Chapter 1001: Ancient Ruins, Playing the Old King Again?

Viola stood in the sacred plaza, marked by the coordinates of the entire star chart, her heart a mix of anticipation and nervousness.

By day, she went to school as a middle school student, listening to her teachers. By night, she cultivated, explored ancient cosmic ruins, and observed the entire world alongside ancient beings who had lived for hundreds of thousands of years.

This was too bizarre... Just three days prior, she had been an ordinary middle school student. As players would say, even the most "overpowered protagonist" fiction wouldn't dare to write such an encounter!

Bhikkhu, however, wasn't so concerned. He couldn't help but ask, "We're going to accept a mission to explore ancient civilization ruins. Aren't you worried someone might target me?"

"Ultimately, you need experience. No powerful individual is a hothouse flower, and neither are you," Yuan Yuan said with a smile, shaking his head. "And with me suppressing the area, who could lay a hand on you?"

Yuan Yuan, accompanied by his two Dao companions, now commanded a combined combat power that placed them among the top ten Awakened Beings of the Abyssal Blue. His energy level, measured by standard metrics where a perfect Rank Nine being with a normal two-meter physique is 1, was already 31. His two Dao companions were slightly less, in the twenties.

They were practically invincible. Who could possibly challenge them?

"Are you trying to lure someone out?" Bhikkhu asked. After all, the Three Celestial Venerables had marked him, ensuring his safety.

Yuan Yuan conceded, "Yes, we're seeing if we can draw out a group of people... Even the Three Celestial Venerables didn't realize their reach extended so deep. Not even the 107 Awakened Beings can be trusted anymore... Now, the only ones the Three Celestial Venerables trust are me and a few others."

It must be said, he had swiftly become a confidant of the Three Celestial Venerables. This was because he had introduced them. If he were a spy, the Magical Girl race wouldn't even have had a chance to appear. Thus, in a time of widespread panic, he directly cleared his name and became a trusted associate.

Furthermore, the Lan Erman individuals he brought along also received significant support. Already in their final sprint phase, they now gained abundant resources and guidance. The Three Celestial Venerables intended to push them into the "Supreme Council of Awakened Beings" to increase their pool of usable personnel.

"Let's go!"

As soon as Yuan Yuan spoke, they entered a high-speed spatiotemporal tunnel. This spatial transmission was exceptionally long. Instead of arriving in a few moments, the surrounding planets rapidly receded like bowling pins, even transforming into streaks of light.

"We're going to an ancient civilization ruin from over 400,000 years ago. It's incredibly mysterious and dangerous, known to us as the 'Fixed Light Super-God Domain' and the 'Burning Labyrinth'."

"It's one of the few weak Rank Ten ancient civilization ruins that remain unexplored... because above it exists an even higher-tier civilization, a Rank Ten relic itself."

"There's an even higher-tier civilization?" Bhikkhu asked.

"Yes, according to our exploration, it's connected to a certain ancient Rank Ten relic civilization, essentially a subordinate civilization. Even the Three Celestial Venerables haven't dared to touch that one," Yuan Yuan explained. "Even this subordinate civilization's ruin is extremely terrifying. Almost constantly, Awakened Beings from all regions explore it, often meeting their demise there. There are battles over treasures, ancient civilization residual restrictions, and even hunts by other entities."

Bhikkhu was startled. "Rank Nine cosmic Awakened Beings are so rare, yet they frequently die here? Isn't the loss too great?"

Yuan Yuan smiled, answering like a mentor. After all, he was hired as a temporary mentor for protection, tasked with imparting knowledge and clearing doubts. "What loss? Do you know how many Awakened Beings have been 'lost' within a million years? For over ten generations, even the powerful beings who transcend cosmic laws merely experience a frenzied cycle of life and death."

"You must understand that across the vast universe, thousands of civilizations are likely born and destroyed every moment."

Yuan Yuan, however, shook his head and softly said, "The world is far vaster than you imagine. Civilizations flourish like the starry sky, and every hundred thousand years, transcendent beings emerge like countless stars, only to fall again... The ruins of these civilizations narrate it all."

