Chapter 1 Seeing Recent Progress

——Let me see my recent progress in cultivation.

Such a thought flashed through Su Zhou’s mind.

The moment Shao Qiming had the thought, Su Zhou’s body reacted. He raised his hand, and Su Zhou understood what Shao Qiming was thinking: his friend wanted to test the power he had gained from the orthodox Divine Wood inheritance of Zheng Guo.

There was no malice or ulterior motive. What would be considered a sudden attack to ordinary people was, to a Hegemon-tier Transcendent, like a classmate gently tossing an eraser on the desk.

Su Zhou knew his own strength, and Shao Qiming believed in his strength even more than Su Zhou himself did.

Pure yang spiritual power gathered as countless tiny specks of light quickly coalesced into an inconspicuous beam, instantly illuminating the small room with its power capable of piercing steel.

The next moment, a blazing white light, entwined with flames of pure light, shot out from Shao Qiming’s fingertip, flying towards Su Zhou’s forehead.

But midway, it was blocked by Su Zhou’s outstretched hand—and then dissolved into nothingness.

The blazing white pillar of light struck the palm of Su Zhou’s hand, and the indestructible white phosphorus, composed of nanoscale mesoscopic structures, instantly absorbed all the light and heat, causing the light that would have completely destroyed the hotel’s top-floor suite to vanish without a trace, not even a wisp of smoke rising.

“Not bad, this power.”

Withdrawing his hand, Su Zhou flexed his fingers, sensing the attack he had just received. He couldn’t help but praise, “This has at least the destructive power of a peak-level Transcendent—and the power control is excellent. Many people would have a hard time blocking such an attack and would definitely take it head-on. Did you break through recently?”

“Let me guess, you chose the inheritance of the Divine Wood Fusang?”

“Yes.”

Shao Qiming also withdrew his hand, not at all surprised that Su Zhou had blocked it. He nodded slightly and said, “Fusang suits my talents. Coupled with Zhou Buyi’s self-created Divine Wood cultivation method, I can cultivate by comparing the two.”

“After all, Fusang cultivation theoretically requires a Golden Crow companion to cultivate successfully at the fastest speed, but where are you going to find a Golden Crow in this world? I can’t possibly cultivate in the sun or at a nuclear explosion site, so I must find a way to compensate from other cultivation methods.”

However, although Shao Qiming wasn’t surprised by Su Zhou’s response, he still felt a sense of powerlessness in his heart.

His progress in strength was already incredibly fast.

Throughout Zheng Guo, among the younger generation of geniuses beneath the Saint Seats, even someone like Guan Wanjing, who had started cultivating before the spiritual energy revival and possessed exceptional talent, being one of the orthodox geniuses destined to inherit the martial path, had only recently broken through to the peak of Transcendence in his recent seclusion, completing the cultivation of all his spiritual energy organs and condensing the spiritual energy cycle within his body.

But even so, he had paid a price—if Guan Wanjing didn’t have a large force behind him, a good teacher, then this breakthrough might have left him with severe hidden injuries, requiring at least a few years to slowly heal.

But he was different. Shao Qiming cultivated the Divine Wood path, and if he had any doubts, he could refer to the Wisdom Tree in Su Zhou’s personal space for confirmation. Although the Wisdom Tree and the Divine Wood method he cultivated weren’t the same Divine Wood, having a reference was far better than having none.

In addition, Shao Qiming hadn’t missed any of the cultivation he should have done and had even gained many extra benefits. It wasn’t strange that he had his current strength.

“But even so, I’m still surpassed by two major realms by this guy… He’s already a Hegemon, and I’m still far from becoming a Commander and condensing my own Divine Ability.”

Thinking this, Shao Qiming didn’t even hide his unwillingness and sighed deeply.

Without waiting for Su Zhou to speak, he directly asked, “Speaking of which, A’Zhou, are you planning to go to another world again?”

“I saw you preparing supplies recently. What, are you planning to return to the Divine Wood World?”

“No, it’s another, more dangerous world.”

Su Zhou naturally sensed his friend’s unwillingness, but to be honest, he was used to this emotion, so the young man said in a light tone, “It’s the Reincarnation World, where the Jì Lord is.”

