Planar Passage, Open! (4K)
Time flies, and three years have passed since Yu Yuanchen returned to the Sun Moon Sun Moon Continent with his children and nephews.
These three years have been a period of rapid development and constant change for the Douluo Federation; for the top figures participating in the "Planar Passage" project, they have been a period of racing against time and giving their all.
Actually, the original plan was not to proceed this quickly. However, during the production of the replica of the Hell Gate Soul Tool, Qian Daoliu discovered that simply stacking up the number of Soul Tool did not achieve satisfactory results.
Simply put, if one unit of counterfeit item is added to the Hell Gate, the effect of the Hell Gate will be enhanced to a higher level. However, if the effect is to be enhanced to a higher level, seven units of counterfeit items are required. Qian Daoliu believed that this was too inefficient, so he proposed a new suggestion.
Qian Daoliu breaks down the grand project of constructing a stable Planar Passage into three relatively independent yet closely related core steps:
Step 1: Precise Positioning. Centered on the Hell Gate, and supplemented by a specially developed array of "Planar Beacon Stabilizer," whose sole function is to amplify and stabilize the "Saint Demon Mark" extracted from the Evil Emperor's origin, it serves as a guide to activate the mysterious Space Law, traversing endless void to lock onto the precise coordinates of the Saint Demon Continent.
Step Two: Tearing the Barrier. This step is handled by another independent array of "Space Fission Amplifier". They do not participate in positioning, but only focus on, after locking the coordinates, resonating, superimposing and focusing the Power of Space transformed from the Hell Gate themselves and the Soul Power infused by many powerful beings at a specific frequency, forming a terrifying destructive force sufficient to briefly tear apart the solid barrier between two large planes.
The third step: Constructing the passage. This is the most complex and dangerous step, undertaken by the newly developed "Dimensional Channel Stability Anchor" array. The moment the spatial rift is forcibly torn open, these stabilizing anchors must be activated immediately, releasing a powerful spatial solidification force field, like building a relatively stable "bridge" in the turbulent void, ensuring that the passage will not collapse instantly and can withstand subsequent traversal.
Under the strategic adjustment of Qian Daoliu, the Federal Research Institute abandoned the initial idea of "comprehensive imitation and quantity accumulation" and instead adopted a brand-new approach of "functional specialization and synergistic efficiency".
This approach of "division of labor and cooperation, each performing its own duties" greatly improved efficiency. The replica Soul Tool no longer pursued perfection in every aspect, but instead perfected a single function, resulting in a qualitative leap in the overall array's performance.
However, while the increased efficiency also means a reduction in the demand for high-level spatial attribute metals, the forging time, which originally took seven or eight years, has now been reduced to three years.
The pressure once again weighed heavily on Tang Chen. But it didn't matter; Yu Yuanchen would intervene.
After returning to the Sun Moon Continent, Yu Yuanchen had a rare period of relatively free time, in addition to handling Federation government affairs and guiding his children's cultivation.
He recalled his early interest in forging and the fact that the concept of "Spirit Forging" originated from his own proposal, so he decided to put it into practice himself.
Thus, His Excellency the Federation Governor quietly became a "special apprentice" in the Research Institute's Forging Workshop. His instructor was, of course, Tang Chen.
Tang Chen was naturally pleased with this outcome. Yu Yuanchen's comprehension and realm far surpassed ordinary people, and he even possessed the cheat-like weapon of the Spirit Origin Realm Spiritual Power. While teaching his son Tang Wei, he could also instruct Yu Yuanchen, which was not a burden for him, but rather a rare opportunity for exchange.
Yu Yuanchen's learning process was remarkably fast. Because he did have some forging skills in his early years, he did not start from the basic hammering techniques step by step, but directly opened up a "high-dimensional perspective".
While Tang Chen was undergoing Soul Forging, he quietly activated the "Return to Origin" Spirit Domain. He was not imitating the movements, but directly observing the essential process of energy flow, fusion, and spiritual awakening at the microscopic level inside the metal.
With his superior strategic vision and profound understanding of energy and matter, Yu Yuanchen's progress was so rapid that even Tang Chen was astonished.
The spiritual resonance that ordinary blacksmiths take years or even decades to comprehend, Yu Yuanchen mastered in just one month, easily completing Spirit Forging. The metal he forged shone with a brilliant spiritual light and was of extremely high quality. Afterward, he launched an attack on the higher realm of Soul Forging.
Soul Forging is not merely a combination of technology and power, but also involves an understanding of the origin of materials and the laws of heaven and earth. It requires imprinting one's own "inheritance" (Spiritual Power and will) into the metal, giving it a true "soul".
For Yu Yuanchen, this was actually simpler than Spirit Forging. His Spirit Origin Realm Spiritual Power, his comprehension of the laws, and his control over his own will far surpassed those of ordinary Soul Douluo or even Titled Douluo.
Three months later, when a piece of Soul Forge Grade Void Iron, with a dark golden luster flowing throughout its body, seemingly breathing with Life inside, and faintly connected with Yu Yuanchen spiritually, was born on the forging platform, the entire Forging Workshop fell silent.
