Volume One: The Game of the Mastermind Chapter Fifty-Nine: Ten Tokens

In the Realm of Immortals, Demons, and Beasts, the sky suddenly erupted with thunderous blasts as streaks of golden lightning danced across the heavens.

“Golden lightning?” Ao Nameless uttered in surprise. Lightning was usually purple, blue, or black; he, as a ninth-level Beast Emperor, had never witnessed anything like this.

“Could it be another ‘Young friend, we await you’ scenario?” Man Qian recalled the tremendous upheaval in the Realm of Immortals, Demons, and Beasts when he was still a mere Golden Immortal.

“I fear this will surpass all previous events,” Wu Long said, his mouth agape as he stared at the golden lightning.

Though the lightning seemed to hover above Emperor Star, Wu Long had just received word: in the entire Realm of Immortals, Demons, and Beasts, no matter which planet one looked up from, the golden lightning was visible.

“Nameless, Man Qian, you must have received the news as well.” Wu Long was the sole leader of the Demon Realm, with Blood Demon, Asura Demon, and Black Demon Paths all under his command. Man Qian and Ao Nameless led the two main factions of the Beast Realm. Whenever something major occurred, they were informed immediately. Only Zong Jue among the four preferred a life of seclusion, wandering freely after reaching the fifth-level Beast Emperor stage, leaving his avian clan behind.

“Yes, I just received word from my clan,” Ao Nameless replied gravely. “Let’s observe for now. If something happens and even the four of us cannot handle it, then perhaps no one can.”

Two eighth-level Beast Emperors, one ninth-level Beast Emperor, and the strongest ninth-level Demon Emperor—it was a formidable combination. If they couldn’t handle this sudden event, then truly, nothing could be done.

In the Dark Star Realm, on the Golden Punishment Star, Lord Wenfeng, Black Flame Lord Hongyuan, and White Mystery Lord Baiying watched the sky, where golden lightning flickered relentlessly.

“Wenfeng, how powerful do you think that lightning is?” Baiying asked, eyes fixed on the golden bolts.

“It’s terrifyingly strong,” Wenfeng replied, his voice steady. “I feel that even with my present strength, after merging with the Golden Punishment Spirit Pearl, should I be struck by it, I would turn to ash.”

Lord Wenfeng had reached the eighteen-star Emperor level, fused with the second-tier primordial treasure, the Golden Punishment Spirit Pearl. His physical strength was at the peak of superior divine artifacts, yet he had to admit that before the seemingly unremarkable golden lightning, he would have no chance to resist.

“Boom!” As they spoke, as though to confirm Wenfeng’s words, a stream of cosmic shattered gold drifted near the golden lightning. A single bolt flashed through, and the entire stream vanished instantly.

“What in the world is causing this?” At the same time, the four on Emperor Star witnessed this scene, an incomparable shock settling in their hearts.

“Hah, looks like even if all the top experts of the Realm of Immortals, Demons, and Beasts banded together, they could not withstand the power of that golden lightning,” Zong Jue said with a bitter smile. Before such overwhelming energy, all one could do was smile bitterly.

Cosmic shattered gold—the strongest energy in the Realm of Immortals, Demons, and Beasts—even the four would not dare enter it lightly. Yet the golden lightning in the sky reduced it to nothing.

What they did not know was that this celestial anomaly was not limited to their realm; all parallel spaces to the Realm of Immortals, Demons, and Beasts witnessed the same golden lightning.

On Maple Moon Star, Qin Shuang stood in the void, eyes locked on the golden phenomenon in the sky. He too was deeply shaken, reassessing the strength of his own body.

“Cosmic shattered gold, Heavenly Fire Stream, Extreme Cold Stream—these can’t harm me,” Qin Shuang mused. “But that golden lightning is far too exaggerated. Even refining the second-tier primordial treasure, the Thousand-Faced Robe, would not help me withstand it.”

Suddenly, the sky transformed again. The countless golden lightning bolts condensed together, growing ever brighter as they gathered until they occupied less than a square meter.

The golden radiance dimmed a little, allowing everyone to see the lightning’s current form.

Ten tokens.

A deep vibration echoed from space, and the ten tokens trembled.

“Cultivators of the lower realm, Heaven has shown mercy and bestowed spiritual treasures. Whoever obtains a token may compete for the treasure.” A simple proclamation thundered in every ear. The tokens, as if awakened, scattered in all directions. In a blink, they vanished.

