"Has it finally arrived?"
Lin Yuan looked at the crystal screen. The system had been quiet for a long time after he'd given Luo Feng pointers on that mission, and he didn't know if it was about to give him a "surprise."
Of course, it could also be a nasty shock.
He carefully read every word...
[Mission issued: A single transformation, a slaughter of King-level monsters!] [Mission description: You have successfully entered the Planetary Level, and your life level has undergone a leap. A true powerhouse must do more than raise his level. He must also forge an unrivaled reputation with the blood of opponents at his level! Go, and let the monster kings of this world feel the terror of the stars!] [Mission objective: Hunt King-level monsters (0/10)] [Mission rewards:] 1. Star Soul-Suppressing Bell (soul-defense technique). 2. Space-law talent: "Particle." 3. Increase Life Gene Level by 3 times.
Looking at the rows of gleaming golden words on the screen, even Lin Yuan, usually so composed, couldn't help drawing in a sharp breath. His heart pounded twice.
"These rewards... aren't they a little too generous?" Lin Yuan couldn't help exclaiming.
A treasure that guarded the soul—its value spoke for itself. Earth had no techniques that directly attacked the soul, while the universe was full of schemes and dangers.
A space-law talent! That was an entry ticket to the peak of the universe!
As for increasing his Life Gene Level by three times...
"That means my basic physical attributes alone will be three times those of others at the same level! And then there's the amplification from the Nine Star Transformations..."
Lin Yuan could hardly imagine how powerful he would become after completing the mission.
But when his gaze fell on the mission objective, his expression turned strange.
"Kill ten King-level monsters?"
Lin Yuan froze for a moment, then couldn't hold it in any longer. He burst out laughing.
"Does this system have some kind of misunderstanding about my strength?"
His laughter echoed through the chamber...
By the system's reckoning, powerful King-level monsters usually took several human Councilors working together to hold off—or a powerhouse on the level of Hong or Thunder God to kill.
For a newcomer who had only just broken through to the Planetary Level, hunting ten of them was practically a hell-level challenge.
But who was Lin Yuan?
He had cultivated the Universe-Level technique Nine Star Transformations, trained as both a Spiritual Force user and a warrior, and had the Star Vine protecting him. He was a complete anomaly!
Even when he was only half a step into the Planetary Level, he had been able to dominate the competition on Mist Island.
Now that he'd officially broken through, his true combat strength surely put him among the top three on Earth.
"Kill King-level monsters? For me, that's like chopping vegetables!"
This was practically a free pass!
After laughing, Lin Yuan quickly reined in his emotions. A cold killing intent flashed through his eyes.
Since the system was giving him a generous gift, he'd gladly accept it.
"War God Palace, connect!"
He focused his thoughts, and through his consciousness-sensing helmet, instantly connected to the virtual space.
Lin Yuan's figure appeared out of nowhere in the top-floor conference room of the enormous War God Palace. Ignoring the respectful looks from the Councilors around him, he immediately pulled up the global monster distribution map.
A huge 3D holographic projection of Earth slowly rotated before him. Scattered across it were crimson dots, each one representing a King-level monster that terrified humanity.
"The Siberian ice fields... the Sahara Desert... the Amazon rainforest..."
Lin Yuan lightly traced his finger across the screen, as if picking out ingredients for tonight's dinner.
"The soul-guarding treasure, the space-law talent, and three times the genes..." he murmured. The fire in his eyes burned brighter and brighter. "This is really motivating."
He slowly raised his right arm. Beneath his smooth skin, a dark golden vine pattern suddenly appeared.
It was the Star Vine, which had already acknowledged him as its master and awakened. Sensing its master's surging battle intent, it wriggled lightly, conveying its excitement and hunger for blood.
"Can't wait to get started, either, huh?"
Lin Yuan stroked his arm...
"Come on. Let's get to work!"
Time was the most merciless thing in the world.
In the blink of an eye, more than half a year had slipped by.
The second half of 2057 had been a year of both sorrow and joy for warriors around the globe.
