Seventeen Long Years (Part 2)

Yuluo Island is a vital stronghold of the Lingtong Race. Even though Beiqiong is a Domain Lord elder, he cannot stay long without requesting to study secret techniques and obtaining approval from the clan, so he simply gave Jiang Yao an encouraging look before departing.

"Since those little ones were willing to let you come to Yuluo Island to study, you must be a genius the clan has high hopes for..."

The white-haired, white-bearded elder stroked his beard. "Hmm, a Stellar Level possessing a domain, having awakened a new bloodline divine ability, and managing to escape from a Universe Level Moyun Vine while fighting for your life—you certainly have the qualifications."

"However, do not be complacent. While it is rare for a Stellar Level to possess a domain, I have heard of it before, 800 epochs ago, in the Manfeng Empire not far from the Kasolo Empire."

"That genius was later recruited as an internal member by the Martial Department of the Virtual Universe Company's Xuanshang Universe Kingdom, but... well, that was the end of that."

"As for Yanchen, once the most dazzling genius of our clan, his cultivation speed from Stellar Level to Stellar Level was actually not outstanding. Even after entering the Stellar Level and gaining a domain, the rate at which his domain improved was not the fastest in the history of the Lingtong Race."

"Yet, when he raised his domain to the eighth level and touched the fluctuations of the origin laws, he displayed an extraordinary aptitude for the gold origin law, allowing him to shine brilliantly in the genius battle."

"As for awakening a new bloodline divine ability, heh, in history, not a single genius of our Lingtong Race who first discovered and activated the eight supreme divine abilities ever became an immortal; some didn't even reach the World Lord level."

"I tell you all this so you know that some halos are just halos and have no practical meaning. I have lived for nearly a thousand epochs, and although I have no hope of becoming an immortal in this life, I have finally understood one truth after all these years."

The elder's tone was calm, yet it held a hint of regret as he gazed at the endless ocean in the distance. "Only the compatibility with and comprehension of the origin laws are real. Things like cultivation speed or the bloodline divine abilities that the Lingtong Race prides itself on—these are all hollow."

"I am not saying this to discourage you," the elder said, looking down at Jiang Yao. "But to tell you that what I value most about you is not that a Stellar Level possesses a domain or has awakened some new bloodline divine ability. It is that you were able to master the telepathic secret technique, the Boat of Guidance, within a year!"

"You have astonishing aptitude in practicing telepathic secret techniques. Although the aptitude for telepathic techniques and the comprehension of laws are two different things, if you can manifest even one or two tenths of your aptitude for telepathic techniques in your comprehension of laws, then your future will be limitless."

"So, do not be impatient. Do not think about competing with others for rewards in 17 years, and do not always think about giving back to the branch you came from." The elder's expression was stern. "Your task now is to seize the time to cultivate your domain. Once your domain reaches the eighth level, go and comprehend the laws."

"If you can comprehend a trace of the origin laws before becoming a Domain Lord, even if you miss the genius battle in three hundred years, you will still have the hope of entering the two secret realms through the Guluo Dojo or the Youyuan Dojo, or perhaps being recruited into the Xuanshang branch of the Virtual Universe Company. The genius battle is by no means the only path."

Jiang Yao repeatedly agreed to the elder's instructions. It was clear that this aged World Lord powerhouse truly held a sincere heart for the development of the clan, and this advice was worth its weight in gold for any genius shining with countless halos.

The elder nodded, then pointed to the stone walls of various sizes standing on the island. "These stone walls are not real stone, nor are they metal. They are scales from the body of an alien immortal powerhouse!"

Jiang Yao was startled. Scales of an immortal powerhouse?

These stone walls, some only a few meters short and others reaching one or two kilometers in height, were actually scales?

The elder seemed very familiar with the reaction of clansmen visiting Yuluo Island for the first time and smiled. "That is why, long ago, this island was called Fish Scale Island."

"That immortal powerhouse must have had extremely profound achievements in the space origin law, so the scales contain a certain strange law rhythm that allows a domain to resonate with them."

"Therefore, these scales can not only permanently record secret techniques, ultimate arts, and even law secret patterns, but they also have immense benefits for the cultivation of a domain."

"On Lingshen Planet, the main seat of our sect, and on the capital planets of the 216 star systems belonging to our sect, there are such scales for clansmen who possess domains to study. The only difference is that those scales do not have secret techniques or ultimate arts carved onto them."

"Like you, the Stellar Level geniuses sent by various branches to prepare for the peak battle who possess a domain can also study and cultivate on Lingshen Planet. However, since you have already come here, there is no need to go to Lingshen Planet to study."

Before the elder could finish speaking, Bajie inside the Taihuan Token was already urging Jiang Yao to step forward and examine the scale that looked like a stone wall.

Jiang Yao walked up to a stone wall only three meters high. It recorded a body amplitude secret technique suitable for Universe Level martial artists. However, he did not focus on the secret technique, instead looking carefully at the surface of the gray-black stone wall.

The surface of the stone wall was quite smooth, but if one touched it with telepathic power, one would find that the seemingly smooth surface was actually covered in minute, intricate grooves and patterns, like a labyrinth.

His telepathic power sank into the labyrinth as if it had encountered a bottomless pit, causing Jiang Yao to feel a trace of dizziness. Even the previously blurry fluctuations of the space origin law became clear at this moment.

"Good! Good!" Bajie was beaming with joy, his consciousness telling Jiang Yao, "I was worried that your Lingtong Race didn't have deep enough insights or corresponding ultimate arts and secret techniques regarding the two supreme laws of space and time. It seems that, at the very least, the space origin law is not a problem."

Seeing Jiang Yao lost in a daze before the stone wall, the elder laughed. "Do not look any longer, or your telepathic power will be continuously absorbed by the grooves and patterns on its surface until it is drained. You must at least reach a certain level of comprehension in one of the origin laws of gold, wood, water, fire, or earth before you can study the scales themselves, which might then allow you to touch the space origin law."

"It is precisely because of these scales that our Lingtong Race has never lacked World Lords who comprehend the space origin law throughout our history, far surpassing the other five holy lands."

"However—" the elder's tone shifted. "The clan does not encourage Domain Lords and World Lords to study the space origin law. The path to immortality for supreme laws is far more difficult than for the lower laws. The result of being overly ambitious is usually nothing. Of course, even if one only comprehends the lower laws, it is usually nothing most of the time."

A hint of self-mockery appeared in the elder's expression. "So, in the history of our clan, there have been many Domain Lords and World Lords who did not hope to achieve immortality and only wanted to possess powerful combat strength, thus specializing in the space origin law."

"But... heh, if you cannot even become an immortal by comprehending the lower laws, or even gain the recognition of the origin laws, how much achievement can you really have in the space laws, even with the help of the scales?"