In this alien world, Luo Feng walked calmly. Looking around, many native inhabitants lived in the various buildings. These natives all had crimson bodies and curved crimson horns. Some resembled infants, no taller than a knee, yet running wildly about the ground. Others appeared like children, already beginning to fight each other to prove superiority.
“Infants represent Star-Level…adulthood equates to Domain Lord.” Luo Feng observed as he walked. Every native whose height reached the typical adult stature was nearly always a Domain Lord.
“No wonder so many Domain Lords were among the native warriors who chased and hunted me.”
“This native race is indeed powerful, far stronger than the Golden-Horned Race I’ve visited. In the universe, they likely qualify as a ‘powerful race.'” Luo Feng mused inwardly.
Suddenly, voices reached his ears.
Three native infants were running about, playing and joking. Possessing Star-Level strength, they dashed quickly, and their playful punches sent other infants flying. Their small crimson curved horns added a touch of cuteness.
“I was born from the ancestral sea, so you should all obey me as your leader.”
“Being born from the Ancestral Sea and absorbing its essence may grant superior talent, but that doesn’t ensure you’ll attain immortality. We were born from the Imperial Sea, yet we still surpass you in strength.”
(Note: “祖海” is translated as “Ancestral Sea” to convey its primordial/mythical significance, while “皇海” becomes “Imperial Sea” to reflect its regal connotations. The phrasing maintains the original’s competitive tone while naturalizing Chinese cultivation novel terminology for English readers.)
“If you don’t accept me, I’ll just beat you until you do.”
“Who’s afraid of whom?”
The three infants playfully bickered.
Luo Feng turned his head upon hearing this and saw the three infants in the distance, thinking to himself, “They may seem like infants, but like the Golden-Horned Beasts, they possess innate intelligence, likely matching the average human teenager.”
“Born from the ancestral sea?”
“Born from the Imperial Sea?”
“Born from the ancestral sea by absorbing its essence?”
Luo Feng’s mind raced with thoughts. “Could it be these natives aren’t born from mothers? Right…they are energy-based lifeforms, so their birth is indeed very different. It seems some natives are born from the ‘Ancestral Sea,’ while others are born from the ‘Imperial Sea.'”
“It sounds like the Zuhai is superior.”
“The Imperial Sea, named after ‘Emperor,’ reminds me. On my way here, I heard that the Crown Prince led over a hundred million warriors to hunt me down. Since the Crown Prince holds such a high status, there must be an even higher-ranking ‘Emperor’ above him,” Luo Feng speculated.
“Zuhai, Huanghai!”
“Prince!”
Luo Feng’s mind was brimming with countless questions as he pressed forward. The natives bowed respectfully upon seeing him, a gesture Luo Feng had long grown accustomed to. In this world of natives, Immortal-level powerhouses were held in the highest esteem.
…
A towering ancient city housed countless native residents.
This ancient city was much larger than the one Luo Feng was currently exploring, because it was the residence of the Crown Prince, and each Cosmic Sovereign general also had their mansions within the city.
Inside the imperial palace of the ancient city.
“Damn it.”
“Frustrating.”
The Crown Prince paced back and forth within the hall, frowning and clenching his teeth at times. All servants had been ordered out, leaving only the Crown Prince alone in the hall. Outside the hall, all servants trembled in fear, unaware of why the Crown Prince had suddenly become enraged, even directly executing three servants.
“Daring to mock me, just because he entered the Cosmic Sovereign level earlier than me, dares to mock me?”
“Thinking that an alien Immortal absolutely cannot escape detection, considering my concerns mere imagination?”
The Crown Prince clenched his teeth.
As the supreme being in this world, even Cosmic Sovereigns treated him with respect. To the Crown Prince, his subordinates would never dare provoke him. The only ones who dared challenge him were his brothers—his 108 brothers—with whom he constantly competed and vied for dominance. Naturally, the matter of hunting down the alien Immortal couldn’t be hidden, and he had been mocked for it.
“I did nothing wrong.”
“I did nothing wrong.”
The Crown Prince suddenly swung his arm, and with a thunderous boom, the palace doors slammed shut, startling the servants outside into dead silence.
Inside the hall, only the faint red glow emanating from the massive supporting pillars illuminated the entire hall with a dim crimson light.
“Father.”
“Father.”
“Your son seeks an audience with Father!” The Crown Prince suddenly looked up and shouted.
“Boom~~~” An overwhelming presence abruptly descended upon the hall. The formidable power of the Nine Nether World began rapidly converging, stirring up a tremendous disturbance. Yet, outside the hall, the attendants remained completely oblivious. The inside and outside of the hall… were as if two entirely separate realms.
The power of the Nine Netherworld converged, gradually forming a vague yet massive facial outline.
“My child.” The giant head loomed over the Crown Prince.
“Father.” The Crown Prince first bowed respectfully, then voiced his grievance, “This time, I led over a hundred million warriors to hunt down an alien Immortal. We slew many of his servants. Yet in the end… I was certain the alien Immortal himself did not perish. I even summoned and interrogated the 300 Immortal warriors who had previously guarded the Nine Nether Vortex. Those Immortal warriors who pursued the alien Immortal all testified… that he was astonishingly swift, and none of the servants killed afterward resembled him. Their accounts further confirmed that my suspicion was correct.”
“But, but…” the Crown Prince clenched his teeth.
