I Have to Say Goodbye for Now
Stepping through the portal, Lin Yi felt as if he had passed through a layer of cold, viscous water, or as if he had stepped off a cliff into a bottomless abyss.
All external sounds, light, and even a stable sense of space were instantly stripped away.
Instead, there was a feeling of weightlessness and dizziness, along with violent and primal spatial fluctuations surging from all directions.
However, this feeling did not last long.
Soon, he appeared on a "land," if this platform, which was constantly twisting and stretching, and occasionally breaking and reforming like a bubble, could be called land.
Lin Yi noticed that the semi-transparent silver substance beneath his feet was reflecting the bizarre and colorful scene above.
Above, there is no sky, only layers upon layers of spatial folds, like an abstract painting spilled from an overturned bucket of paint—silver white, deep purple, dark black, and dark blue. Various colors and lights representing different spatial states and dimensions vanish and are reborn within it.
In the distance, enormous spatial rifts opened and closed like living things, spewing out chaotic fragments of laws. Closer at hand, subtle spatial ripples emanated incessantly, emitting a hum that reached the very Soul Origin.
Just standing here, Lin Yi felt the power of the Space Law he had initially grasped stirring within his body, like a drop of water yearning to return to the sea.
"As expected, it lives up to its reputation."
Lin Yi sighed silently, then quickly regained his composure.
His gaze swept across the relatively stable platform. He wasn't alone; several blurry figures sat cross-legged in the distance, each enveloped in their own protective force field, undisturbed by the others.
Lin Yi didn't waste any time, after all, every second he spent here was burning precious Points.
He quickly chose a relatively secluded spot at the edge of the platform, with a slowly flowing silver spatial barrier behind him as a natural shield, and sat down cross-legged.
Then, with a thought, the laws of time quietly unfolded, forming a stable spherical space with a diameter of about ten meters, isolating the most violent and disorderly spatial turbulence from the outside world.
With preparations complete, Lin Yi took out four pre-prepared items from his storage bracelet.
A deep blue crystal that seemed to contain countless fragments of space flowing inside; a grayish-white stone with a silver halo flowing inside; a crystal bottle containing tiny, shimmering dust particles; and a transparent chip as thin as a cicada's wing that constantly flickers between reality and illusion.
It was he who spent a lot of Points and battle merits to purchase the Space Realm Source Core, Void Nether Stone, Void Resonance Dust, and Dimensional Anchoring Chip.
These four treasures, from the four dimensions of "facing the origin", "perceptual anchoring", "environmental resonance" and "origin affinity", constitute a complete matrix to aid in the understanding of Space Law.
"Let's begin."
Without hesitation, Lin Yi directly attached the Dimensional Anchoring Chip to his forehead.
The chip melted upon contact with his flesh, transforming into a cool, silvery glow that seeped into his soul, giving him a strange sense of "anchoring" to his perception of the violent fluctuations in the surrounding space, as if he had grabbed a sturdy cable in a raging storm.
Next, he opened the jade bottle and evenly sprinkled the Void Resonance Dust inside around his body.
The moment the dust came into contact with the space, it seemed to be activated, emitting a faint buzzing sound that resonated strangely with the chaotic spatial fluctuations around it, making those originally violent and disorderly fluctuations seem to become somewhat traceable.
Then, he held the Void Nether Stone in one hand and solemnly held up the deep blue Space Realm Source Core in the other.
As the Soul Power touched it, the fragment of the source core suddenly lit up.
Lin Yi felt as if his consciousness was suddenly "pulled" in by an irresistible force.
The scene before my eyes has completely changed.
It was no longer a chaotic silver void, but a "Sea of Origin" that defied description.
There is no color, no shape, or rather, color and shape themselves are constantly arising and disappearing at a speed beyond comprehension.
What he "saw" was the birth and annihilation of the most basic building blocks of space, the instant when dimensions went from shrinking to unfolding, and the essential scene of distance being completely distorted, folded, and even erased.
