Chapter 1 A Beleaguered Return

Deep within the territory of the distant Prison Clan, a battered Prison Clan squad returned in their cosmic warship. They had departed with nineteen Source lifeforms of the ninth order, but only twelve returned. Most crucially, even the tenth-order captain, Tiesayu, had perished in battle.

Enshrouded within the multiple layers of the seventh level of mysterious spacetime was a vast landmass.

This land was over ten million kilometers in diameter.

Whoosh!

Carrying the twelve Prison Clan Source lifeforms, the cosmic warship passed through layers of spacetime inspection before finally landing on this world.

"The great Monarch Moyou."

In a resplendent palace, the twelve Prison Clan Source lifeforms respectfully paid homage to Monarch Moyou, who sat upon his throne.

"Only twelve of you returned?" Monarch Moyou was tall and gaunt, draped in a dark-red cloak. He coldly gazed down from his throne, his pair of emerald eyes causing the space within the entire hall to ripple continuously.

Within the rippling space, the twelve Prison Clan Source lifeforms felt as though they were sinking into a nightmare, forced to rely on their formidable mental fortitude to steady themselves.

"Great Monarch Moyou, indeed only twelve of us returned alive. Captain and the other seven have lost their signals, and should have fallen in battle," one of the Prison Clan members respectfully stated. "In this operation, we only managed two waves of plunder. During the first wave, we lost three companions, and in the second wave, we lost the captain and four others. The losses were too great, and so we immediately returned."

"It seems…"

Monarch Moyou lightly tapped the armrest with his sharp fingers, the sound of each tap seemingly striking the souls of the twelve Prison Clan members. "Your harvest this time was quite meager."

The twelve Prison Clan members dared not utter a sound.

Monarch Moyou was one of the Prison Clan's ten great monarchs! Not only had his individual strength reached the peak of the tenth order, but he had also integrated a high-dimensional object into his body, successfully entering the ranks of the Prison Clan's ten great monarchs.

Within the Prison Clan, reaching the tenth order meant becoming a monarch.

With over ten thousand monarchs, one could imagine the difficulty of ranking among the top ten.

The Prison Clan's ten great monarchs were either cosmic legend-level existences or wielded power originating from higher dimensions, each possessing incredible destructive force.

"Seven fallen in battle." A book appeared before Monarch Moyou. He turned to a page with his sharp finger, the page displaying the merits of the Source lifeforms under his command. "Monarch Tiesayu's merits were long sufficient; once the Supreme returns, Tiesayu will surely be revived! As for the other six… only Lord Congfeng's merits reached 60% of the requirement, and he is still quite young. I will help submit the application, but whether he obtains the chance for revival will depend on his luck."

"Thank you, Monarch Moyou," the twelve Prison Clan Source lifeforms below respectfully replied.

According to Prison Clan rules, as long as one had accumulated enough merits, they would be revived even after death.

If the merits were insufficient? The probability of being revived was very low.

Supreme beings were high-dimensional lifeforms who possessed the ability to revive. However, revival came at a cost; either one had sufficient merits, or the Supreme being deemed them of sufficient value. Otherwise, death was final.

"You may leave," Monarch Moyou waved his hand.

The twelve Prison Clan Source lifeforms respectfully bowed and withdrew.

Remaining alone in the hall, Monarch Moyou sat upon the throne, pondering, "The failure of this raid on the Ansu Star Alliance suggests that the Ansu Star Alliance most likely harbors an expert skilled in 'ambushes.'"

"Based on intelligence from raids across three cosmic sectors, encompassing 510 star alliances, there are approximately eight to ten experts skilled in ambushes."

"The Human race is indeed formidable. The majority of their powerful lifeforms are occupied with resisting the Void God Clan, yet even a small fraction of their strength can place such great pressure upon my Prison Clan," Monarch Moyou sighed.

For the Human race, the greatest threat among the surrounding alien races was the Void God Clan.

However, the Prison Clan and the Void God Clan did not share a border; the vast territory of the Human race lay between them. Therefore, the Prison Clan's external environment was relatively more relaxed, and their greatest adversary was the Human race.

The Prison Clan could mobilize the majority of its strength to target the Human race, whereas the Human race could only mobilize a small fraction to respond.

Even so, the Prison Clan had not gained much advantage. Although they were the aggressors, the losses in Source lifeforms were greater for the Prison Clan than for the Human race.

"Hmm?"

Monarch Moyou furrowed his brow in slight pain, the emerald eyes suddenly erupting in ripples that caused the surrounding hall to tremble violently.

Within the violently undulating ripples, terrifying monsters roared, as if trying to break free from the illusory waves.

"Even after so many years, I still have not fully mastered it," Monarch Moyou recovered, the surrounding ripples stabilizing and the roaring monsters being suppressed once more.

