Bleary eyes slowly opened, reflecting Lin Moyu’s figure.
“You’re back already?” Antares uttered, his deep voice thick with sleep.
Lin Moyu nodded, “I finished everything I needed to do, so I came back.”
“Finished? That quickly?” Antares muttered in disbelief.
How long had it been? Barely half a month.
And it was already over?
Since when had the deep layer become so easy to traverse?
“Did your soul really reach 2nd grade?” Antares asked skeptically.
Normally, simply navigating the deep layer and finding a route consumed a lot of time.
If Lin Moyu had encountered any Transcendent God-level along the way, battle would have been unavoidable.
So how had he returned this quickly?
Lin Moyu explained, “I got lucky. I found the Burial Ground of Gods… and I also obtained the world core.”
“What?!” Antares jerked his head up abruptly.
Not only had Lin Moyu found the Burial Ground of Gods, but he had even obtained the world core?
“Unfortunately, I couldn’t find the Dragon Bead this time. But the next time I go, I’ll definitely bring it back for you.”
Antares shook his head, “The Dragon Bead can wait. No need to rush.”
“Show me the world core.”
Lin Moyu took out the world core and presented it to Antares.
The world core was a fist only the size of a fist, appearing no larger than a grain of sand before Antares’s enormous eyes.
Antares blinked, “Yes, this is the real thing.”
“The world force contained within it is exceptionally abundant. Even among the world cores of small worlds, this would be considered top quality.”
“With this, your future path will become much smoother.”
Lin Moyu frowned slightly, “What exactly is it used for?”
A mischievous grin spread across Antares’s face, “Let me explain it properly.”
He shook his massive head, fully rousing himself as his expression gradually turned serious.
Seeing this, Lin Moyu immediately focused his attention. Whatever Antares was about to say was clearly important.
“I’m listening.”
Cough. Cough.
Antares cleared his throat like an old scholar preparing to lecture.
“A world core is a True God-grade treasure with three primary uses.”
“Most people only know of the first two. Very few are aware of the third.”
“And in truth, the third use is both the greatest and most important of them all… especially for you.”
Antares emphasized the words greatest and most important, instantly piquing Lin Moyu’s curiosity.
“The first use is weapon and armor refinement. Equipment forged using a world core carries world force, making it vastly superior to ordinary equipment of the same grade.”
“The second use is to extract the world force within it and strengthen one’s personal world. In the greater world, nearly every powerhouse possesses a small world of their own.”
“Some even go so far as to destroy entire worlds, refining perfectly good worlds into world cores solely to absorb their world force and enhance their own world.”
Lin Moyu’s heart skipped a beat.
The sheer fact that powerhouses of the greater world could casually annihilate entire worlds proved that its cruelty exceeded his imagination once again.
Collateral destruction during battle was one thing.
Deliberately erasing an entire world for personal gain was something else entirely.
To the weak, even the right to exist depended solely on the whims of the strong.
Antares let out a dark chuckle, “Now you understand how brutal the greater world truly is.”
“Next, I’ll tell you about the third use. Very few know of it. Only ancient races with long inheritances—such as our Dragon Race—possess this knowledge.”
“A world core can be refined into a special kind of vessel.”
Lin Moyu paused in surprise, “A vessel? For what purpose?”
Antares slowly swayed his massive head, “Aside from the world force it contains, the most valuable aspect of a world core is its true body.”
“That true body carries different laws. Using a secret technique of the Dragon Race, it can be refined into a unique vessel.”
“And within that vessel… everything remains completely static.”
“Even time itself does not flow.”
Lin Moyu pondered this for a moment, yet he still couldn’t understand what practical use such a vessel could possibly have.
Antares laughed harder, "You've always been clever. Why can't you figure this out now?"
"You’re destined to leave this world sooner or later. I already told you there are two ways to do it."
Lin Moyu nodded. Antares had indeed explained this before.
The first option was to bring the entire world into the greater world, allowing it to be tempered by its laws and become a true part of it.
Doing so would strengthen the world, remove some of its limitations, accelerate cultivation, and make comprehending laws much easier for its inhabitants.
The drawback, however, was that the world would lose its protection and be exposed to the eyes of powerhouses from a myriad of races.
The second option was for Lin Moyu to leave alone and return only after becoming strong enough to bring the small world with him.
The problem was that he had no idea how much power that would require or how long it would take.
Hundreds of years could pass.
By then, everything in the small world would have changed beyond recognition.
And the people he cared about—his sister, Meng Anwen, Bai Yiyuan, Ning Yiyi, Shi Xing’an, and the others—might already be gone.
Neither option was ideal, which was why he hadn’t been able to decide before.
Antares smiled, "You understand now, don't you? With the world core, you have a third option.”
"Once you become world lord, you'll be able to manipulate the spirit imprints within the world core.”
“You can pack up your loved ones, friends, and anyone else you want into the world vessel and take them with you."
Lin Moyu's eyes lit up. Compared to the first two options, this third one was undeniably better.
"They'll gain access to the greater world's resources, be baptized by its laws, and reach higher realms—perhaps even attain immortality."
Antares snorted heavily, releasing a burst of hot breath, "Immortality? You think it's that easy?”
"The greater world is home to myriad races. Some live for tens of thousands of years, while others survive only a few short years."
“As for the humans, ordinary people barely make it to a hundred. Even God-level live less than two hundred years."
"Half-step Transcendent God-level gain only a few extra decades. Even with every life-extending method available, they won't surpass four hundred years.”
“Is that what you're hoping for? Two hundred years? Four hundred?”
Lin Moyu shook his head. That wasn't enough.
"Can it be longer?"
"Of course it can." Antares replied.
"Transcendent God-level marks humanity's first true transformation. Transcendent God 1st tier live for five hundred years, and each subsequent tier adds another century. The upper limit of Transcendent God-level is roughly two thousand years.”
"True God-level live even longer, beginning at five thousand years."
"But here's the reality: among your loved ones, friends, and teachers, not a single one has the talent to reach Transcendent God-level."
"In this entire world, only your sister shows any real potential."
"Without talent, effort alone means nothing. Even entering the greater world won't change that."
"Stop indulging in fantasies."
The words were merciless, shattering Lin Moyu's hopes without the slightest restraint.
Yet he wasn't angry. He understood exactly why Antares was saying them.
Antares wanted him to abandon unrealistic expectations.
Antares continued, "And don't think this plan is without risks. This special vessel gives each person only one chance. Once they leave it, they can never enter again."
"So if you awaken them in the greater world and fail to help them reach Transcendent God-level, they'll simply spend their remaining two or three hundred years growing old and dying."
"If that's the case, you'd be better off staying here and spending their lives with them before leaving. To me, a few hundred years is nothing more than a nap. Just choose one of the first two options. Leaving a few centuries later won't make much difference."
"Don't waste your time and energy on this. It's not worth it. Even if you manage to bring them out, there may be no future for them. All you'll have done is expend tremendous effort while potentially delaying your own progress."
