A thousand years flashed by.

During this time Alexander looked around the Devouring Sect to try and find some interesting things to do. Unfortunately, nothing of actual entertainment popped out.

But he did not fret over it, as the thousand years deadline was over.

How far would the two go? They were already incredibly powerful for the Celestial Realm, did this knowledge and experience boost them? The answer until this point was 'yes'.

Mastering Celestial Qi cannot be less difficult than mastering Star Qi. So many of the early cultivation stages ended up easy to breeze through.

How far would they make it with unlimited resources and proper knowledge and advice? In their rooms existed many artifacts Alexander had gathered, in hope of them succeeding as to quench his raging inferno of curiosity.

Which would be stronger? Would they learn anything new? Would their potential be further enhanced?

Somewhat excited, Alexander headed for his platform where the familiar scene of Maffrec and Yu Xian chatting formed.

Noticing him as well, they stood up while cupping their fists.

"Greetings, Sect Master!"

"Greetings, Sect Master!"

"So? How far have you guys gone?"

The one to answer was Yu Xian.

"Reporting to the Sect Master, we have both made it to the True Star Realm! But we cannot seem to step into the peak stage..."

Nodding, Alexander explained.

"No worry, the peak stage is quite hard and will take time. It is not about energy absorption but comprehension instead! Not only so, but none of you have experienced the Universe with your very senses. You will have to make do with the artifacts I left. They can let you experience a few glimpses of the Universe's history."

"For now, focus on this." Handing over a giant scroll of sorts, Maffrec was the one to catch it first.

Unfolding it, a painting came into view. It depicted a colorful Universe and appeared to have something emanating from its insides. Some sparks flew out and a vortex emerged. It tried to suck the holder, Maffrec, inside of its mysteries.

Folding the painting abruptly, Maffrec was drenched in cold sweats. His mind felt sore and his vision blurred.

"Why are you scared? This painting is just trying to extract your soul as to make you experience its depicted reality directly. It certainly doesn't feel too good, but the painting is extremely precious, especially for the two of you."

"Even so..."

Looking at the two meek disciples, Alexander sighed.

"Alright then!"

Grasping at the two, he extracted their souls before putting them in the painting. As for the dead bodies, he stored them inside some random artifacts he had. He would come back in a few millennia.

During this time, inside the painting.

"Brother Maffrec? Where are we?"

Watching over, the blue and transparent Yu Xian curiously glanced over at Maffrec's soul, floating somewhere in the void.

Surrounding them, a beautiful scenery of many colors.

"..."

Nervous at the unusual lack of answer, Yu Xian prompted once more, to which Maffrec awoke from his stupor.

"Ah! Brother Yu... this... I am not too sure either..."

"According to the Sect Master's teachings and records... it probably is-"

"The Universe!" Interrupting his friend, Yu Xian exclaimed loud and clear for the void to hear.

Sighing, Maffrec slowly nodded.

"Probably..."

Not sure about what to do, especially when worried about their fleshly vessels, they soon understood a recomforting event.

'Our souls do not decay!'

This piece of news was truly warming their cold feet and feeding their boldness. If their souls did not decay, what could stop them in this painting? A painting was just that, a piece of fabric. Could it hold monsters? Maybe souls of monsters and beasts, but not actual physical monsters.

In that case, surviving would be a piece of cake! Their souls were not crippled after all!

"This will be easy!" Laughing arrogantly, Yu Xian immediately wandered the colorful void, hoping to catch some soul treasures or be enlightened on the Universe's machinery.

Flying freely, the two of them explored the void and even nearby worlds. At some point, they attained a purple world.

Judging from the aura it emanated along its energies, they used their Sect Master's knowledge and teachings to estimate its worth.

"Brother Maffrec... this should be a Tier-10 World, right?"

"Mmmh... Maybe Tier-9 actually."

Without hesitation, they flew to it.

On its surface, a purple sky dominated the view and a purple desert stood like a giant. Nothing but purple sand was in view.

Landing on it, they expected nothing much. This would be a normal routine exploration like they did prior.

