I've also recently started a new translation, please check it out and show your support! Douluo: AFKing to Become a God
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Xu Yuan didn't generate personal data.
After he made his decision, the world full of data around him began to change.
First was the vessel for Xu Yuan's consciousness, which seemed to be just a blurry figure. However, Xu Yuan felt that he still possessed the capabilities of his physical body outside.
Next, the surrounding world began to expand outward from where Xu Yuan stood, as if loading the scenery around him.
Xu Yuan saw the figures of other soul masters, each with their own actions. They didn't seem like NPCs. After observing for a while, he realized this place was like an overarching hub.
This was the starting position of the Star Battle Network. Everyone entered at different points, and Xu Yuan was currently in a place called Tian Dou City.
Yes, Tian Dou City.
The virtual world inside the Star Battle Network was modeled after reality, containing only eighteen major cities for now. These cities were named after the eighteen most famous places in reality—not all existing cities but rather places related to the real world, such as out of respect. Among the eighteen cities, one was named Hao Tian City, and another Bao Wu City.
In reality, these two cities did not exist. Bao Wu City had existed ten thousand years ago but disappeared with the development of the Federation.
Star Battle Network Tian Dou City.
The facilities in the city were very simple—interfaces spread across various locations, used to load different scenes. The most common interfaces led to game scenarios.
Xu Yuan walked along the road, observing the introductions outside the various game interfaces.
Arriving at the center of the city, on the square, there was a huge screen with the words "All-Federation Challenge Registration" displayed.
"This kind of competition, I should be able to participate."
Just reminded by Yali, Xu Yuan felt he could seize the hype of this challenge.
Only soul masters could enter the Star Battle Network because the electric current released by the Starship was lethal to ordinary people. Moreover, the number of soul masters who could simultaneously enter the Star Battle Network was limited, so it couldn't be fully popularized yet. However, matches within the Star Battle Network could be live-streamed online.
In various game scenarios, one could choose whether to open to the outside world. The All-Federation Challenge was broadcast live.
As a groundbreaking product launched by the Federation, the promotion of the Star Battle Network was extensive. At least three-tenths of the entire Federation's population were paying attention to the All-Federation Challenge.
The remaining seven-tenths might hear about it from others, learning about the content of this challenge.
Although he decided to participate in this challenge, Xu Yuan didn't immediately register. For now, he was still a guest without an account.
After wandering around for a bit and getting a general understanding of the things inside the Star Battle Network, Xu Yuan then exited the network.
Coming out of the Starship, Xu Yuan stretched his body.
"The Federation's research on the human body is quite advanced. Such electric currents can perfectly replicate changes in human strength and project them into the Star Battle Network. If used in the medical field, perhaps any disease that isn't beyond human resistance could be solved."
Perhaps, as long as one was willing to spend money, living to the maximum age was no longer a problem.
"It makes sense for Master to bring up the concept of immortality. Perhaps the Federation has also reached a stage where it needs to study this field."
With the appearance of the god-level path, the topic of lifespan fell before everyone.
Technology is an aid to cultivation.
Similarly, cultivation is key to technological development.
Without the help of god-level soul masters, many soul-conducting technologies might not have progressed further.
For example, space exploration.
Xu Yuan had already received news from the Stellar Sea Alliance, knowing that his first spaceship had been completed. The overall manufacturing process went very smoothly, and during construction, various parties within the Stellar Sea Alliance achieved some breakthroughs in technology. With the addition of the full-soul-forged metal provided by Xu Yuan, the quality of this spaceship could be said to be the best in Federation history.
Among the spaceships previously manufactured by the Federation's official channels, none could compare to Xu Yuan's.
However, even so, Professor Zhang from the Stellar Sea Alliance suggested that Xu Yuan not rush into space exploration.
The universe is vast and boundless.
The Federation has always had substantial knowledge of deep space. There are the Fire Li tribes in the War God Hall, originating from other planes, and numerous other spatiotemporal dimensions—all pathways through which the Federation understands other planes in the universe.
Yet, despite this, the Federation had not made progress in space exploration.
The main issue wasn't the inability to build spaceships capable of navigating the universe, but the lack of endurance and assured navigation speed.
The solution to endurance, according to the original storyline, involved a structure dismantled from Eternal Paradise by Ling Zichen, which also addressed power bursts.
