Manlong Marquis

After entering the secret chamber, Ling Xuan quickly noticed that things were different from last time.

Several of the experts who had been here before had left, and a few newcomers had arrived.

But, just like the others, they were all focused on comprehending the Mysterious Patterns before them.

Thinking of the World Lord Level expert he had just seen, Ling Xuan immediately understood: experts of different levels were allowed different lengths of time to study the patterns.

World Lord Level experts got two thousand years, while Planetary Level experts got only three days.

No wonder he was the only one staying in that little courtyard.

Only a Planetary Level rookie like him, who studied for a short time and needed to digest his insights quickly, would need to enter and leave the Temple so often—and need a place to stay here.

There were no Star Level experts with a domain on Manlong Planet.

Universe Level experts with a domain were few and far between, and their study periods were measured in years or months.

They also needed much longer to digest what they had learned. So once they finished studying, they would leave the Temple at once and return only after they had finished digesting their insights.

At their speed, traveling anywhere on Manlong Planet was easy.

Ling Xuan returned to the new stone slab and sat cross-legged before it, slowly releasing his Flame Domain.

At first, the fluctuations of the Law of Fire he sensed from the Mysterious Patterns were as faint as threads, barely there at all.

Ling Xuan calmed his mind and sat motionless like a statue, devoting himself completely to sensing those faint fluctuations.

Time slipped by, second by second. The temperature around Ling Xuan quietly rose, and his Flame Domain began to change.

His consciousness seemed to be dragged into a vast ocean of flames, where every tongue of fire spoke of ancient mysteries of the laws.

Ling Xuan gritted his teeth and circulated his Origin Force with all his strength, driving his Flame Domain to merge with this power.

Under the onslaught of the waves of fire, his domain sometimes contracted to a single point and sometimes expanded to its limit. With each change, Ling Xuan's consciousness surged and ebbed with the fiery tides, following them and comprehending their secrets.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye. A deafening boom erupted within his domain, and a shackle shattered.

The dark golden Flame Domain surged wildly. Ling Xuan slowly opened his eyes, bright flames dancing in them. He could clearly feel that his Flame Domain had broken through to the Fourth Layer.

Not only that, he could also sense a faint fluctuation in the surrounding cosmic space.

This fluctuation was higher-level than the Law of Fire he had sensed, and even more intense.

"Is this the Law of Fire?" Ling Xuan thought. "I'm close. I'm about to comprehend the Law of Fire. The initial awakening of the Heart of the Martial God has already strengthened my comprehension to this degree. It's truly unbelievable."

The moment he pushed open the secret chamber's door, the Temple Envoy's deep gaze swept over him like a tangible force. "Are you satisfied with your progress this time?"

Ling Xuan's chest rose and fell slightly, excitement shining in his eyes. "I feel like I'm about to touch something profound and mysterious—something even more powerful than a domain."

Even the Temple Envoy, whose composure had weathered countless eras, couldn't help narrowing his eyes.

The boy before him had been at Planetary Level for less than a year, yet he was already about to knock on the door to the Law Domain. That pace was terrifying even by the standards of the universe's most talented.

"Your talent is even greater than we expected. It seems ordinary training plans for geniuses won't be any use to you."

Ling Xuan scratched his head in confusion. Before he could ask anything, the Temple Envoy explained, "We originally expected you to take part in the next Universe Level Fighter Tournament hosted by the Virtual Universe Company. But now, it seems that if we train you with all our resources, you could make it to the Star Level Genius Tournament hosted by the Giant Axe Martial Arena ten years from now."

As he spoke, a column of emerald light shot into the sky. Space twisted like a mirror, forming a spatial passage in an instant.

The passage immediately enveloped Ling Xuan.

Ling Xuan felt the pressure around him surge. When the light faded, he found himself in a magnificent, colossal palace.

Millions of intertwined Zhulong were carved into the domed ceiling, while the purple crystal floor reflected a vast starry river.

"Where is this?" Ling Xuan asked, gazing up at the dome as mysterious light shimmered across it.

"This is the Imperial Planet of the Zhulong Empire, and the place where the Old Ancestor once lived." The Temple Envoy led Ling Xuan onward.

"Is this the ancestral planet of the Zhulong Clan?" Ling Xuan asked curiously.

"Of course not. Our ancestor, Zhulong King, came from the ancient Yanfeng Clan, one of the earliest sparks of human civilization. Yanfeng Planet turned to cosmic dust long ago, lost in the endless river of time.

"The Yanfeng Clan has long since blended into the Cosmic Humans across the universe. Few can recognize Yanfeng Clan members now. Only my Zhulong Lineage, protected by the Old Ancestor, has preserved its bloodline through the ages."

A trace of pride colored the Temple Envoy's voice.

Though Zhulong Ancestor was not among the strongest King-level Immortals, he had lived for an immensely long time and had an extensive network of connections. He was also a living relic of the Human Race, far older and more revered than many ancient Universe Country Lords.

The other Yanfeng branches had no elder like him. Naturally, unlike the Zhulong Lineage, they had never been able to unite as one or maintain an unbroken legacy.

After passing through twelve gates of light, the two arrived at the White Jade Palace.

Inside, an old man in a gold-trimmed robe sat suspended in the Void. A faint halo of laws swirled around him, making him seem like an ancient god.

His presence subtly warped the space around him, and the air was thick with an awe-inspiring pressure.

The Temple Envoy dropped heavily to one knee, his posture utterly respectful. "Third Elder, this is Ling Xuan, the young man I mentioned in my previous message. He awakened a Flame Domain at Planetary Level One and, in less than a year, has already sensed the fluctuations of the Law of Fire. His talent is the greatest ever recorded in the Zhulong Lineage!"

The Third Elder slowly opened his tightly shut eyes. Substantial light burst from his bronze-colored pupils, like two golden swords, scanning Ling Xuan from head to toe.

"What astonishing talent!" The Third Elder's voice was deep and powerful, weighty with the passage of time. "If I couldn't sense the same life energy in this boy as in myself, and confirm that he was my descendant, I'd have suspected someone had secretly switched him with another child!"

In a universe filled with countless experts, body snatching was not unheard of. But the Third Elder quickly dismissed the possibility.

Ling Xuan was only at Planetary Level. Anyone who tried to take over his body could be no stronger than Planetary Level.

His parents were both Star Level experts, and the Mangu Tribe was full of Universe Level and Domain Lord Level experts. Its Tribal Chief was a terrifying World Lord Level expert.

How could a mere Planetary Level youngster be taken over right under the noses of so many powerful people?

Besides, though the Zhulong Clan had deep foundations, they owed them to the long accumulation of tens of thousands of billions of eras spent growing alongside the Human Race. Their bloodline was merely average. In terms of talent, they were nowhere near the naturally powerful high-grade bloodline clans. They simply weren't worth coveting.

"Greetings, Old Ancestor!" Facing the forebear of his bloodline, Ling Xuan bowed respectfully without hesitation.

The Third Elder gave a small nod, a trace of satisfaction in his eyes. "A fine young talent—you've brought honor to the Manlong Lineage!" His voice held both approval and unquestionable authority. "From now on, devote yourself to comprehending the laws. Don't waste time absorbing Cosmic Origin Energy to cultivate. It's too slow and too wasteful!"

After a brief pause, the Third Elder continued, "Going from Planetary Level One to Planetary Level Nine is just a matter of accumulating energy. That's simple. I'll order a custom-made Planetary Level Nutrient Pod from the Virtual Universe Company to help you accomplish it. But breaking through to Star Level is a leap in the level of your life. That can only come from your own comprehension!"

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