After leaving the Taiyan Division, the night had grown deep.
Strolling through the bustling Exalting Sanctum, feeling the rich, worldly atmosphere, Chu Ze felt a bit dazed for a moment.
For the past few decades, he had been constantly tempering his body, constantly making himself stronger.
He had no system, no unique golden finger. All he had was decades of forging his body day in and day out, which naturally led him to the Path of Destruction.
But now that he had been discharged from his military post and returned to a peaceful daily life, he really didn't know what to do for a moment.
After thinking for a long time, he decisively stopped thinking:
"Forget it. My body is special anyway, I don't need to worry about lifespan."
"As for what comes next, I'll take it one step at a time."
Ding~
A message came from his phone.
Chu Ze walked back home while looking at his phone.
[Herta]: Do you know a certain Emanator of Joy?
[Herta]: Or are you the Emanator of Joy yourself?
Chu Ze raised an eyebrow.
An Emanator of Joy?
What did that have to do with him?
[Chu Ze]: I'm not an Emanator of Joy, but I am an Emanator of Beauty, second only to Idrila in looks.
[Herta]: I don't believe you.
[Chu Ze]: Type 1 and I'll send a selfie.
[Herta]: 1
[Chu Ze]: [Photo.jpg]
[Chu Ze]: [Photo.jpg]
[Chu Ze]: ???
After a short while, a reply came from the other side.
[Herta]: There's something there, but not much.
[Herta]: You could be called handsome, but your overall looks are still slightly inferior to mine.
For the notoriously narcissistic Herta to admit he was "a little handsome" meant his looks were truly high-tier.
Anyone else wouldn't even be qualified for Herta's evaluation.
But Chu Ze was still a bit unconvinced:
[Chu Ze]: So confident? Let's see yours.
[Herta]: Search for it online yourself. Herta's beautiful pictures have already spread throughout the universe.
[Chu Ze]: Oh, then I'm off to search.
Just as he got home in the real world.
He opened the door and changed his shoes.
He was originally going to search for Herta's pictures right away.
But when he saw the newly delivered large fitness equipment, his curiosity about Herta was immediately thrown to the back of his mind, replaced by a burning passion for fitness.
That's right, women might be nice, but how could they compare to muscles?
Especially a woman he could only look at but not touch, whom he had never even met!
So Chu Ze tossed his phone aside, put on the ion-gravity machine, and cranked the gravity to its maximum.
Then he lay on the specially made mat and started exercising with grunts and puffs.
The building materials and flooring in his house were specially made, using the latest construction technology, which would take a billion words to explain. Therefore, he didn't dwell on irrelevant questions like [Why won't the floor collapse under the pressure].
"One... two... three..."
"Seventy... seventy-one... seventy-two..."
Under extreme weight.
One hundred squats, one hundred push-ups, one hundred sit-ups, plus a ten-kilometer run.
He exercised like this three times a day—morning, noon, and night—followed by an unlimited number of free-form punches.
This was Chu Ze's current workout plan.
In the beginning, he couldn't even do a few push-ups without weights, let alone with them.
But with continuous hard training, his physical fitness improved rapidly.
The weight he used during his workouts also increased rapidly, reaching a very exaggerated number now.
Thump...
Thump...
His heartbeat seemed to be getting a little faster.
But Chu Ze didn't think much of it. After all, whose heart doesn't beat faster when they work out?
Quickly finishing one hundred push-ups, next came one hundred squats.
Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he corrected his posture again and bent his legs.
"Eleven... twelve... thirteen..."
"Sixty-seven... sixty-nine... seventy-one..."
Thump...
Thump...
His heartbeat seemed to be even faster.
After finishing one hundred squats, Chu Ze let out a long breath, his brow slightly furrowed.
Could it be that his earlier tender moment with Fu Xuan was too vigorous, causing excessive physical exertion and a rapid heartbeat?
That shouldn't be. To avoid making too much noise, he had been holding back the entire time.
And just Fu Xuan alone... wouldn't tire him out that much.
"Forget it, I should rest for a bit."
Since his body was sending a signal, Chu Ze certainly wouldn't ignore it.
Taking off the ion-gravity machine, he sat on the massage chair and picked up his phone again.
There was already an unread message from Herta on his phone.
[Herta]: Where did you go?
[Herta]: Haven't you found it yet?
[Herta]: Stop searching, I have something important to ask you.
[Herta]: ...
[Herta]: Got it. Take your time. Message me when you're done.
Chu Ze tapped on his phone and replied.
[Chu Ze]: I'm back.
[Chu Ze]: Sorry, I was held up for a bit.
[Herta]: I understand. It's only natural. A simple matter.
[Chu Ze]: ?
He had a feeling she had misunderstood something.
But before he could say anything more, another message came from the other side.
[Herta]: Back to business.
[Herta]: I've already determined that the process of us establishing contact was interfered with by an Emanator of Joy.
[Herta]: Under that Emanator's interference, I can't delete you as a friend.