The Stellar Sea Alliance, guided by Xu Yuan, researched the crystallization technology of stellar energy to solve the spaceship's endurance issues.
That is, constantly using the most abundant stellar energy in the universe as fuel.
Of course, truly stable stellar energy crystallization technology was not easy to develop, but temporary crystallization technology had been successfully researched by the Stellar Sea Alliance.
Use as needed, convert as required.
Stellar energy was omnipresent throughout the universe, making this system flawless.
Regarding power bursts, the Stellar Sea Alliance prepared a manual mode for Xu Yuan.
Being entirely soul-forged, it was akin to piloting a mech. As long as Xu Yuan could withstand it and coordinate the energy operation within the spaceship, he could push the spaceship's speed to an incredibly exaggerated level.
Space-jumping technology was still in its infancy and couldn't be truly realized, but Xu Yuan's spaceship could achieve it under his control.
This was the role of soul masters.
Perhaps through Xu Yuan's use of his spaceship, with insights and summaries handed over to the Stellar Sea Alliance, these technologies could be continuously improved and developed to break through bottlenecks.
Of course, building the spaceship was initially Xu Yuan's preparation in case he had nowhere to stand after breaking through to godhood, constructing it for survival in the universe.
Now, with the Underworld Realm opened, Xu Yuan wasn't in a rush to experience it.
Leaving the Sea God Pavilion, he came to the back of Sea God Island.
Na'er, with silver hair, sat quietly on the grass, her back facing Xu Yuan.
Xu Yuan approached and sat beside her.
"Do you want to meet her?"
Na'er's gaze flickered, suddenly curved into a smile, and said, "Alright, I also want to see the results of my cultivation."
Xu Yuan smiled.
Na'er's soul power fluctuations were quite astonishing, reaching eighty-five levels.
Of course, compared to Gu Yue, she was far behind. But Na'er should have cultivated entirely on her own, without the means to absorb the foundation from her previous life like Gu Yue did.
Strictly speaking, this cultivation speed was faster than Tang Wulin's. If Tang Wulin hadn't been constantly devouring abyssal and stellar energies in the Blood God Legion, he probably wouldn't have reached eighty-five levels by now.
"Let's go. She should be in the Blood God Legion, and it's time to take you there."
"Mm, the Blood God Legion, the Abyss… I've heard Master talk about them many times. My Silver Dragon Spear also has devouring abilities. Once there, my soul power should quickly catch up to yours."
Xu Yuan gave a helpless smile and ruffled Na'er's head.
"Don't just focus on increasing your soul power. Understanding is also important, especially at the ninety-fifth level. Didn't Master tell you? Although your Silver Dragon Spear is of high quality, it's ultimately just a divine artifact."
Just a divine artifact?
Na'er shook off Xu Yuan's hand, looked up at him, and showed a skeptical expression.
"Big Brother, are you floating? You look down on divine artifacts now?"
"I've crafted a divine artifact myself, naturally aiming for higher pursuits." Xu Yuan shrugged.
Na'er rolled her eyes.
"That spear is the result of my hard work, alright?"
"Get ready. We can set off now."
"So soon?" Na'er's enthusiasm waned slightly.
She felt that Xu Yuan was completely focused on his own matters.
"Wait a moment."
After saying that, Na'er ran towards the Sea God Pavilion.
A while later, she returned.
She held something in her hand.
Xu Yuan's gaze became serious, focusing on her right hand.
At this moment, in Na'er's right hand, was a strange piece of wood. This wood exuded a decayed aura—no, decay wasn't an accurate description; perhaps death would fit better.
However, amidst the pervasive death aura, this piece of wood still contained vitality, nurturing life deep within.
"What is this?" Xu Yuan asked.
Na'er giggled.
"I heard there was a land of dead bones in the Hell Plane, so I went there to find a bone beast that matched my Silver Dragon Spear."
"Bone beast?"
"A type of blood beast, but it's formed from the skeletal remains of a blood beast after death. Its fundamental power lies in the bones rather than bloodline, similar to my Silver Dragon Spear."
Xu Yuan understood.
The Silver Dragon Spear was forged from the ribs of the Dragon God.
However, ordinary bone beasts would hardly match the Silver Dragon Spear.
"Big Brother, don't underestimate the Hell Plane. Though it's a developing plane, there must have been a divine realm above it in the past. I found traces of deities."
