It had been eighteen years since he arrived here, by Earth's reckoning. He would not dwell on that again. Wu Sheng had already settled on his goal.
With a heaven-defying talent like his, he could not afford to waste it. He would either remain unknown or astonish the world. If he was going to do it, he would become the strongest Soul-Devouring Demon Tank.
The good news was that Wu Sheng had indeed been reincarnated as a Special Lifeform, and in the very Primordial Universe he knew so well.
The bad news was that although this Special Lifeform had some advantages to build on, most of what he achieved would depend on his own struggle, effort, and determination.
The neither-good-nor-bad news was that he had been reincarnated into the Prison Clan, as a low-ranking member.
The Prison Clan had been born in a Perilous Land in the universe. They had struggled to survive there before venturing out into the wider world. The appearances, forms, and even the very essence of the Prison Clan's powerful members varied greatly. Some were rock lifeforms, while others were made of flesh and blood... Some had souls, while others did not.
Yet the Prison Clan all shared one trait: they were lifeforms born in that perilous place! They called that terrifying land "Prison," and so their clan became known as the Prison Clan!
In other words, Wu Sheng now had three identities. He was a member of the Prison Clan and a Special Lifeform, while deep in his soul, he was still human.
Given his choice of identity as a Soul-Devouring Demon Tank, being born in Human Territory would certainly have been safer, but it would also have limited his development.
Instead, he had been reincarnated directly into the Prison Clan's Perilous Land. Though he would face countless unknown dangers, it also gave him a chance to grow stronger.
But that was only a chance. From the records in his inherited memories, he knew that it was incredibly difficult for a Soul-Devouring Demon Tank to defy fate.
The hardest part was that, before becoming a Realm Lord, he had to gain the recognition of at least one Source Law.
The Soul-Devouring Demon Tank could be called the favored child of the Wind Source Law. Yet according to the records of past Soul-Devouring Demon Tanks, fewer than one in ten of those who gained the Wind Source Law's recognition had done so before becoming a Realm Lord.
Wu Sheng would undergo his transformation at the moment he became a Realm Lord. If he missed that chance, it would be too late once his Innate Life Core had taken shape.
Fortunately, he still had the special advantage of the "Time-Space Shop." If he could activate it and exchange for suitable Innate Secret Arts or treasures, perhaps he could still turn things around.
As for the one-time order from the Primordial Universe, Wu Sheng figured that as long as the Primordial Universe Will wasn't stupid, it would probably save it for last and make him deal with the Realm Beast Cataclysm!
Otherwise, if it wasted the order early, then when the World Beasts really arrived, he could just put in a token effort and drag his feet. That would still count as fulfilling the agreement, and by then, the Primordial Universe Will could only glare helplessly, unable to do anything to him.
"Wait!"
Wu Sheng sprang up from the grass, revealing his body covered in black fur, even his face. Only his blood-red eyes stood out, filled with shock.
"I chose the second agreement. If my strength never improves, the Primordial Universe Will might give me some random order that sends me to my death. And then I'd have no choice but to obey!"
Only now did Wu Sheng realize how serious the problem was. Though he was currently the weakest of the Special Lifeforms, he was still beneath the Primordial Universe's notice.
But what if it decided he had no value? Would it really let him live in peace for an entire Reincarnation Era?
"I have to get stronger! At the very least, I need to look useful, so the Primordial Will won't casually treat me like a pawn it can throw away."
Wu Sheng rubbed his forehead with his little black-furred hand. He hadn't expected that no matter which world he was in, there would always be endless troubles.
There was nothing worse than feeling that his life was not in his own hands.
"Black Boy, there you are! You scared me to death!"
A Black-Armored Ape in black armor, his face likewise covered in black fur, flew in from a corner of the sky. Before he even landed, he called out in relief.
Seeing how worried he looked, Wu Sheng felt grateful, though he still wasn't used to being called "Black Boy."
The Black-Armored Ape before him was a member of the Wu Gang Clan, one of countless clans in the Prison Clan. He was a Star Grade Two warrior.
In the Prison Clan, Planet Grade members were called Earth Grade. In this Perilous Land, Planet Grade members couldn't yet fly using their own gravitational fields. Star Grade members, on the other hand, were called Sky Grade. They were already strong enough to break free of the Perilous Land's constraints and fly to some extent.
"I just came out here alone to look around. I got tired, so I lay down to rest. Sorry for the trouble."
Though Wu Sheng already thought of him as family, he still couldn't bring himself to call him "Father."
"It's good that you're all right. We just fought the Bone Snail Clan today. We lost many of our people, but we still won. Once I get my reward, I can buy you a First-Order Force Battle Suit. Then I'll finally be able to put my mind at ease."
The Black-Armored Ape looked kindly at the adopted son he had taken in eighteen years ago.
It was true that the Prison Clan was bloodthirsty, but even among its lowest ranks, there was a tenderness of their own.
This Black-Armored Ape, a Star Grade Two warrior, had once had three sons. In the end, they had all died horribly. Even his wife had perished in a clan war.
Perhaps it was because of the deep pain of losing his wife and sons that, when he found Wu Sheng newly born in the wild, he had softened for a moment and taken him home to raise.
Without him, Wu Sheng would have been dead for eighteen years by now.
"Thank you, but I don't think I'll need it."
A flicker of gratitude passed through Wu Sheng's eyes, but he politely turned down the Black-Armored Ape's offer.
"Why not? Without a battle suit to protect you, it'll be hard to survive."
"I... I want to take part in the Blood Trial!"
Wu Sheng looked seriously at the Black-Armored Ape with his blood-red eyes.
In truth, Wu Sheng's body looked quite similar to the Wu Gang Clan members. Only his blood-red eyes set him apart.
"No! I won't allow it. Other people can't wait to stay away from that place, so why are you rushing toward it? Do you know that your three older brothers were all taken there, and every one of them died inside?"
The Black-Armored Ape heard Wu Sheng's words and immediately shot back in anger.
"I want to get stronger. Even when our clan wins a battle, the rewards are meager. The Blood Trial is the only way I can get a chance at a substantial reward. Besides, everyone there fights opponents at the same level. I still have a chance."
Wu Sheng's gaze remained resolute.
"Being at the same level doesn't mean they're equally strong. Some of them are already at the peak of Earth Grade, while you're only Earth Grade Three. How can you compete with them? Why not wait until next time? At your rate of progress, you should be at the peak of Earth Grade by then. Your chances will be much better. When that time comes, I won't stop you."
The Black-Armored Ape pleaded with him. He knew that his adopted son was progressing rapidly and had great talent, but at only Earth Grade Three, his chances of surviving the Blood Trial were far too low.
After all, out of one million Prison Clan members, only one hundred could survive that bloody slaughter!
And once someone chose to take part in the Blood Trial, they had to keep participating in every subsequent trial.
From Earth Grade to Sky Grade, from Sky Grade to Nirvana... until they became a powerful Domain Lord or even a Realm Lord.
Slaughter without end. Only those who survived to the end were true members of the Prison Clan.
But the vast majority would fall along the way.
"Yeah, I'd like to wait until I reach Planet Grade Nine before going, too. But I don't have time!"
Wu Sheng thought to himself with a sigh.