The Road Ahead Grows Clear, Spirit Origin Takes Shape

The smoothness of the event did indeed exceed Yu Yuanchen's initial expectations.

Although he hoped to achieve some degree of cooperation with the Evil Emperor and Di Tian, he was still slightly surprised that these two overlords of Soul Beast agreed so readily and even seemed to be actively cooperating.

However, upon further reflection, I understood. Ultimately, it was the allure of "becoming a god" and "returning home"—two temptations that could drive any peak being mad—that overwhelmed all barriers and suspicions.

Faced with shared and enormous interests, past grievances and racial boundaries seem less important. This, in turn, proves the feasibility and immense value of this path.

With the cooperation framework finalized, the next step is to implement it step by step in a down-to-earth manner. Yu Yuanchen no longer held back and laid out the current difficulties and initial ideas.

The primary hurdle is breaking through his own Spiritual Power. Reaching the Spirit Origin Realm (God Level) in Spiritual Power is a prerequisite for safely and accurately reconstructing the Saint Demon Continent imprint from the Evil Emperor's Life Origin.

This matter concerns the safety of the Evil Emperor and the success or failure of the plan; it cannot be rushed or forced.

"Breakthroughs in Spiritual Power are mysterious and profound, requiring both opportunity and accumulation." Yu Yuanchen frankly told Di Tian, Evil Emperor Di, Qian Daoliu, and Tang Chen, who were sitting together, "Perhaps I will have an epiphany in the next moment, or perhaps I will need ten years of hard work."

Based on my own intuition and foundation, I estimate that it will take at least three to five years, or at most ten years, with a 70% chance of success. This timeframe is not considered long for peak beings who often live for tens of thousands of years.

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded slightly. At their level, they all understood that in the Cultivation Level, every step forward was extremely difficult, and haste makes waste. They could afford to wait ten years.

The second key is the enhancement of the Spatial Divine Artifact "Hell Gate".

Yu Yuanchen took out the palm-sized, dark gold, mysterious runes-covered, and spatially fluctuating portal-shaped artifact.

Even Di Tian and the Evil Emperor, upon sensing the pure spatial Law Power contained within it, had a flicker of interest in their eyes.

"This item is called ' Hell Gate,' and it comes from a Demon Plane," Yu Yuanchen explained. "Its essence is extraordinary; it is the crystallization of the Plane Law and top-tier materials. However, due to the limitations of the plane in which it was born, its grade is roughly equivalent to Level 3 Divine Artifact artifact."

To construct a stable, ultra-long-distance passage to a large plane like the Saint Demon Continent, nothing less than Peak Level 2, or even First-level God, is possible.

"Level 3 Divine Artifact..." A knowing glint flashed in Di Tian's enormous dragon eyes. "That is indeed somewhat insufficient. Crossing a large dimensional barrier requires energy and law stability far exceeding expectations."

"Fortunately, the path to enhancement already has a direction." Yu Yuanchen changed the subject, his gaze sweeping over everyone. "Firstly, it lies in the integration of ' Soul Tool Technology '."

He explained, "The forging of the Hell Gate utilizes the unique ' Demon Alchemy ' of the Demon Plane, which is a complete system, but has reached its limit. The Soul Tool Technology of the Douluo Continent has a completely different approach from the Demon Alchemy of the Demon Plane, but it has similarities, especially in the refinement of energy circuits and the universalization of law runes."

If the essence of both can be combined, taking the best of both worlds and compensating for their weaknesses, the energy conduction efficiency and structural stability of the Hell Gate can be greatly improved.

Qian Daoliu replied, "This matter is beyond the capabilities of the three of us alone. Although we can provide a high-level overview and point out the direction, the specific technical implementation, material proportions, and inscription of runes require specialized personnel."

Yu Yuanchen nodded. "Indeed. The Federal Research Institute gathers the most outstanding Soul Engineer of the Sun Moon Continent. They may be limited by their strength and their vision may not be as broad as ours, but they are true experts in technical details and hands-on skills. We must rely on them for this matter."

Tang Chen patted his chest, his voice booming. "I'll take care of the material forging and the enhancement of the artifact itself! Old Yu, the ' Spirit Forging ' method you suggested a few years ago, my Clear Sky Sect disciples and I have already figured it out in the last few years! We can now complete ' Spirit Forging ' and forge metals with preliminary spirituality!"

If we can go even further and reach ' Soul Forging ', or even the legendary ' Heavenly Forging ', perfectly integrating Soul-grade and Heaven-grade Metal into this Hell Gate, it will surely greatly enhance its spirituality and increase its foundation, laying a solid foundation for subsequent strengthening!