“There’s something wrong with that place. Although I have some guesses in my heart, as expected, it’s better to see it with my own eyes.”

April 17, 2018, 7:30 AM.

Wearing headphones, Li Hanshan listened to music while looking at his phone, walking headlessly into the entrance of the Xi Yue Hotel.

He entered the hotel’s main entrance, came to the lobby, and after sensing some aura, immediately raised his head and looked at the top floor of the hotel.

In the eyes of the Chongming Bird, iron, cement, and various wooden boards and tiles were essentially almost transparent, so with a single glance, he saw Su Zhou walking out of the top-floor suite, bidding farewell to Shao Qiming.

“Professor!”

At this moment, at the entrance of the top-floor suite, Su Zhou, who had just said ‘see you later’ to Shao Qiming, felt his phone vibrating. He took it out of his pocket and saw that Li Hanshan was sending him a WeChat message.

“Eh?”

Letting out a soft sound, Su Zhou lowered his head, his gaze also penetrating the layers of floors, looking at Li Hanshan, who was waving at him from the ground floor. He waved back in response.

The two of them waved to each other across dozens of floors, and Su Zhou sent a WeChat message with one hand: “Why are you here? Did Qiming ask you to come too?”

“Yeah, today there’s a ‘Su Zhou Fan Group Management Offline Meeting.’ I was originally going to participate, but let’s not talk about how I have to prepare Grandpa’s 70th birthday celebration at noon today, and I have to update tonight, so I can only come early to explain a few things separately.”

“What stuff? What offline meeting?”

Looking at the words appearing on his phone screen, Su Zhou’s expression became confused, and he slowly typed a symbol: “?”

“Professor, you don’t know???”

Li Hanshan’s WeChat message used three question marks, as if he was even more surprised than Su Zhou: “The management group announcement was posted at least a week ago, right? Didn’t you see it?”

“Why would I check my fan group all the time!”

Su Zhou was completely baffled at this moment. He thought in surprise, “What exactly are Qiming and the others doing?”

Without hesitation, Su Zhou switched WeChat and looked at his management groups.

Indeed, as Li Hanshan said, Shao Qiming was indeed preparing to hold an offline meeting today, with the aim of strengthening team cohesion, exchanging difficulties encountered in work, solving problems face-to-face, and strengthening team building…

Very formal, to be honest, far more formal than Su Zhou imagined.

But because it was too formal, Su Zhou couldn’t figure out whether this was a fan group or some strange mysterious organization—even the Holy Serpent Spirit Lianshui Hui (Prayer Assembly) from back then seemed like this.

Among them, in a certain fan management group, there was also a conspicuous group announcement.

【Keep it up, Su Zhou! Even if the world is against you, we will stand behind you!】

Su Zhou: “?”

Why would I be against the world?!

“Hahaha, Su Zhou, this friend of yours is truly a wonderful person.”

At this moment, Yala, who was sharing Su Zhou’s perspective, laughed loudly in the personal space: “I was reminded of those who established the Dragon Worship Sect and the Lianshui Hui back then… Forget it, this is really not the same. After all, those guys established those sects mainly for themselves.”

“Why are you exaggerating so much? It’s just a fan club, at most it looks a bit rigorous.”

Clicking his tongue, Su Zhou put down his phone and shook his head slightly: “Forget it, whatever—although it looks a bit strange, since it’s Qiming who’s doing it, then at least this matter won’t be bad for me.”

It’s not a bad thing for the fan group to have a little cohesion… right?

As long as there are no crazed fans.

Thinking this, Su Zhou left the Xi Yue Hotel, then returned home and put all the materials he had prepared into his personal space.

Afterward, he went directly to outer space, to the absolute uninhabited silence outside all satellite orbits, opened the space-time door, and then entered the other world.

In the vacuum of space, the gray scale in the Celestial God Scale lit up abruptly with the infusion of vast spiritual power. Colorless ripples stirred space-time, and as silver radiance burst forth, the door to the other world opened.

【——World Core Element · Oath——】

【——Intrusion Deviation Value 14.52%——】

【——Highly Stable Independent World——】

It could be seen that behind the gray space-time sphere, one could vaguely see the azure sky and the ocean under the sunlight.

“Not bad, it seems that the Reincarnation World at least has a very good environment.”