"Even our Abyssal Blue civilization, with its star charts, has explored thousands of large galaxies, yet this is less than one-hundred-millionth of the supercluster we inhabit!"

"The first lesson I want to teach you is reverence!"

"Revere life, for every life is a miracle of the universe! It is the peculiar arrangement and convergence of countless inanimate objects: sand, stones, water."

"Revere nature, because even the most powerful life nurtured by miracles is but a speck of dust in the vast eons of the cosmos. We are all motes of dust, you and I alike."

Motes of dust?

In front of their television screens, many listeners were engrossed. After all, the true cosmic structure was something they, sealed off from the outside by the Super Ancient Gods, had never witnessed. This was, in a sense, a lesson in popular science.

"In the universe, the coordinates of all civilizations are hidden. Only in these widely known ancient civilization ruins do many beings gather to explore."

*Whoosh.*

The group landed, stopping on a barren, derelict planet. This yellowish rock planet was, surprisingly, a white dwarf. Its heat radiated a terrifying inferno, distorting even the vacuum of space. The extremely high gravitational field instantly collapsed Bhikkhu's body to about half its original size.

Yuan Yuan watched, momentarily stunned, then chuckled, "Yours is like this?"

Normal powerful beings could only resist such ultra-high-pressure gravitational fields with their own strength. If they couldn't resist, they would be crushed by gravity, bleeding profusely, their flesh and blood cells rupturing, turning them into bloodied figures. But to see someone shrink in size, capable of expanding and contracting, was a first for him.

"Your race seems to possess great elasticity?" Yuan Yuan, as if discovering a new continent, seemed very interested and gently reached out. An even stronger gravitational force descended. It compressed her to the size of a strand of hair.

*Whoosh!* Yuan Yuan warped the laws of physics, applying anti-gravity. In an instant, the entire small white magical rabbit rapidly expanded like cotton candy, growing larger and larger, its body density becoming extremely sparse.

"Cough, cough, cough, Teacher, please stop compressing me." Bhikkhu, rapidly fluctuating in size, coughed twice and said, "Our race can grow large or shrink small. When Magical Girls fight, they can hide in your hair, so they don't have to fear being targeted."

Yuan Yuan found it impressive that such an elastic race existed, capable of changing their own density like a spring. "It seems the stronger you become, the smaller you can get. To what extent can your density be compressed?" Yuan Yuan asked.

"According to our ancestors' deductions, one-quarter the density of a neutron star... but no one has ever reached that realm." Bhikkhu thought for a moment and honestly replied, "We call the extreme mass-density of a neutron star 'Oppenheimer Density,' and we can reach one-quarter of that limit... The corresponding length we call 'Plutonian Length,' named after a legendary figure; no one understood the sun better than him."

"I see." Yuan Yuan nodded. As an Awakened Being who transcended cosmic laws, he naturally possessed an extreme understanding of universal rules: density, gravity, attraction, temperature...

One-quarter the density of a neutron star would be equivalent to fitting all the supercontinents of a planet into a basketball! What's more, imagine compressing an already incredibly tiny creature with such density? Their size would be billions of times smaller than a bacterium!

"This body size is indeed convenient for us to carry... Without this race by our side during battles to help convert incense, we would be useless. But previously, I always thought it would be difficult to protect them in combat..."

But now, it was different. With this size, enemies couldn't possibly target her. At the same time, this was akin to a super weapon, a "tiny droplet" whose terrifying density could pierce through anything, making her a potential assassination-type ambush artifact.

"I thought they only provided incense, but I didn't realize they could also assist us in combat. It seems I truly need to prioritize nurturing my magical pets; we can both improve our realms together," Yuan Yuan mused.

The Incense Civilization truly complemented their own. Their ability to assist in combat was also an improvement on the portable dragon veins. Of course, in this kind of combat, they would be used as artifacts, flung out like hidden weapons. They just had to lie still, which suited their style quite well.

However, at this moment, in front of their television screens, all the players listened to this mentor instructing his disciple, watching the broadcast, but their thoughts and perspectives were entirely different.

"Shrinking and expanding, someone's wife is being played with!""A green flower embedded on a golden factory!""Husband, say something! Speak up!"

