From the Metropolis to the Strongest in the Cosmos

Celestial Net had obtained an unimaginably great opportunity. In the future, he could have even become a Dual Pantheon Deity, one of the few supreme experts in the Yangyuan Empire!

His future was so bright; how could he possibly be willing to die before reaching his full potential?

”Celestial Net, we meet again,” Li Yang said coldly, his gaze fixed on him.

The last time they met was thirty-six years ago, during the genius selection for the Human Race’s Eternal Saint Hall.

In the past, Celestial Net had nearly annihilated Earth. It wasn’t until Li Yang was recruited by the Human Race’s Eternal Saint Hall that he was able to completely suppress Celestial Net, who was then thrown into prison.

Only then was the threat to Earth considered gone.

After that, Li Yang didn’t dwell on Celestial Net. He just needed time to pass; once he grew stronger, he would deal with this problem for good.

However, before he was ready, an unexpected incident occurred in the Lingyue World, and everyone else believed him to be dead. To his surprise, Celestial Net had popped back up.

Fortunately, his previous performance in the Human Race’s Eternal Saint Hall had been so outstanding—even surpassing Lan Yu—that it had elevated Earth’s perceived potential. Numerous factions now valued it, which was why Celestial Net hadn’t dared to destroy Earth directly.

If his performance in the Eternal Saint Hall had been mediocre and utterly unremarkable, Earth would not have been valued. One can only imagine what kind of fate it would have faced at Celestial Net’s hands.

By the time he reemerged, Earth might have ceased to exist.

That was why Li Yang felt a sliver of relief mixed with lingering fear.

But now, he could finally eliminate this immense threat.

”Li Yang.”

Staring into Li Yang’s icy gaze, Celestial Net grew even more terrified.

”Li Yang, as long as you spare Celestial Net, you can name any price,” Yuan Lan continued to plead from a distance.

Hearing Yuan Lan’s words, a glimmer of hope appeared in Celestial Net’s eyes.

”Clan Leader, save me.”

This Cosmos ran on profits. If Yuan Lan offered enough, he just might survive.

Yuan Lan’s words from afar had no effect on Li Yang’s mood. He stated indifferently, ”Yuan Lan, don’t worry about the terms. I’ll naturally discuss them with you after I’ve killed Celestial Net.”

Upon hearing this, Yuan Lan’s expression changed.

Li Yang was still going to kill Celestial Net.

Ignoring Yuan Lan, Li Yang turned his gaze directly to the young man before him. His cold voice carried to the ears of everyone present.

”Celestial Net, when you dared to move against Earth, you should have expected this outcome!”

With a wave of his right hand, Li Yang sent a beam of light shooting out, reaching Celestial Net in an instant.

This beam of light was at the level of the World Realm.

Even though Celestial Net had received an inheritance, his actual strength was only at the Star Lord Realm; he had not reached the level of a World Lord.

Therefore, this single attack could kill Celestial Net outright. Li Yang couldn’t be bothered to waste any more words or time on him.

”No!!!”

Feeling the fluctuations from the beam of light, Celestial Net’s eyes filled with terror. He knew he was about to die.

He could not possibly survive this attack, and Li Yang had no intention of sparing him.

Realizing his death was certain, the terror in Celestial Net’s heart paradoxically vanished.

”Li Yang, I can’t accept this!!!”

A bloodcurdling shriek echoed as Celestial Net glared at Li Yang with venomous hatred.

He had once been the peerless, high-and-mighty genius of a Divine Clan, while Li Yang was merely a native of some Planet Zero.

A Planet Zero... even a single Longevity Realm expert could have easily wiped it out.

And he, Celestial Net, could command Star Lords with ease. The entire planet of Earth was like an ant before him.

But now, he was about to die at the hands of a native from that very ant-like planet.

He had imagined dying during his trials or in battle against other experts, but he never expected his story to end like this.

But his indignation was useless. As the attack struck him, the aura of energy around Celestial Net’s body dissipated like a receding tide.

Indignation, venom, rage... In the final moment of his death, a trace of regret finally appeared in Celestial Net’s heart.

He recalled the first time he met Li Yang. He had been like a lofty deity, while Li Yang had turned and fled like an ant, not even daring to fight him.

Later, during the Yangyuan Empire’s genius selection tournament, he had forcibly eliminated Li Yang, and Li Yang had been powerless to do anything about it.

He had held all the cards; Li Yang had no power to resist.

But then came the genius selection for the Human Race’s Eternal Saint Hall. Li Yang had suddenly risen, while he himself was captured and thrown into prison...

Event after event flashed through his mind like a slideshow, leading up to the present moment.

’If I had known, I never would have provoked Li Yang,’ Celestial Net thought with regret.

’If I hadn’t provoked him, I’d still be the peerless genius of the Yuanlan Clan, focused on comprehending the laws every day.’

’But now, it was too late for everything.’

THUD.

The fluctuations of energy around his body vanished completely, and his corpse crashed to the ground.

The surroundings seemed to fall silent. Everyone looked from Celestial Net’s corpse to the cold-faced young man.

’Celestial Net was killed.’

The crowd stared at Li Yang. Although his strength was inferior to theirs, at this moment, they couldn’t help but feel a subconscious chill.

For Celestial Net’s sake, Yuan Lan had been willing to hand over the majority of his clan’s assets and let Li Yang name any price.

Yet, even in the face of such enormous benefits, Li Yang had killed Celestial Net without a shred of hesitation.

This clearly demonstrated how much importance Li Yang placed on Earth.

’Anyone who dares to touch Earth will have to bear the full force of Li Yang’s insane retribution.’

At that moment, the Deities present subconsciously resolved never to provoke Earth.

’If they provoked it now, Li Yang might not be able to deal with them. But in the future, once Li Yang became powerful, that retribution would surely come.’

As these thoughts ran through everyone’s minds, Yuan Lan’s expression became unbelievably ugly.

With Celestial Net’s death, the Yuanlan Clan’s dream of having a second Deity was shattered.

He didn’t dare say anything, however, and just stood off to the side.

If he dared to make a move against Li Yang, he suspected that Celestial Net wouldn’t be the only one dying today.

Even so, anyone could guess that Yuan Lan must now hate Li Yang to the bone.

”Yuan Lan.”

Having dealt with Celestial Net, Li Yang’s icy gaze fell upon Yuan Lan.

”Young Master Li Yang, is there something you need?” Yuan Lan asked, his voice heavy.

”Is there something I need?”

Hearing this, Li Yang retorted coldly, ”Celestial Net belonged to your Yuanlan Clan. He was constantly scheming against Earth. What do you *think* I need?”

At the same time, Li Yang thought to himself, ’This Yuan Lan is certainly cautious. He never got involved in any of Earth’s affairs.’

’He had asked his Eleventh Senior Brother to investigate thoroughly and found that Celestial Net had done everything on his own. He hadn’t used any of the Yuanlan Clan’s connections, relying solely on the Deity Token granted to him by the Yangyuan Emperor.’

’Without any evidence, I can’t just go after Yuan Lan without cause.’

’However, I can’t just let Yuan Lan off the hook this easily. Even if Yuan Lan didn’t directly intervene in Celestial Net’s plots against Earth, he absolutely knew about them.’

”Young Master Li Yang, I was completely unaware of Celestial Net’s actions against Earth,” Yuan Lan said, shaking his head.

”Unaware? That has nothing to do with me.” Li Yang sneered. ”All I know is that your Yuanlan Clan provoked Earth, which means you provoked me!”

With a wave of his right hand, a screen materialized in front of Yuan Lan.

”This is the compensation. Have it delivered to me within one month,” Li Yang said coldly.