From the Metropolis to the Strongest in the Cosmos

Li Yang was ready to leave. He had no interest in the Beast Origin Sect’s invitation; it was a complete waste of time.

But just then, Soul Ink’s voice suddenly rang in his mind.

”Li Yang, accept his offer.”

Hearing Soul Ink’s words, Li Yang was clearly puzzled. He mentally asked, ”Soul Ink, what’s wrong?”

”There’s something strange about this Beast Origin Sect. I’ve detected a hint of an anomaly, but it’s quite far, and they’ve done a good job of concealing it. I need to investigate from the inside to be sure,” Soul Ink said.

Even with his powerful soul and astonishing sensory abilities, there was a limit to his range. He couldn’t possibly see everything with a single thought.

”A hint of an anomaly?” Li Yang was taken aback.

However, he would never argue with Soul Ink. While communicating mentally with him, Li Yang smiled at Leng Wu and said, ”Since Sect Master Leng Wu has invited me, it would be rude of me to refuse.”

After speaking, Li Yang looked at Shen Xuan and said, ”Big Brother, it’s rare for us to meet. Let’s go together this time.”

”Alright.” Shen Xuan nodded.

’The Soul Awakening Grass he couldn’t stop thinking about might still be in the Beast Origin Sect’s possession.’

His gaze shifted to Hao Yuan, Hao Rou, and the other disciples from the Profound Origin Sect. Shen Xuan said, ”You all should leave first.”

It was impossible for such a large group to stay with Li Yang. Besides, they were in the presence of a Tri-System Deity—none other than Leng Wu, the infamous Sect Master of the Beast Origin Sect.

Just being here would likely make them feel uneasy.

And that was exactly the case. Upon hearing Shen Xuan’s words, Hao Yuan, Hao Rou, and the others visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

Right now, they just wanted to leave the Black Water Pool quickly and had absolutely no desire to interact with Leng Wu.

”Junior Brother Shen Xuan, we’ll take our leave now.”

”When we get back to the sect, I’ll thank you properly.”

Hao Yuan, Hao Rou, and the others all chimed in.

As for Shi Lu, he paused for a moment. With a complex expression, he looked at Shen Xuan and said, ”Thank you.”

’Shen Xuan had saved him, and now he didn’t even know what to feel.’

After speaking, Shi Lu turned and left without another word.

Li Yang watched this and thought to himself, ’Is there some kind of conflict between that Profound Origin Sect disciple and Big Brother?’

Even though he didn’t know what had happened between Shen Xuan and Shi Lu, he could infer a few things from the shifting expressions on Shi Lu’s face.

’Conflicts can exist anywhere. Competition between geniuses and so on... some might even resort to stabbing each other in the back.’

However, Shen Xuan hadn’t mentioned any of this to Li Yang, and Li Yang wasn’t going to pry. Shen Xuan was perfectly capable of handling such matters himself.

”Haha, Li Yang, this way, please.” The Beast Origin Sect’s Sect Master, Leng Wu, was incredibly enthusiastic, leading Li Yang as they flew towards his palace.

Li Yang acted just as cordially, all the while conversing mentally with Soul Ink.

As they neared the residence, Soul Ink finally said, ”It’s confirmed. This Beast Origin Sect is one of the Alien Race’s hidden strongholds!”

”An Alien Race stronghold?” Li Yang was stunned by Soul Ink’s words.

”Soul Ink, you’re saying this place is an Alien Race stronghold?”

’What is with my luck? How do I run into the Alien Race everywhere I go?’

”That’s right.”

Soul Ink nodded. ”In a hidden space within the Beast Origin Sect, twenty-one Alien Deities are concealed!”

”Twenty-one?”

Hearing this, Li Yang was even more shocked.

Previously, Li Yang had only encountered two Alien Deities. Now, he’d suddenly found this many.

