First Battle Against an Alien Race

A streak of light swept across the sky above the Primal Star's surface at astonishing speed.

Qin Yuan suppressed his aura to the utmost while releasing his Spiritual Force to probe for any activity within tens of thousands of kilometers. The Primal Star's spatial suppression was incredibly strong. His perception, which could cover an entire galaxy outside, was compressed here to less than one ten-thousandth of its usual range.

But there was an advantage to this: others could not sense very far either, giving him a chance to pick them off one by one.

"System, scan the surroundings for any Alien Race Universe Masters who are alone."

[Scanning...]

[Scan range: 100,000-kilometer radius]

[Universe Master Level life fluctuations detected: 3 locations]

[Fluctuation 1: 83,000 kilometers northwest; energy intensity approximately that of a Third-Order Universe Master; race: Machine Race]

[Fluctuation 2: 91,000 kilometers due north; energy intensity approximately that of a Fourth-Order Universe Master; race: Demon Race]

[Fluctuation 3: 76,000 kilometers southeast; energy intensity approximately that of a Second-Order Universe Master; race: Crystal Race]

[System recommendation: The target at Fluctuation 3 is the weakest and closest. Prioritize hunting and killing the target.]

A Second-Order Universe Master of the Crystal Race.

A cold light flashed in Qin Yuan's eyes.

The Crystal Race was one of the Six Great Peak Races of the Primal Universe. Its members' true forms were energy-crystal lifeforms, with a natural affinity for the Law of Light and the Law of Crystal. Their attacks were renowned for their penetrating power and precision, but their defenses were relatively weak. Once their true forms were shattered, recovery was difficult.

With Qin Yuan's current combat power, he could utterly crush a Second-Order Crystal Race Universe Master.

"I'll start with him."

Qin Yuan changed direction and sped southeast.

At a Universe Master's speed, seventy-six thousand kilometers took only a dozen or so breaths to cross.

Soon, Qin Yuan spotted his target.

It was a humanoid crystal lifeform, roughly three meters tall and composed entirely of translucent, pale blue crystal. Countless rays of light could be faintly seen flowing and refracting within him. He was crouching at the foot of a small mountain, digging at something with a tool of some kind. He seemed to have found a hidden ore vein.

"Good luck. I actually found a Light Silver Ore Vein," the Crystal Race Universe Master muttered to himself, his voice as crisp as glass clinking together. "This vein is worth at least as much as an Elementary Supreme Treasure. I've made a huge profit right at the start of this trip to the Primal Star."

He had no idea that death was approaching him.

Qin Yuan concealed himself in the void several dozen kilometers away, watching the Crystal Race Universe Master with a cold gaze. He was waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

If he attacked now, his opponent would be completely unprepared, but a head-on confrontation still carried some risk. His chances of success would be higher if he waited until his opponent had gone deep into the vein or was completely absorbed in digging.

Time passed, second by second.

The Crystal Race Universe Master finally cleared away the rock covering the vein, revealing the gleaming silver ore beneath. He bent down excitedly, preparing to put the entire vein into his World Ring.

Now!

Qin Yuan moved.

"Time Stop!"

The power of the Time Law surged out like an invisible tide, instantly freezing spacetime within a hundred meters of the Crystal Race Universe Master. The crystal arm reaching for the vein froze in midair, and he became a lifelike statue, the excited expression still fixed on his face.

"Space-Space-Shattering Slash!"

Qin Yuan half-closed his right hand, and an invisible blade condensed from the Space Law took shape in his palm. Without the slightest hesitation, he swung it!

A wave invisible to the naked eye swept past, striking the Crystal Race Universe Master precisely in the center of his body.

Frozen by Time Stop, the crystal body was as fragile as glass before Space-Shattering Slash. Crack-a fissure spread from the top of the Crystal Race Universe Master's head to the soles of his feet, followed by a second, then a third...

In just one second, the Second-Order Crystal Race Universe Master's body shattered into countless tiny crystal fragments.

But a Universe Master was not so easily killed.

Every crystal fragment contained a trace of divine power and consciousness. Given time, they could come back together and return to their original state. The tenacity of a Universe Master's life force was far beyond the imagination of ordinary beings.

Unfortunately, Qin Yuan would not give him that chance.

"Divine Power Burning!"