Tang Chen looked at Yu Yuanchen, knowing that Yu Yuanchen's "cheating" methods were part of the reason, but his gaze was still indescribably complicated. Finally, he let out a bitter laugh and a heartfelt exclamation, "Old Yu, you... really... sigh, I've spent half my life studying forging, and it took me ten years of arduous practice to even enter the Soul Forging Realm. And you've only done it in three months... it's truly infuriating to compare yourself to others!"
Yu Yuanchen shook his head and said, "It's different, Brother Tang. The reason I've progressed so quickly is because I have Brother Tang as a learning resource. If I had to study from scratch on my own, I wouldn't have fared much better."
Tang Chen felt a little better after that.
Thus, Yu Yuanchen became the Federation's second Soul Forging Grandmaster after Tang Chen! Moreover, he was a Soul Forging Grandmaster whose strength surpassed Tang Chen's!
Yu Yuanchen's breakthrough instantly changed the situation. Faced with a huge shortage of materials, Tang Chen didn't hesitate and directly "recruited" this newly promoted Soul Forging Grandmaster. With two Soul Forging Grandmaster working together, the efficiency more than doubled!
What's even more speechless is that while these two big shots were frantically producing Soul-Forged Metal, they also complained that the Spirit Forger below them were too slow. They actually "took time" to join forces and, with unbelievable speed and quality, made up for all the Spirit Forge Grade Metal shortages required for the plan!
It was precisely because of this "abnormal" level of efficiency that the material accumulation work, which was originally expected to take ten years or even longer, was completed in just three years!
All preparations are complete!
On this day, in the central region of the Sun Moon Continent, on a desolate wasteland designated as an absolute Forbidden Zone.
A colossal and awe-inspiring composite Soul Tool Array has been completed. At the core of the array is the Hell Gate, which has been reinforced multiple times and whose surface runes shimmer with dark gold and silver light.
Surrounding it, three rings of replica Soul Tool, each with different functions, were like stars surrounding the moon, numbering in the thousands. They were connected by countless thick energy conduits, forming an incredibly complex and precise whole. The air was filled with dense spatial energy fluctuations, causing the surrounding scenery to be slightly distorted.
Yu Yuanchen, Qian Daoliu, and Tang Chen stood solemnly at the front of the formation. Their auras were as solid as mountains, and their gazes as sharp as lightning, as they awaited the final moment.
Before long, a powerful spatial fluctuation came from the distant horizon. A huge spatial rift tore through the sky, and the massive Black Dragon body of the Beast God Di Tian descended first. His majestic dragon eyes swept over the Soul Tool Array below, a trace of solemnity flashing across them.
Immediately afterwards, the enormous vertical pupil Evil Eye Tyrant Lord also appeared out of thin air, its mental fluctuations filled with excitement and trepidation.
Finally, a slender silver figure appeared silently beside Di Tian. She wore a simple silver dress, her face was so beautiful it seemed otherworldly, and her amethyst eyes were calm and undisturbed, as if they contained the mysteries of the universe.
It was Gu Yuena, who was using the alias "Gu Yue". She did not deliberately release her aura, but simply by standing there, she naturally became the center of the world, and even Di Tian and Evil Emperor unconsciously slightly restrained their own pressure.
Yu Yuanchen's gaze briefly met Gu Yuena's. He felt a chill run down his spine. Three years had passed, and the Silver Dragon King's aura had become even more profound and unfathomable. Although it was also at the Titled Douluo level, it felt more dangerous to him than Di Tian and the Evil Emperor combined. He remained outwardly calm, giving a slight nod in greeting. "Miss Gu Yue, how have you been?"
Gu Yuena's cool gaze lingered on Yu Yuanchen for a moment, seemingly sensing the more refined and powerful Thunder Divine Essence within him. A barely perceptible glint flashed in her eyes, and she nodded slightly in response. She continued to play the role of "Gu Yue," the mysterious but powerful collaborator from the Myriad Beast Sect.
Qian Daoliu and Tang Chen also stepped forward to pay their respects. The atmosphere seemed harmonious, but it concealed an indescribable tension. Five of the world's top experts had gathered together, all for the purpose of opening a path to an unknown world.
"Let's begin." Yu Yuanchen, as the one in charge of the plan, spoke in a deep voice, breaking the silence.
He took a step forward and arrived directly in front of the Hell Gate. Qian Daoliu, Tang Chen, Di Tian, Evil Emperor, Gu Yuena stood on the five key nodes of the Soul Tool Array according to their pre-rehearsed positions.
Yu Yuanchen took a deep breath and slowly raised his hands. Inside his dantian, the True Essence Core, which had initially transformed into a "Spirit Origin Core," suddenly shone brightly. Pure and vast Thunder Divine Essence surged into the Hell Gate like a burst dam!
Buzz--!
The Hell Gate trembled violently, and the mysterious runes on the gates lit up one by one, emitting a deep, eerie light. A powerful suction force emanated from within the gates, frantically drawing away the vast energy gathered by the Soul Tool Array below.