It was a terrible loss that Luo Feng, the "genius Spiritual Force user" who had dazzled everyone at the Elite Training Camp, had vanished without a trace after venturing into Ancient Civilization Ruin No. 9.
One month, then two... Even after half a year, there was still no sign of him, alive or dead.
Countless people lamented his fate, believing that a rising star had fallen before he could even shine.
But their grief lasted only a moment before it was swept away by a far more violent and astonishing wave.
The world's attention had been seized by a new, living legend!
A name.
A name that made monsters around the world tremble and every human powerhouse bow in reverence—Lin Yuan!
February 2058.
Hongning Base City, Extreme Martial Arts Hall Global Headquarters.
In a tea room filled with old-world charm, Hong sat cross-legged in a black training suit, holding a cup of tea.
On the huge screen in front of him, headlines from major news outlets around the world had been compiled and were scrolling past—covering the past six months.
Or, more accurately, this was a record of killings by that "Honorary Inspector."
Hong gently blew away the tea leaves and looked at the screen.
[November 11, 2057: Winter draws near, and a War God descends!] Description: On the snow-swept Siberian ice fields, a fifty-meter-tall Ice Bear King knelt at the feet of a young man in black, its massive body pierced through the head by a dark golden vine. News summary: The Ice Bear King, a nightmare that had haunted the ice fields for years, was killed today by Lin Yuan, an Inspector of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall! The battle lasted less than three minutes, and Inspector Lin emerged completely unharmed! [December 1, 2057: Shocking! Just one month later, the Inspector strikes again!] Description: Under the scorching Sahara sun, the desert was filled with swirling sand. The shell of a Lava Giant Scorpion, as big as a small hill, lay shattered, its green blood staining the dunes. News summary: Judgment has come to the forbidden zone of the Sahara! Inspector Lin Yuan crossed half the globe and killed the high King-level monster, the Lava Giant Scorpion! [December 27, 2057: A miracle! One man enters the Amazon!] Description: Deep in the Amazon rainforest, a Titan Anaconda hundreds of meters long had been cut into several pieces. The surrounding rainforest had been leveled. News summary: This is surely one of the most daring feats in history! Inspector Lin ventured alone into Earth's most dangerous Amazon rainforest, killed the aquatic overlord Titan Anaconda, and returned unharmed! [January 16, 2058: The Australian Continent mourns!] News summary: That's right, it's him again! The man has struck once more! The King Kong Kangaroo King has fallen... [February 3, 2058: The Nile runs red!] News summary: The Blood Crocodile King was killed on the spot, and the Nile ran dry...
The headlines continued to scroll. Each one marked the fall of a once-mighty King-level monster—and another expansion of the territory where humanity could survive.
Over the past six months, King-level monsters around the globe had seemed to come under a targeted purge, falling one after another.
The internet had long since erupted.
"Long live Inspector Lin!"
"He's incredible! He's treating King-level monsters like pigs at a slaughterhouse!"
"Is this the power of a top-tier powerhouse? I think he could even challenge Councilor Thunder God!"
"Get real, upstairs. Take out 'I think'!"
Watching these frenzied comments, Hong set down his teacup. An amused yet helpless smile tugged at his lips.
"That guy..."
Hong shook his head and lightly tapped the table with his fingers. "When I gave him the Ten-Thousand-Year Willow Heart, I thought he'd take some time to absorb it... I didn't expect him to get straight to work."
Ten King-level monsters in just over half a year.
Even Hong and Thunder God couldn't have matched that pace when they were in the early stages of the Planetary Level!
"Looks like the King-level monsters on Earth aren't enough to satisfy him anymore."
Hong stood and walked to the window, his gaze fixed on the distant sea. Lurking there were beings even more terrifying than King-level monsters—the Emperor-level monsters.
"At this rate, those two Emperor-level monsters will probably be trembling in fear soon, too."
Hong gave a soft laugh, anticipation flashing in his eyes.
"Looks like the contest on Mist Island has already tipped the scales!"
Before you continue