The tremors in the River of Time extended only to a few hundred nearby universes. Even then, the most intense shaking occurred along the riverbank of Lin Yuan’s own universe.
As for the River of Time in those surrounding hundreds of universes? They only experienced a faint vibration.
In truth, whenever someone newly advances to the 12th rank and climbs ashore, a similar phenomenon occurs; it’s just never as intense as Lin Yuan’s.
The commotion Lin Yuan triggered when going ashore surpassed the limits of the River of Time in his universe, spreading its effect to a few hundred surrounding universes.
Hence, the many 12th-rank beings in these universes were left astounded. None of them saw anyone climbing ashore on their own riverside, yet they sensed the quivering of the riverbank, something that only happens when a newly ascended ultimate being is going ashore. Those 12th-rank experts throughout the surrounding universes felt perplexed, since they had no idea where those tremors originated.
However, the numerous alien 12th-rank beings already waiting to see the Milky Way Star Lord climb ashore found their minds reeling.
They had intended to observe the Milky Way Star Lord in that moment of ascending the shore, hoping to glean information about him so they could decide how to deal with human civilization and how to handle him in the future.
Indeed, they learned something about him—and it thoroughly frightened all the 12th-rank beings.
“Such a massive form? How immense must the Milky Way Star Lord’s life essence be...” a Starry Sky Alliance 12th-rank whispered in shock.
One’s size on the River of Time’s shore isn’t just a matter of basic multiplication. For instance, if my life essence is double yours, it doesn’t mean my manifested form is simply twice as tall here.
The rules at the river’s shore are extremely strict. Even being twice as high in life essence might only make one appear marginally taller on the shore.
As such, aside from those two Path-Clearing peak beings of the Calamity Race, most 12th-rank existences along the shore are roughly the same size.
Even top-tier 12th-rank fighters, like Xuanyuan the Strongest one or the Mother Empress of Insect Race—both close to the Path-Clearing peak—look about the same as other 12th-rank beings here.
But Lin Yuan?
Standing before him, these 12th-rank experts barely reach his knees.
Perhaps if Lin Yuan casually strolled over and happened to bump them with his foot, even a 12th-rank being would be gravely injured.
“A Path-Clearing peak? Even for a Path-Clearing peak, he shouldn’t be this massive,” one 12th-rank being murmured with a trembling heart.
They had already expected, before Lin Yuan entered the 12th rank, that the Milky Way Star Lord’s combat power would be very daunting upon his breakthrough.
But who could have foreseen it being so extreme? Path-Clearing peak? The two Calamity Race 12th-rank beings are also at the Path-Clearing peak, yet on the River of Time’s shore, they only reach up to the Milky Way Star Lord’s waist.
Compared to Lin Yuan, those other 12th-rank beings really do look like toddlers playing house—he could stomp one of them with a single step.
“Could he be at the Dominance realm? Has the Milky Way Star Lord already reached Dominance?”
“No way. How does someone enter Path-Clearing and instantly become Dominance? That doesn’t even make sense.”
Gazing at the Milky Way Star Lord gradually stepping onto the shore, countless 12th-rank experts were filled with fear, chattering among themselves in hushed tones.
They had obtained information from beyond their universe, aware that beyond the 12th rank lie Dominance and Chaos. Yet right now, the Milky Way Star Lord’s size exceeds their notion of the Path-Clearing realm, so they reflexively wonder if he’s advanced to Dominance.
“Regardless of what level he’s at now, none of us can resist him,” declared a 12th-rank from the Universe Race, steadying himself as he glanced at the other 12th-rank beings.
“From now on, our Universe Race will do our best to shrink our territory. You can decide what you want to do.”
With the Milky Way Star Lord’s rise, he’s now unbeatable in this universe. Even if all these 12th-rank experts joined forces, they wouldn’t stand a chance.
Thus the Universe Race made that choice.
No help for it.
Territory is critically important to any peak-level species: a vast domain fosters more life, producing more powerful individuals and, in turn, potentially giving birth to new 12th-rank beings.
It’s layer upon layer—the territory is the foundation of every species.
For countless years, the twelve peak civilizations have clashed precisely over territory. But no matter how crucial territory may be, it’s not more important than a species’ survival.
With the Milky Way Star Lord ashore, poised to sweep across the universe in overwhelming fashion, if the Universe Race insists on holding vast territory, isn’t that courting death?
“We’ll shrink our territory as well.”
“Sigh… The days ahead won’t be easy.”
All the 12th-rank beings exchanged glances, each wearing a grim expression.
