During Part 1, the solar system feels nothing special. Aside from the Cocoon of Finality, there aren't other known higher-dimensional beings.
The truth couldn't be farther away.
One billion years ago, Senadina, Nahrahlab, Litost, and Serapheum came from outside the solar system. Nahrahlab is a Pathstrider of Permanence. Senadina lived in a planet destroyed by a Pathstrider of the same Path. That Pathstrider, a dragon, left a scale to its survivors, blessing them with immortality. Senadina's departure from her home planet caused her immortality to be lost.
During the time I wielded the World Rendering Sword, I met the gazes of numerous Aeons. I memorized their auras very well.
Sa…
The aura of Abundance is well within her. I have a vague intuition that once the imaginary barrier breaks down, she might transcend into one of Abundance's Emanators. My hunches are usually produced by the Hexagram Spirit, divination per se, hence it is not baseless. It is Sa's biggest confidence in messing around while Kiana is present.
Facing this event that did not happen in-game, I felt nothing wrong with it. The course of history is not absolute. My existence changed a lot of things.
Time is just like this.
Buzz-!
The sound of a rewound tape cut down my thoughts.
The world turned into a strange place.
I looked around and saw no one else around… except for Seele and Veliona. They remained at the exact same place when they played around with my fingers. It was then I noticed.
They are future projections.
Crack-!
This special place did not hold on for long. It took a fraction within a second for mirror-like cracks to appear.
"The samsara of life and death, yet it remains enclosed by the world itself…"
Seele looked dazed as she stared from afar. Her words carried a hint of power, of solitude, but most importantly, longing.
"Divinity can be challenged. The Dao is not eternal. But if it is you…"
Veliona lost the strength within her voice. All that is left is her utmost solemnity—borderline exasperation out of despair. The last bit of her strength is carried by these words.
""You can transcend everything.""
Shatter-!
A blink of an eye changed the world around me. I scanned my surroundings and found everything was back to normal. Aside from the heavy feeling in my chest, nothing else is abnormal.
I can perfectly recall what happened just now. It is similar to the scenes I saw during my first time with Kiana as well as the Cocoon of Finality's embrace. Only, it affected me tangibly now.
My entire being tried to make sense of what I experienced just now. Lines of text emerged in my mind.
{Tribulation Transcendence: First Tribulation Accomplished.}
{The set limits have been raised to the middle stage of the Tribulation Transcendence Realm once the actual realm reaches the Tribulation Transcendence Realm.}
The Tribulation Transcendence Realm involves three life-and-death tribulations. Clearing one unlocks the 'level cap'. My progress allows me to have a 'level cap' of middle stage Tribulation Transcendence in the future.
{Tribulation Transcendence: Second Tribulation Locked.}
{Tribulation Transcendence: Third Tribulation Locked.}
This information is not new. I had long known that the golden orb pushed me towards Nihility to complete the first tribulation in advance. The second and third has to be overcome by me personally.
{Temporal Dimension | Present: Third Layer}
This is normal. Monstrous Nascent Soul Realm cultivators can comprehend the temporal dimension's "Present" to the highest third layer. It allows for the manipulation of time within the present timeframe. Acceleration, deceleration, and the likes can be done. The complete comprehension of the "Present" adds the Dao of Time to the Dharma Avatar as well.
The next one is the abnormal one.
{Temporal Dimension | Past: Third Layer}
{Temporal Dimension | Future: Second Layer}
I felt a strong power in my fingertips. Dozens of future possibilities appeared in my sight. Every move we and Sa made appeared as faint projections. Similarly, my eyes gazed upon the prosperous civilization of Luoxing. These images disappeared as I got out of my daze.
{Hexagram Spirit: Fifth Level > Seventh Level}
Cultivation Specializations can surpass the realm of the cultivator. This rule applies up to the Nascent Soul Realm. To reach the sixth level and above required one's realm to step onto it.
The Divine Transformation Realm entails becoming "divine";
The Void Refinement Realm is all about turning "karma-less";
The Dao Integration Realm is to embody a "Dao".
These unique features could not be replicated in the lower realms.
But…
My Hexagram Spirit jumped to the seventh level in one go. Aside from lacking spiritual qi to fully utilize it, there are no drawbacks.
…
I'll think about it later.
This strange phenomenon happened several times. I did not have the Dao of Mirrors and Time back then. That is the difference now; I am more capable than my past self. I can recall my encounters with the future projections very well.
"Tian. Is something wrong?"
Kiana is the first one to notice something. Sirin did not speak but her grasp over my pinky finger tightened. Seele gave me a look of concern while Veliona looked panicked. My gaze focused on Veliona, to which she gave an explanation.
"It felt like you drifted away…"
"I felt the same."
Sirin surprisingly interjected.
Even Sin and the two Xuanyuans showed concern.
"I had a special enlightenment. There's no need to worry…"
My explanations eased everyone's concerns. I looked at the huge entity in the sky once again.
It's time to break Sa's samsara.
*****
To Mars, Sa is an indomitable foe.
To Earth, however, she is an isolated enemy. With the impenetrable barrier erected, her Sky People who left could not return to the solar system. It greatly reduced the combat power she can deploy, forcing her to use herself as the main force.
Once she obtains the power left on Mars, she might be able to forcefully escape the 'cage'.
Unfortunately…
She is doomed to stay on Earth forever.
"Your pretentiousness knows no bounds. How can you speak about divinity when you haven't seen it?"
Sin Mal appeared right in front of the huge entity. It is akin to a floating island with three female torsos facing different directions. The projected immortal cultivators from Earth had long seen her. They watched in curiosity as the confrontation between Earth's Nascent Soul Realm and the foreign god began; a mistake that will kick them out of Mars moments later.
Much to Sin Mal's surprise, Sa made a declaration this time:
"The power of dreams… are not yours to wield."
Click.
Bzzt-!
A prismatic square-shaped door appeared behind Sa. A huge ray of prismatic beam headed straight to Sin Mal; her provocation worked.
""Huup!""
Buzz-!
Ji and Hei Xuanyuan appeared right in front of her. They wielded the reforged sixth grade Xuanyuan Swords and immediately launched the ultimate attack of Blade Mantra's [Heart Intention] realm…
Desolation.
Crack-!
Zoom-!
A cross-shaped attack cut the prismatic beam into four quartercircles. Though its power was reduced, its remnants were enough to destroy Mars' surface. The poor cultivators with a goldfish's sense of danger were kicked out of the Star Network as their projections dissipated.
The two Xuanyuan's attacks went straight to the door.
Shatter-!
The destruction of the door halted Sa's offensive efforts. Before she could make her next move, Sirin had already stepped onto her huge body.
"Die."
Hum-!
BAM-!
The gigantic body was pushed towards the ground. Black slits appeared on its way, and whenever it did, a part of Sa was cut off.
Seele and Veliona rapidly approached her when the huge body turned dark blue before vanishing. They immediately knew where she went.
""The Sea of Data."'
*****
A/N: Bonus chapter (1/2)