"Boom boom--"
Under Lu Sheng's relentless barrage of punches, the body of the level 13 General-Rank Alien Beast continuously shattered.
The Mutant Clone was like a greedy predator. Each time, it immediately devoured the flesh and blood that had shattered from the level Thirteen Beast, transforming it into pure dark energy to nourish and strengthen itself.
The number of Mutant Immortal Cells within the Clone's body continued to skyrocket. From thirty million to forty million, fifty million, sixty million. This number rapidly approached the level 12 limit of one hundred million Immortal Cells.
One after another, the Demonic Fire was ignited in these new Mutant Immortal Cells. During this process, a large amount of fragmented information and profound mysteries flooded into Sheng's demonic body, gradually piecing together a complete outline within him.
A Law Power! Elements of a Law from the Dark Side universe.
"A Law representing the power of corrosion and penetration..."
Sheng carefully sensed the power of this Law he had forcibly seized. As this Law Power reached a certain completeness, the demonic fire he released began to take on corrosive and erosive properties. This further accelerated the demise of the level 13 Beast before him.
Sheng could clearly sense the anger, fear, despair, and other emotions transmitted through the beast's consciousness fluctuations. The scales of victory steadily tipped in his favor as time passed. But the Law Power of the Dark Side Stellar Dao that Sheng sought to comprehend refused to break through.
"Roar--"
When the unfortunate level 13 General-Rank Beast realized that Sheng was not to be trifled with and finally considered retreating, it was already too late. Having lost most of its power, its battered body was being devoured in large swaths by countless tentacles burning with purple demonic flames. The corrosive demonic flames were far more troublesome than before. Even a tiny touch was enough to scorch away large chunks of its flesh.
Sheng no longer attacked frequently, only occasionally throwing a punch, pushing the level 13 Beast closer to death.
"One hundred million Mutant Immortals!"
As another cell within the mutated body transformed into a Mutant Immortal Cell, a sense of limit welled up within Sheng. The next instant.
Boom!
Countless purple demonic flames erupted, engulfing the mutated body, which had swelled to the size of an entire blue star.
In an instant, the enormous black clam shell burst open, emitting a silent roar. Countless excess flesh and blood were reduced to ashes in the demonic flames. New flesh and organs rapidly grew. Thick, fine scales grew on the enormous black clam shell, forming prismatic shapes, like pure black crystal.
The eight tentacles within the shell multiplied wildly, not only growing larger, thicker, and longer, but also covered in crystal-like scales. Each tentacle sprouted countless smaller tentacles around its perimeter.
Moments later, the entire mutated body underwent another dramatic change. The enormous black clam shell opened completely. If viewed from high above... The mutated body now resembled a blooming demonic flower, possessing a mad, deformed, and evil beauty.
Sheng, residing at the very center of this demonic flower, was like a king seated on a high throne.
"Hoo—"
Dark purple demonic flames erupted from Sheng's mouth and nose with each exhale. He felt a complex mix of emotions as he sensed the qualitative transformation of his mutated body.
"Level 13."
The mutated clone had now fully advanced to Level 13. Who would have thought that a clone's cultivation speed could surpass that of the original body?
"Unfortunately, I still haven't comprehended the exclusive Law Power of the Dark Side Stellar Dao. The only Law Power Sheng's Clone possessed after advancing to Level 13 was the one he had just plundered from the Level 13 General-Rank Alien Beast before him. In other words, he had taken the beast's place an advanced to Level 13. However, Sheng also sensed a glimmer of opportunity for a breakthrough. A thoughtful expression crossed his face.
"When the Dark Side of the Stellar Dao was born, the accompanying Law Powers seemed to have changed as well. Otherwise, it shouldn't be so difficult to learn and grasp. The two sides of the Stellar Dao seem to resonate with each other; only after my main body comprehends the Laws of the positive Stellar Dao can the Dark Side be born accordingly."
Sheng had a vague idea of what this Law Power, which had hindered him so many times, meant. If he wasn't mistaken, the Law he was about to comprehend might transcend Wang He's Stellar Dao.
"And the true essence of this Law might be…"
Lu Sheng's eyes flickered, but he didn't voice his guess. Instead, he continued to control his mutated body, traversing the blood-red carpet-like continent before him, plundering the strange beasts along the way, devouring their flesh and energy to strengthen himself.
After advancing to level 13, his strength surged, and his predatory behavior became increasingly reckless.
-
Inside the Star Spirit Flower spacecraft, within its vast combat readiness hall. The atmosphere had descended into an indescribably heavy silence. Inside the hall, Pablo—a level 13 powerhouse with deep blue hair and a physique as sturdy and imposing as a lion—sat cross-legged within a partially open, massive recovery pod.
The chamber was filled with viscous liquids of various hues. These fluids rapidly patched the shocking, gaping wounds covering his body. Yet for Pablo, these physical injuries paled in comparison to the devastating blow struck against his martial soul.
The damage inflicted by residual law energies was far from easily remedied by ordinary healing agents—especially when multiple distinct law energies were involved. During the healing process, a faint expression of pain occasionally flashed across his face. That a level 13 powerhouse could show such pain spoke volumes about the severity of his injuries.
Zi Yanxin stared intently at Pablo for a long moment. After injecting the healing chamber with repair fluid countless times, she finally couldn't hold back. "Lord Pablo, do you still have the strength to fight?"
"You!"
Before Pablo could respond, the blue-haired woman waiting beside him erupted in protest, her voice trembling with emotion. "My father is this badly injured, and you want him to fight? Have you lost your mind?!"
"Zoe!"
A low reprimand escaped Pablo's lips as he tended to his wounds. The blue-haired woman named Zoe gritted her teeth, shot Pablo a glance, and finally shut her mouth in resentment. Having calmed Zoe's outburst, Pablo sighed helplessly. "I can still fight, but with my injuries unhealed, my combat effectiveness is likely less than thirty percent of my peak strength."
"Thirty percent..."
Zi Yanxin's eyes flickered before she pressed, "Then how long might it take for you to recover, Lord Pablo?"
"I don't know." Pablo shook his head, his expression complex as he replied, "Perhaps decades, centuries... or perhaps never fully."
"Father!" Zoe's eyes instantly reddened. Most in the combat readiness hall felt a deep sense of gloom, and Zi Yanxin's expression grew even more somber.
"Even the best-case scenario requires decades?" Zi Yanxin murmured softly.
She then lifted her eyes to look at the people around her.
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Translation notes by dhoo
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Zoe aka Zuo Yi, aka the blue-haired woman (or "girl" in the original version)
see Glossary