This is one of the sources of Space Law, and the Core Zone where these laws manifest.
The fragment of the Space Realm Source Core projected a wisp of his consciousness directly here.
But that's not the limit.
"Spiritual Enlightenment Qi, ignite!"
Deep within Lin Yi's soul, the vast ocean of purple mist was completely stirred.
Rumble!!
My soul is trembling, my mind is exploding!
In the "direct confrontation with the origin" environment provided by the Space Realm Source Core Fragment, in the soil of "efficient comprehension" within the Void Corridor itself, and with the triple assistance of the Dimensional Anchoring Chip, Void Resonance Dust, and Void Nether Stone, finally, the ultimate catalyst of "Spiritual Enlightenment Qi"—which can exponentially increase comprehension—is added on.
Quantitative change triggered a terrifying qualitative change.
Lin Yi's understanding of the Space Law began to soar at an unprecedented, even insane, speed!
The subtle mysteries of spatial folds that would normally take months or even years to comprehend were now, under multiple layers of superposition, as if forcibly dismantled and instilled, becoming clear in just a few breaths.
The essence of spatial segmentation, the path of dimensional leap, the construction of dimensional barriers, and the selection of nodes for void traversal.
Countless profound and obscure Space Law, like a flood bursting its banks, surged into his soul and were rapidly understood and absorbed.
Deep within the soul, the silver-white mark representing the Space Law began to solidify at a visible speed!
1.2% 1.5% 2.1% 3.0%
My understanding of Space Law is increasing exponentially.
Time loses its meaning in deep cultivation.
Lin Yi's entire mind was immersed in this feast of laws.
He forgot everything around him, forgot the embarrassing first battle of the Star Stillness Squad, and forgot the pressure of the tribal war.
His consciousness was like the most greedy sponge, frantically absorbing the nutrients of the Space Law.
Inside the Void Corridor, Lin Yi's body was enveloped in a faint silver-white cocoon of light. It was a protective layer spontaneously formed by the Space Law, and also an external manifestation of his deepening understanding.
The surrounding turbulent spatial currents impacted the cocoon of light, most of which were deflected and eliminated, while a small portion was absorbed and transformed by the cocoon, nourishing his insights in return.
The power of the Space Realm Source Core Fragment continues to guide the process, the Void Resonance Dust is replenished every ten days, the Dimensional Anchoring Chip provides a stable background amplification, the Void Nether Stone continuously emits gentle primordial fluctuations, and the Spiritual Enlightenment Qi serves as the core driving fuel, burning continuously.
One month later, his comprehension of Space Law exceeded 10%.
Three months later, it exceeded 20%.
Five months later, it broke through 40%!
If word got out that this rate of advancement was enough to leave any deity speechless, or even to make them question the meaning of life.
But this is precisely the result that Lin Yi sought by concentrating all his superior resources on "radical improvement".
As the cultivation period entered its final month, Lin Yi's understanding of the Space Law had reached a completely new level.
With a slight thought, the space around him folded and expanded as if it were a docile pet, according to his will.
He even began to attempt to combine the laws of time and Space Law in a preliminary way. Although it was only the most rudimentary superposition, the resulting ripples in spacetime caused the silver-white cocoon enveloping him to tremble slightly.
Finally, the six-month period is approaching.
The light of the Space Realm Source Core fragment began to dim, its internal energy about to be exhausted.
But Lin Yi felt it was worth it, extremely worth it.
As the last wisp of power from the Space Realm Source Core fragment dissipated, Lin Yi's consciousness was pushed out of that Sea of Origin and returned to his body within the Void Corridor.
He slowly opened his eyes.
In his eyes, the silvery-white light was almost tangible, flowing endlessly, and deep within his pupils seemed to reflect layers upon layers of illusory images.
The Space Law fluctuations emanating naturally from his body were solid and weighty, a world of difference compared to six months ago.
