The True Goal, the Fivefold Domain

The main hall of the Firefly Manor is even more magnificent and luxurious than the outer courtyard.

The dome is carved from a single piece of starry crystal, shimmering with light and color. The floor is paved with warm jade that can soothe the soul, and ancient paintings containing rules and meanings hang on the surrounding walls. A faint fragrance permeates the air.

As Lin Yi followed Lord Hong Yan into this place, he immediately sensed many subtle yet powerful auras.

Clearly, those were other guests at the World Derivation level present, as well as some hidden Star Domain level beings.

Most of them simply nodded to Lord Hong Yan from afar, their gazes lingering briefly on Lin Yi with scrutiny and curiosity, but none of them took the initiative to approach him.

Lin Yi, the commander of Hong Yan Realm, led the group to a relatively quiet spot with an excellent view, and said with a smile, "Commander Lin Yi, please rest here for now. We have many guests today, so please forgive us if our hospitality is lacking."

"Please go ahead, Lord of the Realm," Lin Yi replied with a smile.

After Lord Hong Yan left, Lin Yi did not rush to sit down, but instead scanned the hall where wine glasses were clinking and people in fine clothes were gathered.

He wasn't very interested in purely social occasions.

Of course, the main reason is that he doesn't know anyone and has no intention of actively getting close to those already formed cliques.

Therefore, Lin Yi casually summoned a waiter standing to the side and took a cup of wine with a beautiful color and a shimmering, Star Radiance from the jade plate the waiter was holding.

"This is a special product of this star field, the Vortexborn Nectar, extracted from the essence condensed by a ten-thousand-year-old Star Core vortex, and brewed with seventy-three kinds of rare spiritual fruits. It has the effect of nourishing the soul and purifying source energy."

The waiter introduced it in a low voice.

Lin Yi nodded slightly and took a small sip.

The wine entered my mouth and transformed into a warm, refreshing current that instantly reached every part of my body. My soul felt as if it were being gently cleansed by Star Radiance, and impurities were quietly purified. Even my perception of the rules seemed to become a little clearer.

"It really is a good product." Lin Yi thought to himself, praising the Hong Yan Lord for really going all out for this banquet.

Since there was nothing to socialize about, Lin Yi simply took his wine glass, leaned against a pillar, and leisurely savored the wine alone, like a detached observer.

However, despite his low-key demeanor, the name "Lin Yi" and the commotion he caused at the entrance had already spread like wildfire throughout the main hall.

He wanted peace and quiet, but some people didn't want him to.

Before long, people started to approach and strike up a conversation.

Merchant tycoons from nearby star systems enthusiastically introduced their businesses, hoping to establish contact with the East Peak Mercenary Group; core members of certain powerful clans expressed a desire to befriend them, hoping to have the opportunity to discuss cultivation experiences; and even one or two powerful beings from the Derivation Realm with profound auras exchanged Contact Mark with him with peaceful smiles, their words full of encouragement for the younger generation and expectations for future cooperation.

Lin Yi knew very well that what these people valued was his potential as the "number one at the Star Core level" and the power of his sect that he represented.

However, this is only human nature; he wouldn't bother associating with someone who has no value.

Moreover, this expansion of his interpersonal network is not necessarily a bad thing for him and the East Peak Mercenary Group's future development.

Therefore, Lin Yi treated everyone with courtesy, neither being overly enthusiastic nor keeping them at Qianli.

Of course, he wasn't just passively engaging in social interactions.

Between wine tastings and conversations, Lin Yi also listened attentively to the various fragments of information circulating in the hall.

Because in such situations, it is easiest to overhear news; seemingly casual conversations often contain clues about the movements of different forces.

"Star Dome Dynamics Company has been making significant moves lately, reportedly cutting 30% of its civilian spacecraft production lines and further shifting resources towards the military sector."

"The Tree of Life Company has also increased its procurement of core raw materials for life-saving drugs and several high-level battlefield first aid drugs, resulting in a 15% price increase."

"It's not just them. I've heard that the military's orders for certain special alloys in the next cycle have more than doubled in quantity, and the delivery deadlines are very tight."

"Strange, I haven't heard of any large-scale conflicts breaking out on the border or in any disputed secret realms recently. Could it be that this is precautionary measure?"

"It's hard to say. Although there haven't been any major conflicts on the border, things haven't been peaceful. The Kunmo Race has been making a lot of small moves in recent years, perhaps the higher-ups have noticed something we don't know about."

