block, and then use Fate Power to claim this place. From then on, these barren worlds would become his harvest. What's not to like?
The two powerful beings engaged in a decisive battle. The Lord of Fate had assumed Yun Fan was not on their level and could be easily crushed. However, after their initial clash, he realized he was wrong. Yun Fan's Battle Heaven Power was no weaker than his Fate Power.
After dozens of exchanges, Yun Fan repeatedly shattered the Lord of Fate's projection. But as long as Fate Power was present, the Lord of Fate's projection could revive endlessly.
"I never expected you to be able to suppress me!"
The Lord of Fate was also shocked by Yun Fan's strength, never imagining that Yun Fan's Battle Heaven Power would be so formidable.
Yun Fan said, "Just because you are creators doesn't mean your power is the strongest. My power is no weaker than yours!"
"Do you give up willingly, or must I act?"
Faced with Yun Fan's threat, the Lord of Fate scoffed, "No one has ever dared to threaten me!"
"You, a mere child who hasn't even reached my level, dare to threaten me?"
The next moment, he unleashed Fate Reincarnation, intending to utterly destroy Yun Fan. But Yun Fan was truly formidable, especially after emerging from seclusion. He felt that the gap between himself and these so-called "Lords" was no longer significant.
As his Battle Heaven Palm descended, the Lord of Fate's projection shattered once more.
"Kid, it seems I can't kill you without bringing out my true form!"
The Lord of Fate said furiously, "Since you're so tenacious, I'll have to bring out my true form!"
These words put considerable pressure on Yun Fan. Indeed, at this moment, with more Fate Power surging in, the Lord of Fate's true form emerged from another dimension. Before his true form, Yun Fan felt a sense of powerlessness. This was the disparity, not just in power, but in cultivation level.
"Even if your true form arrives, so what?"
Yun Fan said coldly, "I am not afraid of you!"
"Overestimation!"
The Lord of Fate scoffed. In his eyes, Yun Fan was still not worthy of being his opponent. Thus, he unleashed a crushing power from the heavens. Yun Fan felt suffocated.
"Interesting!"
Yun Fan said coldly. He wanted to see the attributes of Fate Power. At that moment, he met the attack head-on with his Battle Heaven Power, at his peak state. Of course, he couldn't defeat the Lord of Fate. The Lord of Fate was on par with the Lord of Destiny. All Yun Fan intended to do now was to make the opponent retreat.
Unexpectedly, at this moment, the characteristic of Fate Power was revealed. Under the shroud of Fate Power, Yun Fan's fate was altered, rendering him unable to compete. He was sent flying with a single move from the Lord of Fate.
"What a strange power!"
At this moment, Yun Fan finally understood the marvel of Fate Power. It did not rely solely on brute force but could directly alter the opponent's destiny. The greater the gap between the enemy and himself, the more effectively he could alter it. Yun Fan had a disparity, but it wasn't to the point of irreversibility. However, some of his fate had been altered, leading to his immediate suppression at the start of the fight.
"Damn it!"
Yun Fan was filled with resentment. In his opinion, the Lord of Fate's cultivation method was simply a cunning, underhanded tactic. He could not possibly contend with him.
"Do you now understand the terror of Fate Power?"
The Lord of Fate said dismissively, "Furthermore, I will not give you any chance to surrender. Your only end is death!"
Yun Fan was under immense pressure. Just as he was despairing, a beam of light descended from the heavens and enveloped him, shielding him from the torment of fate.
"The Strongest Power!"
Yun Fan recognized the power immediately. This meant the Lord of Destiny had intervened. With the Lord of Destiny present, Yun Fan could finally relax.
At this, the Lord of Destiny said, "Lord of Fate, you dare to act presumptuously on my territory. Are you forcing me to kill you?"
"Hahahaha!"
The Lord of Fate laughed wildly, "Watch your words. This is not your territory, but unclaimed land. What is wrong with me coming to claim this unclaimed land?"
"Hmph!"
The Lord of Destiny said, "You are not qualified!"
As they were both equally powerful beings, they were both very arrogant at this moment, trying to intimidate each other.
The Lord of Fate then said, "Since we both have our sights on this place, there is nothing more to be said. Whoever wins, takes this unclaimed land!"
"A three-move contest!"
"Agreed!"
