Chapter 589 - World Rank’s Tiers

Han Wu tried calling Death, but there was no signal in the Heaven Stair Civilization. With no other option, he began climbing each level to find him.

He had once climbed as high as the fifty-sixth level. That wasn’t his limit, but it was the point where the Heaven Stair Association stopped and forcibly expelled him last time. This time, however, without the challenge’s limitations, he could continue climbing.

With his current strength, even this level posed little difficulty. He advanced at a steady pace and soon reached the fifty-second level. Only a handful of life forms could reach that level. Most were strong God Kings or powerful World life forms.

Han Wu didn’t recognize them, but he still approached them. After a brief exchange, he learned that Death had already climbed higher. Han Wu had no choice but to continue climbing.

As he moved deeper into the upper levels, horrified and shocked gazes followed him. The God Kings glanced at each other, doubt creeping into their expressions as they questioned who the real God King was. They were still adapting to the fifty-second level’s environment, yet Han Wu could walk as if nothing had changed. The contrast was mind-blowing.

Han Wu paid them no attention and pressed on until he reached the fifty-sixth level, where he finally found Death. The latter was still acclimating to the environment here. Even while enduring this level’s pressure, he continued to emit the aura of a World life form.

𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

The sight stunned Han Wu. In the past, he had condensed his Heavenrender aura into the Sage rank. Death had undergone the same six layers of condensation, yet his aura was still at the World rank. Han Wu couldn’t gauge his true strength.

Death sensed Han Wu’s presence and was equally surprised. He had clearly perceived Han Wu’s newfound strength. “You’ve reached this level as well?”

“I only managed it through luck,” Han Wu replied.

Luck?

Death smiled bitterly. He could tell that Han Wu had already merged his Microcosm with his divine realm. Most God Kings needed years to reach this stage, but Han Wu had achieved it in mere days.

More importantly, Han Wu wasn’t even a God King yet. Even Death himself couldn’t have done this when he was younger. He felt that he had grown old and couldn’t keep pace with the younger generation.

“

Haha...

It seems that the world still belongs to you youngsters.” Even as he spoke, Death already understood why Han Wu had come to seek him out. “Since you’ve reached the World rank, there are a few things I need to discuss with you.”

Han Wu turned his full attention to Death’s explanation.

“The highest life forms that the Divine Civilization can produce are God Kings. Once someone ascends, the Will of the Divine Civilization will help them grow into a World life form. Every God King you encounter will at least be a World life form. However, the World rank isn’t the limit of the body. In truth, it's a brand new start,” Death said.

He then showed his Microcosm, or rather, his divine realm. Through layers of miasma, Han Wu saw an endless host of undead within it. They did more than merely exist. They lived, had intelligence, and could study and eat.

They did not consume ordinary food like other life forms. Instead, they fed on hardened bones and Spirit Stones. The bones strengthened their skeletal frames, while the Spirit Stones enhanced their intelligence. Some undead who still retained flesh and blood consumed fresh meat as a supplement. They had even developed martial skills and spells tailored specifically to the undead.

Han Wu was astounded. After all, the undead had formed a brand new civilization under the God King of Death. If not for Death revealing his divine realm, Han Wu would’ve assumed that this was a complete civilization.

Death withdrew his divine realm and continued, “The World rank is only the beginning, and it has its own tiers. First comes the Microcosm, then the Subcosm, followed by Mesocosm, and finally the Macrocosm. Those are the differentiations of the World rank.”

Han Wu was intrigued. “Lord Death, what tier have you reached?”

Death squinted, and Han Wu felt a chill traveling up his spine. While they were from the same civilization, certain boundaries still existed. Asking about another’s strength was a breach of etiquette.

Luckily, Death appeared to pay no heed. He waved a hand, and another universe appeared in front of Han Wu. Numerous planets filled the void, and the largest one was naturally Death’s divine realm.

Han Wu studied it and estimated that it contained at least millions of planets.

Death explained, “The Microcosm is only the beginning. Once you possess 1,000 Microcosms, you will advance to the Subcosm tier. With 1,000 Subcosms, you will reach the Mesocosm tier. Subsequently, 1,000 Mesocosms elevate you to the Macrocosm tier. The strongest being in the Divine Civilization possesses 3,000 Macrocosms.”

As he spoke of that being, Death’s eyes shone with excitement and yearning.

“Three thousand Macrocosms! How many Microcosms is that?” Han Wu was shocked and momentarily at a loss. At present, he possessed only a single Microcosm and had no idea how long it would take for him to reach such a level.

“We Gods live extremely long lives. Before the grand Divine Civilization, you are merely a hatchling in need of protection,” Death said. “But I believe that you will soon grow into an eagle capable of traveling across countless civilizations.”

Han Wu steadied himself and asked, “Lord Death, how can I ascend and become stronger?”

Death explained, “The simplest method is to continue accumulating energy to form Microcosms aligned with your divine realm, but this approach takes the longest. Another method is to nurture World units within your divine realm. Once they awaken their own Microcosm, it will count as yours. The final method is to plunder other World life forms’ Microcosms. It’s the fastest and most dangerous.”

Han Wu was confused. He had killed several World life forms before, but he had never seen any of them drop a Microcosm.

Death chuckled. “To plunder a Microcosm, not only must you have the same or similar attribute, but you must also use a special technique. I can teach it to you.”

“Thank you, Lord Death.”

Death waved a hand. “You are my Holy Son, so it's only natural that I guide you. Unfortunately, I’ve been occupied lately and didn't have the time to check on you. Still, it’s not too late.

“This technique is called Stellar Plunder. You must commit it to memory. It carries a 50% chance of successfully plundering your enemies’ Microcosms.”

Han Wu nodded. Death then touched Han Wu’s forehead, and a vivid sequence of images replayed continuously within Han Wu’s mind.