These scattered pieces of information came together in Lin Yi's mind like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.

Star Dome Dynamics, Tree of Life, Military Order

"It seems that the higher-ups had long anticipated, or rather, prepared for, the rapid escalation of the border war situation. They have already begun to make covert adjustments and build-up in resources, military industry, and medical care," Lin Yi thought to himself.

It's unclear whether this adjustment stems from a concrete plan or is merely a precautionary measure based on an assessment of the current situation.

Before long, the banquet reached its climax.

Lord Hong Yan led Hong Hanran onto the small platform in front of the main hall.

With a warm smile, he thanked all the guests for coming, reminisced about the traditional friendships with various forces, and finally, subtly changed the subject:

"The universe is vast, and the future is uncertain. Our Hong Yan lineage wishes to strengthen communication and deepen cooperation with all of you here today, as well as with all allies from all sides. Resources, information, and technology can all be shared. Only through Watcher Space Station can we stand firm at the forefront of this great era and overcome difficulties together."

These words were spoken rather subtly, but to those who were paying attention, especially when combined with the previously circulated industry trends, they took on a more unusual meaning.

Many guests looked thoughtful, exchanging knowing glances.

Lin Yi held his wine glass, his eyes flickering slightly.

"Perhaps this centennial birthday banquet is a pretense to celebrate Hong Hanran's birthday, but rather a gathering of representatives from various factions to foster relationships, emphasize cooperation, and even use this platform to convey some kind of consensus or warning signal?"

He couldn't be sure whether this was the judgment of the Lord of Hong Yan Realm or the decree of the God Hong Huan.

But in any case, this confirmed his suspicions— the storm is coming was brewing.

Even the grandest feast must eventually come to an end.

As the guests gradually departed and the main hall quieted down, Lord Hong Yan kept Lin Yi behind and invited him into a quiet room.

Lin Yi had thought that the other party might reveal some deeper information, or entrust him to pass on a message to Senior Brother Cang Ming or even his master.

He was prepared to listen attentively.

However, Lord Hong Yan simply expressed his gratitude for his arrival once again, praising him for being young, promising, and with a bright future. He spoke very politely, but said nothing else.

Then, the Lord of Hong Yan Realm took out a tightly sealed jade box and pushed it in front of Lin Yi.

"Commander Lin Yi, thank you for coming all this way. This is a pre-arranged gift of gratitude, the Eternal Abyss Water. Please accept it."

Lin Yi was slightly taken aback, then accepted the jade box and calmly thanked him, saying, "You're too kind, Realm Master. It's just my duty."

He already knew the answer.

Although he is crowned with the halo of "Number One Star Core level Person" and has unlimited potential, and his status in ordinary matters is already comparable to that of the Yan Realm, in the eyes of others, his current strength and influence within the sect are still far from sufficient in some truly important matters.

Therefore, Lin Yi estimated that in the mind of the Lord of Hong Yan, there was no need to talk to him any further.

Furthermore, the true core secrets, or messages that need to be passed on to the higher-ups of the sect, are likely already handled by Lord Hong Yan through his own channels, and there is no need for him to act as a "megaphone."

Having understood this, Lin Yi felt no displeasure whatsoever.

Because he understood a principle very early on: strength is always the cornerstone of the right to speak.

Seeing that Lord Hong Yan had nothing else to say, Lin Yi didn't ask any further questions. He simply put away the jade box, stood up, and took his leave. "Lord Lin Yi, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave now."

Lord Hong Yan smiled gently, "Alright, take care on your journey. If you have time in the future, you are welcome to visit Myriad Bloom Star often."

"Must."

Lin Yi bowed respectfully, turned and left the quiet room, leaving behind this bustling and noisy star field.

He boarded the spaceship he had come from, carefully put away the jade box containing the Eternal Abyss Water, and set the route back to base.

The purpose of this trip has been achieved, and we even gained some additional information about the situation, which is enough.

--

Border Legion Fortress.

The East Peak Mercenary Group's headquarters, in their private training room.

Lin Yi sat cross-legged in the center, his aura extremely restrained, like an Ancient Jade piece sunk into the deep sea.

Before him floated several objects emanating distinct auras, forming a small yet profound array.

