The High Custodian didn't lie. He indeed had the means to counter Fate Seers. However, that required preparation. Never did he expect that before they raised their swords, Verena already was altering his Fate Standard, using the time he so foolishly gave her to alter his constitution and induce cultivation deviation!

Back when he observed her, Verena always conducted herself with the stately stance of a lofty woman. Only now did he realize how much of a sinister creature she really was! But unlike him, in the midst of battle, Verena never wasted time. Thirty-five Ancestral Gods and five half-step Legendary Gods remained to assist the High Custodian. How could she give them the chance to outnumber her?

"Dao Armament: Fate Weaving Tablet!"

Verena uttered, causing a pearl white stone tablet to appear before her. The mark of her Fate Embodiment, the Fate Weaving Tablet. Stretching out her hand, she summoned the Epoch Writing Quill whose devil force unfurled alongside the boundless Fate Laws that didn't lose out to her Fate Weaving Tablet.

Holding those two items, deciding the fate of Ancestral Gods was simplicity incarnate. Verena's hand blurred as she inscribed the Spirit Gods' fates on the Fate Weaving Tablet. Instantly, their souls collapsed, and they dropped onto the ground. Verena considered having them self-destruct to ruin the High Custodian. Alas, she needed corpses to offer her husband.

What a pity…

The High Custodian watched helpless as his Great Guardians and Tribal Elders followed the Guardians into the grave, tumbling onto the ground like discarded dolls. But though the scene daggered his heart, he didn't let grief cloud his judgment, and flashed his hands in incantation gestures.

"Samsara Breaking Wheel!"

A pearl-white wheel appeared above the High Custodian, releasing hundreds of white chains that coiled around him, obliterating the concentration of Fate Laws ruining him from the inside before shooting toward Verena! Her eyes widened in disbelief!

"The Seventh Ancient Secret?"

Verena realized as her eyes expanded in astonishment. The Seventh Ancient Secret was the Brahmas' core secret, in the Three Realms, only they possessed a copy. And only those Heaven Warding Temple deities at the Ancestral God Rank or above had the right to cultivate it. How could it possibly appear in the hands of a Nature Spirit?

"I am done for."

Verena confessed while diving toward the ground, dancing in the air to avoid the Samsara Chains that heralded her demise. Of the top seven Ancient Secret, the Samsara Breaking Wheel ranked seventh for two reasons. First, it was the easiest to cultivate. Second, it didn't possess any offensive ability. Its only skill was...undoing Fate and Truth Laws! As long as the user's cultivation surpassed that of his foe, even an Embodiment couldn't escape!

For that reason, it was the nightmare of all Seer's Vision cultivators!

As long as those chains trapped her, with the High Custodian's fourth layer Samsara Breaking Wheel, Verena didn't doubt her strongest cards would instantly become as useful as a cow's fart.

Alas, no matter where she went, as if driven by her vast Fate Laws, the chains stood firm on her tracks, relentlessly chasing her throughout the Essence Nurturing Forest's sky and ground.

"Boundless Devil Sea!"

Verena exclaimed, causing dark-purple mist to erupt from her form and expand in the atmosphere, becoming a vast dark-purple sea whose suffocating devil energies withered all trees in the vicinity.

"Law Revolution Creed!"

Verena vanished and reappeared above the Boundless Devil Sea's center with multicolor rays rippling from her eyes and form. In those rays, hundreds of Law Wielding from Base Laws to Higher Laws, united with the Devil Sea to fuel Verena's sword with sky-rending might.

With a 360 degree spin, she cleft the air, slicing Heaven's space and releasing a rainbow-colored half-moon that hurtled toward the High Custodian, shattering his Samsara Breaking Chains before slicing him in two perfect halves!

Alas, before Verena could rejoice, the halves joined right back, leaving no wound behind. The High Custodian expanded, becoming a one kilometer tall giant of uncanny emerald skin.

"There is no scenario where you survive this."

He stated before vanishing to reappear above Verena. His Samsara Breaking Wheel kicked into gear, suppressing Verena alongside her Fate Laws, and leaving her at his mercy. The High Custodian's dozens of meters wide palm dropped onto Verena, trapping her within his grasp.

"Initially, I planned to hold you hostage to discuss terms with that leader of yours. However, the blood of my 140 kinsmen lies in your hands. I...can't spare you!"

…...

Meanwhile, within the Essence Nurturing Forest's core zone, Konrad stood at the center of the three emerald light pillars, watching the Primogen Fruits they held mature at breakneck speed.

At the same time, seven forces crossed the Essence Nurturing Forest's sky to land above him. A ball of searing flames, an irresistible hurricane, a translucent river, swirling sand and more. The seven Divine Lords had arrived to fight for the awakening loot! Those Primogens may not care for the fruits, but the chance to become a Life Embodiment was a whole other matter.

Moreover, they had to ensure the fruits didn't fall into the hands of their enemies, and act before the Cardinal Lords made their moves. Time was of the essence!

But little did they expect that by the time they arrived, another man was already occupying the site, facing them with his daunting back as he stood in between the three Life Pillars.

Translucent, windblown white hairs cascaded at his back, and alongside his black robe, concealed most of his snow-white skin. But though they could feel no energy from that lone man, even before he turned, the Divine Lords felt the blades of apprehension stabbing their hearts.

The man turned, revealing a figure of empyrean perfection constrained only by those icy-blue eyes that made even their battle-hardened hearts palpitate.

"Who...are you?"

Bhumi, the Divine Earth Lady asked with a voice betraying her chaotic mind-state.

"Wrong question. The right one is...what am I going to do to you?"