The situation on the Continent of Origin was extremely complex.
Gu Chuan narrowed his eyes.
Although the Origin Continent was roughly divided into three major factions, each faction contained countless forces within it.
Even powerful beings such as Saint from the Universe Sea had ventured to the Continent of Origin, and the mighty Lords of the Universe had established kingdoms one after another, ruling over vast territories.
These Lords of the Universe became the sovereigns of their respective kingdoms.
In their struggle for the abundant resources of the Continent of Origin, these kingdoms frequently waged wars against each other. Over countless years, an untold number of kingdoms had risen and fallen, and even Lords of the Universe had perished in the endless conflicts.
Aside from the kingdoms, some powerful individuals preferred to establish sects rather than rule over nations. They recruited vast numbers of disciples, and their sects were no less powerful than the great kingdoms.
There were also ancient indigenous tribes, possessing immense strength, who occupied the great forests and established their own cities. These tribes often clashed with both the kingdoms and sects.
Furthermore, there were the Origin Beasts. These creatures resided within the secret realms of the Continent of Origin—mystical lands governed by powerful laws of origin, where even the strongest kingdoms dared not tread lightly. Occasionally, these Origin Beasts would emerge in massive hordes, unleashing devastation upon the land, slaughtering countless lives, and toppling entire factions.
Thus, the Continent of Origin was fraught with dangers, rivaling even the legendary Prehistoric World.
"Forget it. No matter how many forces exist in the Continent of Origin, I am only here to cultivate. As long as I find a way to advance my path, nothing else matters."
Gu Chuan had no desire for hegemony in the Continent of Origin—his only goal was self-improvement. The feuds and rivalries among the many factions were of little concern to him. However, understanding these forces and their conflicts could help him avoid unnecessary trouble.
"Speaking of which, there are also these Origin Stones. They are indispensable in the Continent of Origin."
A gleam flashed in Gu Chuan's eyes. Aside from rare materials and powerful magical treasures, the most significant prize he had obtained was the Origin Cloth from the three elders he had defeated.
The so-called Origin Stone was a unique ore found only on the Continent of Origin. Each stone contained an immense amount of origin energy.
Swallowing a single Origin Stone was equivalent to cultivating for tens of billions of years, and its energy could be absorbed without any side effects. If enough were consumed, one's origin energy would ascend to a higher level, improving their very life essence and innate talents.
It was clear just how invaluable these Origin Stones were.
Moreover, their functions were nearly limitless. Origin Stones could be refined into magic treasures, alchemical pills, formation maps, and more. Because of their unparalleled utility, Origin Stones had become the common currency of the Continent of Origin.
On this continent, everything could be purchased with Origin Stones, and not even the Lords of the Universe would refuse an opportunity to acquire more.
"Thirty thousand Origin Stones... This time, I've truly struck gold."
Gu Chuan sighed in admiration. He had not expected the three elders of the Baili Clan to possess such immense wealth. Ordinarily, a Saint would have no more than a few hundred Origin Stones at most.
After all, once a Saint obtained an Origin Stone, they would immediately use it for cultivation, leaving little behind.
For instance, the beings Gu Chuan had slain before had few Origin Stones on them, as they had long since consumed their reserves.
It was evident that the three elders of the Baili Clan were immensely wealthy; otherwise, they would not have carried such a vast number of Origin Stones on their persons.
With so many Origin Stones in his possession, Gu Chuan could now resolve his immediate cultivation needs.
After all, as the saying went: "Three pennies are enough to kill a hero." This underscored the crucial role of wealth in one's path to power.
"Let's go. It's time to see the true face of the Continent of Origin."
Having taken stock of all his gains, Gu Chuan rose and left the cave. There was no reason to waste time staying there.
Whoosh!
In an instant, his figure flickered, his entire body shifting into a semi-illusory state. He seamlessly blended into the void, entirely unrestrained by the Continent of Origin's gravity.
"As expected, once my body is fully etherealized, even the Continent of Origin cannot suppress my strength."
Gu Chuan smiled slightly.
He had previously suspected this, but now that he had tested it, he confirmed its truth.
On the Continent of Origin, only those who had reached the realm of the Lords of the Universe could break free from its gravitational constraints and move freely. Those below this level could not leave the Continent of Origin without external aid.
But now, Gu Chuan had defied this rule—he could move unbound, freely soaring through the continent's skies. This granted him a tremendous advantage over others below the rank of Lord of the Universe.
Even without the teleportation arrays constructed by Lords of the Universe, he could leave the Continent of Origin at will. This mobility provided him with unparalleled convenience and a significant strategic edge.
Whoosh!
His figure flickered again. With his ethereal body, his speed reached unimaginable levels—his base speed already exceeded a hundred times the speed of light, and he was still accelerating.
No Saint could detect his presence. With his etherealized body eliminating all resistance, nothing could hinder his movements.
Years passed in the blink of an eye.
Gu Chuan traversed an endless forest, occasionally encountering powerful native warriors or Origin Beasts. However, he bypassed these dangers without incident—no creature dared to hinder his path.
Finally, he arrived at the largest city in the region—a kingdom known as Jin. The city itself was called Jin City, a prosperous metropolis spanning over a million light-years in diameter.
"What a magnificent city wall."
Gu Chuan looked up, his eyes widening in admiration. The walls of Jin City were inscribed with densely packed Chaos Forbidden Formations, forming a three-dimensional array that radiated an aura of extreme danger.
Even a Lord of the Universe would struggle to breach this city's defenses in a short period.
Moreover, the material of the city walls was unique—it seemed to be made of Chaos Inkstone, a substance capable of absorbing and nullifying attacks, dissipating most of their power into nothingness.
Many city walls on the Continent of Origin were constructed using Chaos Stones, materials so resilient that even Saints found them indestructible.
The defenses of this city alone far surpassed those of Chaos City.
"As expected of a kingdom in the Continent of Origin—it truly stands at the pinnacle of power."
Gu Chuan suppressed his excitement. Just analyzing the Chaos Forbidden Formations on the city walls had already given him immense inspiration.
It was clear that within Jin City, he would find many more treasures that could aid his cultivation.