Swallowing the Stars: The Birth of a Cosmic God King

Ten days is neither a long nor a short time.

For Yan Ning, who is newly married, these ten days have been busy and fulfilling.

During the day, I immersed myself in the cultivation of the "Handbook for Pioneering the Sea of ​​Consciousness," feeling my spiritual power grow stronger little by little.

Anything produced by our system is guaranteed to be of high quality.

The guiding techniques described in that manual were a thousand times more refined than any other cultivation method he had ever learned. His originally blocked meridians began to slowly clear under the feedback of his mental energy.

This allowed him to truly experience the terrifying aspect of how even ordinary people could understand Heaven-Rank cultivation techniques.

Nighttime is a different kind of work.

Shen Yao was gentle and considerate, never questioning what he was cultivating, and simply fulfilling her duties as a wife.

To Yan Ning's delight, Shen Yao became pregnant in less than a week.

When the two red lines on the pregnancy test came on, Shen Yao's eyes reddened, and she buried her face in his chest and cried for a long time.

Yan Ning held her close, a complex mix of emotions welling up within him as well.

In his previous life, he never imagined he would have children.

And in this life, this child came so quickly.

It's truly a matter of timing and fate; destiny plays tricks on people.

"Take good care of yourself and don't worry about anything," Yan Ning comforted him softly.

"Um."

Shen Yao nodded obediently, but then became worried: "Brother Ning, the things you bought these days... are too expensive."

Too expensive?

It’s indeed not cheap.

Yan Ning spent money like water over the past ten days.

First, there's Shen Yao's tonic.

Three Zihe Lingzhi mushrooms, each worth two million federal dollars.

Deep-sea dragon blood essence, five vials, each costing 800,000.

There are also early pregnancy gene stabilizers, costing three million per injection.

He spent nearly 20 million just to help Shen Yao recover.

He himself spent quite a bit as well.

Although the "Fragment of Meteorite Ink" is an incredible opportunity, cultivating it still requires a lot of auxiliary resources.

The neurotrophic agents needed to expand brain capacity cost 500,000 per vial, and six vials were used in ten days.

The "mind crystal dust" used for tempering mental power costs four million for a small bottle, but he gritted his teeth and bought one.

There's also the "Vitality Essence" that repairs hidden injuries to the body, costing one million per dose, and he's already used three doses.

All things considered, he has already spent nearly half of the 100 million federal dollars he has saved over the years.

"Wasting money?" Yan Ning smiled and pinched Shen Yao's nose.

"Your man will make a lot of money in the future, what's this? You're not alone anymore, you have a little one in your belly, we can't let you and your baby suffer."

Before Shen Yao could say anything more, Yan Ning had already pulled her out the door: "Come on, let's go downstairs for a walk. It's not good to stay cooped up in the house all the time."

......

The residents of the martial arts community are mostly retired martial artists due to illness. Many of them are missing limbs, some using crutches, others sitting in wheelchairs, and they chat and bask in the sun downstairs.

Yan Ning and Shen Yao walked slowly along the tree-lined path, attracting many glances.

after all.

In this community, it is indeed rare to see a retired martial artist like Yan Ning, who is physically healthy and has a rosy complexion.

Have you heard?

Several more general-level giant bears have appeared north of the base city. Those are creatures that only grow in the harsh, cold lands of Russia. How did they end up in our south?

Who knows?

My cousin is a scout on the Seventh Line of Defense. He said he saw it with his own eyes; that thing could flatten an armored vehicle with one claw. It's a beast-class monster, at least three of them!

"Three heads? That's terrible! The brothers on the front lines are in big trouble."

"Of course not."

Last week a group of veterans were recruited, but not a single one has returned...

The whispers reached Yan Ning's ears, and he frowned slightly.

Ice-Patterned Giant Bear?

That is indeed a species unique to the northern plateau. Its sudden appearance in the south seems quite abnormal.

Before he could think it through, he felt several gazes fall on him.

"Hey, isn't this Yan Ning?"

A middle-aged man missing his left arm leaned against the bench, looking him up and down: "I heard you also retired due to illness? You don't look like it, your arms and legs are all intact."

Yan Ning recognized him.

Zhao Dezhu, a veteran who retired a few years earlier than him.

"Brother Zhao." Yan Ning nodded, as a greeting.

Several other people were sitting next to Zhao Dezhu, all of them veterans missing limbs, and their gazes toward Yan Ning were not very friendly.

"Tsk tsk, youth is wonderful." Another bald man clicked his tongue.

"After retiring from the army, he was able to marry such a beautiful wife and spend his days at home cuddling with her on a warm bed. Unlike us, who are missing limbs and can't even get assigned jobs by the organization."

Shen Yao blushed slightly and subconsciously moved closer to Yan Ning.

Zhao Dezhu said sarcastically:

"I'm just wondering, you're a warrior at the general level, your foundation is damaged, how come you look more energetic than us cripples? Could it be... that you pulled some strings to get medical retirement?"

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the surrounding veterans became subtle.

"you do not say."

Zhao Dezhu picked up the conversation, "While some people are fighting tooth and nail on the front lines, others are hiding in the rear, indulging in pleasure and debauchery."

"Tsk tsk, young martial artists, that's just how they are, so engrossed in their pleasures, they don't care how many monsters are outside, or how many brothers are fighting desperately on the front lines!"

"Hmph! If I still had this arm, I would have answered the call to arms long ago!"

"Exactly! Some people are just afraid of lizards!"

Shen Yao wanted to explain, but Yan Ning gently pressed her down.

Yan Ning remained calm.

He could tell that these people's anger wasn't entirely directed at him.

He, a healthy, newlywed "retired martial artist," was merely the target of their emotional outbursts.

Yan Ning neither explained nor refuted.

Which of these people didn't sacrifice their lives for the blue sky? What's wrong with letting them say a few words?

Let's try to understand each other more.

He nodded slightly: "Brother Zhao, Brother Sun, seniors, you are right. The brothers on the front line are indeed working hard. Although I, Yan Ning, have retired, I have never forgotten that I am a martial artist."

Zhao Dezhu snorted and turned his head away.

The atmosphere was a bit tense.

At this moment, an old man who had been silent all along spoke up.

He sat in a wheelchair with his legs dangling below the knees, and the scars on his face stretched from his forehead to his chin, making him look shocking.

"Alright, that's enough, everyone."

The old man looked at Yan Ning, his gaze calm: "Young brother, what kind of damage has been done to your foundation?"

Yan Ning answered truthfully: "My genetic energy is overdrawn, and my meridians are damaged."

The old man nodded thoughtfully: "No external injuries, and looks young... then you need to be careful."

"What do you mean, senpai?"

The old man lowered his voice: "If there are no unexpected circumstances, the conscription order should be issued in the next day or two."

A retired martial artist like you, with all four limbs intact and still capable of fighting, is the kind of person the higher-ups most like to recruit.

"Those who are missing limbs would be a burden, but you're different."

He paused for a moment: "Let me give you a piece of advice: don't be foolish and be among the first to go up. When the conscription order comes, use the exemption if you can."

Some people have very deep thoughts; don't let yourself be used as a pawn and become some young master's scapegoat.

Yan Ning's heart skipped a beat, and he nodded solemnly: "Thank you for your guidance, senior."

The old man waved his hand, said nothing more, and slowly pushed his wheelchair away.

......