Slaughterfield

On the twenty-second day after the Black Dragon Mountain Spaceship set off into the universe, Shen Mu and Hong returned laden with Planet-Level cultivation resources.

Within the third underground level of the Limit Martial Hall spaceship headquarters, where no one was permitted to enter freely.

The hundred-meter-long Golden Horned Beast lay sprawled on the ground. Before it, Shen Mu, Hong, and Thunder God sat upon meditation cushions.

"This is Azure Wave Essence? Just one gram is comparable to a Mu Ya Crystal?" Thunder God curiously examined the test tube in his palm, which contained ten grams of green, mercury-like liquid.

These mere ten grams of Azure Wave Essence could allow a Planet-Level first-rank powerhouse to break through to Planet-Level fourth rank.

"It can only be said that, in terms of strengthening the body, it rivals a Mu Ya Crystal. Its overall effects aren't even on the same level."

After explaining, Shen Mu gave Hong, Thunder God, and Luo Feng one kilogram of Azure Wave Essence each, while temporarily storing the remaining kilogram away.

"Ah Feng, how much longer until you can nurture your Earthling Avatar?" Shen Mu asked, looking toward the enormous head of the Golden Horned Beast.

Luo Feng spoke. Affected by the Golden Horned Beast, his voice was unconsciously cold and savage.

"Soon. About four more months. Although I'm a Planet-Level third-rank Mentalist, my physical constitution has only just entered the Planet-Level. It only takes ten months to nurture it."

Luo Feng was immensely grateful that the Golden Horned Beast possessed the ability to create avatars. Otherwise, he would have had to live his entire life in the body of a Golden Horned Beast.

At that moment, Babata's figure appeared. Looking at Luo Feng, he said, "Luo Feng, remember to save the Azure Wave Essence for the Earthling Avatar. It's basically useless to the Golden Horned Beast, so don't waste it."

"Also, there's a Black Iron Metal City on Mars. It can serve as food for the Golden Horned Beast and greatly increase its evolution speed."

"And lastly, Shen Mu, Luo Feng, the two of you need to break through to Star-Level soon. Once you do, you'll be able to inherit your teacher's bank account, and you'll never have to worry about cultivation resources again."

Originally, Babata had intended to cultivate Shen Mu and Luo Feng entirely according to the plan laid down by his master.

But one of them had comprehended laws at the Planet-Level, while the other had Body Snatched the Golden Horned Beast. Their future prospects were limitless, so Babata planned to make a few adjustments to the plan.

As long as either Shen Mu or Luo Feng reached Star-Level and could inherit Hu Yanbo's bank account, Babata intended to use Cosmic Galaxy Bank's "item acquisition service" to sell the Spirit Weapons carried by the nine Immortal Servants.

Even the most ordinary Spirit Weapon cost at least a thousand Chaos Units. Some poorer Immortals might not even be able to afford one.

The armor and weapons on the nine servants were each worth no less than two or three thousand Chaos Units, amounting to more than fifty thousand Chaos Units in total.

Selling these Spirit Weapons and armor would yield enough wealth to buy Bloodline Evolution Potions for Shen Mu and Metal Evolution Resources for Luo Feng.

Kyoto Base City, main urban district, special residential compound.

After nearly a month apart, Shen Mu returned to Kyoto Base City once more.

Previously, Shen Mu's family had lived permanently in Changshan City. However, after the Devouring Beast incident, Shen Mu received an invitation from the national government to live together with Councilors such as Jia Yi, Zhu Xi, Old Deng, and Tuoba.

Of course, apart from several of China's Councilor-level powerhouses, the compound was also home to several government officials.

"Dad, Mom, your physical constitutions have now reached the peak of the War God level. You can break through to Planet-Level now—that is, Councilor-level."

Chen Wen froze slightly, then exchanged a look with Shen Gang. Everything still felt rather dreamlike.

"I never thought I'd have a day when I became a Councilor-level powerhouse." Shen Gang sighed emotionally.

Chen Wen's reaction was much the same. Shen Mu then took out two of the remaining twenty-odd Mu Ya Crystals and gave his parents a detailed explanation of how to use them.

"Dad, Mom, break through to Planet-Level now. I'll personally stand guard for you."

Using Mu Ya Crystals to break through to Planet-Level relied on their immense yet gentle life force to catalyze the process. As long as one's physical constitution had reached the peak of the Apprentice level, a safe breakthrough was guaranteed.

Moreover, breaking through with Mu Ya Crystals did not damage one's potential in the slightest. Especially for a trash bloodline like that of Earthlings, breaking through with Mu Ya Crystals would even slightly raise the body's potential.

