“Three thousand seven hundred scorching sun seeds.”
Deep within Lin Yuan’s body, yet another scorching sun seed formed, resonating with the previous 3,699 seeds.
The rules of heaven and earth from all directions rushed in like a tidal wave.
“This is too overwhelming.”
Lin Yuan’s face showed astonishment.
Even a pig, under such surging rule fluctuations, would have hope of comprehending the sixth level of time and space.
And if one had a perfected path, one could even charge toward the twelfth-rank pinnacle.
Much less Lin Yuan?
“Time and space.”
Amid the countless waves of rules, Lin Yuan prioritized grasping the fusion of time and space rules. As for chaos rules?
Chaos rules themselves arise from the gestation of countless rules; to elevate chaos rules, one needs to deepen many forms of rule comprehension.
“The effect of these scorching sun seeds isn’t limited to raising one’s perception of rules.”
Lin Yuan thought, his expression somewhat serious.
When he reached 3,333 scorching sun seeds, all the seeds in his body seemed to form a cycle, causing his physical body to begin a certain kind of transformation.
This transformation was not a simple strengthening or enhancement but rather a shift leaning toward the realm of rules.
“3,333 scorching sun seeds is a major threshold!”
Lin Yuan concluded that most beings in the Qingfen Domain knew about the basic thresholds of scorching sun seeds—one, ten, a hundred… But whether ten or a hundred or even a thousand, all they did was raise the extent of rule perception.
Yet at 3,333 scorching sun seeds, Lin Yuan’s body seemed to be transforming vaguely toward the ultimate in rules.
Lin Yuan had no idea what the end of this transformation looked like, but he was certain it wasn’t anything bad.
“Leaving the physical body’s metamorphosis aside, I can now reach the peak of the seventh level in time-space fusion rules in at most one year.”
Lin Yuan thought to himself. Originally, without the help of scorching sun seeds, he would have needed tens of thousands of years to be confident of reaching the seventh-level peak.
After condensing ten seeds, that time dropped to a thousand years.
But now, with the boost from 3,700 scorching sun seeds, Lin Yuan was absolutely certain he needed at most one year to step into the peak of the seventh level in time-space.
He might even have a shot at touching upon the eighth level of time and space in a short period.
“It’s just that forming new scorching sun seeds now is clearly far harder than it was at first,” Lin Yuan mused inwardly.
Starting from the 3,334th seed, each additional scorching sun seed became drastically more difficult to condense.
Before, Lin Yuan could create a new scorching sun seed in a single breath. Now, it took ten breaths, or even a hundred.
“The next major threshold for scorching sun seeds might be 33,333 of them. I wonder what ability that will bring.”
Lin Yuan speculated that, from what he could see, 3,333 scorching sun seeds produced a small cycle.
So 33,333 scorching sun seeds would form a large cycle.
Condensing scorching sun seeds primarily tested one’s insight. Each scorching sun seed was incomparably complex; to form it, you had to comprehend it first.
“It’s just that the Liyang Nurturing Spirit Method can only be cultivated in this source world.”
Lin Yuan reflected.
His avatar in the Chaos Void had tried condensing scorching sun seeds as well, but the result was unsurprisingly a failure.
Actually, not a complete failure—he did end up forming what might be called a scorching sun seed, Yet it was vastly different from what he was creating here, and it had none of the effect of increasing rule perception.
“Is it because of the Liyang Ancestor, or because of that eternal scorching sun up there?”
Lin Yuan raised his head, gazing at the everlasting Liyang burning in the sky, thoughts swirling.
That sun in this source world was not a star in a cosmic sky; the concepts were completely different. The everlasting Liyang overhead was practically rule-based, present everywhere, blocked by nothing.
“Well, let me just keep condensing more scorching sun seeds.”
Lin Yuan reined in his thoughts. Over these past few months, he had simultaneously resumed practicing martial arts, formed scorching sun seeds, and delved into the unique rule fluctuations of this source world.
Its rule fluctuations differed from those of the Chaos Void, so merging his martial practice anew required some effort, but it was no big issue.
Main Universe.
Mysterious Emperor Secret Realm.
Lin Yuan was sitting cross-legged.
After more than a hundred years of adjustments, his internal universe had undergone an earth-shaking transformation.
For the source world, a few months had passed, but that equaled over a hundred years in the main universe.
Within his internal universe, vast and immeasurable, it now exceeded ten million light years across.
At present, every inch of Lin Yuan’s internal universe carried an intense pressure of space and time.
