Chapter 271: Star Pattern of the Life World

In the midair above Lamoer Long Street.

The source‑energy steam manifests various anomalies.

Sometimes it forms silhouettes of people.

Sometimes it takes the shape of a steam bus.

Other times it shows mirages of tavern shacks.

Within this highly active source‑energy steam haze.

Accompanied by the newsboys' hawking cries.

On the bus, at roadside stops, street benches, sidewalk cafés, taverns, and elsewhere.

Almost everyone holds a newspaper.

And the newspaper's content is quite shocking.

【Shengland's heroes unite to expel the Dark Sun ecology; the Archbishop, with divine power, slays the Bloodline Crown!】

Although many have already pieced together the huge stir from Shengland's underground world in recent days, plus numerous rumors, and have learned of Shengland's massive victory in the assault on the Dark Sun ecology.

But.

Today the official newspaper notice, the officially released information, is formally made public.

Only then do everyone feel the solid grounding of boots on the ground.

Today's illustration in the Shengland Steam Daily.

It is unclear whether the Archbishop and others deliberately ordered it.

The illustration was single‑handed by the artist's soul.

It rendered the backdrop of Archbishop Rigen Qiao battling a Bloodline Crown elite as a curtain stage.

Taku couldn't help but slam the table and exclaim in admiration.

And as the newspaper formally publishes the news.

This also officially declares that Shengland, in resisting the ferocious invasion of the Dark Sun ecology,

while holding back the Dark Sun Church's invasion, also delivered a crushing blow to the Dark Sun Church.

Slaying a Bloodline Crown Archbishop—this is Shengland's most proud achievement in many years.

Enough to inspire Shengland's extraordinary residents.

At this moment, as the newspaper is published.

This long‑missed venting releases a rapturous surge in everyone's hearts.

Killing the Bloodline Crown elite is merely secondary.

The crucial point is that this ecological war expelled the Dark Sun ecology's invasion.

Previously, Shengland lacked the strength and resources to develop the Spirit Realm layer or the depths of the underground world.

This gave the Dark Sun Church an opening to corrupt Shengland's ecology.

One must know the Dark Sun ecology.

It is extremely hard to expel.

But this time Shengland not only succeeded in expelling it, but also severely crippled the Dark Sun Church.

It can be said that this is an unparalleled great victory for Shengland.

Celebratory joy of various victories fills streets and alleys everywhere.

Moreover!

This victory is far more than what appears on the surface.

It crippled, even killed, the invading Dark Sun ecology.

This indicates that present‑day Shengland now fully has the strength to counter the Dark Sun ecology.

Even… reclaiming the vast ashlands invaded by the Dark Sun evil‑god church may become possible in the future.

This is the most important message the Shengland Daily declares to the world!

Second floor of the Tree‑Heart Cavern Tavern.

Taku drinks his wine while listening to Xiluoer expound the many details of this underground assault.

In this ecological war, the attack on the underground world also involved Lamoer Street.

Xiluoer leads a team, whose members are Lamoer's capable elite super‑humans.

Although not as formidable as Shengland's top elite squads, their overall strength is not weak and they have achieved decent results.

A squad of over twenty killed hundreds of Dark Sun Church super‑humans; as for Dark Sun fiends, Bloodline fiends, and werewolf fiends, they slew several hundred to a thousand.

"The information I have now is to first develop the Spirit Realm layer and build a defensive belt deep underground."

"Lamoer Street has also obtained the qualification to develop a large swath of the Spirit Realm layer."

"When the time comes, we Lamoer Street can extract resources from those regions."

"Only after Shengland's defensive circle is fully secured can we attempt an ecological counter‑offensive in the Dark Sun ashlands."

"Our current strength cannot easily launch a counter‑offensive."

"To reclaim Lamoer, I don't even know if I can achieve it within my lifetime!"

"But… being able to establish a stable Lamoer Long Street here in Shengland is already quite good!"

Xiluoer, narrating, appears to be in a very good mood.

After all, this great victory has curbed the Dark Sun Church's expansion.

It also serves as some revenge for Lamoer.

It can also be seen as having taken some revenge for Lamorel.

Ta Ke listened and gave a slight nod.

