The Virtual Universe, the Cultivation Ground.
Dressed in white, Yu Duan moved like a phantom. Light and shadow intertwined, refracting into several white afterimages.
"Light Splitting Stab!"
The Light and Time Sword in Yu Duan's palm, gleaming like pure crystal, suddenly trembled. Countless winding platinum patterns lit up along the blade, and a layer of radiant light-rain appeared, condensing into a razor-sharp sword beam.
But the next instant, the hazy light-rain swirling around the blade abruptly fell apart. The brilliant sword beam dimmed, striking the strength target that resembled a metal stele.
"Master, according to the sword technique's instructions, to use 'Light Splitting Stab' at Star Level, you need to have at least crossed the threshold of the Law of Light!" Tianran, the intelligent assistant, blinked and hurried over to Yu Duan's side, speaking softly to comfort him.
Crossing the threshold of the Law of Light was a basic requirement. Meeting it didn't mean he would necessarily be able to use the technique successfully.
Yu Duan couldn't help rolling his eyes. "I know. I'm just practicing and trying out the Force Application Technique described in Sword Technique Annotations."
Force Application Technique was different from the consciousness strength of a Spirit Reader, or Mental Power Amplitude.
Every increase in consciousness strength required arduous mental training and the gradual honing of one's will and consciousness.
But physical Force Application Technique was different. Replacing a crude, clumsy way of exerting force with a more refined method that better followed the laws of mechanics could bring a clear improvement in a short time.
Yu Duan was in a similar situation now.
Looking at the words 'Force Amplitude: 24 times' displayed on the strength target, Yu Duan nodded with satisfaction.
As expected of a top-tier sword technique that led directly to perfect 100-fold force application. It was countless times better than the accompanying force-bursting technique in Morning Dawn Nine Blades.
And at the same level of explosive force, it consumed far less stamina.
"I still need to keep working at it... I hope my practical skills, like force application and movement techniques, won't hold me back when the ranking tournament begins."
A Force Amplitude of 24 times was already excellent among the Star Level Fighters of the universe.
But among the geniuses of Beiming Sacred Land, thirty times was the most ordinary standard, forty times was just barely excellent, and fifty times was considered first-rate.
"There's a training class today on 'Practical Applications of the Light Domain.' Remind me about it."
Yu Duan continued practicing his Force Application Technique. Suddenly remembering something, he gave Tianran an instruction.
Tianran hurriedly saluted. "Yes, Master! ∠(°ゝ°)!"
Aside from the first few public lessons Yu Duan had attended on improving his domains and comprehending laws, all the public classes he had booked afterward were training classes on practical combat.
The reason was simple: he felt the instructors' lessons weren't very useful, and he'd be better off learning more combat techniques.
The universe was vast, its starry seas boundless.
On the scale of the universe, a single rotation of a Vortex Galaxy might take tens of thousands of eras, or even hundreds of thousands.
Against such an almost eternal expanse of time, five years was indeed as brief as a moment, hardly worth mentioning.
But to Yu Duan, five years... even counting both his previous and present lives, was no short time.
Beiming Sacred Land was the top training ground for geniuses in a High-level Universe Country.
Though competition here was fierce, compared with the perilous society of the wider universe, it was an ivory tower.
In his nearly five years at Beiming Sacred Land, aside from classes, training, and sparring, Yu Duan had spent time with the few friends he had.
Core Members of the Sacred Land didn't need to risk their lives like those in the Core Layer of the Five Peak Powers. Even World Lord Level Members were at most sent away on assignment; they didn't need to go to places like the Outer Battlefield.
Virtual Universe, Beiming Sea space.
On An Yao's private planet, fierce snowstorms howled through the gloom.
Inside a spacious palace, Yu Duan, An Yao, Chi Li, and another young man with crimson hair sat together. A small brazier stood before them, heating liquor that was expensive even in the Virtual Universe.
"The ranking tournament starts in two months. Yu Duan, are you confident you can break into the top thousand?"
An Yao's bronze skin gleamed like metal beneath the lights. He lifted his cup and looked at Yu Duan beside him.
Over the past five years, Yu Duan had advanced at an astonishing pace.
He hadn't gone out of his way to show off, but neither had he deliberately concealed his strength. When sparring with friends, he never held back. After all, they were all stronger than he was.
Less than two months after advancing to the Fifth Domain, he had broken through to the Sixth Domain.
His rate of progress had stunned both An Yao and Chi Li.
