Lin Yuan

The Virtual Universe network, a plane space exclusive to the Great Axe Arena.

A vast, wide river stretches across the entire plane, with countless small islands floating upon it.

Island No. 10720.

At the center of the island stands a towering arena, with the surrounding spectator stands packed with a dense crowd.

"Audience members from every Universe Kingdom."

"The next life-death battle is about to begin. Betting will close shortly, so please hurry and place your wagers."

In the spectator stands.

"I'm betting on Kailan to win. 10 billion Universe Coins."

"Kailan is a Universe Level 8, with a level 7 Domain of Fire, and he's a Spirit Reader Controller, giving him a natural advantage against warriors of the same rank. He's also using a grade 3 high-tier mental power weapon, the Skyfire Shuttle. He's already at 950 wins; I think he has the potential to become a Giant Axe Warrior."

"I'm betting on Lin Yuan. 5 billion Universe Coins."

"I've been watching this kid since his 500th win. Back then, he only had a level 5 Domain of Earth, and now, at 882 wins, he's already at level 8. His progress is astonishing. He's a Universe Level 8, and with a giant axe paired with his Domain of Earth, he's balanced in both offense and defense."

"I'm going all-in with 20 billion Universe Coins on Kailan, haha! Half of this 20 billion came from previous wins betting on him. Nobody knows how to bet better than me!"

"The odds are out. The odds for a Kailan victory are 1:1.28, and for Lin Yuan, 1:2.02. The odds for a mutual destruction are 1:108."

"As expected, more people are favoring Kailan."

"Indeed. After all, that Lin Yuan is just a former slave, while Kailan comes from a major family. The ancestor of his family is a World Lord level Giant Axe Warrior; the background is just different."

"Betting has closed. Ladies and gentlemen, this life-death battle is about to begin."

"The two participants in this life-death battle are the Spirit Reader Controller 'Kailan' and the warrior 'Lin Yuan', both at Universe Level 8."

"The location for this life-death battle is a flame planet in the Flame Dragon Star Sector of the Nine Flames Universe Kingdom."

In the real world, on a planet with a surface burning with raging flames.

A black-haired youth in black battle robes stands amidst the inferno, gripping a giant axe, his gaze fixed on the man in red battle armor in the sky, his face devoid of joy or sorrow.

The man in red battle armor in the sky steps on his Skyfire Shuttle, looking down at the youth in the black battle robes.

"Lin Yuan, your luck isn't very good. The location for our life-death battle actually randomized to this flame planet."

The man in red battle armor speaks.

"My Domain of Fire, combined with these raging flames, will boost my power by at least twenty percent. You have no chance of winning. Do you have any last wishes? You are a former slave; helping you liberate your home slave planet would be easy for me. Consider it a reward for fighting me."

"Too much talk. Just fight." With that, a black force helmet instantly covers the black-robed youth's head.

"Fine. I hope this life-death battle doesn't end too easily."

The youth in the black battle robes is named Lin Yuan, a transmigrator.

He transmigrated two thousand years ago into the world of Swallowed Star. Lin Yuan arrived on a slave planet in the Nine Flames Universe Kingdom, inhabiting the body of a Planet Level warrior who shared his name.

Lin Yuan's cultivation talent was excellent, and he was quickly discovered by a slave trader, who cultivated him as an elite and put him through inhumane "elite" special training.

A group of talented slaves underwent round after round of elimination. Those eliminated were sold off as commodities. Those who remained received further training from the slave trader.

This slave trader is named Hass, and he once produced a "Giant Axe Warrior" under his command.

The more wins one has in the Great Axe Life-Death Battle, the more staggering the appearance fee becomes.

That slave made Hass incredibly wealthy, leading him to realize that cultivating elite slaves was far more profitable than simply selling them.

After all, some Universe Level slaves participate in the Great Axe Life-Death Battle voluntarily, whether for their home planet or for a glimmer of freedom.

Once a Universe Level powerhouse emerges who can secure dozens or hundreds of wins in the Great Axe Life-Death Battle, it is worth more than selling hundreds or thousands of ordinary Universe Level slaves.

Lin Yuan passed the tests step by step, breaking through to Star Level and then Universe Level. After reaching Universe Level, he agreed to participate in the Great Axe Arena life-death battles for Hass, hoping to continue cultivating and increasing his strength.

Upon breaking through to Universe Level 8, Lin Yuan fulfilled his agreement. Under the witness of the Great Axe Arena, he formally signed a contract with the slave trader Hass: if Lin Yuan could achieve 1,000 wins in the Great Axe Arena life-death battles, he would gain his freedom, and upon gaining it, he would be prohibited from retaliating against the slave trader.

At this moment, in the Virtual Universe, Hass is in a pleasant mood inside a second-floor box in the life-death battle plane, as Lin Yuan has already brought him income far exceeding his expectations.

"I'm starting to admire this kid. His potential is truly astonishing; he's almost at 900 wins, tsk tsk tsk."

Hass sips the red wine in his hand and continues.

"It's a pity he ran into a tough opponent this time, and his luck is poor, having randomized to a terrain favorable to his opponent. It looks like it ends here."

