Chapter 393: This World is Vast
"Dear, you're not thinking of sleeping with the boss together with me tonight, are you?"
Sitting in Li Meng's arms, Avinsa suddenly turned her head to look at Luke, speaking with a teasing smile that left him momentarily stunned.
Luke looked at his wife in shock.
"Hehe, no way, I can barely handle the boss alone. Luke, don't be mad, okay? I'll make it up to you later!"
Luke looked speechlessly at the giggling Avinsa.
Li Meng, on the other hand, smiled faintly, watching the unusual couple with amusement.
He didn't really care either way.
But if Avinsa could barely handle him alone, having two of them together would definitely break her.
[Master, the Demon Clan is invading!]
At that moment, Xiao Bai's voice suddenly echoed in his mind.
Li Meng, still holding Avinsa, showed a slight change in expression.
"Demon Clan invasion? What's happening?"
[The news comes from Theodore's side. The Demon Clan has landed on the shores of the northern Kingdom of Catemia and is sweeping through its entire territory.]
Li Meng still remembered Theodore.
He was one of the people he had saved from the Lust High Priest Fraude of the Demon God Cult.
Also, he was Sandora's husband.
The Kingdom of Catemia was a mid-tier kingdom in the northern region of the southern continent.
It wasn't particularly powerful, with a population of just over ten million.
The Demon Clan's stronghold was in the Demon Continent.
Since the Demon Continent lay to the north, they could only invade from that direction.
"How large is their force?"
[Over a million troops!]
A million?
Li Meng furrowed his brows slightly.
It seemed like the Demon Clan's goal was to sweep through the entire southern continent.
"Why is everything happening at the same time?"
Li Meng took a deep breath, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes.
His hand in the water lightly patted Avinsa's waist and hips.
He then stood up, stepping out of the bath completely naked.
The moment he stepped onto the floor, the clothes hanging on the rack flew toward him, dressing him automatically.
"I have to go. This is someone else's home—make sure to clean up before you leave."
The boss was leaving?
Seeing him suddenly preparing to leave, Avinsa was momentarily stunned.
A hint of doubt flashed in her eyes.
Just moments ago, they were soaking in the bath together.
Why was he suddenly leaving?
Avinsa hurriedly stepped out of the bath, still completely bare.
"Boss, it was my fault. I won't do it again. Please don't leave."
She quickly chased after him and wrapped her arms around him from behind.
She thought he was angry because of her earlier teasing words.
Li Meng turned around to face her.
His hands reached out to embrace her smooth waist.
Looking down at her pleading expression, he smiled faintly.
"Avinsa, my departure has nothing to do with you. But next time we meet, if you can handle it, then what you said earlier might not be impossible."
Seeing the amused look in his eyes, Avinsa's face flushed red.
She was certain now that his departure had nothing to do with her teasing.
With a sultry smile, she nodded lightly.
"Alright, go back and accompany your husband."
Saying that, Li Meng let go of her waist and turned around, walking away without looking back.
Avinsa, still naked, watched as he disappeared through the door.
Only after he was completely gone did she return to the bath.
"Avinsa, what happened?"
In the bath, Avinsa waded through the water to Luke's side.
She naturally leaned into his embrace.
Luke opened his arms and held her close.
"We know nothing about the boss. I have no idea why he suddenly left in such a hurry."
Yes, they knew nothing about him.
To them, he had always been a mysterious figure.
Not only was his identity unknown, but his strength was also an enigma.
But one thing was undeniable.
He was a true powerhouse.
And his physical body was far beyond that of any human.
That night, a white streak of light suddenly flashed across the sky.
It was dazzling and eye-catching against the dark night.
Then, suddenly, the white streak stopped mid-air.
It transformed into a brilliant sphere of light, hovering in the sky.
[Master, what's wrong?]
Li Meng looked down at the land below, deep in thought.
"Xiao Bai, if magic is all-powerful, why can't practitioners fly?"
As he spoke, the tentacle-like light wings behind him dissipated instantly.
Though the wings vanished, he did not fall.
It was as if an invisible platform had formed beneath his feet, allowing him to stand in midair.
What was magic?
Magic was energy—an energy that living beings could manipulate.
It was both formless and tangible, capable of shifting between the real and the illusory.
The more Li Meng understood magic, the more he found the inability to fly completely unreasonable.
Even without light wings, he could still fly with ease.
He could generate a magic barrier under his feet, allowing him to run through the sky.
By concentrating magic at his feet, forming an invisible platform, he could move freely.
Logically, any king-level mage should be capable of this.
Both magic and combat aura could generate the necessary force for flight with ease.
Additionally, once magic reached a certain intensity, it would distort space itself, creating a weightless effect.
[It seems you've realized it, Master.]
Li Meng's expression shifted.
From Xiao Bai's tone, it seemed like there was a deeper reason behind this limitation.
"Explain it to me."
[In this world, for someone to fly, they must condense a magic ring.]
[Ten thousand years ago, forming a magic ring was easy. Whether a swordsman or a mage, they had to form their first ring to advance to the king level. Flight was a basic ability for king-level professionals.]
[But in the great cataclysm ten thousand years ago, the Augus Continent was shattered, and the world's laws collapsed. Since then, no being has been able to form a magic ring—not even the dragon race.]
"Wait, Xiao Bai, are you saying... this world? Does that mean there are other worlds?"
From Xiao Bai's words, Li Meng caught onto something.
Other worlds definitely existed.
After all, he himself had come from Earth.
But he was surprised that even the beings of this world were aware of the existence of other realms.
[Yes, the universe is vast. The Augus Star is just one among thousands in the Ancient Lower Star Domain.]
Ancient Lower Star Domain?
Thousands of worlds?
Li Meng's eyes lit up.
If other worlds existed, then there had to be a way to travel to them.
"Xiao Bai, is there a way to reach other worlds?"
[No. Ever since the Augus Continent was shattered, the interstellar teleportation magic arrays were destroyed, and the collapse of world laws turned Augus Star into a lost world, severed from the outside.]
Hearing this, a hint of disappointment flashed in Li Meng's eyes.
So leaving this world was impossible... for now.
[However...]
"However, what?"
Xiao Bai's tone suggested there was more to the story, piquing Li Meng's curiosity.
[Master, becoming a Holy Spirit allows one to leave this world.]
"Oh? How does that work?"
Li Meng recalled that Xiao Bai had previously mentioned that Holy Spirits were akin to divine beings.
They had already transformed into spiritual entities, merging with this world.
[Although the world's laws have collapsed, there remains a faint connection to the outside. Holy Spirits can sense the summons from other Ancient Upper Star Domain worlds, breaking through to reconstruct their physical bodies.]
Summons from the Ancient Upper Star Domain?
Reconstructing a physical body?
Li Meng's expression turned strange.
Wasn't this exactly like ascension in Chinese cultivation novels?
"Xiao Bai, how do you know all this so well?"
[Uh... I...]
"Xiao Bai, I don't blame you for deceiving me. When you said the life of this world was created by ancient dragons, I knew you were something akin to a creator or a god of this world. The whole 'split entity betrayal' thing was fake."
Li Meng had long suspected Xiao Bai's story.
Though he had doubts, he had never been overly concerned.
No matter what Xiao Bai truly was, as long as it didn't interfere with his plans, it didn't matter.
Besides, Xiao Bai had provided invaluable assistance.
[Sorry, Master.]
"So, are you still planning to hide things from me?"
[Well... I...]
"You can keep hiding it, but when I no longer need you, I won't hesitate to discard you."
Though Xiao Bai was parasitic within him, Li Meng could eliminate Xiao Bai with a mere thought.
It had nothing to do with contracts—Xiao Bai was likely immune to contractual constraints.
However, Li Meng could physically destroy Xiao Bai.
Of course, only the Xiao Bai within his body.
[Fine, Master, I'll tell you everything.]
[I am actually the World Lord of this world, under the jurisdiction of the Temple of Life.]
[The duty of a World Lord is to transform chaotic planets into habitable worlds and create life.]
[I have been on this planet for over a million years and have completed my duty.]