This victory in the ecological war lifted the Dark Sun crisis that had invaded Saintland.

But the strong ones of Saintland's high tower did not, because of this counter‑invasion ecological war victory, immediately launch a massive counter‑offensive against the vast Dark Sun ecological domain deep within the Ashen Land.

Obviously, the top‑tier strategists' plan remained clear.

Nowadays Saintland has indeed completed the force that expelled the Dark Sun ecology.

But to push deeper into the Ashen Land and annihilate all the power the Dark Sun Church has built over many years is unrealistic.

Without Ta Ke's "tower push".

Transcendent beings of Saintland find it hard to penetrate the Dark Sun ecology and contend with the Dark Sun Church members stationed in the Dark Sun high tower.

Moreover, the Dark Sun Church's layout and ambitions are vast.

Not only has the Dark Sun Church occupied a large territory in the Ashen Land,

but also the Sunrock Empire bordering the southern continent and the Stone Demon Elephant Empire across the sea on the eastern continent.

Both bear the shadow of the Dark Sun Evil God Church.

Saintland's counter‑offensive achieved a huge victory.

However, confronting the Dark Sun Church is destined to be a long‑term war that will consume much time.

And the strategic shift of Serion's Duchy is precisely preparation for that prolonged war.

Currently, Serion's Duchy has opened world passages.

Allowing external forces to continuously seep in, actively advancing Serion's Duchy's "planarization".

【Planarization】

This is a new term Ta Ke learned while reviewing Saintland's internal reports during this period.

The main strategy in the report is to fully steam‑ify, multilayer‑domain, framework‑serialize, and planarize the important transcendent city‑state Saintland of Serion's Duchy, thereby linking it with the vast transcendent star realm and turning Saintland into a first‑class planar transcendent steam city‑state of the stellar transcendent world.

Plane opened!

This is Serion's move to counter the Dark Sun Church.

It is also comprehensive preparation for the rising wave of the planar steam era.

The vast planar steam era has gradually begun its prelude in Saintland, in Serion's Duchy, and even in the Ogu Twin‑Star Transcendent World.

"Are you… planning to continue cultivating in Saintland, or… preparing to go to the Transcendent Ocean?"

"I heard the Transcendent Ocean has been bustling lately."

"Moreover, many transcendent beings from outside have come in."

Hsirol looked at Ta Ke and asked.

"I plan to wander over to the ocean; I need to go to the deep‑sea region to listen to the world's voice."

After thinking, Ta Ke replied honestly.

"Listen to the world's voice?"

Hsirol felt a slight tremor in his heart.

"You intend to construct a Rune World Tower?"

"Yes!" Ta Ke nodded.

After carefully assessing Ta Ke from head to toe, Hsirol let out a long sigh and said slowly.

"I originally thought I had comprehended the secret of the Knight Earth Rune Holy Shield, awakened the burning‑blood steam ability, and could close the gap with you."

"Now it seems… my modest progress is insignificant before you."

"Although mid‑level transcendent beings are qualified to build a Rune World Tower, their grasp of the rune mysteries is evidently insufficient."

"Only those high‑level transcendent beings who have cultivated for hundreds of years with profound foundations, even crown‑ranked strong ones, are qualified to condense a Rune World Tower."

"You… are only third‑tier, right?"

"So a third‑tier cannot condense a Rune World Tower?"

Ta Ke smiled wryly.

"After all, no matter what, I am our Lamor's first prodigy."

"As Lamor's first prodigy, being able to condense a Rune World Tower at third‑tier is quite reasonable, right?"

Hsirol also smiled lightly.

"You, the first prodigy, have progressed so quickly; I, the former first prodigy of Lamor, also need to strive harder."

"Are you also going to travel the Transcendent Ocean? Or to other worlds?" Ta Ke asked curiously.

"No!"

Hsirol shook his head.

"I am merely a knight; I lack the wondrous methods of your wizards."

"Moreover, my rank does not permit me to embark on transcendent travel now."

"I intend to go to the high tower for further training."

"High‑tower training?"

"Yes!"

Hsirol nodded.

"There are still many places for cultivation inside the high tower."

"Even the tower areas that aid my cultivation of the Earth Rune Holy Shield are present."

"You might not consider them worthwhile."

