The super-cosmic energy tidal vortex in the starry sky caused a massive sensation in the Heart of the Celestial Serpent, the most bustling region of the area. This spectacular energy vortex drew countless people and countless spaceships and aircraft to stop and watch.
As for the source of this vortex—the instigator of these countless energy tides—it was swiftly uncovered, sparking astonishment and awe in the cosmos even greater than that caused by the vortex itself.
"Dilius! The radiant light rising from the Southern Star Cluster. Possessor of a Sovereign-level Extraordinary Physique. A once-in-a-hundred-thousand-years super-genius of the Celestial Serpent galaxy, the heir to the Galaxy Lord, personally designated by the current Celestial Serpent galaxy Lord!"
"It's him—he's breaking through to level 13!"
Inside the Meteor spacecraft, Zoe read the information retrieved from the communicator word for word to the other three. With every sentence she uttered, the bodies of Haiji Dao and the other two shook violently. The shock and awe on their faces grew ever more intense. Among them, Anon Turing's mouth gaped even wider.
"And the number of years Dilius has lived since his birth… Is not even twenty cosmic years! It's as if he were born specifically to inherit this galaxy."
Upon hearing Zoe's latest remark, the shock on the faces of the three—Haij Dao, Anon, and Pablo—reached its peak. Anon's mouth gaped so wide with astonishment that it could almost fit an entire fist.
"Beep-beep-beep—"
A continuous series of alarms rang out inside the spaceship. Crew members from the Star Spirit Flower family reported that a suction force had appeared ahead, snatching up most of the free-floating cosmic energy in the region's starry sky. This had forced the ship's automatic energy collection system to shut down, triggering the alarm.
By now, the massive cosmic energy vortex had expanded to the point where it completely engulfed the Meteor-class spacecraft. The entire ship was even swaying slightly under the influence of this immense and inexplicable pulling force.
And within the vast coverage of this enormous silver energy vortex, there were many other ships suffering a fate similar to that of the Meteor. In other words, this massive silver vortex was not only competing with every entity in this galaxy for ownership of the cosmic energy. But... It had won.
"Not yet twenty years old... Ascended to Level 13. A Sovereign-level Extraordinary Physique, a born future System Lord." Anon had, at some point, leaned halfway against the glass of the ship's window. His gaze was somewhat dazed and unfocused as he stared at the sight of the massive silver vortex outside, muttering to himself. "Do such outrageous monsters really exist in this world? Dilius..."
It wasn't just Anon; Haiji Dao and Pablo were equally stunned. Everything Zoe had described was information about Dilius that could be easily found online. Perhaps some of the descriptions were exaggerated, but the facts regarding his Sovereign-level Extraordinary Physique and his age were more than enough to leave them utterly stunned.
In their field of vision, at the very center of the massive silver energy vortex, it seemed as though a figure surpassing all others in the cosmos now stood, announcing his arrival to the starry sky in a manner that was both silent and majestic, with an aura of unparalleled dominance.
"Did he deliberately choose this place to ascend to level 13?" Zoe murmured in genuine awe, "to display his regal presence to us, who have come to participate in the Celestial Throne Selection?"
"Perhaps." Pablo replied with a complex expression. "The appearance of every breathtakingly magnificent being in the cosmos brings boundless awe to all other sentient beings. The universe is simply too vast."
Indeed. The universe was simply too vast. Haiji Dao's gaze was equally complex. Until now, he had believed Lu Sheng's natural talent was already extraordinary. He was already an extraordinary being, a super-monster beyond the reach of ordinary reasoning or speculation. But he never expected this.
No sooner had they arrived at the Hunting Bow than an ultimate prodigy appeared—one even more outrageously extraordinary than Lu Sheng.
A Sovereign-level Extraordinary Physique holder! It was practically the pinnacle of life potential that a galaxy can produce. Although the talent Lu Sheng has demonstrated so far has been truly breathtaking, in the face of this energy vortex—which has already engulfed the entire Heart of the Celestial Serpent and continues to radiate outward across the entire Hunting Bow—it pales in comparison.
