’My Observer ability lets me probe deeply into all sorts of hidden information.’

’And the Time Magic Net is like my tentacles, constantly spreading out.’

’It seems that at this stage, I have three paths to choose from.’

’First, I could use the Dark Demon Tree in White Calamity Demon City, where I am now, as the core and expand from there.’

’The advantage is that I could quickly build my own Time Magic Net in the Dark Cosmic Realm and grow at a tremendous pace.’

’The disadvantage is that when the Dark Cosmic Realm is shattered in the near future, my network will also be affected.’

’Moreover, this era of the Dark Cosmos’s expansion won’t last long, and it will be difficult to extend my reach into the territories of other major powers.’

’The Cosmic Time Magic Net may be miraculous, but... the other major powers’ Trees of the Magic Ring are no pushovers.’

’They can hinder the development of my Cosmic Time Magic Net, and even attack it.’

’The second option is to use the Cosmic Altar as the core.’

’Doing this would make the Cosmic Time Magic Net’s expansion incredibly powerful.’

’All of my Sacrificial Offerers could even use the Cosmic Time Magic Net to send back more Time Essence to me.’

’This method certainly has many benefits.’

’But it’s also the most dangerous path. It would allow those powerful entities to detect the Cosmic Altar’s existence.’

’For me, at this stage, that’s far too dangerous.’

With that thought, Zorn discarded the idea.

’Then the final option is to use myself, my Divine Kingdom, and my Tree of the Magic Ring as the anchor points.’

’Growth will be slower, but it’s the safer, more stable option. Plus, once it has expanded, it will be completely under my control.’

’And... at this stage, it’s not like there’s a lack of nutrients.’

’Out in the Fedor Material Plane Group, there are still Worlds controlled by Evil Gods, not to mention the Trees of the Magic Ring they’ve built.’

’Other Sequences would have a hard time consuming these special Worlds.’

’But for me, these fellow Evil God bosses are a guaranteed source of nourishment.’

’And they’re all Lower Rank Evil Gods, which makes this the perfect time for me to devour and absorb them.’

At this thought, Zorn’s spirits lifted slightly.

’I need to increase the strength of my Cosmic Time Magic Net as quickly as possible in the coming days.’

’Then, I can use the Cosmic Time Magic Net to infiltrate the Evil God Worlds and completely annihilate those damned Evil God bosses.’

Having settled on a general course of action,

Zorn began constructing the "Cosmic Root Pool," the core of the Cosmic Time Magic Net, within his Divine Kingdom.

The tentacle-like, root-like tendrils of the Time Magic Net could draw the various properties Zorn needed from the outside world.

They would ultimately settle within the "Cosmic Root Pool."

Simultaneously, Zorn diverted a portion of the power absorbed by the Cosmic Magic Net on the Dark Demon Tree into his own Divine Kingdom.

Most importantly, as Zorn spread the Time Magic Net throughout his Divine Kingdom,

its temporal tendrils slowly permeated the Cosmic Demon Pool.

GURGLE GURGLE GURGLE...

Using the Cosmic Time Magic Net as a new medium, Zorn began to absorb the essence of the Cosmic Demon Pool even faster.

Feeling the profound essence of the Cosmic Source Pool being drawn in,

along with the vast amount of Time Essence absorbed from the Dark Cosmic Realm,

even Zorn, now a Demigod, couldn’t help but sigh with emotion.

’Having Divinity and a Divine Talent really makes all the difference.’

...

More than half a year flew by in the blink of an eye.

Atop the Dark Demon Tree.

Zorn silently assessed the fruits of his cultivation over the past half-year.

Level 16 (2%)

In half a year, he had increased his Sequence progress by 2%.

It might not seem like much, but for a Demigod, this was already an impressive feat.

Some Lower Rank Divine Spirits would struggle to level up even once in several hundred years.

And that was when their levels were still low and leveling up was easier.

At higher levels, it could take a millennium to advance a single level.

If their Faith Realm were to suffer a major blow, their level could even regress.

Meanwhile, Demigod Zorn could, at his current stage, level up in about twenty years.

Zorn was on the path of a Time-type Divine Spirit.

As long as he had enough Time Essence, he could grow continuously stronger.

Normally, a Time-type Divine Spirit would need to bide their time, accumulating power slowly over ages.

But Zorn was different.

First, he could interact with many other Divine Spirits through sacrifices,

thus obtaining a large amount of Time Essence.

Second, he could also interact with many other ancient beings to obtain Time Essence.

Finally, as an Evil God, Zorn’s fundamental nature of absorbing and consuming other Divine Spirits still remained.

Although Zorn rarely used this ability,

by absorbing and consuming the Divinity and Essence of other Holy Crowns and Divine Spirits, he could convert it all into his own Time Essence.

After a long moment of contemplation, Zorn slowly exhaled.

’At this rate, it will take at least four or five hundred years before I have a chance of becoming a Level 20 Demigod.’

’This speed is fast enough compared to other Divine Spirits, but for me, it’s far too slow.’

Zorn shook his head lightly.

’War and slaughter!’

’That is the true path to faster growth!’

’Not just through interacting with other Divine Spirits in battle, but also by absorbing their Essence for my own use.’

’The Dark Cosmic Realm runs deep.’

Zorn gazed into the endless, profound darkness.

’Not only are there many powerful Upper Rank Gods, but there are also many terrifying Ancient Gods hidden in its depths.’

’If any Legendary Powerhouses or Divine Spirits venture too deep, they are silently annihilated.’

’I currently have about 30 million Star Trace Coins, and I also have 10 years of secluded cultivation time in the Holy Crown Rune Tree Nest within the Disaster Court Divine Tree.’

’After advancing to Holy Crown, my efficiency in comprehending Rune Magic Rings has increased dramatically.’

’Next, I should contact Lady Reya and prepare to return to my Divine Kingdom for a while.’

The pace of his cultivation here was too slow; Zorn needed to find a way to increase his strength as quickly as possible.

......

「Several days later.」

Zorn finally contacted Reya via projection.

"Lady Reya..."

Zorn explained his desire to return to his Divine Kingdom to cultivate for a time.

"Things in the Dark Cosmic Realm have mostly settled down. The Legendary Powerhouses have already moved in."

"Plus, now that you’ve advanced to Holy Crown, it’s a good time for you to return."

"However, the Holy Crown Rune Tree Nest won’t open for another three years."

"You can either return to your Divine Kingdom to cultivate, or you can continue cultivating here for now. The choice is yours."

After a moment of thought, Zorn asked.

"What’s the current situation in the Fedor Material Plane World Group?"

Previously, Zorn and many other Transcendents had gone there with the goal of eliminating the Evil Gods entrenched in the Material Plane Worlds.

But now, the Dark Gate had become the focal point of the entire region.

As a result, the Evil Gods in the Fedor Material Plane Worlds had become a secondary concern.

Reya considered for a moment before responding.

"It’s still a tricky situation."

"Those Evil Gods are just holing up in the Material Plane Worlds and refuse to come out."

"Plus, since we’ve diverted a lot of our forces to the vicinity of the Dark Gate, our offensive in the Fedor Material Plane World Group has slackened considerably."

Hearing this, Zorn’s eyebrow rose slightly.

"If the Evil God Worlds haven’t been eliminated yet, then that’s actually for the better."

Reya heard the implication in Zorn’s words.

"You want to attack the Evil God Worlds?"

"Yes."

Zorn nodded decisively.

He did indeed intend to use those Evil God Worlds to test the waters.