From the Metropolis to the Strongest in the Cosmos

Upon hearing the command, Deity Flame’s figure flickered and vanished.

Within the vast palace, only the Yangyuan Emperor remained.

His gaze was as deep as still water, his thoughts impossible to discern.

To Deity Flame, it seemed odd that the Yangyuan Emperor refused to help either side.

However, from the Yangyuan Emperor’s perspective, there was truly no need for him to act.

He had previously imprisoned Celestial Net because Celestial Net had disrupted his talent selection, which was why he’d been thrown into the Third Prison.

And he had declared that Celestial Net would only be released if he broke through to the Deity realm while in the Third Prison. Since Celestial Net had obtained an inheritance and was now certain to become a Dual Pantheon Deity, he had been set free.

Now, Celestial Net wasn’t violating any of his rules. He had merely gone to deal with Earth.

’Am I supposed to arrest Celestial Net just because he’s going after Earth and Li Yang?’

’What would that make me, the Yangyuan Emperor?’

He was an Emperor. And Li Yang? Even if the boy showed immense Talent, even if he might one day become a powerful Deity or an Emperor just like him, that was all in the future. His previous, minor overtures toward Li Yang were only because of Sword Mark; he hadn’t wanted to become a laughingstock.

Whether it was granting contribution points or ordering his subordinates to do business with Earth, it had all been a matter of a single command. It had cost him no effort whatsoever.

’I, the Yangyuan Emperor, don’t need to curry favor with *any* Emperor!’

Even with the Sword Mark incident, a few snide remarks from others had no real impact on him.

He wouldn’t go out of his way for Li Yang.

So far, the Yangyuan Emperor only felt he had made one mistake.

’I shouldn’t have released Celestial Net so early,’ the Yangyuan Emperor thought. ’If I hadn’t, none of this would be happening. Li Yang is now displaying such incredible Talent; I could have even sent someone to congratulate him.’

But as things stood, he knew Li Yang certainly held no goodwill toward him.

Still, what was done was done. He wouldn’t dwell on it.

So what if Li Yang disliked him? No matter how talented the boy was right now, it wasn’t worth fawning over someone who would give him the cold shoulder.

Only if Li Yang actually became an Emperor would he be qualified to make the Yangyuan Emperor a laughingstock.

...

The many Deities who had been watching soon heard news of the Yangyuan Emperor’s decision.

”The Emperor is actually not intervening? Not helping Celestial Net, and not standing on Li Yang’s side?”

”That makes sense. This is between Li Yang and Celestial Net.”

”Even though he’s not getting involved, Celestial Net is definitely finished this time.”

”Exactly. With Li Yang’s current Talent, once he breaks through to the Star Lord Realm and returns, his status will be second only to the Emperor’s. Killing Celestial Net will be no problem at all.”

...

Li Yang was still unaware of the events unfolding in the Yangyuan Empire. He remained in the Inheritance Hall, focused on receiving his inheritance.

SWOOSH!

He was silently comprehending his insights when, with a sudden flicker, Li Yang’s figure appeared outside the Inheritance Hall.

’It’s over.’

Gazing at the thirteen Inheritance Halls before him, a flicker of longing appeared in Li Yang’s eyes.

Even though his Fire Nether Divine Beast clone had been comprehending at will in the Fire Nether Divine Beast clan’s Inheritance Tower, and even though his comprehension of the Laws had improved dramatically while learning the Destruction Spear Skill, this past month in just three Inheritance Halls had still advanced his Fire Element, Space, and Thunder Laws by a huge margin!

’This feeling is incredible.’ Li Yang wished he could stay inside forever.

’I still have over twenty chances left. I’ll be back!’ Li Yang thought, retracting his gaze.

Having passed the twelfth step of the Path of Deities, he had directly received over sixty years’ worth of inheritance opportunities, plus an additional ten as a bonus.

At this point, Li Yang’s total number of inheritance opportunities was approaching thirty!

Of course, even with so many opportunities, there was a catch. For someone like Li Yang, who was comprehending the Three-Element Laws, he could only enter the respective Inheritance Halls for the Fire Element, Space, and Thunder Laws a maximum of ten times each.

He would definitely have to use them sparingly.

He would still need to enter the Inheritance Halls for his cultivation in the Star Lord Realm and even the World Realm. If he used them all up now, they’d be gone for good.

”Master, you have numerous messages...”

The moment he left the Inheritance Hall, Virtual Assistant Number Six appeared and spoke urgently.

In the blink of an eye, a month had passed since Li Yang entered the Inheritance Hall. Clearly, a lot had happened during that time.

’Celestial Net has been captured? The Kande Clan and other factions have come to Earth to apologize...?’ Li Yang skimmed through the messages.

’First, I’ll head back to the Lianyun Mountain Range.’ Li Yang left the Inheritance Hall area and quickly returned to the Lianyun Mountain Range. His consciousness then entered the Virtual World.

...

「Earth」

A young man and woman were strolling down a street. The young man was clearly Li Dong, and a girl was walking by his side.

The street was bustling not only with people from Earth, but also with many off-worlders of all descriptions.

It had been over forty years since Earth officially made contact with the Cosmos. Many factions had since gathered on the planet, so naturally, there were plenty of off-worlders.

Not far away, a little girl from Earth was running and accidentally bumped into an off-worlder. The girl’s mother rushed forward, a panicked expression on her face. ”I’m so sorry,” she said quickly. ”My daughter wasn’t looking where she was going.”

The mother was terrified. These off-worlders were not to be trifled with. In the past, they often bullied people from Earth, sometimes even beating them to a pulp right in the street.

And the off-worlders who did the beating? They always got away with it, facing no consequences.

The people of Earth knew these aliens came from planets far more powerful than their own, so they could only swallow their anger and humiliation, not daring to provoke them.

But in response to her apology, the off-worlder quickly waved his hands, a smile on his face. ”No problem, no problem at all,” he said. ”It was my fault for not being careful.”

He actually seemed more nervous than the woman, waving his hands dismissively.

Many of the Earthlings nearby turned to look.

”That guy’s from Yu Mou Star. Since when are they so polite?”

”The people from Yu Mou Star used to be so arrogant here on Earth. They looked down on us, even bullied us. Why the sudden change of heart?”

”You haven’t heard? Our Lord Li Yang from Earth isn’t dead! The rumors about his fall were fake.”

”No wonder.”

”Hmph! When Lord Li Yang was gone, these off-worlders bullied us constantly. Now that he’s back, they’re suddenly all polite. They’re afraid of him, that’s what it is.”

”Lord Li Yang is the strongest person from Earth! He’ll definitely help us and teach these off-worlders a good lesson.”

The Earthlings chattered among themselves, their words filled with a clear sense of vindication.

Before, with Li Yang’s supposed ”fall,” it was as if the sky had collapsed for everyone on Earth. They had lived in suffocating frustration, constantly being bullied in their interactions with the off-worlders.

But now, Li Yang—the sky that held up their world—had returned, and these off-worlders had instantly changed their tune.