At its core is a transparent crystal bottle, no bigger than a fist, filled with a liquid that seems to be formed from the deepest night and the will to end all things.

It is silent and still, yet it exudes an aura of finality that silences even the soul.

It is the Eternal Abyss Water.

Surrounding him were several auxiliary items that he had exchanged for from the Legion's Treasury at a considerable Points.

The diluted Breath of the Nether River is a wisp of decaying aura sealed within a special crystal, seemingly capable of smelling the lament of countless worlds reaching their end.

The Rebirth Stone (Fragment) is an irregularly shaped stone fragment with a dark color. It is cold to the touch, as if it bears the last marks of countless lives before their demise.

The <Nirvana Visualization Codex (Fragment)> is an ancient scroll made of an unknown material. When unfolded, it contains three contemplation diagrams depicting the collapse of stars and the decay of all things.

As for the most expensive Withered World Tree Seed, it is a gray-black, shriveled seed that looks lifeless, yet it subtly resonates with the Death Rule.

Five years ago, the clone returned from Myriad Bloom Star, bringing back not only the perfect result of "subduing the enemy without fighting" at the banquet, but also the reward that Lord Hong Yan readily paid: the Eternal Abyss Water.

This item can increase the comprehension of the Death Rule by about five times within three months. This is the most powerful treasure that Lin Yi has been able to find so far for increasing the comprehension of the Death Rule.

Now, everything is ready.

Lin Yi took a deep breath, his eyes sharp.

He planned to press on with his momentum, relying on the miraculous effects of the Eternal Abyss Water, combined with these rare auxiliary items and the Spiritual Enlightenment Qi he had accumulated over eighty years, to directly push the Death Rule to the state of perfection.

And on this basis, we will strive to achieve the ultimate fusion of the five realms of life, death, time, space, and gold.

"Let's begin."

With a thought, Lin Yi quietly opened the stopper of the suspended Eternal Abyss Water Bottle.

Instantly, an invisible and intangible sense of "annihilation," which seemed capable of freezing thoughts and extinguishing life, spread out like a tide, instantly engulfing Lin Yi's mind and body.

At the same time, deep within Lin Yi's Soul Origin, the Spiritual Enlightenment Qi that had been anchored beforehand, like a sacred fire ignited, began to burn and consume at an unprecedented speed, transforming into a surging torrent of enlightenment that washed over his soul.

Lin Yi first immersed his mind in that Breath of the Nether River.

With the combined blessing of the Eternal Abyss Water and the Spiritual Enlightenment Qi, his perception was amplified infinitely.

That faint aura was no longer a simple gray, lifeless stream in Lin Yi's "eyes," but transformed into a vast, illusory river that stretched across the void, carrying countless fragments of souls, tombstones of rules, and even the remains of the world.

Lin Yi seemed to hear the death knell of Epoch's end, see the last embers of civilization, and feel the despairing sobs of a collapsing world.

Death is not simply destruction, but an inevitable destination, a return to eternal tranquility from the clamor of the world.

"Silence. The end," Lin Yi murmured to himself, his consciousness floating in the illusory image of the River Styx, trying to grasp the most essential rules and patterns.

Immediately afterwards, he grasped the fragment of the Rebirth Stone.

The icy touch went straight to the soul.

Countless chaotic and fragmented thoughts of ending the world crashed against his mind like a flood breaking through a dam.

Normally, Lin Yi would have to be extremely careful and guard his soul.

But at this moment, supported by his immense insight, he actively accepted and analyzed these ideas.

Lin Yi felt as if he had personally witnessed the end of countless different lives, from ants to stars, from mortals to gods.

Death is equal for all; it is the ultimate "fairness" for all things.

This fragment passively enhances his sensitivity to the concept of "death" itself, allowing him to more clearly "smell" the true meaning of annihilation contained within the rules.

His gaze then fell upon the <Nirvana Visualization Codex (Fragment)>.

The first picture shows everything withered and dying.

The once vibrant forest withered in an instant, the flesh and blood of living beings vanished, their bones weathered away, all life was stripped away, and they returned to deathly silence.

He came to understand the death laws of "life passing away" and "structural disintegration".

The second image depicts a star collapsing.

Countless points of light faded from their peak, the nebula collapsed, the light was swallowed by darkness, and finally turned into cold dust.

He was not contemplating the appearance, but rather the underlying rules and trajectories of "energy termination" and "matter collapse".

