Impacting the Source Law, The Third Rule

Finally, a strange buzzing sound came from the far reaches of the void. Deep, dark ripples spread across the edge of the platform, and from the center of those ripples, the chilling sounds of clashing swords and galloping horses could be faintly heard.

Soon, a figure stepped out from the center of the dark ripples.

She wore a black armor with gold patterns. The armor was simple and covered all the key parts of her body. The runes engraved on it seemed to flow slowly as if they were alive, exuding the vicissitudes and resilience of being tempered by endless blood and fire.

The armor did not conceal her tall and slender figure; on the contrary, it added to her heroic air.

That's right, Second Senior Sister Henghuan.

Her face was not stunningly beautiful, but it had distinct features and a kind of resilience that had weathered many storms. Her phoenix eyes seemed to cut through all illusions as they opened and closed, and even the cheerfully flowing stream of starlight seemed to freeze for a moment where her gaze fell.

Henghuan did not deliberately exude any aura, but an invisible malevolent energy, seemingly originating from a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, naturally spread out.

Her appearance caused Thousand Illusions, who had been playing around, to sit up straighter, and Prison Suppressor, the eldest brother who had been resting with his eyes closed, to open them again and nod slightly to her.

"Second Senior Sister."

Lieyang, Cang Ming, Xuanshu, Bingling, and Lin Yi all bowed in unison.

This senior sister, who Human Race on one of the most dangerous Frontline, deserves everyone's respect.

Henghuan glanced at everyone present, nodded slightly to Prison Suppressor and Thousand Illusions as a greeting, and then looked at Cang Ming, "Xiao Jiu, the location is well chosen, thank you for your trouble."

Cang Ming laughed and said, "Second Senior Sister's presence this time truly brings glory to this Star Banquet Platform."

Henghuan nodded slightly, his gaze finally settling on Lin Yi.

"So you are Lin Yi?"

Henghuan said, "The Tiered Battlefield are just trials. Make the most of them. If you go to the Frontline the Abyssal Cavern later, it won't be so easy."

Lin Yi felt a chill run down his spine, and he respectfully replied, "Yes, Second Senior Sister. Lin Yi will certainly remember Senior Sister's teachings, strive to improve his strength, and dare not slack off."

Henghuan said no more and walked to an empty star-shaped stone platform and sat down.

At this point, apart from Master Xuchen, all the remaining members of the sect were present.

The auras they naturally exuded intertwined, making this virtual starry sky seem somewhat overwhelmed, and the rules began to ripple.

Lin Yi, standing amidst it all, felt as if he had stumbled into a feast of gods, and deeply felt his own insignificance.

At this moment, in the very center of the platform, in that area that was originally empty, the scenery began to blur and overlap.

It's not a distortion of light, but rather a subtle alteration of the very concept of space itself.

One moment the starry background was crystal clear, the next it was like an ink painting submerged in water, the edges blurring and blurring, blurring the line between reality and illusion.

A figure emerged naturally from this chaotic interplay of reality and illusion, as if he had stepped into reality from an ancient dream.

The newcomer appeared to be an ordinary middle-aged man, dressed in a blue robe, with a gentle face and peaceful, profound eyes. His presence was sometimes as clear as something right in front of you, and sometimes as elusive as clouds in the sky, making him hard to grasp.

It was indeed his master, Xuchen.

"Master!"

All the disciples, including the eldest disciple Prison Suppressor and the third disciple Thousand Illusions, bowed in unison.

"Everyone's here? No need for formalities, please be seated." Xuchen smiled slightly and casually walked to the head seat and sat down.

Everyone took their seats as instructed, and all eyes were on Xuchen.

Xuchen's gaze swept calmly over each disciple present. When he saw his second senior sister, Henghuan, he nodded slightly. "Henghuan is back too. Is things peaceful at the Abyssal Cavern lately?"

"Reporting to Master, things have been alright recently. There have been occasional frictions, but the overall situation is under control," Henghuan replied succinctly.

"Okay, that's good." Xuchen nodded, then sighed softly.

The sigh, though soft, made everyone present tense.

"I've summoned you all here for two reasons. First, it's been a long time, and I want to see how you've all been. Second," he paused, his gaze seemingly piercing through the virtual Star Banquet Platform and looking towards the endless, distant real universe, "I have a feeling that this border conflict has more to do with something than it seems."

