From the Metropolis to the Strongest in the Cosmos

Upon hearing Leng Yue’s words, Hei Xu, standing beside Li Yang, frowned. ”Your Time Divine Tree race lives in a self-created space, right? The area outside isn’t your territory, so what’s wrong with Li Yang resting here for a moment?”

Hei Xu frowned. ’This Deity from the Time Divine Tree race is so insolent, daring to drive Li Yang away.’

”Human Deity.”

Leng Yue looked at Hei Xu and said in a low voice, ”According to the agreement between the Human Race and my own, the pocket dimension we Time Divine Trees created, as well as the hundreds of surrounding planets, all belong to us. You may go to any of the other planets, and I will say nothing.”

His tone was unyielding, showing no concern for offending Li Yang.

”Mr. Hei Xu.”

Just then, Li Yang spoke up. ”Let’s go. We won’t stay here any longer.”

Hearing Li Yang, Hei Xu nodded.

He let out a cold snort at Leng Yue before turning to leave with Li Yang.

As he watched Li Yang and Hei Xu’s departing figures, Leng Yue’s expression was indifferent, but a cold smirk touched his eyes.

’A peerless genius of the Human Race? So what? It’s still a question whether he’ll even live long enough to mature. Does a mere Star Lord Realm cultivator expect my race to curry favor with him?’ Leng Yue sneered inwardly.

’With Li Yang’s potential, so what if he becomes an Emperor? The Human Race has plenty of Emperors. Do we need to fawn over every single one of them?’

’We are vassals to the Human Race, but they also acquire treasures from our people. It’s a relationship of mutual need, nothing more.’

As a proud member of the Time Divine Tree race, he was fundamentally unwilling to admit they were inferior to humans.

Of course, if a true top-tier expert from the Human Race were to arrive, their attitude would be different. But for someone like Li Yang, he couldn’t be bothered to care.

’The greater the genius, the higher the chance of an early death. It remains to be seen if Li Yang will even survive to reach his full potential.’

”The human, Li Yang, left?”

”Haha, Elder Leng Yue is so badass! All these so-called human geniuses think our race is a pushover, always coming around to demand treasures related to the Time Law!”

Watching the pair depart, the youths of the Time Divine Tree race grew even more excited, a sense of satisfaction swelling within them.

”Enough.”

Leng Yue’s gaze swept across the young Time Divine Trees. As his eyes met theirs, their smiles vanished, and they dared not speak another word.

”You all need to cultivate diligently. That human, Li Yang, has comprehended the Four-Element Laws: Fire Element, Space, Time, and Thunder. His Talent in each of these four is immense. His Talent in any single one of those Laws could rival our race’s innate Talent for the Time Law.”

Leng Yue said in a low voice, ”Instead of wasting time laughing at Li Yang, you’d be better off cultivating harder!”

”Yes, Elder Leng Yue!”

Faced with the stern Leng Yue, none of the young Time Divine Trees dared to object. Some even sat down on the spot and began to cultivate.

Watching the youths, Elder Leng Yue’s expression remained stern, but inwardly, he sighed.

’Sigh... Our people have grown too complacent.’

Elder Leng Yue sighed. As beings who were born with a mastery of the Time Law, many of them thought, ’Since we’re guaranteed to grasp it, why bother working so hard to cultivate?’ This mentality was why so many of them lacked motivation.

While the Time Divine Trees specialized only in the Time Law, they could comprehend other Laws if they put their minds to it. However, doing so would require vastly more time and effort than it would for others.

Furthermore, the chance of becoming Deities by relying on other Laws was virtually zero.

And ”virtually zero” was as good as zero.

Therefore, even if they might possess Talent for other Laws, these Time Divine Trees rarely bothered to explore it, becoming increasingly complacent.

Elder Leng Yue sighed internally. ’Our race hasn’t produced a decent genius in ages. Without one, there’s no role model to inspire the younger generation.’

’When one person starts slacking, everyone follows suit. If a peerless genius were to appear among our people, they could definitely lead the younger generation to cultivate with more diligence.’

In his heart, Elder Leng Yue envied the Human Race. Take Li Yang, for instance. ’A Talent like his would make him the greatest in our race’s history!’

’Yet Li Yang doesn’t even rank among the top one hundred geniuses in the entire history of the Human Race.’

He may have been rude to Li Yang, but deep down, he desperately wished for a genius comparable to the human to appear among his own people.

...

While Elder Leng Yue was lost in thought, Li Yang, now far away, was filled with anticipation.

’The Time Divine Tree clone has finished its breakthrough,’ Li Yang thought. ’It’s starting to rise from beneath the ground.’

’Previously, when Soul Ink was scouting, it found several hidden Time Divine Trees cultivating on the surrounding planets.’

’So, there should be no issue when my Time Divine Tree clone emerges.’

’Now, let’s see what benefits the Time Divine Tree clone can obtain,’ Li Yang thought in anticipation.

The recent incident had filled Li Yang with an urgent desire to grow stronger. He was determined to seize every opportunity to do so, and he certainly wasn’t going to let the Time Divine Tree race slip through his fingers.

Rising, ever rising!

Soon, the Time Divine Tree clone emerged from a fissure and reached the surface.

”Huh, one of our people has emerged.”

”Another one who was hiding away to cultivate in seclusion.”

Upon seeing the Time Divine Tree Li Yang, the other members of the race looked over, but their expressions showed no surprise.

SWOOSH!

In the distance, Elder Leng Yue flew over as well. His face was still ice-cold as he looked at the Time Divine Tree Li Yang. ”What is your name? How is your comprehension of the Time Law coming along?”

To an outsider like Li Yang, all the Time Divine Trees looked similar, but they could certainly tell each other apart. The Time Divine Tree Li Yang before him was a complete stranger, appearing to be only in his teens.

”Elder.”

Looking at Leng Yue, the Time Divine Tree Li Yang said respectfully, ”I have broken through to the Star Lord Realm in my comprehension of the Time Law.”

”The Star Lord Realm?”

At first, Elder Leng Yue’s expression was calm, showing no surprise.

The Talent of the Time Divine Tree race was formidable. It was not uncommon for talented members of the race to reach the Star Lord Realm after only a decade or so of cultivation.

This was nothing to be surprised about.

Nodding, Elder Leng Yue asked, ”Have you comprehended any other Laws?”

This was a mandatory question whenever they encountered an unfamiliar member of their race.

They didn’t care much about one’s Talent for the Time Law, but they were incredibly concerned about Talent for other Laws.

Anyone with Talent for other Laws would be given special attention and resources for their development.

”Elder, I have a Talent for the Space Law and the Thunder Law,” the Time Divine Tree Li Yang said.

Elder Leng Yue hadn’t held out much hope; after all, it was exceedingly rare for a genius with Talent for other Laws to appear in their race.

But upon hearing Li Yang’s words, his expression changed instantly. He said hurriedly, ”The Space Law? And the Thunder Law? How far have you comprehended them? Show me. Demonstrate for me now.”

(I have to go out again today... Thank you to ’Ban Sheng Liang Liang Liang Dao Shang’ for the 3,000-coin donation, and to ’08a’ for the 100-coin donation. Thanks, everyone.)