The Goal: Rise in the Universe

While global social networks were abuzz discussing Shen Mu,

the man in question had already set off in the Qiankun-Class Fighter Jet he had borrowed from Liu He and arrived at the African Great Desert.

After the Great Nirvana, the African Great Desert had become one of the three great perilous regions alongside Australia Continent and the Amazon Forest. All were monster paradises where King-Level Monsters roamed.

"Roar!"

A heaven-shaking roar echoed across the desert as a gigantic mammoth frantically pounced on a tiny figure.

This gigantic mammoth was the overlord of this stretch of desert, a high-level Lord-Level Monster famed for its terrifying defenses and enormous size. Even an Invincible War God-level warrior would find it difficult to defeat.

"This reaction speed is far too slow. It's not even as good as those monsters I encountered on Australia Continent."

Shen Mu's figure surged like the tide, casually evading the gigantic mammoth's attacks.

Then, streaks of light shot from the throwing knife pouch at Shen Mu's waist, tracing mysterious paths through the air before easily piercing into the gigantic mammoth through both eyes.

In an instant, the high-level Lord-Level Monster died on the spot.

"That makes twenty. At an average price of ten billion Huaxia Currency for the materials from each high-level Lord-Level Monster corpse, I've successfully earned two hundred billion."

Shen Mu hovered in midair as throwing knives danced under the control of his psychic power, effortlessly dismembering the gigantic mammoth's corpse and moving its most valuable materials into the fighter jet.

Including the monster materials he had previously obtained from hunting on Australia Continent, as well as his gains from killing monsters outside the training camp over the past half year, Shen Mu's funds had surpassed three hundred billion.

"One serving of Dragon Blood costs eighty billion at half price, so two servings come to one hundred and sixty billion. That should be about enough to buy a King-Class Fighter too."

Both his parents were Warlord-level warriors. His father, Shen Gang, in particular, was a peak high-level Warlord whose physical strength had just broken through the sixty-thousand-kilogram mark. He was not far from becoming a War God.

Of course, that was also the limit of Shen Gang's talent. His physical potential had already been exhausted, and his progress over the past few years had been pitifully slow.

One serving of Dragon Blood could at least double Shen Gang's physical fitness, allowing him to become a beginner-level War God. If he was lucky, he might even become an intermediate-level War God directly.

As for his mother, Chen Wen, she was only a beginner-level Warlord with physical fitness below fifteen thousand kilograms. If it increased three or fourfold, she would have a chance of reaching the peak of high-level Warlord.

After that, there would be no need for Dragon Blood. When the time came, he could ride Luo Feng's coattails and obtain some apprentice-level resources from the universe, then combine them with Mu Ya Crystals to easily raise them to the Planet-Level.

Whether it was his parents or his fiancée Tang Yongqing, he needed to first pile resources onto them until they reached the Planet-Level and gained a thousand-year lifespan.

Only then would Shen Mu have enough time to rise in the universe, acquire more resources, and gradually raise his parents and loved ones to greater realms.

If they did not live long enough, then even if Luo Feng became a Universe Lord a hundred thousand years later, he would not be able to help them.

"Rise in the universe..."

Shen Mu sighed softly and gazed into the sky.

Under the blazing sun, the vast universe and endless stars could not be seen. Before him, there was only light, with no distant horizon.

His own talent was fairly good among Earthlings. The Azure Dragon Avatar had even naturally grown to the Planet-Level, which should count as a so-called Planet-Level bloodline. Advancing to the Star-Level through training would not be too difficult.

But that was as far as it went. Without other fortunate opportunities, no matter how desperately he struggled, the Star-Level would be his limit.

Perhaps after long years of life-and-death tempering and adventure, he might have a chance to enter the Cosmic-Level. But that would be the absolute limit.

If I miss this express train called Yunmo Star, rising in the universe afterward will probably become countless times harder! Shen Mu silently pondered.

The simplest way to gain Babata's recognition was to possess sufficient brain domain breadth and exceptional Mentalist talent.

But that was talent, something innate. It was not something Shen Mu could decide. He had never liked placing his hopes on things beyond his control.

Other than that, the only hope was to comprehend a domain!

Hong and Thunder God were merely warriors, yet because they comprehended domains at the Planet-Level, they also received resources and training from Babata.

