From the Metropolis to the Strongest in the Cosmos

Li Yang had heard from Soul Ink that every powerful Artifact Refiner was also a powerful Array Master.

The Gold-devouring Insects had previously been concealed by a cloaking Array.

The Blade Slaughter Sect Master continued, ”Inside this ball of light is an Array. It’s called the Nine Elements Defense Array. As its name suggests, it’s a powerful defensive Array. You can deploy it on Earth to completely envelop the planet. If anyone fights on Earth, this Array can be used to directly control the situation, even unleashing power surpassing that of Tri-System Deities! Its overall defensive capability is somewhere between a Tri-System and a Four-Element Deity.”

’Surpassing Tri-System Deities? With defenses between a Tri-System and a Four-Element Deity?’ Hearing this, Li Yang was startled, and a look of excitement appeared in his eyes.

This was undoubtedly the ultimate tool for protecting Earth!

Truth be told, Earth was still far too weak. Even an ordinary Deity could easily wipe it out.

This had been a constant source of worry for Li Yang.

But all he could do was wait patiently. Once his strength increased, his octopus avatar would be able to protect the entire planet.

”Li Yang, take this Array. Go back and set it up on Earth.”

With a wave of his right hand, the Blade Slaughter Sect Master sent the white ball of light floating over to Li Yang.

Li Yang caught it with his right hand and couldn’t help but say, ”Teacher, this Array...”

’An Array that can unleash power surpassing Tri-System Deities... It must be incredibly valuable.’

As if sensing Li Yang’s thoughts, the Blade Slaughter Sect Master said with a smile, ”Since I’m giving it to you, just take it. It’s only an Array. Your teacher can afford to part with one; it’s nothing special. Don’t let yourself be troubled by matters on Earth. You should be focusing on your cultivation. As long as you become strong enough, things like this won’t happen again.”

He knew that as soon as Earth was threatened, his usually calm disciple would panic. It was clear that Earth was Li Yang’s weak spot. As Li Yang’s teacher, the Blade Slaughter Sect Master wanted to help Earth as much as he could.

After all, Li Yang was his most prized disciple. He didn’t want Li Yang to be distracted by various matters and have it affect his cultivation.

Hearing the Blade Slaughter Sect Master’s words, Li Yang nodded and said, ”Thank you, Teacher.”

He was deeply moved. Although the Blade Slaughter Sect Master said it was nothing, an Array with defenses surpassing a Tri-System Deity was definitely priceless and not something one could easily produce.

However, the Array would be of immense help to Earth, so Li Yang could only commit this act of kindness to memory.

”Alright, go. Report to me immediately if anything happens. Also, if you run into any difficulties with your cultivation, ask me in the Virtual World,” the Blade Slaughter Sect Master said.

”Yes.”

Li Yang said respectfully, ”This disciple takes his leave.”

...

After speaking with the Blade Slaughter Sect Master for a while, Li Yang finally left the Sacred Hall and began his journey back to Earth.

Two months later, he finally returned to Earth.

”Li Yang.” Seeing Li Yang’s return, Zhou Yao immediately came forward.

”How are things?”

Looking at Zhou Yao, Li Yang asked, ”Are those Deities still in the Solar System?”

”Yes.” Zhou Yao nodded. ”All five Deities have been active within the Solar System.”

Dragon Scale Insects had been discovered in the Solar System, so Li Yang knew it must hold some secret. That was why he had purchased a large number of robots to explore it and had even filled the system with surveillance devices.

After Split Flame and the other four Deities left Earth, their movements were quickly picked up by the surveillance network.

But there was nothing Li Yang could do about them.

Split Flame and the others didn’t try to threaten Li Yang with Earth again; they simply remained in the Solar System. Could Li Yang really drive them away?

Even if Emperor Sword Mark were to intervene, there wasn’t much he could say. Faced with this situation, Li Yang was helpless.

”Keep monitoring them. If you notice anything unusual, report to me directly,” Li Yang said.

After speaking, his figure flickered and appeared in the sky above Coastal City. He clenched his right fist, and a white sphere materialized in his hand. Inside the sphere, intricate, secret patterns swirled—it was the Nine Elements Defense Array, whose power could surpass even a Tri-System Deity!

’Time to set it up!’

With a thought, Li Yang began.

Under his control, the intricate patterns within the white sphere floated out, turned invisible, and began to expand and spread wildly, enveloping the entire planet in a matter of seconds!

The intricate patterns inside the white ball of light had now completely vanished, leaving only a single point of light behind.

This was the Array Core!

Whoever controlled the Array Core could easily manipulate the Array. Even if Li Yang wasn’t on Earth, he could let Zhou Yao control the Array Core, and she too could easily unleash a defense surpassing that of a Tri-System Deity!

The intricate patterns spread madly, blanketing the entire planet. Then, like tree roots, the patterns burrowed deep into the Earth, seemingly merging with the planet itself.

BUZZ...

In that instant, Li Yang sensed a strange, thin film appearing over the entire surface of the Earth.

”The deployment was a success!”

Feeling the film, a smile touched the corners of Li Yang’s mouth.

He held the Array Core in his hand and activated it with a thought.

RUMBLE!

Instantly, countless air currents converged before him. The sky and earth changed color as a terrifying power erupted.

This power was so staggering that it even alarmed Li Yang, approaching the level of a Four-Element Deity.

The Nine Elements Defense Array could be used for both defense and offense.

Now, the entire Earth was enveloped by the Nine Elements Defense Array. From anywhere on the planet, the Array could be called upon to attack or defend.

”Earth’s safety is finally somewhat guaranteed.”

After testing the power of the Nine Elements Defense Array for a long while, Li Yang finally stopped, letting out a small sigh of relief in his heart.

With the Nine Elements Defense Array in place, even if Split Flame and the others made a move on Earth, the Array could completely block them, and perhaps even repel them.

...

While Li Yang was deploying the Nine Elements Defense Array for Earth, elsewhere, Split Flame stood within the Solar System. He gazed into the distance at a massive star radiating intense, dazzling light. It was the core of the Solar System—the Sun.

The scorching heat it gave off was nothing to a powerful being like Split Flame, a Tri-System Deity.

’The entire Solar System revolves around this sun, which has given rise to life. Earth is truly strange. In such a vast surrounding area, only Earth has life.’

Across the entire Milky Way Galaxy, which spanned 100,000 light-years, there were hundreds of thousands of life-bearing planets.

In reality, many of these life-bearing planets were clustered together, concentrated in specific regions.

If a star system was to have life, it would usually have several life-bearing planets emerge together.

But the Solar System was unique. Within the entire system, only Earth had been born as a sole life-bearing planet. Even the vast regions surrounding the Solar System were devoid of life.

This was why, no matter how much humans on Earth had explored, they had never discovered any aliens.

As he was marveling at this, Split Flame extended his spirit sense into the Sun.

This casual probe, however, made Split Flame freeze, and a look of pure shock instantly filled his eyes.

”This... This is...”