027 : The Path of Cosmic Ascendance.

As Lin Tian took his first step into this new world, the sky trembled.

A surge of energy—pure and oppressive—descended from above, crashing against the land like an unstoppable tide. The very air vibrated with an ancient presence, and for the first time since arriving, Lin Tian sensed another being approaching.

From the sky, a figure descended.

He was tall, his body wreathed in silver cosmic flames, his presence radiating an aura that bent the laws of space itself. His eyes, like twin stars, gleamed with a light that carried the weight of eons. He was not a mortal, not even an immortal—he was something beyond.

And as he gazed down upon Lin Tian, his voice rang out like the decree of a god.

"You are not of this universe."

Lin Tian smirked, his golden-black eyes flashing with defiance. "And?"

The being did not move, but the space around him cracked. The air itself twisted, warping around his presence. This was not mere power. This was a law incarnate.

"Your presence disrupts the balance," the figure continued. "If you cannot withstand the weight of this universe, you do not deserve to exist within it."

Lin Tian's aura flared, the remnants of his Devourer God Realm surging as he stepped forward. "Then why don't you try and erase me?"

The silver-flamed being's gaze hardened.

And then, without another word—

He attacked.

BOOOOOOOOOOOM!

The entire landscape shattered as the silver-flamed being moved at impossible speed, his fist crashing toward Lin Tian with the force of a collapsing star. The sheer impact split mountains apart, sending shockwaves rippling across the sky.

Lin Tian blocked with one hand.

The moment their energies collided, Lin Tian felt the difference.

Unlike the cultivators he had fought before, unlike the immortals he had devoured—this being was not relying on raw power.

He was using Cosmic Laws.

Every movement carried the force of existence itself, every strike was backed by the very foundation of this universe.

For the first time since reaching the peak of his old world—Lin Tian was pushed back.

He skidded across the broken ground, his arm tingling from the impact. The golden-black aura around him flickered for a brief moment, struggling to fully absorb the force of the attack.

And then—he laughed.

The silver-flamed being frowned. "You find this amusing?"

Lin Tian straightened himself, flexing his fingers as he adjusted to the sensation. "It's been a long time since I've felt resistance."

He stepped forward.

"And I love it."

With a single motion, Lin Tian vanished.

In an instant, he reappeared behind his opponent, his fist crashing forward with the force of a thousand devoured realms. The sheer pressure of his attack tore through space, distorting the sky as it surged toward the silver-flamed warrior.

But instead of dodging—

The being smiled.

And then, he stopped Lin Tian's attack with two fingers.

The moment they made contact, Lin Tian felt it.

A force that was not just strength, but an absolute authority.

"Your power is great," the being admitted. "But here, in this universe, brute force alone is meaningless."

Lin Tian's golden-black eyes narrowed.

And then, for the first time in an eternity—

He felt his own power being pushed back.

The silver-flamed being released Lin Tian's fist, stepping back with a calm expression. "You rely on consuming energy. You take what exists and make it yours. But in this realm, power is not merely taken—it is cultivated, refined, mastered."

Lin Tian remained silent, his mind analyzing every word.

His devouring ability had reached the peak of the lower universe.

But here—it was being resisted.

The energy of this higher realm was not something that could simply be stolen. It had structure, laws, a will of its own.

If he wanted to ascend in this universe—

He would have to evolve beyond mere devouring.

The silver-flamed being observed him for a long moment before speaking again.

"You are strong. Perhaps even capable of surpassing the limits of this world." His gaze sharpened. "But if you wish to do so, you must first ascend beyond the power you once knew."

He turned away, the flames around his body dimming. "Seek the Cosmic Ascendant Path. Only then will you begin to understand the power of this universe."

Lin Tian smirked.

"So, I have to cultivate again?"

For the first time in ages, his heart raced with anticipation.

He had dominated one universe.

Now, he would rise to the top of this one.

Lin Tian turned his gaze toward the endless cosmic horizon.

"Then let's begin."

The Higher Universe was unlike anything Lin Tian had ever encountered. The very air pulsed with a force beyond spiritual qi, beyond divine energy—this was Cosmic Qi, the essence of existence itself, refined and structured into a balance that even he, a being who had once devoured entire realms, could not easily disrupt.

He stood atop a floating continent, one of many that drifted endlessly in the void, each one vast beyond measure, carrying the weight of celestial civilizations and ancient beings who had lived for millions of years. These were not mere sects or clans—they were cosmic empires, bound by laws far more complex than anything from the lower realm.

Lin Tian reached out, his fingers brushing against the very air. He could feel it. This universe was rejecting his ability to devour freely, resisting his presence like an immune system fighting off a foreign invader.

"Interesting."

For the first time since stepping into this realm, Lin Tian understood—he would have to change.

Devouring had made him invincible in the lower realm, but here, power was not just taken. It had to be refined, shaped, merged into the very essence of the universe itself.

If he wanted to stand at the peak once again—he needed to cultivate in a way he never had before.

And the first step?

Mastering Cosmic Qi.

Lin Tian sat cross-legged atop a celestial peak, the vast sky stretching infinitely above him. He closed his eyes and focused inward, drawing upon his natural ability to consume energy—but the moment he attempted to devour the Cosmic Qi around him…

It resisted.

The energy did not flow into him as effortlessly as before. It twisted, pulled away, actively rejecting his command. It was as if this universe had a will of its own, refusing to submit to an outsider like him.

Lin Tian's golden-black eyes flickered open, a smirk playing on his lips.

"So even a universe can fight back?"

He closed his eyes again, adjusting his approach. Instead of forcefully consuming the energy, he let it flow, studying its structure, its movement. He could feel the patterns, the cosmic cycle that governed this realm—a balance that had existed since the beginning of time.

And then, slowly, he did something he had never done before.

Instead of devouring it all at once—he merged with it.

His aura shifted, his Devourer Core trembling as it absorbed and refined simultaneously, syncing itself with the new energy rather than simply consuming it.

A sharp pain shot through his body. This was not like his previous breakthroughs, where he had simply overwhelmed barriers with sheer force.

This was evolution.

Lin Tian gritted his teeth, pushing through the resistance. His body, his soul, his very essence—they were all changing.

And then—

The Cosmic Qi accepted him.

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