Imperial Father

In this alien world, Luo Feng walked with ease. Looking around, he saw many natives living in the various buildings. These natives all had blood-red bodies and blood-red curved horns. Some were like infants, no taller than a knee, scurrying about. Others were like children, already battling each other to prove their strength. “Infants are Planet-level… and adults are Realm Lords.” Luo Feng observed as he walked. Almost all the natives who had reached their normal adult height were Realm Lords. “No wonder there were so many Realm Lords among the native warriors who chased me earlier.” “This native race is truly powerful, much stronger than the Golden Horn Clan I’ve visited. In the cosmos, they probably qualify as a ‘powerful race’,” Luo Feng mused. Suddenly, voices reached his ears. Three native infants were playfully chasing each other. Their Planet-level strength made them incredibly fast, and their roughhousing involved punching other infants away. Their small blood-red horns… added a touch of cuteness. “I was born from the Ancestral Sea, so you should make me your leader.” “Being born from the Ancestral Sea, absorbing its essence, grants good talent, but it doesn’t mean you’ll definitely become an Immortal. We, born from the Imperial Sea, are still stronger than you.” “If you don’t obey me, I’ll beat you until you do.” “Who’s afraid of whom?” The three infants continued their squabble. Luo Feng turned his head upon hearing them and saw the three infants in the distance. He thought to himself, “They look like infants, but just like the Golden Horned Beast, they are born with extremely high intelligence. They’re probably comparable to an average human teenager.” “Born from the Ancestral Sea?” “Born from the Imperial Sea?” “Born by absorbing the essence of the Ancestral Sea?” Numerous thoughts flashed through Luo Feng’s mind. “Could it be that these natives aren’t born from mothers? That’s right… they are energy-based lifeforms, and the birth of energy-based lifeforms is indeed very different. It sounds like some natives are born from the ‘Ancestral Sea,’ and some are born from the ‘Imperial Sea.’” “The Ancestral Sea sounds like it’s of a higher grade.” “The Imperial Sea, named ‘Imperial,’ and along my journey, I heard that the Prince led hundreds of millions of warriors to encircle me. The Prince holds a high status, so there must be an even higher-ranking ‘Emperor,’ right?” Luo Feng pondered. “Ancestral Sea, Imperial Sea!” “Prince!” Many questions arose in Luo Feng’s mind. He continued to stroll, and when the natives saw him, they all bowed respectfully. Luo Feng already knew that in this native world, Immortal-level experts were highly revered. … A majestic ancient city, home to countless native residents. This ancient city was much larger than the one Luo Feng was currently exploring, because… this was the residence of the Prince. Universe Venerable generals also had their mansions within this city. Inside the palace of the ancient city. “Damn it.” “Infuriating.” The Prince paced back and forth in the hall, his brows furrowed, occasionally gritting his teeth. All the servants had been dismissed, leaving only the Prince in the hall. Outside the grand hall, all the servants were trembling with fear… they didn’t know why the Prince had suddenly erupted in such fury, even executing three servants. “How dare they mock me, just because they entered the Universe Venerable level earlier than me? How dare they mock me!” “They even think that a foreign Immortal-level expert could never escape detection, and that I’m just imagining things?” The Prince gritted his teeth. As a high-ranking existence in this world, even Universe Venerables showed him respect. For the Prince… his subordinates dared not provoke him. The only ones who dared were his brothers! With 108 brothers… there were naturally constant rivalries and comparisons. The matter of encircling the foreign Immortal-level expert couldn’t be kept secret, and he had been mocked for it. “I’m not wrong.” “I’m not wrong.” The Prince suddenly waved his arm, and with a rumble, the palace doors slammed shut, scaring the servants outside so much that they dared not make a sound. Inside the hall, only the massive support pillars glowed faintly red, casting a subtle red light throughout the entire space. “Imperial Father.” “Imperial Father.” “Your son requests an audience with Imperial Father!” the Prince suddenly cried out, looking up. “Rumble~~~” An irresistible aura suddenly descended into the hall, and the powerful Jiuyou World power began to gather directly. Yet, despite such a grand commotion… the servants outside the hall felt nothing. The inside and outside of the hall… were like two different worlds. The gathering Jiuyou World power gradually formed a blurry, giant facial outline. “My child.” The giant head looked down at the Prince. “Imperial Father.” The Prince first bowed respectfully, then indignantly said, “This time, your son commanded hundreds of millions of warriors to encircle a foreign Immortal-level expert. We killed many of the foreign Immortal-level expert’s servants. Even at the very end… your son was certain that the foreign Immortal-level expert was definitely not dead. I even summoned and questioned the three hundred Immortal-level warriors who were stationed at the Jiuyou Vortex. Those Immortal-level warriors who had chased the foreign Immortal-level expert all said… the foreign Immortal-level expert was incredibly fast, and