The third image shows the breakdown of rules.

The originally stable and interwoven lines of rules were torn and twisted as if by an invisible hand, and finally dissipated into nothingness.

This is the most crucial and also the most difficult part, directly addressing the negation and termination of existence itself by the Death Rule.

The three visualizations, progressing layer by layer, were rapidly analyzed and digested by Lin Yi's extraordinary comprehension, becoming the cornerstone of his understanding of the Death Rule.

Finally, his attention fell on the withered World Tree Seed.

The World Tree is one of the ultimate symbols of life force in the universe.

But this seed before us has gone completely in the opposite direction, twisting and solidifying the Life Rule, ultimately freezing into the form of death.

It has become an excellent sample for studying the process of "life turning into death".

Lin Yi's soul power permeated it, feeling how the once magnificent life force was eroded and assimilated by the power of death, ultimately leaving only the pure concept of "death".

This gave him a more dialectical and profound understanding of the boundary and transformation between life and death.

Time flew by as I pondered these profound insights.

Lin Yi's understanding of the Death Rule is soaring at an unprecedented rate.

From first glimpsing the basics, to mastering the fundamentals, and finally to achieving complete understanding.

He understood that "silence" is the norm of death, "end" is the process of death, "annihilation" is the result of death, and "destiny" is the meaning of death.

He saw the interdependence and opposition between the Death Rule and the Life Rule, the catalytic effect of the passage of time on death, the reflection of death in the desolation of space, and even the "Sharpness" and "immortality" of the Metal Rule, which appeared fragile and futile in the face of death.

After about four standard hours, a profound and incomparably dark light suddenly erupted from the depths of Lin Yi's soul, and the primordial runes representing the Death Rule completely condensed and took shape.

The Death Rule are complete!

Lin Yi slowly opened his eyes, and a fleeting image of the birth and death of all things and the return of the universe to nothingness seemed to flash in the depths of his pupils.

He sensed it slightly and felt certain.

This successful breakthrough against the Death Rule was due to thorough preparation and the miraculous effects of the Eternal Abyss Water, consuming approximately forty-two years' worth of Spiritual Enlightenment Qi reserves.

"There are about forty years of Spiritual Enlightenment Qi left. Next comes the most crucial step: the fusion of rules."

The fusion of five rules is far more difficult than comprehending a single rule, and even several times more difficult than the fusion of the previous four rules.

This is not merely an accumulation of quantity, but a qualitative transformation, requiring the discovery of the supreme balance point that governs life and death, time and space, and the sharpness of metal.

Lin Yi didn't pause for a moment and closed his eyes again.

He meticulously planned out the remaining forty years of Spiritual Enlightenment Qi.

He continued his old habit of investing in the process in batches over five-year cycles, focusing on understanding the critical juncture of rule integration.

The first five-year cycle is marked by the infusion of Spiritual Enlightenment Qi.

Consciousness sinks into the ocean of the origin of rules.

The emerald glow of the Life Rule and the dark light of the Death Rule collided first, like water and fire meeting, erupting into violent ripples of rules.

Life and death, creation and destruction—two diametrically opposed forces were forcibly combined under Lin Yi's will.

He needs to find that delicate line, where life contains the essence of death, and where death gives birth to new life.

In my mind, I kept simulating the transformation, balance, and unity of life and death.

The five-year cycle has ended, and progress has been slow, only initially curbing the intense conflict between the two sets of rules.

In the second five-year cycle, the Spiritual Enlightenment Qi reignites.

We must continue our arduous journey towards a life-or-death integration.

With the groundwork laid in the first cycle, Lin Yi gained a deeper understanding of the essence of life and death.

He contemplated the process of the World Tree Seed from birth to death, and experienced the eternal silence within the Breath of the Nether River.

Gradually, emerald green and somber darkness ceased to be mutually exclusive, but began to permeate each other, forming a Dynamic, hazy, balanced energy containing endless mysteries.

The second five-year period ended, and the rules of life and death were successfully integrated.

The goal of the third five-year cycle is to initially integrate time, space, life, and death.

The silvery light of Time Rule and the invisible veins of Space Rule are incorporated.

Lin Yi needs to integrate the dimensions of time and space into the newborn power of life and death.

Let life bloom and fade in time, and let death permeate and solidify in space.

This involves nesting and interweaving of rule levels, which greatly increases the difficulty.