“Heaven-sent treasure…” Qin Shuang’s eyes burned with fervor. Others might not know the value of such a treasure, but Qin Shuang did. The golden energy alone was beyond second-tier primordial treasures; at minimum, this was a first-tier primordial treasure.

“Father, Mother, Brother, watch me. Even on my own, I will obtain a first-tier primordial treasure,” Qin Shuang vowed silently, determined to win the treasure and return to the Divine Realm.

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On Emperor Star, Zong Jue, Man Qian, Ao Nameless, and Wu Long stared in astonishment at the vanished golden tokens.

“Heaven-sent treasure?” Wu Long murmured. “Nameless, looks like the Realm of Immortals, Demons, and Beasts will erupt in another wave of carnage.”

Man Qian’s eyes gleamed, his fists clenching with excitement. “Isn’t this good? It’s been ages since I fought.”

“You brute, always itching for a fight,” Zong Jue scoffed, producing a pitch-black war blade and gently stroking its surface, speaking with excitement to his weapon, “But to be fair, you haven’t seen action in quite some time.”

Zong Jue was now an eighth-level Immortal Emperor. He rarely used the black war blade gifted by Jiang Lan in battle these days.

“My Dragon Clan has never feared trouble. Heaven-sent treasure—I will not give up easily,” Ao Nameless declared, his eyes shining. He could sense that even with the Dragon Pearl inheritance, he could not withstand the lightning’s power.

Now, the golden lightning had condensed into ten tokens—mere tickets to compete for the treasure.

The treasure’s value was beyond question.

“Haha, as long as we join forces, who in the Realm of Immortals, Demons, and Beasts could stand against us?” Wu Long laughed confidently.

“I don’t know about others, but the three Lords of the Dark Star Realm, if united, might rival us,” Ao Nameless replied, smiling. Only he and Wu Long knew the true extent of their power—they had not unified their realms by mere luck.

As for Ao Nameless himself, he was certainly not weaker than Wu Long.

“Good. If we four join forces, whoever is destined to obtain the treasure, we mustn’t turn against each other,” Zong Jue said, standing up and retracting his blade.

“Our task now is to acquire four tokens,” Man Qian said. “Let’s rely on our own abilities.”

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Meanwhile, nearly every faction leader in the Realm of Immortals, Demons, and Beasts began to move at once.

Only ten tokens existed, yet many top experts sought them. To obtain a token, action was necessary.

On Heaven Mortal Star, a remote world in the realm, its former top expert was but a fifth-level Golden Immortal. Today, however, over a dozen Immortal Emperors of various levels had appeared; the highest among them was already a seventh-level Immortal Emperor.

“Xuan Tian, hand over the token and I’ll spare your life. Otherwise, don’t blame me for forsaking brotherhood,” Fan Xin said, gripping a supreme immortal sword, his body bearing numerous wounds.

Xuan Tian, facing him, was also battered, his immortal energy nearly depleted.

“Hmph, Fan Xin, what did we agree upon? Whoever obtained the token would compete for the treasure. Yet you ambushed me just as I acquired it—is this your so-called brotherly affection?” Xuan Tian was a fifth-level Immortal Emperor, whereas Fan Xin was only fourth-level. Fan Xin had wounded Xuan Tian by surprise; otherwise, three Fan Xins could not match Xuan Tian.

“Enough talk. The victor is king, the loser is dirt. You fell to me today, accept your fate.”

“Fine, fine. After all I did for you, today, even in death, I won’t surrender the token.” Xuan Tian, furious, forced himself upright.

“That’s not for you to decide,” Fan Xin lunged forward, his sword poised to pierce Xuan Tian.

“Boom!” A blast rang out. The two former brothers vanished, and a golden token dropped to the ground.

In the end, Xuan Tian chose to self-destruct, taking Fan Xin with him.

“Heh, is it finally over?” Figures emerged from the darkness, their leader remarking, “Look, they’ve killed each other, three groups wiped out already.”

“Sir, your insight is unmatched. When you return to Blue Radiance Star, your standing before the Holy Lord will surely rise,” the others flattered him eagerly.

“No need to travel so far—give it to me,” a suppressed voice interrupted as the leader reached for the golden token.

“Who’s there?” The leader shuddered; for someone to appear behind them unnoticed meant the newcomer’s strength far surpassed theirs.

“A mere sixth-level Immortal Emperor isn’t worthy to know my name.” From the shadows emerged a figure holding a narrow, pitch-black war blade.

(To be continued)