"Both sides are ready, so—"

"The life-death battle begins!"

The voice of the Domain Lord level supervisor reaches the ears of the two duelists.

"Lin Yuan, die."

Kailan shouts angrily. He raises a hand, and the Skyfire Shuttle splits into hundreds of blades, recombining under the enhancement of his Domain of Fire into a giant firebird that strikes directly at Lin Yuan.

The giant flame bird is extremely fast, absorbing the flames on the planet as it flies, its size growing even larger.

Lin Yuan instantly generated a khaki Domain of Earth beneath his feet, isolating the surrounding flames. With a swing of the giant axe in his hand, a massive force surged through his arm into the weapon, meeting the incoming firebird head-on.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

A series of explosive, thunderous sounds erupted. The firebird's repeated impacts failed to break through the defense of the giant axe, which was bolstered by Lin Yuan's eighth-level Domain of Earth. It appeared to be a stalemate.

"The Domain of Earth truly has astonishing defensive power. Let's see how you handle this."

Kailan waved his palm, and the firebird split into two. One half transformed into a smaller firebird to keep the giant axe occupied, while the other half suddenly fragmented, forming over a hundred flaming blades that shot toward Lin Yuan from all directions.

Some blades pierced through the obstruction of the Domain of Earth, flying straight toward Lin Yuan.

Lin Yuan dodged at high speed, pushing his movement technique to its absolute limit. Even so, two blades grazed his body, and blood began to flow.

"You have already lost. Your speed is too slow. Your strength is indeed astonishing, but you cannot touch me. Even if I cannot win in one strike, I can slowly wear you down to death."

Kailan manipulated the firebird and the flying blades, preparing to launch the next round of attacks.

I can't keep hiding it this time, Lin Yuan thought to himself.

Suddenly, the domain surrounding Lin Yuan began to radiate golden light, flickering with gold amidst the khaki. It was the Domain of Metal! Sixth level!

The Great Axe Arena matches strong individuals participating in a Great Axe Life-Death Battle with opponents of similar strength. It can be said that the stronger the power displayed in the previous match, the stronger the opponent in the next. Therefore, many strong individuals hide their true strength and keep trump cards in reserve; otherwise, it is very difficult to reach 1,000 wins.

Lin Yuan's Domain of Metal had awakened during a training session in his private space within the Virtual Universe after his 500th win. This private space was accessible only to the Dou Practitioner, with no way to contact anyone from the outside world—a privilege granted by the Great Axe Arena to slave Dou Practitioners.

At this moment, in the spectator stands of Island No. 10720 in the Virtual Universe.

"My god, this Lin Yuan is hiding deep."

"Kailan is going to lose."

"Indeed. Eighth-level Domain of Earth plus sixth-level Domain of Metal. Unless this Lin Yuan encounters an opponent who comprehends the Origin Law during the battle, he is basically invincible."

"Hehe, made a small profit today."

"Ahhh! My two million!"

In a private box on the second floor, Hass's eyes lit up. His mood became even more joyful.

"Winning is best! Winning is best! Win a few more matches! My little cash cow."

On the Flame Planet.

Kailan, wearing red battle armor, frowned for the first time.

Lin Yuan gripped his giant axe, easily breaking through the obstruction of the firebird, and charged toward Kailan.

Under the superposition of the Domain of Earth and the Domain of Metal, Kailan's movements slowed down, and his advantage in agility vanished completely.

The distance closed rapidly. Lin Yuan gripped the axe with both hands, channeling his full 54-fold Force Amplitude into the weapon.

Earth, immensely heavy and monolithic.

Metal, extremely rigid and masculine, exceptionally sharp.

Although it was far from the power gained after comprehending the Origin Law, it was beginning to take shape.

An incredibly heavy axe strike slashed straight toward Kailan, who had nowhere left to dodge.

"Die!"

In this instant, Kailan recalled the promise he had made to his father before participating in the Great Axe Life-Death Battle.

Although Kailan came from a prominent family, his particular branch had not produced a strong individual for a long time, and his status within the family had been declining day by day.

Before leaving, he had promised his father that he would definitely achieve 1,000 wins, earn the title of "Giant Axe Warrior," become an outer member of the Great Axe Arena, and join the core of the family to restore the glory of his branch.

Ten meters, five meters... the axe blade drew closer and closer to Kailan.

Kailan shouted, pushing the firebird formed by the Skyfire Shuttle to its limit to return to his front. His brain raced, searching through his memory for every possible method.

"Fire... fire... so that's how it is."

"I see it!"

In a split second, the fire in Kailan's Domain of Fire soared to the sky, its intensity increasing several times over. The restraint of the dual domains seemed to vanish for Kailan. He retreated rapidly, dodging the attack just as the axe blade was one meter away.

Kailan manipulated the scattered blades to merge back into the firebird, its speed surging as it violently charged at Lin Yuan from behind.

Lin Yuan barely managed to turn around, steadying his stance, and held the flat of the axe horizontally to block the firebird.

"Boom!"

Lin Yuan was sent flying, passing through the raging flames and crashing heavily onto the ground.

Lin Yuan was severely injured.