From the Metropolis to the Strongest in the Cosmos

Somewhere within the Yangyuan Empire, Celestial Net had already been eliminated.

’Tenth place! That damned Li Yang actually got a result like that! If only that rank were mine!’

Although some time had passed since his elimination, Celestial Net’s heart remained incredibly grim.

His entire mindset had been warped because of Li Yang. This genius of the Yuanlan Clan was now filled with nothing but resentment and regret.

"Celestial Net."

Suddenly, a voice rang out. The Deity Yuan Lan was looking at his most prized descendant.

"Clan Leader."

Hearing Yuan Lan speak, Celestial Net hastily replied with respect.

Yuan Lan frowned. "Failing to join the Human Race’s Eternal Saint Hall doesn’t mean you can’t mature in the future. Many of the Deities on the Yangyuan Star Continent today never joined the Eternal Saint Hall. Resources are merely an aid. The most crucial factor in becoming a Deity is yourself."

He had noticed that ever since being eliminated by the Human Race’s Eternal Saint Hall, Celestial Net’s state of mind had been unstable.

’His mentality is this fragile? How could he possibly have a chance to become a Deity in the future?’

’To become a Deity, one must possess, at the very least, a steadfast will and an unafraid heart in the face of any setback.’

’And being eliminated by the Human Race’s Eternal Saint Hall is nothing more than a minor setback.’

’If he can’t even withstand a setback like this, what hope is there for future achievements?’

Hearing Yuan Lan’s admonishment, Celestial Net quickly nodded. "I know, Clan Leader."

He took a deep breath, pushing aside the many thoughts swirling in his mind.

’The Ancestor is right. The faction one joins doesn’t determine one’s ultimate limit. The majority of Deities were never recruited by the Human Race’s Eternal Saint Hall.’

The Human Race’s Eternal Saint Hall recruits geniuses with the intent of training them to become Deities. However, they only accept a small number each time. Factoring in those who perish along the way, the number of geniuses who actually mature within the Hall pales in comparison to the number of individuals who reach the Divine Realm, born across the countless galaxies of the Yangyuan Star Continent and other Star Continents.

The pool of geniuses like Celestial Net, those with a sliver of a chance to one day reach the Divine Realm, is vast. Even with a success rate of less than one in ten thousand, the sheer number of such individuals means that many will still become Deities in the future.

This is why the majority of Deities were never recruited by the Human Race’s Eternal Saint Hall.

’Hmph. I will definitely become a Deity in the future. As for Li Yang... even if he is recruited by the Human Race’s Eternal Saint Hall, who’s to say he won’t perish during his training?’

Celestial Net secretly wished for it.

Countless peerless geniuses had perished on their path to power, and those trained by the Human Race’s Eternal Saint Hall were no exception. The road of the strong was destined to be fraught with endless crises.

Of course, despite these thoughts, a sliver of worry nagged at Celestial Net’s heart: the fear that his past act of eliminating Li Yang would be exposed.

’Once the Talent Selection ends, will Li Yang tell everyone that I had him eliminated before?’

Celestial Net worried. ’If he tells, what will I do?’

BOOM!

Just as this thought crossed Celestial Net’s mind, a searing domain suddenly materialized inside the palace, completely enveloping him!

One of the four great profundities of the Fire Element Law: the Fire Domain!

As the domain manifested, a colossal figure wreathed in what appeared to be burning flames emerged!

’A Deity!’ Seeing the sudden arrival of this Deity, Celestial Net instantly panicked.

’Why would such a powerful Deity suddenly come here? And barge in so forcefully?’

’This is where my ancestor, Yuan Lan, resides. To barge in directly like this is utterly disrespectful—it’s practically a provocation.’

"Who is it?"

Seeing this, Yuan Lan’s expression changed. A flicker of rage sparked within him, but upon seeing the intruder, he quickly suppressed it. He stood and said respectfully, "Lord Fire Spirit."

Though both were Deities, Fire Spirit’s power was far superior to his own; he could be killed with ease.

His face was filled with confusion; he had no idea why Fire Spirit would suddenly appear here.

"Yuan Lan."

Looking at Yuan Lan, Fire Spirit stated indifferently, "By order of the Emperor, I am here to arrest Celestial Net and imprison him on the third level of the Death Prison!"

His gaze was cold. With a clench of his right hand, the horrified Celestial Net flew from his spot, caught helplessly in Fire Spirit’s grasp, unable to move a muscle.

’I... My eliminating Li Yang... it’s been exposed.’

At this moment, all of Celestial Net’s bravado was gone, replaced by nothing but terror.

’This Fire Spirit came to arrest me on the Yangyuan Emperor’s order. Why would the Yangyuan Emperor possibly pay attention to a weakling like me, a mere Law Realm cultivator? It has to be because of Li Yang.’

’It’s over.’

In that instant, any shred of hope Celestial Net had was extinguished, and his eyes filled with utter terror.

’The Death Prison... I’ve heard that name. Few who enter ever come out alive.’

’Arrest Celestial Net and send him to the Death Prison?’

Yuan Lan’s expression changed drastically upon hearing this.

Their Yuanlan Clan had few geniuses. Since the clan’s founding, Celestial Net was the one with the greatest Talent, a Talent on par with his own in his youth. He had placed such high hopes on him, hoping he would become the Yuanlan Clan’s second Deity!

’And now the Emperor wants to arrest him?’

"Lord Fire Spirit, may I ask what crime Celestial Net has committed?" Yuan Lan asked quickly.

At this point, he was completely unaware of the situation involving Li Yang.

Fire Spirit said indifferently, "Celestial Net willfully sabotaged the Talent Selection organized by the Emperor and had Li Yang forcibly eliminated. His crime is unforgivable."

"Yuan Lan, you should consider yourself fortunate that you knew nothing of this."

He had, of course, thoroughly investigated the matter regarding Celestial Net and knew Yuan Lan was not aware of the conflict between him and Li Yang.

With that said, he and the terrified Celestial Net vanished without a trace.

’Forcibly eliminated Li Yang?’

Yuan Lan’s expression contorted. He had been following the Talent Selection closely, so of course he knew of Li Yang.

He had found it strange that such a talented genius hadn’t been recruited by the Yangyuan Empire earlier.

It turned out that Celestial Net had sabotaged the process, interfering to have Li Yang forcibly eliminated.

Realizing what had happened, Yuan Lan couldn’t help but curse, "That idiot..."

’Before the Yangyuan Emperor, our Yuanlan Clan is no different from an ant that he could crush at will.’

’And Celestial Net dared to sabotage the Talent Selection personally ordered by the Yangyuan Emperor? Does he have a death wish?’

’It’s over. Celestial Net is completely finished now.’

Yuan Lan felt no dissatisfaction about Celestial Net’s arrest, only a new sense of dread.

’Even with Celestial Net captured, Li Yang might still hold a grudge against our Yuanlan Clan. This won’t do. When Li Yang returns, I must go to him, apologize sincerely, and make amends!’

Yuan Lan hadn’t lived this long by being a fool.

’Judging by Li Yang’s results, as long as he doesn’t perish within the Human Race’s Eternal Saint Hall, his future strength will surpass my own with ease!’

’I cannot let Li Yang hold a grudge against the Yuanlan Clan!’

As for Celestial Net, he had of course already been abandoned without a second thought.

Compared to the survival of the entire Yuanlan Clan, Celestial Net was utterly insignificant.

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