Chapter 551 - 507: Commission Completed, Reward Settlement
"You... you’ve reached the Pillar Stone realm?"
The woman in the Star Skirt, A Li, asked.
It was a pointless question.
But it was the most pressing and unbelievable thing on her mind. Imagine being a "mentor" who happens to find a promising sapling. Just as you’re preparing to cultivate it patiently, the sapling suddenly grows into a towering tree. How could that not be shocking?
"Not yet."
Shi Ming replied truthfully.
The Pillar Stone realm represented the apex of power, a state of no further advancement.
Shi Ming still had room to grow, so he wasn’t a Pillar Stone.
Regardless of her motives, the Civilization Prologue she had taught him had been a great help. As Shi Ming’s own knowledge expanded, he came to understand that the characters created by the gods were more than just a language; they were a "flame" for passing down a legacy.
Hearing Shi Ming’s denial, A Li regained a sliver of her confidence.
’That makes sense. No matter how much of a genius he is, it’s impossible to reach the Pillar Stone realm of Nirvana in just a year and a half. His overwhelming power must be from the privileges granted by his universal title, Heir of the Gods... But even so, this is more than surprising enough!’
Time was short, so she spoke quickly.
"I must return.
"If you have questions, you can return to that Pyramid to find some residual energy, or find a way to light the Star Lamp.
"Finally, be careful of the Time Giant, Candela."
Before Shi Ming could reply, the woman in the Star Skirt destroyed the inanimate vessel she was inhabiting, and her consciousness returned to her true body.
Silence returned to the Abyss of the End.
The Eye of Destiny’s "Destiny’s Orbit" had been fulfilled in a roundabout fashion, achieving victory in its first clash with the Sand of Destiny.
’Be careful of the Time Giant?’
’The Time Giant... was that the burly man standing in front of Ron, the one with gold and silver patterns etched onto his body? Judging by the name, his power is time, and yet he just displayed divine authority over destiny... Two of the most difficult and rarest powers to control, all in one person.’
The Star Sea was home to countless races.
Among them were more than a few who were born at the apex, winning the race from the very starting line.
...
...
...
[Elements of time and space were left behind here. You have increased your understanding of spacetime in battle, triggering a resonance with the nascent will of the Cosmic Country. Progress increased to 94%.]
[...]
[You have analyzed the fusion and fission of eight fundamental sources, triggering a resonance with the nascent will of the Cosmic Country. You are an excellent mentor. The resonance between the nascent Cosmic Country’s will and your own has reached 100%.]
[Congratulations.]
[It... is about to awaken...]
"Fa... ther..."
From within the sphere of light, which had long since turned brilliant, a tender yet powerful voice called out. It communicated with Shi Ming through the shared frequency of their wills, and there were no longer any barriers between them. Shi Ming understood: the nascent will of the Cosmic Country was about to emerge from its cocoon.
"A teacher passes the torch."
"A father is bound by bloodline."
"You can just call me teacher."
The title was merely a formality. The deep connection and resonance between them needed no proof. The nascent will of the Cosmic Country easily accepted this new designation. Pulsating with a rhythm identical to Shi Ming’s heartbeat, it shot out eight beams of light. Like rays from a lighthouse in the dark, they pierced through the endless black fog of the Abyss of the End.
The black fog sizzled away upon contact with the light, like patches of snow meeting molten lava.
The aura of death dissolved.
And the breath of life began to rise.
Compared to the vastness of the Tomb Star Realm, this burgeoning aura might have seemed insignificant at first. But soon, it would spread like wildfire, bringing the entire Tomb Star Realm back to life.
[Congratulations on completing the unique Z-rank quest: Will Resonance.]
[The reward has been delivered on your behalf by the nascent will of the Cosmic Country. Upon its awakening, you have naturally become the true Heir of the Gods, the Regent of the Cosmic Country, and the Guardian of the new will.]
[Perhaps you could ask it for a few new universal titles?]
[It is worth mentioning that the nascent Cosmic Country has much to rebuild. The aura of death on the Primordial Star will be completely dispelled within a day. Within 130 days, the breath of life will spread like wildfire, dispelling the stagnant aura of death throughout the entire Tomb Star Realm. When that time comes, the concealed First Civilization Cosmic Country will return to its original coordinates in the Star Sea, revealing itself to the countless beings of the universe.]
’Only 130 days?’
The re-emergence of the First Civilization Cosmic Country in the Star Sea meant this Star Domain would no longer be isolated. Any being could pilot a ship and travel within it. And those demigods, now back in their true bodies, would surely use every means at their disposal to return with a vengeance.
’The treasures of the gods, the legacy of a civilization... 130 days is enough time for me to strengthen my foundation as much as possible and unearth those divine treasures. It might not even take that long. By then, even if I have to face those demigods head-on, I’m confident I can slay them for good.’
The will of the Cosmic Country was by his side, warm and pure.
From obtaining the Divine Rune to resonating with the nascent will, his exploration of the Tomb Star Realm was finally over. Now, it was time to reap the rewards.
3,000,000 Civilization Stones,
the Divine Treasure Vault,
and the remaining, equally extraordinary A-rank quest, "Will Resonance." The Sword in the Stone should now be ready to be drawn, completing the transition from the Z-rank quest to the A-rank one.
...
...
...
「New God Star.」
In a hidden part of the altar, the seven Nirvana bodies slowly awoke.
The atmosphere was heavy and oppressive.
Their entire purpose for this trip had been to investigate the nascent will of the Cosmic Country. They never expected that while the will had indeed been born, the grand prize had been snatched by someone else—an obscure, unknown upstart. Compared to that, the humiliation and loss of face they had suffered on the Primordial Star were practically nothing.
"Bertutan, what is our next move?"
Amonev asked.
"Since it is the choice of the Cosmic Country’s will, then it is the choice of the gods. We have no right to interfere, nor can we."
Bertutan was suffering a severe backlash from overusing his abilities through an inanimate vessel.
A Li, standing to one side, sneered inwardly.
’How noble he sounds.’
’Back when you were usurping divine authority, you were loving every second of it.’
The black patterns on the Time Giant Candela’s body washed away, leaving only gold and silver light that flowed in a ceaseless cycle. "Within the Tomb Star Realm, it’s true we lack the authority and power to interfere," he said. "But since the will of the Cosmic Country is reborn, the silence of the Tomb Star Realm will inevitably become a thing of the past. The new First Civilization Cosmic Country will reappear in the Star Sea."
"It is a destiny that will inevitably come to pass."
As he spoke, he glanced back at Ron.
He had gained nothing from this trip, but he had sensed an opportunity in Ron that could be exploited.
The Six-armed Sovereign, too, recovered from the haze of his returning consciousness. For a fleeting moment, the image of a great Kun fish flickered in his eyes before vanishing.
"Huang Ji, what do you think?"
"Me?"
Huang Ji held her child, whom she hadn’t seen in days. In her eyes, alongside a look of loving affection, was a flicker of interest she hadn’t felt in a long time.
She controlled the numbered Nirvana skill: [Life].
One of the core tenets of [Life] was survival of the fittest: the strong pair with the strong, selecting superior specimens to create ever-more superior genes. It was a principle she had always practiced.
And now, she had already chosen the father for her 1,122nd child—her next one.
Heh.
’I’m rather looking forward to it!’