As a Mentalist, if Shen Mu could comprehend a domain, the resources he received would certainly surpass those of Hong and Thunder God. He might even have a chance to replace Luo Feng.

"Comprehending a domain—how could it possibly be easy!"

For the future Luo Feng and the many geniuses of the universe, possessing a domain seemed to carry no difficulty at all. But that was merely an illusion, a matter of survivor bias.

Just look at Thunder God. His comprehension was definitely not low, and with the aptitude of an Earthling, he ultimately became a Universe Lord.

Becoming a Universe Lord meant that Thunder God's comprehension ranked among the very best of the entire human race in the universe. Yet even so, it took him decades to comprehend a domain.

And that was only because he had Hong's guidance and the opportunity presented by the Golden Horned Beast incident. Otherwise, who knew how much longer it would have taken.

"Keep my feet on the ground and take things one step at a time. I've already reached major accomplishment in the Artistic Conception Level. Harmony of Man and Nature is within reach."

So what if comprehending a domain was difficult? Shen Mu had already died twice. He could not possibly retreat just because something was hard.

For now, he first needed to reach the realm of Harmony of Man and Nature, then ask Hong for guidance.

Given Hong's conduct and temperament, as long as Shen Mu could reach Harmony of Man and Nature, Hong certainly would not be stingy with his insights into domains.

Even if Shen Mu could not, like Thunder God, frequently seek Hong out to sense the power of domains, he would surely receive guidance.

Compared with Luo Feng, who had not Body Snatched the Golden Horned Beast, Shen Mu still held a considerable advantage.

The Azure Dragon Avatar, which had lived in the ocean for decades, had given him ample insights into nature, allowing him to directly attain major accomplishment in the Artistic Conception Level. He was only one step away from perfecting it and reaching Harmony of Man and Nature.

While Shen Mu was deep in thought, the gigantic mammoth was completely dismembered and all valuable materials were collected. Shen Mu boarded the Qiankun-Class Fighter Jet again and returned to Hongning Base City.

Hongning Base City, Limit Martial Hall headquarters.

"You've got quite some nerve. You went alone to the African Great Desert to hunt high-level Lord-Level Monsters. Weren't you afraid of drawing the pursuit of a King-Level Monster?"

Although Hong wore a stern expression at Shen Mu's reckless behavior, there was appreciation in his eyes.

"I really was targeted by a King-Level Monster, the Flame Lion King. But it couldn't catch me, and I borrowed Brother Liu He's Qiankun-Class Smart Fighter Jet as well. Nothing could go wrong."

The Qiankun-Class Fighter Jet's defenses were quite good and could withstand the attacks of most King-Level Monsters. If its engine technology were improved, it might even qualify as an A-class spaceship in the universe.

As for Hong's Primordial-Grade Smart Fighter Jet, if Shen Mu remembered correctly, it could withstand a casual long-range attack from a Star-Level Golden Horned Beast. Its defensive strength was comparable to an entry-level B-class fighter jet.

"How about this? Including the seven monsters you hunted in Australia, I'll value each at fifteen billion, for a total of four hundred and five billion Huaxia Currency. How does that sound?"

A value of fifteen billion was basically the upper limit for Lord-Level Monsters. Among the many Lord-Level Monsters Shen Mu had hunted, only five or six had reached that level.

"Thank you, Hall Master." Shen Mu sincerely thanked Hong for taking care of him.

Hong nodded slightly, then said, "The King-Class Fighter you wanted has already been prepared, and the two servings of Dragon Blood have been placed aboard it. If you can hunt another King-Level Monster, you can exchange it with me for certain treasures that money cannot buy."

Naturally, Shen Mu readily agreed. The other treasures Hong mentioned were likely the accumulation of Limit Martial Hall over so many years. Things like Dragon Blood, which could be bought with money, did not qualify.

After leaving Hongning Base City, Shen Mu piloted his own King-Class Fighter straight toward Kyoto Base City.

Since awakening the memories of his past life, half a year had passed. This was his first time returning home.

Two transitional chapters to flesh out the protagonist's character a little. Brothers, if you have monthly tickets or recommendation tickets, throw them my way. Don't go easy on this author.