One-Year Deadline, Out of Seclusion! He'll Slay Earth's Two Beast Emperors? The World Is Shaken!

Time was the most merciless passerby, yet also the most devoted sculptor.

Deep in a remote wilderness beyond Jiangnan Base City, Huaxia Country.

Deep underground, inside a cave forcibly carved out by Spiritual Force.

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

Scattered beside him were several dull crystal fragments—the remnants of precious Muya Crystals.

These treasures contained pure life energy and were nothing short of the ultimate tonic for Planetary Level powerhouses.

The days in seclusion were dull, yet intoxicating.

For this entire year, Lin Yuan had completely cut off contact with the outside world.

Like a greedy sponge, he had frantically absorbed the energy within the Muya Crystals. The Origin Force in his body had begun at Planetary Level One and surged forward all the way, unstoppable!

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

Until today.

Rumble—

Deep within Lin Yuan's dantian, his Origin Core, which had originally been no larger than a tiny planet, was now undergoing a violent collapse and fusion.

Boundless light and heat erupted within him, as if a cosmic explosion were brewing.

Break!

Lin Yuan gave a low command in his heart.

The tiny planet suddenly exploded, then reformed in the blink of an eye, becoming a blazing star radiating limitless gravitational force—a sun!

He had reached Star Level!

At the same time, an abstruse fluctuation spread out from him in an instant. The previously restless energy particles became utterly docile beneath its influence.

This was... a domain!

Though he had only just begun to master it, this was the threshold one had to cross on the path to becoming a powerhouse in the universe and reaching the Domain Lord level.

On Earth, he was the second person to master a domain, after Hong.

Lin Yuan slowly opened his eyes. Deep in his pupils, two stars seemed to burn, their golden light flashing briefly before vanishing.

He looked inward at the Origin Core deep within his sea of consciousness, where his Clone was taking shape, and nodded in satisfaction.

"Nearly a year already."

"Perhaps after so much traveling, I'd built up too much potential. This breakthrough went even more smoothly than I expected."

Lin Yuan rose to his feet. His bones crackled like rumbling thunder.

He took a single step, and his figure disappeared from the spot.

The next moment.

A figure appeared in midair above the Wilderness Zone.

Without any warning, Lin Yuan simply stood suspended in the void. Yet his newly unleashed, not-yet-fully-contained aura surged across the world like a tangible storm!

BOOM!!!

Within a thousand meters below, towering trees seemed to be pressed down by an invisible giant hand. They toppled outward in unison as clouds of dust billowed into the air.

Countless monsters lurking in the ruins, whether at the Beast General level or Lord level, felt terror rise from the depths of their souls. They howled and fled in every direction as if the end of the world had arrived.

Whoosh!

Lin Yuan held out one hand. He had no blade in it, but he used his hand as one, casually swinging it at the empty space before him.

He had used no Origin Force in that slash. It was purely a combination of physical strength and his domain.

Rip—

The air let out a strained tearing sound.

Before his very eyes, the space ahead seemed to be ripped open by his hand into a pitch-black fissure. The terrifying force crossed a thousand meters in an instant, cleaving two abandoned skyscrapers in half in the distance!

Their cut surfaces were smooth as mirrors.

"So this is the power of Star Level?"

Lin Yuan looked at his palm. Now, every move he made could draw upon the power of Heaven and Earth.

Even without using Spiritual Force, his martial prowess alone was enough to beat more than ten versions of himself from a year ago.

After all, a year ago, his Spiritual Force had already let him dominate the competition at Mist Island, and he had been recognized as one of the strongest on Earth.

But now?

With his Star Level One cultivation, his newly comprehended domain, the fully grown Star Vine within him, and the Sun God Weapon—

Was there anyone left on Earth who could stand against him?

A feeling of invincible loneliness welled up inside Lin Yuan.

He felt as if his entire body were brimming with explosive power. His hands were itching for a fight, and he desperately needed a worthy punching bag to test just how strong he had become.

Just then—

That familiar, cool yet pleasant mechanical voice rang in his mind at just the right moment.

