Duel Space

"Come out, come out." Three days passed in the blink of an eye. The secret chamber's door opened right on schedule, and the Temple Envoy's low voice rang clearly in Ling Xuan's ears.

Ling Xuan's eyes snapped open. In the darkness, the only light came from the faint Origin Force glow around the others who were still meditating.

They seemed unaffected by the voice, remaining immersed in their profound insights into the Law of Fire. Their breathing was steady, their expressions focused.

So the rule allowing only three days of meditation at a time seemed to apply to Ling Xuan alone.

But those three days of meditation had not been fruitless.

He clearly sensed that after immersing himself in meditation, his Flame Domain had successfully broken through to the second level!

Composing himself, Ling Xuan strode out of the secret chamber of the Law of Fire, delighted by the improvement in his strength.

"How did your meditation go?" The Black-Robed Envoy looked up from the Auxiliary Optical Computer in his hand as Ling Xuan emerged and asked casually, his tone carrying a hint of routine formality.

"It felt wonderful." Ling Xuan could barely contain his excitement, and his voice brimmed with confidence. "My domain has reached the second level."

The Black-Robed Envoy nodded in satisfaction. The Auxiliary Optical Computer in his hand flashed, projecting Ling Xuan's information, and a string of complex data flickered in the air.

"You do have excellent talent. It's only been a little over a month since you reached Planetary Level, and you've already comprehended the second level of a domain. I only let you meditate for three days at a time because I'm worried you'll become too immersed in the Law of Fire and lose yourself.

"Besides, given your current situation, you need to hone your combat skills through actual battles and clashes with opponents, not sit around meditating on the laws all the time."

Ling Xuan's eyes shone as he asked, "Senior, when can I continue meditating?"

The Black-Robed Envoy pondered for a moment, then said slowly, "In the Decisive Battle Space, your initial opponents won't be very strong. As someone at Planetary Level with a second-level domain, you'll have little trouble with the opponents you face. Once you've won a thousand consecutive matches in the Decisive Battle Space, you can return to the cultivation chamber to meditate. By then, you should make even greater gains."

"Come with me." The Temple Envoy stood up. The hem of his black robe swept across the ground, revealing a glimpse of a Zhulong pattern embroidered along its edge.

He led Ling Xuan through a corridor and around three corners. An enclosed courtyard overgrown with crimson vines came into view. The energy crystals set into its ironwood gate flickered rhythmically.

"You'll train here from now on." The Envoy pushed open the creaking wooden door. A Consciousness Sensor, gleaming with a cold light, floated in the middle of the room. Its intricate surface circuitry writhed faintly, as if alive.

Another room was piled high with supplies, so Ling Xuan wouldn't need to worry about anything unrelated to cultivation.

"I don't need to teach you how to use the Virtual Universe. Once you've won a thousand consecutive matches, just send me the recordings." After giving Ling Xuan a string of Virtual Universe codes through his own Optical Computer, along with a cultivation manual, the Envoy turned and left.

Ling Xuan gently brushed the sensor's cold casing, took a deep breath, and put it on.

After reaching Planetary Level, Ling Xuan had registered as a Universe Citizen with his tribe and gained access to the Virtual Universe. The moment he connected his consciousness to the sensor, he was linked to the all-pervasive Virtual Universe.

Ling Xuan opened the Killing Field and the Decisive Battle Space, then began registering an account.

With his Universe Citizen status and Virtual Universe ID, he could register and log in with a single click. All he had to do to use the Decisive Battle Space was enter a name of his choice.

With a thought, he entered "Yanmo" in the nickname field. A system notification rang by his ear: "Account created successfully. Welcome to the Decisive Battle Space."

After registering his Decisive Battle Space account, Ling Xuan received a message.

The fees for using the Killing Field and the Decisive Battle Space with this account would be covered by another account, so he could use them as much as he wanted.

Reaching Planetary Level was the threshold for becoming a Universe Citizen. Countless newcomers reached it every day, and many came to register for the Decisive Battle Space to aid their cultivation.

