In the core area of the Black Hole Qi domain, everything was much denser, and as a result, much better to devour.
The snake-like creature did not even hesitate as it continued devouring everything.
Soon, all that remained was the giant building in the center. The snake-like creature felt a serious threat from within.
After hesitating for a moment, it opened its mouth. Something within it seemed to charge up, and an extremely powerful blast hit the building. This nearly presented an immediate issue.
Although the snake-like creature had sage realm power, it was not a cultivator. This meant that it had not gained the ability of "one with the universe". In other words, the snake-like creature's blast had the ability to break through the final layer of space.
Luckily, Zhou Fan had thought of this long ago and strengthened the universe's space to resist anything below the Great Dao realm.
Otherwise, a serious issue would have taken place.
The building was shattered by the blast, revealing the Black Hole Qi beast. Its form was simply that of a Black Hole.
It looked at the snake-like creature curiously. The snake-like creature charged and bit it. The teeth went into it, but not through it. Meanwhile, the Black Hole Qi being simply watched with interest. This had never happened before.
Seeing the Black Hole Qi being not resist, the snake-like creature wriggled around, trying to take out a bite.
The universal consciousness spoke to the Qi being. "Just let it happen. You won't actually die even if it eats you."
The Black Hole Qi being nodded. The snake-like creature was strong, but the Black Hole Qi being was ancient and powerful.
At some point, the Black Hole Qi being purposefully weakened itself so that the snake-like creature could take a bite.
The snake-like creature quickly swallowed it and ran away. Not too far from the Qi being, the snake-like creature entered a deep sleep.
Countless years later, the snake-like creature awoke and returned. The Black Hole Qi being sent away the cultivators that had returned after so long and let the snake-like creature try again. This time, the snake-like creature successfully ate it all.
It began evolving rapidly as it fell asleep. This sleep was by far the deepest yet.
Many many years later, the snake-like creature woke up. Looking around, it seemed to be in a garden. Its body felt small, but also big.
It was reminded of the days when it just started life. It felt as if many of its abilities were unusable for some reason. It didn't question it much. It looked around for something to devour.
In the distance, it saw a tree and a man cultivating under it.
What drew the snake-like creatures attention were the apples hanging from the tree. The snake-like creature slowly slithered over.
It climbed the tree and ate one of the apples. This apple was the most nutritious thing it had ever eaten. It fell into a deep sleep while laying on one of the tree branches.
Zhou Fan stood up and walked over to it. He looked at it closely.
"I'll call you Monty." Zhou Fan said. "Take good care of him, Leaf."
Leaf shook, acknowledging Zhou Fan's words.
Using Zhou Fan's power, it had created apples for Monty, the snake-like creature. Otherwise, Monty would need to devour the entire universe before reaching the Great Dao realm equivalent.
There was no harm to Monty's path by doing this. Monty's path was its own, and nothing could break it.
Leaf had reached the 1st level of the Sage realm after such a long time.
Both Leaf and Zhou Fan had become accustomed to this sort of lifestyle. Zhou Fan only needed to wait, as he had been doing for a while. Monty would eventually fully mature and perhaps a new path creator would be born.
Regardless, Monty had already left his name in this current era. Although the Black Hole Qi being had not resisted and had not really died, it had indeed been devoured. Some had seen this spectacle and would remember it their entire lives.
Zhou Fan sat under Leaf while waiting for a new path creator to be born. Every now and then, Monty would wake up, eat an apple, and fall asleep.
Life passed like this for around a nonillion years. Only after that long did Monty reach the equivalent of the Great Dao realm. Its strength could still increase by devouring, but it would eventually reach a limit, equivalent to the peak of the Great Dao realm.
Without talking, Zhou Fan was able to understand Monty's path after observing him for so long. It was interesting to say the least, and complicated as well.
Monty had yet to create his own power, lacking only the thought or care to do so. Monty wasn't stupid, but it was more like a wild animal than a civilized being. It simply existed for one purpose, to devour.
While thinking about Monty's path, Zhou Fan waited for a new path creator to appear. Another nonillion years passed. Monty had reached the peak of its path, the equivalent to the peak of the Great Dao realm.
This was marked when it ate an apple, containing more power than an entire universe, but didn't feel anything from it. The power was not devoured, but instead slowly released into the surroundings.
This caused Monty to no longer want to devour anything around it. Only when it felt the sensation of advancing would the desire to truly devour come back.
For the first time since arriving, Monty left Leaf. Curiously, it slithered around the residence. Here, it was equivalent to a normal garden snake. Of course, if it truly wished, it could easily use its power, but Monty didn't feel the need to. This place felt nice, and he didn't have the ability to truly devour anything anymore.
After a long long time, Monty came back and slithered onto Zhou Fan. For some reason, it felt as if Zhou Fan was naturally similar to it. It wrapped around him and, after a long time, fell asleep.
Time passed like this.