Snail Knight

Yi Feng had just stepped out of the dark crevice when he immediately spotted a horde of demonic creatures.

Before he could make a move, the demons scattered in all directions, fleeing in panic.

Only a single tree remained in front of him, trembling as it tried to turn and run away.

This was unacceptable!

Before the tree could take a step, Yi Feng reached out and grabbed hold of a branch.

“Come back here!”

The Tree Venerable winced in pain, gritting his teeth and squinting.

In the face of life-or-death danger, a mere branch was insignificant, and his eyes burned with resolve to keep fleeing—but he couldn’t move an inch!

Though only a single branch held him, his entire body was frozen in place.

No matter how much he struggled, it was as if he was gripped by an invisible force, utterly immobile despite his desperate efforts.

Those hands felt like they had descended from the heavens, trapping him completely!

“Whoosh…”

A chill spread through his entire body.

It was as if the dead of winter had arrived.

The Tree Venerable stiffened, trembling as he glanced back.

The human silhouette radiated a terrifying aura, a sinister smile carved across his face, and his eyes burned with an irresistible killing intent.

This dreadful presence was a thousand times more terrifying than the Demon General himself.

To encounter such a being meant even struggling against death was impossible!

The bark of the tree demon cracked instantly, its leaves already yellowing from fear.

“I-I’m just a little tree…”

Before he could finish speaking, a cold blade of frost surged toward him!

“Crack!”

A clean, decisive strike split the tree demon apart on the spot.

The whole process was effortless and simple, like chopping firewood.

The crisp snap echoed across the starry sky, while the other demons fled even faster, vanishing into the void. The terrifying atmosphere thickened, accompanied by a chorus of ghostly wails and howls.

The scene looked like a flock of chickens and ducks scattering chaotically.

Yi Feng lifted his gaze and looked into the distance, his eyes blazing with sharp light.

“They’re all demons, yet they dared to trick me by pretending to be a tree!”

“Coming out of the gate, there really are plenty of demons here. This time I’m going to get rich. Not a single newbie experience point will escape me!”

In an instant, Yi Feng hefted his great machete and gave chase.

He cut through them like slicing melon and vegetables, harvesting experience nonstop.

With just a few swings, a group of skeleton monsters shattered into fragments, and he nearly leveled up half a notch!

Some giant ants were extremely fast, but Yi Feng summoned Man Man, who transformed into a starry sky cavalryman, galloping to chase them down. The immersive thrill of monster hunting was unparalleled!

The demons fled in panic, screaming and wailing endlessly in the void’s depths.

After a full hour, Yi Feng couldn’t find a single moving creature left. Satisfied, he sheathed his machete.

Three waves of monsters later, he had leveled up once again.

“This trip wasn’t in vain.”

“From now on, I don’t want to think about anything—just charge ahead recklessly. It’s even simpler than playing online games in my past life. Just fight.”

Feeling utterly pleased, Yi Feng looked around, his whole body filled with exhilaration.

He stood quietly, gazing out into the starry sea.

The darkness of the void faded, replaced by the glow of countless stars illuminating the surroundings. His expression revealed a deep yearning.

The vast universe stretched endlessly.

The boundless starry sea held countless planets of all sizes, sparkling like jewels scattered throughout infinite space. Massive beings drifted past nearby.

Countless planets moved in orderly orbits, governed by a celestial law beyond comprehension.

Even from afar, Yi Feng’s eyes were captured by the spectacular brilliance of the starry sea.

The once dazzling ancient corridor, by comparison, was but a faintly glowing line in this vast cosmic ocean—utterly insignificant.

He stood alone, silent amidst the starry sea, every star before his eyes like a colossal behemoth. The countless beings inhabiting them numbered in the billions, stirring a flood of emotions within him.

In the boundless universe, Yi Feng felt incredibly small.

The stars stretched like an endless ocean, vast and magnificent—a dazzling, mysterious sea of light flowing into the unknown depths of space.

Everything was so fresh and new that anyone witnessing it would find it hard to remain calm.

Yi Feng’s face was filled with awe.

“There’s absolutely no end in sight. Truly, there’s always a world beyond the world,” he murmured.

“This realm must harbor even stronger, more terrifying beings. At my current cultivation, I’m not exactly weak, but I definitely wouldn’t rank high either!”

After gazing into the distance for a long while, Yi Feng’s thoughts cleared.

He hadn’t faced any real danger recently, nor encountered any formidable existence, but deep down he knew that the Yun Star he belonged to was nothing but a frog at the bottom of a well, utterly incomparable to truly powerful worlds.

With this realization, anticipation shone even brighter in Yi Feng’s eyes.

Drawing his gaze back from the infinite starry sea, he began to examine the nearest planet.

That planet lay not far across the ancient corridor, emitting a faint, gentle glow—beautiful and inviting.

At a glance, it seemed far more vibrant and alive than the dim Yun Star, seemingly much stronger.

This must be the “Lan Star.”

Yi Feng nodded, already forming a plan.