He looked at Prison Suppressor and Thousand Illusions: "Some time ago, I visited the two Lord of Source Laws, ' Silent Nether ' and ' Xingyu,' respectively, to discuss the border situation. Their statements were rather vague, as if they had reservations."

Upon hearing this, both Prison Suppressor and Thousand Illusions's expressions became more serious.

Even the Lord of Source Laws was vague in his explanation; what lies behind this is probably far beyond our imagination.

"If my guess is true," Xuchen's voice carried a hint of heaviness, "Without the Origin Law, it ultimately won't be of much use."

A hush fell over the Star Banquet Platform.

The Realm of Origin Law is a realm that countless Eternal Divinity cannot reach in their entire lives. Master's words are almost a assertion that the future turmoil may be so great that even Eternal Divinity may not be able to stay out of it, or even be powerless to stop it.

"The distinction between reality and illusion lies in a single thought. Sometimes, clinging to the reality before our eyes is the greatest illusion," Xuchen sighed before continuing, "I plan to go into seclusion this time to attempt to break through to the Origin Law Realm."

"What?!"

This statement was truly astonishing.

"Master!" Fourth Senior Brother Lieyang Yangzi was the most anxious and couldn't help but speak up, "You failed to advance to the next level last time, and your Divine Kingdom was damaged. Only three hundred thousand years have passed since then. Isn't it a bit too hasty to try again in such a short time?"

Attempting to break through to the realm of Origin Law is extremely dangerous, often resulting in the collapse of one's Divine Kingdom and the annihilation of both body and soul.

Xuchen failed to advance to the next level last time. Although he survived, he spent a long time recuperating.

The risk is undoubtedly greater if the impact is repeated now.

Xuchen looked at Lieyang, not displeased by his questioning, but instead smiled, "Sometimes, you have to be more proactive. Waiting may not bring a better opportunity, but may even cause you to miss a good chance."

As he spoke, he glanced at his disciples and slowly said, "Some time ago, I converted most of my resources and accumulated wealth into clan honors."

Upon hearing the words "Clan Merit Bingling," a look of understanding flashed in the eyes of Cang Ming, Xuanshu, Henghuan, and even Lieyang.

Lin Yi's heart stirred upon hearing this, and he silently memorized the unfamiliar word.

Xuchen continued, "Then, I used these clan merits to apply to the clan and finally obtained a spot to enter the Primordial Source Sea."

The Primordial Source Sea?!

This time, even Prison Suppressor and Thousand Illusions couldn't help but show surprise.

Henghuan, Cang Ming, and the others looked completely bewildered. Clearly, this so-called "Primordial Source Sea" was a place that even they, as seasoned veterans of the Origin Realm, had never heard of before.

"Master, you actually went there!"

Thousand Illusions's beautiful eyes widened. "Legend has it that those are fragments of the origin left over from the beginning of the universe, containing the most ancient traces of the Origin Law. However, the spacetime within them is disordered, and the laws are violent. Even Eternal Divinity who delve into them risk getting lost and falling into ruin."

Xuchen said calmly, "Risk and opportunity coexist. I've gained a little from it."

He didn't elaborate on what he had gained, but everyone understood that for an Eternal Divinity who had failed in his attempt to break through to the Origin Law to say he had "gained something" and to resolve to try again, the gains must have been enormous.

Lin Yi listened from the side, completely bewildered. "Clan Merit" and "Primordial Source Sea" were like gibberish to him, but he could sense the weight and danger contained in them from the shocked reactions of his senior brothers and sisters.

Furthermore, he noticed that when "Clan Merit" was mentioned, several senior brothers and sisters from the Derivation Realm all knew about it, while "Primordial Source Sea" seemed to be something that only two senior brothers and sisters at the God-level truly understood its terror.

"This time, my attempt to break through to the Origin Law is a one-way street," Xuchen stated as if stating a predetermined fact. "If I succeed, my Human Race will gain another Origin Law expert, giving us more confidence to face future changes. If I fail..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but everyone present understood what it meant.

The fall of an Eternal Divinity is a great loss to Human Race, let alone their master.

The atmosphere suddenly became extremely heavy.

Xuchen, however, seemed completely unconcerned and began to give instructions to his disciples one by one.

He looked at Prison Suppressor: "Prison Suppressor, you are the strongest and in charge of such an important place as the Sin Prison. The responsibility is heavy. You must be calm and composed in handling matters. You can discuss things with your third junior sister more often."

