Chapter 46: I Am the First, and Also the Strongest

Strong was not the talent, but oneself?

If someone were to say this in public, they would definitely be scolded into oblivion.

S-rank 【The Prophet】, S-rank 【Thunder Saint】, S-rank 【Ice Queen】, S-rank 【Absolute Judgment】…

At present, the thirteen S-rank Transcendents standing at the peak of humanity and ruling the Council of Transcendents—which one of them was not born from an S-rank Talent?

Even the weaker quasi-councilors included many S-rank Talents, with the lowest being someone like Zhong Honglian, who possessed an A-rank Talent.

In this era, Talent decided the future of everyone.

With a good Talent, one was strong!

This was the 「Truth」!

But…

Old Jiang shattered this notion.

If he had not lied, then his very existence itself proved this belief to be wrong—

Relying on the weakest “Eraser” Talent, he became a Transcendent beyond history, a super S-rank existence. This alone was enough to shatter anyone’s worldview.

Naturally, this also included Jiang He.

His face was full of astonishment, still finding it hard to believe: “You’re serious?”

“You are me. What would I gain by lying to you?” Old Jiang said with a smile.

“In my eyes, Talent is more like a key that opens the door to Transcendence.”

“As long as one steps onto the path of Transcendence, there are countless ways to increase strength and enhance oneself.”

“Exotic Beast resources, Transcendent treasures, ancient relics…”

“Not to mention, Profession itself represents a path to the heavens. As long as one can grow, it is even possible to reshape Talent and defy destiny.”

“A poor Talent only means a low starting point; it does not change the upper limit.”

Jiang He could understand everything Old Jiang said.

After all, Jiang He himself had no physical-type Profession or Talent. He relied solely on Spiritual Blood to temper his body until it reached the F-rank shackle… Even if the Spell Word’s influence were removed, it would only cost him more time.

The problem was: “Every Transcendent has access to these things. They aren’t unique to you.”

“Those S-rank Transcendents possessed more resources and better Talents than you… Why didn’t they become super S-rank powerhouses?”

“Yes, everyone had access to these things.”

“But just like the peaks of old, every person had the right to climb, yet very few could reach the summit.”

“I did it. That’s why the strong one is me.”

Old Jiang’s smile was broad, his tone calm.

But from his expression, Jiang He saw that unmatched confidence.

At that moment, Jiang He finally understood the meaning of Old Jiang’s smile—

It was fearlessness in the face of all difficulties, absolute faith in oneself, the mentality that belonged only to the strong!

Nothing could oppose it, nothing could compare to it—hence the ease and composure.

“In addition, you said something wrong.” Old Jiang smiled and said: “In White Crane’s timeline, he was the only super S-rank powerhouse because he ended the future.”

“My timeline was different.”

“Just like how The Prophet once became a super A-rank powerhouse, paving the way to S-rank.”

“My becoming a super S-rank meant the door to an even higher level was pushed open.”

“In the future, a hundred years later, ‘super S-rank’ was also called ‘X-rank,’ or unknown-rank, or god-rank.”

“There were four X-rank Transcendents in the entire world.”

“I was the first, and also the strongest.”

Jiang He’s eyes widened.

Of course, just like S-rank was once called “super A-rank,” super S-rank was never an official designation.

After White Crane broke through to this realm, he achieved the feat of World Destruction, living alone at the end of days.

Naturally, he did not bother naming the energy level; makeshift terms were good enough.

But in Old Jiang’s timeline, there were four super S-rank powerhouses, with more to come in the future—even stronger ones as well.

Thus, the “X-rank” was born.

This was the true “super S”!

And since Old Jiang had become an X-rank Transcendent, he must have broken through again, which was why he dared to call himself the strongest.

…Poor Old White, swept away by the new wave! You’re about to be outshined by Old Jiang!

Thankfully, they were both Jiang He. Being outdone by oneself was not shameful.

Jiang He sighed inwardly, curiosity rising thickly in his heart.