"Positioning Array, activate!" Qian Daoliu shouted, channeling his holy Angel Soul Power into the node he was on. Instantly, thousands of "Planar Beacon Stabilizer" surrounding the innermost circle of the Hell Gate simultaneously lit up with a milky-white glow. These lights, as if Life, intertwined to form a massive net of light, enveloping the Hell Gate.
At the center of the light network, a silver-gray dot of light was guided to emerge; it was the "Saint Demon Mark" sealed within the replica portal. With the support of the stabilizer array, this faint mark seemed to be magnified a million times, emitting a clear and unique dimensional fluctuation!
Yu Yuanchen closed his eyes and concentrated, fusing his Spirit Origin Realm Spiritual Power with his Thunder Divine Essence. Like the most precise probe, it followed this fluctuation and spread into the depths of the endless void! His consciousness seemed to pierce through layers of spatial barriers, sweep past countless fragments of lifeless stars, and extend continuously towards the direction he sensed in the darkness!
This was an extremely mentally taxing process. The void was not a smooth path; it was filled with chaotic energy flows and spatial folds. If it weren't for the Hell Gate as a Spatial Divine Artifact and the support of the entire Positioning Array, it would have been impossible for an individual to complete such a long-distance positioning by their own strength alone.
Time passed slowly, and fine beads of sweat appeared on Yu Yuanchen's forehead, but he remained as steady as Rock Academy.
Suddenly, he opened his eyes wide, and Purple Gold Lightning shot out from them!
"Found it!"
In his perception, the outline of an incredibly vast plane, radiating chaos and darkness, yet also containing Life Force and an aura of ancient order, clearly appeared before his eyes! It was the Saint Demon Continent!
"Fission Array, unleash full power!" Tang Chen roared, his domineering Clear Sky Hammer Intent merging with his Soul Power, slamming fiercely into the node beneath his feet! Di Tian, Evil Emperor, and Gu Yuena also attacked simultaneously!
Di Tian pressed down with his Dragon Claw claw, unleashing a vast, dark Dragon Power with a sharpness capable of tearing through space! The Evil Emperor's enormous vertical pupils shone brightly, distorting the void with the Power of Time and Space! Gu Yuena merely raised a finger and pointed, a wisp of seemingly weak silver light, yet containing the Artistic Conception of supreme Space Law, disappeared into the array!
The second ring of "Space Fission Amplifier" array was instantly activated to its maximum! Thousands of amplifiers burst forth with dazzling light, gathering, compressing, and resonating the terrifying energy output by the five powerful individuals, ultimately transforming it into a dark beam of light, condensed to its extreme and seemingly capable of cleaving the world, which blasted into the Hell Gate!
The Hell Gate groaned under the strain, and the eerie light within suddenly surged violently! A thin, twisted black crack slowly appeared in the center of the gate! From the other side of the crack, a chilling aura of chaos emanated!
"Now! Stabilizing Anchor, activate!" Yu Yuanchen roared, forming hand seals and injecting the last of his Thunder Divine Essence into the Hell Gate, while simultaneously guiding the disintegrating energy to focus on that single point!
Qian Daoliu, Tang Chen, Di Tian, Evil Emperor, and Gu Yuena also unleashed their full power, pushing it to its peak!
The third ring, also the largest array of "Dimensional Channel Stability Anchor," erupted with unprecedented light! Countless silver-white beams shot out from these anchors, like millions of tough threads, forcibly Entanglement and fixing them to the edge of the newly torn, extremely unstable spatial rift!
Sizzle sizzle sizzle--!
The turbulent void currents, like billions of sharp blades, frantically impacted the force field formed by the stabilizing anchor, emitting a piercing tearing sound. The entire Soul Tool Array was shaking violently, and the earth trembled, as if it might collapse at any moment.
Pale golden blood seeped from the corner of Yu Yuanchen's mouth, but his eyes remained resolute as he frantically activated his Spirit Origin Core, maintaining control over the Hell Gate and the entire array. Qian Daoliu and the others were also pale, clearly exhausted.
A silver light shimmered in Gu Yuena's eyes. She seemed to exert little effort, but that wisp of silver light was like Dinghai Shenzhen, always able to guide the energy in the most exquisite way and forcibly stabilize the cracks whenever they were about to expand out of control. Her control over the Space Law had reached a level that was unfathomable.
With everyone's full support, the originally thin and twisted spatial rift finally stabilized and gradually expanded, eventually forming a circular passage about three meters in diameter, with iridescent light flowing around its edges and a dark and deep interior!
The moment the passage took shape, an aura completely different from that of the Douluo Plane rushed towards us! That aura was mixed with dense Dark Element, chaotic Demonic Energy, and an ancient and boundless will!
It worked!
The Planar Passage has finally been partially opened!
Yu Yuanchen slowly withdrew his hands, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and looked at the stabilized passage with his eyes filled with barely suppressed excitement. Qian Daoliu, Tang Chen, Di Tian, Evil Emperor, and even Gu Yuena all had their eyes sparkling with admiration.
The door to a new world has been opened!
However, everyone knew that this was only the first step. Whether the channel was stable enough, how long it could be maintained, and what the situation was on the other side were all unknowns.