Stepping into a Planet, Life's Leap! Star Vine!

Time, like sand slipping through fingers, passed silently and without a trace.

Two full months had passed since Lin Yuan announced his seclusion.

In this month, the world outside had undergone tumultuous changes.

Luo Feng had already stepped into the Ancient Civilization Ruin No. 9 that would alter his destiny, currently undergoing a trial of life and death.

Meanwhile, the world's strongest fighter, Hong, had personally led his elite guard to station themselves on the Australian Continent at Mist Island, standing in a standoff against various factions.

Everyone knew that the place capable of birthing a heaven-defying treasure like the Cloud-Touching Vine must surely harbor treasures even more precious than the spirits of vegetation, or even the Ten-Thousand-Year Willow Heart.

But for the moment, none of this had anything to do with Lin Yuan.

Ten thousand meters above the ground, a pitch-black Qiankun Intelligent Fighter Jet hovered deep within the clouds, its highest-level stealth mode engaged, as if it had merged into the very fabric of the world.

Inside the fighter jet, in the cultivation room.

Lin Yuan sat cross-legged, his eyes tightly shut.

At this moment, visible energy fluctuations swirled around his body, causing the air beside him to twist and tremble as if unable to withstand the terrifying pressure radiating from within him.

The vast, heart-stopping essence of vegetation from the Ten-Thousand-Year Willow Heart had long since been swallowed, transforming into a surging torrent that frantically scoured his limbs, bones, meridians, and dantian.

However, that life barrier standing between the Apprentice level and the Planetary level remained as solid as a rock.

Just a little more... just the final bit!

Lin Yuan's brows twitched slightly; the power within him had accumulated to a critical point!

While the medicinal potency of the Ten-Thousand-Year Willow Heart was formidable, relying solely on external objects was not enough to ascend to the heavens in one step and complete a leap in life level.

More than anything, it depended on will!

What is will?

For an ordinary martial artist, it might be the determination to protect their family, or the obsession with pursuing power.

But for Lin Yuan, who possessed the Path of the Strongest system, his will originated from that vast, boundless starry sky!

His consciousness seemed to break free from the shackles of his physical body, drifting beyond the nine heavens.

He saw the azure Earth beneath his feet; on this planet, a War God might dominate a region, and a Council Member might be invincible in the world.

But on the scale of the universe, Earth was nothing more than a speck of dust.

What does it matter to be invincible on Earth?

He knew that in the near future, difficulties would follow one after another. He did not wish to drift with the tide; he wanted to be the one who controlled the board!

And then there was the Milky Way, the galaxy, the star sectors, the cosmic nations...

It was a world so vast it was suffocating, so cruel it was despairing.

If it were anyone else, knowing all this might fill them with deep fear and powerlessness.

But Lin Yuan was different.

As these images flashed through his mind, what he felt was not fear, but an inexplicable tremor originating from the depths of his soul!

It was excitement! It was blood boiling with fervor!

That is the stage that belongs to me!

Since I have come, I must go and see the highest peak!

BOOM!

This intense will transformed into an indestructible sword of spirit, slashing fiercely at that invisible barrier.

Crack—

In the dark, a crisp shattering sound seemed to echo from the depths of Lin Yuan's soul.

The shackles that had trapped him for so long were, at this moment, completely shattered!

Hum!

In an instant, a heaven-shaking change occurred deep within Lin Yuan's sea of consciousness.

The originally liquid spiritual force spun and compressed frantically, finally condensing at the center into a miniature ball of light radiating a brilliant glow!

It was like a newborn star, illuminating the previously chaotic sea of consciousness.

At the same time, this breakthrough energy instantly fed back into his entire body.

His bones emitted a series of crackling explosions, their density increasing wildly until they became as hard as diamond!

His muscle fibers tore and reorganized, becoming tougher and more powerful; the gene chains deep within every one of his cells were broken, reorganized, and optimized at this very moment!

This was a life evolution beginning at the microscopic level.

Faint traces of golden light began to emerge within his originally red blood—the mark of a life-level leap.

This transformation lasted only for an instant, but to Lin Yuan, it felt as though he had experienced a century.

