The Year's End, Emerging from Seclusion! Aiming to Slay Earth's Twin Beast Emperors? Shaking the Globe!

Time is the most ruthless passerby, and also the most affectionate sculptor.

In the Huaxia Republic, deep within a desolate wilderness far outside Jiangnan Base City.

Deep underground, inside a cavern forcibly carved out by spiritual force.

Lin Yuan sat cross-legged, as still as a stone statue that had existed since time immemorial.

Beside him lay scattered the lusterless remnants of several crystals—the incredibly precious Muya Crystals.

These treasures, containing pure life energy, were supreme tonics for any planetary-level powerhouse.

The time spent in seclusion was monotonous, yet intoxicating.

For this entire year, Lin Yuan had completely severed all contact with the outside world.

Like a greedy sponge, he frantically absorbed the energy within the Muya Crystals. The genetic force within his body surged from the first rank of the planetary level, advancing with unstoppable momentum!

Second rank, third rank... sixth rank—ninth rank!

Until today.

Rumble—

Inside Lin Yuan's dantian, the core that had originally been the size of a miniature planet was now undergoing a violent collapse and fusion.

Endless light and heat erupted within his body, as if gestating a cosmic Big Bang.

"Break!"

Lin Yuan let out a low shout in his heart.

The miniature planet suddenly shattered, only to reorganize in a split second, transforming into a star—burning with raging flames and radiating infinite gravity!

Star level, achieved!

At the same time, a profound ripple spread instantly from his center. The previously restless energy particles became incredibly docile under this influence.

This was... a Domain!

Although he had only grasped it initially, it was the essential threshold for the path to becoming a cosmic powerhouse and entering the Domain Lord level.

On Earth, besides Hong, he was the second person to master a Domain.

Lin Yuan slowly opened his eyes; deep within his pupils, two stars seemed to burn, and a golden light flashed and vanished.

He looked inward at his own body, checking the original core deep within his consciousness that was gestating a clone, and nodded with satisfaction.

"It has been almost a year."

"Perhaps because I have traveled for so long and accumulated such a deep foundation, this breakthrough went even more smoothly than I imagined."

Lin Yuan stood up, his bones emitting a series of explosive cracks like thunder.

He took a single step, and his figure instantly vanished from where he stood.

The next second.

High above the wilderness, a figure appeared out of thin air.

Without any warning, Lin Yuan stood quietly in the void, yet the fierce momentum he had just broken through with—not yet fully restrained—swept across the world like a physical storm!

BOOM!!!

The towering trees within a thousand-meter radius below were pressed down by an invisible giant hand, collapsing in unison as dust billowed into the air.

Countless monsters lurking in the ruins, whether beast-general or lord-level, felt a terror from the depths of their souls. They wailed and fled frantically in all directions, as if the apocalypse had arrived.

"Shu!"

Lin Yuan gripped the air with one hand. He held no blade, using his hand as a saber to strike casually at the void before him.

This strike utilized no force energy; it was purely the combination of physical strength and his Domain.

Screech—

The air emitted a sound of unbearable tearing.

Visible to the naked eye, the space ahead seemed to be "torn" open by this hand-blade, creating a pitch-black rift. The terrifying force crossed a thousand meters in an instant, slicing two abandoned high-rise buildings in the distance clean in half!

The cuts were as smooth as mirrors.

"Is this the power of the Star level?"

Lin Yuan looked at his palm. Now, every move and style could draw upon the power of heaven and earth.

As he was now, even without using his spiritual force, his martial arts cultivation alone could easily crush a dozen versions of himself from a year ago.

One must know that a year ago, relying on his spiritual force, he had already been able to suppress all rivals on Mist Island and was recognized as one of the strongest on Earth.

And now?

With his first-rank Star-level cultivation, combined with his newly comprehended Domain, the Star Vine growing within his body, and the Sun God Weapon—

Does he even have an opponent left on this Earth?

A sense of invincible loneliness welled up in Lin Yuan's heart.

He felt his entire body brimming with explosive power, his hands itching with an unbearable urge to find a punching bag of sufficient caliber to test just how strong he had become.

Just then—

That familiar, cold, yet pleasant mechanical voice rang out in his mind right on cue.

[Mission: Final Transformation, Prelude to the Starry Sky]

[Mission Objective: Slay the two overlords of Earth's oceans—the Thunder Dragon Emperor and the Octopus Beast Emperor!]