"Spirit Forging?" A glint flashed in Di Tian's eyes. Having lived for countless years and possessed vast knowledge, he immediately understood the value of this forging technique. Imbuing inanimate objects with spirituality—this was a profound method that touched upon the realm of the creator! "If it can truly be accomplished, the potential of this divine artifact will be greatly enhanced."

Yu Yuanchen looked at Di Tian and Evil Emperor, and said in a deep voice, "The most crucial aspect of strengthening lies in the sublimation and expansion of its core ' Space Law.' This is where we will need to rely on the two of you."

He frankly said, "Although I am in charge of this sect and have some understanding of the Power of Space, I am still young and lack sufficient experience. Brother Qian and Brother Tang are not experts in this field either; they have only grasped the basics of the Power of Space due to the requirements of the Soul Core."

"You two have lived for hundreds of thousands of years, and your understanding and application of the Space Law far surpasses ours. If we could obtain your full assistance to analyze, complete, and even optimize the Space Law structure within the Hell Gate, the chances of success would greatly increase."

Di Tian, Golden-eyed Black Dragon King, has lived for hundreds of thousands of years and possesses the inheritance of the Dragon Clan. With his Cultivation Level level limited, he has turned to an extremely profound control over space. Tearing through space to move over long distances is not difficult for him.

The Evil Emperor was born with the Power of Time and Space. Although he was more inclined to apply space and time to the spiritual level, his understanding of the essence of space was also extremely profound. Moreover, Yu Yuanchen also intended to add some Power of Time to the Hell Gate, since the laws of time and space can influence each other when they are comprehended to a high level.

Di Tian nodded slightly, and Evil Emperor did not refuse either. There was no way around it; the temptation to become a god was too great, and neither Di Tian Evil Emperor could resist it.

If he encounters any difficulties related to space, Di Tian will never let go of any possibility to increase the success rate, and will definitely consult Gu Yuena, which is exactly the result that Yu Yuanchen expects.

It is important to know that the Silver Dragon King Gu Yuena controls the Seven Great Elemental Laws, including the Power of Space.

Even though she displayed astonishing wisdom in the original work and possessed God King Level strength at her peak, her mastery of Space Law was definitely no less than that of God of Space was only at the First-level God level. (However, her peak period seems to be in a Schrödinger's cat state; she has been severely crippled since birth.)

With the participation of Gu Yuena, a master of spatial manipulation, the enhancement plan for the Hell Gate will undoubtedly take flight.

Thus, the grand blueprint for strengthening the Hell Gate has become clear: taking Yu Yuanchen's breakthrough in Spiritual Power as the guide, using the technology of the Federation's Soul Engineer as the framework, using Tang Chen's Spirit Forging, Soul Forging, and even Heavenly Forging techniques to strengthen the artifact's body and spirituality, and then gathering the power of Di Tian, Evil Emperor, and even Gu Yuena, who may be mobilized, to jointly sublimate its core Space Law!

This is a mega-project that brings together the strengths of many people and involves top knowledge from multiple fields! It is by no means something that can be accomplished overnight.

However, neither Yu Yuanchen and his two companions, nor Di Tian and Evil Emperor, showed any fear in their eyes. Instead, they were filled with excitement and anticipation. At their level, encountering such a challenging and ambitious goal that concerned their own path was a rare opportunity in itself.

"The road is long and arduous, but perseverance will lead to our destination." Yu Yuanchen looked at everyone, his tone calm and firm. "Now that the direction is clear, let's... begin!"

•

Sun Moon flies like an arrow, and five years have passed since the meeting in the Evil Spirit Forest that determined the future of the continent.

These past five years have been a period of reflection and accumulation.

The Douluo Federation continued to develop steadily, building upon the foundation laid by Yu Yuanchen and his two companions.

With increasingly improved internal governance, rapid advancements in Soul Tool Technology, and continuous improvement in people's livelihoods, the connection with the Evil Spirit Forest has become increasingly close through the pilot promotion of Beast Taming Contract. Although the people of Sun Moon are somewhat resistant to the Beast Taming Method taming due to the ravages of Soul Beast, the pain will eventually be healed by time.

The entire Sun Moon Continent presented a thriving and prosperous scene.

Under the control of the Evil Emperor, the Evil Spirit Forest has changed its former eerie and dangerous atmosphere. Although it is still off-limits to the living, the large-scale Beast Tide are now a thing of the past.