When everything returned to calm.

Swish!

Lin Yuan snapped his eyes open.

Two tangible beams of brilliance shot from his eyes, carving two distinct ripples into the air of the dim cultivation room that lingered for a long time.

"Hoo..."

He slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, which shot out like a sharp arrow for several meters, striking the alloy wall with a soft "pfft" sound.

"From Student to Planetary, a leap in life."

Lin Yuan spoke slowly, his voice carrying an indescribable magnetism and majesty.

He instinctively clenched his fist.

Creak!

The air in his palm was instantly crushed.

An unprecedented sense of power flooded his entire body.

He could clearly feel the terrifying strength contained within his current physique.

If a King-level monster were standing before him right now, he wouldn't even need to use a weapon; with these bare fists alone, he could beat it into a sieve!

"So, this is what it means to be Planetary level!"

Lin Yuan stood up and casually stretched his limbs, his joints popping with a sound like rolling thunder.

The self-evident sense of exhilaration made him want to let out a long roar.

At this very moment, he could feel that the constraints of gravity on him were negligible; walking on air and traversing the void were now effortless for him.

This was the true foundation for establishing a foothold in the universe!

Just as he was immersed in the joy of his breakthrough—

[Ding!]

A long-absent, cold, and mechanical voice rang out abruptly in his mind.

[Congratulations to the host for breaking through to the Planetary level!]

[Detected that the host's life level has undergone an essential transition; hidden mission "Transformation of Life Genes" has been completed!]

[Rewards are being distributed...]

[Reward obtained: Special auxiliary plant life—Star Vine!]

Hum!

A pale blue Crystal Giant Screen instantly appeared before Lin Yuan's eyes.

[Star Vine: An extremely rare plant life in the universe. It does not consume vegetation, feeding instead on starlight and minerals. In its mature stage, it can transform into Star Armor, possessing ten times the defensive power of a Cloud-Touching Vine of the same rank, and possesses the special ability to devour energy to nourish its master.]

[Commentary: Having broken through the essence of a Student, you now possess the qualifications to stand among the stars. May this Star Vine, which carries the light of the sun, moon, and stars, join you in creating endless glory.]

Looking at the dazzling strings of descriptive text on the giant screen, Lin Yuan was completely stunned.

It took a full half-minute for him to recover, his lips curling upward uncontrollably.

"Star Vine? A mutated, advanced form of the Cloud-Touching Vine? Ten times the defense?"

"This... could it get any better?"

One had to know that the reason Hong was able to firmly hold the position of world number one was largely due to his possession of a Cloud-Touching Vine.

And now, the system had gifted him a Star Vine that was ten times more formidable than a Cloud-Touching Vine!

This was essentially equipping his "interstellar fighter" with the ultimate "energy shield"!

The next second, a flash of light appeared.

A strange vine materialized out of thin air in his palm.

It was only the size of a palm, deep dark purple in color. The vine had no leaves, but was instead dotted with tiny, sparkling crystals that shimmered like stars.

"So this is the Star Vine..."

Lin Yuan's eyes were filled with affection.

Without hesitation, he moved his mind and lightly grazed his fingertip.

Ssh!

The skin of a Planetary-level powerhouse was incredibly tough, but under his deliberate control, a small cut opened on his index finger.

A drop of pale golden blood slowly dripped down.

Plop.

The blood landed on the dark purple vine of the Star Vine and was instantly absorbed completely.

Hum—

The Star Vine shuddered violently, and the starlight on its surface suddenly flared bright.

Immediately after, Lin Yuan felt a sense of attachment and intimacy flowing into his mind through their mental connection. It was like a newborn child seeing its father.

"What a miraculous sensation."

Lin Yuan could clearly feel a myriad of connections forming between himself and this Star Vine, as if it had already become a part of his own body.

Just as Lin Yuan was overcome with wild joy, preparing to delve deeper into the abilities of this new companion...

[Ding!]

That cold, mechanical voice rang out once again!

Lin Yuan was stunned; there was another reward?

He hurriedly looked up at the Crystal Giant Screen, only to see the original text gradually dissipate, replaced by a line of blood-red characters. This was... a mission!

[...]