The Lord of Fate nodded and then decisively unleashed a move of the strongest Fate Power. The Lord of Destiny did not lag behind, now fully mastering the Strongest Power. This was a contest between Fate Power and the Strongest Power.
*Bang!*
The first move, they were evenly matched, neither yielding to the other. But the second move was soon unleashed. This move, if not for Yun Fan's all-out effort to protect the City of Time and Space, would have caused it to dissipate. Clearly, even after the second move, they were still evenly matched.
When the third move landed, even Yun Fan was almost injured. He had not expected that beings at this level would be so terrifying. A slight misstep could take him along with them. It was truly horrifying. After this third move, the Lord of Fate, having fallen short by a hair's breadth, was considered defeated.
"How can you be so strong?"
The Lord of Fate looked shocked. He had fought the Lord of Destiny before and had never imagined that one day her strength would surpass his. His Fate Power even had no effect on the Lord of Destiny.
The Lord of Destiny said dismissively, "You simply haven't improved. Now, do you still intend to fight me for this unclaimed land?"
Undoubtedly, the Lord of Fate began to waver. The Lord of Destiny was indeed stronger than him. If he were to fight her for the City of Time and Space, he would gain nothing. Thus, after much hesitation, he decided to withdraw.
He said to the Lord of Destiny, "We'll see!" Then, he took his Fate Power and left, along with himself.
The Lord of Destiny breathed a sigh of relief.
"It seems he still has designs on this place!"
The Lord of Destiny said to Yun Fan, "Unfortunately, my Strongest Power has not been fully integrated yet. Otherwise, he would not dare to be so presumptuous!"
"Thank you for saving me and the City of Time and Space!"
Yun Fan expressed his heartfelt gratitude. If the Lord of Destiny hadn't intervened, he would not have stood a chance against the Lord of Fate.
"Don't thank me too quickly. I have conditions!"
"I understand, I understand!"
Yun Fan immediately understood the Lord of Destiny's request. It was the same old matter. He would do his best to satisfy her.
...
After it was all over.
Yun Fan asked, "Lord of Destiny, besides you and the Lord of Fate, are there other beings at your level?"
"I have a name. Do not call me by my title!"
The Lord of Destiny was clearly angered.
"What is your name?"
At this moment, even the most straightforward man like Yun Fan had to be accommodating.
"Qing'er!"
The Lord of Destiny directly revealed her name.
"Qing'er, are there other beings at your level?"
"Yes, seven more!"
Qing'er replied directly. Yun Fan was instantly speechless. Seven more. That was a considerable number! He hadn't noticed before, but at that level, even if one were to die from being plotted against, they wouldn't know the identities of these powerful beings.
"We seven have each created a lineage of cultivation systems. I created the Nine Realms of Destiny!"
"I know that!"
Yun Fan said, "So, it seems the Lord of Fate has also created his system?"
"That's right!"
Qing'er said, "He created the Fate System. The seven of us all want to kill the others and make our created systems the sole ones. That way, we might be able to break free from our shackles and reach the pinnacle!"
This was Qing'er's explanation to Yun Fan.
"I see!"
Yun Fan said, "I never expected there to be so many powerful beings, beyond my comprehension!"
"Actually, you have also created your own power system, such as Battle Heaven Power! It's just that your strength has not yet reached our level, so you are not yet capable of creating a cultivation system!"
This was what Qing'er found astonishing about Yun Fan. According to Yun Fan's account, he had comprehended his Battle Heaven Power not after transcending Destiny, but in the lower three realms. One could imagine how terrifying Yun Fan's talent and potential were.
"I see!"
Yun Fan said, "So, is my City of Time and Space in great danger now?" After all, the Lord of Fate had set his sights on it. Although Qing'er had repelled him, who knew if the remaining beings at that level would also target it?
"It is indeed very dangerous!"
Qing'er admitted with a nod.
"Then, what if the City of Time and Space joined your allegiance?"
Specifically, the City of Time and Space had once been under Qing'er's command. However, after numerous twists and turns, when Qing'er let him leave, she also relinquished control of the City of Time and Space. Currently, Yun Fan was in control.
"Joining my allegiance wouldn't help either!"
Qing'er said, "This place was left behind by the Lord of Time and Space before his demise as unclaimed land, which I then occupied. However, other beings at my level will use this as an excuse to contend for the City of Time and Space!"
The Lord of Fate had retreated because he was outmatched. However, if they had been evenly matched today, the Lord of Fate would not have compromised so easily. Even Yun Fan hadn't anticipated that things would become so complicated.