He slightly raised his hand, his five fingers gently clenching.
Click!
A hundred meters ahead, a previously stable area of space was shattered by his hand as if it were glass, revealing a dark and chaotic dimensional rift behind it. However, the edges of the rift were firmly bound by an invisible force, preventing it from spreading.
"My control has improved by more than one level."
Lin Yi sensed the Space Law imprint deep within his soul and made a rough estimate.
53.7%!
In just six months, a leap of over 50 percentage points!
This is the result of concentrating resources and maximizing output.
"It's time to get out." Lin Yi glanced at the still chaotic but no longer tangible spatial turbulence around him, and crushed the Void Positioning Talisman.
The locator was activated, and a stable spatial coordinate force enveloped him.
The next moment, a flash of silver light.
Lin Yi's figure disappeared from the Void Corridor and reappeared behind the silver palace.
With his feet firmly planted on the ground, feeling the spatial parameters return to normal and become incredibly stable, Lin Yi felt as if he had been transported to another world.
"Xuanji, find the fastest commuting route to the Space-Stabilizing Hall and book the Flying Shuttle immediately." He gave the order in his mind as he strode through the silver palace.
The Space-Stabilizing Hall was another place he chose, besides the Void Corridor, for cultivating his understanding of the Space Law.
"Yes, Master. The Flying Shuttle has been booked according to the route plan and is expected to arrive in 10 minutes."
Lin Yi kept walking.
Because the effects of treasures that aid in comprehension, such as the Space Realm Source Core and Dimensional Anchoring Chip, are not constant.
When used for the first time, the soul and the treasure's energy and laws are in a fresh resonance period of initial contact, and the effect is often the best, achieving twice the result with half the effort.
As the usage time increases, the soul will adapt, and the treasure's energy will naturally decrease, greatly reducing its auxiliary effects.
In particular, the manifestation of the primordial essence sealed within the Space Realm Source Core is unique and consumable, becoming completely ineffective after six months. However, the impressions and lingering feelings left upon initial contact may persist for some time.
He had just experienced six months of intense shocks to the laws of space, and his soul's sensitivity to and understanding of the Space Law were at an unprecedentedly active peak.
Going back to rest now and letting this state cool down naturally would undoubtedly be a huge waste.
Therefore, we must strike while the iron is hot, taking advantage of this lingering momentum and the assistance of other treasures that are still in effect, to push our understanding to a higher level in one fell swoop!
The characteristic of Void Resonance Dust, which "periodically falls and triggers resonance," means that it is subject to consumption.
After six months of continuous use, half of the first bottle has already been used up.
To maintain this highly effective resonant environment and continue the sprint, replenishment is necessary.
Ten minutes later, the Flying Shuttle arrived on time.
Lin Yi mounted the shuttle, his target Space-Stabilizing Hall.
Upon arriving at the Space-Stabilizing Hall and having his identity verified, Lin Yi was led into a grand hall with a style completely different from the Void Corridor.
The space here is spacious, with intricate runes engraved on the walls and domed floor. The internal spatial parameters are outrageously stable. If the Void Corridor is the extreme of spatial movement, then the Space-Stabilizing Hall is the extreme of stillness.
Lin Yi wasted no time admiring the environment. The effects of the Dimensional Anchoring Chip and the Void Nether Stone were still ongoing. He immediately sprinkled the dust, and the familiar subtle humming sounded again. Combined with the extremely stable environment Space-Stabilizing Hall, it created a peculiar state of enlightenment. "Stimulating deep ripples in absolute calm."
Lin Yi sat down cross-legged, closed his eyes, and concentrated.
Deep within his soul, the imprint of the Space Law shone brightly, and countless primal mysteries absorbed over the past six months surged into his mind like a tide.
After the fragments of the Space Realm Source Core failed, he lost the "indoctrination" kind of improvement that directly confronted the torrent of origin, but in its place was a more systematic sorting and expansion.
