A Year

September 2051, inside the Gravity Room.

"Lin Qingyu, your progress in the Control Chapter of Mental Master training has been excellent. You've already mastered all nine key formulas. You're truly impressive—just as expected of a monstrous genius with a Gene Level fifty times higher than normal." Bata praised Lin Qingyu as he effortlessly controlled his Mental Power Weapon under tens of thousands of times Earth's gravity.

In three months, Lin Qingyu had met Bata's requirements even by the harshest standards Bata had set.

Even without counting his Gene Level, Lin Qingyu's Base Consciousness Amplitude had reached 70. Among Universe Level experts, only a portion had a Consciousness Amplitude exceeding fifty.

A realm that other cultivators—even most geniuses—might fail to reach in their entire lives had taken Lin Qingyu only three months.

"It's all right. This is still just the foundation-building stage. My talent is good, my will is strong, and I've already grasped a Domain. Reaching this level is perfectly normal," Lin Qingyu said.

He did not display much pride.

What he was currently training in truly was all foundational. Even amplitude was merely "Base Amplitude."

In the vast universe's cultivation system, amplitude was actually divided into two types. One was called Base Amplitude, while the other could be called Secret Technique Amplitude or an Amplitude Secret Technique.

The maximum Base Amplitude for both the body and consciousness was 100. The body's Base Amplitude was also known as force exertion; reaching 100 meant one could instantly unleash a hundred times one's strength. A Consciousness Base Amplitude of 100 meant being able to control one hundred streams of Mental Force simultaneously, each exerting full power, while also combining them to multiply their total strength.

Base Body Amplitude and Consciousness Amplitude did not require one to cultivate additional Secret Methods to modify the body or Mental Force.

However, while Base Amplitude might offer some advantage against ordinary experts, it was useless against World Lords or geniuses aiming to become Undying.

Because to become Undying, both one's Base Body Amplitude and Consciousness Amplitude had to reach 100. Geniuses from major powers, as well as World Lords with hopes of breaking through to Undying, could all achieve a hundredfold Base Amplitude. As for the Undying? Naturally, every one of them could do so.

The other type was Secret Technique Amplitude. It required cultivating Special Envoy Amplitude Secret Techniques, and the process often required modifying one's body and Mental Force. The amplitudes granted by Secret Methods such as "Myriad Manifestations" and the "Supreme Demonic Sound Secret Codex" belonged to Secret Technique Amplitude. They could continue increasing after Base Amplitude reached 100. The limit of Secret Technique Amplitude was likewise a hundredfold.

However, Amplitude Secret Techniques were treasures. Not to mention ordinary geniuses—even most King-level Immortals did not possess them.

Besides amplitude, there was also one's foundation: Gene Level.

Lin Qingyu's Gene Level was fiftyfold. This fiftyfold strength was something he had been born with, so both his Origin Force and Mental Force were fifty times those of warriors and Mental Masters at the same level.

Although Gene Level could be raised after birth, such improvements usually enhanced only one aspect. For example, Blood Luo Crystals could only strengthen the body and could not increase Mental Force.

Of course, after reaching Undying, one's Spiritual Imprint would merge into the Immortal God Body.

The Immortal God Body was both body and soul. The strength of the Immortal Divine Power forming it was calculated according to one's highest Gene Level multiplier, so enhancing only one aspect was not much of an issue. Before breaking through to Undying, one might be inferior to naturally powerful lifeforms, but after reaching the Undying level, there would be no weakness in consciousness.

"Lin Qingyu, are you really not planning to spare some time to cultivate Origin Force and Mental Force?" Bata asked. "Your Gene Level is fiftyfold. At Planetary level 1st stage, you can rival Planetary level 6th stage or even Tier 7, but the energy you need to accumulate for a breakthrough is also far greater than that of ordinary warriors or Mental Masters. You should still spend some time cultivating Mental Force and Origin Force."

"There's no need. Cultivating Mental Force and Origin Force now would just be a waste of time," Lin Qingyu said. "For now, Secret Methods and Domains should take priority."

This aspect of Lin Qingyu gave Bata quite a headache.

Lin Qingyu completed every other training objective with both quality and quantity, often exceeding expectations.

Only when it came to cultivating Origin Force and Mental Force did Lin Qingyu always go through the motions, or simply not cultivate at all.