The Spiritual Enlightenment Qi was being consumed rapidly, and it seemed as if a model of the birth and death of multiple dimensional universes was being constructed simultaneously in the mind.

Five years have passed, and the rules of spacetime and the power of life and death have initially established a connection, but they are far from being perfectly integrated; only a rough framework has been built.

The fourth five-year cycle will deepen the integration of time, space, life, and death.

Lin Yi continued to pour his Spiritual Enlightenment Qi into refining the rough framework.

Time is no longer a one-way flow, but can resonate with the cycle of life and death; space is no longer a fixed container, but can expand and collapse with birth and death.

Lin Yi's understanding of time and space becomes more three-dimensional and cruel with the addition of life and death.

With the investment of Spiritual Enlightenment Qi over the past five years, his integration with the power of time and space and life and death has significantly improved, the framework has become more stable, and the power of life and death and time and space has begun to be initially integrated.

In the fifth five-year cycle, the Metal Rule began to take hold.

This is the last and the strongest piece of the puzzle.

The Metal Rule represent ultimate Sharpness, solidity, immortality, and ruthlessness.

How can it be compatible with the four-fold Rule Domain that contains the cycle of birth and death and the great power of spacetime?

Can Sharpness truly sever life and death?

Is it sturdy enough to withstand spacetime distortion?

Is immortality something that endures beyond the end of all things?

Is killing an extreme form of death?

Lin Yi fell into unprecedented deep thought, his Spiritual Enlightenment Qi being consumed at an unprecedented rate as he deduced countless possibilities.

He tried to imbue death with the "Sharpness" of gold, making the end more resolute; he tried to imbue the core of life with the "strength" of gold, making new life more resilient; he tried to integrate the "immortality" of gold into the long river of time, searching for that eternal and unchanging "one".

Deduction, failure, and re-deduction

Consciousness teeters on the edge of its limits, the soul dances on the edge of a knife.

Finally, at the very moment when the fifth five-year cycle was about to end—

A sudden inspiration!

He understood.

Gold is not external to life, death, time, and space; it is one of the fundamental material laws that constitute all things in the universe and carry out the rules of operation.

Its Sharpness is the "driving force" of the evolution of rules; its solidity is the "carrier" of its existence; its immortality is a "concept" relative to the mundane; its ruthlessness is the "appearance" of the collision of rules.

It is not a foreign object that needs to be "integrated" into, but rather a "foundation" that already exists in every corner of this nascent field!

"Buzz!"

The moment this realization occurred, deep within Lin Yi's Soul Origin, the five perfect rule runes completely lost their boundaries and merged perfectly together.

Five-fold Rule Domain, complete!

"Boom!!"

A deafening roar, as if the heavens and earth were splitting apart, exploded from the depths of Lin Yi's Soul Origin.

A powerful force, like the first ray of light at the beginning of the universe, instantly swept over Lin Yi's entire body, washing over every inch of his flesh, every cell, and even his most primal soul.

The space within the cultivation chamber groaned under its own weight, the flow of time became chaotic, and life and death alternated, with Sharpness golden light tearing through the void only to be smoothed out in an instant.

A sense of "omnipotence" arises spontaneously, as if one controls the birth and death of all things and holds sway over the cycle of time and space.

Although Lin Yi knew this was just an illusion caused by the surge in power, this power was truly intoxicating.

After a long while, this astonishing transformation gradually subsided.

Lin Yi reopened his eyes. Deep within them, a chaotic vortex seemed to be slowly swirling, reflecting the birth and death of the world and its essence.

He felt the unified, boundless Fusion Rule Power within his body, and a satisfied smile finally appeared on his lips.

It was a success.

Five-fold Rule Domain integration.

Lin Yi briefly sensed the Soul Origin. The Spiritual Enlightenment Qi he had accumulated over eighty years was now depleted, leaving only the last five years' worth.

"Over forty years were spent perfecting the Death Rule, and forty years were spent fusing with the rules. And this was with a mountain of treasures. Sure enough, the further one Rule Comprehension, the greater the consumption."

Lin Yi sighed softly, but his eyes were filled with joy.

During this period of seclusion, his strength underwent a qualitative leap.

Lin Yi pondered to himself, "I wonder, in my current state, if I were to face a true Star Domain level opponent, even just an ordinary early-stage Star Domain level opponent, would I be able to hold my own, or even defeat them?"