Chapter 747: Evolution To Crystalline Life Elephant

After discussing the population expansion, Nash asked about the situation around the dark gates.

So far, after 2 years, they had built and activated 40 dark gates. Recently, they also built 15 dark gates at once, hoping to catch up to other teams.

"It’s already stable; we’re only waiting for you to activate them, Supreme Leader."

"What about the danger? Can it be controlled?"

This time, they were not merely activating 10 but 15 dark gates at the same time. Coupled with various cosmic teams leaving to join the expedition, they were experiencing a severe shortage of manpower.

"We have already built 35,000 military outposts that could defend and guide the flow of dark beasts autonomously. As long as we maintain and replace them in time, there shouldn’t be any problem."

"That’s good." Nash heaved a sigh of relief.

Taking on cosmic teams from the Neon Star Domain was a large gamble. The profit in the unexplored domain area was simply too much to pass up. Even if Nash stopped them, those foreign cosmic teams would still find a way to leave. So, instead of letting them join another top-level team, he could only send them on the expedition.

So far, over three years into the expedition, the Neon Star Alliance had earned over 200 million Chaos Stone alone. This was already after the cut from various cosmic elites.

Including the Eternal Star Alliance, which now had 48 top-level teams, his harvest over the last few years reached a staggering 1 billion Chaos Stones!

A large part of the harvest was thanks to the Universal Runic System, allowing each top-level team to earn 3-5 million each trip. Once their number reached a hundred, he might be able to earn over 500 million annually.

Furthermore, with such a large group, they could take over a dimensional-scale teleportation array and go to an unexplored domain area alone without paying any tax.

Soon after speaking with Julius and activating the newly built dark gates, Nash headed home.

---

As the Void Pulse descended on the planet, Nash couldn’t help but look out the window.

The Neon Planet, the capital of the Neon Star Alliance. After undergoing various expansions, it was now as big as the sun. Not only that, buried in the core were multiple Chaos Stone mines continuously nurturing it.

As the home of Rank 3 officials and above, the planet’s environment was superior in every way.

After docking at his planetary residence, Nash quickly went to the back garden. There he saw Tsuka, who seemed to have reached a breaking point as its body almost turned crystalline.

"Nash, you’re here! Something seemed to be wrong with Tsuka." Camilla called out worriedly. Elizabeth’s eyes were red as well, as she examined Tsuka closely.

Tsuka had been with them since the beginning. From a mere pet, they had come to treat it like their own child.

"Don’t worry, it should be because it was about to advance."

"Is that so?" Hearing that it was only an advancement, Camilla and Elizabeth breathed a sigh of relief.

"Anyway, why did it take you so long? We’ve been calling you for days."

Tsuka’s current state was like a crystalline rock, without a hint of life or consciousness. Worried, they had called Nash multiple times, nearly dragging him here.

"I was busy completing the trial in the Altier Arcane Tower. I also activated the dark gates along the way here." Nash said. Connected with Tsuka, he had long known there was no problem.

"You should’ve said Tsuka was advancing a long time ago. You have us worried for nothing."

"I told you, didn’t I?"

Checking their communication module, they saw the message Nash sent a few hours ago.

"Even then, you could’ve called us."

"Alright, it’s my fault."

Seeing no point in arguing, Nash quickly apologized as they sat not far from Tsuka. Calculating Tsuka’s rate of advancement, it should be able to advance in a few days.

Meanwhile, he turned to the two and asked when they could advance to the 1,000th floor.

"Soon, we’re still improving our combat ability. The trial on the 1,000th floor was too difficult."

Having reached the 1,000th floor about half a year ago, they were still stuck on it even now. The difficulty had spiked drastically.

"Do you want help?"

"How do you even help us?"

"Of course, it’s fighting!"

"Then let’s go!"

Since they’re waiting for Tsuka anyway, it’s better to have a fight so they can vent some of their feelings from a while ago.

"Haha, that’s the way to go."

Camilla and Elizabeth’s abilities had already reached legendary level. However, to beat the 1,000th trial, they needed at least pseudo-mythical combat ability. This was only possible because they had a strong foundation; otherwise, it would be much harder.

---

A few days later, Nash noticed a movement from outside.

"Tsuka is about to advance."

Stopping the fight, they quickly left the virtual world.

At this moment, a brilliant light shone from Tsuka’s body, radiating from the planet to half of the Neon Star territory.

This light didn’t blind the eyes; instead, it seemed to soothe the mind, easing everyone’s fatigue and worry. As the light spread, everyone felt their bodies rejuvenate, plants began to grow, and the world cheering with vitality.

"This advancement... Is Tsuka awakening as a Crystalline Life Elephant?" Nash deduced.

Tsuka was one of the eight celestial elephant mysterious beasts. In the universe, only 8 of them could exist at the same time. Their types were divided into Origin, Creation, Fate, Light, Life, Space, Luck, Wisdom.

The strongest was naturally the Origin Crystalline Elephant; next was Creation, while the rest stood at equal potential.

Throughout Tsuka’s advancement journey, he had thought it would evolve into a Crystalline Light Elephant; he didn’t expect it would turn to Life instead.

"Could it be because of the dimensional world behind its back?"

With the dimensional world nurtured by special plants, minerals, and animals, the weight of life outweighed the light in its evolutionary direction. Of course, it could also be because the Crystalline Light Elephant was still alive.

"Why are you complaining? As long as Tsuka evolves, it’s good!"

"That’s right. Isn’t a Crystalline Life Elephant better? Anyway, Tsuka didn’t need to fight."

"I was just thinking."

Although both were of equal potential, light was all-around, able to attack, defend, heal, and enlighten others. Life, on the other hand, was purely an auxiliary skill.