The new skill star core began to charge.

It was a term Lin Moyu had come up with, and it felt fitting.

During the charging process, the human and the Dragon resumed their earlier conversation.

Antares asked, “Where was I?”

“You were saying the two methods are different…” Lin Moyu rolled his eyes, fully aware the guy was doing it on purpose.

At Antares’s level, forgetting what he had just said was impossible.

Antares gave a hollow laugh and continued, “Let’s start with the first method: exposing this small world to the greater world. The advantage is obvious. Once exposed, the small world will be bathed in the laws of the greater world.”

“This baptism lasts several hundred years. During that time, as the small world’s world lord, it will be much easier for you to comprehend those laws. It’s a privilege granted by the greater world to newly ascended small worlds.”

Lin Moyu’s voice turned heavy, “And the drawback?”

There was no such thing as pure benefit. The greater the advantage, the greater the downside. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Antares continued, “The drawback is obvious. Once exposed, the small world loses the protection of the greater world’s laws. The position of world lord becomes contestable, and anyone strong enough can try to seize it.”

“I don’t need to tell you what that means. Countless powerhouses and powerful races will come swarming in.”

A newly ascended small world was like fresh meat thrown into a den of wolves. Everyone would want a bite.

As the world lord, Lin Moyu would bear the brunt.

Facing enemies from all sides, he wasn’t confident he could stand his ground.

Moreover, he had to consider the safety of everyone else. The aftermath of such battles alone could bring disaster to the entire world.

Those outsiders wouldn’t care about the lives of the small world’s inhabitants, only the position of world lord and the benefits of the greater world’s law baptism.

A chill ran down Lin Moyu’s spine…

Without the protection of the greater world’s laws, his small world was far too fragile.

At present, the greater world’s laws formed a powerful barrier around the small world, making invasion extremely difficult.

Only through special methods could outsiders infiltrate.

Under such protection, the small world at least had a chance to defend itself.

Seeing Lin Moyu’s solemn expression, Antares continued, “If you choose this path, I can help guard the world. With me here, ensuring your safety won’t be an issue.”

Lin Moyu understood immediately. His safety could be guaranteed, but not everyone else’s.

If a great battle really broke out, even the shockwaves would be unbearable for ordinary people.

Some powerhouses might even destroy the world outright if they couldn’t claim it.

Lin Moyu asked, “How do other small worlds handle ascension?”

“There are many approaches. But in most cases, great battles are unavoidable. Some small worlds in remote regions escape notice during their ascension. After a century, the great world’s law baptism ends, and by then, no one bothers to fight over them anymore.”

A remote location… that clearly didn’t apply here.

Even before ascension, his world was already being targeted, and not by just one faction.

The Soulkind, the Demons, a certain faction within the Dragonkind, the old man riding the green ox…

To them, his world was already a prized delicacy.

It was a headache.

“The question is, if the world hasn’t even ascended yet, how did others find it?”

Antares let out a dismissive laugh, “That’s something you’d have to ask those guys from the previous age. No point dwelling on it now. Let me explain the second option.”

“If you choose the second option, you leave the world as it is and enter the greater world alone.”

“In doing so, you’ll miss out on the greater world’s law baptism. It won’t aid your growth. But there are no real drawbacks either.”

“The advantage is that this world remains under the protection of the great world’s laws, and its people stay safe.”

“Furthermore, once you become world lord, you can strengthen the world’s defenses further. You’ll understand how in time.”

“You can wait until you’re strong enough, strong enough to truly protect the world, before allowing it to ascend.”

Antares laid out the pros and cons clearly, leaving the decision entirely to Lin Moyu.

But Lin Moyu didn’t need long to decide. He already had his answer.

This world contained people he had to protect. He could not allow them to be placed in danger.

He wasn’t a saint. He could kill without hesitation and had never shown mercy to his enemies.

Demons, Dragonkind, Gods, and even humans—many had died by his hand.

Once someone stood against him, he would strike without mercy.

But at the same time, the world also held his family and his friends.

And he would never allow harm to come to them.

“I know what to do now.” Lin Moyu had already made his decision.

Antares seemed to anticipate his choice, “Very well.”

As he spoke, he struck Lin Moyu again.

Four blows in succession, activating his talent once more.

This time, Antares neither roared nor shouted, and Lin Moyu remained silent.

After the fourth strike, a surge of purple light erupted from Lin Moyu’s body. The talent had been triggered.

Three cycles later, the skill star core was finally full.

It transformed into a blazing cluster of fire, evolving from an ordinary skill star core into a perfect star-grade law art.

Antares reappeared within Lin Moyu’s soul world.

At the precise moment the star-grade law art took form, the tiny black dot within the eruption emerged. This was the sight Antares had yearned to witness.

Lin Moyu, too, wanted to see it again. Though it lasted only an instant. It was too brief to discern anything clearly.

Still, he needs to remember the feeling.

Antares had told him: “Just remember it; it won’t lead you astray.”

The cluster of fire erupted, light bursting outward in every direction.

Once again, Lin Moyu saw the tiny black dot at the center of the eruption.

The tiny black dot existed for only half a second.

Lin Moyu pushed his focus to its absolute limit, trying to stretch that fleeting instant for as long as possible.

But half a second was still too short. He could see nothing clearly.

And yet, the tiny black dot held an irresistible pull.

Not just for him. Anyone would feel the same.

Seeing Antares with his eyes half-closed, utterly entranced, Lin Moyu knew he must have grasped something.

Antares had said that this was something every powerhouse longed to witness.

But such opportunities were exceedingly rare.

Lin Moyu had provided the opportunity, and Antares had seized it.

If it could help him in any way, Lin Moyu would be genuinely glad.

As he watched the rising star, a sudden tremor shook his soul.

That familiar suppression returned.

“The greater world rune!”

Lin Moyu gritted his teeth, looking like he wanted to tear someone apart.

The greater world rune had acted again.

As expected, even this newly formed, seemingly perfect star-grade law art was unable to bear law.

The greater world rune used incomprehensible means to restrict his growth.

The feeling was extremely unpleasant, yet there was nothing he could do.

Fortunately, it could not suppress the law inherent to the law art itself.

Forcing down his frustration, Lin Moyu examined the newly evolved star-grade law art.

[Bone Prison (100% fusion rate)]: binds enemies and causes paralysis. Bound targets cannot move or counterattack. The number of targets and duration depend on the amount of spirit force consumed.]