In the main universe, an eleventh-rank lifeform who had comprehended time rules could casually manipulate the flow of time, creating situations where a millennium or ten thousand years might pass outside, while for themselves only an instant went by.
Effectively an alternate way of extending life.
But now?
Never mind an eleventh-rank lifeform with time rules. Even one who had reached the fifth level of time-space fusion at the eleventh-rank peak would find their control over time flow drastically limited here. At most, they could manage a few-dozenfold acceleration.
The same went for space. In the main universe, a ninth-rank evolver could easily occupy tens of thousands of space layers, or even hundreds of thousands.
But inside Lin Yuan’s internal universe, that was no longer so simple. A ninth-rank lifeform—also known as a multi-spatial lifeform—would find the number of spatial layers it could occupy greatly reduced.
Simply put, the current time-space framework of Lin Yuan’s internal universe was extremely precise, even stringent.
“As for my internal universe right now…”
One of Lin Yuan’s consciousness avatars studied it continuously.
Before he began reconstructing the universe’s layout, Lin Yuan’s internal universe was already close to eight million light years in diameter.
Compared to its current size of over ten million light years, that was only an increase of twenty or thirty percent.
But in reality, in terms of underlying quality and other aspects, this internal universe had been enhanced a hundredfold or a thousandfold compared to before.
Another internal universe of ten million light years, set beside Lin Yuan’s, would be as different as tofu is from diamond—easily shattered at a touch.
“And we’re not even done. Once you fully refine the jade gourd and obtain the portion of the old master’s legacy, just getting started with that will make your internal universe on par with a Chaos realm universe.”
Not far off, the red-clothed young girl sat with one leg crossed over the other, unable to stop herself from speaking.
“On par with a Chaos realm internal universe, just by getting started?” Lin Yuan was stunned.
According to what the red-clothed girl had said, once he integrated all the universe structures contained in those runes, he would be close to the level of a Chaos realm internal universe.
But now she was saying that by merely stepping into the legacy, his internal universe would match that of someone in the Chaos realm?
That belonged to Chaos Venerables! Their internal universes were so vast they equaled the innate universes birthed by the Chaos Void.
“The old master’s greatness goes far beyond what you can imagine.”
The red-clothed young girl appeared a bit smug, as though regaining some of her confidence.
Over the past hundred years, Lin Yuan’s astonishing efficiency in rearranging his internal universe had caused the red-clothed girl to question herself, as if her existence as the gourd’s spirit were superfluous.
The jade gourd’s creator set a limit of one cosmic epoch to comprehend all the runes, but gave no specific standard for reconstructing the universe.
Because adjusting an internal universe in detail was extremely time-consuming. And yet, Lin Yuan? He had completed over ninety percent of the work in just over a hundred years.
“Then how many lifeforms can I bring through the Great Destruction of the universe now?” Lin Yuan asked immediately.
In their chats these last hundred years, they had discussed this universe’s situation. Under the upcoming battle of two Chaos Great Saints, it would advance into its Great Destruction ahead of schedule.
“Eighty to ninety percent, I’d say.”
The red-clothed young girl answered lazily.
“If you can cultivate the old master’s legacy to an introductory level, you can completely ignore the backlash of this universe. You can bring out as many lifeforms as you want.”
If one’s internal universe equaled that of a Chaos Venerable, it would be on par with the main universe. When faced with the backlash of a universe of equal level, even if you couldn’t say you ignored it outright, you could at least withstand it.
“Understood.”
Lin Yuan’s spirits rose slightly, and he went back to modifying the universe’s structure.
Source World.
Qingfen Domain.
Dongyang Family.
Dongyang Meng was sitting cross-legged, trying to form her tenth scorching sun seed.
It wasn’t her first time attempting this, but every previous try had failed. Condensing ten scorching sun seeds meant directly becoming Marquis Qingfen’s disciple, no competition required.
Although, through the Dongyang Family’s machinations, they had eliminated the Yu Family’s Yu Yan as a rival, joining Marquis Qingfen with nine scorching sun seeds was completely different from doing so with ten. The latter promised a far higher status.
Buzz, buzz, buzz.
Sweat beaded on Dongyang Meng’s pale forehead, proof of how much stress forming the tenth seed placed on her.
No one knew how long passed.
A trickle of scorching currents merged into Dongyang Meng’s body from all sides, slowly molding the tenth scorching sun seed, which ultimately stabilized.
“Ten scorching sun seeds?”
“I finally formed it?”
Dongyang Meng felt a bit dazed. She’d lost count of how many times she had tried. But this time, she succeeded?