“If I want to go to Lan Star, I’d have to wait for their official notification and complete all the paperwork. Who knows how long that would take? Better to sneak a peek first…”

Time was pressing, and he simply couldn’t wait.

The more he looked, the more restless he felt, as if countless mighty beings were beckoning him!

Unable to hold back any longer, Yi Feng mounted Man Man, his slow but valiant steed.

“Set off! Our target is the closest star right ahead!”

“Not too fast, let me enjoy the scenery.”

A streak of light cut across the star sea as the Snail Knight charged forward fearlessly!

……

Far away in the starry sea.

A massive flying ship cruised steadily and swiftly. Though its pace seemed slow, the surrounding stars never retreated; in truth, it covered thousands upon thousands of miles in an instant, far surpassing even the divine powers of sages.

In this boundless universe, no speed could be truly perceived. Even a treasure flying ship hurtling at full speed was like a drifting leaf on the vast ocean.

At the ship’s forefront.

Several figures stood silently, gazing into the distance with solemn expressions.

A woman dressed in a pale yellow long gown turned back to look at them, worry flickering in her clear eyes.

“Uncle Song, fellow senior brothers,” she began.

“This mission is of utmost importance. I ask all of you to give it your all in hunting down the demons. I offer my sincere thanks in advance.”

She nodded gracefully, her face earnest.

The others returned her salute in succession.

Leading them was an elder clad in a Taoist robe, who nodded solemnly in response.

“Rest assured, niece. This demon hunt concerns the succession of your Cangyun Heavenly Palace’s direct disciple position. I am an old friend of your father and will never stand idly by while this opportunity slips into Fu Haotian’s hands.”

The elder’s words were noble and resolute, earning the respect and agreement of the group.

“Uncle Song acts with righteousness and integrity. I deeply admire him!”

“We will do our utmost to help Sister Zhongli win the direct disciple competition!”

“Master Song speaks truly. We cannot just watch Fu Haotian become the future head of the Heavenly Palace!”

Buoyed by their support, Zhong Limeng’s eyes gleamed with renewed determination.

“Thank you, Uncle Song, and all the senior brothers, for your righteous support. I am deeply grateful,” she said softly, her voice carrying a hint of confidence as she pointed toward a distant planet.

“Everyone, please look,” she continued.

“That small asteroid over there is our destination—called Shuihan Star. It’s named so because it’s frozen solid all year round.”

“I’ve already gathered intelligence. Shuihan Star serves as a temporary refuge for some of the demon clans. We’re bound to encounter many demons on this journey, and naturally, it will be extremely perilous.”

As she spoke, Zhong Limeng’s expression grew serious as she faced the group.

“This expedition to Shuihan Star is far more dangerous than any before. If anyone wishes to withdraw now, I fully understand. There’s still some time left to make a decision, so please think carefully.”

Her words were sincere and considerate, showing concern for others. Though a young woman, she possessed extraordinary righteousness and ambition. As the current senior disciple of the Cangyun Celestial Palace, she was truly a talent to be nurtured.

An elder nodded with satisfaction.

The group exchanged glances, their resolve hardening.

“Senior Sister Zhong, please don’t say that again!”

Amidst the unified voices, a man stepped forward and saluted.

“Junior Sister Zhong, this journey is indeed fraught with danger, but how can we catch a tiger cub without entering the tiger’s den? To win this direct disciple competition, we must pledge to support each other to the death!”

“However, I’ve heard that Fu Haotian has already paid a hefty price and summoned many Heavenly-grade experts to assist him. It seems he departed for Shuihan Star just yesterday.”

“With such formidable backing, Fu Haotian can almost sit back and enjoy victory. Yet, the Celestial Palace has raised no objections to this…”

As he spoke, the middle-aged man’s expression darkened.

“Junior Sister Zhong, if I may speak bluntly, this direct disciple competition seems to have been decided in secret already.”

His heavy words caused everyone’s faces to change.

The younger disciples immediately shouted in anger, their faces full of indignation.

“Scoundrel! Fu Haotian abuses his family background to cheat openly!?”

“Hmph, that second-generation heir has always been shameless—a disgrace to our Celestial Palace!”

“If the Celestial Palace is inherited by someone like him, the future looks grim.”

“What can we do? How can we possibly compete against a group of Heavenly-grade experts?”

“Ah…”

Frustrated voices filled the air, and even the elder’s face grew grave.

After the outburst of discontent, all eyes turned to Zhong Limeng.

This seemingly delicate woman now furrowed her brows in thought.

After a moment’s silence, she spoke firmly but softly.

“Even so, I will not give up.”

“Giving up without a fight is simply not my style.”

Her gentle words sent a shock through the crowd.

That slender, graceful figure suddenly radiated an aura and determination far beyond theirs. From that moment on, everyone regarded this contemporary prodigy as the undisputed future leader of the Celestial Palace.

They exchanged quiet nods, their eyes filled with unwavering resolve.

In this solemn, hushed moment—

Suddenly, a streak of light shot from the left side of the starry sea, moving faster than any flying vessel!