Akina Speed had no reaction, as if he were working overtime.

At this time, on this white dwarf, a scattering of special buildings stood, with powerful deities and Rank Nine Awakened Beings moving about. Major entities, even Awakened Beings, who were almost never seen on regular days, had surprisingly appeared here.

"It's a being from the Abyssal Blue Divine Domain!""Let's go! That's a forbidden being, one who hopes to perfect their Dao foundation and embark on the World Path.""Those guys are here!""Number Thirty-Seven of the Abyssal Blue Divine Domain, the one called the Source Martial God of Slaughter!"

All Awakened Beings' expressions subtly changed upon seeing Yuan Yuan. As if knowing his terrifying reputation, such a being was already a forbidden-level hegemon in the nearby stellar regions. Many civilizations, hearing of him, trembled and their first reaction was to leave immediately.

"Teacher, your title, 'Source Martial God of Slaughter,' doesn't sound very pleasant," Bhikkhu said.

"They're just names others gave me. I don't like it; it's unpleasant and unoriginal. After all, I was only ranked thirty-seventh before..." Yuan Yuan frowned. Among over a hundred beings, titles served more as mere designations. He simply shook his head and said, "But this time, if we encounter combat, after I transform, this so-called title will make them change their minds."

"And those others are all crippled Rank Nines, with no hope for the future."

Yuan Yuan's expression was stern. With his hands behind his back, he calmly watched them, patiently explaining information about the entire universe, continuing his lesson: "We are very powerful. Do you see them? As I said before, a Rank Nine Awakened Being with a complete Dao foundation has an energy level of 1. But ordinary Awakened Beings are incomplete... Their common energy levels vary."

Beside each of the three of them, a small television floated, broadcasting this scene live.

"So their classification is like this: ordinary Rank Nine Awakened Beings in the universe, with imperfect genes, who only cultivated one or two paths to breakthrough, are only around 0.4. One is considered perfect?"

No wonder they were so arrogant! After all, any perfect Dao foundation Rank Nine they produced would have an energy level of at least 1, easily overwhelming most other Rank Nine Awakened Beings.

"And him? With 31, fighting these 0.4 guys, they're not even cannon fodder!" The players exclaimed, finding this civilization incredibly ruthless. Any Rank Nine Awakened Being they brought out could dominate the outside world. No wonder others were so afraid of them; they turned and left the moment they arrived.

At this point, Akina Speed quickly sent a private message to his girlfriend.

Bhikkhu paused, then pretended to be curious and asked, "So, having encountered so many civilizations, have you found any races with naturally high energy levels? Ones with physiques comparable to planets? If the usual is 1, then their natural energy levels must be in the thousands or tens of thousands, right?"

Yuan Yuan, suspecting nothing, smiled and said, "Of course there are. In fact, encountering such ruins in our Abyssal Blue Divine Domain caused quite a stir, and even the Three Celestial Venerables personally went to investigate."

"Ordinary flesh-and-blood carbon-based life forms cannot sustain such immense sizes; their bones, flesh, and blood would instantly collapse. However, non-carbon-based life forms, like iron-based ones, can achieve such physiques."

"Just tens of thousands of years ago, the Three Celestial Venerables discovered that ruin. Although long desolate, they were deeply moved by the power of that life form. It was a weak Rank Ten being, likely with an energy level of over 10,000. That single being could rival the entirety of our Abyssal Blue Divine Domain!"

"One being, comparable to the entire civilization of the Abyssal Blue Divine Domain?" Bhikkhu asked.

"Many civilization forms in the universe are different. Although that being was simple, not as complex and vast as us, the civilizations it nurtured never provided it with combat power; they were even treated as pets," Yuan Yuan mused with some emotion. "However, that being was indeed extremely powerful; even the Three Celestial Venerables felt they were no match for it... But such a being still fell... Pure combat strength isn't true strength. We are the truly powerful ones."

Their Abyssal Blue Divine Domain considered itself the strongest weak Rank Ten civilization. Having seen many ancient ruins, they naturally knew that pure frontal combat power was not necessarily the strongest. True strength, in their view, wasn't about who was superior in "direct combat"; if they couldn't win, they could retreat, and their lifespans could be much longer.

