Cultivation Goals

"Since your cultivation goals have changed somewhat, we'll need to move up our expectations for you as well.

"The stronger your Genetic Origin Energy, the more clearly you can sense the laws of the universe. Your cultivation goals have now changed: within one year, reach Star Level and comprehend a trace of the Law of Fire; within three years, cross the threshold of the Law of Fire; and within ten years, make at least some progress in it. Then, in ten years, compete in the Giant Axe Martial Arena's Universe Peak Genius Battle and rank among the top thousand."

As soon as he finished speaking, a brilliant blue light shot from Third Elder's sleeve and gathered into a holographic projection in midair.

Manlong Marquis's Intelligent Life quickly laid out Ling Xuan's cultivation plan, with every detail specifying the exact training hours and allocation of resources.

Upon completing the first stage, he would be rewarded with a top-tier Fifth-Order Force Weapon, the Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear, along with its accompanying secret technique.

For the second stage, he would receive the territory of an entire star system, treasures to help his family cultivate, and personal instruction in the Law of Fire and secret techniques from Manlong Marquis himself.

For the third stage, he might even have the chance to become a personal disciple of Zhulong King, with countless treasures and secret techniques at his disposal!

"Completing the second-stage goal will get my family treasures to help them cultivate too..."

Thinking of his parents and two older sisters, laboring day and night to cultivate, Ling Xuan found himself newly motivated.

His family weren't especially talented. Without some great opportunities, it would be difficult for them to reach Universe Level in their lifetimes.

Ling Xuan wasn't sure he could acquire resources to cultivate his family at the pace of City Lord Luo, who seemed to have a cheat code.

By the time he became an Eternal Immortal, his family might not be able to keep up with him.

But with the clan's support, his family would have a chance to reach Universe Level, or even Domain Lord Level. That would give them enough time to wait until he had the resources to cultivate them into Immortal Gods.

Ling Xuan's heart burned with excitement.

"Remember, opportunity and pressure go hand in hand." Third Elder raised a hand and swept it lightly. Space warped like a mirror. "Once the Nutrient Pod arrives, begin your seclusion."

The Temple Envoy stepped forward respectfully. Verdant Divine Patterns flowed around his body like living things, instantly transforming into a light barrier that blotted out the sky.

Ling Xuan felt a powerful force of space envelop him. The world spun, countless stars streaked past in trails of light, and time and space seemed to twist and fold in on themselves.

When the light faded, the familiar atmosphere of Manlong Planet swept over him with hot, windblown sand, reminding him that he had returned to his homeland.

Over the next three days, Ling Xuan shut himself in the training room, continuing to absorb the Divine Bird Secret Pattern he had just comprehended.

That day, a thunderous roar split the sky.

A massive transport ship, like a steel behemoth, broke through the clouds and hovered steadily outside the Temple.

The hatch in the ship's underside slowly opened, and twelve elite warriors in silver-gray armor marched out in perfect formation.

"Master, your Nutrient Pod has arrived." His Auxiliary Optical Computer suddenly chimed. Its cold, mechanical female voice made his heart race.

He abruptly emerged from his cultivation state, dashed out of the training room in three quick strides, and hurried into the courtyard.

"I'm Ling Xuan. Sorry for the trouble." Ling Xuan kept his eyes fixed on the Nutrient Pod before him.

The staff member at the front raised his hand, revealing a dark gold metal plate on his wrist. In a formal tone, he said, "Please direct your Spiritual Force onto this tablet so we can verify your identity."

Everyone had a Spiritual Force frequency, an important marker used to verify the identity of Universe Citizens. The only difference was its strength. Spiritual Force users had particularly powerful Spiritual Force, which they could use in battle.

Ling Xuan immediately focused. A faint but distinctive Spiritual Force extended from his fingertip and lightly touched the metal plate.

In an instant, the metal plate shone brightly, and streams of data flickered across its surface.

"Customer Ling Xuan's identity confirmed. The handover may proceed." The Virtual Universe Company staff member's Auxiliary Optical Computer gave the notification.

Several staff members swiftly unloaded the Nutrient Pod and held out a virtual screen. "Mr. Ling Xuan, this is your Nutrient Pod. Please sign to accept delivery."

Ling Xuan quickly traced his name on the virtual screen with his Spiritual Force, completing the receipt process.

