Chapter 890: Iron Foundation Ten Levels

Thump, thump, thump!

“This cultivation method truly requires the corresponding bloodline to practice!” As Xu Zhi advanced, the pressure he felt intensified. Terrifying pressure, like a surging tide, pressed in on him from all directions, crushing everything in its path.

Crackle, crackle!

One step forward.

In Xu Zhi's eyes, the iron-based giant, initially half a star in size, had now broken through to the Eighth-Tier Deity path. Its body, which had expanded to half a continent, was astonishingly compressed countless times over! Though now small enough to fit inside a planet, it could no longer exist on the surface of any planet. This was because its density had surpassed a critical phase transition point. Merely standing in a planet's atmosphere, it would act like a powerful magnet, drawing in all humans, creatures, plants, soil tens of thousands of meters below, and even the atmosphere above, causing massive storms as everything was pulled towards it.

The surrounding light naturally began to bend due to its immense mass and density. Any cosmic ray storm would be sucked into it. It was like a light bulb in the universe, but instead of emitting light, it absorbed all rays and electromagnetic fields. Limitless energy was frantically absorbed. Its absorption efficiency was ten thousand times greater than the "Dyson Sphere" form of the giant octopus. Therefore, their Eighth-Tier form had no shortage of energy for breakthroughs! This was also why they could still achieve breakthroughs despite their immense size. Furthermore, if they stood motionless in space, countless dust particles, sand, and passing meteoroids would densely adhere to them, forming an asteroid in less than a hundred years. And this was merely an Eighth-Tier Deity.

“This Eighth-Tier is truly exaggerated,” Xu Zhi took a deep breath. “Without even stepping onto the Ninth-Tier path, it can distort light and manifest various natural distortion laws. Even a weaker Ninth-Tier might be instantly crushed by this Eighth-Tier!”

“Is this truly the ultimate Tenth-Tier inheritance? It's terrifying indeed. The universe isn't just home to the Zerg; there are many other monstrously powerful races.” Xu Zhi withdrew his gaze, feeling his own insignificance. In the same realm, he could only be considered an equal. And that was only if they were of comparable size. With the opponent's current size... “I would be utterly crushed by him!”

Xu Zhi shuddered at the thought, mumbling, “An iron-based lifeform of this level is a high-tier deity in my same realm. Unless my Nine Revolutions Mysterious Art reaches complete mastery, and the Six Paths of Reincarnation within me become fully prosperous to their limit, providing immense, endless energy, allowing me to increase my physical size and energy output, I won't be able to bridge the size gap.”

“It's also because the beings in the Six Paths of Reincarnation World aren't practicing hard enough that I'm so weak, preventing me from defeating this iron-based lifeform in the same realm. When I go back, as the Emperor, I'll have to properly spur them on to cultivate diligently and continuously grow stronger.” Xu Zhi mused. Indeed, his decision to cultivate in the orchard was correct; the outside world was too terrifying. There were no limits to how powerful a high-dimensional cosmic race could be; this water was unfathomably deep.

Continuing to look ahead on this path, “It's now peak Eighth-Tier, about to embark on the Ninth-Tier path. How does this iron-based lifeform's Ninth-Tier cellular path proceed?” Xu Zhi took a deep breath, his face filled with curiosity, and took a gentle step forward.

Thump, thump! The method for breaking through to the Ninth-Tier appeared before him. It was a planet: a neutron star. Neutron stars are the densest celestial bodies apart from black holes. Their density is equivalent to forcefully compressing an entire Earth into a mere 22-meter sphere. The infinitely terrifying pressure and gravity almost flattened the entire iron-based lifeform there.

“Is this the Ninth-Tier path for this system? Will a peak Eighth-Tier iron-based lifeform use the pressure within a neutron star to fuse every inch of its soul and cells, thereby stepping onto the Ninth-Tier path?”

