Wind Beast God

In the early days of the Primordial Universe, Universe Overlords truly were invincible beings. Even Universe Lords like Dragon Walker Lord and Source had to show them sufficient respect.

But Fang Yan knew that, in the future of the Primordial Universe, Universe Lords, Universe Strongest, and even beings on still higher levels would emerge.

In that distant future, Universe Overlords would only become increasingly marginalized.

And who wanted to be some nobody by the roadside?

Fang Yan took a deep breath, sat cross-legged before the altar, and closed his eyes.

"Spring Autumn Cicada."

He called softly.

Time Reversal!

The jade flask was once again filled with blazing golden Wind-Flow Origin Liquid.

Fang Yan picked up the jade flask and drained it in one gulp again.

Again and again, a third time, a fourth, a fifth...

Fang Yan lost count of how many cups of Wind-Flow Origin Liquid he drank.

Three thousand years of enlightenment passed without a sound.

Fang Yan now sat cross-legged before the 9,999th step. His aura had become extraordinarily restrained. He was like a blade returned to its sheath, with no edge visible at all, yet capable of severing everything the instant it was drawn.

The amplitude of his mind power ultimately settled at 9,999.

The enhancement to his own strength reached 99.99 times.

That was terrifying!

Fang Yan's human body directly reached the foundation of a high-level Immortal Army Lord.

And with Fang Yan's Spring Autumn Cicada Clone possessing 1,000 times genetic amplification, multiplied by another hundredfold, it had the power of 100,000 Peak World Lords.

The Spring Autumn Cicada's base combat strength astonishingly reached Peak King-level!

Of course, only its foundation had reached that level. For Fang Yan, his comprehension of laws was still far from sufficient.

If he went head-to-head with King-level experts who had mastered the three major branches of superior laws, Fang Yan would only end up becoming a meatball.

"9,999."

Fang Yan murmured the number, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his lips.

He did not choose to continue forward, nor did he touch the divine throne right before him.

The 10,000th step was a trap, poison coated in sugar. Once he stepped onto it, the title of Universe Overlord would be forced upon him, and he would never be able to advance another inch.

Fang Yan rose to his feet and gave a slight cupped-fist salute toward the divine throne deep within the temple.

"Wind-Nurturing Divine General, forgive my offense."

With that, he turned without looking back and walked toward the way he had come.

The temple remained silent for a long time. Then, from somewhere unimaginably deep, came a breath-like sound that was almost imperceptible.

It sounded like an ancient sigh, yet also like a meaningful, quiet laugh.

The thirty-two dark-gold temples still floated at the bottom of the wind eye, arranged in that ancient circular formation.

Standing before the temple gates, Fang Yan looked back at the temple where he had spent more than four thousand years, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

He was not even five thousand years old yet.

By giving up that final step, he had given up the chance to ascend to the rank of Universe Overlord in a single move.

"Master, your heartbeat is so fast."

Little Fox Fairy's teasing voice sounded in his mind.

"Do you regret it now?"

"Regret it?"

Fang Yan's lips curved upward.

"Some Immortal Venerable once said: seize it in one hand and refine it in an instant!"

Wind-Following Wings spread behind him. The secret patterns on the azure feathers lit up, and Fang Yan streaked through the storm in an arc, speeding toward the top of the wind eye.

"Huh? What was that supposed to mean?"

Little Fox Fairy was somewhat baffled by Fang Yan's words.

"I am willing to pay for my mistakes, but I never regret any decision I make. I have never doubted my own judgment. When things go against my wishes, it is only because my ability is still insufficient. No one can be right at every step..."

(The entire passage was recited here. Anyone who has not memorized it, go stand in the corner on some short-video app as punishment! ٩(๑^o^๑)۶)

After Fang Yan's impassioned speech, he froze.

King Lanke was still there.

But at this moment, King Lanke was as obedient as a cat being held by the scruff of its neck.

This King-level expert who guarded the outer region of Wind Abyss Star was slightly bent forward, his hands hanging at his sides, his entire body taut as a fully drawn bow.

Fang Yan did not even need to think to know what level of being could make a King-level expert this nervous.

Sure enough, his gaze passed over King Lanke and landed on a figure.

That being's figure filled the void. He said nothing, yet the entire expanse of space fell silent.

Meteors stopped moving, planets stopped orbiting...

A creature completely covered in dense azure fur stood there. He resembled a large upright cat, broad and powerful without being bloated.

His azure fur was extraordinarily thick, layered upon layered from the crown of his head all the way to his ankles. Every strand was like an independent river of stars. As they drifted gently through the void, countless tiny specks of light could vaguely be seen flowing within them.

Those points of light formed spiral trails, like miniature galaxies slowly revolving within his fur.

"I am the Wind Beast God. You may also call me Lord of Wine."

A rich, mature male voice sounded in Fang Yan's mind, and his heart suddenly skipped a beat.

This was no ordinary Universe Lord. He was a being born with 10,081 times genetic amplification, a nearly invincible existence in the early Primordial Universe.

The Wind Beast God slowly turned around.

Fang Yan's reflection lay within his amber vertical pupils. He did not appear fierce or savage; instead, he exuded the weathered calm and indifference of endless ages.

Then, this big cat spoke.

"Boy, come here."

His voice was not loud, yet it carried an unusual penetrating force.

It was no law-based secret technique, merely the vibration of vocal cords. The underlying quality of that voice was an exceptionally rich, mature male tone.

It was like the voice of a middle-aged actor who had spent more than a decade narrating documentaries: deep and magnetic, with a hint of lazy drawl at the end, making one want to hear him speak a few more words.

Fang Yan took a deep breath, suppressed the shock in his heart, vibrated his Wind-Following Wings, and flew before the Wind Beast God. He cupped his fists in salute.

"This junior, Fang Yan, greets Senior."

The Wind Beast God said nothing. His amber eyes swept through the void behind Fang Yan before lingering on Fang Yan himself, examining him several times until Fang Yan's back turned cold.

"You were able to reach the final step of Wind-Nurturing Divine General's inheritance. Very good. What you said just now was also very good."

"No one can be right at every step..."

After a moment, the Wind Beast God finally spoke. His tone remained calm, but an almost imperceptible trace of approval flashed through his vertical pupils.

Fang Yan's heart tightened.

Before he could speak, the Wind Beast God continued. The corners of his mouth seemed to lift slightly, revealing the outline of pointed teeth and lending that big-cat face a touch of slyness.

"I am the Wind Beast God of the Ancestral God Cult. I came here today to retrieve a component of my Top-grade Supreme Artifact, the Illusory God Bell."

He raised one furry paw and patted the massive indigo star floating in the void.

"This Wind Abyss Star is the clapper of the Illusory God Bell."

Fang Yan's pupils abruptly contracted.