Prison Suppressor said in a deep voice, "Disciple understands, and will certainly not fail Master's expectations."

After instructing Prison Suppressor, Xuchen looked at Thousand Illusions: "Thousand Illusions, you have inherited the true essence of my Illusory Law, making you resourceful and adept at weaving illusions and deducing endless variations. This is your strength. The Way of Illusion lies in reflecting all laws. Although imitating them is not as effective as those who specialize in the original source, its value lies in its ever-changing nature, leaving no trace, which is sufficient to deal with all kinds of situations."

Then, he subtly changed the subject, "But the ultimate essence of illusion lies in containing reality within illusion, and illusion within reality. It requires a steadfast heart capable of seeing through the fog and grasping the truth. Your free-spirited nature and love of novelty and change are talents, but they also need time to mature."

"In that case, after I go into seclusion, as your senior sister, and with sufficient cultivation, you will need to put in more effort to assist your eldest brother in taking on the responsibility of teaching and guiding your junior brothers and sisters, especially Lin Yi, who is still a novice and needs guidance on his future path."

Upon hearing this, Thousand Illusions's smile vanished.

She remained silent for a moment, a hint of worry flashing across her beautiful face.

This time, her master's attempt to break through to the Origin Law Realm is far more dangerous than ever before. Entrusting her with the responsibility of teaching sounds like a delegation, but isn't it also a kind of arrangement to prevent any unforeseen circumstances?

Thousand Illusions, with her keen mind, instantly grasped the deeper meaning.

This heavy responsibility made her uneasy, not because of the responsibility itself, but because of the risks it implied.

Immediately, as if to dispel the heaviness, her beautiful face instantly switched to an expression tinged with a hint of grievance, and she deliberately spoke in a tone that carried a touch of coquetry and complaint:

"Huh? Instruct my junior brothers and sisters? Master, you know I'm terrible at teaching. I'm still only half-baked in my own cultivation, relying entirely on intuition. If you ask me to teach, I'll just go astray."

She took a half step forward, her eyes Phantom Light as if she were being unreasonable, "So, Master, it's better to wait until you come out of seclusion to take on such an important responsibility yourself. You can't be lazy and dump everything on me."

Xuchen was a man of great stature; how could he not hear the concern and unease hidden in her words?

He looked at his disciple, who had inherited his mantle most effectively and was also the most astute, and shook his head with a smile.

"You silly girl. Save your tricks. How can someone who's cultivated the Illusory Law to such a level claim to be 'unable to teach'?"

Then, Xuchen softened his tone, "Teaching others is also a process of organizing what you've learned. It will greatly help you calm your mind and solidify your understanding. This matter is settled then."

Thousand Illusions that her master's mind was made up and that there was no way to change it, Qianhuan slowly dropped her playful expression. "Yes, Master. This disciple understands. I will do my best."

Seeing that Thousand Illusions had agreed, Xucheng turned to look at Henghuan.

"Henghuan, you are in the Abyssal Cavern, facing the enemy head-on, making decisive and ruthless decisions. I am not worried about your resolve, but you must remember that rigidity cannot last. Sometimes, retreating is a strategy."

Henghuan's gaze was resolute. "This disciple will remember Master's teachings."

"As for Lieyang, your courage and diligence are your strengths, but you must also learn to control your anger. Flames can incinerate enemies, but they can also burn yourself. Seek more guidance from your sixth junior brother on methods to calm your mind."

Lieyang scratched his head and replied in a muffled voice, "Yes, Master, I'll find time to talk to Sixth Brother."

Xu Cheng sighed. He could tell that Lieyang hadn't listened again, so he didn't say anything more and went straight to Xuanshu, saying, "Xuanshu, you are meticulous. You'll need to take care of some miscellaneous matters. If there are any urgent matters, you can make decisions together with your senior brother and third senior sister."

Xuanshu bowed and said, "This disciple will do his utmost in whatever is his duty."

Xu Cheng nodded slightly.

He had always trusted his sixth disciple.

Then, Xu Cheng instructed Bingling, "The way of extreme cold lies in condensing without dispersing, and restraining without releasing. Your injuries have not yet healed, so you should focus on recuperation and not rush things."

A flicker of emotion crossed Bingling's cool eyes as she nodded gently, "Thank you for your concern, Master. I understand."