Their only hope to survive a bit longer might be to contract their forces, retreat to within range of their ancestral weapons, and unite their power.
Meanwhile, the two Calamity Race 12th-rank experts also watched Lin Yuan’s emergence from a distance.
“What kind of formidable body and soul must one possess to yield such a colossal life essence...” one of them sighed.
Although vast life essence doesn’t equate directly to combat strength, the stronger one’s essence, the greater one’s advantage in both offense and defense.
They say raw strength can overpower clever technique for a reason.
Within these two Calamity Race beings’ thoughts, they practically concluded Lin Yuan must be a reincarnated Great Saint. A Great Saint reincarnation is basically invincible at the same level, and with such tremendous life essence, surpassing one’s realm to fight stronger foes is perfectly plausible.
“Our race should contract its territory too,” said the Calamity Race 12th-rank expert on the right after some deliberation.
“My thoughts exactly,” agreed the other.
Yes, the Calamity Race did not take part in besieging the Milky Way Star Lord. In fact, they offered him warnings, presumably building goodwill.
But if they become overly confident in that good deed and refuse to withdraw, risking the Milky Way Star Lord’s displeasure, that would be a disaster.
Neither of them wanted to take such a risk. They also have ways to outlast this cosmic epoch, so there is no need to cling to short-term gains.
Given the Calamity Race’s small population, even giving up 90% of their domain would more than suffice, so it wouldn’t really affect them.
Rumble.
Lin Yuan took just a few steps to reach the River of Time’s shore.
“So this is what it feels like on dry land?” Lin Yuan surveyed his surroundings. Several dozen 12th-rank experts kept as far away from him as they could.
“They’re all so small.”
Everything felt dwarfed in Lin Yuan’s eyes as he peered down at the 12th-rank beings who barely came up to his knees.
“My life essence definitely surpasses the Path-Clearing peak,” Lin Yuan thought, giving a brief glance at those two Calamity Race 12th-rank experts.
In terms of combat ability, he has truly achieved Dominance, though his actual realm remains Path-Clearing, and his life essence likewise transcends the usual Path-Clearing peak.
“I can’t let it go to my head. In this universe, I’ve reached the pinnacle. But in the Guming Chaos Continent? In the Chaos Void? I’m still far behind.”
Pulling his thoughts back under control, Lin Yuan remained clear-headed about his standing.
He already kept a permanent avatar on the Guming Chaos Continent and had glimpsed the River of Time in the Chaos Void.
The River of Time in the Chaos Void is the main channel, infinitely more vast than any tributary within the universe. Countless titanic figures line its shores.
Many of them are as lofty as the heavens themselves, a slight movement enough to stir the main course of the River of Time.
“The Chaos Void is the true origin of evolution. Countless Chaos Venerables and even Great Saints pursue paths and goals far beyond any lifeform in the universe.”
Lin Yuan shook his head slightly.
The Chaos Void has spawned innumerable universes. Compared to the stark cruelty of the Chaos Void, a universe is more like a cradle, shielding its 12th-rank lifeforms from harm.
Yes, a universe’s Great Destruction does pose over a 50% mortality rate for 12th-rank beings.
But in the Chaos Void, isn’t the death rate for 12th-rank Path-Clearing lifeforms even higher? Passing Dominance or Chaos experts—perhaps certain unknown lethal zones—could all be deadly hazards for them.
Even Cang Weiyang, a peak Dominance expert, fell at the Tai Yuan Ruins, let alone Path-Clearing cultivators.
In the Chaos Void, only those at Chaos rank could claim it’s truly hard to die. Anyone below Chaos remains powerless against many crises.
“There’s an aura about this shore...”
Gazing in every direction, Lin Yuan, having successfully climbed ashore, found his senses enhanced to an incredible degree thanks to reaching the 12th rank.
Additionally, with the River of Time’s special environment, simply standing still, he once again slipped into a state of epiphany.
[Your Unrivaled Insight senses the environment, comprehending the Dao of Life.]
[Your Unrivaled Insight senses the environment, comprehending the Dao of Matter.]
[Your Unrivaled Insight senses the environment, comprehending the Dao of Karma.]
[Your Unrivaled Insight senses the environment, and your understanding of spacetime deepens...]
[Your Unrivaled Insight senses the environment, and your understanding of chaos deepens...]
In an instant, inspiration overwhelmed Lin Yuan’s mind. One by one, these fundamental rules underwent qualitative change, becoming Dao-level insights.
Once rules ascend to Dao-level comprehension, they surpass all similarly ranked laws. Lin Yuan had already gained a handful of Daos while studying the chaos rules, though only a few dozen in total.
