WHOOSH...

Translucent, vine-like tendrils of time slowly withdrew from Zorn’s Holy Crown of Time.

The connection to the Calamity Court Divine Tree was also gradually severed.

That wondrous feeling of deep resonance with the Star Realm, the cosmos, and the Rune Profound Mysteries now receded from Zorn.

His ten-year journey of secluded cultivation in the Holy Crown Tree Nest had officially come to an end.

Zorn could also feel the power of the Disaster Court Magic Ring Tree slowly withdrawing from the Tree Nest.

’Quite a few Transcendents have come and gone over these ten years, consuming a great deal of power from the Disaster Court Magic Ring Tree.’

’It will probably take twenty to thirty years to recover for the next round.’

’But as for me, I have no more need for this Holy Crown Rune Nest.’

’The next one I’ll need will be a Legendary Rune Nest.’

Lost in thought, Zorn rose and left the Nest of Time.

For the past ten years, a powerful Time Barrier had protected Zorn, allowing him to cultivate and seek enlightenment in safety.

Had he been outside, he would have likely been ambushed or disturbed by the spies and schemers watching him from the shadows.

Zorn unfurled his Six-winged Angel Feather Blade and flew outward, examining the results of his ten years of secluded cultivation.

Beneath the Tree of Calamity Magic Ring.

Calamity Magic Rings were densely interwoven together.

rings!

This was the number of Rune Magic Rings Zorn had formed over the past ten years after exhausting all his resources.

For context, having 200 to 500 rings was the standard for Legendary Powerhouses.

Many powerful Legendary Powerhouses only had just over three hundred rings, and only the top-tier among them possessed more than four hundred.

As for top-tier Legendary Powerhouses within the Divine Kingdom like Ossirion, their Rune Magic Ring count had already surpassed 500. They had a chance of breaking past the Legendary Level cap and directly becoming an Upper Rank God upon their Divinity Ascension.

At 453 rings, he was by no means weak, even by Legendary Level standards.

And that was without mentioning that Zorn was currently just a Holy Crown Demigod.

’I’m now no weaker than an ordinary Legendary.’

Zorn roughly estimated his own strength.

Although Zorn’s Rune Magic Rings had increased drastically over the past ten years, his Level had not risen by much, only reaching Level 17 with 52% progress.

His many Ancient God Curses had also barely progressed, all remaining at Level 7.

Although he hadn’t improved much in these two areas, during his secluded cultivation, sacrifices from the Cosmic Ancient Ruins had caused a massive amount of "Time Essence" and "Cosmic Essence" to accumulate within his Divine Kingdom.

The "Time Essence" was enough to raise his Level by one or even two.

And as for how to use the Cosmic Essence, Zorn had a brand-new idea.

’Cosmic Essence can be used not only to raise my Level but also to enhance my Ancient God Curses.’

’By investing Essence into the Tree of the Magic Ring and then using the framework of an Ancient God Curse to gradually absorb it, I can break the curse’s Level 9 limit and push it to Level 10 or higher.’

’Even when nurtured by the dual boons of the Tree of the Magic Ring and Divine Power, an Ancient God Curse can only reach Level 9 at the absolute most.’

’But with this special method, I can use Cosmic Essence to break an Ancient God Curse’s upper limit.’

’This is a special method known only to Players.’

’After all, to those ancient Divine Spirits, Cosmic Essence is both rare and precious.’

’They would never use it to raise the Level of an Ancient God Curse; they would only let it accumulate within their Divine Spirit Sequence to raise their own Divine Level cap.’

’For me, Cosmic Essence is useless until I become one of the Ancient Gods.’

’For now, it’s perfect for upgrading my Ancient God Curses.’

’Next... ’

Zorn rubbed his temples.

’If there’s nothing urgent, I can return to my floating island and continue cultivating to raise my Level and my Ancient God Curses.’

However, Zorn soon realized that his plan to continue cultivating was unlikely to happen.

As soon as he passed through the Vortex Gate of the Holy Crown Rune Nest, Zorn saw the Divine Kingdom’s Legendary Powerhouse, Ossirion, along with several other Legendaries and more than a dozen Holy Crowns, gathered on his floating island.

Upon Zorn’s arrival,

Legendary Ossirion, the other Legendaries, and the dozen-plus Holy Crowns all fixed their gazes on him.

’It looks like my plan to continue cultivating is ruined.’

He quickly flew over and bowed to Ossirion.

"Lord Ossirion!"

Ossirion was Zorn’s guide and mentor within the Divine Kingdom.

Without Ossirion’s guidance, it would have been incredibly difficult for Zorn to have reached his current heights.

The resources provided by the Calamity Court Divine Kingdom had played a crucial role in his development.

Zorn had always been grateful for Lord Ossirion’s patronage.

Now, his own power had grown and his abilities had strengthened.

The time had come for the Divine Kingdom to call upon him.

Ossirion, with his burly, twelve-meter-tall frame, faintly radiated a terrifying, heart-pounding power.

This made Zorn wonder privately,

’Lord Ossirion must be on the verge of breaking past the Legendary limit.’

’After all, the Calamity Court Realm has also sacrificed a significant amount of resources to the Cosmic Ancient Ruins.’

’And with the steady rise of the Mythical Wave, the various realms are all making more and more sacrifices these days.’

After sizing Zorn up for a moment, a strange glint appeared deep within Ossirion’s enormous eyes.

He could discern many things about Zorn.

He could sense faint traces of Zorn’s Divine Kingdom and the profound aura of his Rune Magic Rings.

’As expected of the one who made a name for himself in the Divine Kingdom while still at the Holy Crown Demigod Level.’

Then, Ossirion beckoned to Zorn.

"Zorn, come here and talk."

"Yes."

Zorn followed Ossirion into a Divine Kingdom airship.

’An airship with a Divine Kingdom Crystal Wall... Its defensive Ability is comparable to a small Divine Kingdom, yet it also has extremely high mobility and can prevent any external surveillance.’

’This could probably only be created by an Upper Rank God with weaving abilities.’

After they sat down in the main hall of the Airship Cabin,

Ossirion spoke slowly.

"How were your gains from this period of cultivation?"

"It was quite fruitful."

Zorn replied humbly.

Ossirion’s expression then turned serious as he said,

"How much do you know about the current situation outside?"

Based on the sacrifices to the Cosmic Ancient Ruins and the turbulence he felt from the Disaster Court Magic Ring Tree, Zorn could roughly guess that the situation outside was not good.

"I don’t know much, but judging from those fluctuations, I’m afraid..."

"That’s right."

After gazing out the window for a long moment, Ossirion took a deep breath and said,

"The Calamity Court Divine Kingdom’s situation is indeed quite precarious right now."

"Not only are we facing an offensive from the Jade Realm, but the other two great realms on the Star Plateau are also eyeing us covetously."

"And that is precisely why I have come for you."

Zorn’s gaze darkened as he looked at Ossirion.

"Do you want to use my Destruction of the World ability?"

"Yes."

Zorn was not surprised by Ossirion’s answer.

With his current strength, he was barely at the level of a Lower Rank God and could perhaps hold his own against a weaker Legendary.

Such strength was a dime a dozen in the Divine Kingdom and naturally wouldn’t be of much use.

But Zorn’s unique "Destruction of the World" ability was incredibly formidable.

"Furthermore, this time the Divine Kingdom plans to combine your Destruction of the World ability with the special abilities of two other Divine Spirits to strike several of the Jade Realm’s key nodal Divine Kingdoms."

The Jade Realm’s key nodal Divine Kingdoms!

Hearing this, Zorn’s mind trembled.

’Has such a great opportunity really arrived just like that?’