From the Metropolis to the Strongest in the Cosmos

Time continued to pass. Although the competition would last for five years, numerous factions had been paying close attention from the very beginning.

The people on Earth checked Li Yang’s and Shen Xuan’s rankings every day.

”Li Yang and Shen Xuan’s rankings aren’t high.”

”There are five years, no need to rush. After five years, Li Yang’s and Shen Xuan’s ranks will definitely have risen!”

”That’s right. Li Yang is Earth’s strongest genius. When those aliens first landed on our planet, they invited him to join the Milky Way Galaxy branch of the Human Race Saint Hall.”

Everyone on Earth was filled with anticipation.

As time went on, the people of Earth had more and more contact with the Cosmos, and their understanding of it grew.

The more they understood, the more they realized the benefits of having a powerful planet!

A weak planet had absolutely no say in the Cosmos; its people felt inferior.

When some acquaintances from the Virtual World asked about their identity and learned that Earth was just a Planet Zero, their attitudes changed completely.

Planet Zero, where the strongest was only at the Law Realm. A Life Star Master of this level was considered incredibly weak in the Milky Way Galaxy, so others naturally treated them with disdain and looked down on them.

In just over a year of contact with other civilizations, Earth’s experience... had not been good.

Therefore, they desperately hoped that Li Yang and Shen Xuan would become stronger.

Besides the people of Earth, those in the Milky Way Galaxy were watching to see if anyone from their galaxy could pass the one-thousandth step.

People in other galaxies were also watching their own.

In the Cosmos, a sense of honor was very important. It was like having a top-tier expert on your home planet; when people from that planet went out, others would treat them with immense respect.

And if a peerless genius were to emerge from the Milky Way Galaxy, its people would naturally be the envy of others when interacting with those from other galaxies.

This sense of honor was divided by region, by planet, and also by galaxy.

...

This was a vast and magnificent palace.

Inside the palace, a middle-aged man sat high above everyone else. This was the Emperor of the Golden Moon Empire.

Below, many people were gathered, all of them staring at a screen before them.

The screen displayed the situation on the Path of Deities from the 1000th step and above.

At this moment, ten people had already passed it!

Among these ten, the name Lentz was present.

Lentz had already passed the one thousand and fiftieth step, ranking first in the Golden Moon Empire and 30,000th in the Yangyuan Star Continent.

”Haha, Your Majesty, Prince Lentz is now ranked 30,000th in the Yangyuan Star Continent. There are over a hundred thousand Deities’ empires in our Star Continent. This time, our Golden Moon Empire is among the top ranks,” a man congratulated with a loud laugh.

Besides him, others also offered their congratulations.

”Haha.”

A broad smile also covered the face of the Golden Moon Empire’s Emperor. He said, ”Lentz has performed exceptionally well, and the others from our Golden Moon Empire have also done a fine job.”

After speaking, the Emperor of the Golden Moon Empire turned to an old man and asked, ”Barton, how many people from our Golden Moon Empire do you think will be able to pass one thousand steps of the Path of Deities?”

He didn’t even bother asking how many might be recruited into the Human Race’s Eternal Saint Hall, because that was simply impossible.

For a Deities’ empire like theirs, the number of people who passed the first trial was a sufficient basis for comparison.

The old man, Barton, smiled slightly. ”Your Majesty, based on the Yangyuan Empire’s genius selection a year ago, from the thousand-plus galaxies under our Golden Moon Empire, roughly fifty-seven people have the potential to pass the one thousand steps of the Path of Deities.”

”However, with five years on the Path of Deities, I believe that number could increase somewhat.”

”Fifty-seven people?”

A hint of dissatisfaction appeared in the Golden Moon Emperor’s eyes. That number was clearly a bit low. Among the many Deities’ empires in the Yangyuan Star Continent, it was basically at the very bottom.

An average Deities’ empire would have a hundred people who could pass the one thousand steps of the Path of Deities.

Inside the palace, Lunba Wu was also present. He wore a smile and said, ”Your Majesty, the number of people who pass one thousand steps on the Path of Deities is nothing. If we’re going to compete, we should compete based on our most elite geniuses.”

”Lentz is already ranked within the top 30,000. This time, our Golden Moon Empire is in the upper-middle tier among the Deities’ empires! And Lentz’s ranking will certainly climb even higher!”

Hearing this, the Emperor of the Golden Moon Empire couldn’t help but laugh heartily. ”That’s right! Lentz’s performance is excellent. When he returns, we must reward him generously!”

Everyone, of course, cared immensely about these top rankings.

The Human Race’s territory was vast, and at this moment, nearly everyone was watching the selection for the Human Race’s Eternal Saint Hall!

To have one’s name appear at the top, and by extension, have one’s empire, galaxy, and so on be seen by these major powers—it was a source of immense honor.

...

As everyone watched, ten months passed in the blink of an eye.

「On Earth」. Zhao Rou was with Zhou Yao, a hint of apology on her face as she spoke.

”Yaoyao, the selection for the Human Race’s Eternal Saint Hall is still going on. Yangyang is on that Path of Deities, and he isn’t even here for the birth of his child.”

Zhou Yao was holding a small infant in her arms.

Zhou Yao smiled, her face filled with gentleness. ”Mom, Li Yang is working hard for Earth. He’s the one with the toughest job.”

She held no resentment toward Li Yang whatsoever.

”Xiaodong, let’s look at your daddy’s ranking.”

Zhou Yao looked at the ranking list in front of her. The little baby cooed, curiously looking at the image of a young man displayed next to the list.

”Li Yang (Golden Moon Empire, Milky Way Galaxy)

Steps Climbed: 399

Rank: 195,988,761,381”

...

’It’s been almost ten months. My child must have been born by now.’

On the 399th step of the Path of Deities, Li Yang thought to himself, longing to see his child.

But he was in the middle of the genius selection and wouldn’t be able to leave for more than four years.

By the time he got out, his child would be over four years old.

Taking a deep breath, Li Yang reined in his emotions and continued his comprehension!

For the sake of his child, he had to give it his all and strive for a higher rank.

’The effect of the ten law imprints has weakened by more than half. Time to move on!’

Li Yang took a step forward, directly onto the 400th step.

At this moment, his rank wasn’t even considered top-tier within the Golden Moon Empire. No one was paying attention to him yet.

But Li Yang wasn’t worried at all. He had encountered far too few of these law imprints before. By observing all the different ones now, his strength was improving by leaps and bounds!

So, he was in no hurry to advance to the steps ahead.

Besides, most geniuses were only comprehending a single law and observing a single type of law imprint, whereas he was observing two!

This was also why Li Yang’s pace was slower than others’.

After all, on each step, he was observing twice as many law imprints as everyone else!

Even though he hadn’t made a splash and his rank was low, Li Yang estimated that in just ten months, his strength had at least tripled!

Ten months ago, Li Yang already possessed the strength of the Mid-Longevity Realm! Now, with it having tripled again, just how terrifying was his power?

Without any emotional fluctuation, Li Yang continued his comprehension.

One day later, Li Yang stepped onto the 401st step.

Another day later, Li Yang stepped onto the 402nd step.