”Soul Ink, just how many of these aliens have infiltrated our Human Race?” Li Yang couldn’t help but ask. ”Why does it feel like there are so many?”

After breaking through to the Star Lord Realm, he had visited three places in total: the territory of the Star Moon Race, the territory of the Thunder Spirit Race, and now the Beast Origin Sect. And as it turned out, every single one had members of the Alien Race.

”There aren’t many.”

Hearing Li Yang’s question, Soul Ink said calmly, ”It’s just that you, the bane of the Alien Race, seem to encounter them more often.”

”Places like this, with dozens of Alien Deities gathered, probably number no more than ten throughout the entire territory of the Human Race.”

”Fewer than ten in the entire territory of the Human Race?”

Li Yang was exasperated. ’What kind of luck do I have? And I just had to stumble upon one of them.’

”So, I think you were born to be the bane of the Alien Race, Li Yang. Before, two Alien Tri-System Deities died because of you. Now, you’ve discovered this Alien gathering place, and they’re about to be wiped out too! If you’re not the bane of the Alien Race, what are you?”

Soul Ink remarked with a sigh. Although he was the one who made the discovery, it was only possible because Li Yang had come to this place.

”If we get rid of this place, dozens more Alien Deities will have died because of you. Tsk, tsk... Just at the Star Lord Realm, and you’ve eliminated dozens of Alien Deities. I think you could be called the Alien-Slaying Machine.”

Soul Ink marveled endlessly. How difficult is it to produce dozens of Deities? Yet they were about to be annihilated by a mere Star Lord Realm cultivator like Li Yang. If news of such a feat got out, no one would believe it.

”Alien-Slaying Machine? What kind of title is that?” Li Yang couldn’t help but grumble.

He thought for a moment, then asked, ”Does that mean the Sect Master of the Beast Origin Sect is one of the Alien Race, too?”

’With dozens of Alien Deities lurking in the Beast Origin Sect, it’s impossible for the Sect Master, a Tri-System Deity, to be completely unaware. The most likely scenario is that the Sect Master of the Beast Origin Sect is one of them.’

”Most likely,” Soul Ink agreed with a nod.

”Haha, Li Yang, we’re almost there.” Beside them, Leng Wu was still all smiles.

At that moment, however, Leng Wu was thinking, ’The human Li Yang has come to my territory. While I’m confident I could assassinate him, the chance of failure is higher. Both Blood Wolf and Anyun have already fallen, and we still don’t know where those two Four-Element Deities protecting Li Yang are hiding. If we strike, we’ll be completely exposed, and this sanctuary will be revealed. The repercussions would be too severe... I can’t make a move.’

Just as Li Yang suspected, Leng Wu was indeed one of the Alien Race—or to be precise, a human controlled by the Alien Race.

With Li Yang right in front of him, Leng Wu felt the urge to strike, but ultimately, he abandoned the idea.

The crucial factor was the two hidden Four-Element Deities; they were what Leng Wu dreaded most.

Furthermore, if they attacked, their sanctuary would undoubtedly be purged. The dozens of hidden Deities would have to scatter, making them even more likely to be caught.

’After I’m done hosting Li Yang, I’ll just send him on his way,’ Leng Wu thought. ’That way, no one will have anything to say about it. The Beast Origin Sect is a bit different from other sects; we have our secrets. But for someone like Li Yang, who is highly likely to become an Emperor in the future, it would be strange if we acted too aloof and showed no enthusiasm at all.’

As these thoughts raced through his mind, Leng Wu’s smile remained radiant and warm. ”I have a fine collection of wines. Li Yang, you must have a few cups.”

Li Yang played along, laughing heartily. ”Sect Master Leng Wu, you’re too kind!”

He and Leng Wu acted like long-lost friends, lamenting that they hadn’t met sooner.

Leng Wu was debating whether or not to kill Li Yang.

Meanwhile, Li Yang and Soul Ink were plotting how to tear the Beast Origin Sect out by the roots.