Chapter 748: Compensation
The Ocean of Time was an ancient Transcendent existence, a being whose history dated back to the era when the Astral World first shattered. Nearly every Intelligent Lifeform, in one way or another, owed a debt to it during their development. In a sense, it could even be regarded as the progenitor of Intelligent Lifeform.
Yet unlike the Intelligent Lifeform races that chose sides, the Transcendent within the Ocean of Time always remained neutral. It never involved itself in the grudges or conflicts of any race.
Over countless ages, without ever altering its original form, it had split off 128 fragments of authority. Through various channels, it used these fragments to observe the world and uncover its hidden truths.
These fragments were like its offspring, carrying a portion of its bloodline. When needed, they could draw on the computing power of the original body—allowing them to reach a state nearly equal to true Transcendence.
Most of these sub-authorities bore critical responsibilities. Some oversaw calculations across multiple Abyssal Rifts. Others studied the mysteries of Abyssal Beasts. A few sought to uncover the truth behind the destruction of the Ancient Astral World.
However, a small number of them had been "leased"—given out in exchange for a price—to various Supremes and Highlords.
After all, an intelligent assistant capable of approaching Transcendent-level cognition was invaluable. Whether for cultivating the path to Transcendence or for daily support, no Supreme or Highlord could overlook the aid they offered.
But not just any Supreme or Highlord was qualified to lease a sub-authority. Only those who had reached a certain threshold on the Transcendent path could be acknowledged by that ancient Transcendent existence as a "fellow Daoist." Only then would a sub-authority be permitted to remain by their side for an entire era.
And now... a sub-authority—something that could benefit even Supremes and Highlords in their cultivation—had been handed over to Li Pin by none other than the Black Abyss Highlord!?
What did that mean!?
In that moment, everyone present wore expressions of shock, confusion, and the dawning realization of a truth so startling it felt almost unreal.
Tyrant Zhen Ming parted his lips, but his thoughts stuttered as if his mind had jammed. "Didn't they say... that the Highlord... didn't take him in as a disciple? Then why...?"