Principles of chaos were fundamentally different from the principles that cultivators usually mastered. The principles that cultivators comprehended came from their own understanding of the universe, their insights shaped and condensed into unique forms of power.

Even after breaking through to the primordial level and reaching the very source of a principle, that power still stemmed from individual understanding, except now it was one of the core principles acknowledged by the worlds. Such beings could roam the chaotic void as powerful, independent existences.

This was also why, even after reaching the Fourth Primordial Heaven, the true emperors of the human race and the domain lords or eternal heavenly gods of the other peak civilizations still hadn't fully escaped the bounds of the mythical world.

Even when a primordial being entered a world that contained overwhelming power, the world's primordial principles would suppress them, sometimes reducing their strength severalfold. For those below the primordial level, such as true-spirit or ancient-titan-level beings, this suppression was even more severe.

In simple terms, it was like traveling to a foreign country where your phone signal no longer worked. You couldn't connect to that world's natural energy network, and could only rely on your own reserves. Every bit of power you spent was gone for good.

The path of the primordial level was essentially the process of evolving from a being that could survive the Sea of Chaos into one whose power could influence the infinite worlds, temporal abyss, and the endless Sea of Chaos itself. Only then could one achieve eternity and become indestructible.

By comparison, the principles of chaos were a universal force that worked everywhere across the entire Sea of Chaos. These principles also varied in strength. The weaker ones were only as strong as principle from a world that had gone through divine transformation, while the stronger ones could surpass even the ten supreme principles.

If Chen Chu chose to refine the Chaotic Bronze Bell and successfully comprehended the principle of chaos within it, that wouldn't mean he had mastered a principle that ruled across the Sea of Chaos or the principle of infinite worlds. It would only mean he had touched upon that principle, and could draw upon a fraction of its power without being suppressed by any world.

However, because this principle didn't originate from his own cultivation path, deepening his understanding of it would be thousands of times harder than when he mastered his Principle of Strength. In fact, focusing on it too much could even slow down his future progress.

As Chen Chu sat in thought, still unable to decide, several streaks of white divine light flashed outside the palace. Moments later, Shi Feirou, Shi Hong, and the others arrived.

When they saw the figure seated on the towering throne, along with the massive broken black saber and golden spear floating across the hall, Shi Hong and the rest froze for a moment before bowing deeply.

"Greetings, City Lord."

"You're here," Chen Chu said, withdrawing his gaze.

Shi Hong stepped forward respectfully. "City Lord, we've released all the information as instructed. It has already spread through the surrounding civilizations. The compensation and resource distribution for this battle have also been completed according to their respective functions."

"Good work," Chen Chu replied with a satisfied nod.

Shi Feirou hesitated, then said in her soft voice, "Brother Chen, although we blamed the deaths of the civilization guardians on that forbidden power, the truth won't stay hidden for long. The peak civilizations have bloodline-linked methods to uncover what really happened. Before long, they'll know it was you who killed them."

"It doesn't matter," Chen Chu replied calmly. "The chaotic cosmos here can only support beings up to the Third Primordial Heaven. The resources here are suited only for those below the primordial level. As long as I remain within the Chaotic Imperial City, even a Third-Primordial-Heaven powerhouse can't take me down easily. I also don't believe anyone with hopes of reaching the true emperor realm would waste their time here waiting for me."

When he struck down those guardians, Chen Chu had already foreseen the consequences. In the end, however, he realized they didn't matter. As the Dragon Emperor began its breakthrough to the primordial level, the enhancement of its true form, combined with the feedback from the two shared primordial principles, caused Chen Chu's power to surge.

Before this, his base strength had already reached the semi-primordial level. With his Ninefold Heavenly Gates open, he could rival a primordial star. When all ten gates were unleashed, he barely rivaled a primordial overlord.

Now, with his true form enhanced and his power reinforced by the shared principles, Chen Chu stood firmly among the upper ranks of primordial overlords. Furthermore, with the protection of the Chaotic Imperial City, even the primordial monarchs he once treated with caution no longer posed a threat. As he had said before, as long as he remained inside the city's boundaries, even a monarch couldn't touch him.

If those monarchs dared to slaughter human cultivators outside to draw him out, he would simply bring the entire Imperial City to their doorstep and erase their civilization's stronghold. In the end, it wouldn't be his resources that were consumed, but those of the six divine regions.

At his current pace of growth, no matter whether he chose to enhance the Eight Desolations Halberd or refine the Chaotic Bronze Bell, his strength would soon soar to new heights. Once the Dragon Emperor completed its breakthrough and fully awakened, Chen Chu was confident that he could survive even an ambush from a true emperor.

Suddenly, Chen Chu turned to Shi Feirou and asked, "Feirou, does the Flamewheel Divine Region have any Life Crystals in stock?"

He asked specifically about the Flamewheel Region because Life Crystals didn't really exist in the chaotic void. Even the weakest colossal beasts here were at the mythical level, not due to their strength, but because of the world's underlying principles. Even many creatures below the mythical level couldn't simply form Life Crystals.

"Life Crystals?" Shi Feirou blinked, puzzled by the sudden question.

After a brief pause, she explained, "Life Crystals can strengthen a transcendent being's physique, but their effects are quite limited. Compared to most body-enhancing elixirs, they're much weaker. Right now, only a faction in Xingyun Province breeds colossal beasts specifically to produce them. If you want some, I can have them collected and sent over. How much do you need?"

"All of them."

Shi Feirou hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Understood."

Getting the Life Crystals from that faction was easy for her. As the Palace Master of Jiantian Palace under the Flamewheel Dynasty, she had the authority to issue the command directly.

Despite being the City Lord of the independent Chaotic Imperial City, Chen Chu had no direct authority over the internal factions of the six divine regions, including the Flamewheel Dynasty. He could only wonder how many Life Crystals that faction possessed, and whether they would be enough to convert into twenty million attribute points.

"Feirou," Chen Chu said calmly, "I'm going into seclusion. You'll handle the city's affairs while I'm away."

Seeing his pale face and unstable aura, Shi Feirou's expression turned serious. "Don't worry," she said firmly. "With me here, you can focus on seclusion and recovery."

Chen Chu nodded. He truly needed time to rest and rebuild his strength. To destroy Nuliel and the other guardians, he had maintained his Dark Star World-Ending Form for too long. The strain consumed an enormous amount of energy and even damaged part of his life essence.

This was the cost of using power amplified hundreds of times beyond his normal limit. However, recovering wasn't his only goal. His real reason for entering seclusion was also to refine the bell. Now that he knew the Flamewheel Divine Region had Life Crystals, his path was clear. As a Hell Apostle, he had countless ways to strengthen himself, but the power of a chaotic principle, a force free from the principles of any world, was far more valuable to him.

As for the concern that mastering such a principle could slow his future cultivation progress? With enough attribute points to speed up his comprehension and origin points to strengthen his foundation, it really wasn't much of a concern now.

***

Deep within another universe inside the Ancient Battlefield, a terrifying aura suddenly erupted.

"Floretia has fallen." A deep, commanding voice echoed through the chaos as a pair of golden eyes slowly opened. Within those eyes, time flowed backward and space reflected itself, revealing an image of Floretia kneeling before a divine palace.

A moment later, the image shattered. Right before that, however, a glimpse of a phantom with three faces and ten arms flashed across the void.

"This aura... it's that human from the Ancient Arena, the one who slew Nashigas. Chu Batian. Impossible! How long has it even been? Has my sense of time gone wrong? Have I already slept for ten thousand years?"

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