From the Metropolis to the Strongest in the Cosmos

SWISH!

Li Yang swung his spear, and the aura of the rapidly approaching demonic beast vanished like a receding tide. It was dead.

Driven by a sense of urgency, Li Yang had no patience for a prolonged fight and chose to kill the demonic beast instantly.

”Li Yang, congratulations on passing the thirteenth stair of the Path of Deities. Do you wish to proceed to the fourteenth stair?”

After he killed the demonic beast, another mechanical voice rang out.

”Proceed!” Li Yang said without hesitation.

WHOOSH!

With a flicker, his figure appeared in the next space.

Another demonic beast was waiting there. As soon as the battle began, it naturally stood no chance against Li Yang’s attack and was instantly killed.

...

Meanwhile, as Li Yang tested his strength on the Path of Deities, one consciousness after another began to descend upon the place!

”Li Yang is testing his strength on the Path of Deities?”

”He and Mixed Void are certainly low-key. They both broke through to the Star Lord Realm ahead of schedule and left the Sanctuary. Now, over a decade has passed, and neither of them has come to test their strength.”

”The hundred-year training period for the current geniuses in the Sanctuary—those in the Longevity Realm from the same generation as Mixed Void and Li Yang—is only sixty years in. There are still forty years to go.”

”After more than a decade, just how much has Li Yang’s strength improved?”

”I’d guess he’s probably close to the Late World Realm by now.”

”Sounds about right. It hasn’t been that long, but given the Talent Li Yang previously displayed, he should be approaching the Late World Realm after a decade or so. He might even be a little stronger.”

One consciousness after another descended.

Among these consciousnesses were numerous Deities and several Emperors.

Of this generation’s geniuses, Li Yang and Mixed Void were naturally the most watched. Some experts had even placed bets on which of the two would improve faster.

The top experts of the Human Race might not care about the other geniuses, but they were very interested in Li Yang and Mixed Void.

When the rankings updated to show Li Yang was testing his strength, they couldn’t resist coming to take a look.

Among the many consciousnesses, the Blade Slaughter Sect Master also appeared.

As soon as he appeared, the experts immediately began questioning him.

”Blade Slaughter, you came too? As his teacher, you should know all about Li Yang’s Talent. What level has his strength reached?”

”Blade Slaughter, the thirtieth stair corresponds to the Late World Realm. Do you think Li Yang can make it that far?”

”Blade Slaughter...”

The experts questioned the Blade Slaughter Sect Master one after another.

There were eighteen stairs between the twelfth and the thirtieth, but no one found this surprising. They all believed Li Yang could cross those eighteen stairs in just over a decade.

This was because the strength of the demonic beasts on the stairs increased gradually, not in sudden bursts.

Previously, while at the Peak of the Longevity Realm, Li Yang had killed the creature on the twelfth stair.

He then broke through to the Star Lord Realm and, in a short period, even reached its peak!

How vast was the gap between the peak of the Star Lord Realm and the Peak of the Longevity Realm?

It was a difference of one major realm and three minor realms!

Before his breakthrough, one could say that Li Yang could only pass the twelfth stair of the Path of Deities.

But after breaking through to the peak of the Star Lord Realm, his overall strength had increased exponentially.

If he were to test his strength on the Path of Deities again, he could likely pass ten or so stairs in a row! His result would jump directly into the twenties.

Faced with their questions, the Blade Slaughter Sect Master simply said calmly, ”Just watch.”

”Haha, Blade Slaughter, still trying to keep it a secret?”

”There’s no point in hiding it. Li Yang’s test will be over in ten or fifteen minutes at most. We’ll know his progress then.”

Some of the Deities said with a laugh.

”Look, Li Yang has already passed the seventeenth stair of the Path of Deities.”

”He’s on the eighteenth... now the nineteenth...”

”This is normal. Li Yang could have passed these stairs right after breaking through to the Star Lord Realm over a decade ago.”

The Deities watched on, feeling no surprise as Li Yang continued to instantly kill the demonic beasts in the battle spaces.

After all, nearly all of them believed Li Yang could reach the thirtieth stair. He was still a long way from his limit.

Just as they expected, the demonic beasts in the subsequent battle spaces posed no obstacle to Li Yang and were killed one after another.

The twentieth stair... the twenty-third... the twenty-seventh... the twenty-ninth...

In the blink of an eye, Li Yang arrived at the stairs the experts had estimated he would reach.

”The twenty-ninth stair, and Li Yang still got an instant kill.”

”Mm, the next stair will probably be a bit difficult for Li Yang.”

”Reaching this point proves that his rate of progress hasn’t slowed at all since his time in the Sanctuary.”

The many experts watched, continuing to comment.

They had lived for countless ages and seen innumerable geniuses. They could generally estimate how far any given genius would progress after a certain number of years of cultivation.

Under their watchful gazes, Li Yang entered the thirtieth stair and passed through it directly.

”An instant kill?”

”Li Yang’s progress is so fast! The thirtieth stair corresponds to the Late World Realm, and he still managed an instant kill.”

”Not bad. It’s beyond our expectations. Now this is a pleasant surprise.”

The Deities were slightly surprised, but only just.

They could estimate Li Yang’s rate of progress, but it was impossible to be precise. Li Yang might turn out stronger or weaker than their predictions; such things were always uncertain.

Amidst the Deities’ discussion, Li Yang entered the thirty-first stair.

Before their eyes, the demonic beast in the battle space was again killed by Li Yang in a single spear strike!

”Still an instant kill?”

”The demonic beast on this stair is stronger than the Late World Realm.”

”For Li Yang to be able to instantly kill this beast... it’s only been a little over a decade. To reach this stage in such a short time, the Talent he’s displaying now is in no way inferior to Mixed Void’s.”

”That’s right. Based on Mixed Void’s previous rate of progress, this is about as far as he could have gotten, instantly killing the beast on this stair.”

By now, the many Deities and the powerful Emperors were already very surprised.

Before their eyes, Li Yang arrived at the thirty-second stair.

The result was the same. An instant kill!

Then the thirty-third stair. An instant kill!

The thirty-fourth stair. An instant kill!

...

Stair after stair, he passed. In the beginning, the Deities had been chattering constantly, but their voices grew quieter and quieter. Their eyes, filled with shock, were glued to the battle recording before them.

Li Yang had now reached the thirty-eighth stair!

The strength of the demonic beast on this stair had far surpassed the Peak of the World Realm!

And yet, facing this demonic beast, Li Yang still killed it instantly with ease.

Shock. Awe. At this moment, the experts watching the recording were completely stunned by the strength Li Yang had displayed!

(Thank you to Half-a-Life-of-Cold-Sorrow for the 1,500-point donation, and thank you to 08a for the 100-point donation. Thanks!)