Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“The Dragon God Tower is the divine weapon protecting our Dragon God Empire. Legend goes that it’s the supreme divine weapon that His Holiness, the great Dragon God, forged for the Dragon God Empire after he had deified.”
The Fighting Dragon Academy president explained smilingly, “The Dragon God Tower is sited inside Dragon God Academy. It has a total of 100 levels, and each level is an independent half-plane of existence.”
“A half-plane?”
“Yes, a half-plane!
“The magic elements in these half-planes are extremely rich and dense, and even the laws of nature inside are much clearer than the outside world. You can achieve more with less by cultivating inside these half-planes. They are excellent cultivation spots.
“This has led to hordes of people desiring to enter the Dragon God Tower to cultivate. Unfortunately, only those below 30 years of age and stronger than eighth-grade are qualified to enter.”
President Fred continued the topic and said, “Therefore, there aren’t actually many that are truly qualified to enter. There’s also something else. The higher you go in the Dragon God Tower, the richer the magic elements and the clearer the laws of nature become!”
A look of longing appeared in President Fred’s eyes as he added, “It’s said that the Dragon God Tower’s 100th level even contains the secret to deification!”
“The secret to deification?” A huge jolt went through Meng Lei.
“It’s just a legend. No one knows for sure.”
President Fred nodded affirmatively. “After all, ever since the Dragon God Tower’s appearance over 40,000 years ago, there has never been anyone that has successfully ascended to the 100th level yet.
“Therefore, the legend’s credibility is still unverified as of today. However, the occasional oracles that His Holiness the Dragon God had imparted have hinted at it before!”
At the mention of the Dragon God Tower’s 100th level, longing and regret surfaced in all six academy presidents’ eyes. They were beings that had already reached the ranks of Saint Domains, and there were very few things in this world that could still pose an allure to them.
Deification was the only thing that they dreamed of, as well as what they were currently painstakingly pursuing.
Alas, they didn’t meet the requirements, so they couldn’t enter the Dragon God Tower. With that, they naturally wouldn’t be able to know the secrets of the 100th level, either.
“Many geniuses emerge in the empire every generation, and there are many great talents out there. Has no one ever successfully ascended to the Dragon God Tower’s 100th level all these years?” a frowning Meng Lei asked, puzzlement in his eyes.
“You’ve never been to the Dragon God Tower, so you’re naturally unaware of its fearsomeness.”
The Fighting Dragon Academy president went on with a wry smile. “I’ve mentioned it previously, but every level of Dragon God Tower is a half-plane where magic elements are rich, and the laws of nature are clear. While it’s certainly an excellent cultivation sanctum, it’s even more beneficial to the native beings inside them.
“These native beings live inside the half-planes all year round. After being nourished by the magic elements and laws of nature, they have become terrifyingly strong. The rate at which they produce strong experts is much higher than what it’s like in Heaven’s Vault Continent, where we are.
“Moreover, the half-planes’ natives are extremely xenophobic. Outlanders are easily attacked inside.
“Should they enter recklessly despite lacking sufficient strength, even surviving would become a problem, let alone cultivation.
“For innumerable years, just how many geniuses have perished inside the Dragon God Tower? How many great talents and mutants have been buried within? The memories are as fresh and vivid as if it had only happened yesterday!”
One of the academy presidents sighed emotionally. “When I had entered the Dragon God Tower back then, if it hadn’t been for my good fortune, I would have died inside, too. The under-30 requirement is too demanding!”
Another academy president sighed and said, “Geniuses and talents of this age are only elementary-level Saint Domains at best. With that level of strength, they can only persevere as far as the 50th level at the most.”
“Elementary-level Saint Domains can only persevere as far as the 50th level?” Meng Lei was astounded. “How strong must one be to reach the 100th level, then?”
President Fred replied, “The limits of Saint Domain!”
“The limits of Saint Domain?”
Meng Lei was stunned by his answer.
“Yes, the limits of Saint Domain.” President Fred explained, “The reason why the half-planes are only half-planes is that they weren’t fully nurtured, leading to the laws of nature becoming flawed and incomplete. In other words, complete laws of nature do not exist in the half-planes! Do you know what this means?”
Meng Lei shook his head.