Her heart surged with unprecedented excitement.
Forming ten scorching sun seeds before five hundred years of age signified unimaginable honor and status, enough to elevate a second-tier family to a first-tier family in no time.
Soon, news of Dongyang Meng forming her tenth scorching sun seed reached the Dongyang Family’s patriarch.
“What? Meng’er has formed the tenth scorching sun seed?” The patriarch could hardly believe it. For many years, he had longed for someone in the Dongyang Family to achieve ten scorching sun seeds.
But that had remained only a hope. While the family did have multiple people under five hundred who managed nine scorching sun seeds, ten was a different story.
The gap between the ninth and tenth scorching sun seeds was transformative and couldn’t be compared to the earlier steps.
“Good, good, good.”
The Dongyang patriarch was delighted. He immediately sought out Dongyang Meng and, after verifying her claim, brought her to the family’s Ji Dao realm ancestors.
Though the scorching sun seeds lay within her body, outsiders couldn’t sense them. One had to use certain methods provided by the Liyang Ancient Kingdom to verify it.
So all the patriarch could do was rely on Dongyang Meng’s word. As for checking? The Dongyang Family itself lacked that capacity.
“She’s condensed the tenth scorching sun seed?”
Several ancestors in the Dongyang Family’s Ji Dao realm were overjoyed.
“Meng’er, you are the genius of our family. You absolutely must not hide anything about this. Once the Qing Envoy arrives, the truth of everything will become clear.”
One of the family’s ancestors spoke seriously. This was not a trivial matter.
“Ancestor, I did condense the tenth scorching sun seed.” Dongyang Meng confirmed with utmost certainty.
Ten scorching sun seeds floating inside her, bringing a massive boost in rule comprehension—there was no way to fake that.
The difference between ten and nine scorching sun seeds was greater than that between nine and one.
“Then that’s fine.”
A smile appeared on the Dongyang Family ancestor’s face.
“Our Dongyang Family will soar to new heights because of you, Meng’er.”
“If not for the clan’s support, I wouldn’t be who I am today,” Dongyang Meng replied at once. She was indeed grateful to the family.
“All right, go have a rest for now. The Qing Envoy will arrive in a few months. During this period, focus on stabilizing your tenth scorching sun seed.”
The Dongyang Family ancestor spoke kindly.
The Qing Envoy was an envoy under Marquis Qingfen, traveling through the Qingfen Domain.
For the Dongyang Family and the Yu Family to be admitted as disciples under Marquis Qingfen, they needed the Qing Envoy’s inspection. Only those who met the requirements would be taken away by him.
“Yes.”
Dongyang Meng nodded.
Though she had formed the tenth scorching sun seed, she still needed time to stabilize it.
When she left, the remaining Dongyang Family ancestors exchanged glances, all showing relieved smiles.
“The rise of the Dongyang Family is already assured.”
One ancestor’s tone was brimming with excitement. If Dongyang Meng, with nine scorching sun seeds, became Marquis Qingfen’s disciple, she might barely elevate the Dongyang Family to the threshold of first-tier.
But now, with ten scorching sun seeds, she would enable the Dongyang Family to stand among the strongest of the first-tier families.
“Ancestor, what do we do now—should we announce Meng’er’s success in forming the tenth scorching sun seed?” The patriarch was likewise elated.
If the Dongyang Family rose to first-tier status, his own position as patriarch would also rise.
“Announce it? Why would we do that?”
The Dongyang Family ancestor’s eyes shone. He asked in return.
“Not announce it?”
The patriarch paused, then quickly grasped the reasoning.
Indeed, with a genius who had ten scorching sun seeds, no one in the Qingfen Domain would dare provoke them.
But better safe than sorry.
The Yu Family was still watching them. Once they found out the Dongyang Family had produced a once-in-a-lifetime genius, they might become desperate and do something extreme.
“Right now, our Dongyang Family only needs to quietly wait for the Qing Envoy to arrive.”
“We don’t need to do anything else.”
The old ancestor of the Dongyang Family was very cautious and unwilling to invite trouble.
Time flowed on.
Half a year passed in the blink of an eye.
On this day, three figures appeared silently outside the Dongyang Family’s grounds.
Among the three, one was tall and the other two were short. Though their auras were withdrawn, the surrounding space and time were faintly suppressed by their presence.
“This region... If I recall, the Dongyang Family and the Yu Family both produced two youngsters of decent talent, barely fitting the requirements to become disciples of His Lordship,” said the short figure on the left, his gaze fixed on the far-off Dongyang Family.
...
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