From the Metropolis to the Strongest in the Cosmos

Hearing Li Yang’s description of Earth, Soul Ink frowned slightly. ”The strongest person there is at the Peak of the Spirit Awakening Realm? Your technology has only just reached the stage of exploring other planets? And you’ve rarely even landed on them. Li Yang, your Earth is just too backward.”

Li Yang argued, ”This has all just developed in the last few hundred years.”

Soul Ink said disdainfully, ”I don’t care if it’s a few hundred years of development. In the vast Cosmos, only strength matters. Placed in the Cosmos, Earth’s strength is nothing but cannon fodder. No one would even give it a second glance.”

After he finished speaking, he frowned again. ”Being so weak, you have no chance of contacting the outside world. How are you supposed to leave Earth and truly enter the Cosmos?”

The limitations on growth were just too great on a small planet like Earth.

Once they reached the true Cosmos, he had plenty of ways to make Li Yang grow rapidly.

Although Li Yang felt uncomfortable hearing Soul Ink belittle Earth, he knew it was the truth.

He thought for a moment, then asked, ”Can you help Earth’s technology advance?”

’Spaceflight and the like are clearly high-tech.’

Soul Ink shook his head. ”I have no interest in technology.”

He pondered for a moment but couldn’t come up with a solution. He could only say helplessly, ”Forget it. We’ll take it one step at a time. Once you reach the Longevity Realm, your physical body will be able to traverse the void directly. You’ll have more options then.”

Right now, he was also completely out of ideas.

Li Yang said nothing. Following Soul Ink’s guidance, he soon arrived at a specific location.

”The Thunder Star Beast’s body is three thousand meters underground,” Soul Ink’s voice echoed in his ear.

Li Yang nodded and looked around.

The surrounding ground was dry and cracked. He found a large fissure, entered it, then began digging rapidly, swinging the meteoric iron heavy sword in his hands.

With Li Yang’s strength, this kind of work was naturally effortless.

It didn’t take long for him to finally reach his destination.

As he dug away a little more soil, a huge space suddenly appeared before his eyes.

Within the space were several massive creatures!

The most eye-catching was a behemoth at least three hundred meters long, resembling a flood dragon!

This behemoth’s body was covered in what looked like rock, was entirely purple, and had four sharp claws and a thick tail nearly as long as its entire body.

Mystic, lightning-like patterns seemed to cover every inch of its body. At first glance, it looked as if real lightning was about to strike, sending a tremor through one’s very soul.

’This creature...’

Li Yang was stunned. Though he had mentally prepared himself to some extent, now that he was actually here, he couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of awe!

It was the innate reverence of the weak for the strong!

Li Yang tore his gaze away from the massive creature and looked around at the rest of the area.

Besides this enormous, dragon-like creature, there were other life forms in this space!

However, these life forms were much smaller.

There were beings that looked like humans from Earth but had ox-like horns, strange half-human, half-snake creatures...

The sight of each one of these beings left Li Yang shaken.

For some unknown reason, the numerous corpses had formed a strange, empty pocket deep underground.

”Li Yang, that largest creature is the Thunder Star Beast.”

Soul Ink’s voice sounded just as Li Yang was taking in the scene.

Li Yang’s gaze immediately returned to the largest creature, the flood dragon-like behemoth.

”Soul Ink, how do I get a fragment of this Thunder Star Beast’s skin and a sample of its blood?”

When he had previously gestated his octopus avatar, he had simply taken a piece of the octopus’s skin.

But this creature before him, one that made his very soul tremble—even though it had been dead for who knows how many years—Li Yang didn’t believe he could so much as scratch its skin.

Soul Ink said, ”The Thunder Star Beast’s blood is purple. See the traces of purple blood next to it? Just take some of that.”

Li Yang looked over and, sure enough, saw the purple bloodstains on the ground.

He cut out the clump of purple, dried blood along with the surrounding soil.

”Alright, let’s go back and start the gestation right away.” With their objective complete, Soul Ink hurried Li Yang along.

After some time, Li Yang returned.

He placed the purple, soil-caked lump in front of the World Tree.

HUMMM...

The World Tree pulsed gently, emitting a soft light that enveloped the purple lump.

When the white light faded, only some soil remained from the purple lump.

Meanwhile, Li Yang could sense a strange transformation occurring within the World Tree’s gestation space. A drop of purple blood had appeared, and the aura of a new life was slowly beginning to form.

’It’s finally gestating!’

Li Yang felt the process begin, his eyes filled with anticipation.

From Soul Ink, he had learned a tiny fragment of the truth about the Cosmos, lifting a corner of its veil. This made him crave strength even more!

And by gestating a Thunder Star Beast avatar, he could easily reach the World Realm!

There were only a handful of experts at that level in the entire Milky Way Galaxy!

’Hm? This gestation is so slow. I feel like it will take at least a month.’

Filled with anticipation, Li Yang focused on the sensation again.

Previously, gestating the octopus avatar had only taken four hours.

As if reading Li Yang’s mind, Soul Ink said, ”The greater a life form’s Talent, the longer the World Tree takes to gestate it. I estimate it will take a little over thirty days. You can use this time to improve your strength.”

Hearing this, Li Yang nodded and asked directly, ”Soul Ink, you’re so powerful, you must have some amazing Cultivation Techniques, right? Why not share one with me?”

As he got to know Soul Ink better, Li Yang was becoming more relaxed and open in his speech.

Soul Ink was rendered speechless by Li Yang’s request. ”I don’t have any,” he said. ”Besides, powerful Cultivation Techniques must be comprehended by oneself. Do you really think there are methods for instantaneous enlightenment like you imagine from your Earth stories? Even if such methods existed, passing them on requires an immense amount of time and energy. I don’t have the energy to bother with such things.”

Comprehending laws, practicing Cultivation Techniques... you have to rely on yourself for these things. Everything else is just supplementary.

Li Yang was slightly disappointed to hear that.

”Let’s go,” Soul Ink said coolly. ”You’re too weak right now, only at the Early Spirit Awakening Realm. I know a few places you can go to. First, focus on raising your strength to the Peak of the Spirit Awakening Realm.”

Li Yang froze for a second, then a look of delighted surprise appeared in his eyes. ”Soul Ink, you know where to find Spirit Fruits and medicinal herbs?”

”Something like that.”

Soul Ink said coolly, ”When I came to Earth in the past, I scanned the planet. That space with the Thunder Star Beast is something I found back then. I also discovered a few other things underground. They’re useless to me, but they’re perfect for you at your current level.”

What Soul Ink didn’t mention was that he had once obtained two World Trees. He had refined one for himself and had hidden the other.

At that time, there was life on Earth, including some Cultivators, but it was completely different from the Earth of today.

’I originally thought I’d never have a use for this World Tree, but then... because of that incident...’

Thinking of the past, a trace of lingering fear appeared in Soul Ink’s eyes.

’If it hadn’t been for the Soul Crystal—something I poured immense energy into researching, something no one else in the Cosmos could create—I would have truly died.’

”The Peak of the Spirit Awakening Realm?” Hearing Soul Ink’s words, Li Yang was suddenly ecstatic.