The colossal head leaned down, its voice eerie and cold, speaking slowly, “But your subordinate Cosmic Sovereigns and your brothers all believe you’re just imagining things, don’t they?”
“Yes.” The Crown Prince nodded hastily, unwillingly adding, “But…”
“You’re not wrong.”
“They’re not wrong either. The Nine Nether World’s power detected no aliens, leading them to believe you’re imagining things.” The giant head loomed over the Crown Prince, “However…that alien Immortal is indeed still alive.”
“Alive, really alive?” The Crown Prince immediately rejoiced, laughing, “I knew that alien Immortal must still be alive. When I first received the intelligence, I immediately determined that the alien Immortal must be extraordinary.”
“He is extraordinary, very extraordinary.” The giant head uttered coldly.
“Then how did he evade my army’s search?” the Crown Prince swiftly inquired. This was precisely what puzzled him. Earlier, his elder brother had challenged him with the same question—”The Nine Nether’s power detected all outsiders, yet after a sweep by a hundred million troops, he remains unfound. Clearly, the outsider Immortal has been slain. If you claim he still lives, then tell me—how did the outsider Immortal escape detection?”
The Crown Prince was also filled with confusion.
“Because he has a disguise technique.” The giant head loomed downward, “He can disguise himself as any of our Nine Nether clansmen.”
“Ahh.” The Crown Prince couldn’t believe it, “Then, then we must kill him immediately. If he can disguise as any clan member, that’s terrible.”
“Ah?”
The giant head suddenly let out a cold snort.
The Crown Prince immediately realized, obediently kept silent. Although his father loved them brothers, his father’s nature was cold and aloof. It was fortunate that he loved his sons, but…if these princes dared to meddle in their father’s affairs, they would be punished.
“Focus on cultivation instead. Once you, like your three older brothers, reach the Cosmic Sovereign level, I will take you to explore the outside world.” The giant head spoke, then dissipated, along with the terrifying presence.
Only then did the Crown Prince sigh in relief.
“Good thing.” The Crown Prince felt a lingering fear. He had realized he spoke wrongly and immediately adopted a quiet, obedient demeanor. If he had dared to argue, he would have suffered terribly.
“Reaching the Cosmic Sovereign level.”
“Hmph, I will definitely achieve it, definitely.” As the Crown Prince thought of this, his eyes flashed with boundless malevolence, suppressed for countless eons.
Because all the royal princes, only upon reaching the Cosmic Sovereign level would they gain the qualifications to leave their homeland and explore the outside world.
…
Luo Feng walked among many clusters of buildings.
Suddenly, he saw a group of infants playing ahead.
“Come here.” Luo Feng beckoned to one of them. The infant who was playing the most enthusiastically, obviously the leader among the children, immediately obediently ran over and respectfully bowed, “Greetings to the Immortal.”
“Hmm.”
Luo Feng smiled and asked, “Were you born from the Ancestral Sea?”
“Yes.” The infant touched its curved horn, appearing quite shy.
Luo Feng nodded. Based on his deduction, the natives born from the Ancestral Sea were naturally stronger than those born from the Imperial Sea, making them superior! Among the playing infants, those born from the Ancestral Sea were usually the leaders.
“Tell me about Zuhai,” Luo Feng instructed.
“Has the Immortal never been to the Ancestral Sea?” The infant seemed excited, then proudly said, “Well, the Ancestral Sea is outside our world. Even though we were born from the Ancestral Sea, once we leave the Ancestral Sea and enter our world, we can never return unless we become Immortals and have the opportunity to go back through the Nine Nether Vortex.”
Luo Feng was momentarily stunned.
The Zu Hai?
(Note: “祖海” is a Chinese name, and it is directly transliterated as “Zu Hai” in English. If it refers to a specific person or place, additional context may be needed for a more precise translation.)
The Nine Netherworld Whirlpool? Outside?
“Could it be the Nine Nether Sea…” Luo Feng couldn’t help but wonder.
“The Ancestral Sea is vast,” the alien infant continued, “boundless, located right above our world. It’s said to be even larger than our world. Hmph, those born from the Imperial Seas can’t compare with us at all. There are 108 Imperial Seas, and even the largest Imperial Sea is just a tiny part of the Ancestral Sea.”
Luo Feng felt a knot in his heart.
Above?
Larger than this world?
“The Nine Nether Sea!!!” Luo Feng’s heart trembled, “The entire Nine Nether Space-Time is actually a Nine Nether Sea, with only some islands scattered across its surface.”
“So, the Nine Nether Sea gives birth to some native lifeforms.”
The baby was proudly boasting about being born from the ancestral sea.
Though Luo Feng’s heart was in turmoil, he maintained a calm exterior, nodding with a smile as he replied, “Being born from the Imperial Sea isn’t bad either. Have you ever been to the Imperial Sea?”
“No, I haven’t.”
The baby shook its head quickly, as if understanding that the Immortal before him was born from the Imperial Sea, and added, “The Imperial Sea isn’t bad either, especially the largest one. I’m still small now, but when I grow stronger in the future, I can still go there.”
Luo Feng immediately understood.
Able to go?
These native warriors who wished to depart from this world were not easily granted passage, making it difficult to glimpse the Ancestral Sea once more. Since the Imperial Sea was more accessible, it must be situated within the Nine Netherworld.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage