Swallowing the Stars, Hu Yanbo's Pre-Godhood

"Huyan Bo, what are your thoughts on this? If you have a preferred title, you can propose it now. Qian Cang and I are here, so we can raise it with the alliance's higher-ups on your behalf," King Xuzhen then inquired.

King Qiancang nodded in agreement, his gaze falling on Huyan Bo, awaiting his response.

Hu Yanbo listened calmly to the words of the two powerful kings.

He pondered for a moment, many thoughts flashing through his mind.

Name?

He has roamed the universe alone for thousands of epochs, fighting and venturing, and has never deliberately cultivated any resounding reputation.

When others are granted the title of king, they mostly use the same title they were given when they were granted the title of marquis. They simply change "marquis" to "king" and it is a logical and proper thing to do.

And what about yourself?

The situation was truly exceptional; the speed of advancement was absurdly fast. Before a proper title of Marquis could even circulate throughout the universe, he directly soared to the rank of Immortal King.

As a result, even now, everyone who knows him still calls him by his full name, "Huyanbo".

Does this sound like a powerful and immortal king who commands the stars?

If you didn't know better, you'd think he was just an ordinary immortal military lord.

However, Hu Yanbo raised his head, his gaze sweeping over King Xuzhen and King Qiancang, a calm yet confident smile appearing on his lips, and slowly said, "Thank you both for your trouble. However, there is no need to rush this matter of bestowing titles."

"I've always felt that titles are better earned through hard work and dedication than bestowed upon you, right?"

The origins of the titles bestowed upon powerful beings in the universe can be broadly categorized into several types.

Most commonly, it is bestowed directly by the powerful force to which the individual belongs, based on their characteristics or achievements, which represents a kind of official recognition and endorsement.

Another type is a consensus-based title that gradually forms among strong individuals during their long battles and interactions, based on a particular strong individual's extremely distinctive and impressive characteristics or abilities.

The last type originates from some earth-shattering feats or horrifying achievements, whose names spread far and wide as the deeds are told, and are recognized by hundreds of millions of living beings.

In Hu Yanbo's view, the first two types are more or less "assigned" by the outside world.

He clearly prefers the latter—a name truly full of power and legend, defined by the awe of countless opponents and the awe of countless onlookers.

Upon hearing this, King Xuzhen and King Qiancang exchanged a glance. Instead of being displeased, a hint of appreciation flashed in their eyes.

The title "Illusory True" that King of Illusory True earned was through his unparalleled and masterful soul illusion techniques, which made it difficult for even experts of the same level to distinguish between reality and illusion. He earned this reputation through countless battles!

This is why, even when encountering a king from another race on a battlefield outside the realm, the other party will often be wary of him and even take the initiative to retreat, because this is the deterrent effect brought by a title earned through strength.

The title of Thousand Cang King was bestowed upon him by the Cosmic Mercenary Alliance based on his early performance and the path of the laws. Although it was impressive, its significance in the hearts of strong people at the same level was ultimately less than that of the title of True King, which he earned through his own efforts.

"Excellent! That's ambitious!" King Xuzhen laughed heartily, his laughter carrying genuine admiration. "In that case, we'll await the day when your name resounds throughout the vast universe, and the powerful beings of all races willingly bestow upon you a title of honor!"

King Qiancang, standing to the side, chuckled and shook his head, adding in a tone that was both teasing and serious: "Having ambition is a good thing. But you'd better hurry up, kid. We can't let you and me, and all the powerful beings in this vast universe, call out the name of a King-level Immortal for tens of millions of years, can we?"

"I've never heard of such a thing before!"

His meaning was very clear.

Temporary exceptions are acceptable, but if there is no title to match his identity for a long time, not only will Hu Yanbo himself feel out of place, but the Cosmic Mercenary Alliance and even the entire circle of strong people in the human race will feel quite awkward and impolite.

"I understand. Thank you both for your guidance." Hu Yanbo nodded slightly, making a note of the matter for the time being.

King Xuzhen smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Just address us by our names. Among those who have been granted the title of King, there is no distinction of rank, at least on the surface."

"Yes, King Xuzhen." Huyan Bo nodded.

There was a time when he had to respectfully address the other party as "Lord Void King" through the virtual universe network and carefully inquire about the cultivation secrets of "The Tower of the Void".

Now, a mere thousand years later, he can address the other party by their title with ease, engage in equal dialogue with them, and is even regarded by them as an investment with immense potential.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the three ended the communication.

Almost at the same instant the light screen disappeared, Babata's voice, filled with obvious urgency and confusion, suddenly exploded in his mind.

"Master! Why did you refuse? Having a prestigious title would be so prestigious! A title bestowed by the Cosmic Mercenary Alliance will command respect wherever you go! It's a symbol of status!"

Hu Yanbo shook his head slightly, his consciousness responding, "Babata, it's just an empty title. True respect comes from strength, not a name."

His gaze once again fell upon the ever-changing void outside Chaos City, and his desire for power and his plans for the future became increasingly clear and firm.

The most urgent task is to quickly make up for the shortcomings in our spiritual means and to fully integrate the surging power.

As for his title... he'll have it when he crushes the Demon Hand King with his absolute power.

The moment this thought crossed his mind, the virtual universe was bombarded with new communication requests, all from renowned King-level Immortals within the Cosmic Mercenary Alliance, including some high-level or even peak-level King-level beings.

A faint smile appeared on Hu Yanbo's lips.

It truly proves the old saying: "When you're poor, no one cares even in the bustling city; when you're rich, even distant relatives come calling."

Although he had been recruited by the Thousand Cang King and enjoyed a top-tier contract, most of the truly top-ranking kings within the alliance adopted a wait-and-see attitude, and some even secretly questioned him.

Now that he has shown incredible potential, these powerful figures have taken the initiative to befriend him, speaking to him warmly and treating him as an equal, with their words carrying the praise of "the second Meng Sui King".

"The second Dream King Sui?" Hu Yanbo chuckled to himself, not immediately responding to the communications.

Meng Suiwang is indeed a legend in the history of the Cosmic Mercenary Alliance in recent years, a prime example of someone who achieved greatness late in life.

But... that's all.

As far as he knew, King Mengsui did not seem to have achieved the status of being invincible as a king.

But Hu Yanbo's goal is certainly not limited to being "second".

His ambitions are far greater than that.