The warrior wielding a giant axe hadn't lasted a single exchange against Ling Xuan before he was swiftly killed.
To reach a thousand consecutive victories as soon as possible, Ling Xuan wasted no time and continued challenging opponents.
At first, he relied on the system to match him with opponents. As his win rate climbed and his winning streak grew longer, the opponents he was matched with became increasingly formidable.
He seemed tireless, fighting more than a hundred battles in a single day.
After three days of continuous fighting, Ling Xuan had won 325 consecutive battles, and his rank had risen from one star to six.
Six stars already represented the ranks of the strongest at the Planetary Level Peak. Most such fighters in the Battle Space no longer relied on the matching function. Instead, they chose opponents they considered evenly matched and challenged them directly.
"Ding. You have received a challenge invitation." Just then, a notification came from Ling Xuan's Auxiliary Optical Computer.
He glanced over it and saw that the other party was only a three-star fighter, with a record of 108 wins and 65 losses. Without hesitation, he accepted.
His main goal right now was to reach a thousand consecutive victories, not to insist on fighting strong opponents. So when it came to opponents like this, he welcomed them all—the more, the better.
Sure enough, the opponent was outmatched, and the battle went exceptionally smoothly. Ling Xuan needed only one slash to end it, extending his winning streak once again.
Later, Ling Xuan noticed that it was taking longer to find opponents. He decided to take the initiative and challenge others, mostly choosing five- and six-star fighters.
When the formidable fighters who came to the Decisive Battle Space to hone their skills saw that someone with such a long winning streak had challenged them, they readily accepted. After all, chances to fight an opponent of that caliber were hard to come by. With one practically showing up at their door, how could they refuse?
On the other hand, whenever a fighter whose record showed special abilities like a domain challenged him, Ling Xuan flatly refused. He didn't want to risk running into someone too strong and breaking his winning streak.
Just like that, in only nine days, Ling Xuan completed the trial of a thousand consecutive victories without a hitch, relying on his Second-Level Domain.
After sending the battle footage to the Temple Envoy, he immediately headed to the Temple, intending to study the Divine Bird Secret Pattern again.
The Temple Envoy quickly skimmed through the footage and record Ling Xuan had sent. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly as he murmured, "He's a crafty little fellow. Still, that's not a bad thing. The craftier he is, the better he is at finding loopholes and doing whatever it takes to achieve his goals, the stronger his survival skills will be. But I should give the boy a word of warning..."
Ling Xuan entered the Temple. The Temple Envoy was already waiting there. Seeing Ling Xuan come in, he said, "Boy, a thousand consecutive victories. You certainly found a clever way to game the system."
Ling Xuan bowed slightly, somewhat awkwardly. "Senior, I know my strength is still lacking. For now, I only wanted to complete the task and improve myself. I hope you won't hold it against me."
The Temple Envoy fixed his gaze on Ling Xuan. "There's nothing wrong with using a clever trick, but if it makes you neglect the cultivation of your own strength, then you've got things backward. You may have completed this challenge through strategy, but in the end, a true powerhouse has to speak with real strength."
Ling Xuan straightened his back and bowed respectfully. "I'll remember your guidance, Senior. Once I'm done studying the pattern, I'll settle down and work hard to hone my strength."
The Temple Envoy's lips curled in an amused smile. "Good. As long as you understand. Go in and study the pattern now. You sly little rascal—who did you take after?"
Ling Xuan took a deep breath and entered the Flame Law Chamber.
A familiar wave of heat washed over him. The few powerhouses were still holding the same positions as they had ten days ago, as if time had stood still.
He sat cross-legged again before the stone wall engraved with the Divine Bird Diagram. His fingertips traced its uneven patterns, and his consciousness sank into the depths, plunging once more into that world of fire.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
When the Temple Envoy called out to him, Ling Xuan slowly opened his eyes. He felt the power within him, but disappointment was plain in his gaze.
This time, his study had only deepened his understanding of the Second-Level Domain. He hadn't advanced to the Third Level as he'd expected.
"See?" The Temple Envoy saw right through him and said softly, "This is what happens when you're in too much of a hurry. You haven't fully absorbed what you gained from your last study session. Going over it again without making progress is just treading water."