He no longer passively receives information, but actively uses the laws he has comprehended as a foundation to deduce more complex spatial structural changes and to understand the deeper connections between space and matter, energy, and even time.
The Space-Stabilizing Hall provides an excellent environment, with Void Resonance Dust maintaining highly efficient perception and resonance, Dimensional Anchoring Chip and Void Nether Stone continuously provide assistance from different aspects.
Supported by the relentless burning of Spiritual Enlightenment Qi, Lin Yi's soul operated at high speed like a highly sophisticated instrument, thoroughly digesting his previous gains and launching an assault on the unknown realm.
Time flows silently.
One month, two months, three months
The rate at which my comprehension level increases has slowed significantly compared to the six months I spent in the core of the Void Corridor.
Starting from 53.7%, each percentage point increase requires a deeper understanding and more difficult construction.
But Lin Yi was determined, had ample resources, and a clear direction.
He delved into the paradoxical unity of spatial containment and spatial penetration.
He attempted to analyze the stable architecture behind large-scale space teleportation.
He explored how to apply spatial segmentation to more microscopic or macroscopic levels.
He even began to vaguely grasp the boundaries of "space creation," which is not about creating something from nothing, but about defining and stabilizing a tiny, independent space bubble within the existing cosmic framework.
Some of these explorations were successful, leading to a substantial increase in his understanding. Others failed, but they also deepened his understanding of the underlying logic of Space Law.
Day after day, month after month.
Space-Stabilizing Hall, only Lin Yi's even breathing and the increasingly profound silver-white aura of law surrounding him flowed slowly.
The halo sometimes expanded, sometimes contracted, sometimes remained as stable as a mirror, and sometimes rippled with subtle waves, reflecting every adjustment and sublimation of his understanding of the laws deep within his soul.
Two years felt like only a few deep breaths to Lin Yi, who was immersed in the ocean of laws.
When the timed closing time of the Space-Stabilizing Hall arrived, and when the effect of the last wisp of Void Resonance Dust finally dissipated completely, Lin Yi slowly opened his eyes.
This time, the intimidating silver light in his eyes was gone, and all the brilliance of the laws was restrained to the extreme, leaving only a strange depth in the deepest part of his pupils that seemed to devour light.
His aura was harmonious yet subtle; sitting there, he seemed to be one with the surrounding space, yet also seemed capable of transcending it at any moment.
Lin Yi focused his thoughts on his soul.
That Space Law imprint was so complex and precise that it defied description. Layers upon layers of void runes formed a near-perfect three-dimensional structure, slowly rotating and radiating a heart-pounding aura.
Space Law Comprehension Level: 81.7%
From 53.7% when he emerged from the Void Corridor to 81.7% now, despite losing the greatest boost from the Space Realm Source Core Fragment, he managed to increase his Space Law by another 28 percentage points within two years, thanks to the assistance of other treasures, the superior environment of the Space-Stabilizing Hall, and his own relentless efforts.
A comprehension rate of 81.7% means that his mastery of the Space Law has reached an extremely high level.
"Phew, finally, we've reached a temporary stage." Lin Yi stood up and stretched his body slightly.
He felt the surging power within him and the unparalleled sense of control over space, and a sense of groundedness and confidence welled up within him.
Without lingering, he left Space-Stabilizing Hall and boarded the return Flying Shuttle.
Sitting inside the Flying Shuttle, Lin Yi closed his eyes and concentrated, carefully comprehending the immense gains he had made during this seclusion.
"With 80% comprehension of the Space Law, combined with the perfected temporal laws, and the Sky-Evasion Shuttle in the next mission, it will certainly not be a burden."
Lin Yi was absolutely certain of this.
It is important to understand that mastering the two laws means reaching the combat power threshold of a powerful deity.
As far as he knew, Lan and Ming Luo's comprehension of the Second Law in the Star Stillness Squad was less than 30%.
Furthermore, his mastery of the perfected Time Law and the dual superior laws has reached a high level, producing a certain marvelous synergistic effect.
