Swallowing the Stars: Starting with the Primal Tenfold Talent

"The initial universe?"

Meng Jingrong and Lin Youfeng simultaneously raised their heads, looking out at the outside world through the transparent roof of the Frost Heaven Palace.

What came into view was not the dazzling starry sky I had imagined, but a vast and dim world.

Wisps of primordial energy drifted in the air, exuding an ancient and boundless aura.

In the distance, one could vaguely see the heavens and earth cracking open from time to time, and even see a large number of strange patterns flowing at the edge of the cracked space. Threads of silk were connected, and the patterns on the threads were floating, just like a loom, weaving the heavens and earth to become larger and larger.

"This is..." Meng Jingrong sensed the strange, mysterious patterns flowing along the crystalline threads at the crack in the distant space.

The process of the continuous repair and evolution of cracks in the universe is actually a manifestation of the fundamental operating rules of the universe!

All kinds of fundamental laws are clearly visible, and are hundreds or thousands of times more concentrated and intuitive than in the original universe!

"Even a 'little good-for-nothing' like Qinglan, if she comes to the Initial Universe and cultivates diligently, can comprehend a trace of the power of laws within a hundred years!"

"The primordial universe we live in is vast, boundless, and perfect."

The voice of Venerable Ice Peak rang out at the right moment, "Precisely because it is too perfect, the laws governing the universe are all hidden beneath its surface, making it extremely difficult to comprehend them."

"In the initial universe, everything was directly visible to the naked eye. You could also see how the various laws were perfectly combined with each other, how the universe was formed, and how the rules operated. Everything was directly visible, so it was much easier to comprehend."

"The slots for comprehending the initial universe are extremely precious." Venerable Ice Peak said, giving Meng Jingrong a meaningful look.

"We'll be arriving at the 'Mother City' soon."

The Ice Peak Venerable changed the subject, "Mother City is where those who enter the Initial Universe to comprehend and cultivate reside. Lin Youfeng, you can find a place to settle down in the city later."

"There are many independent small buildings in the city. If the door is light white, it means that there is no owner at the moment. You can choose any one to stay in."

The Venerable Bingfeng spoke calmly, giving instructions one by one, "Your teacher Meng Jingrong and I are going to pay our respects to an elder."

"Yes, Senior Bingfeng." Lin Youfeng bowed respectfully.

After entering the "Mother City", Venerable Ice Peak put away the palace's treasures, while Lin Youfeng left alone to find a place to stay.

Meng Jingrong, led by Venerable Bingfeng, slowly made his way towards the city center.

Before long, a magnificent and imposing mansion came into view.

The wall, which is over 300 meters high, is made of unknown black boulders, and its surface is covered with a faint aura of cosmic energy.

Even from a great distance, one could clearly see the three large, golden characters in the universal language above the mansion: "City Lord's Mansion".

These three characters are written with flowing, powerful strokes, each stroke seemingly containing the great principles of heaven and earth, forming its own independent world.

Meng Jingrong subconsciously stared at it for a few more moments, and then felt as if his spirit and will were being pulled by an invisible vortex, constantly being absorbed and pulled, as if he were about to fall into the endless space deep within the writing.

His soul and will had long since reached the level of immortality and nobility, but at this moment he couldn't help but feel mentally disoriented and dizzy.

"Ha ha!"

Seeing Meng Jingrong's somewhat disheveled appearance, Venerable Ice Peak chuckled mockingly, "These three words were left behind by the strongest of our human race. One whose soul is not at the Venerable realm should not look directly at them for an extended period of time."

"Come, I'll take you to the inner palace." Venerable Ice Peak stepped forward.

The outer gate of the city lord's mansion is always open, allowing cultivators within the city to come and go freely without hindrance.

The inner palace was completely different. Dozens of guards in silver armor stood at the entrance, each with an aura as deep and unfathomable as a bottomless abyss, all of them powerful beings at the level of immortal gods.

However, with Venerable Bingfeng leading the way, and the guards along the way bowing and paying their respects, they passed through smoothly and entered the inner palace without any hindrance.

Inner government.

After walking along the wide corridor for a while, a quiet and elegant courtyard comes into view.

At the entrance to the courtyard stands an ancient blue stone tablet with the three characters "Shimu Yuan" engraved on it.

"Come in."

Venerable Ice Peak stepped into the courtyard first, and Meng Jingrong followed closely behind without hesitation.

"Boom—!"

A deep rumble exploded in my ears, and the surrounding space and time suddenly twisted and flipped.

One second he was in the quaint courtyard of the city lord's mansion, and the next second Meng Jingrong felt dizzy and the scene before him completely changed. He had directly entered a mysterious and unfamiliar world.

Before us lay a colossal abyss stretching for hundreds of millions of miles.

The abyss walls are steep and rugged, filled with bottomless ravines that plunge straight down into boundless darkness.

