The blond youth's eyes burned with avarice. That a human could unleash such formidable physical power through this divine ability was beyond belief—what kind of peerless technique was this?
Physical divine abilities were already rare, let alone such a powerful one; even major forces lacked such treasures.
"Do you have a life-decree?" Dao Ling sneered. The youth had tried to kill him, and now he harbored murderous intent.
The blond youth grinned sinisterly, swinging his golden bow with a deafening roar, aiming to cleave Dao Ling in half.
Dao Ling naturally wouldn't clash head-on with a treasure tool. He sidestepped, and the bow smashed into a boulder, shattering it into rubble.
His robes fluttering, he spun and threw a punch, his fist blazing with dazzling golden light.
The blond youth's arm bulged abnormally—it was no human limb, but a massive, golden beast claw—blocking the blow head-on.
Bang! A thunderous explosion shook the surroundings. The blond youth's giant arm sagged, and he staggered, shocked by Dao Ling's sheer strength.
Far from anger, he laughed: "Good! Truly a terrifying physical divine ability. I must have it!"
Dao Ling remained silent, closing in with surging blood qi. His bronze skin grew increasingly dazzling, like a demonic mountain looming, making the blond youth tremble under the pressure.
"Roar!" The blond youth, unwilling to delay, revealed his true form—a golden ferocious beast standing ten feet tall, unleashing golden ripples of overwhelming might.
"Submit your life!" The golden beast roared, unleashing his clan's divine ability. His thunderous roar shook ancient trees, sending leaves flying and even shattering entire groves.
Golden ripples surged, making Dao Ling's body quiver. He glared back, unleashing a roar of his own.
Thunderous sounds crashed like heavenly bolts, deafening. Dao Ling's mouth also expelled golden ripples, interwoven with emerging runes.
The very fabric of the world seemed to shatter, stones exploding into debris and kicking up clouds of dust.
"The Heavenly Thunder Drum!" The blond youth was startled. That a human had cultivated such a terrifying 异象 (vision) meant his physical foundation in the Body Forging Realm must be extraordinary.
"Die!" His eyes blazing with killing intent, the beast charged.
Dao Ling stood firm, fists clenched. Suddenly, his eyes shot out two beams of divine light, 震慑人心 (soul-shaking). In that instant, his body became terrifying!
Rumble!
Thunderous sounds echoed within him, a dreadful commotion. Dao Ling's body was like a divine furnace, radiating multicolored light, with blood qi as vast as a surging river bursting forth.
A scorching 洪流 (torrent) swept the sky. His body became fearsome, as if a youthful god stepped forth from divine radiance, every muscle releasing terrifying energy that merged with his flesh.
"What?" The golden beast trembled, as if seeing a deity 俯视 (overlooking) it. This aura was so 可怕 (terrifying) that it shuddered.
"Begone!" Dao Ling bellowed, his fist ablaze with golden light and 滔天 (overwhelming) blood qi, smashing down with a thunderous boom.
The golden beast panicked, blocking with its giant arm. It was like being hit by a mountain—the beast's entire body shook, and the sound of cracking bones echoed, nearly shattering its arm.
Terrified, the beast wanted to flee. This youth was too dreadful, hiding so much power.
Dao Ling's right leg lashed out, golden light slicing the air like a divine sword. Surging blood qi slammed into the beast's chest, sending it reeling and spitting blood.
The golden beast stared in horror, unable to fathom how this person had become so fearsome.
Soon, the battlefield cleared. Several figures rushed over. A youth looked at the chaotic scene in awe: "I just sensed a terrifying surge of blood qi!"
"Me too. Did an ancient ferocious beast run amok here? Was there a great battle?"
"Not sure, but it felt more terrifying than any ancient beast. Who could have done this?"
As they marveled, Dao Ling had already sensed their approach and unleashed his aura to 强势震杀 (overpoweringly annihilate) the golden beast.
"Let's go! The Little Imperial Princess and her group seem to be opening a Star Palace sealed for endless ages in the depths. There might be treasures inside—let's check it out!"
Eyes glowing with greed, they looked at the Star Palaces, all ancient structures. Some were hard to open, but doing so could bring great 机遇 (opportunities).
"A sealed Star Palace?" A shadow appeared on a palace roof. Dao Ling's eyes flickered. He speculated that forces like the Little Imperial Princess and the Ancient Divine Mountain likely disdained Star Pearls—had they come here seeking some 造化 (good fortune)?
He followed the group inward, curious to see what they were after.
Rows of palaces stood under falling starlight, serene and peaceful. Giant stars floated in the air, though illusory, their 异象 (visions) were fearsome.
Those who entered were like a swarm of wasps, looting every Star Pearl. They knew that after the full moon, the Star River would calm, becoming a starry wall too tough to breach—they had to leave quickly.
"With the Star Pearls from that golden monster, I now have eleven. That should be enough to break through to the Sixth Layer of the Yunling Realm!"
Dao Ling flashed onto a Star Palace, eyes lighting up at a pearl. The energy within was incredibly pure—a shortcut to rapid cultivation.
But after the Sixth Layer, cultivation would slow drastically due to the massive energy required.
As he stored the pearl and prepared to move on, his eyelids twitched—he sensed a terrifying aura awaken from afar!
Looking up, he saw a vast ocean of star energy roiling in the depths, like a mushroom cloud billowing into the sky. Streams of star rivers rose, dazzling and arranged like a constellation, pouring down divine light.
"My god! A Star Palace is opening—the innermost one!"
"This is an ancient Star Palace, said to be the abode of an ancient powerhouse. It might hide a world-shaking inheritance."
"Must be the Little Imperial Princess's group opening it. Let's hurry—maybe we'll find something good."
As voices buzzed around him, everyone charged forward. Dao Ling saw a Star Gate, sealed for endless ages, swinging open, releasing 滔天 (overwhelming) star energy.
The commotion was terrifying, especially the dense energy. With each breath, Dao Ling's body glowed, his internal energy growing stronger—astonishing him.
Arriving at the gate, some hesitated, then gritted their teeth and entered with Star Pearls in hand.
"To enter, hand over five Star Pearls. No pearls, no entry!" The Golden Bee said coldly.
"By what right? This is a Star Academy secret realm—why give you our Star Pearls?" A youth protested, red-faced.
There must be treasures inside, and no one wanted to hand over five pearls—equivalent to their entire haul.
The Golden Bee's eyes chilled. Its wings flapped, unleashing a golden energy that formed a divine sword, slicing through the air and severing the youth's arm.
The youth howled in agony, blood gushing from his stump.
Others nearby trembled. The Golden Bee was too rampant, attacking so brutally.
"Consider that a lesson. Who dares to question me?" The Golden Bee didn't even glance at the youth, speaking coldly to the others. As a creature from the Ancient Divine Mountain, it felt inherently superior and feared no one from the Star Academy.
Moreover, it had invited these people as lackeys—did they really think they could take Star Pearls out? They were nothing but laborers.
The 断臂 (armless) youth, around Dao Ling's age, gritted his teeth, 冷汗横流 (cold sweat pouring). Others were indignant but dared not speak.
"Hand over your Star Pearls now!" The Golden Bee scowled. When its gaze fell on Dao Ling, its expression soured—why was this brat still alive?
"You—hand over ten Star Pearls!" it ordered coldly.
"Bee, stop bluffing. Think you're a god? You're just a servant," Dao Ling approached, eyeing it disdainfully.