Even without relying on any divine artifacts or combat skills, his understanding and application of the laws of spacetime alone are enough to give him an advantage among ordinary gods.
"Furthermore, with a deeper understanding of the Space Law, I will be able to control the Sky-Evasion Shuttle more easily. In addition, after returning, I need to combine my new insights to cultivate the first level of the Space-Time Rend."
"However, before that, I need to talk to my clone and ask him to come back. After all, his strength has increased so much that he needs to create a new clone."
The Flying Shuttle cut through the sky, heading towards Lin Yi's manor.
New forces require new adjustments and new battlefields to be tested.
But in any case, that "rookie" who was flustered in front of the Void-Eating Jellyfish and needed extra help from his teammates is gone forever.
--
Frontline Fortress, "Star Dust Afterglow" Tavern.
The tavern was dimly lit and played soothing melodies. Small groups of powerful figures, some drinking alone, others conversing in hushed tones, gathered around.
In a semi-enclosed booth by the window, the four members of the Star Stillness Squad were sitting together.
Captain Moon Abyss was still dressed in a moon-white battle robe, his expression aloof, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the menu projected onto the desktop.
Lan sat opposite her, her light wings retracted, holding a drink that shimmered with Star Radiance in her hand, but her gaze was fixed on another light screen in front of her that displayed the task list.
Ming Luo leaned back in his chair with a nonchalant air, several empty cups in front of him, and was looking through information about weapons and equipment on a data panel.
Lin Yi's clone sat next to Lan, his silver-gray metallic face expressionless, simply listening quietly.
His divine body had long been repaired. In the past two and a half years, he had followed the team on two more missions. His performance was somewhat better than when he first fought against the Void-Eating Jellyfish. At least he was more skilled at using the Sky-Evasion Shuttle, and his cooperation with his teammates was more tacit. There were no more dangerous situations that required the captain's emergency rescue.
However, in the eyes of veteran deities like Moon Abyss, Lan, and Ming Luo, the progress was still only barely acceptable, far from meeting the baseline for taking on high-level combat missions.
"Tsk, these missions are either routine patrols or clearing out scattered star beast lairs. The battle merits they give are so stingy." Ming Luo pouted. "At this rate, when will we ever accumulate enough battle merits to exchange for the third level of Annihilation?"
Lan scrolled through the mission screen and said gently, "The safest missions are like this. After all, our team is still in the adjustment period, so choosing low-risk missions is more appropriate."
As he spoke, he glanced at Lin Yi beside him.
Moon Abyss remained silent, simply watching the messages scrolling across the screen.
Lan's finger suddenly stopped. He clicked on a mission detail, looked at it carefully, and a glint of light flashed in his eyes. "Captain, Ming Luo, what do you think of this mission?"
The screen was magnified, and the mission information was displayed in front of them.
[Emergency Support/Clearance Mission: Sector XT-7783, signs of Voidling "Shadow-Skimming Locust" activity detected, suspected of constructing a temporary hatchery. Preliminary assessment of colony size: Small. Mission Requirements: Confirm the hatchery location, eliminate the queen and her main guard forces, and destroy the hatchery. Mission Risk Rating: Medium (Note: This sector is near the edge of the Devouring Race's actual control area; the possibility of encountering enemy squads cannot be ruled out, and there is a low probability of confrontation). Mission Rewards: Base merit 14 million gold merits; confirming the existence of the hatchery and successfully destroying it will grant an additional 6 million gold merits. Additional merits will be calculated based on the enemy units encountered. Completion Time Limit: 2 standard years.]
"Shadow-Skimming Locust. These things are fast, and their attacks have a spatial tearing effect. The mother larva is a bit troublesome, but not too difficult to deal with. The key is the battle merit reward," Ming Luo stroked his chin, his eyes shining, "20 million in base and additional rewards! That's more than what we got when we fought the Void-Eating Jellyfish! If we run into a few clueless Devouring Race scum..."
