Life's Ripple

A month after the wedding, Jie Ning took out the magic books Darut had given him and began reading.

Time passed...

Jie Ning looked at the book in his hand, labeled as containing Overgod magic, caught somewhere between laughter and tears.

This was the last book he had read that recorded magic directly bestowed by Overgods. Of course, don't misunderstand—reading them did not mean he had mastered them. It only meant that Jie Ning had roughly gone through all the magic granted by Overgods.

So who could have imagined that all magic directly bestowed by Overgods would be Saint Domain Magic? Jie Ning looked helplessly at the book in his hand.

If an ordinary person happily opened this magic book, only to find it filled with spells such as "Heaven Collapse Earth Shatter" and "Destruction Storm," they would probably be utterly bewildered—perhaps even begin doubting their life.

Could it be that the Overgods of this era had never seen a lifeform below the Saint Domain?

Oh, you say that on the Supreme Planes, those below the Saint Domain were not even qualified to survive.

Then there was nothing to be done...

Jie Ning sighed toward the sky. So, if he wanted to study Mysteries through these spells, the first step was to become a Saint Domain Mage?

Fortunately, an ordinary Saint Domain Warrior's spiritual force was at least comparable to that of a Level 8 Mage.

He only needed to refine the corresponding magical power to become a standard Earth-Fire Dual Element Level 8 Mage.

And it seemed that his spiritual force had been growing rapidly lately as well.

Fortunately, the Meditation Methods passed down by the Overgods, like Battle Qi cultivation methods, had no requirements or restrictions on one's strength. Otherwise, humanity's rise back then would likely have been even more difficult. For now, he should just proceed step by step and finish refining his magical power first.

However, after Jie Ning read the other books on magic in the Space Ring, he relaxed again.

In truth, simplifying high-level magic into low-level magic was not particularly difficult. As long as one was willing to experiment, deriving lower-level magic from these Saint Domain spells was perfectly normal.

It could be said that nearly all low-level magic currently on the continent had originated in this way.

And aside from magic newly derived in recent years that had not yet been included, the magic Darut had given him contained most other spells.

The Kodi Mountains formed the boundary between the southern regions of the Korur Empire and the Dinar Empire. The mountain range stretched for tens of thousands of kilometers, and at its widest point, spanned several hundred kilometers.

The Kodi Mountains were the largest gathering place for Magic Beasts on the entire Bana Continent, as well as a favorite destination for all kinds of adventuring parties.

For most mages, Magic Crystal Cores were excellent reserve sources of magical power. When made into staffs, they could greatly enhance a mage's strength. Mages had long purchased Magic Beast crystal cores of every kind, and it was said that Magic Crystal Cores were also an ingredient in a popular potion currently sold by the Kimir Merchant Guild, one that could assist both warriors and mages in cultivation.

However, the Kimir Merchant Guild had never responded to this rumor. It had merely kept its purchase prices for all types of Magic Crystal Cores consistently stable.

Strangely enough, although the Kimir Merchant Guild was the largest buyer of Magic Crystal Cores, it had never deliberately lowered their purchase prices.

This only made the rumor that Magic Crystal Cores were an ingredient in cultivation potions spread even further. Everyone was discussing how the cost of those cultivation potions might be far lower than anyone had imagined.

That was why, despite being a merchant guild, the Kimir Merchant Guild had not lowered the purchase price of Magic Crystal Cores.

Still, that was fortunate. With a stable market for Magic Crystal Cores, countless Magic Beast hunters were able to make a living.

On this day, a married couple arrived at the Kodi Mountains. Unlike ordinary people, who entered the mountains with guarded vigilance, the two of them wandered through the range as though taking a stroll.

They were none other than Jie Ning and Arannis, the married couple traveling across the continent.

Looking at the enormous Magic Beast skeleton ahead, Arannis, who had learned of the past from Jie Ning, could not help but sigh.

"If the Overgods had not descended back then, and those arrogant Divine Beasts had not angered them, leading to the collective extermination of all Divine Beasts across the plane, the continent would probably still be ruled by Magic Beasts today."