"Yet it is my greatest hope for becoming a high-dimensional lifeform," Monarch Moyou closed his eyes and began studying those eyes once more. He could now wield the power of these high-dimensional eyes, but he bore the burden of them at all times.

Occasionally, he even glimpsed the 'history' that these eyes had witnessed, each glimpse an ordeal, yet each ordeal made him stronger.

"I wonder if I will have the opportunity to take that step and become a higher-level lifeform before the end of my life," Monarch Moyou mused with anticipation.

…

Planet Jisui.

Xu Jingming's residence welcomed a guest.

"Lord Wu Ming." A gray-robed man arrived to pay his respects, smiling, "I am here under the orders of the Yuanchu Research Institute to collect the spoils of war."

"Please, have a seat."

Inside the reception room, Xu Jingming looked at the gray-robed man before him and immediately determined that he was a civilization-level intelligent lifeform! Much like the 'Yellow-robed Envoy' who had assisted him previously.

Intelligent lifeforms were absolutely loyal, and would not act unfairly when it came to accepting spoils of war and determining merits.

"Lord Wu Ming has rendered great service in this operation," the gray-robed man said with a smile. "For slaying five Prison Clan ninth-order Source lifeforms, that is 500,000 merits."

With the Yuanchu battle armor's recording, there was no way to falsify anything.

"They were only ninth order," Xu Jingming waved his hand, producing five crimson horns. "All the spoils of war are within. You may examine them thoroughly."

The gray-robed man nodded and received the five crimson horns, beginning to examine them one by one. "Each Prison Clan blood horn is valued at 100 billion cosmic credits. This blade was forged using a Prison Clan evolution technique and is valued at 30 billion cosmic credits. These eight small cosmic warships are adept at stealthy infiltration, each valued at 35 billion cosmic credits…"

The valuable items were tallied one by one, while Xu Jingming was given a list of items of ordinary value.

Items such as the small cosmic warships were used by Prison Clan Source lifeforms for infiltration and escape, and thus commanded a high price. The stated price of 35 billion cosmic credits was merely the cost price for the Yuanchu Research Institute to recover them.

"Deducting the resources plundered from Fish-Scare Planet and Silkworm-Swim Planet."

"The total value of the spoils is 1,223 billion cosmic credits." The gray-robed man smiled as he looked at Xu Jingming. "Lord Wu Ming, do you have any objections?"

"Very precise," Xu Jingming nodded.

The gray-robed man nodded. "Then I shall not disturb Lord Wu Ming further."

Carrying the numerous spoils of war, the gray-robed man bowed slightly and disappeared from Planet Jisui.

At the same time, 1,223 billion cosmic credits were credited to Xu Jingming's account, though taxes would be uniformly deducted annually.

"It is not easy for ordinary Source lifeforms participating in the war to obtain spoils of war," Xu Jingming knew very well that killing alien race Source lifeforms to earn big? Only a very small number of Source lifeforms in the Human race could accomplish this.

Xu Jingming did not feel any pride, as his earnings were actually a 'gift from the Dean.' Without the Dean's gift of Little Nine, how could he have slain those Prison Clan Source lifeforms?

With Little Nine, this 'ultimate weapon,' he could not let it down!

…

Xu Jingming sat at his desk, watching the recording on the screen of his battles with the Prison Clan Source lifeforms.

"Against no more than two Source lifeform enemies, I can exploit their lack of knowledge about me to ambush one, then chase and kill the other," Xu Jingming pondered. "But what if there are three or more enemies? That would be troublesome. Little Nine, what do you think?"

"Master," Little Nine's voice echoed around him, "you have slain five Prison Clan Source lifeforms, and you will slay many more in the future. Among them… there will surely be those who are revived."

Xu Jingming nodded. He knew that the Supreme beings possessed the ability to revive.

"Once revived, your techniques will no longer be a secret," Little Nine said. "Moreover, the Yuanchu battle armor's thread penetration is of fixed power! It also has its limitations, requiring very close range to be effective. Therefore, Master needs to develop new techniques."

Xu Jingming nodded. "What do you think is the strongest technique I can master in a short period of time?"

"Master, are you planning to deal with the ninth order or the tenth order?" Little Nine asked. "I must remind Master… that even with the special abilities of the No. 9 Yuanchu battle armor, you can only injure a tenth order at most, and cannot kill them in a short period of time."

"Of course, I am dealing with the ninth order," Xu Jingming said. "To deal with the ninth order more efficiently!"

The tenth order was currently the most perfect lifeform within the cosmic domain.

Cosmic legends merely mastered more powerful techniques; their bodies were the same as the tenth order.

It was too difficult to kill such a powerful lifeform.

"Master, please see." A screen appeared to the side, displaying a list of abilities.

