Peak Sage Realm - 412

After speaking for a while, Progenitor Ke looked at Zhou Fan and spoke. "So you're telling me that everything I've known is just an uninhabited corner of the universe meant as some sort of experiment?"

Zhou Fan nodded. "Exactly. Your cultivation style is different from the outside world's. You will understand that when you leave. I didn't expect someone like you to appear, so I will have to further your path of cultivation, but that is something you don't need to worry about."

"Alright then. What rank of meridians are you going to give me?" Progenitor Ke asked.

Zhou Fan began to think. "Hmm. Ying Xiong had immortal god 3 rank meridians. That should be enough for you."

Zhou Fan waved his hand and Progenitor Ke's meridians were completely replaced.

"Alright. Enough questions. You'll see "me" again if you enter the cosmic sect." Zhou Fan said as he sent Progenitor Ke down to the great world.

Afterwards, he began to improve the mini-river of cultivation. After a few thousand years, he carefully furthered it to the god realm, enough for Progenitor Ke to reach his peak.

The mini-river would still pool into a lake and have a thin line connecting it back to the main river, but there was now not much point in the thin line since Progenitor Ke would likely never reach the true god realm.

Currently, there was not a single person in the universe at the 2nd level of the true god realm. The true god realm was something that was nearly untraversable in its current state. Only the new Ying Xiong and Leaf stood a chance.

Suddenly thinking of Leaf, Zhou Fan looked down. Leaf was still there, wrapped around his body, slowly cultivating. He had almost forgotten about him.

Leaf was at the peak of the Soul Formation realm. Zhou Fan did not make him face tribulations. At this point, nothing shocked Zhou Fan. He could still be in the nascent soul realm and Zhou Fan would just shrug.

Leaf's lifespan was unparalleled. If Zhou Fan did not advance in realm, he may die before Leaf.

Zhou Fan took his attention away from Leaf and focused on Progenitor Ke. He watched as he quickly cultivated and made a name for himself.

When he reached the space shattering realm, he received a letter from the cosmic sect and decisively joined. Although Zhou Fan had made himself look like an old man, he had not looked that much different from his normal self. 

Leaf being wrapped around his body was also quite the giveaway.

Surprisingly, as he advanced, Progenitor Ke did not show off his soul talents, though he secretly practiced them.

Despite that, his talent with the Store and Release technique, which nobody could successfully cultivate, made him stand out from even other cosmic sect members.

There was a key reason why only progenitor Ke could practice the store and release technique. He had a divine physique. Zhou Fan had named it the Store and Release physique upon seeing his self created special technique.

Lu Wei took an interest in Progenitor Ke and took him as a disciple. 

Before long, in Zhou Fan's eyes at least, Progenitor Ke reached the inner world realm and became the strongest in that realm.

Although many of the cosmic sect members had been turned into gods and true gods, recruitment had never ceased, and few members after that point had managed to enter the god realm, though there were indeed a reasonable amount. After all, nearly a quadrillion years had passed.

Surprisingly, Ying Xiong and Leaf were the only ones born with immortal godking rank meridians. Even Zhou Fan had expected more.

After reaching the peak of the inner world realm, Progenitor Ke challenged every inner world realm cultivator and, after many tough battles, was crowned the number 1 cultivator under the god realm in the universe.

Once again, this was without him even using his soul techniques. He was a masterfully talented cultivator.

Zhou Fan took his eyes off of Progenitor Ke and crossed his legs. Enough time had passed.

He was ready to reach the peak of the sage realm.

A little bit more than 800 trillion years later, he was done. He had reached the peak of the sage realm. As he looked upon the universe, he saw that progress was made. Surprisingly, the destruction race had yet to leave the black battle fortress.

It seemed that they were waiting for the righteous faction to lower their guards, while also increasing their strength.

Unfortunately, Lu Wei did not intend to make the same mistake again. He, along with Tong, Pangu, were not only defending the same as before, but were also making plans to attack.

Over the years, a true god realm cultivator had mastered 11th rank, or true god realm arrays.

It was likely lower in level than the array high lords, but it was enough.

Progenitor Ke had been recruited to join the righteous faction and guarded against the destruction race. Unfortunately, he was unable to make any big contributions.

He was merely at the 5th level of the god realm and slowly growing.

On the other hand, Ying Xiong was at the 10th level of the god realm. It seemed that he would be able to breakthrough after some time.

Zhou Fan looked around the universe and saw many talented people that would very likely never breakthrough to the true god realm.

It was a pity.

Zhou Fan thought about it, and realized that he had some more time before surpassing the sage realm.

He decided to create an opportunity for those without immortal godking rank meridians to reach the true god realm. Of course, it would not be easy.

He stepped out and appeared in the upper realm. Only peak god realm cultivators with immortal god rank meridians would be able to participate.

He created a large arena, sturdy enough to defend against any true god.

He also created a timer above the arena. It read, 5 quadrillion years.

He named the arena the "True God Ascension Arena", carving the name into the arena's side.