"Is that so?" Xu Yuan's gaze flickered.
Had the divine realm above the Hell Plane been swept away by spatial turbulence?
What surprised Xu Yuan was how he had missed so much intelligence back then.
When he visited the Hell Plane, it was only to find Na'er. After learning about the Blood Master system, he curiously sought out Elder Chen Deng of the Celestial Ape Holy Ground, obtained the Five Element Celestial Technique, and left the Hell Plane after successful cultivation, without delving deeper into the Hell Plane.
"So, what's this thing in your hand?"
"In the Hell Plane, there's a land of dead bones, seemingly an ancient battlefield. The initial wars between the Hell Plane and the Demon Plane took place there. However, even before the Demon Plane's invasion, it was an ancient battlefield. Millions of years ago, a plane war occurred there."
"This dried wood in my hand is what I found there. I thought this coexistence of life and death was interesting, so I brought it back. However, the energy level within this dried wood is too high, and I couldn't store it in a storage-type soul tool."
Na'er lifted the dried wood in her hand and placed it before Xu Yuan.
"Here, for you. Didn't you use a Life-Death Rune when creating the Seven Saints Abyss?"
Xu Yuan didn't hesitate and took the dried wood from Na'er.
His gaze became solemn.
"This death force is extremely pure, no less than destructive energy."
As for the life force deep within the dried wood, it naturally fell short compared to the life energy on Devil Island, but the sense of rebirth was very prominent.
Carefully examining the appearance of the dried wood, Xu Yuan found its shape peculiar—it was relatively straight, and one end showed clear signs of fracture.
Was this dried wood artificially damaged?
Regarding the death aura and life energy within…
Xu Yuan infused his mental strength into it, preparing to investigate.
Upon the dried wood, the death force erupted.
"Big Brother, be careful. This thing's harm to mental strength is terrifying!" Na'er urgently warned Xu Yuan against using mental strength to probe.
Xu Yuan, however, did not stop.
The death force erupted, and Xu Yuan directly devoured this force.
His mental strength, strictly speaking, was already integrated with soul power and blood energy, unlike ordinary people's mental strength.
He devoured the death force, digesting it with the Devouring Heaven and Earth Great Method.
"No less than the power of the Destruction God."
Xu Yuan glanced at Na'er.
"I have the memories of the Silver Dragon King, okay? I also sensed the energy level of this dried wood. Otherwise, why would I have rushed back from the Hell Plane holding this thing."
Xu Yuan's gaze returned to the dried wood.
"Come out. Your divine consciousness is well hidden, but I've discovered it."
There was no reaction from the dried wood.
Xu Yuan immediately brought forth the dream space.
Under the cover of reality and illusion, a wisp of divine consciousness floated out from the dried wood.
"Kid, hold on, don't act rashly."
The divine consciousness emitted fluctuations and transformed into the appearance of a young man.
"Who are you? And what's the origin of this thing?"
The young man manifested from the divine consciousness sighed and put on a helpless expression.
"Don't make it sound like an interrogation. I was sleeping peacefully until this girl brought me out. If you hadn't stimulated me with mental strength, I wouldn't have awakened."
"Answer my question first," Xu Yuan said expressionlessly.
This young man was no ordinary person.
The divine consciousness itself explained everything.
Moreover, the form manifested by the divine consciousness indicated the young man's extraordinariness. It was highly likely he became a deity in his youth.
Whether he was an ordinary god or a deity, Xu Yuan didn't know.
"My name is Rex. Some accidents caused my fall, but fortunately, this divine consciousness survived. It drifted to what you call the Hell Plane in spatial turbulence."
Xu Yuan's gaze flickered.
Not a native of the Hell Plane?
"What is this thing?" Xu Yuan's gaze turned to the dried wood below the young man.
"It's a fragment of the sacred artifact from my homeland."
"Sacred artifact? Fragment?"
"My homeland is a magic plane. Translated here, a sacred artifact should be called a super divine artifact."
"A fragment of a super divine artifact?"
Xu Yuan didn't show any suspicion.
The energy fluctuations within this dried wood reached the level of the Destruction God and the Life God. Saying it was a fragment of a super divine artifact was entirely believable to Xu Yuan.
He looked at Rex, waiting for him to continue explaining.
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