From the Metropolis to the Strongest in the Cosmos

The two conversed, but each held their own secret intentions.

’I probably won’t have a chance to enter the Virtual World while I’m inside the Beast Origin Sect. As soon as I leave, I must immediately notify the experts of the Human Race. But I can’t tip them off, or these Alien Race Deities will escape, and all this will have been for nothing.’

Li Yang only knew this was a hidden base for the Alien Race because of Soul Ink. Others didn’t, and they wouldn’t necessarily believe him.

Even if they came to investigate, it would be impossible to find anything if the Alien Race Deities had already fled. They might even suspect him of lying.

That’s why they had to conduct a thorough and covert investigation. Only then could they strike in an instant.

After discussing the Alien Race’s hideout, Soul Ink’s voice sounded again. ”Also, I sense traces of a Gold-devouring Insect here.”

In truth, he didn’t really care that this was a gathering place for the Alien Race. He was far more interested in the Gold-devouring Insect.

”Gold-devouring Insect? What’s that?” Li Yang asked in confusion.

”Li Yang, the Gold-devouring Insect is an extremely special life form in the Cosmos that can devour practically anything! Its reproductive capabilities are astonishing, and the stronger it is, the more it can reproduce. If you were to get a mother Gold-devouring Insect and pay the immense price to raise it to the Divine Realm, every insect it spawns, while not quite reaching the Divine Realm itself, would still surpass the World Realm, existing somewhere between the World Realm and the Divine Realm.”

Soul Ink lamented, ”Every Deity masters a different number of laws, so their strengths vary greatly. It’s incredibly difficult to defeat someone of a higher level, but it’s not absolute!”

”If the numbers are great enough, a quantitative change will lead to a qualitative one.”

”Just think about it. Even though a single spawn of the Gold-devouring Insect isn’t at the Divine Realm, its power far surpasses the World Realm. A thousand of them could definitely rival an ordinary Deity, and as their numbers continue to grow... their individual strength is secondary; the key is their offensive power! Even a single, ordinary spawn can shatter a Divine Artifact! When a dense swarm of them attacks together, I imagine not even dust would be left of any Deity they passed over, would it?”

”So, the Gold-devouring Insect is a source of absolute dread for all Deities. Anyone who can fully nurture one would be an invincible powerhouse in the Divine Realm! Even an Emperor would find an endless army of Gold-devouring Insects somewhat troublesome.”

’A Divine Realm Gold-devouring Insect? An invincible powerhouse among Deities? Even an Emperor would find it troublesome?’

Li Yang’s heart trembled at Soul Ink’s words. ’Such a powerful life form actually exists?’

”You shouldn’t doubt it. The Gold-devouring Insect is born from heaven and earth itself. Very few have ever appeared in the entire Cosmos. Any expert who possesses a Divine Realm Gold-devouring Insect, even if they’re just an ordinary Deity, would make all other Deities tremble in fear. Even the likes of Four-Element Deities and Five Elemental Deities would stay far away, making them one of the most untouchable beings in existence!” Soul Ink said.

Li Yang was stunned, but that shock quickly turned to elation. He hastily asked, ”Soul Ink, where is this Gold-devouring Insect?”

The Beast Origin Sect was a gathering place for the Demon Race, so of course he was interested in the Gold-devouring Insect inside.

In fact, he wasn’t the only one; almost every Deity would be interested in the Gold-devouring Insect.

To be invincible in the Divine Realm—what a glorious honor that would be!

”I’m not sure.”

In the face of Li Yang’s excitement, Soul Ink simply shook his head and said, ”I can only sense its traces. I’m certain a Gold-devouring Insect has appeared in the Beast Origin Sect before, but as for whether it still exists or where it might be kept, I don’t know.”

If the Gold-devouring Insect was in the Beast Origin Sect, they would definitely be raising it in secret; they would never expose it so openly.

They would only reveal it once it was fully grown.

Hearing this, Li Yang felt helpless.

He tried to activate the mysterious small sword in his mind to see if he could find the Gold-devouring Insect, but the sword showed no reaction whatsoever.

”Li Yang, you can stay in the Beast Origin Sect a while longer. As you look around, I’ll try sensing for it again. Maybe I’ll be able to find a trace of the Gold-devouring Insect,” said Soul Ink.

He was clearly very interested in the Gold-devouring Insect as well.

”The few times Gold-devouring Insects have appeared in the Cosmos, they have only reached the Divine Realm, becoming dominant and invincible among Deities. I used to wonder, could a Gold-devouring Insect be nurtured to the Emperor Level? Rumor has it that they have a growth limit and can only reach the Divine Realm at most, but I don’t believe it at all. There must be a way to break that limit.”

Soul Ink said calmly, ”In the Cosmos, it’s a known fact that when a soul is annihilated, death is permanent. And yet, the Soul Crystals I created can preserve a trace of my soul even if I suffer soul annihilation. This shows that the Cosmos always leaves a sliver of a chance; any rule can potentially be broken.”

He was very proud of the Soul Crystal; it was clearly his proudest creation.

Li Yang ignored Soul Ink’s boasting, his mind reeling in shock.

’An Emperor Level Gold-devouring Insect?’

’What level of spawns could a mother insect of that caliber produce?’

...

”Haha, Li Yang has arrived.”

While Li Yang and Soul Ink were communicating via their consciousness, Li Yang was also in constant conversation with Leng Wu, the Sect Master of the Beast Origin Sect.

The two of them had a very pleasant conversation along the way.

Now, Li Yang had arrived before a palace. Leng Wu smiled and said, ”Li Yang, I can’t help but feel it’s a shame we didn’t meet sooner.”

A smile touched Li Yang’s face. ”I’m not sure why, but I feel a certain kinship with the Sect Master of the Beast Origin Sect.”

’An Alien Race gathering place and a Gold-devouring Insect... Of course he felt a sense of kinship.’

The two acted like kindred spirits who deeply admired one another.

”Look, the Sect Master and Li Yang seem to get along so well.”

”I’ve never seen the Sect Master so happy.”

”Yes, me neither.”

Pairs of eyes from all around looked their way, their owners discussing through private transmissions.

After entering the palace, both parties sat down.

As he was thinking about the Gold-devouring Insect, a voice transmission came from Shen Xuan. ”Li Yang, can you do me a favor?”

Hearing Shen Xuan, Li Yang also replied via transmission, ”Go ahead, Big Brother.”

”Could you ask for me if the Beast Origin Sect has any Soul Awakening Grass?”

”Soul Awakening Grass?” The name made Li Yang recall what Shao Jie had said before. Shen Xuan had a wife whose physical body had been preserved with a special treasure, and she needed a stalk of Soul Awakening Grass to be resurrected.

”I’ll ask for you, Big Brother.”

After finishing his transmission with Shen Xuan, Li Yang looked at Leng Wu, the Sect Master of the Beast Origin Sect, and said with a smile, ”Sect Master Leng Wu, I have a favor to ask.”

”Oh? Please speak, Li Yang,” Leng Wu said directly upon hearing Li Yang’s request. ”As long as it’s something I can do.”

Li Yang smiled. ”I was wondering if you might have any Soul Awakening Grass, Sect Master Leng Wu?”

”Soul Awakening Grass?” Leng Wu thought about it carefully.

Just then, the Deity beside Leng Wu, the one who had previously been in charge of the ruins on Celestial Road Star, said, ”Sect Master, some Soul Awakening Grass was found in the Celestial Road Star ruins. It’s now being kept in the sect’s treasury.”