From White Crane’s mouth, he had learned that the future of the Transcendent Era was a chaotic world born from 【Transcendent Rampage】 as its core, beginning with the Arc Light Organization—

At the end of Transcendent Rampage, the world would either give birth to a terrifying World Destroyer like White Crane, or to a top powerhouse capable of suppressing everything and restoring peace.

Since Old Jiang was not the World Destroyer but the Savior…

That meant he had resolved the “World Destruction Prophecy,” and overcome the “World Destruction Crisis.”

He became the anchor of peace for the world.

Did that mean his timeline was the “Perfect Timeline”?

Jiang He could not help but ask: “What was your world like, a hundred years later?”

“My era?”

Old Jiang’s smile faded slightly, his tone somewhat weary: “Actually, it was rather troublesome.”

“Although I became an X-rank powerhouse and eliminated all the 【Ultimate Beasts】, temporarily removing the World Destruction crisis, the pollution they left behind was close to the level of law itself. Cleaning it up was extremely troublesome…”

“I barely managed to clear out a clean continent and establish a new civilization, but…”

“Wait, stop there.”

Jiang He was confused, sensing something was off, and hurriedly interrupted.

He asked: “What is an 【Ultimate Beast】, a weapon created by some terrorist organization?”

“What organization could create something as terrifying as an Ultimate Beast?” Old Jiang scratched his head, explaining: “Simply put, Ultimate Beasts are the product of Beast Tides evolving to a certain stage.”

“Some say they had already been born in ancient times, only gaining the chance to grow when modern Transcendence revived.”

“Others claim they are the ‘cancer cells’ of Blue Star itself…”

“…Huh?” Jiang He was stunned. “And what are Beast Tides?”

“Beast Tides are just Exotic Beasts running rampant.” Old Jiang also felt something was wrong.

Earlier, when Jiang He had explained White Crane’s talent and future to him, it had only been a brief summary.

It was impossible to recount White Crane’s entire life story in detail.

That would take far too much time.

So Old Jiang had assumed White Crane’s timeline shared the same basic background as his own.

Only now did he realize something was amiss.

“Could it be, in another timeline, White Crane never experienced 【Exotic Beast Rampage】?”

“…He experienced 【Transcendent Rampage】 instead!”

Jiang He and Old Jiang stared at each other wide-eyed, finally realizing where the problem lay.

At that moment, Jiang He recalled something White Crane had once said at the breeding farm—

【Restless Exotic Beast herds… Your world is truly interesting.】

Jiang He had felt something strange then, wanting to ask, but his thoughts had been interrupted by Shaojun’s sudden arrival. Afterwards, he had been too focused on leveling up and forgot about it.

Now, thinking back, it perfectly aligned with Old Jiang’s account.

Had White Crane already noticed the discrepancy?

Was he trying to remind him back then?

Why didn’t he just say it directly?

Wait…

A sudden realization struck Jiang He. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a card.

It was the card White Crane had tossed to him right before disappearing.

Jiang He had been too preoccupied with drawing abilities, refreshing Talents, and summoning Heroic Spirits, and had simply stuffed the card away, forgetting about it.

Now that he pulled it out, the reserved Transcendent power within was triggered, and lines of information appeared one after another.

【Detailed explanation of the Talent 「Ferryman of Time」.】

【Using the “moment of awakening” as the temporal node, the “infinite future” it extends represents “possibility.”】

【Therefore, in a future timeline, a single “possibility” will be amplified, while the other “possibilities” will be compressed or even cut away.】

【The timeline I exist in follows the “Transcendent Rampage” route, corresponding to the “possibility of humanity.”】

【This is the largest and most numerous possibility, extending into many futures.】

【In addition, based on your world, the “possibility of Exotic Beasts” will not be too small.】

【If this type of “future possibility” appears, then the timeline will undergo tremendous changes.】

【Note:】

【The time you are in is the “origin,” containing all “possibilities.” Any future may occur.】

【Information about future timelines is for reference only. Do not take it as an absolute answer.】

【Your future belongs only to you.】

【Left by White Crane.】

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