Lan nodded and said, "The battle merit rewards are indeed very tempting. The risk rating is medium, mainly because of the 'low probability of combat risk.' I know the XT-7783 star sector; it's located on the edge of our territory and the territory controlled by the Devouring Race."
Moon Abyss's gaze lingered on the mission details for a moment before slowly sweeping over his three team members.
Her gaze lingered on Lin Yi for a moment longer, though she quickly looked away.
"As for the mission itself, with our strength, completing it shouldn't be a problem." After a moment of contemplation, Moon Abyss finally spoke, "We are familiar with the characteristics of the Shadow-Skimming Locust swarm. The queen is at most a peak ordinary god-level being, and Lan's Law of Light and my Life and Death Law can effectively restrain her. Although the guard swarm is large in number, Ming Luo's Armor-Piercing Law excels at group attacks and clearing the field."
She paused, then tapped her fingers lightly on the table. "The problem is, there's a low probability of encountering a risk of conflict."
"This means we not only have to complete our mission, but also be constantly on guard against potential third-party enemies. Operating in that environment demands an extremely high level of teamwork, adaptability, and comprehensive combat capability without any weaknesses."
She didn't say it explicitly, but everyone present understood.
Although Lin Yi possesses a decent divine body and divine artifacts, his combat performance has improved, but it is still not enough.
In an environment where high vigilance is required and chaotic battles or even surprise attacks could break out at any time, a player who is not strong enough, whose teamwork is not yet smooth, and whose on-the-spot adaptability may not be able to keep up with the pace, is likely to become the opponent's weak point or drag down the rhythm of the entire team, amplifying the "low probability risk".
After all, the war has already begun, and those god-level beings who survived the extremely high-intensity combat in the early stages are no ordinary fighters.
Therefore, if even the Void-Eating Jellyfish could identify Lin Yi as a weak point in a small-scale battle, how could those incredibly cunning enemy gods not see it?
Lan and Ming Luo also fell silent for a moment.
They certainly considered this as well.
Ming Luo scratched his head, a hint of regret in his eyes.
Lan sighed softly, as if she wanted to say something, but after glancing at Lin Yi, she swallowed her words.
In the end, Moon Abyss gently shook his head, "Let's abandon this mission for now. We'll continue to select other, more reliable ones. Teamwork takes time and requires suitable missions to gradually improve. There's no need to take unnecessary risks for high battle merits."
The atmosphere in the booth paused slightly for a moment.
The temptation of high battle merits is right in front of you, but to give it up because of team cohesion would be hard for anyone to accept.
However, Moon Abyss's decision was based on the overall safety of the team and is beyond reproach.
Although Lan and Ming Luo were disappointed, they nodded in agreement.
They didn't blame Lin Yi; they agreed that newcomers need room to grow.
Lin Yi's clone sat quietly, his gaze capturing every subtle change in his teammates' expressions and tones.
He clearly sensed the consideration behind Captain Moon Abyss's momentary hesitation, saw the fleeting regret in Lan's eyes, and noticed Ming Luo's head-scratching gesture.
A strange feeling welled up inside me.
He knew his teammates had done a good job; they hadn't criticized him at all during the last mission, and had instead taken extra care of him.
But it is precisely because of this tolerance and care that he feels even worse now that the team has to give up a high-reward mission because of him.
He became the weak link that needed to be accommodated.
Lin Yi was about to speak, wanting to say something like, "I can try," "I will be more careful," or even just to express his apology and determination.
But then, a thought struck him, and the words he was about to say stopped in his tracks.
Because, just now, he received a message from Xuanji.
Lin Yi's clone silently processed this sudden news in his mind, and then a relieved smile slowly appeared on his face.
Then he said, "Captain, Lan, Ming Luo, I think this mission is perfectly acceptable. However, while I've enjoyed spending time with you all, I think I need to say goodbye for now."