The wind howled, and the clouds were violently torn apart.
A dark red triangular fighter jet, shaped like a prehistoric beast, streaked through the sky at an astonishing Mach speed.
It was the ride of the world's strongest man, Hong—the Primordial-Level Intelligent Fighter Jet!
The cabin was so tense it felt as if water could drip from the air.
Apart from the black-haired man seated at the head of the cabin, eyes closed as he rested, four others sat inside.
The three personal guards: Iceberg, Beast, and Yaorao.
And Lin Yuan, who had only recently rejoined the team.
Compared with the three guards' taut expressions and slightly oppressed gazes, Lin Yuan seemed completely out of place.
He leaned back in the comfortable leather seat, even flipping a coin between his fingers. He looked so relaxed, you'd think he was on his way to a vacation.
But deep in his seemingly calm eyes, an irrepressible excitement flickered.
Only he knew that Mist Island wasn't going to be a simple expedition. It was a vast treasure trove!
Muya Crystals!
Cosmic treasures that could drive Planetary-Level powerhouses mad and make ordinary people evolve were about to appear across that land like cabbages.
The various factions, the five great powers, and the HR Alliance would all fight tooth and nail over the crystals, beating each other bloody.
And that was the perfect opportunity to fish in troubled waters and profit from the chaos.
"Beep—"
A three-dimensional map suddenly appeared on the fighter jet's screen, a red dot blinking on it.
Hong, who had been resting with his eyes closed, slowly opened them.
"Ten minutes until we arrive."
Hong's voice was calm and detached, without the slightest hint of emotion, yet it rang clearly in everyone's ears. "The information on Mist Island has been updated."
The three personal guards immediately sat up straight.
Hong's gaze swept over everyone, then lingered on Lin Yuan for an extra second. Perhaps because Lin Yuan had only recently joined the Core Layer, he patiently explained:
"The Cloud-Touching Vine that was entrenched there has already been taken by me. But in the lake beneath Mist Island, an even more troublesome creature is still lurking."
"Based on our scans, it's a mutated Tentacle Beast Emperor."
"It's far stronger than ordinary Planetary-Level monsters. It has over a thousand tentacles, each powerful enough to destroy a fighter jet, and it has an extremely strong regenerative ability. Even a Councilor-Level powerhouse would have no chance of survival if dragged underwater."
At the words "Tentacle Beast Emperor," Iceberg's normally impassive face twitched slightly. Beast clenched his fist, clearly aware of what this meant.
A Beast Emperor! A terrifying creature at the very top of Earth's monster hierarchy!
Lin Yuan put on an appropriately shocked expression and even drew in a sharp breath.
But the next second—
The shock on his face changed from "feigned" to "genuine."
The moment Hong finished speaking, that familiar, cold mechanical voice suddenly exploded deep in his mind!
[Mission: The Emperor's Fall]
[Objective: Take part in the battle and slay the "Tentacle Beast Emperor" in the underground lake on Mist Island.]
[Mission Rewards:]
[1. Controller Divine Weapon—"Sun God Weapon" (light, Time Law divine weapon)]
[2. Increased affinity with the Space Law]
[System Evaluation: Before the true battle for supremacy begins, use the blade in your hand to etch an unforgettable legendary poem into the eyes of the world's powerhouses!]
Holy... crap?!
Lin Yuan's pupils contracted sharply. He almost blurted out a curse, but thankfully, he had nerves of steel and forced the word back down.
As expected of the Path of the Strongest system!
These rewards were outrageously generous!
The Sun God Weapon was one thing. Though it was a divine weapon, it was practically an overwhelming advantage by Earth's standards. What truly made Lin Yuan's heart race was the second reward—the affinity with the Space Law!
In the world of Swallowed Star, the laws were the only ticket to the universe's pinnacle.
And the Space Law was one of the two supreme laws!
Countless World Lords and undying beings spent their entire lives without even reaching its threshold. Yet now, all he had to do was kill a native Beast Emperor on Earth to gain affinity with it?
It was as if a pie had fallen from the sky—a diamond-studded pie, no less!
He had to take this job!
Yaorao, sitting opposite him, caught that brief but intense fluctuation in Lin Yuan's emotions.
The personal guard, who always wore a black veil and had an extremely voluptuous figure, saw Lin Yuan's "dazed" expression and assumed the Beast Emperor's name had frightened him.
A glimmer of amusement flashed in her alluring eyes. Her usual cool demeanor melted away, replaced by a teasing concern.
"Scared?"
Yaorao's voice was soft and enticing, with a distinctive huskiness.