"Indeed. Although Magic Beasts below the Divine Beast level are constrained by their bloodlines and struggle to break through, they still possess enormous advantages over ordinary humans," Jie Ning agreed. "And Divine Beasts are even more outrageous. They become gods upon reaching adulthood. To humans, that is simply a miracle."

"Becoming gods just by reaching adulthood... it truly is unimaginable." Arannis found lifeforms like Divine Beasts profoundly difficult to comprehend.

"Perhaps Divine Beasts are the darlings of this world," Jie Ning said thoughtfully, thinking of the identities of the several Overgods standing at the pinnacle of the world.

After all, even Linley was able to rise only because of his Divine Beast bloodline.

Divine Beasts are the greatest miracle in the entire Panlong World.

"Jie Ning, how is your magic cultivation progressing?" As the couple chatted idly, Arannis suddenly asked curiously. She knew that her husband was studying magic, but after learning from the start that Jie Ning had begun as a Level 8 Mage, she had lost interest in asking about it.

Still, more than a year had passed now, and she was somewhat curious about his progress.

Seeing Arannis's curious expression, Jie Ning replied casually, "I've already reached the Level 9 Peak. I can feel that the time for me to become a Saint Magus is very near."

Ever since gaining that insight into life at the wedding, Jie Ning could feel that his cultivation speed had improved again. It was not just his body—even the growth of his spiritual force had become exceptionally rapid.

If, before the wedding, the Mystery Jie Ning was best at had been the earth element, then after the wedding, it was the Life Rule.

It could be said that he could constantly feel the emotions brought to him by every kind of life in the world. Based on those insights, he had even created several rather practical techniques of his own.

"You're truly too absurd..."

The two continued walking through the mountains.

Several hundred meters away, a Silver Ring Thunder Python watched the two humans who had so boldly intruded upon its territory. It intended to ambush them and let the pair continue their reunion inside its belly.

Hm? Why did that human suddenly stomp his foot? I feel a little dizzy...

A wave of green ripples swept across the Silver Ring Thunder Python's body.

The Silver Ring Thunder Python's body stiffened, then it collapsed directly onto the ground. The light had already faded from its eyes; it had clearly lost its life.

Jie Ning, who had been hundreds of meters away just moments before, appeared before it with Arannis in his arms. Arannis marveled, "No matter how many times I see it, Jie Ning, your Life's Ripple feels far too terrifying. Even a Level 9 Magic Beast loses its life instantly once your ripples sweep over it. As things stand, no Magic Beast can escape your perception."

Jie Ning explained, "To me now, life is like the pulse of the world, the world's fluctuations. Within the range of my perception, the appearance of a life fluctuation is extremely obvious."

"Moreover, every life fluctuation is unique. As long as I use my own Life Fluctuation to cover the other party's, then when their fluctuation stops beating, they lose their life as well. I've even imagined that if I could control the precise intensity of the fluctuation—not cover it, but embed my fluctuation within theirs—I might even be able to turn them completely into my puppet..."

"Stop, stop, stop. I'm only a mere Level 7 Mage. I really can't understand knowledge this profound." Arannis felt as though her brain were about to grow a second one, her scalp itching unbearably, and hurriedly stopped Jie Ning.

Jie Ning could only laugh in speechless amusement.

At this point, it had to be said that ever since Jie Ning comprehended life's fluctuations, as long as he did not deliberately restrain them, the fluctuations of all life around him would become more active as well.

The objective manifestation was that a person's talent and comprehension seemed to receive an enormous boost.

For example, Arannis had only just broken through to become a Level 6 Mage shortly before their wedding, yet after discussing life with Jie Ning several times after their marriage, she seemed to have suddenly seen the light and rapidly broke through to Level 7.

In truth, she was no longer particularly far from becoming a Level 8 Mage. She was expected to complete the breakthrough sometime this year.

By Jie Ning's estimation, if his Life Rule could achieve godhood, then perhaps everyone within a certain range of where he lived could become "geniuses."

What a pity. If the Overgod's inheritance included life magic, I'd probably grow even faster by studying it, Jie Ning thought somewhat greedily.

I actually fell asleep while writing just now.

Why do I have to work both today and tomorrow? Painful.

Also, please keep voting.