"Spacetime Shuttle (Cosmic Legend), Yuanchu Battle Armor Thread Penetration (Tenth Order Peak), Infinite Domain (Tenth Order Threshold), Laser (Ninth Order Peak), Kindling (Ninth Order Peak), Space Lock (Ninth Order Peak), River of Time (Ninth Order Top Tier)…"

Xu Jingming looked at the numerous abilities.

"Master is now a newly advanced ninth-order Source lifeform. To possess overwhelming strength in the short term, you must focus on Little Nine as the core. Among them, the Spacetime Shuttle is used for travel. The most potent means of killing is the Yuanchu battle armor's material thread penetration, which also has limitations. The Prison Clan's tenth-order Source lifeforms all possess formidable bodies, and merely relying on the threads of the Yuanchu battle armor can only injure them at most."

"I suggest that Master focus your efforts on 'Infinite Domain' and 'Laser.'"

"Firstly, Master cultivates the *Yuanchu Star Conjecture: Ray Light*, which will allow you to progress more rapidly in these two areas."

"Secondly, the Infinite Domain can suppress enemies, making it difficult for them to escape."

"The Laser's power is weaker, but it can reach the speed of light, allowing it to intercept enemies more quickly. Master only needs to master a higher-level 'Laser Construction Model,' and Little Nine can mobilize a sufficient amount of Source power to unleash an even stronger laser."

Xu Jingming nodded. "Just these two techniques?"

"I suggest that Master spend the majority of each day on the six great models and visualization techniques! Because it is most important for Master to reach the 'tenth-order Source lifeform' as quickly as possible. Once Master becomes a tenth order and combines with Little Nine, you will be nearly invincible below the cosmic legend level. Life evolution is the fastest way to improve strength."

Xu Jingming nodded.

That was right.

Once he became a tenth order and mobilized Little Nine, even a casual strike would far surpass the battle armor's thread penetration.

"Master does not have much time remaining each day, and focusing on 'Infinite Domain' and 'Laser' will be sufficient," Little Nine said.

"To enhance the power of 'Infinite Domain' and 'Laser,' these are the materials you need to study." Little Nine immediately displayed them proactively.

Xu Jingming looked at them.

Enhancing the Infinite Light required a great deal of knowledge.

Enhancing the Laser was relatively simpler.

"Humans have discovered 1,039 types of 'Laser Source Power Structure Models.' I suggest that Master learn the 'Frostfall Aurora Model,' whose power ranks third among the numerous models, but its difficulty is only considered moderate among all laser models. With Master's talent, I believe that a hundred years at most will be sufficient to master it," Little Nine recommended.

Xu Jingming nodded slightly.

Everyone said that 'teleportation' was fast, but teleportation required relatively stable spacetime, which was easily disrupted during combat.

On the other hand, a light-speed 'laser' strike could have miraculous effects at close range.

"Little Nine, I believe that with my speed of travel using Spacetime Shuttle, the farthest of the five star alliances adjacent to the Ansu Star Alliance is only 2.1 billion light-years away. I should be able to reach most places within 20 seconds, and the farthest within 30 seconds," Xu Jingming said. "I propose to the Yuanchu Research Institute that the five adjacent star alliances also be included in my area of responsibility. What do you think?"

Having witnessed the previous incidents involving Fish-Scare Planet and Silkworm-Swim Planet, Xu Jingming wanted to do more.

"I think it's a great idea," Little Nine said. "Master, the Yuanchu Research Institute gave you a lighter task because you just became a ninth-order Source lifeform, out of a desire to protect you. They didn't even assign you to the area with the most severe Prison Clan raids."

Xu Jingming nodded.

Little Nine, after all, was the intelligence of the No. 9 Yuanchu battle armor, and it had experienced far more than its master.

If it thought it was a good idea, then there should be no problems.

"Whoosh."

With a thought, Xu Jingming drafted an application and sent it to the Yuanchu Research Institute.

In mere seconds, a reply arrived!

"The Yuanchu Research Institute has agreed; whenever there is a raid in the six star alliances, including the Ansu Star Alliance, they will notify me immediately." A trace of a smile appeared on Xu Jingming's face, and he went to study Source Power Models.

…

Time flowed by.

The days of Xu Jingming's duties guarding the six star alliances, including the Ansu Star Alliance, were actually quite simple.

Most of the time, he absorbed knowledge like a sponge, constantly growing. Only when news arrived from the Research Institute would he put everything aside and rush to intercept the Prison Clan.

Perhaps the Source lifeforms he had slain had not yet been revived! His 'Yuanchu Battle Armor Thread Penetration' technique had not been exposed, and Xu Jingming repeatedly performed meritorious deeds.

However, the more he experienced, and the more 'life planets' he saw extinguished, the more frantically he studied.

In the blink of an eye, three years had passed since Xu Jingming had taken on the task of guarding the star alliances.