“If so, it's somewhat similar to the Ninth-Tier path we previously deduced for the Shushan lineage, which involved using an external furnace to furiously temper and compress the soul and flesh for fusion!” On this Ninth-Tier path, Xu Zhi saw a long and arduous existence. Iron-based lifeforms have exceptionally long lifespans; even Eighth-Tier Deities live for a full thirty thousand years. During these thirty millennia, they would reside on a neutron star, using its gravity to break through to the Ninth-Tier. Naturally, the probability of successful breakthrough was relatively low.

“Let's see the next realm.” Xu Zhi took another step forward. The Ninth-Tier path had already been completed, and he saw a member of the Iron Pot race in their Ninth-Tier form. The entire iron-based lifeform was now only seventeen meters tall, and its gravitational pull seemed to absorb all matter in the universe.

“How terrifying! A Ninth-Tier iron-based being has compressed its half-planet-sized body to about seventeen meters, reaching the density of a neutron star. This is equivalent to compressing an entire Earth to a terrifying size of twenty-two meters.” Xu Zhi pondered continuously, “Every Ninth-Tier transcendent system has its unique path of specialized laws! The Ninth-Tier path of iron-based lifeforms is clearly related to distorting gravity and density.”

It was then that he understood that Renimanska, whom he had seen earlier in giant form, was merely in a relaxed, primordial state, a non-combat form, adopted to protect other beings. Once it entered combat mode, this iron-based lifeform would furiously contract like a spring to a seventeen-meter stature. At that point, a single punch from it could truly shatter a star. “Because its mass could originally rival that of a star.” Xu Zhi exclaimed in admiration. This was indeed a truly formidable and defiant race in the universe.

“Furthermore, in their combat form, compressed to a certain density, merely standing next to a star could distort and pull a planet's orbit. Therefore, for Renimanska, moving these planets to build the Cosmic Garden here was practically second nature, requiring no effort at all.” Xu Zhi continued to ponder, feeling that the truth of history was finally laid bare before him. All ancient records now had a logical explanation.

As for collecting civilizations, perhaps this race was simply too lonely. Being born too powerful also led to extreme loneliness. There are always gains and losses. Few ordinary beings could approach their race. Therefore, after breaking through to the Ninth-Tier, they naturally enjoyed keeping “small pets” and raising giant octopuses to make their homes livelier.

“So, this is Ninth-Tier now, the level Renimanska was at back then. Further ahead, will it be Tenth-Tier?” Xu Zhi's mind trembled slightly, his heart pounding, as he took a step forward. “What is the path to the Tenth-Tier like? Even if it's the iron-based Tenth-Tier, I can draw inferences.”

Whoosh. The world instantly changed. Xu Zhi finally arrived at the end of this inheritance path. On an ordinary planet teeming with birdsong and fragrant flowers, people dressed in rough leather. On a street, a muscular man with bronze skin was casually drinking tea and eating snacks, his gaze exceptionally restrained. “Don't aim too high. When you reach the Ninth-Tier path, come back to the inheritance path, and I will tell you then.”

Xu Zhi's mind was violently shaken. Despite having no aura, Xu Zhi could vaguely sense that this being was the ultimate Tenth-Tier existence, unseen yet present. But was its body truly that of an iron-based lifeform?! It could actually compress itself to the normal human height of 1.8 meters. A neutron star is the current maximum limit of density; seventeen meters is the physical limit for their race before collapsing into a black hole. Yet, the creature before him, clearly surpassing the terrifying density of a black hole, could still exist in the form of a normal human. Furthermore, it radiated no terrifying oppressive feeling. Nor did its immense density generate any gravitational pull, not even a planet's worth, that would harm the ordinary mortal planet it was on.

Click. Everything went dark before his eyes. Xu Zhi had reached the end and was forcibly expelled. “Was it an illusion?” Xu Zhi frowned slightly, constantly pondering. “I felt as though that being's density was so high, it was as if entire Earths were crammed into each of its pores, yet it caused no disturbance whatsoever.”