The Light Domain

"Whoosh!"

Brilliant white light shimmered around Yu Duan, and his whole body seemed to turn into a blur, flickering through the gravity chamber.

He activated Leap of Rosy Clouds. In an instant, the force applied by his legs surged to seven times its normal level, pushing his speed amplification past threefold. With his Light Ray Manifestation talent, his speed rose even further.

Normally, a Planetary Level powerhouse could run at around one kilometer per second. But when Yu Duan went all out with his movement technique, his speed easily exceeded five kilometers per second.

Of course, he couldn't reach that speed under the gravity of Light Source Planet at five hundred times its normal strength.

"Movement techniques at the Unity of Heaven and Man level only increase speed slightly, but they greatly improve agility and reduce energy consumption!"

Brilliant Xi Guang swirled around Yu Duan. As his figure flickered back and forth, he seemed to become the morning light that truly pierced the darkness, darting and weaving through the gravity chamber.

A moment later, a sheen of sweat appeared on Yu Duan's forehead.

Going all out with his movement technique already took a toll, and the burden of five-hundredfold Light Source Planet gravity made the consumption more than five hundred times greater.

"Looks like the gravity chamber won't work. If I want to grind out the progress, I'll still need to..."

As Yu Duan felt the changes in his body, he let his awareness slip into the Book of Causality. At once, he noticed something was wrong.

All the other characters on the Book of Causality had vanished, leaving only a single line of ancient script: "Repaying the price. Move more than 1,000,000 kilometers at full speed using Leap of Rosy Clouds. Current progress: 294.7 kilometers."

The gravity chamber was barely the size of a palm. Even after using his movement technique at full speed and darting around in circles dozens of times, Yu Duan had covered only a little over twenty kilometers.

"Does the repayment rate change depending on the environment?"

Yu Duan hurriedly tested it, using his movement technique at full speed while keeping a close eye on the repayment progress displayed in the Book of Causality.

About a minute later, he confirmed the change in efficiency. Under the current gravity, moving one kilometer at full speed with his technique counted for roughly twelve kilometers under Light Source Planet's normal gravity.

"The gravity chamber really does speed things up. I'll need more time to rest, but the actual efficiency will still increase significantly—even if it's not twelvefold."

Yu Duan's eyes lit up. It was like playing a game and suddenly seeing the boss's health bar drop by a huge chunk.

There was nothing more to say. He just had to grind.

"Number One, I'm going to train hard in the gravity chamber. Prepare food and energy supplements according to my physical condition and needs."

After Yu Duan finished speaking, the voice of the intelligent assistant rang out. "Understood. Your request has been recorded, Yu Duan."

In the blink of an eye, nearly ten days passed.

In the spacecraft's control room, Master Zhen Li, Kun Zhu, and Shen Jian were discussing what identity they should use to make contact with the civilizations of the universe.

For the moment, they had yet to reach an agreement.

Shen Jian raised his right wrist, where his Optical Computer was, and casually checked on Yu Duan, who was still training hard in the gravity chamber.

"It's been ten days, and Yu Duan is still training... No wonder he has movement techniques and combat skills at the Artistic Conception Level."

Shen Jian's voice was no longer as gentle as usual. Instead, it carried a note of admiration.

Talent was only the foundation of becoming a powerhouse. Willpower and hard work were just as essential.

Master Zhen Li's aged voice sounded. "Indeed. Yu Duan's comprehension surpasses yours and mine. Only Kun Zhu has Artistic Conception Level insight."

Unlike Earthlings' terrifying comprehension...

Even among Apprentice Level Earthlings, there had been more than one genius with Artistic Conception Level insight.

Light Source People became Apprentice Level One upon reaching adulthood, and their physical talent was much stronger than that of Earthlings. Yet on the entire planet, aside from Yu Duan, only Kun Zhu possessed Artistic Conception Level insight.

"Yu Duan's understanding of artistic conception is deeper than mine. Every movement of his seems more... in tune with nature?"

Kun Zhu didn't know about the Unity of Heaven and Man.

After all, according to the common knowledge of the universe, the levels of combat skills and secret techniques were divided into four stages: basic, artistic conception, domain, and world. There was no Unity of Heaven and Man.

Still, Kun Zhu could sense that the rhythm and artistic conception Yu Duan displayed while practicing his movement technique were more distinctive. He just didn't know how to describe it.

Meanwhile, inside the gravity chamber...

Yu Duan's figure darted swiftly through the high-gravity environment. Brilliant light poured from his abilities, leaving behind streaks of fleeting afterimages.

"I finally finished the progress bar."

Yu Duan panted heavily. Though he seemed to be resting, his awareness had entered the space within his body.

The ancient writing on the Book of Causality changed once more.

[Dawn Artistic Conception] Light-type artistic conception, level: Unity of Heaven and Man. May advance insight into the "First Layer Light Domain." Price to repay: bathe in sunlight for 100,000 hours.

[Dawn Blade] Self-created martial art, level: Unity of Heaven and Man. May advance to "Trivial" level domain application techniques. Price to repay: execute a full-power sword strike 1,000,000 times.

[Leap of Rosy Clouds] Self-created martial art, level: Unity of Heaven and Man. May advance to "Trivial" level domain application techniques. Price to repay: move 1,000,000 kilometers at full speed using a movement technique.

[Daybreak Force] Self-created force application technique, level: sevenfold force. May advance to eightfold force. Price to repay: apply maximum force 8,000 times.

"Domain application techniques? Looks like starting at Domain Level, insight and technique can no longer be improved at the same time."

As a transmigrator, Yu Duan naturally knew that deep attainment in domains and laws, along with their application, were both crucial factors in determining combat strength.

Secret techniques were, in essence, techniques for applying one's insight. They were divided into five levels: trivial, ordinary, top-tier, pinnacle, and ultimate.

"What matters most to me in the early stages is improving my domains and laws. I'll set application techniques aside for now."

Ever since confirming the general setting of the world he'd arrived in, Yu Duan had been eager to join the universe.

He lacked access to a great deal of information, especially about the timeline. What period was he in? Had Luo Feng risen yet?

"Advance my insight into the 'First Layer Light Domain'!"

Rumble!

It was as if a great bell had tolled right beside Yu Duan's ears, leaving his awareness hazy and unsteady.

A vast torrent of insight surged into Yu Duan's mind. At that moment, he felt like the beloved of light and the stars, bathing in a star's corona, wandering and playing within it, one with the source of light.

As the insight poured into his awareness, Yu Duan's aura began to change.

His body, Origin Force, will, and soul entered a state of perfect harmony, as if they had fused completely into one.

More than that, this state of harmony seemed to resonate with the nature and universe around him. Even different forces began to merge, forming an entirely new field of energy.

"Whoosh!"

A hazy, dreamlike white field spread outward from Yu Duan in every direction.

The indistinct, misty white Light Domain flickered faintly, as though answering the countless stars scattered across the vast night sky. It was magnificent and dreamlike.

The hazy Light Domain made Yu Duan's figure appear and disappear, like a divine realm from myth manifesting in the mortal world.

"So this is a domain... What a wondrous resonance."

Yu Duan felt the way he influenced space and his surroundings. Within the domain's range, the light bent and flickered according to his will.