But once they recovered, the two immediately started betting on how long it would take Yu Duan to break through again.
Yu Duan had wanted to join in the fun and place a bet himself, maybe earn a little money on the side. But Chi Li had excluded him on the grounds that it wouldn't be fair.
After that, Yu Duan continued breaking through at an almost incomprehensible pace, slowing only after advancing to the Ninefold Domain.
After all, the price for borrowing insight into the Ninefold Domain was 25.6 million hours of sunbathing. Even with a 1,200-fold increase in efficiency, it still took around two years and five months.
"The top thousand..."
Yu Duan downed the liquor in his cup, savoring its fragrance as it seeped into his soul. Then he smiled. "My target is the top hundred."
Among the Star Level core students, most had reached the peak of the Ninefold Domain and touched the Source Law. Only 342 had crossed the threshold of a Source Law.
Chi Li moved closer with a coquettish laugh, using her ample chest to intimidate Yu Duan. "Tsk, looks like little brother Yu Duan is pretty confident?"
An Yao gave a lecherous grin and chuckled. "That won't be easy. Even if you're confident you can cross the threshold of a Source Law, there's too little time."
Seeing everyone look toward him, Yu Duan immediately changed the subject. "Enough about me. Are you confident you can make a run for third place this time?"
At the last ranking tournament, An Yao hadn't yet mastered the first level of the Light and Time Sword, 'Light Splitting Stab.'
Now, An Yao had not only mastered 'Light Splitting Stab,' but had also moved beyond merely managing to use it. He had truly gotten the hang of it.
Of course, even if An Yao perfected 'Light Splitting Stab,' he still wouldn't be able to challenge the top two.
The top two were both old hands, over five thousand years old. They had taken part in the previous Genius Tournament and crossed the threshold of a Higher Origin Law long ago.
"Of course I'm confident!"
The lecherous grin vanished from An Yao's face. Determination filled his eyes. "Who else could take third place but me?"
Chi Li rolled her eyes, her expression brimming with allure. "You're getting cocky. Don't come crying after someone beats you to a pulp."
Beside them, the somewhat reserved red-haired young man smiled. "I believe in Brother An Yao. He'll definitely make it to third place."
The red-haired young man was named Chilian Gust Claton. The first two names were both surnames.
It was easy to guess from his name that he was a genius from the imperial family of the Chilian Divine Empire.
The first surname, Chilian, came from the founding ancestor of the Chilian Divine Empire. The great Lord of the Kingdom had personally bestowed the title Marquis Chilian upon him. He was also one of the top hundred powerhouses in the entire Universe Country.
The second surname, Gust, was the name of the strongest member of Claton's branch—a mighty Immortal God.
Over the past few years, Yu Duan had continued breaking through, and his performance in training classes had grown more and more astonishing.
In particular, after soaring from the Third Domain to the Ninefold Domain in just around three years, he had become famous throughout Beiming Sacred Land, drawing the attention of more than one Immortal God.
Rumors even spread that when the Sacred Land's director reported to the great Lord of the Kingdom, the Lord had taken an interest in this little Star Level prodigy.
No one knew whether it was true, and no one dared investigate.
In any case, after the rumor spread, countless people began asking around about Yu Duan, hoping to make his acquaintance. Claton was one of them.
When Claton learned that Yu Duan came from his own star sector, he went straight to visit him, bringing a Light and Time Sword as a gift.
Faced with a gift that could fetch two or three Hunyuan Units at auction, Yu Duan immediately accepted Claton as a good friend.
Beiming Sea, in the real world.
Yu Duan opened his eyes in the cultivation room on the villa's second floor. A brilliant starry radiance flashed and vanished.
"Almost there... There's still enough time."
Yu Duan spoke softly. His brilliant starry domain spread out, enveloping the cultivation room like a divine realm on earth.
The dazzling starry domain even seemed poised to outshine the simulated blue star.
Through layer upon layer of vortex-like starry domains, Yu Duan could sense the hazy, indistinct, yet boundless fluctuations of the Light Origin coming from the depths of the universe.
In the space within Yu Duan's body, the Book of Causality, wreathed in seven-colored light, floated silently.
"Repaying the borrowed cost: basking in sunlight for 25.6 million hours. Current progress: 24.79 million hours and..."
The progress bar still needed about 810,000 more hours to fill. At 1,200 times efficiency, it would take roughly another 28 days.
Before you continue