"Our Abyssal Blue Divine Domain possesses the strongest comprehensive capabilities. The other party has fallen, but we have not... This alone is proof enough. We are even steadily progressing towards the ultimate cosmic state. We observe the failures of ancient ruins to learn from their mistakes. Through countless observations, we have found that we are the most promising civilization among all we have encountered," Yuan Yuan sighed.

Renimanska was indeed a weak Rank Ten being! And a very powerful one at that! But how could he not be strong? Just looking at his physique, one could discern his energy level and realize how terrifying he was...

At this moment, various player leaders took the opportunity to gather information, their minds calm. "However, the current Abyssal Blue Divine Domain has no idea! Back then, after they left, such a being was still alive... living a second life! And he even had a little daughter, and brought along a heaven-defying race of heretic gods that was no less powerful!" A player analyzed, feeling that the Abyssal Blue Divine Domain was still too naive.

Akina Speed: "Indeed, Renimanska is incredibly powerful. If he were still alive, his cosmic garden alone could take on the entire Abyssal Blue Divine Domain!"

Moe Girl also became serious: "And Renimanska is that powerful! One person could challenge the entire Abyssal Blue Divine Domain, even the Three Celestial Venerables... Yet, the Three Celestial Venerables previously captured a perfect Rank Nine, no weaker than Caroline, as easily as catching a chicken... Comparing them, it's simply unimaginable!"

Alchemy Emperor: "Exactly. If Renimanska is terrifying to this extent, what about the Super Ancient God who fought him? And what about Moon God Ji?"

They were probably even stronger. At this thought, all the players felt a strong sense of crisis. The Buddhist and Daoist transcendent civilization systems, as the superhuman pantheon of ancient China on Earth, were their ancestral mother. As a civilization from Earth, they were determined to achieve resurgence, not only for the glory of their ancestors but also for their own future. However, this weak Rank Ten civilization of the Abyssal Blue Divine Domain was enough to leave them dumbfounded, while the even more powerful beings, like the Super Ancient God, were truly beyond imagination.

"However, we also know more about Renimanska.""Indeed."

In front of the television.

"The world is a loop. They think they're secretly studying and observing us, but in reality, we're secretly studying and observing them," Medusa said, a faint smile playing on her lips as she sat on the sofa. Secretly infiltrating to see what tricks they were up to had indeed yielded great results! Although she seemed to be scolding them, she was actually greatly surprised internally, but dared not show it. After all, the combat power assessment of Renimanska was far more powerful and unpredictable than she had imagined.

But Shi Ji didn't care for such thoughts, exclaiming joyfully, "Father is still the best! He knew they were up to something... Now, these guys are truly wicked, still secretly probing Father's trump cards and strength! As descendants of righteous warriors like Ultraman and Magical Girls, they've abandoned their original ideals!"

Xu Zhi was speechless, remaining silent. After all, these players actually had some skill; they had twisted these events into a prehistoric mini-universe civilization story featuring Caroline, and quite a few people believed it. However, he watched the movements of Emperor Qi and Caroline. Sitting calmly in front of the TV, sipping tea, he softly murmured, "Are Emperor Qi and the others also coming here, to this ancient civilization ruin?"

He stared at the television screen. "However, since it's on a white dwarf, I'm somewhat interested... At the same time, this seems to be a place connected to Rank Ten civilization ruins. With them causing chaos and infighting here, will the Fallen Civilization come to hunt and ambush them? I can ignore their conflicts. I can't interfere anyway; the skirmishes between these beings are currently so intense that even Caroline and others find them troublesome. However, I do want to examine this civilization ruin... I wonder if there are any powerful bloodline remnants. If there are strong bloodlines... perhaps I can study them."

Xu Zhi felt his task lay elsewhere. He sensed this might be a rare life form similar to Renimanska. If he could obtain some of its bloodline, becoming the 'old neighbor' of this civilization would be excellent. After all, even he had to admit there was a reason the previous Zerg Mother Empress enjoyed doing this so much... it was indeed quite satisfying.

And why a rare life form? Because ancient civilization ruins existing on a white dwarf would certainly not be carbon-based life forms.