[Herta]: And that Emanator is very bizarre. Under the premise of exercising conventional Erudition authority, I might not be able to eliminate their influence in a short time.
Understood. In short, she couldn't beat the other party.
Chu Ze hesitated for a moment, deciding to give her some face:
[Chu Ze]: So? You suspect that I'm the Emanator of Joy?
[Herta]: Well, it's either you or someone close to you.
[Herta]: It's not like some Emanator of Fun is so bored that they'd randomly matchmake two complete strangers, right?
That was also true.
Assuming it was really a random prank by a fun-seeker, then their discussion here was completely meaningless.
So, let's just focus on people they knew for now.
[Chu Ze]: I have many friends, but I've never come into contact with an Emanator of Joy.
[Chu Ze]: However, my mom has a very wide network. Maybe she knows some Emanator of Joy.
[Herta]: Your mom?
[Chu Ze]: Yes. Although she's just an ordinary employee of the Interastral Peace Corporation, her social skills are very strong.
[Chu Ze]: She claims to have friends all over the universe and can find connections wherever she goes. And she's the one who set us up.
[Herta]: Understood. Send me her contact information. I'll ask her.
Whoa, asking for someone's mom's contact information directly?
Chu Ze's fingers paused, then he continued typing.
[Chu Ze]: This involves our family's privacy. Are you sure you want to contact her personally?
[Herta]: Yes.
[Chu Ze]: Then say something nice first.
[Herta]: Big brother.
[Chu Ze]: Beg me.
[Herta]: I'm begging you.
[Chu Ze]: Do something cute.
[Herta]: Ciallo~∠( ﾟωﾟ)☆
Wow, what a unique personality.
In pursuit of answers, she completely disregarded her personal pride.
Of course, Chu Ze wasn't a monster, and this was just an online interaction, not a real-life one.
So he still sent his mom's contact card over.
[Chu Ze]: Remember to state the reason for adding her, otherwise she might decline.
[Herta]: (Auto-reply) Hello, I'm busy right now and won't be contacting you later either.
[Chu Ze]: ...
Putting down the phone.
Taking a deep breath.
Chu Ze estimated that he had recovered enough and was about to pick up the ion-gravity machine again for one last round before showering and sleeping.
But just as he bent down, his heartbeat suddenly accelerated again!
Thump...
Thump...
Thump-thump-thump-thump...
This time, it made Chu Ze's head spin, and his vision went black.
When he regained his sight, the scene around him had changed dramatically.
This was the universe.
Around him was the void.
And in front of him stood a "person."
He had a body that had existed since time immemorial, and he emanated an aura of world-destroying power.
Just by looking at his form, thoughts of violence and destruction would constantly flood the mind.
There was no need for doubt or identification.
In the civilized societies of the interstellar universe, even a child who had just begun their education could name the "person" before him.
—The Aeon of Destruction, Nanook!
The stars dimmed.
Chu Ze's figure floated in the void, his usually domineering body now as small as an ant.
His body seemed to be fixed by some force, unable to move.
But even if he could move, he wouldn't dare to move recklessly.
Looking at the enormous body that seemed to prop up heaven and earth, and the powerful-looking skin and silver-white hair, Chu Ze's heart was stampeded by ten thousand crimson orioles.
Dude?
What's happening?
The great god Nanook himself has descended?
I don't think I did anything wrong, at most I was just arguing with Herta...
But she's not a follower of the Destruction faction, so why did you personally intervene?
Chu Ze just stared blankly at Nanook.
And Nanook made no move, just stood between heaven and earth, as if he had never moved since ancient times.
Until at a certain moment, Chu Ze finally couldn't hold it in anymore and took the initiative to wave at the other party:
"Yo, good evening, Lord Nanook. You're out for a stroll too?"
"Unfortunately, my mom's calling me home for dinner. Let's chat next time, next time..."
With that, he prepared to turn around and run for it.
But that strange force still bound his body, so that he had just barely completed the turning motion before he could no longer continue.
No, what the hell do you want?
Others at most get a glance from an Aeon, but why am I being subjected to this kind of放置play?
"Great God Nanook, what are your orders?"
Chu Ze gritted his teeth and said loudly:
"Just say the word, and I, Sampo Koski, swear on my character that I will definitely get it done for you!"
Nanook still made no move, as if he was still sizing up Chu Ze.
Golden divine blood flowed from the scars on his body, and a violent aura swirled around him.
And Chu Ze really couldn't break free from this strange force, he was completely trapped in place, unable to move.
If it were an Emanator who had made a move, he would have tried to fight back.
But the one before him was the Aeon of Destruction, the kind of character who could be the final boss in an anime.
So he gradually gave up resisting and even took out his phone to take a selfie, preparing to post it on his social media.
[Encountered the Aeon Nanook, the power of Destruction is monstrous, fought with all my might but could not win...]