Some of the Soul Beast that have gained sentience and are full of curiosity about the outside world have begun to make initial contact with interested Soul Master through specific channels established by the Federation. A brand new relationship between humans and Soul Beast is quietly taking shape.

Back in the Star Dou Great Forest, after Di Tian returned, he reported the details of the meeting in the Evil Spirit Forest to the Silver Dragon King Gu Yuena.

Gu Yuena neither confirmed nor denied this, but tacitly approved Di Tian's limited participation in the strengthening plan of the Hell Gate, provided that it did not excessively affect the development of the Star Dou Great Forest itself. She would also occasionally offer guidance when he encountered difficulties with the Space Law. This was already a great support.

Inside the most central secret chamber of the Federal Research Institute, at the center of a complex Soul Guiding Array constructed from various Rare Metal, the Hell Gate float.

Hundreds of the most elite Soul Engineer on the Sun Moon Continent, under the macro-guidance of Yu Yuanchen and Qian Daoliu, worked day and night to analyze the internal structure of the divine artifact, deduce the optimal solution for the energy circuit, and conduct numerous cautious regional experiments. The progress was slow, but solid and orderly.

Inside the Clear Sky Sect, Tang Chen led the sect's most elite disciples, sweating profusely as they worked around the blazing furnace. The Spirit Forging Technology had matured, and some Genius Disciple had even reached the threshold of Spirit Forging.

A large quantity of Rare Metal imbued with spiritual energy were forged, and some of the finest pieces have begun preliminary compatibility tests with the Hell Gate. Although there have been repeated failures, experience is being accumulated.

The Evil Emperor frequently communicated with Di Tian through Divine Sense, jointly exploring the mysteries of the Space Law, and sharing his insights with the research team.

Occasionally, Di Tian would bring a Divine Sense divine thought containing even more profound spatial principles. That was naturally a hint from Gu Yuena, which would always enlighten Yu Yuanchen and the team responsible for Space Law Optimization, saving them from many detours.

As for Yu Yuanchen himself, he spent most of the past five years in a semi-secluded state. He did not deliberately try to break through the bottleneck of his Spiritual Power, but instead devoted more of his mind to comprehending the Bloodline Source and the Ancestor Will Imprint.

His Spirit Domain, "Return to Origin," not only allows him to trace the origins of external things but also reflects his own. Time and again, he draws upon the vague yet powerful imprints of his Ancestor Will deep within his bloodline, immersing himself in the vast and ancient battle scenes, experiencing the most primal Way of Thunder Destruction and Creation, and feeling the supreme will of the Dragon Clan Heaven Dou against heaven and earth.

This process was not easy. Those imprints of Ancestor Will, though unconscious, contained extremely powerful spiritual pressure and unique Will Fragment.

Each profound insight is like a baptism and confrontation on a Soul Level. Yu Yuanchen needs to stay true to himself, digest and absorb the beneficial experiences, while resisting the unconscious intrusion of those chaotic Will Fragment, and maintaining the purity and dominance of his self-awareness.

This is a long and arduous process, an ultimate test of one's character, perseverance, and comprehension. Over the past five years, Yu Yuanchen's aura has become increasingly restrained, and an ancient and majestic Artistic Conception often surrounds him. Occasionally, a flash of Purple-Gold lightning can be seen through his eyes as they open and close, as if they can pierce through the void and see through the origin.

Late at night, deep within the Governor's Mansion, in Yu Yuanchen's private Meditation Room.

He sat cross-legged, his eyes slightly closed, with no fluctuations of Soul Power around him, as if he were one with his surroundings.

Deep within his Sea of Consciousness, he was observing an extremely ancient scene: a Purple-Gold Thunder Sacred Dragon stretching across the starry sky, battling a Underworld God radiating endless darkness and Destruction aura. The Dragon Roar's roar shook the cosmos, and lightning shattered all laws; it was a collision of the most primal forces and laws.

He had witnessed this scene countless times, but each time he gained new insights. Tonight, however, seemed different.

As he focused all his attention on trying to capture the subtlety of the Thunder Sacred Dragon drawing upon the Heavenly Thunder and arousing the Thunder Law, a sudden change occurred!

This invasion of the Ancestor Will seems to have stirred up Sisi trace of the previously imperceptible remnant of that will. It seems that because he had not completely removed the Will Contamination in the past, there was always Sisi trace of it left each time. Now, these traces have accumulated and caused a quantitative change. Moved by this new Will Contamination, it has erupted into an even more turbulent Determined Will Torrent.