Only when Bata pushed him urgently did he put on a show of cultivating for a bit, before turning around and going back to practicing Secret Methods.

"I know you intend to buy treasures in the universe to improve yourself directly, but aren't you afraid your foundation will become unstable?" Bata asked.

"I'm not." Lin Qingyu shook his head. "When others use treasures to break through and end up with unstable foundations, it's because their mastery over their own Origin Force and Mental Force is too low, delaying their comprehension of Domains. But I've already grasped a Domain and reached Domain Fifth Level. Before long, I'm confident I can reach the sixth level, perhaps even grasp the Origin Law. My control over my own Origin Force and Mental Force far surpasses my current level. My foundation won't become unstable."

"All right. I've heard that top powers like the Virtual Universe Company really do nurture geniuses this way. They directly skip minor-level breakthroughs with treasures, while major-level advancement, Secret Method cultivation, and comprehension of Origin Laws depend on the geniuses themselves. With your talent, you really can cultivate using this approach," Bata said.

Different people required different training plans. If the Virtual Universe Company's method for training geniuses were used on warriors or Mental Masters of ordinary talent, it would only get them killed during training. But when used to train true geniuses, it could allow them to become King-level Immortals.

The plan Bata had originally used to train ordinary Earthlings truly was not suited for Lin Qingyu.

"All right, I've adjusted your training plan. From now on, we won't arrange any more time for cultivating Origin Force and Mental Force. You've almost completed the Control Chapter, so next, focus directly on cultivating the 'Soul Seal' and the 'Tower of Void.'"

"Okay." Lin Qingyu nodded.

December 2051. The spar Lin Qingyu had arranged with Hong took place as scheduled.

Lin Qingyu brought Luo Feng along for this spar, while Hong came with Thor.

Lin Qingyu did not use his full strength. At his current level, if he fought Hong and Thor seriously, he could suppress both of them in a single move. That would have been nothing but bullying, so Lin Qingyu did not do so.

Yet even without using his full strength, Lin Qingyu easily defeated Hong and Thor one against two.

After observing the spar, Luo Feng silently resolved to make Lin Qingyu his goal to strive toward.

After this spar, Hong even proposed having Lin Qingyu serve as the First Speaker, but Lin Qingyu refused. Power on Earth meant little to him. Becoming First Speaker would make the entire world pay attention to his movements, and he did not want to remain under scrutiny at such a crucial time, when he was about to head into the universe.

Before the Golden Horn Beast arrived on Earth, Lin Qingyu did not intend to publicly disclose information related to the universe on a large scale.

March 2052.

"I can finally use one thousand sword seals of the Ten Thousand Sword Soul Seal," Lin Qingyu muttered.

"Indeed, your Mental Force control techniques have improved again. Being able to deploy one thousand sword seals at the Planetary level is truly monstrous. Many at the Planetary level can't even meet the basic requirements for the Soul Seal." Bata sighed. "With your current control techniques, even if you don't improve any further, you'll be able to use the Enslavement Soul Seal once you reach the Star level. By the way, how many levels of the Tower of Void have you cultivated?"

"The first level, but I've already mastered it," Lin Qingyu said.

"Very good. The Tower of Void is extremely important. If my old master had been able to cultivate the Tower of Void to the realm of a seven-tier pagoda, he might not have fallen in the great Tribulation fifty thousand years ago." Bata said, "When wandering the universe, survival techniques are extremely important."

"Mm." Lin Qingyu nodded and continued studying the Secret Methods Hu Yanbo had left behind.

June 2052.

"Lin Qingyu, I have good news for you." Bata's voice carried a trace of excitement.

"I can probably guess what it is, but I also have good news to tell you," Lin Qingyu said.

"Uh, what news?" Bata asked curiously.

"I've reached Domain Sixth Level," Lin Qingyu said.

"Damn, are you trying to defy the heavens?!" Bata was startled by Lin Qingyu's achievement.

"By the way, you should have finished repairing the Black Dragon Mountain X-81 spacecraft, right?" Lin Qingyu said.

"Mm, it's repaired. That's exactly what I came to tell you," Bata said.

"Good. Then it's time for us to make a trip into the universe." Lin Qingyu smiled.