Above the extraordinary, there is always something even more extraordinary! Haiji Dao gradually calmed his complex emotions and began ordering the crew to find a nearby planet to land on. This massive vortex was siphoning away too much cosmic energy from the starry sky; remaining here any longer might lead to further unforeseen dangers.
The crew quickly relayed and carried out the order. The Meteorite spacecraft moved forward slowly and bumpily, enveloped by countless energy tides visible to the naked eye. Along the way, they encountered more and more spacecrafts. They could even spot some powerful, defiant figures exposed in the starry sky, speeding toward the very center of the vortex.
It went without saying. These must be the powerful experts and geniuses drawn by the name of Dilius. They sought to witness firsthand the true form of the legendary Sovereign-level Blood holder.
Even Anon and Zoe began to feel a stir of restlessness. As top martial arts prodigies in their own right, even knowing they were destined to play only a supporting role, they naturally wanted to see just how great the gap was between themselves and the legend.
Just as the spaceship had traveled a little less than half the expected distance, suddenly, a piercing alarm shattered the tranquility of the entire lounge. Countless indicator lights flashed erratically, and the Meteor ship shook violently with a loud "boom."
"What's happening?!"
Haiji Dao furrowed his brow and quickly summoned a crew member to ask. The other three were equally puzzled. Although they were now plunging deeper into the energy vortex, conditions had remained stable all along—so why had the ship suddenly started sounding the alarm?
Before the sweating crew member could offer an explanation, a massive, invisible ripple suddenly swept through the entire lounge. Just as it had when the energy vortex first appeared.
Immediately afterward, the four in the lounge sensed an indescribably overbearing aura surge upward. With the emergence of this aura, the tides of cosmic energy swirling outside the ship began to shift. Vast swathes of it were converging toward the Meteor. It looked as though... a new vortex was about to form!
"What is this…"
Almost in unison, the four of them turned their heads in the same direction. Their expressions froze. They could clearly sense that this sudden burst of energy was emanating from the very spaceship they were currently on—the Meteor. The exact source was… Lu Sheng's rest area!
It was Lu Sheng!
"He's gone mad! What is he planning to do?!"
Zoe felt the energy tides surging around them with increasing ferocity, clearly and ceaselessly rushing toward Sheng's location. She couldn't help but let out a low gasp.
Anon was also somewhat taken aback.
On the other hand, Haiji Dao and Pablo seemed to have realized something. The former's eyes suddenly flashed with intense brilliance, while the latter's gaze held a mix of awe, disbelief, and admiration.
"He doesn't want to do anything."
Pablo looked at his daughter, Zoe, and sighed softly with a touch of complexity in his voice: "He is just… ascending to level 13 right now, too."
"Huh?!"
Zoe's mouth fell open, her face betraying utter astonishment. Anon froze for a moment, then his expression turned as if he'd been punched squarely in the face—utterly exaggerated.
"Lu Sheng is going to advance to Level 13 too?! Didn't he just advance to Level 12 less than six months ago?"
The battle to protect the Dao in the Interdimensional Battlefield was still fresh in Anon's memory. That battle had erupted precisely because Lu Sheng had was advancing to level 12 of the Martial Dao. From then until now, in less than six months, Lu Sheng was already attempting to break through to Level 13 of the Martial Dao? Anon was dumbfounded.
Upon hearing his words, Pablo and Zoe—father and daughter—whisked their heads around, their expressions tinged with horror.
But before the shock could fully wash over them, Haiji Dao had already grabbed Anon and was swiftly leading him toward the ship's exit.
"Protect Lu Sheng!"
This was the second time they had done something like this. Even in the very heart of the Celestial Serpent galaxy's civilization, the necessary precautions still had to be taken.
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Translation notes by dhoo
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The Southern Star Cluster
南方星羣: 星羣 asterism (a small group of stars, an unofficial constellation)
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Extraordinary Physique, also called Blood
See my Glossary