Then, Xuchen looked at Cang Ming: "Cang Ming, you are lively yet steady. You have gained a lot of experience in recent years and are now capable of handling things independently. Border affairs are complex. As the supervisor, you need to strike a balance, upholding the rules while also knowing how to be flexible. Also, please keep an eye on your junior brother."

Cang Ming smiled and agreed, "Master, don't worry, I know the rules, and I'll take good care of my junior brother."

Finally, Xuchen's gaze fell on Lin Yi.

"Lin Yi, you joined the sect the latest, and your cultivation is still shallow. Although your talent is not amazing, you have a solid foundation, a calm and steady mind, and you are not arrogant or impatient. You take one step at a time, which is very good. The path of cultivation is long. In the early stages, it is far more important to walk steadily than to walk fast."

"This disciple will certainly keep Master's teachings in mind, proceed steadily and surely, and dare not slacken," Lin Yi replied respectfully.

Xuchen nodded slightly and continued, "Furthermore, your home civilization, the Silver Blue Civilization, although newly arrived in the Star Sea and with a shallow foundation, possesses considerable potential at its core, far surpassing ordinary civilizations. As the leader of this civilization, you bear a heavy responsibility. Civilization and personal cultivation sometimes complement each other, and sometimes they interfere with each other. You need to carefully grasp the balance and guide them well."

"A vibrant and promising civilization may bring you unexpected benefits in the future, which would also be a blessing for our Human Race."

Lin Yi felt a chill run down his spine and bowed deeply. "Yes, Master. Lin Yi will certainly live up to Wenming's trust and Master's expectations."

After giving his instructions one by one, Xuchen's relaxed smile reappeared on his face, as if the discussions about the dangers of breaking through to the Origin Law Realm and the heavy instructions about his final affairs were just illusions.

"Alright, everything that needed to be explained has been explained. As your master, I won't stay any longer and disturb your fellow disciples' interactions."

With a carefree flick of his sleeve, Xuchen's figure shattered like a reflection in water broken by a pebble, gradually dissipating into shimmering specks of light at the edges. His final words seemed to come from the depths of a dream. "Take care."

As soon as he finished speaking, his figure vanished completely, as if he had never been there at all.

Only the starlight that briefly froze and then resumed its flow on the Star Banquet Platform proved that Xuchen had just arrived.

After the master left, an unusual silence fell over the Star Banquet Platform.

The amount of information conveyed in those words was so overwhelming and impactful that everyone was caught off guard and couldn't process it all at once.

Finally, it was the eldest disciple, Prison Suppressor, who spoke first, his voice low and deep. "Master, your mind is made up."

Thousand Illusions toyed with the ends of her hair, letting out a rare sigh, "The Primordial Source Sea. Master really went all out this time. The flow of time inside is different from the outside world, and the laws are even more bizarre. Master said he gained something, but I'm afraid the price he paid was..."

Henghuan said in a deep voice, "Since Master has made his choice, we can only trust him."

Lieyang didn't speak; he clenched his fists, and even his fiery hair seemed to dim slightly.

Xuanshu comforted him, "Master's path is ultimately his own to walk. Our greatest support is to do our own thing well and not distract him."

Bingling remained silent, Cang Ming also put away his usual smile, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

Lin Yi stood aside, listening silently to the conversation between his senior brothers and sisters, his heart filled with turmoil.

Clan Merit, the Primordial Source Sea, and the Undercurrents Behind the Border

These words construct a grand and dangerous picture that he cannot yet fully comprehend.

He clearly recognized the enormous gap between himself and his fellow disciples, especially his master, eldest brother, and third sister.

Faced with such a momentous topic concerning the fate of the race and the future of the sect, he had no right to interrupt and could only listen, trying his best to absorb information that was far beyond his current level.

After a period of discussion, the atmosphere remained somewhat heavy.

Whether their master succeeds or fails in his attempt to break through to the Origin Law, it will be a major turning point for them.

At this moment, Ninth Senior Brother Cang Ming seemed to feel the atmosphere was too oppressive. He coughed lightly and took the initiative to change the subject, turning his gaze to Lin Yi, his face once again displaying that familiar smile:

"Alright, alright, Master is incredibly powerful; he must have some confidence. There's no point in us worrying here."

He said to Lin Yi, "Junior Brother, I saw that you were already quite proficient in using the rules when you made your move on Crimson Star last time. Your Gold Domain was perfected, and your Life Rule was also very profound. It seems that you are not too far from merging with the Dual Domain. So, what are your plans for the next rule?"