Thinking this, Su Zhou smiled and reached out his hand, touching the light sphere.

Instantly, a burst of silver light flashed, and the young man’s body disappeared in an instant.

At the same time.

The Reincarnation World.

Elemental Calendar, Year 307, June 22nd, Summer.

The Holy Fire Country, the largest port in the Far East, Xi Guang (Sunset Glow) City. The raging holy fire burned on the high tower in the center of the city, like a lighthouse, guiding the course of passing ships.

The sky gradually darkened, the setting sun was falling beyond the surging waves, and the humid wind and clouds swirled together under the glow of the sunset. The shouts of fishermen returning to port echoed endlessly from the docks.

The evening air carried a hint of coolness, and from the vendors along the small paths by the street, a rich aroma of grilled fish wafted. It could be seen that around the docks, many shops were just starting to light their stoves. They set up large pots, lit the flames, and once the stoves were ready, they tossed fish bones into the pot to boil the soup. When the sugary broth turned white, they added the freshly cleaned fish meat and seafood brought from the docks into the clear water pot.

Fresh shrimp, shellfish, white fish, along with various spices and seasonings. Although it seemed like just a mishmash of ingredients, it was actually quite ingenious.

Since the pioneers of the Holy Fire Country came here from the Holy City in the center of the continent, starting to build the seaport and fish, Xi Guang City’s reputation for stewed soup spread throughout the world, attracting countless tourists—and the most wonderful thing was that the ingredients and flavors of the seafood stew in each shop were different, each with its own deliciousness.

“Thank you, my Lord, for illuminating the world!”

Then, before officially opening for business, all the shop owners would turn around together, respectfully clasping their hands together and bowing slightly in the direction of the setting sun.

In a seaside inn, a middle-aged man wearing a white robe with square edges and a golden flame crest stood by the window of his room. He stared at the waves lapping against the shore, also clasping his hands together in front of his chest, praying earnestly like all the travelers, shopkeepers, and fishermen on both sides of the street.

It could be seen that he had hair that was gray and white mixed together, and his expression was somewhat sorrowful. This older clergyman, who was gradually showing signs of aging, watched the setting sun and whispered piously.

“Thank you, my Lord, for illuminating the world!”

It wasn’t until the sun had completely set and disappeared below the sea that everyone straightened up and resumed their previous work, and the streets returned to their hustle and bustle.

The middle-aged man in the Holy Fire robe returned to his driftwood table and picked up his silver-nibbed steel pen.

After he sat down, the elemental lamp that had been extinguished on the table suddenly lit up, emitting light. Inside the round, can-like lamp, the fire element spontaneously became active, releasing light and heat, illuminating the entire room.

Although the technology of elemental lamps had long been popularized, and even ordinary people who couldn’t hear Divine Grace could turn them on through alchemical devices, only clergymen could make them work using only their will, without touching any alchemical products.

And this middle-aged man was clearly one of them.

At this moment, under the light that wasn’t exactly bright, but sufficient to see the words, the middle-aged man raised his pen and began to continue writing the report that he hadn’t finished earlier on the scroll.

【…It has been three months since Xi Guang Port was last attacked by those heretics from the sea. The city is gradually regaining its vitality, and the knights and priests of the temple have all worked together to rebuild the damaged temples and shops.】

【Although there were no casualties, the ‘Fragment of the Soul of Origin Water’ guarding the Xi Guang Temple was taken away by the heretics. The local priest, Gelo, originally wanted to atone for his sin with death, but after much persuasion, I convinced him to continue protecting the people and not lightly abandon his life and honor, forsaking the glory of our Lord.】

【As the Holy Words of the Lord of Fire say: Man is like the sun, from rising to setting is a lifetime. A person’s life should be like the sun, slowly rising and slowly setting, until finally burning out and returning to the deep sea to be considered the end. How can it suddenly dim when the sun is high in the sky? Life is so precious that it violates the teachings of our Lord.】

【But what truly worries me is that when the heretics from the sea stole the Fragment of the Soul of Origin Water, they arrogantly claimed that their god was about to appear—the Lord of Water was about to be born.】