[Commentary: You are no longer the youth who could only drift with the tide. Having entered the Star-Level, it is time to draw a perfect conclusion to your time on Earth. Go forth, become a god in the eyes of the world, and take this vital step toward the stars!]

[Mission Rewards:]

[1. Intelligent Lifeform]

[2. C9-Grade Spaceship]

[3. Black Dragon Coins: 10 Billion]

[4. Soul Enslavement Technique: Star Pupil: Soul Capture]

Looking at the pale blue light screen manifesting on his retina, Lin Yuan's pupils constricted sharply, and he drew a sharp breath.

"Hiss... Is this the benefit of leaving the newbie village? It has a beauty that even pay-to-win can't achieve."

Even with Lin Yuan's current temperament, his heart couldn't help but beat wildly at the sight of this reward list.

Intelligent Lifeform!

This was an essential artifact for venturing into the universe; with it, everything from cultivation assistance and spaceship control to network hacking would be like adding wings to a tiger.

C9-Grade Spaceship!

Lin Yuan knew exactly what this meant; even within the Black Dragon Mountain Empire, it would be a highly sought-after treasure!

And those 10 billion Black Dragon Coins!

This wasn't some local currency that could only be used within Earth's borders; this was the official currency of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire, possessing staggering purchasing power!

Lin Yuan couldn't help but recall the classic jokes from the comment sections of videos he watched in his past life:

"Surpassing the War God, like a god himself—one Silver Blue Coin, not a cent more!"

"Don't drive up the prices, you upstairs!"

And now, before he had even left Earth, he already possessed a net worth of ten billion Black Dragon Coins!

As for the final reward...

"Star Pupil: Soul Capture? A soul enslavement technique?"

Lin Yuan rubbed his chin, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

"This comes at the perfect time. Aside from those two beasts in the ocean, there is one other major threat on Earth—the Zerg Hive deep within Shennongjia."

The Zerg Mother Queen was the most terrifying manufacturer of war machines in the universe.

If he could enslave her with this technique, he would essentially be carrying an endless legion of World Lords with him as he ventured into the cosmos!

Thinking of this, a surge of overwhelming motivation instantly filled Lin Yuan's chest.

"Since this is the final battle before stepping into the universe..."

Lin Yuan looked up, his gaze piercing through the clouds as if staring into the distant East Sea and the depths of the Pacific Ocean.

"Then it must be spectacular enough to make the entire Earth tremble!"

Whoosh!

Lin Yuan's figure flickered, instantly returning to the Qiankun Negative Intelligence Fighter parked in a hidden valley nearby.

"Launch the fighter. Target: Depths of the Pacific Ocean!"

The fighter's engines roared, transforming into a streak of black lightning as it shot into the sky.

Inside the cockpit, Lin Yuan opened his communicator and dialed the number that only a very few people knew—"Hong."

Beep—beep—

The connection was established, and Hong's cold, majestic face appeared on the screen.

"Lin Yuan? You've finally emerged from seclusion." Hong's voice was calm, but his eyes betrayed a hint of undisguised concern and anticipation. "A whole year without a word; it seems your gains have been significant."

"Master."

Lin Yuan looked at Hong, the corners of his mouth curling into a smile of absolute confidence. "Indeed, I've gained quite a bit. That's why I intend to stretch my limbs a little."

"Oh? Who do you want to spar with? Thunder God or me?"

It was rare for Hong to crack a joke.

"No."

Lin Yuan shook his head. "If I were to fight you or Thunder God, I wouldn't be able to truly let loose."

Hong's expression froze instantly, his pupils constricting: "Are you saying... the Thunder Dragon Emperor and the Octopus Beast Emperor?!"

"Precisely."

Lin Yuan's voice was calm, yet it struck like a thunderclap: "Humanity has been trapped on land for far too long. Today, the first battle since my emergence shall be reserved for those two old things."

"Notify the entire world, Hall Master."

"For this battle, I want the whole world to watch!"

Ten minutes later.

A message, transmitted through the highest channels of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall, instantly spread across all major global factions and every member of the War God Palace.

[Extreme Martial Arts Hall Honorary Inspector Lin Yuan, emerging from seclusion today!]

[Targets locked: East Sea Thunder Dragon Emperor, Pacific Ocean Octopus Beast Emperor!]

[Declaration: Slay the Emperors!]

BOOM!

The entire Earth instantly boiled over!