"Looks like when this ranking battle ends and it's time to choose an independent island to build a residence on, I can pick one near a few Divine Palaces where the fluctuations of the Law of Light are stronger."
Through the starry domain that seemed like a swirling vortex, Yu Duan sensed the fluctuations of the laws coming from the direction of the Sacred Land's center. They were countless times stronger than the fluctuations of the laws in natural space.
This was also why it became much harder for Immortal Gods to comprehend other laws: the fluctuations of the Source Laws they emitted interfered with the fluctuations of other laws.
It was like an ordinary person putting on a pair of cheap sunglasses. The scenery before their eyes would become severely discolored, affecting their perception.
"One step at a time. I still have time. First, I'll get grinding!"
Just now, when Yu Duan used the power of the Origin Law of Light, the progress bar in the Book of Causality had instantly gone up a little.
Clearly, using the power of the laws himself could also affect the progress bar.
"Whoosh!"
The Space Ring on Yu Duan's right hand flashed, and a Jingliuli Sword appeared. Its blade was long and slender, faintly refracting natural light into a rainbow of colors. It looked incredibly beautiful.
The Light and Time Sword trembled with a soft ring, and countless complex, profound Law Secret Patterns appeared on its blade.
In an instant, dazzling light flared alongside the Law Secret Patterns, gathering at the tip of the sword into the faint outline of a white spike several meters long.
A shocking, razor-sharp aura swept out.
But the aura lasted only an instant. The Law Secret Patterns on the blade flickered, and the white spike immediately broke apart, dissolving into countless motes of light that vanished in midair.
"Still a failure, but I've improved a lot."
The first level of the Light and Time Sword Technique was the Light Splitting Stab.
It involved condensing a dazzling white light spike and unleashing it in an instant to attack an enemy.
Attacks based on the Source Laws of Light were astonishingly fast. Against Star Level opponents, as long as one took aim, they would almost never miss, making them practically invincible among their peers.
Yu Duan wasn't discouraged, though. The first level of the Light and Time Sword Technique wasn't easy to master.
An Yao had been on the threshold of the Source Laws for nearly a hundred years, and only managed to use the first level, the Light Splitting Stab, with difficulty less than ten years ago.
"That move just now had too many problems. The way the laws flowed... clearly clashed with the fluctuations of the laws found throughout nature. It went against Unity of Heaven and Man."
Yu Duan frowned slightly as he recalled the fluctuations in the laws' flow. Then he thrust the Light and Time Sword again.
This time, the condensed light spike was a little more dazzling, clearly showing some improvement.
"Just as I thought. I was right."
"The boost from Unity of Heaven and Man might be even greater than I imagined."
Unity of Heaven and Man meant harmonizing with nature, with Heaven and Earth. It was a state of mind that allowed Yu Duan to align himself more closely with nature.
There was no such concept as 'Unity of Heaven and Man' in the common knowledge of the universe.
"I wonder if practicing in the Virtual Universe can increase the progress bar."
Yu Duan immediately sent a wisp of consciousness into the Virtual Universe.
A moment later, Yu Duan opened his eyes again, somewhat disappointed.
"If I can't grind in the Virtual Universe, I'll just do it in the real world. It'll only be a little harder and more tiring."
In the Virtual Universe, one could instantly recover after running out of stamina, Origin Force, and the like.
That wasn't possible in the real world. At least, Yu Duan couldn't do it yet, so his efficiency was much lower than in the Virtual Universe.
Several days passed in the blink of an eye.
Having just reached the threshold of the Source Laws, Yu Duan began combining his domain with the power of the laws to practice the first level of the Light and Time Sword Technique all day long.
When his stamina ran out, he rested. When his Origin Force ran out, he took pills.
He didn't idle during his breaks or while recovering, either. He reviewed the problems he'd noticed each time he used the Light Splitting Stab.
Eventually, he was completely mentally exhausted. It wasn't just fatigue in his body and mind; his will was worn down, too.
Normally, even going a month without sleep would barely affect a Star Level fighter's condition.
But Yu Duan's relentless grinding was different. He'd been pushing himself beyond his limits for several days straight, and he was so exhausted his vision went black. Tianran had to urge him to hurry up and sleep.