"Don't panic. The Master will be there in person. That Tentacle Beast Emperor may be powerful, but against the Master's domain, it'll be lucky to survive."
Lin Yuan came back to himself and saw Yaorao's half-smiling gaze. He knew she had misunderstood.
But he didn't explain. He simply nodded gratefully to Yaorao, took a deep breath, and calmed his surging emotions.
Then he unfastened his seat belt, slowly stood up, and walked straight over to Hong.
At that moment, Hong was studying Mist Island's energy distribution map.
"Master." Lin Yuan's voice broke the silence in the cabin.
Hong turned his head slightly, his pitch-black eyes resting quietly on Lin Yuan. "Speak."
Lin Yuan's voice was more resolute than ever.
"I have a favor to ask."
"Go ahead."
"I'd like to... take part in the operation to slay the Tentacle Beast Emperor!"
The words fell.
Silence.
The entire cabin instantly fell deathly quiet, as if even the air had frozen.
Iceberg, Beast, and Yaorao, seated in the back, all widened their eyes and exchanged stunned looks. Their faces were full of disbelief.
What had they just heard?
A newly promoted Inspector, with immense potential but still young, had actually volunteered to hunt a Beast Emperor?
That was a Beast Emperor!
Even the three personal guards, working together, could barely protect themselves against one. One careless move, and they'd die.
In a battle at that level, who besides the Master and Thunder God could claim they'd be able to contribute?
How could Lin Yuan possibly dare?!
Was he willing to throw his life away for merit? Or was he simply ignorant of the danger?
Just as Yaorao was about to try to dissuade him, something unexpected happened.
Hong didn't get angry or mock him.
His eyes, which seemed able to see through people's hearts, fixed on Lin Yuan, as if trying to see what secrets lay hidden within the young man.
Lin Yuan met his gaze calmly and showed no sign of backing down.
After a moment's silence,
Hong paused briefly, then nodded and said one word:
"Fine."
What?!
The three personal guards were completely dumbfounded.
The Master... had agreed?
That was even more shocking than Lin Yuan making the request.
Had the Master lost his mind too?
Taking a "burden" along to kill a Beast Emperor didn't fit his usual rational style at all!
Perhaps sensing the confusion and doubt of the guards behind him, Hong didn't turn around. He merely regarded them calmly, his voice even but carrying a chill that made their hearts tremble.
"Put aside your contempt for him."
"In the battle ahead, if you truly treat him like an ordinary Inspector..."
Hong paused, his gaze passing over Yaorao's delicate face as he spoke meaningfully:
"Your heads will be on the ground the next second."
Boom!
Those words exploded in the minds of the three personal guards like a thunderclap.
Shock!
Inexpressible shock!
They had followed Hong for many years and understood his character all too well.
Hong never exaggerated. If he said Lin Yuan was strong, then Lin Yuan was outrageously strong!
If that was what Hong meant, then had Lin Yuan, who usually kept such a low profile, already surpassed them in strength, ranking just below the Master and Thunder God?
Yaorao watched Lin Yuan silently return to his seat and close his eyes again. Her beautiful eyes were filled with shock and curiosity.
Even the Master had spoken so highly of him. Lin Yuan was too mysterious.
Having achieved his aim, Lin Yuan didn't say another word.
That was exactly what he needed: to secure his "ticket" before making his move.
He sat quietly, regulating his breathing. His genetic Origin Energy began to boil, and his Spiritual Force gathered like a volcano about to erupt, waiting for the moment it would burst forth.
Time flew by.
"Arrived at the target airspace."
At the intelligent system's prompt, the Primordial Warplane abruptly slowed and hovered in midair.
The hatch opened, and the wind rushed in.
Lin Yuan followed Hong out through the hatch and looked down.
Mist Island.
The fog that had shrouded the island year-round had mostly dissipated after Hong took the Cloud-Touching Vine, revealing the lush primeval forest below and the enormous, eerie lake.
But Mist Island was anything but peaceful.
Countless fighter jets and flying saucers hovered at various points in the sky, like sharks that had caught the scent of blood.
The military insignias of the five great powers, the crests of the nine great HR Alliance families, and the purple lightning banners of the Thunderbolt Martial Arts Hall...
Every top faction on Earth had arrived, except the Extreme Martial Arts Hall!
The entire island had become an irresistible "feast." Every faction had opened its greedy maw, eager to sink its teeth into a huge chunk!
"There sure are a lot of people."
Standing at the hatch, Lin Yuan's clothes fluttered wildly in the wind. He looked down at the gathered powers and curled his lips into a cold smile.
"Too bad. There's only one star of today's feast."
"That's me."
Before you continue