[Mission: At Last, Transformed; The Prelude to the Stars]

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

[Evaluation: You are no longer the boy who could only drift with the current. Having reached Star Level in a single breakthrough, it's time to bring Earth to a perfect close. Go—become a god in the eyes of the world, and take an important step toward entering the stars!]

[Mission Rewards:]

[1. Intelligent Life]

[2. C9-class spaceship]

[3. Black Dragon Coins: 10 billion]

[4. Soul Enslavement Secret Art: Star Pupil: Soul Capture]

Looking at the pale-blue display that appeared before his eyes, Lin Yuan's pupils contracted. He drew in a sharp breath.

"Whew... Is this the reward for leaving the beginner village? It's so good, it feels like even money couldn't buy it."

Even Lin Yuan, with his current temperament, couldn't stop his heart from pounding at the list of rewards.

Intelligent Life!

It was an indispensable tool for exploring the universe. With it, everything from cultivation assistance to spaceship control and network infiltration would be enhanced.

A C9-class spaceship!

Lin Yuan knew exactly what that meant. Even in the Black Dragon Mountain Empire, one would be fought over!

And then there were those 10 billion Black Dragon Coins!

This wasn't some currency that was only useful within Earth. It was the official currency of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire, with astonishing purchasing power!

Lin Yuan couldn't help recalling a classic joke from the comments section of videos he'd watched in his previous life:

"Beyond War God, practically a god. One Silver Blue Coin, no more!"

"Don't inflate the prices, buddy!"

And now, before he'd even left Earth, he was already worth 10 billion Black Dragon Coins!

As for the final reward...

"Star Pupil: Soul Capture? A method of Soul Enslavement?"

Lin Yuan rubbed his chin, a glint appearing in his eyes.

"This couldn't have come at a better time. Aside from those two beasts in the sea, Earth has one other major threat—the Zerg Hive deep in Shennongjia."

The Zerg Mother Emperor was one of the most terrifying producers of war machines in the universe.

If he could enslave her with this secret art, then in his future explorations of the universe, he would effectively have an endless army of World Lords at his command!

At the thought, a surge of motivation filled Lin Yuan's chest.

"Since this is the final battle before I enter the universe..."

Lin Yuan looked up, his gaze piercing the clouds as if he could see the distant East Sea and the depths of the Pacific Ocean.

"Then it has to be earth-shaking. The whole planet will tremble!"

Whoosh!

Lin Yuan vanished in a flash and reappeared inside the Qiankun Negative Intelligence Fighter, which was parked in a hidden valley nearby.

"Start the fighter. Destination: the depths of the Pacific Ocean!"

The fighter's engines roared. It shot skyward like a black bolt of lightning.

Aboard the fighter, Lin Yuan opened the communicator and dialed a number known to only a handful of people—Hong.

Beep—beep—

The call connected, and Hong's stern, dignified face appeared on the screen.

"Lin Yuan? You're finally out of seclusion." Hong's voice was calm, but undisguised concern and anticipation showed in his eyes. "You've been out of contact for a whole year. Looks like you gained quite a bit."

"Chief Instructor."

Lin Yuan looked at Hong and smiled, the corners of his mouth lifting in supreme confidence. "I did gain a few things. So I thought I'd stretch my muscles."

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

Hong rarely made a joke.

"No."

Lin Yuan shook his head. "If I fought you or Thunder God, I wouldn't be able to cut loose."

Hong's expression instantly froze, his pupils narrowing. "You mean... the Thunder Dragon Emperor and the Octopus Beast Emperor?!"

"Exactly."

Lin Yuan's voice was calm, yet it struck like thunder. "Humanity has been trapped on land for too long. I'll dedicate my first battle after leaving seclusion to those two old beasts."

"Notify the whole world, Chief Instructor."

"I want the entire world to watch this battle!"

Ten minutes later.

A message was sent through the Extreme Martial Arts Hall's highest channels, instantly spreading to all the major forces around the world and every member of the War God Palace.

[Lin Yuan, Honorary Inspector of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall, has left seclusion today!]

[Targets confirmed: Thunder Dragon Emperor of the East Sea and Octopus Beast Emperor of the Pacific Ocean!]

[Declaration: Slay the Emperors!]

BOOM!

The entire planet erupted!