"Roar--!"

It wasn't a real roar, but a divine sound that directly affected the depths of the soul! Yu Yuanchen felt as if his soul was being assimilated and torn apart by this torrent!

Countless chaotic thoughts, fighting instincts, and ancient memories surged forth, attempting to overwhelm his self-awareness!

This is an unprecedented shock! Far surpassing any event of the past five years!

Yu Yuanchen let out a muffled groan, his face instantly turning pale, but his mind remained clear as a mirror, clinging to the last vestige of clarity in his Spirit Platform.

He remained true to himself, guided by the belief in protecting his family and friends and exploring the true path. In the face of wave after wave of willpower, he was not assimilated, but his spirit became more resilient and stronger under the impact of the torrent.

In this extreme confrontation and refinement, Yu Yuanchen's understanding of his own path became clearer than ever before. Under this immense pressure, his Spiritual Origin was frantically tempered, purified, and compressed!

I don't know how much time passed; it felt like a fleeting moment, yet also like eternity.

When the raging torrent of Ancestor Will finally came to a complete end, something seemed to shatter in Yu Yuanchen's Sea of Consciousness!

"Click--"

A clear, crisp sound, audible only to him, came from the depths of his soul.

The next moment, Yu Yuanchen felt his "vision" suddenly expand! The Divine Sense that originally required deliberate expansion to cover thousands of miles could now spread out naturally like mercury spilling onto the ground with a slight thought, easily covering the entire Federal Capital and extending even further.

Perception becomes incredibly acute; the subtle flow of energy between heaven and earth, and the laws and patterns inherent in all things, are presented in the "heart" with unprecedented clarity.

A profound feeling arises spontaneously, as if one transcends the mundane, possessing insight into the origins of all things and holding sway over a portion of the rules of heaven and earth.

His Spiritual Power was no longer an accumulation of quantity, but a qualitative transformation! He stepped from the mortal Spirit Domain Realm into the Divine Domain — the Spirit Origin Realm!

The commotion of the breakthrough was consciously compressed to an extremely small area under Yu Yuanchen's control, confined to the quiet room. Only a faint, yet soul-stirring, aura of majesty could be vaguely emanated from it.

Almost simultaneously, Ye Zhilan, who was meditating in the next room, suddenly opened her beautiful eyes, a hint of surprise and worry flashing in them, and instantly appeared at the door of the meditation room.

Almost simultaneously, Qian Daoliu and Tang Chen appeared like Gui Mei. The two of them, along with Yu Yuanchen, were powerful and had the keenest senses.

"Yuanchen!" Ye Zhilan called softly, her voice filled with concern.

The door to the quiet room slid open silently, and Yu Yuanchen stepped out slowly. His expression was calm, but in his deep eyes, it seemed as if countless stars Life and Death, and the Thunder Law were intertwined, giving people a sense of unfathomable depth. His aura was harmonious and restrained, yet it resonated faintly with the entire world.

"Don't worry, I'm fine." Yu Yuanchen smiled slightly at his wife, then looked at Qian Daoliu and Tang Chen, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes, "His Spiritual Power has finally broken through."

Upon hearing this, Qian Daoliu and Tang Chen were first taken aback, then their faces simultaneously lit up with ecstatic joy!

"Great! That's fantastic!" Tang Chen slapped his thigh excitedly. "Old Yu, you finally succeeded! Next, shouldn't we start restoring the mark on that Big Eyeball?"

Although Qian Daoliu remained composed, he couldn't hide the excitement in his eyes. "Spirit Origin Realm... In this way, the most crucial step of the plan has been taken! Congratulations, Brother Yuanchen!"

Yu Yuanchen nodded, feeling the vast, condensed, and Divinity majestic Spiritual Power within his Sea of Consciousness. His heart was filled with turbulent emotions. It hadn't been easy; five years of hard work had finally paid off!

Moreover, he was still somewhat afraid of the lingering traces of his previous Will Contamination on his soul. Fortunately, it was detonated this time; if it had remained dormant, it might have exploded at any moment.

"We still need to be careful." He looked out the window at the deep night sky, his gaze seemingly piercing through layers of space to see the distant Saint Demon Continent.

"However, now that my Spiritual Power has broken through, the next step is to restore the mark and... accelerate the strengthening of the Hell Gate. The path to the new world is one step closer!"

Five years of preparation have yielded Divine Essence. The transdimensional Expedition Plan is about to enter a substantial fast track! The challenges ahead remain formidable, but the light of hope is becoming increasingly clear.