Swallowed Star

Chapter 1438: Realization

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

As the most powerful Sector Beast within the Sector Beasts’ nest now, Beddy was naturally concerned about the happenings in Universe Ocean. Through Zhen Jia Emperor and Dragon Rock Ancestral God, it had learned some news, and also, it was aware that Universe Ocean’s Number One Master was “universe master” Luo Feng.

What a pity Zhen Jia and Dragon Rock are being ostracized by the various races of Universe Ocean, thought Beddy. I can’t even find out whether this Milky Way Horde Leader has achieved his breakthrough to become a true god or not… I also don’t know if this Milky Way has deposed Morosa back to the first stage in his capacity as a “universe master,” or if he did so after he became a true god.

Beddy pondered. The two possibilities were greatly different from one another.

If Luo Feng had become a true god, being able to depose Morosa back to the first stage was nothing impressive, and the threat he posed was not major. But if Luo Feng was merely a universe master, yet had been able to depose Morosa back to the first stage, then when Luo Feng became a true god, how formidable would he be?

“Seems like my powers are still lacking,” Beddy said to himself. “I must increase my power as soon as I can. I need to become more powerful at a much faster rate. I used to focus more on the third-stage Sector Beasts. Now, I need to devour even the second stage Sector Beasts… If I devour a greater number of second-stage Sector Beasts, they can still equate to one third stage Sector Beast.”

Beddy’s past strategy had been very simple. Whatever threatened it, it would devour. And even if it was unable to devour its opponent, it would inflict severe injuries on it. In this way, Beddy was able to keep its position at the top of the pile!

The method was stable and practical. It could easily keep tabs on the hundreds of Sector Beasts that posed the greatest threats to it… but the method was also slow! If it were to devour and attack a tremendous number of second-stage Sector Beasts, it would level up at a much faster rate, but it also meant that he would not be able to acquire enough information about those that threatened it. There were always two sides to any coin.

******

Sector Beast Morosa and Luo Feng had fought one another in a battle where Morosa was defeated.

This had been the first contact between a Sector Beast and a life form from Universe Ocean and had caused much fear and unrest among the various races of Universe Ocean. The various races were aware that when there was first contact, a second encounter was likely to occur soon.

Likewise, Morosa, upon being deposed back the first stage, had returned to the Sector Beasts’ nest. When the many Sector Beasts from the nest learned this news, they all had a good shock. It made them realize that they had been mistaken to belittle the various races of the Universe Ocean. They had not expected anyone from Universe Ocean to be so powerful. Also, it drove the Sector Beasts—who had previously followed a systematic way of fighting and evolving—into a state of frenzy. Gradually, they began to lose their self-restraint!

******

The aged ancestral god stood by the edge of the public square before the ancestral god palace and looked far into the distance at the numerous Sector Beasts’ palaces suspended in void space.

“Milky Way Horde Leader might have defeated his first Sector Beast opponent, which, in turn, fled the scene,” he said, “but according to the news transmitted to me by the willpower of the origin, the countless Sector Beasts within their nest are bound to be affected. They will quicken their pace of evolution. There is a high probability that final battle between the Sector Beast and will likely be moved forward.”

“Yes,” The youngest ancestral god said, wearing a solemn and worried look. “Milky Way Horde Leader is the only hope for our Universe Ocean! If he becomes a true god, we still have hope… but if he has no breakthrough, once the mighty Sector Beast army charges toward us, or if a super-strong Sector Beast comes here, we will not be able to stop them. Ultimate extermination will be our fate! What is Milky Way Horde Leader’s problem? Merely a universe master, yet his level of secret technique is so magical! And his power is simply unbelievable. He has the inheritance of the pulse of Duan Dong River, and, from the World of Jin, he also acquired the inheritance of the ancient civilization. So why is he still unable to achieve a breakthrough and become a true god? To other great beings, becoming a true god may be quite a challenge. But him? He should have already become one long ago.”

Double-Face Ancestral God shook his head, sighing. It was a good point. Why had there been no breakthrough for Milky Way Horde Leader to become a true god in all this time? Not only were the three ancestral gods were worried, but the various races from the entire Universe Ocean were worried, too!

Back when the inheritance of the ancient civilization had yet to be handed down, becoming a true god was extremely difficult. But since almost all the races got to know about the inheritance of the ancient civilization, the level of difficulty had reduced and was now comparable to becoming a universe master.