【I scorn those arrogant words. As the Holy Words of the Lord of Judgment say: Those who speak recklessly shall be punished, and those who use deceitful tongues shall suffer. Heretical thoughts are born in the hearts of men, but love must overcome them. We must not be jealous, not boastful, not arrogant, not rejoice in unrighteousness, so that we can walk on the right path and not be watched by the thunderous eyes of the Lord of Judgment.】

【But recently, their power has indeed been shrinking. All the great pirates in the Seven Seas have disappeared without a trace, like the calm before a storm. I worry about the potential storms and waves, so I solemnly requested the central temple—please send a God-Blessed One to investigate the situation.】

【Your faithful, Aimon.】

After finishing the report, the middle-aged clergyman checked it several times, and then activated the magic power in his body, pouring it into the scroll. At the same time that the words written in magic ink on the scroll gradually disappeared, they were transmitted to the distant central mainland, to the central Holy Temple of Holy Fire City.

“Alas… Those sea thugs who deserve to be judged, those irreverent ones who have abandoned the precepts! It’s hard to imagine that they already have the power to break through the temple.”

Staring at the scroll where the words were gradually disappearing, the middle-aged clergyman named Aimon shook his head worriedly and said, “Fortunately, they still don’t dare to kill people on land, touching the precepts of the Lord of Judgment. Otherwise, the priests of Xi Guang City would probably be killed.”

“But if one day, they really have their own lord, who can resist the punishment of the Lord of Judgment… then wouldn’t this world fall into a lawless darkness?”

Muttering to himself, Aimon turned his head and looked at the sea that was gradually sinking into darkness. He sighed deeply: “Why didn’t the Lord reclaim the authority of water in the past?”

But, just as the sun had completely set and the world had plunged into darkness.

Suddenly, above the ocean, at the top of the sky, a dazzling light lit up!

——Buzz!

There was no thunderclap, no meteor roaring, just a sudden flash of light, like lightning, illuminating the night, blindingly bright.

“Wait, this light?!”

Even the windows of the inn were filled with the light. Aimon was shocked and hurriedly walked to the window, placing his hand on the windowsill, raising his head and looking at the distant sky.

It could be seen that in the darkness where the sun had disappeared, above the sea of Xi Guang, layers of dark clouds were gathering, and bright lightning was flashing and darting in the thick clouds, like chaotic thunder snakes dancing wildly. And the center of all the thunder snakes was an extremely bright, cyan-purple light sphere!

It could vaguely be seen that a huge creature, like a dragon, was slowly emerging from behind the dark clouds, with countless runes and spiritual lights flashing, condensing into layers of ripples of vowed power, and the cyan-purple light sphere hung above its head, like an eye of judgment gazing at all things in the world.

“This, this is!”

Not only Aimon, but everyone in Xi Guang City, and even the civilians and clergymen in all the cities along the coast of the Xi Guang Sea, saw this scene—they saw an anomaly suddenly appearing in the sky, and vast spiritual power swept across the sky, causing dark clouds to gather and thunder to strike.

“It is, it is the Lord of Judgment!”

Even deep in the ocean, those fleet masters who were gathering towards the center of the ocean noticed it. These people, who didn’t change their expressions even when facing ocean storms and tsunamis, now showed fearful expressions. Some of the less steadfast ones actually knelt down and prayed to the dragon-shaped phantom on the deck, while the captains, who had originally kicked all these cowardly people into the sea, were now frozen in place, unable to move.

In the distant Holy Fire City and at the other end of the New World, two wills in slumber trembled slightly, seemingly about to awaken because of the distant fluctuations.

However, contrary to what everyone thought.

The dragon-shaped phantom only appeared for a moment, then disappeared.

Whether it was the lightning in the sky or the cyan-purple light sphere, after a brief flash, it all dissipated into nothingness.

For a time, the world was silent, as if the scene before had never happened—only the thick, lingering dark clouds were still drifting in the sea with the wind, proving that the scene was not an illusion.

“That is the sacred emblem of the Lord of Judgment—the symbol of the Immortal Dragon!”

At this moment, Aimon’s hand on the windowsill was so tightly clenched that the joints had turned white from excessive force, and even the stone had been faintly pressed with cracks. The middle-aged clergyman’s lips trembled, too excited to control himself: “This is a miracle, a true divine descent!”

“This is a divine descent!”