Leaving Earth Again

January 1, 2058.

After saying goodbye to his family, Gu Ce set out on his journey once more.

This time, he did not bring any slave guards with him, also for the sake of better tempering himself.

The cone-shaped ship, pure white and forged from D-Grade Metal, shuttled smoothly through the Dark Universe.

Inside the ship's control room.

Gu Ce was sitting cross-legged there.

"The first stop is Huangyang Star. We need to go there to receive supplies," Rimuru said.

After advancing to the Stellar Level, Rimuru had bought the highest-grade nutrient solution circulating on the market, E-grade nutrient solution, which was said to be able to directly create a Universe Level.

"A year from now, Universe First Bank will hold an auction for all three-star and above clients across the entire Qianwu Universe Country. We can see if there's anything worth buying."

"Forget that for now. Rimuru, guess what ability I gained at the Stellar Level?" Gu Ce's expression was strange as he looked at Rimuru.

"What?" Rimuru was stunned.

(*)?

Gu Ce closed his eyes. Only two days after advancing to the Stellar Level did he finally figure out this ability.

First was the increase in his Gene Multiplier.

The increase was not large, from threefold to fivefold.

It meant Gu Ce could grow naturally until he reached the Universe Level, but it was not very useful.

Who would still get stuck at the Universe Level?

In Gu Ce's eyes, this was merely laying the groundwork for another ability, basically a freebie.

Next was the most absurd ability brought by Six Eyes this time.

Innate Secret Art: Analysis!

It possessed the ability to analyze the Essence of Laws!

Six Eyes originally had the ability to directly observe the operating patterns of the Origin Laws of Water and Space in the universe, but as long as one went to the Initial Universe, one could also directly observe the operation of the Universe Origin Laws with the naked eye.

It could only be said that there was an early-stage advantage, but later, after entering the Initial Universe to cultivate, the advantage would no longer be that great.

Relying on the ability to observe the operating patterns of laws, plus Six Eyes improving Gu Ce's talent, Gu Ce had been confident enough to say he could fight for the top ten in the Genius Battle.

But was that enough?

Not enough.

Gu Ce's goal had never been merely the geniuses in the Genius Battle.

Geniuses like Kedi, who appeared once in tens of millions of eras, or even stronger, like the future Luo Feng—that was Gu Ce's goal!

Before possessing Innate Secret Art: Analysis, chasing such a goal was impossible.

But now!

Six Eyes possessed the ability to analyze the Essence of Laws, which was equivalent to Gu Ce going from being able to see the operating patterns of laws to being able to understand them!

The improvement this brought was absolutely enormous, directly raising Gu Ce's talent by several levels.

"Hiss!" Rimuru sucked in a cold breath, shocked.

Shocked!

"The lower fundamental laws can be divided into 72 essences, while the higher upper laws, the Time and Space Laws, have 108 Essences. With this ability, doesn't that mean you are guaranteed to become Immortal? You may even... have hope of becoming a great existence like a Universe Lord?" Rimuru was extremely surprised.

"This heaven-defying ability is simply..."

"Gu Ce, this ability of yours absolutely cannot be known by anyone else!" Rimuru said with a serious expression.

"Mm."

Gu Ce also knew the severity of the matter and nodded solemnly.

In the universe, humanity was not the only dominant force. If he displayed extremely high talent, he would definitely draw assassinations from other races.

For example, that genius who appeared once in tens of millions of eras, Kedi, a personal disciple of the Chaos City Lord, had died at the hands of other races.

Even if Six Eyes brought no further abilities afterward, the ability to analyze the Essence of Laws alone was enough to put Gu Ce on the assassination lists of other races.

Leaving everything else aside, the very high probability that he would become a Universe Venerable in the future was enough for other races to dispatch Immortals to assassinate him.

"Unfortunately, this ability isn't as invincible as imagined either," Gu Ce said regretfully. "With my current strength, it's difficult to maintain the analysis state for long, and its help to me right now isn't as great as imagined."

"To fully bring out the power of this Innate Secret Art, I'm afraid I'll have to wait until after the Universe Level, or even until the World Lord Level, before I can completely unleash it." Gu Ce shook his head.

"And you're actually looking down on it."

Rimuru said unhappily.

"This ability is already extremely powerful!"

