Swallowing the Stars, Hu Yanbo's Pre-Godhood

Hu Yanbo sat cross-legged once again on the rooftop of Chaos City, his mind completely immersed in cultivation.

This time, he sat in meditation for far longer than before.

One hundred years, two hundred years, three hundred years... Time quietly passed, but his figure seemed to have become part of the rooftop, remaining motionless.

Four hundred years, five hundred years!

Even for ordinary immortal gods, reshaping their divine bodies after a breakthrough takes decades or even centuries, which is already the limit.

However, Huyanbo's divine body was like a bottomless black hole, which, over the course of five hundred years, continued to devour the vast cosmic energy around it in a stable and powerful manner!

Such an extraordinary phenomenon has long exceeded the scope of ordinary breakthroughs.

At first, it was only some immortal deities on the nearby rooftop who were startled by this enormous energy vortex that had never dissipated over the years. They awoke from their cultivation and stared in disbelief at the seemingly endless influx of energy.

"Five hundred years... and it's still absorbing?!"

"Is there no limit to Huyan Bo's divine body?!"

"What level has he broken through to? The energy required is terrifying!"

Whispers and horrified glances passed among the immortals, but no one dared to step forward and disturb them.

Soon, this extraordinary sight also attracted the attention of people higher up.

Above the sky, those immortal kings who had only occasionally cast a glance at the sky gradually changed their expressions from surprise to solemnity, and finally to deep shock.

"Such a long period of high-intensity energy infusion... this doesn't seem like just breaking through to the peak of the Marquis level!"

"It's as if his understanding of the laws of space has reached the level of a king!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the several super-powerful beings among those who had been granted the title of King subconsciously exchanged glances.

Their eyes met, and there was not a trace of impurity, only pure, almost overflowing astonishment and inquiry—have you and I ever seen such a sight?!

They were all looking at each other, confirming the same question: In all the long years, had anyone ever seen, with an immortal body, solely by comprehending the Chaos Stele, rise from a mere newcomer to the rank of Marquis in a mere thousand years, advancing unstoppably and forcefully pushing their understanding of the laws to the level of King?

It should be understood that the soul of an immortal god has been completely merged with his divine body, thus losing the enormous advantage that allowed his consciousness during his time as a realm lord, which enabled him to easily enter the ocean of the fundamental laws of the universe and experience a surge in comprehension efficiency.

Their efficiency in comprehending the Chaos Stele was not much faster than that of the Domain Lord; it relied more on the accumulation of long years and painstaking effort.

Moreover, as a superior law, the laws of space become increasingly profound and obscure the further one delves into them, requiring immense effort and time for every step forward.

That is why Hu Yanbo's breakthrough speed, which can be described as "wild growth," is so astonishing and subverts their understanding!

"Are there really such late bloomers in this world?" This was the common thought among the powerful kings gathered in the sky.

The duration and scale of the anomaly were so astonishing that the resulting fluctuations eventually seeped into the deeper parts of Chaos City.

Several gentle yet supremely majestic thoughts swept across the area, carrying a hint of pure curiosity.

Immediately afterwards, a calm voice seemed to resonate directly in the hearts of all the kings:

"Starlight".

The Star King, whose name was called, trembled slightly, immediately composed himself, and respectfully bowed slightly in a certain direction in the void: "Venerable Azure Stone."

The other kings around him also immediately became solemn and paid their respects. They all knew that the one who spoke was one of the Universe Venerables from the Virtual Universe Company, who resided in Chaos City year-round.

The being known as Venerable Qing Shi did not appear. His voice remained calm, yet carried a hint of inquiry: "I observe that Hu Yanbo possesses superior talent and temperament. He has only been in Chaos City for a thousand years, yet he has already been granted the title of King."

"As the head of the recruitment department for powerful individuals at the Virtual Universe Company, and residing in Chaos City, you were the first to discover this, so why did you fail to bring him under your command?"

A hint of embarrassment immediately appeared on Starshine King's face.

He could only respectfully reply, "Your Excellency, it was my limited insight that led me to fail to perceive his true potential and make a mistake in my judgment, thus missing out on a talented individual."

King Xinghui took full responsibility, but his heart was filled with bitterness and helplessness.

Otherwise, how else can it be explained?

Should we tell the Venerable One that it's not that the company can't offer a contract, but rather that the internal factions are so complex that the obstacles and interests to balance in securing a top-tier core contract for an outsider like him are far greater than we imagined?

Even if he pushes it with all his might, it may not succeed, and it may even cause disputes among many high-ranking officials.

These words must never be uttered.

Upon hearing this, Venerable Qing Shi remained silent for a moment.

That vast sense of intent did not immediately subside:

"Starshine, you have indeed stayed in Chaos City for far too long."

Upon hearing this, Star King felt a sudden chill.

The Venerable One's voice continued calmly: "I will discuss this matter with your teacher personally later."

"If you are determined to stay in Chaos City for a long time and devote yourself to cultivation, then you should resign from your position as head of the external recruitment department of the Virtual Universe Company and hand it over to someone more suitable. This place is quiet and peaceful, just right for quiet cultivation."

"Secondly, if you still wish to retain your authority and serve your people, then prepare immediately to leave Chaos City, return to your original post, and focus on fulfilling your duties."

As soon as he finished speaking, that vast will receded like a tide, giving Starshine King no chance to explain or hesitate.

Only Starshine King remained standing there, his expression shifting.

He never imagined that he would face such a choice because he failed to recruit a single Huyanbo.

Star King subconsciously lowered his head, his gaze piercing through the spatial barrier and landing once again on Hu Yanbo, who was still frantically devouring energy. He felt a mix of emotions.

"However...on closer thought, what the Venerable One said is not without reason." He smiled bitterly to himself, having to admit a fact: "With the terrifying potential this boy has shown, it is almost a certainty that he will reach the pinnacle of the King-level in the future."

"And I, as the person in charge of recruiting powerful external individuals for the Virtual Universe Company, was the first to see it, yet I was able to let it slip by..."

Thinking of this, a strong sense of regret and self-mockery welled up in my heart.

"Previously, the company might have turned a blind eye to my behavior of staying in Chaos City for a long time to cultivate, despite holding an important position."

"But now, because of my major mistake, the league has missed out on a top-tier powerhouse. This tolerance... is probably coming to an end."

The choice made by Venerable Qing Shi was less a matter of accountability and more a disguised form of expulsion or punishment.

He must pay the price for his misjudgment and long-term inaction.