"But for me, the assistance is immense."

"Hmm!" Ta Ke nodded.

"This is fine too, after all Saint Land is relatively safer here."

"Unlike the outside world, many foreign transcendent beings who enter our transcendent world don't follow the rules."

"I've even heard that many powerful transcendent beings from large transcendent worlds refer to our transcendent beings as 'natives.'"

Ta Ke smiled and rubbed the spot between his eyebrows.

"Those large transcendent worlds have already become deeply steam‑ified and planarized."

"Naturally they don't hold our transcendent world in high regard; after all, our world is relatively small and has been split into two parts."

"It seems you really want to spar with those transcendent beings from large high‑level transcendent worlds."

Xi Luoer, examining Ta Ke, clearly saw his thoughts.

"Haha… it's not just wanting to spar; it's an itch you can't resist!"

Ta Ke laughed heartily.

"Then will you use an official identity or… your own?" Xi Luoer asked.

"I've already contacted an air pirate crew with official status; you can think of them as the Black Gloves from Saint Land High Tower."

"They might plan to go to sea; if not, I can also use their channels to join a pirate crew."

"After all, you know that with my current status I can access the Transcendent Ocean with an official identity."

"I'm afraid the Dark Sun Church, the Sunrock Empire, and the forces on the Eastern Continent will come crazy to kill me."

"That may be so." Xi Luoer smiled lightly.

"Now… the Dark Sun Church probably hates you to death."

"Teaming with Archbishop Ligen Qiao, you slew a powerful bloodline crown‑tier strongman; it's unimaginable—how did you do it?"

Xi Luoer exhaled lightly, full of admiration.

"Even fighting a fourth‑grade steam sequence is already hard for me."

"By the way, during this period I'll prepare a batch of fine wine you like, so you can while away your leisure after the ocean."

"Hasn't your magical cottage already taken shape?"

"Recently I also commissioned a magical messenger; it's not very powerful, but it can still deliver letters within the transcendent world."

"You know the coordinates of my magical wardrobe."

"What about the coordinates of your magical wardrobe?"

After thinking, Ta Ke gave Xi Luoer a token containing the coordinates of his magical cottage.

"My magical messenger might be stronger; just be careful when it arrives."

"The magical messenger will be stronger?" Xi Luoer was startled.

"Aren't magical messengers usually rather weak?"

"Alright!"

He drained the cup of wine in one gulp and stood up.

"Beavis Twain has already arrived; I still have business, so I won't waste your time."

Xi Luoer stood, nodded, and saw Ta Ke off.

…………

A few minutes later.

At the doorway of the Tree‑Heart Cavern Tavern.

Ta Ke looked at the extremely retro carriage before him and was slightly taken aback.

He immediately turned his gaze to Beavis Twain beside him.

"So retro?"

"Aren't steam cars all the rage in Saint Land now?"

"Now Saint Land is preparing planar steamification; aren't we chasing steam fashion?"

Beavis Twain glanced at Ta Ke and said leisurely.

"The Saint Land Ancient Hall has that temperament; you know, it's full of old‑antique‑grade beings."

"The long‑lived are already five or six hundred years old."

"Older than my great‑great‑grandfather!"

"Providing you a carriage, without letting you walk straight there, is already a huge show of respect."

"Even a bishop‑level strongman… doesn't have the right to be personally escorted by the Saint Land Ancient Hall."

"Get in; coincidentally, when I came, the Grand Archbishop called me over."

"He's currently occupied, but he specifically instructed me on several matters."

"We'll talk slowly on the way."

Soon, on a relatively noisy and bustling street.

Accompanied by the clatter of hooves, the two hurried toward the Saint Land Ancient Hall.

Yesterday, Ta Ke wrote to Archbishop Masha Clark outlining his request.

Ta Ke hopes to select powerful forbidden spellcraft suitable for him, just as one picks a Death‑grade forbidden seal.

After all, waiting like this, who knows how long it'll take?

That afternoon, Masha Clark replied to Ta Ke with a magical letter.

She told Ta Ke that he could personally go to the Saint Land Ancient Hall to choose the powerful forbidden spellcraft that fits him.

"Also!"

"In view of Ta Ke's great contribution to Saint Land this time."

