Humans are devouring, drawing cards from all realms, starting with Yang Jian.

However, this price is just a drop in the ocean for Jiang Ming.

However, the cost of cultivating it was enough to make Jiang Ming tremble.

"Perfectly cultivating it to the Immortal level would cost between 80 billion and 2 trillion Chaos Units..."

Jiang Ming's lips twitched slightly.

The reason for this large span is that the cultivation of plant life is full of uncertainties.

The more powerful a life form is, the more difficult it is to break through to immortality; this is a law of the primordial universe.

If cultivated in a normal way, 80 billion Chaos Units would be enough for the Ancient Tree of Life to reach the Immortal level.

However, an immortal-level ancient tree cultivated in this way might not even have the combat power to be granted the title of Marquis.

It's not even as good as some perfectly cultivated ordinary plant life.

However, if it is a perfectly cultivated ancient tree of life, once it enters the immortal realm, it will possess the peak combat power of a king.

"Although it's expensive, it's worth it if we can successfully cultivate it."

A hint of anticipation flashed in Jiang Ming's eyes.

A peak-level ancient tree of life, capable of granting its master almost limitless divine power.

Jiang Ming's current understanding of the laws has reached the level of a King-level being. If a plant life form at the peak of the King-level were to provide him with power, then he would have genuine King-level combat strength.

It's not even an ordinary King-level expert! It's the peak King-level!

With the power of the Ancient Tree of Life, even a peak-level King-level expert would be no match for him.

"Although two trillion is expensive, I can afford it. Instead of keeping the money to earn interest, I'd rather improve my strength."

With a slight thought, Jiang Ming sent a wisp of primal force into the root system of the ancient tree of life.

hum-

The Force, carrying his spiritual imprint, entered the core of the Tree of Life's soul.

Unlike the metallic lifeforms of the Silver Palace Clan, the consciousness of the Ancient Tree of Life is gentler, and also more... ancient. Even as a seedling, its consciousness still carries a tranquility born of the passage of time.

The moment the recognition was completed, a warm life energy surged from the ancient tree and flowed into Jiang Ming's body through the channel of primal force.

Wherever that energy passed, every cell cheered, and every pore opened. Jiang Ming even felt that his already terrifying regenerative ability had been subtly enhanced.

"Truly a living ancient tree."

Jiang Ming sighed in admiration.

With a wave of his hand, mountains of wooden crystals flew out from the depths of the World Ring, flowing like crystal rivers toward the roots of the Ancient Tree of Life.

There are so many of them that they could form an asteroid.

At this moment, they are being devoured by the ancient tree of life.

"Crunch, crunch—"

A faint chewing sound emanated from the roots, a dense and crisp sound, like silkworms eating leaves. The roots of the ancient tree of life grew and spread at a visible speed, and the trunk, which was originally half a meter tall, began to slowly rise.

Sixty centimeters, seventy centimeters, one meter...

When the last batch of Wood Crystals was completely devoured, the Ancient Tree of Life had grown to three meters tall, its canopy spreading out like an umbrella, its emerald green leaves shimmering with a faint halo in the light.

"Planetary level peak."

Jiang Ming nodded in satisfaction.

It only took a few hours for it to grow from a seedling to the peak of the planetary level. Of course, this was due to the accumulation of a massive amount of Wood Crystals and the astonishing rate of life evolution of the Ancient Tree of Life.

With a thought, Jiang Ming placed the ancient tree of life and the silver clan's metallic life form together, so that they could both enjoy the time acceleration effect of the immortal-level acceleration card.

At a time flow rate a thousand times faster, two super beings with unlimited potential are growing at an astonishing speed.

.........

Jiang Ming took out a crystal core the size of a fist.

The crystal core was a deep purple, its surface shimmering with countless tiny points of light, like a nebula sealed within amber. (The phrase "Falling in love with reading, from the beginning..." is a poetic expression and doesn't directly relate to the crystal core description.)

"The Heart of Life".

Jiang Ming murmured to himself, a hint of anticipation flashing in his eyes.

In the universe, there is an insurmountable chasm between intelligent programs and intelligent life.

No matter how advanced or powerful an intelligent program is, it is ultimately just a piece of code. It can simulate emotions, learn autonomously, and iterate on its own, but it will never truly possess a 'self'.

And intelligent life—

It is alive.

They possess true consciousness, true emotions, and a true "self."

"Qingli".

Jiang Ming spoke softly.

"Yes, Master."

Qingli's virtual image appeared before him, still wearing that exquisite pink princess dress, standing obediently to the side. But at this moment, the voice of this intelligent program, which had been with Jiang Ming for several years, carried a rare hint of... tension.

This is a preliminary sign of having emotions. Even if Jiang Ming leaves it alone, Qingli will eventually evolve into an intelligent life form millions of years later.

However, Jiang Ming is now very wealthy, so he naturally won't be stingy with his own people.

"rest assured."

Jiang Ming raised his hand, and the purple crystal core floated up from his palm, hovering above Qing Li's virtual image.

hum-

The crystal nucleus suddenly burst forth with dazzling light!

That light was not ordinary visible light, but an ocean of information woven from countless data streams. It poured down from the crystal core like a rushing river, surging into Qingli's virtual body made of data.

"I... seem different now."

Qingli was a little confused at this moment. She seemed to have changed, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what was different.

"You now have life, a life with feelings. You can go wherever you want and do whatever you want."

Jiang Ming smiled.

"I will only follow my master."

Qingli's voice was incredibly firm.

Jiang Ming smiled. Intelligent life forms are incredibly loyal, a loyalty that other life forms cannot comprehend.

.......

Meanwhile, in the depths of space, infinitely far from human territory, a colossal palace forged from dark red metal floats in the void.

Countless warships were present around the palace.

Each warship emanated a chilling energy fluctuation. And in the deepest part of the palace, a figure sat enthroned on a throne.

"Human... Jiang Ming..."

The being spoke, its voice hoarse and low, like the friction of metal.

"Cosmic level, having passed the fifteenth level of the Cosmic Chaos Monument, and fully comprehended all eight fundamental laws. Possesses profound understanding of the laws of space and time."

He raised his hand, and a screen of light unfolded in front of him. On the screen was the battle footage of Jiang Ming in the Tongtian Bridge dimension.

In the scene, the moment Jiang Ming's vertical pupil between his brows opened, the spear light, intertwined with the eight-colored world and the laws of spacetime, caused the space around this being to tremble slightly.

"This Jiang Ming is ten thousand times more terrifying than Kodi."

"This kind of talent can no longer be described as 'genius.' This is a monster, a prodigy, an existence capable of changing the landscape of the universe."

"We must not let him grow up."

The voice, existing in the darkness, echoed continuously within the palace.

"But it's too difficult to assassinate such a genius with the power of an entire race. The price the Zerg paid to assassinate Koti was enough to cultivate several Universe Venerables."

Even if we succeed in the assassination, the price we pay will be incredibly heavy.

The dark fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of the chair, lost in thought.