"He's here!"
Dao Zun suddenly spoke, his voice carrying with it a surge of spiritual energy, resounding through the starry expanse and invigorating the Golden Core cultivators waiting beyond Earth.
They all turned their gazes to the distant cosmos, where a streak of light, akin to a shooting star, was rapidly approaching.
"Let's go, we shall welcome True Monarch Tianhua!"
Dao Zun called out to Wen Hou and several other experts of his caliber, and they flew towards the rapidly approaching interstellar spacecraft.
The spacecraft halted, and two figures emerged. Initially, Dao Zun and his companions felt a surge of delight upon seeing True Monarch Tianhua.
However, when their eyes fell upon the youth beside True Monarch Tianhua, who carried nine divine swords on his back, their hearts sank, and their expressions grew uneasy.
"True Monarch Jiujian is here as well?"
Dao Zun, Wen Hou, and the others exchanged glances, each noticing the hint of apprehension in the other's eyes.
This was due to the formidable reputation of True Monarch Jiujian.
Among the Golden Core cultivators of the Wushan Star Domain, those referred to as "True Monarch" were, apart from True Monarch Tianhua, all super-experts ranked on the Heavenly Rankings.
The Heavenly Rankings were compiled and published by Tianji Pavilion, a major power in the Wushan Star Domain, listing all known Nascent Soul cultivators and top-tier Golden Core cultivators in the domain.
The Heavenly Rankings cataloged the 108 strongest known individuals in the Wushan Star Domain, ordering them by power from highest to lowest.
Even the weakest cultivator on the rankings had reached the threshold of a Nascent Soul cultivator.
The youth before them, known as True Monarch Jiujian, had, like Dao Zun and the others, condensed a second-grade, high-quality Golden Core.
However, what made True Monarch Jiujian exceptionally monstrous was that he had cultivated a mid-grade, fourth-tier divine ability to perfection at the Golden Core stage. When unleashed with his nine mid-grade spirit treasures, divine swords, its power was sufficient to suppress some Nascent Soul cultivators, making his combat prowess incredibly terrifying.
It was worth noting that even many Nascent Soul cultivators might not have been able to cultivate a high-grade, fourth-tier divine ability to perfection.
"I didn't expect True Monarch Jiujian to also be interested in this barren star domain. Truly commendable courage!"
Dao Zun stared at True Monarch Jiujian, his deep voice carrying a hint of mockery.
"Enough talk, let's go see the place of opportunity," True Monarch Jiujian said nonchalantly, casting a brief glance at Dao Zun.
He knew his arrival would displease Dao Zun and Wen Hou and their group, but what of it?
With his strength, he was confident in killing all but Dao Zun, whose life-preserving abilities were exceptionally strong, among the other peak cultivators with second-grade, high-quality Golden Cores.
Even Dao Zun, if he were to unleash forbidden techniques at any cost, coupled with the burst of his divine abilities, the resulting power might make it uncertain for Dao Zun to survive.
The fact that he was ranked on the Heavenly Rankings as a second-grade Golden Core cultivator relied on his 'Nine Sword Divine Ability.' In terms of offense, he was already comparable to some cultivators who had survived the first Heavenly Tribulation of Nascent Soul.
Dao Zun, Wen Hou, and the other nine belonged to the strongest echelon below the Heavenly Rankings. If they were to join forces, True Monarch Jiujian would indeed find it troublesome.
However, with the assistance of True Monarch Tianhua, True Monarch Jiujian felt full of confidence.
...
When the other Golden Core cultivators saw True Monarch Jiujian beside True Monarch Tianhua, a brief commotion erupted in the crowd.
Among the more than a hundred Golden Core cultivators present, they were divided into over twenty small teams. Including Dao Zun, Wen Hou, and the other nine, there were only about forty-plus second-grade Golden Core cultivators.
The remaining nearly one hundred Golden Core cultivators were all third-grade Golden Cores.
However, the third-grade Golden Core cultivators who had come to the Milky Way were basically the retainers of those forty-plus second-grade Golden Core cultivators, much like the subordinates of the sect master of Wenxin Sect.
Because under normal circumstances, third-grade Golden Core cultivators would not have had the wealth to purchase interstellar spacecraft, and with their strength, they would not have been qualified to compete for opportunities alone.
Even those second-grade Golden Core cultivators of ordinary strength had gathered in small groups. Only those like Dao Zun and Wen Hou, whose strength had almost reached the limit for Golden Core cultivators, dared to venture into the Milky Way alone with their subordinates, not requiring partners.
The cultivators of the Wushan Star Domain, originally divided into over twenty teams, began to communicate through spiritual sense after True Monarch Jiujian's arrival, seeking partners.
The reason for this was none other than True Monarch Jiujian's overwhelming strength; without banding together, they would have no chance.
Before True Monarch Jiujian's arrival, among these hundred-plus Golden Core cultivators, the strongest were Dao Zun and Wen Hou and their nine companions. With three or four second-grade Golden Core cultivators working together, along with their subordinate third-grade Golden Core cultivators, they could still put up a fight and had hope of seizing opportunities.
But True Monarch Jiujian's arrival made them realize that without strengthening their own teams, they would not even be qualified to compete with him.
Even Dao Zun quietly sent a spiritual message to Wen Hou, seeking cooperation.
Although Wen Hou was confident, facing True Monarch Jiujian, who was ranked on the Heavenly Rankings, he was clear-headed. Dao Zun's strength was not much weaker than his, and his life-preserving abilities were extremely strong, making him a good partner for him. Thus, their eyes met, and they tacitly reached an understanding.
Generally speaking, while this opportunity left behind by True Immortal Zhiwu held immense and deadly allure, it did not hold significant appeal for monstrous cultivators who had condensed a first-grade Golden Core.
After all, having achieved a first-grade Golden Core, any further gains from this opportunity would merely be icing on the cake.
Achieving a first-grade Golden Core was already dazzling enough; what they needed to do next was to hone themselves and break through to Nascent Soul before their lifespan ran out.
Venturing into barren star domains like the Milky Way, where even Golden Core cultivators were rare, and seeking opportunities was not something that cultivators who had not made up their minds to fight for it would do.
After all, in such a place with closed-off information and no star teleportation arrays, the primary requirement for seeking opportunities was longevity.
Many Golden Core cultivators had lived for over two thousand years. To spend the remainder of their lifespan in the Milky Way searching for this elusive place of opportunity required great courage.
After all, compared to a first-grade Golden Core, most cultivators yearned more to achieve Nascent Soul. It would be truly tragic if they cultivated a first-grade Golden Core but did not have enough time to hone themselves, thus failing to break through to Nascent Soul.
Although True Monarch Jiujian appeared to be a youth, he was now over two thousand five hundred years old. His daring to venture into the Milky Way indeed surprised everyone.
Given True Monarch Jiujian's monstrous talent, his ability to rival some first-grade Golden Core cultivators without condensing one was an achievement worthy of great honor.
In their view, what True Monarch Jiujian needed most now was to use the remaining few hundred years of his life to hone himself and break through to the Nascent Soul stage as soon as possible.
However, they did not understand True Monarch Jiujian's ambition. Cultivating powerful divine abilities was merely external strength; True Monarch Jiujian placed more importance on his own foundation.
While his current combat power was not inferior to some first-grade Golden Core cultivators, his foundation was far weaker.
Divine abilities could allow him to unleash greater combat power, but what about the future?
His cultivated 'Nine Sword Divine Ability' was of great help during the Golden Core stage, but its effectiveness would diminish in later stages. Furthermore, any powerful cultivator in the Nascent Soul stage possessed several mid-grade, fourth-tier divine abilities.