But just as he opened the camera, ready to take a few beautiful pictures, the Aeon of Destruction, Nanook, suddenly moved.
"————————"
An unanalyzable sound.
Incomprehensible words.
Chu Ze's head felt as if it had been struck by a giant hammer, and his mind began to grow hazy.
And Nanook also moved his arm, extending his finger, which was countless times thicker than a mountain, towards Chu Ze's chest.
This finger pierced through time and space.
This finger ran through the galaxy.
Chu Ze's clothes were all shattered, and the phone in his hand was directly blown to dust.
But he could no longer be bothered to feel sorry for these worldly possessions.
Because a golden, shimmering object that looked anything but ordinary surged from Nanook's fingertip into his chest.
"————, ——————————"
Still an incomprehensible language.
But Chu Ze understood the golden, shimmering thing that had entered his body.
It was a [Stellaron].
And it was a Stellaron personally bestowed by Nanook.
"Huh? No... huh?"
"A Stellaron? The Cancer of All Worlds? It's inside my body?"
"So I've become the new Stellaron spirit?"
Chu Ze stared dumbfounded at his glowing chest.
The next moment.
The universe shattered, and space collapsed.
He only felt his vision go black before he reappeared in his small room.
...
...
He was back.
Everything seemed unchanged.
But everything also seemed to have changed.
Looking at the familiar small room, Chu Ze didn't immediately express his feelings.
Because the moment he returned, intense pain immediately flooded his entire body!
"Pain, too much pain!"
"So this isn't a painless surgery!"
"Even the clinic next door can do painless hemorrhoid surgery, why don't they give some anesthesia for implanting a Stellaron!"
The power of the Stellaron was too violent.
A container without any suppressing effect could only result in shattering and exploding.
The fact that Chu Ze could withstand it for these few seconds was purely due to his unparalleled willpower and a physique far beyond that of an ordinary person.
But golden cracks had already begun to appear on the surface of his body. His blood vessels and arteries were also dilated to their limit, ready to burst at any moment.
"Right, there's them... they're the experts at handling Stellarons..."
"My phone... phone... damn, my phone just broke!"
Chu Ze gritted his teeth and quickly switched targets.
He looked at the computer in his bedroom.
If he could just turn on the computer, log into his account, and contact those people, there might still be a chance to turn things around!
"Faster... a little faster..."
"If only... if only I can reach that place..."
The intense pain made his movements slow.
But with his strong will, the distance between him and the computer was constantly closing.
His consciousness gradually faded.
His limbs gradually became weak.
Even his vision became blurry due to the extreme pain.
"Damn it, is this as far as I can go..."
"I wonder if I can watch an ad to revive, or type 1 for a revival coin to transmigrate again..."
"I hope next time, I can still have... a chance to become this strong..."
In the moment before his body exploded, many strange thoughts flashed through Chu Ze's mind.
And just as he was about to type GG and prepare for reincarnation, the familiar feeling of a quickening heartbeat suddenly appeared again.
Thump...
Thump...
Thump-thump-thump-thump...
He seemed to hear someone's laughter in his ears.
But upon closer listening, it sounded like many people laughing together.
Like a circus clown making an entrance, comical music began to play from an unknown source.
Red, white, and red-and-white smiling masks flashed before Chu Ze's eyes like a shuffled deck of cards.
"——————"
Also an incomprehensible language.
But Chu Ze was surprised to feel a sense of joy.
He was suddenly speechless.
"Damn it, I'm about to die, how can someone still be laughing nearby?"
"What the hell are you laughing at?"
...And then, the moment this thought emerged, the laughter coming from an unknown source grew even stronger.
"Damn, can't you even let a man die in peace."
Chu Ze's vision had completely blurred.
But he still used his last ounce of strength to give the middle finger to what was in front of him.
After fully expressing his regards to the laugher, his consciousness sank into the abyss...
...
...
As the saying goes, close your eyes and don't open them, and a lifetime passes by.
Chu Ze thought this would be his case.
Although he died a bit mysteriously, at least he died at the hands of an Aeon, so it wouldn't be too embarrassing if the news got out.
But when he opened his eyes and saw the familiar environment, he realized that he hadn't died after all.
And not only was he not dead, but the Stellaron in his body also seemed to be suppressed by something, becoming calm.
"What's with this exaggerated and bizarre development... what's going on?"
"If a plot with so many twists and turns appeared in a novel, it would definitely be heavily criticized by the readers, right?"
Chu Ze got up from the floor and tentatively moved his body.
This time, there was no abnormality.
Neither the maddening pain nor the suddenly accelerated heartbeat.
Everything that had just happened felt like a dream.
But he knew very well that a Stellaron had indeed been stuffed into his body; that was something that had definitely happened.
Therefore, after a slight hesitation, he still turned on his computer and clicked on that familiar avatar.
[Chu Ze]: Is this Silver Wolf from Punklorde?
[Silver Wolf]: ???
[Silver Wolf]: Holy crap, doxxed!