******

“Luo Feng!”

In Milky Way Holy Land, True Yan Master stood before the railings at the peak of his own palace, looking out at the boundless Remote Ocean far, far away. There was worry in his eyes.

“I believe that now, you must be under tremendous pressure,” said True Yan Master, “because the various races throughout Universe Ocean will be pinning their hopes on you. At this very moment, you have to hang on. You have no other choice.”

True Yan was heartbroken. This disciple of his, Luo Feng… To True Yan, this disciple was his greatest pride.

Back when Luo Feng first entered Primal Chaos City because of the War of Talents, he had been taken in by True Yan as a disciple. True Yan had seen this disciple of his grow and mature at every stage of his life! True Yan also understood all that Luo Feng had gone through on Earth. Emerging out of all those miseries, he had never bowed his head to adversity. He would have rather perished with the devouring beast than have given up. True Yan Master knew Luo Feng’s past and had seen how Luo Feng had grown up. He truly cherished Luo Feng as a disciple and had long treated him like family.

True Yan’s family had long passed away due to the passage of time. His disciple was just like his family. In True Yan’s heart, Luo Feng was nothing short of a son. Maybe Luo Feng was not aware of it, but True Yan indeed felt that way about Luo Feng. Anytime Luo Feng became stronger and grew more powerful, True Yan felt gratified for Luo Feng’s success.

At this moment, though, there was nothing True Yan could do about the heartache he felt.

“You have to hang on, face up to this calamity, and fight it,” True Yan earnestly prayed. “As soon as you can, quickly rise up to become a true god. That is the only way you have a hope of surviving.”

True Yan could not help wishing that he could go in place of Luo Feng. But he was aware that he would only become a morsel of a snack on the Sector Beast’s plate. He would be of no use at all.

******

“Luo Feng, if you have to die, you have to wait till you finish off all the Sector Beasts!” Purple Moon Ancestor was roaring inwardly. “Then you may die!”

******

“You have to become a true god! This—this should not be difficult for you.” East Emperor Ancestor stood on his ancestor tree and looked afar. His gaze penetrated the universe as he looked in the direction of the primal universe. “Even if you choose to take the godly power route, given your talent, you should be able to succeed.”

******

“You have to become a true god!” Divine Eye Master said, greatly looking forward to it. “I long not to pledge my allegiance to the Sector Beast!”

******

“You have to become a true god!”

“You have to become a true god!”

******

The various races of Universe Ocean, including the bugs and demons, were all filled with mutual anticipation. All were looking forward to Luo Feng becoming a true god.

******

Far away, at the three most dangerous lands where the Universe Boat was, within the space of the Black-Striped Stone Pillar.

“Oh, how tall.” Inside a silver vessel, Luo Feng stood in the middle of a hall. His gaze penetrated the cabin walls as he looked outside. He saw the black-striped stone pillar that stood erected, protruding into the clouds. “Finally, I am back here again!”

The black-striped stone pillar—one of the strange objects of Universe Boat. It contained a powerful impact of willpower. The closer one got to it, the more terrifying the impact was. Also, as one got closer to the black-striped stone pillar, the rate of time velocity accelerated! Ordinary universe masters could only get close to regions that were at 1,000 times the rate of time velocity, while Bei Chi Star Master, who had gotten the closest to that impact of willpower, had managed to reach a region where time velocity was as high as 130,000 times!

“Let me see for myself,” said Luo Feng, “just how high the acceleration of time at this black-striped stone pillar can be.”

Luo Feng boarded his Boat of Mausoleum and quickly closed the distance between him and the black-striped stone pillar.

“10,000 times, 30,000 times…” The Boat of Mausoleum continued to fly closer, but Luo Feng maintained a peaceful expression. His willpower had already reached the level of an eternal true god, which was much stronger than Bei Chi Star Master. “100,000 times, 120,000 times, 150,000 times…”

Space was becoming a little distorted. The time velocity was extremely fast, while the powerful impact of willpower wiped out everything around it in waves. It was as though it sought to destroy everything. Yet Luo Feng seemed as though he was basking in the spring breeze, without a trace of discomfort.

“220,000 times, 260,000 times, 290,000 times… 510,000 times, 550,000 times… Hmm?” Luo Feng’s expression was very solemn. “I am getting nearer.”

The Boat of Mausoleum had already flown extremely close to the black-striped stone pillar. However, the impact of the willpower was now powerful enough to bring a frown to Luo Feng’s face. Gradually, the Boat of Mausoleum started to reduce its speed. Eventually, it came to a halt.

Right here. This was Luo Feng’s ultimate limit. The nose of the Boat of Mausoleum was almost touching the black-striped stone pillar.

“I want to be in contact with the black-striped stone pillar, but I suppose my willpower must reach the ultimate limit of an eternal true god,” Luo Feng whispered. “I am still lacking in that aspect.”

His willpower might have reached the level of an eternal true god, but he had yet to attain the ultimate limit.

“The acceleration of time velocity here is approximately 600,000 times.” Luo Feng nodded to himself.

His purpose in boarding the Boat of Mausoleum to come to the space of the black-striped stone pillars was to borrow this unique environment, where time was accelerated, to facilitate his cultivation! The threat of the Sector Beasts had subjected Luo Feng to a tremendous amount of pressure. He needed to maximize the use of every second he had, so this place had come to mind!

“Right here, I can, once again, get into the space of cultivation.”

Luo Feng was deep in thought. The space of cultivation was originally able to accommodate an acceleration in time velocity of up to 10,000 times. If the surroundings outside could maintain a time acceleration of 600,000 times, then by superimposing the time accelerations of the two different environments, he could, theoretically, achieve a time acceleration of six billion times. Of course, this was impossible. Luo Feng, who had a deep understanding of the ancient civilization, was aware that, in an environment where time acceleration was as high as six billion times, if he wanted time acceleration to continue increasing, there would be a drastic increase in difficulty.

“The impact of willpower here is too strong. I will be affected if I start cultivating here. I shall move back a little.”

Luo Feng maneuvered the Boat of Mausoleum into retreating a bit, stopping at a region where time acceleration was at 500,000 times. Then his earthling original body entered the space of cultivation.

In the space of cultivation, time acceleration could go up to 10,000 times.

“Accelerate to 1,000 times,” Luo Feng said, trying his hand at time acceleration. The time velocity in the space of cultivation immediately soared. Thereafter, time acceleration was maintained at 1,000 times.

With an external time acceleration of 500,000 times and an internal time acceleration of 1,000 times within the space of cultivation, the overall time acceleration reached 500 million times.

Hong! Long!

Luo Feng was horrified as he looked around him. His surroundings were trembling. Heaven and earth trembled. The entire space of inheritance also trembled, and energy was consumed rapidly.

“Not good.” Luo Feng showed a slight change in expression. “Reduce acceleration to 100 times!”

Hua!

The time velocity was immediately reduced to 100 times. The surroundings seemed to stabilize, but the energy stored within the space of inheritance was still being consumed rapidly.

“Still too fast. Reduce to ten times.” Luo Feng was forced to reduce till time acceleration was only at ten times. Then, instantly, the entire space of inheritance regained its peace and quiet. “The space of cultivation can only accommodate an acceleration of ten times, yet the amount of energy consumed is still so much greater than the normal time region with an acceleration of 10,000 times. Given the energy reserve in the space of inheritance, it should be easy to maintain.”

After a series of adjustments, Luo Feng finally substantiated that the space of cultivation could allow time acceleration to be maintained at a rate of 20 times. Adding on the 500,000 times from the outside, that equated to 10 million times. The consumption of energy was going to be massive, but, given the accumulated amount within the space of inheritance over countless eras, sustaining it over a long time should be possible.

“I must cherish every passing second. I hope that I can achieve my breakthrough before the Sector Beast crisis!”

Luo Feng left a body sustained by godly power in the Boat of Mausoleum as his earthling original body departed without further delay.

******

Time passed.

Year after year went by. The body sustained by godly power that remained in the region of the black-striped stone pillar was cultivating like crazy in an environment where time acceleration was maintained at 10 million times.

Luo Feng’s original body, on the other hand, was walking all over the place, seeking inspiration. First, he roamed Tilted Peak Sector, where he arrived at the core region. He even ventured further down, where he could catch a glimpse of the Land of Darkness from afar. Then he proceeded elsewhere. He even found some inheritances left behind by other true gods who had tried to transcend reincarnation eras.

Then he went back to tour around the Universe Boat again while looking around very thoroughly. He was so thorough that he managed to discover traces left behind by some ancient great beings that were used to control the Universe Boat. He also visited Flowing Countless Mountains, where he realized that there were also traces of great beings from the ancient civilization to be found.

Lastly, Luo Feng returned to the primal universe, where he walked along the borders and even visited territories belonging to the other clans and races like the bugs, the demons, and the automatons. He also visited the regions where the weaker races resided. He saw the births of life forms as well as the withering of life forms. He also saw the fighting and annihilation of lives, as well as the destruction of a planet.

Regardless of evil or good—everything that transpired between the billions and trillions of races on the universe—Luo Feng simply watched from the standpoint of an onlooker, observing everything from the side without intervening.

He observed the budding life forms. He observed the birth of a new planet. He observed the destruction of a single traveler star and to the destruction of an entire galaxy by a super black hole.

******

Luo Feng firmly believed the primal universe bred billions and trillions of life forms with the supreme path of life gestation. From the countless factors he observed, he had to be able to find the key to opening the door to the third stage godly power. Something that seemed as simple as a baby growing up and withering away with age was something Luo Feng meticulously pondered. He investigated every trace left behind under a time acceleration of 10 million times.

Something that seemed as simple as the operation of the celestial realm also fell into Luo Feng’s scope of exploration.

Silently, Luo Feng’s willpower was gradually changing.

“Earth.”

Luo Feng stood in outer space as he looked towards the blue planet far into the distance. Beneath his gaze, time was flowing backward. Earth orbited rapidly around the sun in a counterclockwise direction. Everything on Earth was in continuous change.

“This is the past. What about the future?”

Under his gaze, the entire solar system was undergoing a change again as various scenes were continuously changing.

Scenes from the past were very clear when time was reversed, yet when it came to the future Luo Feng witnessed, every scene was still constantly changing. Past events had already happened, so it was impossible to change or reverse any of them. On the other hand, the future was an unknown filled with countless possibilities.

“Roar!”

The various scenarios all seemed to be heading toward the same outcome. 30,000 years in the future, the solar system would be destroyed, and all life forms would be annihilated. This would mean the Sector Beasts had destroyed everything. 60,000 years later, the solar system would be destroyed, and all life forms would be annihilated. 110,000 years later, the solar system would be destroyed, and all life forms would be annihilated.

Destroy!

Destroy!

Still destroying!

But there was one outcome to the contrary that was extremely dazzling, in which Earth would become even more developed, and where countless starships would head toward Earth. Even after tens of thousands of eras or hundreds of millions of eras, Earth would still exist… This outcome represented the fact that Luo Feng had killed the Sector Beast.

Looking at all the possibilities the future had in store, Luo Feng merely observed peacefully.

“Hmm?”

Suddenly, Luo Feng’s expression changed.

“The sun!”

Luo Feng’s eyes lit up. Under his gaze, from the past of the ancient civilization to the future, the Earth was still orbiting around the sun. Even with the various possibilities the future had in store, Earth was still orbiting around the sun, round after round, eternally and without end. It might have seemed repetitive and cumbersome, but it was following a rule—a rule that no one could violate.

“The Earth!” Luo Feng’s gaze turned to focus on Earth.

From the endless past to the future, Earth, being a life planet, was constantly attracting strange life forces from extremely vast distances to breed life. This life force was intangible, but traversing the primal universe whilst looking toward the future, Luo Feng could vaguely discern clues that prompted him to believe that Earth was, indeed, the core of the surrounding region—the place where all life was bred.

“Earth revolves around the sun. The sun is the core… But for the life gestation system, within the vast region, the Earth is also the core… A celestial system. A life system. All these systems are different, yet they form the perfect combination…”

Luo Feng’s gaze swept through the various scenes, which depicted the path of the countless stars in orbit. Then another scene appeared. It was a scene of his own life structure diagram—which was very complicated—and also, the life structure diagram of the Sector Beast.

“Different… yet connected…”

Beyond space, beyond time, originating from the supreme universe laws, everything would head toward the same ultimate destination. Universe oceans, true gods, true gods of void space… Sector Beasts.

All life forms, even those that were complete opposites but were bred by Universe Ocean, were destined for a common endpoint.