"The Saint Land Ancient Hall had already planned to unlock the Life·World Star Pattern for Ta Ke."

This time, it was decided to officially open Ta Ke's 【Life-World Star Grid】.

At this moment, Ta Ke was following Beiweis Tuwen to the Holy Orchid Virtue Ancient Hall to obtain powerful forbidden spellcraft.

Meanwhile, on this trip, Ta Ke will also open his own 【Life-World Star Grid】 deep within the Holy Orchid Virtue Ancient Hall.

【World Star Grid】 is a power crystal formed by using the power of the 【World】 in the supernatural world amidst the vast cosmos to absorb the precipitated characteristics of the 【Star Grid】.

It belongs to a supernatural world, the top-tier 'world-class' resource.

Only high-level supernatural beings are qualified to come into contact with it.

And Ta Ke!

Then, in this 'tower push', and together with Archbishop Reagan Qiao, he slew the blood clan's supreme powerhouse, captured the Dark Sun Holy Son and several Dark Sun Geniuses, and handed them over to the Three-Eyed God Church.

And he obtained the top-tier resource that only top-tier powerhouses of this occasion could enjoy.

For supernatural mages,

The illuminable 【World Star Grid】 types are 【Soul】, 【Life】, and 【Source Energy】.

These three are also the three major fundamental supernatural source traits of a supernatural mage's lifetime.

【Soul】 aspect.

If it were the older magical era, it would undoubtedly be the most important.

But nowadays, the sequence as the core of a supernatural life form, even if the soul were taken out and kicked like a ball, there would be no problem.

It's not worth wasting a 【World Star Grid】 on the soul aspect.

【Source Energy】

As the pioneering of 【Source Energy】 in the steam era, it is obviously not yet systematized.

Illuminating 【Source Energy】 will not be very effective.

But illuminating the 【Life-World Star Grid】 is very perfect.

First!

Illuminating the 【Life-World Star Grid】 will cause a supernatural being's life strength to surge, and greatly raise the upper limit of their lifespan.

It will roughly increase a supernatural being's lifespan by about three times.

Just this point alone is already formidable.

Even more impressive is yet to come.

Once the 【Life-World Star Grid】 is illuminated, Ta Ke's supernatural sequence framework will be greatly enhanced.

Whether it is bearing powerful forbidden spells, or undertaking strong supernatural defense,

or constructing a blood-ox physique as tough and durable as a lord-level creature,

there is no problem.

It can be said!

【Life-World Star Grid】.

It is an ultimate sublimation of supernatural life forms at the life level.

It greatly opens the potential upper limit of 【Supernatural Life】 within the 【Supernatural Sequence】.

It lets an ordinary supernatural life form become——a world-class life form!

This is the formidable aspect of the 【Life-World Star Grid】.

After using a shadow curtain to separate the inside and outside of the carriage,

Beiweis Tuwen then slowly began to speak.

"The day when the ash day peaks in the next ash cycle."

"That is the victory celebration of Holy Orchid Virtue."

"By then, you need to appear on stage as a Divine Favored One and meet everyone."

"No matter what, you are a Divinely Appointed Divine Favored One; this grand celebration needs to give the church a platform."

"Understood!" Ta Ke nodded.

Before, it was too dangerous for Ta Ke to show his face; now Holy Orchid Virtue is safe to a certain extent, so Ta Ke can completely——use the soul curtain shadow to disguise his appearance.

"At the same time, that Dark Sun Holy Son currently has nothing useful to be used."

"According to your request, he will be publicly burned to death on the day of the celebration; frankly speaking, compared to the retro carriage, your idea and request are even more retro."

"However, considering the crimes committed by the Dark Sun Church in La More."

"Your demand has still been approved by the superiors."

"Furthermore, the superiors also know that after you obtain this batch of resources, you will go to the Supernatural Ocean for supernatural travel."

"The superiors naturally will not obstruct your choice of cultivation journey."

"But... given the current danger and complexity of the Supernatural Ocean, Archbishop, I still hope the church can communicate more on that side; although the church's strength there is not strong, it will fully cooperate with your actions."

"..."

In the midst of their conversation.

Unbeknownst to them, the Holy Orchid Virtue Ancient Hall had already arrived!