[The disaster that struck this world ten thousand years ago? I caused it.]
[Back then, I refused to let my million years of effort be taken by another World Lord, so I sacrificed myself to trigger a catastrophe, collapsing the world's laws and turning this world into a wandering realm.]
[With my life force destroyed, I possessed a split parasite and became what I am now.]
The sheer amount of information stunned Li Meng.
If Xiao Bai's words were true, then this world was a thousand times more vast than he had imagined.
Perhaps this world was part of a flourishing magical civilization on the far side of the Milky Way.
"So, Xiao Bai, you're saying... you're the true god of this world?"
[Master, the universe is immense. A World Lord may rule a world, but they are far from being true gods. In the Temple of Life, a World Lord is just a minor priest, equivalent to a bishop in this world's church hierarchy.]
[Master, you seem to possess divine energy yourself.]
[Your current power has long surpassed the Holy Spirit stage—you've reached the level of a Saint King.]
"Saint King? There are ranks beyond Holy Spirit?"
[Yes. Holy Spirits exist as pure souls. If they reconstruct their bodies, they can advance to Saint Warrior. Above that are Saint Master, Saint King, Saint Emperor, Saint Sovereign, Saint God, War God, God King, and Supreme God.]
[At the God Transformation level, one can break through space and ascend to the Divine Realm.]
"If I truly have Saint King-level power, shouldn't I have ascended already?"
[Master, ascension is not solely about power. One must go through the Holy Spirit stage first.]
Holy Spirit first?
"Xiao Bai, how does one become a spiritual entity?"
[When one's soul becomes strong enough, they can sacrifice themselves and achieve soul immortality.]
Li Meng gazed up at the moon.
Unexpectedly, he had finally confronted Xiao Bai and uncovered the true nature of this world.
Something came to mind, causing him to frown slightly.
That mysterious figure in his dreams... their identity must be extraordinary.
Could they be a true deity?
"Forget it. Ascension can wait."
The tasks assigned by that enigmatic existence were still unfinished.
Besides, his current physical strength was nearly indestructible.
Dying was no easy feat for him.
High above, a holy radiance reappeared.
Once again, dazzling, sacred light-wings extended from Li Meng's back.
The white streak of light tore through the sky, vanishing rapidly toward the north.
---
Dragon Kingdom.
Oka Village.
Oka Village was a small settlement.
Located on the western banks of a stream, it had a population of less than a thousand.
By morning, the scorching sun had risen high into the sky.
The peaceful village gradually stirred to life.
In the surrounding fields, farmers tended their crops.
Children played among the rows.
Fishermen at the river dock were returning with their morning catch.
To the west of the village, deep in the forest, stood a manor.
Peering through the trees, one could glimpse the estate.
On the second floor of the mansion, voices echoed from a room.
"It's been nearly two years now. When will the little one arrive?"
On the balcony, Helen reclined on a lounge chair, wearing a loose blue dress.
She wasn't alone.
Paine knelt beside her, gently caressing her round belly.
Helen blushed, a loving expression on her face as she rubbed her stomach.
She could feel the little life growing within her.
It wouldn't be long before they met.
"Soon. I can feel it."
"Paine, has Father returned yet?"
"Not yet. He should be back tomorrow."
"And the maid? Still not found one?"
"I spoke with the village chief. I'll check again tomorrow."
Paine smiled slightly and stood up.
"It's still early. I'll go into the forest and hunt some game to nourish you."
Helen chuckled and nodded gently.
"I think you just can't sit still. Go ahead, but come back soon!"
"Alright, I'll be back soon!"
Watching her husband leave, Helen took a deep breath.
She turned slightly, gazing at the forest beyond the courtyard.
Time passed quickly. Almost two years had gone by.
She wondered how Silver Mask was doing.
He should still be on Saint Biron Continent.
After all, Saint Biron was an adventurer's haven.
Many adventurers spent their entire lives there.
"Helen, were you thinking about me?"
A sudden voice startled her.
She turned toward the source—and her expression changed.
At some point, a black-clad young man had appeared beside her.
He looked about twenty years old, staring straight at her belly.