But right now, so soon after stepping into the 12th rank, he already grasped more than a hundred Daos. His leap in life essence not only broadened his horizons but drastically enhanced his Unrivaled Insight.
“My spacetime mastery reached the peak of the seventh layer,” Lin Yuan remarked as his comprehension of spacetime soared.
Staying solely within the universe, even at the 12th rank with Unrivaled Insight, his spacetime comprehension could not have grown so quickly.
But he maintains a permanent avatar in the Guming Chaos Continent, which can constantly observe the deeper, more complete spacetime of the Chaos Void, thereby granting him even greater benefits.
“And then there’s the chaos rules...” Lin Yuan’s thoughts drifted, his gaze faintly piercing the barrier of the universe to glimpse the Chaos Void.
Chaos rules represent the fundamental principles of all existence—unimaginably difficult and obscure.
Normally, only Chaos Venerables have the right to probe deeply into chaos rules. Yet Lin Yuan’s Unrivaled Insight already let him begin to grasp their essence.
At the 11th rank, he could barely scratch the surface of chaos rules. Truly profound insight was impossible. But now, thanks to his leap in life essence, he perceives far more of chaos’s mysteries.
Lin Yuan’s push to become an ultimate being affects human civilization and all the races of the starry sky—countless experts are watching closely.
After Xuanyuan and the other eight Strongest ones returned, they publicly announced the Milky Way Star Lord’s successful elevation to the 12th rank.
Immediately.
All of human civilization rejoiced.
“The Milky Way Star Lord has reached the 12th rank! Hahaha, after two million years, our civilization finally has its tenth Strongest one!”
“The Milky Way Star Lord is way beyond just a Strongest one.”
“He’s too incredible.”
Countless evolvers and citizens of human civilization excitedly chatted about it. Gaining a new Strongest one would have a colossal and long-lasting influence on their entire society.
“I... ended up teaching a Strongest one?”
The Red Kun Star Lord stared at the endless stream of congratulatory messages pouring in, a flood of thoughts racing through his mind as he felt as though he were in a dream.
He’d long known the Milky Way Star Lord was highly likely to become a Strongest one, yet now that the day had come, it felt downright unreal.
Not long ago, the Red Kun Star Lord had sensed turbulent shifts in spacetime and worried that something might go wrong in Lin Yuan’s attempt to break through.
Now that the dust had settled, he couldn’t help wondering if he might be dreaming.
“Has our little junior brother become a Strongest one?”
Nearby, several of the Red Kun Lineage peak masters were filled with emotion. The junior disciple who had once seemed so young had become an unbeatable force gazing down upon the cosmic void?
“In the future, don’t address him that way,” the senior peak master warned the others as though recalling something.
“Understood,” they all replied at once.
Unlike the Red Kun Star Lord, who had truly guided Lin Yuan, the other peak masters had hardly aided him in any substantial way. Continuing to call him “little junior brother” now felt presumptuous.
In human civilization, strength wins respect. A newcomer who climbs to the top will generally receive a change in how they are addressed. Lin Yuan’s temperament had always been tolerant, so even after reaching the 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th ranks, he let his former fellow disciples address him as they always had.
But now that he’d stepped into the 12th rank and become a Strongest one, even if he allowed them to keep using that old form of address, these peak masters no longer dared do so.
In the depths of the starry sky.
Inside a secret realm.
The towering figure of ‘Maduo’ walker gleamed with excitement as he looked toward the seated Sigu Ancient God.
“Elder Ancestor, your foresight was indeed remarkable. Back then, you told me not to offend the Milky Way Star Lord. It turns out you were absolutely right.”
He felt unprecedented relief. In the Mysterious Emperor Secret Realm, he and the Milky Way Star Lord had clashed.
Later, under orders from his ancestor, he had risked angering the Tianyu Race to ally himself firmly with the Milky Way Star Lord.
Looking back now, that choice seems more than just wise. ‘Maduo’ walker could well imagine the dread he would feel if he had never repaired his relationship with Lin Yuan, now learning that the Milky Way Star Lord had reached the 12th rank.
“My foresight needs no praise,” Sigu Ancient God replied with forced composure, tamping down the shock in his heart.
Truthfully, the astonishment he felt was no less than ‘Maduo’ walker’s. While he did foresee the possibility of Lin Yuan stepping into the 12th rank, he’d never imagined it would happen so soon.
In the year 2,609,782 of the Star Sea Calendar, human civilization welcomed its tenth Strongest one—the Milky Way Star Lord.
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