Qin Yuan gave a low shout, and the divine power within him began to burn furiously. It transformed into a vast force of destruction that enveloped every crystal fragment.

Divine Power Burning was a Universe Master's most basic and effective means of killing an enemy. By burning one's own divine power and converting it into pure destructive energy, one could utterly annihilate an enemy's divine power and consciousness, preventing them from being reborn.

Of course, the price of this method was steep. Burned divine power was a permanent loss, and restoring it took a long time. Generally speaking, Universe Masters would not use Divine Power Burning in battle against each other unless absolutely necessary.

But Qin Yuan did not care. He had the system, and his divine power recovered far faster than that of ordinary people. Besides, this kill was tied to the completion of his main quest, making it worth paying a price.

"No-!"

A terrified roar erupted from the countless crystal fragments at once. The Crystal Race Universe Master desperately mobilized his remaining divine power, trying to resist the annihilating force of Divine Power Burning. But the restraints of Time Stop had not yet fully lifted, and he could not even self-destruct.

Under the searing heat of Qin Yuan's burning divine power, the crystal fragments vanished into nothingness, one after another.

Three seconds later, the effect of Time Stop ended. But by then, more than ninety percent of the Crystal Race Universe Master's divine power and consciousness had been annihilated. Only the last few core fragments remained, struggling in their death throes.

"Spare... spare me..." a weak voice came from the core fragments. "I can give you Supreme Treasures, secret techniques, everything... as long as you don't kill me..."

Qin Yuan remained expressionless and struck down with his palm.

The flames of Divine Power Burning swept down, utterly engulfing the last few core fragments.

The Second-Order Crystal Race Universe Master had fallen!

[Ding-main quest progress updated!]

[Alien Race Universe Masters slain: 1/3]

[Loot obtained: World Ring ×1 (contains one Light Silver Ore Vein, Elementary Supreme Treasure ×2, and a quantity of Universe Coins)]

[System notification: Host's first kill of a Universe Master detected. Bonus reward: System Points ×1,000!]

Qin Yuan let out a long breath and withdrew his burning divine power.

The battle had seemed easy, but it had actually cost him a great deal. Time Stop and Space-Shattering Slash together had drained almost forty percent of his divine power. With the additional cost of burning divine power to annihilate his enemy, his total reserves had fallen by nearly sixty percent.

But he had no time to rest. Though the battle had been brief, the commotion caused by a Universe Master's fall was sure to be considerable. The experts nearby would soon come to investigate, and he had to leave immediately.

Qin Yuan waved a hand and put away the World Ring left behind by the fallen Crystal Race Universe Master. Then, in a flash, he vanished.

Less than half a minute after he left, three powerful auras descended upon the area at the same time.

One belonged to a humanoid being made entirely of metal-a Machine Race Universe Master.

Another belonged to a half-human, half-beast existence covered in pitch-black scales-a Demon Race Universe Master.

The last belonged to a figure surrounded by a faint glow, whose face could not be seen-a Zerg Universe Master.

The three Universe Masters came from three different peak races.

"That unlucky Crystal Race fellow was killed," the Machine Race Universe Master said coldly after scanning the battlefield. "The battle lasted no more than five seconds. The attacker was extremely powerful."

"Residual fluctuations of the Time Law and the Space Law." The Demon Race Universe Master sniffed, a vicious light flashing in his eyes. "There are no more than ten Universe Masters in the entire Primal Universe who have mastered both of those higher laws. The Human Race's Chaos City Lord is one, but he wouldn't attack a mere Second-Order. In that case..."

The Zerg Universe Master picked up the thought. "It can only be that newly risen Human Race Universe Master, Qin Yuan. Intelligence shows that the law fluctuations during his breakthrough included both the Time Law and the Space Law."

"A newly risen Universe Master can kill a Second-Order in an instant?" A trace of disbelief entered the Demon Race Universe Master's voice. "The Human Race's potential is truly unsettling."

"That is why he must be nipped in the bud," the Machine Race Universe Master said coldly. "Lord of Sky Wolf has already issued a kill order. Any Human Race Universe Master found alone is to be killed on sight. Especially this Qin Yuan-he's growing too quickly. He cannot be allowed to live."

The three Alien Race Universe Masters exchanged glances, then gave chase in three separate directions.