Still, this 'crazy grind' hadn't let Yu Duan down.
"Three days, and the progress bar jumped by a whole seventy-nine days!?"
After resting, the first thing Yu Duan did was check the Book of Causality. He was greeted with a huge surprise.
The essence of the Book of Causality was to reverse cause and effect.
He could enjoy the 'effect' ahead of time, then repay the 'cause' afterward.
So the harder Yu Duan worked, the faster he could repay it.
And working harder also tempered his will.
A strong will was one of the key factors in becoming a powerful fighter.
Besides, Yu Duan considered his comprehension pretty decent. As he ground away, he could feel himself making clear progress. It was definitely getting several benefits at once!
"I love cultivation so much. If I don't cultivate for a day, I feel awful!" Yu Duan was brimming with energy, his face beaming with delight as he threw himself back into the great undertaking of grinding through his progress.
Time flew by, and nearly a month passed.
In the training room of Yu Duan's villa.
"Huh? You reached the threshold of the Source Laws!?"
"You haven't logged into the Virtual Universe for a month because you've been practicing the Light Splitting Stab this whole time?!"
Chi Li and An Yao stared in shock at the 'savage' before them.
In this state, Yu Duan could certainly be called a savage. His clothes were disheveled, his hair was a mess, and despite being a Star Level fighter, he somehow looked filthy.
"Haha, An Yao, you came at just the right time. Grinding by myself isn't as fun as sparring with someone. Let's have a match!"
With his hair sticking up like a bird's nest, Yu Duan's eyes gleamed as he gripped the Light and Time Sword and stared excitedly at An Yao.
An Yao shuddered and watched Yu Duan warily. "What are you doing, Duan? Can't we spar in the Virtual Universe?"
"Only sissies go to the Virtual Universe. Real men want to trade real blows. Enough talk—eat my half-step Light Splitting Stab!"
"Damn you, you're the sissy! Come on, let's see who gives up first!"
An Yao couldn't take it anymore. His smooth, bronze-colored scalp turned faintly red, and he waved his right hand, summoning a Light and Time Sword of his own.
Whoosh!
Dazzling power from the Origin Law of Light flashed across their blades. The swords in their hands, seemingly made of pure crystal, transformed in an instant into searing white streaks, so brilliant they were hard to look at.
"Hey, hey, why are you suddenly fighting?"
Chi Li watched An Yao and Yu Duan in alarm.
She knew An Yao's personality well. He was just a brawler; all it took was a little provocation to get him to fight.
But Yu Duan wasn't like that.
In Chi Li's impression, Yu Duan planned everything he did. He was never in a hurry, always unhurried and steady, with a certain inexplicable calm about him.
How had he turned into 'An Yao' after just one month apart?
Six days later, on the first day of the Star Level ranking battle at Beiming Sacred Land.
Early in the morning, numerous Star Level students gathered in the Virtual Universe.
At that moment, An Yao stood in the middle of the crowd, looking at Chi Li and their other close friends as he bitterly accused Yu Duan, full of regret.
"You have no idea what I've been through these past few days. Yu Duan... he's not human! Once he gets going, he never stops!"
"I wonder if any Star Level fighters have ever died of exhaustion in history. I don't think so."
"If I'm worked to death, I'll set a new record in the annals of civilization. I'll become famous throughout humanity before my own ancestor!"
Remembering the 'horrific' life he'd endured over the past six days, An Yao felt he'd never been this exhausted in his life. His face showed the relief of someone who'd narrowly escaped disaster.
Chi Li blinked her purple eyes and smiled sweetly. "What, he wanted you, so you gave in?"
"Damn it... He came at me swinging that huge sword of his. What was I supposed to do?" An Yao beat his chest, looking utterly aggrieved.
Suddenly, Yu Duan appeared in a flash of white armor. When he spotted An Yao in the crowd, his eyes lit up. "An Yao!"
An Yao's face changed. He hurriedly hid behind Chi Li and pointed at Yu Duan, shouting, "Don't come any closer! The competition hasn't started yet. Attacking someone now is against the rules, I'm warning you!"
Before you continue