Qing'er said, "Therefore, you now have a goal. If you want to protect the City of Time and Space and your world, you must reach our level!"
"Only in this way can you protect your territory!"
This was Qing'er's reminder to Yun Fan. However, reaching her level was far from easy. It was incredibly difficult.
"Alright, for my homeland, I will reach your level no matter what!"
"Additionally, are there specific realm divisions at your level?"
Yun Fan knew that he had transcended Qing'er's created system, which was called Transcending Destiny. However, after transcending Destiny, he was unaware of the specific realms. The disparity was clear, and he didn't believe he was at the same level.
Qing'er said, "There are no specific divisions for this realm. It is collectively known as one realm!"
"This realm is called 'Simplification'. Everything is simplified! Specifically, you are also in this realm, but you haven't achieved it yet. When you comprehend the profound meaning of simplification, you will be close to success!"
This was Qing'er's reminder to Yun Fan. The key was that everyone's comprehension was different, so she did not share her own comprehension with Yun Fan, as it would be meaningless.
"How marvelous!"
Yun Fan was shocked.
Qing'er then said to Yun Fan, "I still suggest you learn the Strongest Power! It might be the best way to change the overall situation!"
"I will stick to my Battle Heaven Power!"
At this moment, Yun Fan exuded confidence. Seeing Yun Fan's determination, Qing'er couldn't say anything more. Everyone had their own path. Since Yun Fan was firm in his own path, it might not be a bad thing. Therefore, her advice ended there.
Qing'er then said to Yun Fan, "From now on, I will seal this place with my power. Only when I truly emerge from seclusion can I help you!"
"During this period, if a being at the Simplification realm finds this place, you will have to fend for yourself!"
Her words, though seemingly heartless, were actually quite helpful. She was genuinely trying to assist Yun Fan. Yun Fan naturally felt this. Others would likely ignore him completely. Therefore, Yun Fan had no complaints about Qing'er.
"No matter how great this challenge is, I will persevere. If I can truly overcome this tribulation, perhaps we can advance together from now on?"
Qing'er was deeply moved by these words.
"What do you mean?"
Qing'er looked at Yun Fan in shock.
Yun Fan said, "I mean, being together."
"Are you serious?"
At this moment, Qing'er looked at Yun Fan with confusion.
"Of course, I'm serious! I swear!"
"Alright!"
Qing'er agreed. As a being of her caliber, she shouldn't have had any emotions. However, through their cultivation together, she realized she had indeed developed feelings for Yun Fan. Otherwise, she wouldn't have come out to help him midway through her seclusion.
After bidding farewell to Qing'er, Yun Fan knew that he would have to bear most of the future crises himself.
...
As time flowed by, several eras passed. Yun Fan's comprehension of the Simplification realm deepened. Although he hadn't reached Qing'er's level, he had undeniably taken half a step into that realm. For Yun Fan, this was a tremendous growth. He spent happy times with his family while awaiting Qing'er. Unexpectedly, on this day, a being from the Simplification realm attacked. He and Qing'er had a spiritual connection, and upon learning that Qing'er was in trouble, Yun Fan could not remain calm.
Even though Qing'er didn't want to burden him, Yun Fan chose to act decisively to help her. Arriving at the City of Destiny, where Qing'er was in seclusion, Yun Fan realized that this time, Qing'er's trouble was significant. Here, he sensed Fate Power and a new power that, according to Qing'er's previous descriptions, was likely Reincarnation Power. This meant that Qing'er's formidable enemy this time was not just the Lord of Fate, but also the Lord of Reincarnation. He did not hesitate to face them, no matter the outcome, he would accompany Qing'er.
Currently, Qing'er was facing two powerful enemies. Although she had mastered the Strongest Power and could defeat any single opponent of her level, this situation was different. She was being attacked by two, and even with her strength, she couldn't face two formidable rivals simultaneously. Just as she was preparing to escape, a familiar aura arrived.
"Why is he here?"
Qing'er frowned. She was deeply touched that Yun Fan had come to help her, but at this moment, Yun Fan should not have come to seek death. Therefore, she was reminding Yun Fan to leave quickly. To her surprise, Yun Fan reassured her. He would stall the Lord of Fate, allowing Qing'er to deal with the Lord of Reincarnation. With this, Qing'er decided to fight with all her might.