"Originally, I was still worried about whether you could enter the core layer of the Virtual Universe Company," Rimuru said. "Ever since I learned about this special bloodline of yours, I stopped worrying. I'm even somewhat looking forward to what kind of existence you'll be able to become in the future!"

"Don't worry." Gu Ce smiled. "Rimuru, in the future, you'll also be with me, standing by my side."

The Mechanical Race had a treasure called the "Heart of Evolution," which could turn an Intelligent Life into a true lifeform. If there was a chance, he could get one for Rimuru.

"Wuwu, Gu Ce..." Rimuru was a little moved.

Sob...

In terms of emotion, when Ice Desolation World Lord had still been alive, Rimuru had only been an ordinary intelligence and basically had no emotions to speak of. It could not compare to the more than a year he had spent with Gu Ce after becoming an Intelligent Life.

Not to mention, Gu Ce had even given Rimuru a name!

Ice Desolation World Lord had never done that. This was almost equivalent to granting new life.

It could be said that Gu Ce was Rimuru's true master!

Ice Desolation World Lord?

Sorry, not familiar!

"All right, all right." Gu Ce found it a little funny and comforted him.

"Let's talk about that Cosmic Secret Realm instead. What kind of secret realm is it?"

Rimuru put away his expression and nodded.

"That secret realm is called the Ku Hai Secret Realm. It is only open to those below the Universe Level. The highest requirement for entry is Stellar Level rank nine, and the lowest is Planetary Level. It belongs to a secret realm controlled by Universe First Bank, and only Universe First Bank clients can buy entry tickets."

"The Ku Hai Secret Realm is within the borders of Qianwu Universe Country. If we go there from Huangyang Star, with this ship's speed, it will probably take more than two months to arrive. The time on the road can be used to absorb the nutrient solution."

"Inside the Ku Hai Secret Realm, it mainly produces three natural resources: Ku Hai Raw Stone, whose hardness is comparable to D-Grade Metal; Ku Hai Water Droplet, which can slightly strengthen one's comprehension of the Law of Water; and Ku Hai Crystal Source, which, after consumption, can directly allow someone to grasp Water Artistic Conception, or even Water Domain."

"In addition, a large number of sea beasts live inside the Ku Hai Secret Realm. The sea beasts' strength ranges from Planetary Level to Universe Level. Their bodies produce a miraculous substance called Sea Beast Gel, which can temper the physical bodies of Stellar Level warriors. At best, it can give a Stellar Level warrior a physical constitution comparable to Universe Level rank one."

"Originally, I thought the resources here would all be useful to Master. Now it seems they aren't that useful." Rimuru said somewhat embarrassedly.

Without realizing it, Rimuru's way of addressing Gu Ce had once again changed to Master.

Gu Ce was too lazy to correct him and only nodded slightly.

"It's fine. It just happens to be good for tempering my practical combat experience. That Sea Beast Gel still has some use. The Ku Hai Secret Realm may also be suitable for me to comprehend the Law of Water."

The Ku Hai Secret Realm used half a year as one cycle, switching between the two stages of Underground Sea and Sky Sea, and different materials were produced in different stages.

During the Underground Sea stage, the seawater sank into the depths of the ground and produced Ku Hai Water Droplets.

During the Sky Sea stage, the seawater rose high into the sky, exposing the seabed of Ku Hai, where Ku Hai Raw Stones could be searched for.

As for sea beasts and Ku Hai Crystal Sources, both could possibly be found in either stage.

Relying on its unique environment, the Ku Hai Secret Realm attracted many people who cultivated the Law of Water. Within the changes between the Underground Sea and Sky Sea lay the operating patterns of the Law of Water, and one could even comprehend a trace of the Origin Laws of Space from them.

And every hundred years, the seawater of Ku Hai would dry up. The seawater would disappear for ten years before appearing again. This was also the origin of the name Ku Hai Secret Realm.

Several days later.

"Master, Huangyang Star is here," Rimuru reminded him.

Gu Ce walked off the ship and received the E-grade Nutrient Pod and nutrient solution from the Virtual Universe Company employee who had come to deliver the goods. With these things, he could rise to Stellar Level rank nine within a year.

"We need to first arrive at Qiongling Star in Qianwu Universe Country, then take a Universe First Bank ship from there to enter the Ku Hai Secret Realm," Rimuru said to Gu Ce.

"Let's set off." Gu Ce nodded slightly.