Looking down, the bottom of the abyss seemed to connect to the end of the universe, a desolate and lifeless expanse. The darkness was as thick as ink that could not be dissolved, as if it could devour all light, all time and space, and even the thoughts of all living beings.

Yet this seemingly lifeless and desolate abyss is teeming with an immense and profound aura of life.

Meng Jingrong and Venerable Bingfeng flew side by side, traversing this terrifying abyss that stretched as far as the eye could see, surrounded by howling winds and dense darkness.

They flew for an unknown amount of time, seemingly traversing endless space and time, until finally, a faint glimmer of life appeared before them.

Following that glimmer of life, one could see that at the very bottom of the abyss lay a scene completely different from the darkness above.

The area is lush with vegetation, has babbling brooks, and is teeming with birds and animals, making it a vibrant paradise.

"Grandmaster!" Venerable Ice Peak suddenly called out.

Meng Jingrong looked up and saw a huge willow tree standing quietly beside the green grass not far away, its branches drooping and swaying gently in the wind.

Beneath the willow tree stood a gentle woman with a human face and a snake's body.

She wore a light blue battle armor, her face both kind and dignified.

From the waist down, there is a long snake tail with scales as white as jade, reflecting a faint luster in the sunlight.

The moment Meng Jingrong's gaze fell upon the woman, the world before him suddenly changed.

Stars evolved in the void, mountains and rivers took shape in the beginning, grass and trees broke through the soil from the rocks, and living beings were born and multiplied on the earth... From the birth of the universe to the cycle of reincarnation, endless life trajectories unfolded before his eyes like a tidal wave.

"Meng Jingrong?" A soft, ethereal voice rang out, piercing through all illusions like heavenly music.

The next second, all the magnificent and spectacular scenes before my eyes vanished into thin air, and everything returned to normal.

The woman with a human face and a snake's body slowly turned her head, her gaze falling on Meng Jingrong, and a gentle smile appeared on her face.

"Meng Jingrong pays respects to our Maternal Ancestor." Meng Jingrong immediately knelt respectfully on the ground.

"No need for such formalities."

The woman with a human face and a snake's body slightly raised her hand, and a gentle yet irresistible force enveloped Meng Jingrong, helping him up.

"Such a rich aura of life force." She scrutinized Meng Jingrong for a moment, then smiled and said, "Your clone is also plant-based, isn't it?"

"Yes, but my clone is not fully formed." Meng Jingrong nodded quickly, secretly alarmed.

"You've certainly had quite a few opportunities," the Mother Goddess nodded gently.

"I have been following you in the virtual universe for thirty years." The Mother Ancestor said slowly with a gentle smile on her face, "This is our first meeting in the real world. I must say, you are even more outstanding than I imagined."

Meng Jingrong listened attentively.

"The path of cultivation you have chosen is quite similar to that of my first disciple; it could be considered a kind of fate." The Mother Ancestor changed the subject, looking at him with expectation, and slowly asked, "Would you be willing to become my personal disciple?"

"This disciple is willing," Meng Jingrong replied respectfully without the slightest hesitation.

Seeing his decisiveness, the grandmother nodded in satisfaction, a look of relief on her face.

She is the first human life form since the birth of the primordial universe, and the first human being to break through to the level of a universe master.

To show respect, everyone in the community calls her "Mother Ancestor".

Her eldest disciple, "Yuan," was also born on the "Mother Ancestor Star." He possessed extraordinary talent and was the first human to reach the level of the strongest being in the universe. The race also bestowed upon him the title of "Ancestor," calling him "Ancestor Yuan."

The Mother Goddess smiled gently and said, "From now on, you will be my seventh disciple."

"Disciple pays respects to Master."

Meng Jingrong knelt down respectfully again and kowtowed deeply.

Looking at the young boy kneeling before her, the Mother Goddess's eyes softened, and she said gently, "Get up."

Meng Jingrong obediently got up, stood at his sides with his hands at his sides, and quietly waited for the teacher's instruction.

"I have rarely taken on disciples in my life. Including you, I have only had seven disciples."

The Mother Ancestor spoke slowly, her tone tinged with a hint of melancholy: "Among them, your fourth senior brother has already perished. As for your eldest senior brother, 'Yuan,' he was the strongest among the human race, but he has fallen into some kind of predicament and is trapped in a special space, from which he will find it difficult to escape in the short term."

"The original ancestor is trapped?" Meng Jingrong was suddenly shocked.

The Mother Ancestor did not explain further, but continued, "Your second senior brother is Master Peng Gong, who founded the Cosmic Galaxy Bank."

Your third senior brother is the master of Dragon Journey, and now serves as the chief steward of the Virtual Universe Company, overseeing all affairs of the Virtual Universe.

Fifth Senior Sister is the Palace Master of Heartmark Palace, residing in the Azure Continent. You will meet her in time.

At this point, the Mother Ancestor smiled and said, "It's a pity you're so late, otherwise you would have been able to meet your sixth senior sister. You know your sixth senior sister, she is Xiyue."