Ling Xuan suddenly understood.
He remembered that after Luo Feng and the others earned a chance to study the Chaos Stele by crossing the Heavenly Bridge, they hadn't immediately gone back to study it. Instead, they had spent a long time consolidating their gains before returning to it.
Because he'd found opportunities to study the pattern so easily, he had overlooked the foundations of cultivation.
"I understand, Senior! I'll go back and focus on cultivation, and absorb what I've learned!"
The Temple Envoy nodded. "It's good that you can recognize your mistake and correct it. I'll keep this study opportunity for you. You can come back whenever you feel you've fully absorbed what you learned."
"Thank you, Senior." Ling Xuan was delighted. He hadn't expected such a pleasant surprise. He'd assumed it would be extremely difficult to get another chance to study the pattern.
"Go. You've just finished studying and cultivating, so now's the best time to put what you've learned into practice." The Temple Envoy waved him off, signaling that he could leave.
Ling Xuan bowed and left the Temple, returning to his courtyard.
For the next three months, Ling Xuan shut himself away in his courtyard.
Each morning, he cultivated his Origin Force beneath the rising sun and comprehended the Flame Domain. At night, he reviewed his battles beneath the stars and began cultivating the secret technique the Temple Envoy had left him—"Flame Prison."
It was a secret technique well suited to those who began studying it at the Planetary Level, and it could smoothly guide them toward comprehending the Law of Fire later on.
It offered excellent value for the effort, practically tailor-made for Ling Xuan. It was clear that the Zhulong wanted to cultivate outstanding descendants and had invested considerable resources and effort in doing so.
As time passed, his understanding of the Flame Domain grew ever deeper, and the Origin Force within him became increasingly refined.
At last, on an ordinary day of cultivation, flames suddenly surged around him. His dark-golden domain spread outward like a tangible force—
The Third-Level Flame Domain was complete!
Ling Xuan returned to the Decisive Battle Space and set his challenge target on fighters who possessed domains.
Far away in another star system, Feng Ying was wiping down the Curved War Scythe in his hand, its blade inlaid with Wind Crystals.
A seven-star fighter, he had just finished a thoroughly satisfying battle.
"Ding. You have received a challenge invitation. Accept?"
Feng Ying casually opened the invitation. His last fight had left him wanting more, and he wasn't ready to rest just yet.
"Six stars?" Feng Ying glanced over Ling Xuan's information and scoffed. "You can't even get past my domain, and you dare challenge me?"
He was about to click reject, but then he noticed the label in Ling Xuan's profile: "Flame Domain Possessor." Surprise flickered in his eyes. After a moment's thought, he pressed the accept button.
The system successfully matched them, and Ling Xuan appeared in an instant on a canyon battlefield swept by howling winds.
Opposite him, Feng Ying hovered in midair. Inside the hundred-meter-wide Wind Domain behind him, countless cyan wind blades spun at high speed, letting out piercing shrieks.
He wore gray-green battle armor, and the Curved War Scythe in his hand gleamed with a dark-blue light as wind energy gathered continuously along its blade.
"Planetary Level, First Rank? You've just broken through and already have a domain. You've got good talent." Feng Ying raised a hand, and ten thousand wind blades swarmed toward Ling Xuan like a cloud of bees. "But I'm at the Planetary Level Peak. The difference between us is a full 256 times!"
Ling Xuan held the Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear across his chest.
The instant the wind blades touched its edge, his Third-Level Flame Domain erupted. A sea of dark-golden fire swept outward.
Scorching heat collided with the raging winds, triggering a violent explosion of energy. The entire canyon was lit up like broad daylight.
Feng Ying's wind blades hissed in the sea of flames and quickly evaporated.
Before Feng Ying could react, Ling Xuan had already transformed into a streak of light and closed in.
The Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear, wrapped in flames that could burn the heavens, crashed down at him with thunderous might.
Feng Ying's pupils contracted. "What? His domain is so much stronger than mine—he's actually at the Third Level!"
Feng Ying hurriedly swung his Curved War Scythe, conjuring a massive wind shield.
But the instant the blade's light struck, the shield shuddered violently, cracks spreading across its surface.
"Break!" Ling Xuan roared, pouring all his Origin Force into the weapon.
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