The fees were especially cheap for those at the first stage of Planetary Level: less than 10,000 units of a mid-tier Universe Country's currency per day. As a result, there were a great many users.

Ling Xuan had just clicked to match when a flash of white light transported him to a vast grassland.

A square arena, ten kilometers to a side, gleamed with cold light. It was made of black metal.

Across from him, a green-skinned man rolled his wrists. A dark red cloth wrapped around the hilt of the long sword on his back, fluttering in the wind.

The man muttered, "Yanmo? You actually named yourself Yanmo. Looks like you're a pretty arrogant guy. Tsk, nothing's more satisfying than beating an arrogant person to a pulp. I'll make you the first stepping stone on my path to becoming a Universe powerhouse. Remember, the man who defeats you is Fengying Sword."

Before he had even finished speaking, a flash of green light burst beneath his feet, and he charged forward like a streak of light. The air tore apart around him with a shrill boom.

Ling Xuan's eyes narrowed. Origin Force surged through his body, and his beast-hide clothing stretched like a living thing, covering him in fine, scale-like armor. The flame totem on his forehead glimmered faintly.

He gripped the Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear, its shaft raised above his head. The weapon—Pokong Blade—had a shaft about two meters long and a three-pronged blade at its tip. The middle prong resembled a sword and extended slightly higher than the two shorter outer prongs. Both sides were sharpened to a deadly edge, and its flowing patterns resembled flames. In the sunlight, they glinted coldly.

Fengying Sword thrust first. A streak of green light flicked from his sword like a striking snake, aimed straight at Ling Xuan's throat with a shrill whistle.

Ling Xuan's pupils contracted. Instead of retreating, he stepped forward and flicked his wrist, sending the Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear through a tricky arc.

The blade had barely touched the sword when it slid swiftly along the outside of its length with pinpoint precision. Sparks flew from the grinding metal.

Ling Xuan deftly used the friction and his own controlled strength. With a sharp twist of his wrist, he knocked the sword aside, using just the right amount of force, as if he had anticipated every move his opponent would make.

Before his opponent could recover, Ling Xuan slammed his left foot into the arena. Several cracks instantly appeared across the metal surface.

He shot forward like an arrow loosed from its bow, stirring up a powerful gust.

The Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear turned into a streak of cold light in his hands as he drove it toward Fengying Sword's throat with thunderous might. He was so fast that his opponent saw only a golden blur.

Fengying Sword's expression changed dramatically. He hurriedly raised his sword to block.

Just as sword and spear were about to meet, Ling Xuan's lips curled into a cold smile. He pressed down hard with his wrist, and the Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear shot down along the inner side of his opponent's blade.

The weapon was like a reaper's sickle with a hook. As it slid down, it suddenly swept upward, its blade tearing through the air with a whistle as it struck for the vulnerable elbow of the arm holding the sword.

Fengying Sword felt a chill at his elbow. A burst of pain spread through his body, and his protective Origin Force shattered.

The sword in his hand, along with his right hand, flew off to one side. The edge of the Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear knocked him backward.

But Ling Xuan's assault didn't stop. Carried forward by his momentum, he swung the Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear again. Its blade flashed like a golden bolt of lightning, slashing across his opponent's throat.

"H-How is this possible..." Fengying Sword's face was filled with terror. Before he could finish speaking, he dissolved into motes of light and vanished from the arena.

After comprehending a domain, Ling Xuan's blade techniques had also advanced to Domain Level. Against these newcomers at Planetary Level, he could easily overwhelm them with his skill alone, without even using his domain.

"Ding! First battle victory. Current record: 1 win, 0 losses."

An announcement rang out from above the Decisive Battle Space.

"Match me again," Ling Xuan ordered.

"Understood."

Before long, a second opponent had been matched.

This time, he appeared on a desolate desert battlefield. In the distance, a figure clad in heavy armor approached, dragging a giant axe that carved deep furrows into the sand and kicked up a vast cloud of dust.