“This means that the strongest that the native beings can go is the limits of Saint Domain. It’s impossible for them to surpass this range!”
President Fred smiled and added, “You should be aware that upon stepping into the Saint Domain realm, one’s strength correlates fully with their comprehension of the laws of nature.
“The deeper their comprehension of the laws of nature, the stronger they will be. When a Saint Domain fully comprehends a type of laws of nature, they’ll naturally step into the half-deity level.
“However, because complete laws of nature do not exist in half-planes, the native beings will never be able to produce half-deities. Saint Domain limits-level is the highest they can achieve!”
“I see, so that’s how it is.”
Realization dawned upon Meng Lei. After reflecting on it for a long while, he asked, “In that case, as long as one can attain Saint Domain limits-level before they turn 30 years old, there’ll be hope for them to enter the Dragon God Tower’s 100th level?”
“Yes, that’s right?”
All six academy presidents nodded in response. Then, all of them shook their heads and added, “But it’s too difficult. There’s no way anyone can achieve that at all!”
Saint Domain limits-level!
What was Saint Domain limits-level?
If achieving full comprehension of a type of laws of nature made one a half-deity, then the Saint Domain limits-level was an existence that possessed almost limitless comprehension of a type of laws of nature. They were truly only a step short of fully comprehending a type of laws of nature.
Thinking of achieving Saint Domain limits-level before 30 years old?
Dream on!
“Comprehending the laws of nature is a process that requires an accumulation of effort over a long passage of time. One may not improve in the slightest, even over a period of several hundred or a thousand years.
“30 years is but just the amount of time for one to take a nap. Yet they still dream of fully comprehending a type of laws of nature? No way!”
“Alright. I was too ignorant.” Meng Lei nodded slowly.
“You’ve only just stepped into the Saint Domain realm, and you’re even a genius, too. Understandably, you wouldn’t know the difficulties involved in comprehending laws of nature.”
The six academy presidents laughed and added, “When you’ve fully immersed yourself in the ocean that is the laws of nature, you’ll come to understand the difficulties involved!”
Meng Lei nodded slowly in response. Then, he asked curiously, “Presidents, all of you must have entered the Dragon God Tower before, right? What’s the highest level that you’ve reached?”
Upon his question, all six academy presidents exchanged looks. They had differing expressions on their faces—some were smug, some were embarrassed, and some were awkward.
What’s going on?
At the sight of this, Meng Lei’s curiosity grew even stronger. However, the Floating Beast they were on suddenly jerked unexpectedly at this moment. It stared right at the space in front and emitted several low roars, its countenance extremely on guard.
“Huh?”
Just as bewilderment filled everyone, they heard the beast tamer. “Oh no! Man-Vulture bandits have appeared ahead! All passengers, please take precautions!”
“Man-Vulture bandits?”
Everyone looked over. True enough, a dark expanse of clouds sweeping toward them entered their sights. The black masses blotted out the sun and covered the sky with their sheer numbers.
“It really is Man-Vulture bandits!”
President Fred’s brows drew into a frown. “Those dirty, greedy fellows! They’re just like rats in the sewers—they’re everywhere!”
“Man-Vulture bandits?”
Meng Lei looked over as well—the so-called “dark clouds” turned out to be a group of half-human, half-bird creatures!
They had heads of vultures and bodies of humans, as well as the vultures’ wings and sharp talons.
They looked absolutely like a motley crew with their shiny, bald heads, filthy bodies, and tattered, shabby clothes.
“Man-Vultures? Why aren’t they Vulture-Men?”
Meng Lei was rather puzzled.
President Fred explained, “Typical half-human, half-beast creatures can be considered human because they possess a very high level of intelligence, so they are no different from humans. For example, Taurens, Tiger-headed People, and Dragon People like us.
“However, this isn’t the case for Man-Vultures. Although those guys have humans’ bodies, their innate character makes them no different from a pack of Magical Beasts dressed in human guises.
“They’re barbaric, uncouth, greedy, brutal, and foolish. In addition, they are fond of attacking humans. They commit all imaginable misdeeds, like arson, assault, robbery, and plunder!
“Thus, they are known as Man-Vultures and not Vulture-Men—because one cannot consider them humans at all. Instead, they are a bunch of beasts and bandits!”