none of the servants killed afterward resembled him. Their words further confirmed that my guess was correct.” “But, but…” The Prince gritted his teeth. The giant head looked down, its voice cold and slow, saying, “But your Universe Venerable subordinates and your brothers all think you’re delusional, right?” “Yes.” The Prince nodded repeatedly, unwilling to give up. “But…” “You are not wrong.” “They are not wrong either. The Jiuyou World power detected no alien, leading them to believe you are delusional.” The giant head looked down at the Prince. “However… that foreign Immortal-level expert is indeed still alive.” “Alive, truly alive?” The Prince was instantly overjoyed and laughed heartily. “I knew that foreign Immortal-level expert must be alive. When I first received the intelligence, the outpost report, I knew that foreign Immortal-level expert was extraordinary.” “Extraordinary, very extraordinary,” the giant head said coldly. “Then how did he escape my army’s search?” the Prince asked quickly. He was also curious about this, as his brothers had questioned him similarly: “The Jiuyou power detects all aliens. Now, hundreds of millions of troops searched, but couldn’t find him again. Clearly, the foreign Immortal-level expert has been killed. You say he’s alive, then I ask you, how did that foreign Immortal-level expert escape detection?” The Prince was also full of doubts. “Because he possesses a disguise method,” the giant head looked down, “capable of impersonating any of my Jiuyou tribesmen.” “Ah!” The Prince was incredulous. “Then, then we must kill him quickly! If he can impersonate any of our tribesmen, that’s terrible!” “Hmm?” The giant head suddenly snorted coldly. The Prince immediately came to his senses and fell silent. Although his Imperial Father doted on his brothers, his Imperial Father’s nature was cold and aloof. It was already good that he doted on them, but… if any of the Princes dared to meddle in his Imperial Father’s affairs, they would be punished. “Hurry and cultivate. Once you reach the Universe Venerable level like your three brothers, I will take you out to explore,” the giant head said, then dissipated, and the terrifying aura vanished. The Prince finally let out a long breath. “That was close.” The Prince felt a wave of lingering fear. He had realized his mistake and immediately adopted a submissive silence. If he had dared to argue, he would have suffered a tragic fate. “Universe Venerable level.” “Hmph, I will definitely reach it, definitely.” As the Prince thought of this, his eyes filled with endless resentment, a resentment suppressed for countless years. Because all his princely brothers could only leave their homeland and explore the outside world once they reached the Universe Venerable level. … Luo Feng walked among the clusters of buildings. Suddenly, he saw a group of infants playing in front of him. “Come here,” Luo Feng beckoned to one of them, the most boisterous one, clearly the leader of the children. The infant immediately ran over obediently and respectfully bowed: “Greetings, Immortal.” “Hmm.” Luo Feng asked with a smile, “Were you born from the Ancestral Sea?” “Yes,” the infant said shyly, touching its curved horn. Luo Feng nodded. According to his deductions, natives born from the Ancestral Sea were naturally stronger and more excellent than those born from the Imperial Sea! Among the playing infants, those born from the Ancestral Sea were usually the leaders. “Tell me about the Ancestral Sea,” Luo Feng instructed. “Didn’t Immortal-level adult go to the Ancestral Sea?” The infant seemed very excited, then said proudly, “Well, the Ancestral Sea is outside our world! Even if we’re born from the Ancestral Sea, once we leave it and enter our world, we can never return to the Ancestral Sea. Unless we become Immortal-level in the future, and even then, we’d need a chance to pass through the Jiuyou Vortex to reach the Ancestral Sea.” Luo Feng was stunned by this. Ancestral Sea? Jiuyou Vortex? Outside? “Could it be the Jiuyou Sea…” Luo Feng couldn’t help but think. “The Ancestral Sea is vast,” the native alien infant continued. “Boundless, it’s right above our world, and it’s said to be even larger than our world. Hmph, those born from the Imperial Sea can’t compare to us at all. There are 108 Imperial Seas in total, and even the largest Imperial Sea is just a tiny fraction of the Ancestral Sea.” Luo Feng’s heart skipped a beat. Above? Larger than this world? “Jiuyou Sea!!!” Luo Feng’s heart trembled. “The entire Jiuyou spacetime is actually a Jiuyou Sea, with only some islands on it.” “So, the Jiuyou Sea gives birth to some native lifeforms.” The infant continued to boast, clearly very proud of being born from the Ancestral Sea. Although Luo Feng’s heart was churning with immense waves, he maintained a calm exterior, nodding and smiling as he said, “Being born from the Imperial Sea isn’t bad either. Have you been to the Imperial Sea?” “I haven’t.” The infant shook its head repeatedly, seemingly understanding that the Immortal-level expert before him was born from the Imperial Sea. It quickly added, “The Imperial Sea isn’t bad, especially the largest one. I’m still young, but when I get stronger, I’ll be able to go.” Luo Feng immediately understood. Able to go? It wasn’t easy for these native warriors to leave this world, and even seeing the Ancestral Sea again was difficult. Since visiting the Imperial Sea was easier, it must be within the Jiuyou World.