However, when the world trembled and the sky was cleaved, they tried to flee. Obviously it was not feasible, as a powerful aura descended upon them, crushing their souls from terror.

"What?!"

"How??"

Both had perfect Nascent Celestial Souls, this of course meant an invincible soul cultivation in the Universe. But when what they felt clearly possessed a powerful amount of Celestial Qi.

"Didn't Sect Master say that Celestial Qi was extremely sparse in here?!!" Yu Xian shouted and hoped for his voice to reach Maffrec, unfortunately, when he turned around...

"[Harmonious Blade]!"

An invisible light of unity flashing across them, Maffrec soul was actually struck! His bad luck did not stop, as the cleaving harmony separated his soul, making it bleed spirituality!

"Maffrec!!" Roaring with certain hoarseness, Yu Xian rushed over, but even then...

He did not know what to do! A soul damaged like this was too hard to heal in their current predicament. They had no resources and did not dare to act rashly. Even when he used his own soul, it did not work one bit. The wound was truly strange and simply could not be healed!

It was as if the Heavens decided for it to be separated. Unless they had enough power to rival the man who did this, they would never make it!

A powerful soul like Maffrec's was actually injured so badly, no matter how Yu Xian thought about it, it clearly was abnormal!

This strike was truly powerful and extremely esoteric, but even so, something with so little Celestial Qi and authority could never do this.

The one who understood the reason was Maffrec. Having experienced first hand this injury, he knew what was wrong.

"Brother Yu... Our souls... are sealed!"

Hearing the slow and unsteady voice of Maffrec, Yu Xian perked his ears carefully.

"Sealed?! But I feel just fine! I am definitely stronger than... than..."

"Exactly!" Noticing him assimilate the truth, Maffrec felt cold. His soul was about to dissipate and his body was nowhere to be seen.

In other words, he was doomed!

Fully aware of this, Yu Xian was, even so, still in denial.

"Brother! Don't go! You can do it! I believe in you!! Trust me! I can make this wor-"

Shaking his head, Maffrec had hollow eyes, yet showed warmth.

"I can't make it... and you..."

"...know it too..." His crystal clear soul shattering into specks of light, they were soon absorbed by something inside the void. The painting ate his brother!

"..."

Silence reigned.

But Yu Xian's mind was in disarray. His friend, whom he called a brother, died right in front of him!

A body could be replaced, but a soul was another story. Even a pebble had more life than Maffrec now!

Kneeling on some purple sand floating in the void, Yu Xian finally noticed the surrounding chaos.

The purple world had been turned into lone fragments floating aimlessly in the eternal void. And all around... a battle between two masters took place.

One was surrounded by a red aura of violence and used his hands like claws. As for the other one, Yu Xian knew him very well.

"S-Sect..."

"Alexander!!" Gritting his teeth, Yu Xian felt maddened beyond reason. The Sect Master he called affectionally was already gone. This man dared to kill his brother!

So what if he was one of the strongest masters of the Celestial Realm? He could become one too!

He would now use these resources to strangle Alexander with!

"I will surpass you! I will kill you!!" His usual friendliness and playfulness was gone. But instead of being replaced with a scholarly attitude, it was replaced by anger and sorrow. Never in his life had he suffered like this! He was born with loving parents and caring strangers. He had not made many friends and therefore developed a rather cold persona.

But today, his best friend, whom he shared a bond of brotherhood, was killed.

This grievance was not something that one could simply erase!

But first, he had to survive. It would come down to luck, but Yu Xian believed his luck to be good.

During this time, the phantoms of Alexander and his opponent, Ark, were battling each other all over the Universe. They kept going at it and did not even flinch when their heads were blown off.

This scene shocked Yu Xian to the core.

No matter how strong masters were, could they survive such deadly damage? A blown off head and dissipated soul... yet they all lived!

'This is crazy!'

Biding his time, Yu Xian casually watched the terrifying Grand Macrocosm Trial of Ascendency with leisure from time to time.

He had many thing to do, but first, he had to become stronger!

The fight lasted for millions of years and ended abruptly.

"[]Ture Martial Sword Strike!"