Hearing Xu Mo's question, the drifting bottle initially wanted to maintain some composure and build suspense. However, seeing Xu Mo's increasingly displeased gaze, it immediately relented.
"Yes, any Saint can contend for the crossing, whether they are new Saints or old Saints. As for how the crossing is conducted, there are no fixed rules; it depends on the path you wish to take," the drifting bottle said.
"It's not a fight to the death?" Xu Mo was surprised. He had thought the crossing involved a group of Saints fighting fiercely for immortal opportunities.
The drifting bottle replied, "Well... fighting is also a part of it, but the difficulty is too high, too bloody, and no Saint would choose that path."
It explained that some Saints passed down methods, establishing teachings to contend for the crossing. Some Saints went on rampages, slaughtering mortals in a nation to contend through bloodshed. Some Saints immersed themselves in the mortal world, experiencing its myriad forms to contend. Some Saints mastered the art of destiny, plundering the national fortunes of other countries to contend. And some powerful Saints, in their arrogance, attempted to contend by slaughtering other Saints.
As for the fighting Xu Mo mentioned, it was essentially similar to contending through slaughtering Saints. If a group of Saints engaged in combat, the nine survivors could obtain immortal opportunities and glimpse the immortal realm.
However, this path was too perilous, and not many Saints wished to embark on it. Even an Extreme Saint could not guarantee survival under a siege.
In past crossings, there had been instances of Saints fighting, but those who survived to obtain immortal opportunities were often not the most powerful Extreme Saints. Instead, it was usually the lesser Saints and Great Saints, who cheered from the sidelines, that succeeded.
Consequently, powerful Extreme Saints ceased to initiate the path of combat, opting instead for a gentler approach: slaughtering Saints to attain enlightenment!
This was Xu Mo's first time hearing the rules of the crossing, and he was filled with surprise.
The crossing was vastly different from what he had imagined. It seemed there were many paths to obtain immortal opportunities, giving a sense of flourishing diversity.
Xu Mo curiously asked, "Which path is the easiest to succeed in the crossing and obtain immortal opportunities?"
"There's no set rule. If I had to pick one, it would be combat! As long as you kill all the Saints participating in the crossing, the immortal opportunity is yours," the drifting bottle replied.
Upon hearing this, Xu Mo shook his head.
The thought of a group of Saints fighting was terrifying enough to imagine, let alone participating himself!
Though he was confident in his strength, he couldn't withstand being besieged by dozens of Saints.
Even Extreme Saints, who had reached the pinnacle of Sainthood, dared not initiate combat, which spoke volumes about the terror of a Saintly war.
Knowing the rules of the crossing, Xu Mo began to ponder which path he should choose.
But it was too early to decide. Although an ancient Saint had already begun the crossing, there was still a year before the official commencement. He still needed to elevate his cultivation to the Great Saint, or even the Extreme Saint realm.
Otherwise, when other worlds manifested on Earth, dealing with them would be troublesome.
Xu Mo suddenly thought of a problem and turned to the drifting bottle, saying, "If all the Saints are coming to Earth for the crossing, what about the mortals of Earth? Won't they be like fish on a chopping block, at the mercy of others?"
Calling them fish was even an overestimation; the residual shockwaves from a Saint's attack could easily kill tens of thousands of mortals.
If the crossing truly began, out of Earth's seven billion people, perhaps less than one percent would survive.
"Indeed, they are like fish. In every crossing, over ninety percent of Earth's mortals die," the drifting bottle replied, showing no pity for the mortals, as in its view, mortals lived for only a century, and whether they died sooner or later made little difference.
Xu Mo's brow furrowed. He was an Earthling; how could he stand by and watch his fellow humans be annihilated? Even his own compatriots?
However, the current Earth possessed technological weapons and was no longer the Earth of the past. It should possess some ability to protect itself, at least not be completely at the mercy of others.
With a loud explosion, the dark clouds in the sky grew thicker and darker.
The seventh wave of heavenly tribulation was brewing!
"It's finally here!" Xu Mo looked up, his face lighting up with joy.
The Seven Tribulation Heavenly Lightning, which he had waited for so long, had not been delayed and had arrived precisely on time.
His heart immediately stirred with anticipation, ready to deploy the Chaos Furnace and intercept the heavenly lightning.
"You really intend to take advantage of the situation. How despicable!" the drifting bottle suddenly exclaimed.
Seeing Xu Mo's eager expression, it assumed he was about to attack the Great Jin Empress.
"Shut up! I am a ruler of a nation, how could I do such a thing?" Xu Mo retorted angrily, how dare this wretched bottle question his character?
Although he had entertained the thought initially, he had later dismissed it. Intercepting heavenly lightning was far more important than capturing the Great Jin Empress. Moreover, he could still capture her after she successfully passed her tribulation; she would merely be a newly ascended Saint with an unstable cultivation.
"Then what are you doing? You look like you're about to make a move," the drifting bottle asked, confused.
Xu Mo looked towards the canyon, his eyes burning with intensity, "Naturally, I'm going to snatch the heavenly tribulation!"
In the center of the canyon, the Great Jin Empress's exquisite face was filled with solemnity. She was confident in facing the Seven Tribulation Heavenly Lightning, having made thorough preparations.
But now, with Xu Mo watching from a distance with an intense gaze, as if he were eyeing... prey?
This made the Great Jin Empress extremely wary, believing that the Emperor of Great Gan intended to launch a surprise attack.
She clutched the chest-protecting mirror in her hand, ready to defend against Xu Mo's ambush at any moment.
Rumble!!!
The Seven Tribulation Heavenly Lightning finally descended, imbued with terrifying heavenly might. Even the lightning had turned ink-black.
The moment Xu Mo saw the heavenly tribulation fall, he moved instantly.
"Here it comes," the Great Jin Empress's brow furrowed. Her tattered robes fluttered, revealing her fair, crystalline skin beneath.
She gripped the chest-protecting mirror in her right hand, ignoring the Seven Tribulation Heavenly Lightning above, and kept her eyes fixed on Xu Mo.
But what happened next left her utterly bewildered. Her usually solemn expression suddenly turned somewhat dazed.
"What... what is he doing? Using a furnace to catch heavenly lightning?" the Great Jin Empress couldn't believe her eyes.
She saw Xu Mo in the air, holding a large bronze furnace above his head, flying to the underside of the dark clouds and accurately catching all the descending Seven Tribulation Heavenly Lightning.
With several muffled thuds, the ink-black Seven Tribulation Heavenly Lightning, carrying terrifying pressure, was absorbed into the Chaos Furnace, slowly being transformed into imprintless Dao rhyme.
"It works! This Seven Tribulation Heavenly Lightning is a high-grade wondrous item!" Xu Mo's expression was ecstatic. It was as he had predicted; heavenly tribulations could indeed be intercepted, as long as he himself could withstand it.
Sensing a third party's presence, the heavenly tribulation instantly intensified, and the falling lightning doubled in amount.
Xu Mo accepted it all, fully engrossed in harvesting the heavenly lightning, his face beaming with joy!
The Great Jin Empress was completely stunned by this scene. What was this?
The Emperor of Great Gan hadn't taken advantage of the situation to attack her, but instead flew into the sky... to snatch the heavenly tribulation? And he was enjoying it immensely?
What in the world was going on? Had the Emperor of Great Gan gone mad?