"Alright!"

Shen Gang and Chen Wen did not refuse, beginning their breakthrough to Planet-Level before Shen Mu.

The immense, gentle life energy of the Mu Ya Crystals surged into Shen Gang and Chen Wen's bodies, merging with every cell throughout them.

Their cells, which had already reached their limit, broke through their barriers under the push of that immense life force, completing their evolution.

In an instant, waves of genetic energy fluctuations spread from their bodies. Under those fluctuations, their physical constitutions directly doubled.

Whoosh!

Gales suddenly erupted around Chen Wen, and immediately afterward, vines, branches, and leaves began to grow and spread from Shen Gang's body.

"Disperse!"

Shen Mu's voice swept outward with vast spiritual power, crushing the genetic energy that had explosively erupted from Chen Wen and Shen Gang due to their breakthroughs back into its original cosmic energy.

After becoming Planet-Level, Shen Gang and Chen Wen felt the explosively increased power within their bodies and were overwhelmed with excitement. Before Shen Mu, they were as delighted as children.

They first tested their own abilities, then the couple flew directly through the air to experience the thrill of flight. This was almost every War God's reaction after breaking through to Planet-Level.

Earth time, February 6, 2060. Virtual Universe, Black Dragon Mountain Island, Slaughterfield.

The entire Slaughterfield hall was incomparably vast, as large as a major city, stretching beyond the eye's reach.

The hall's backdrop resembled a surging sea of blood. Amid that boundless blood sea, a "blood droplet" emblem shone brilliantly like a dazzling star.

Figures in the vast hall gathered in groups of three or five, scattered sparsely about, yet there were still tens of thousands of people at a glance.

In one corner of the Slaughterfield hall, Shen Mu sat before a triangular crystal table.

Above the crystal table was a virtual screen visible only to Shen Mu.

"No star rating. I can only challenge opponents of the same rank, and there are quite a few restrictions."

Within the duel space was a dedicated star-rating system, divided from 0 to 9 stars. The longer one's winning streak and the stronger the opponents defeated, the higher the star rating one could obtain.

Those rated from no stars to 6 stars could only challenge opponents of the same rank. If their battle record rating reached 7 stars, they could choose to fight across ranks.

The rules for cross-rank challenges were also quite cumbersome, mainly to prevent too many people with no self-awareness from wasting others' time.

Taking Shen Mu as an example, if he challenged as a Planet-Level fourth-rank warrior, he had to defeat ten Planet-Level fifth-rank opponents in succession, or defeat one Planet-Level fifth-rank powerhouse with a 7-star rating, before he could continue challenging higher ranks, and so on.

"Begin challenge application!"

Shen Mu casually selected a seven-star opponent and chose a wagered battle, setting the amount at 1,000 Qianwu Coins.

At that moment, in the virtual space, a Dragon-Human Race youth who was practicing his techniques received Shen Mu's challenge notification.

"No star rating, and he directly... Hm? A thousand Qianwu Coins? Is he here to give me money?"

One thousand Qianwu Coins could be exchanged among civilians for 1.2 million Black Dragon Coins. At his Planet-Level fourth-rank level, that was enough for him to train in the Slaughterfield for a month. There was no reason to turn down free money.

The youth, who had named himself "Dragon King," chose to accept the wagered battle.

Buzz!

The space occupied by Shen Mu and Dragon King instantly turned illusory, then solidified again in the blink of an eye.

Shen Mu's figure appeared directly above an ancient forest. Opposite him stood a youth with two horns growing from his head and skin covered in fine silver scales.

"Brother, I'll take the 1,000 Qianwu Coins you sent me. We can exchange contact information afterward, your big bro—"

Before the Dragon-Human Race youth could finish speaking, Shen Mu vanished from before his eyes. In his place, a vast, surging river flooded his vision in an instant.

Everything had happened far too quickly. The Dragon-Human Race youth reappeared in the space where he had been before.

"That just now... was a domain?!"

The Dragon-Human Race youth's face was full of uncertainty. His father was a Domain Lord-Level powerhouse, so he naturally understood domains.

"Impossible, absolutely impossible. How could a Planet-Level warrior comprehend a domain? It must be some powerful secret technique!"

Shen Mu had never intended to seek out Planet-Level opponents to temper himself. What he wanted was to make a name for himself in one stroke.

"1 battle, 1 victory. Battle record rating: seven stars!"

Shen Mu had instantly slain a seven-star warrior, so his own battle record rating naturally rose to seven stars.

Continue. Begin the second match!