Swallowing the Stars: Starting with a Lottery of All Things

"Instant kill!"

"It was so fast that I almost didn't even notice."

"This kid's comprehension of the fundamental laws of space has reached at least the seventh or even the eighth level."

"Brother Yan is amazing!"

"I'm afraid the first five or six levels won't be difficult for him."

Just as everyone was discussing it.

Zuo Yan has successfully passed the third level, all with a single, instant kill.

The process was efficient and straightforward.

Some of the new recruits from the same batch as Zuo Yan saw how easily he passed the third level.

His face was full of envy, but he did not feel jealousy.

Because of their performance in the Three Races Competition and the Hundred Spirits Trial Space.

This shows that Zuo Yan is different from them, and is unattainable.

When your talent and strength are so great that no one can match it.

Others will only admire you.

Once you cross the third level of the Heavenly Bridge, you will be qualified to listen to lectures given by grandmaster-level experts.

There is an opportunity to become a disciple of an immortal powerhouse who has been granted the title of King.

To establish a sect in Chaos City, obtaining permanent residency is only a basic requirement.

True masters of each school of thought are invincible figures like King Zhenyan and King Jue Liu, who hold the title of King.

Most of them overcame great difficulties, which is why they established sects in Chaos City to teach and cultivate the next generation of humankind.

But their strength is beyond doubt. Just ask around in the outer battlefields, and you'll find that they are all renowned and have killed countless alien races.

……

The Skybridge is divided into three stages, each consisting of three levels.

The scene on the fourth level, the Sky Bridge, changes to a battle taking place in the clouds above the sky.

Zuo Yan remained calm, facing the clouds and mist.

A man dressed in black armor stepped out, with a dragon-patterned sword wheel floating behind him.

He immediately unleashed 108 flying swords.

They formed a giant black and gold claw.

The giant claw, sharp enough to tear the heavens apart, was determined to rip Zuo Yan to shreds.

"Oh."

Zuo Yan sneered and used his mind to control the sword wheel beneath his feet.

324 flying swords formed an even larger claw.

The moment it touched the giant claws unleashed by the gatekeeper.

Then it was broken.

Its power remained undiminished, slicing the black-armored man in two, which then dissipated into clouds and mist within the Tongtian Bridge.

……

"No wonder he's the kind of guy who can attract the interest of two cosmic venerables."

"That was so clean and efficient!"

"Even the guardian of the eighth floor was killed in less than a hundred moves."

"This is the first time I've comprehended the Chaos Stele, the first time I've crossed the Heavenly Bridge—even Kodi back then couldn't have done this much!"

"Back then, after Koti won first place in the Cosmic Genius Battle, he only made it to the seventh level of the Sky Bridge on his first attempt, yet he was hailed as a peerless genius, a talent that is only seen once in millions of eras."

"In the following thirty years of cultivation, Kodi passed the eleventh level in one fell swoop, and his comprehension of the laws reached the immortal level. He was hailed as a monstrous talent rarely seen in tens of millions of eras, and was directly accepted as a personal disciple by the Lord of Chaos City!"

"Although Zuo Yan has been cultivating at the cosmic level for many years, he passed the eighth level on his first attempt, making him a genius rarely seen even in millions of epochs. He could very well be the next Kodi!"

……

Within a certain human universe kingdom, in a hidden divine kingdom.

"Master, in this year's competition among the human, demon, and machine races, one human named Zuo Yan passed all one hundred levels in the Hundred Spirits Clan's trial space."

"Now, for the first time, I've crossed the human race's cosmic bridge and passed through the eighth level in one go."

"His talent makes him the next Koti."

A human immortal with a bear's head and a human body was kneeling before a pitted and disgusting insect hive.

From within the insect hive, a voice that seemed to bewitch all living beings emanated.

"Zuo Yan will be temporarily listed as the third on our clan's assassination list."

"However, after all, they are geniuses who have risen to prominence under the watchful eyes of the demon race and the mechanical race. They should be even more anxious than we are!"

The alluring voice chuckled softly, then said:

"Gather information on Zuo Yan first, then don't rush into action."

"Yes, Master!"

……

Upon hearing the news, the Fire Radiance Venerable of the Sky Wolf Clan was in the demon territory.

Enraged, his already reddish hair turned an even deeper red.

"Damn it, Xingmeng, you deserve to die! And Zuo Yan deserves to die too!"

"They killed so many of my demon clan's sons and took away my clan's spots to enter the Hundred Spirits Trial Space."

"The next Koti, huh!"

"Men, put Zuo Yan on the assassination list number one. Gather intelligence on him with all your might, and when the opportunity arises, send a King-level Immortal to kill him."

"I want him to truly become the next Koti!"

……

On the eighth level of the Cosmic Sky Bridge, in the Star Fragmentation Belt, Zuo Yan pretended to be exhausted.

He wiped away the non-existent sweat from his head with his hand.

"Being an actor isn't easy!"

Based on his previous plan, he only intended to pass the ninth level when he first tried to cross the Sky Bridge.

Such talent is almost enough to attract the attention of the Chaos City Lord.

Otherwise, he would be able to perfectly execute the sixth level of the Dragon Pattern Sword Wheel's secret runes.

Passing through the thirteenth floor directly is not difficult at all.

To avoid going too far, we have to put on an act!

Zuo Yan rested for a while, then went into the ninth floor.

Then, he still chose the mental master controller as his opponent.

A tall figure appeared, looked at Zuo Yan and nodded in praise.

"As a newcomer, reaching the ninth level on your first attempt at crossing the Heavenly Bridge is something that has only happened a handful of times throughout countless eons. You're quite impressive!"

Zuo Yan's expression remained calm as he softly said, "Come and fight!"

"Young people are just so hot-blooded!"

After saying that, hundreds of black and gold flying swords shot out and formed a giant beast that was nearly 10,000 meters long, with a dragon's head and tail, cloud wings on its back, thick limbs, and sharp claws.

The behemoth swung its sharp claws towards the sky, crushing countless rocks in the entire shattered star belt into fine dust.

Claws, sharp as swords and knives, came from below with the power to shred everything, heading straight for Zuo Yan.

"A perfectly executed fourth layer of the Dragon Pattern Sword Wheel rune... now that's starting to get interesting!"

Zuo Yan smiled and waved his hand in return.

1008 flying swords flew out from the sword wheel.

A massive black and gold sword, approximately ten thousand meters long, quickly formed in front of him.

The edge of the greatsword was incredibly sharp.

Its sheer sharpness alone could easily tear apart the universe and shatter stars.

Wherever it passed, everything turned to nothingness, leaving not even dust behind.

"Watch how I slay the dragon with this sword!"

Rumble!

It's far more powerful than the collision of asteroids!

The Star Shattered Zone where Zuo Yan and the other person were located has become a thing of the past.

In the desolate cosmos.

A breathtaking scene unfolded.

A giant dragon, over ten thousand meters long, was easily torn apart by a black and gold greatsword.

Slashed from head to body.

Even at the very last moment, the giant dragon's horn and claws were used in vain!

No matter how many attacks I face, I will slay them all with a single sword stroke.

After the offensive subsided, the guardian of the ninth level, along with the giant dragon, was killed.

"491000 points in hand! Hooray!"

Zuo Yan left the Tongtian Bridge dimension directly and stopped trying to pass the level.

But the crowd watching outside was too shocked to remain calm.

"A one-hit kill... could this be Zuo Yan's true strength?"

"I felt like that last move could have killed me in one stroke!"

On the island, a peak realm master who had been fortunate enough to win a cultivation spot in Chaos City at an auction a few years ago muttered to himself.