He watched the staff members turn and board the ship before looking back at the Nutrient Pod. He murmured, "So this is the Supreme Treasure that can increase cultivation efficiency a thousandfold without any side effects..."

After installing the Nutrient Pod in the innermost training room of his residence, Ling Xuan took a deep breath and slowly stepped into the chamber filled with pale green liquid.

The highest-grade E-Grade Nutrient Chamber available on the market could assist with cultivation, but prolonged use damaged the body's foundations. It was also so expensive that even the Mangu Tribe could hardly afford one.

But this specially made Nutrient Pod had been custom-built by one of the Five Great Powers specifically for its Core Members. Even ordinary Immortal Experts would hesitate to cultivate their disciples this way. Only the deep-rooted Zhulong Clan, with tens of thousands of eras of accumulated wealth, could afford to invest so heavily in him.

The moment the liquid surged in, Ling Xuan felt countless streams of energy pour into his meridians like a rushing river of stars. Every cell in his body seemed to cry out with excitement.

The energy barrier between Planetary Level Three and Planetary Level Nine melted away beneath this mighty surge, as swiftly as thin ice on a spring day.

Although he couldn't practice his spear techniques inside the Nutrient Pod, his thoughts were exceptionally clear. He immediately immersed himself in the world of the Flame Domain.

Time slipped by as he focused. The moment the ninth miniature planet formed from Genetic Origin Energy lit up with a roar in his dantian, Ling Xuan's eyes snapped open, and a powerful aura erupted from him.

Feeling the surging power within him, Ling Xuan clenched his fist, his eyes gleaming with fervor. Planetary Level Nine—he'd made it!

"Next comes the breakthrough to Star Level. But there's no rush. I've only just reached Planetary Level Nine. I should stabilize my condition first."

Ling Xuan continued challenging powerful opponents in the Virtual Universe as he adjusted to his new state.

Time passed in the blink of an eye. Three days were gone.

As the first rays of morning sunlight fell through the window onto Ling Xuan, he slowly opened his eyes. Brilliant light flashed in them; his body, energy, and spirit were all at their peak.

His aura was as steady as a mountain, yet carried a sharpness that seemed ready to burst free, like an unparalleled blade about to leave its sheath, poised to strike.

"The time has come!" Ling Xuan shouted, and his aura surged.

In his dantian, the nine miniature planets, each shining brightly and rotating in orderly formation, began to draw slowly together as if pulled by some powerful force of gravity.

"Boom!" A muffled roar echoed from within Ling Xuan, like the primordial chaos of the universe's birth.

The first miniature planet broke through its limit and exploded, transforming into a searing storm of energy that swept across his entire dantian.

One after another, the other eight planets exploded as well, like barrels of gunpowder set alight. His berserk Genetic Origin Energy surged like a rising tide, wave after wave crashing against the walls of his dantian.

Under the constant assault of that violent energy, his dantian began to expand at an astonishing speed. Its original cramped space gradually opened into a vast expanse, like the boundless starry sky of the universe.

At the center of this space, a faint glimmer appeared. Though weak, it emanated a powerful gravitational pull that made the heart tremble.

"Absorb it!" Ling Xuan roared, concentrating all his mental strength on that speck of light and guiding the raging Genetic Origin Energy around him to converge upon it.

As energy poured into it, the speck of light grew brighter and hotter, gradually condensing into a small star radiating golden light.

When the newborn star had absorbed the last trace of Genetic Origin Energy, Ling Xuan's eyes snapped open. Golden light blazed from them, shooting straight into the sky.

An aura so powerful it was suffocating surged from within him, bursting through the training room's roof and soaring into the clouds.

"Star Level. Breakthrough successful."

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A familiar face will appear soon. This story will definitely include Luo Feng—I wrote in the synopsis that the protagonist would take him as a disciple.

I've changed Yan Di's age a bit in my version. I think fighting Yan Di would be more satisfying than fighting anyone else.

Also, Yan Di's talent was indeed explosive in his early years. He could increase his life gene multiplier, which meant his affinity for the laws could rise too. But once he reached the Universe Lord stage, affinity for the laws no longer mattered much; progress depended on comprehension, which was why his advancement slowed.

Young Yan Di was definitely the most formidable Universe Lord to appear in the original story.

Anyway, the original story never gave Yan Di's exact age.