Lin Yuan

The Virtual Universe Network, a Plane Space belonging exclusively to the Great Axe Arena.

An incredibly wide river stretched across the entire Plane Space, with countless small islands floating above it.

Island No. 10720.

At the island's center stood a majestic Battle Arena, its surroundings packed with spectators.

"Viewers from all the Universe Countries!"

"The next life-and-death duel is about to begin. Betting will close soon, so place your wagers now!"

In the stands.

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

"Kailan's at Universe Level 8, with a sevenfold Domain of Fire, and he's a Spirit Reader Controller. He has a natural advantage against warriors of the same level. He's also using a third-tier, top-grade Telepathic Weapon, the Skyfire Shuttle. He's already won 950 matches. I think he has what it takes to become a Giant Axe Warrior."

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

"I've been watching this kid since his 500th win. Back then, he only had a fivefold Domain of Earth. Now, at 882 wins, he's already reached the eighth level. His progress is incredible. He's at Universe Level 8, and with a Giant Axe combined with his Domain of Earth, he can both attack and defend."

"I'm going all in on Kailan this time—200 billion Universe Coins! Ha ha, half of that 200 billion is riding on Kailan to win. Nobody understands betting better than I do!"

"The odds are out. Kailan's odds are 1:1.28, while Lin Yuan's are 1:2.02. The odds for both of them to die are 1:108."

"No wonder more people are backing Kailan."

"Yeah. After all, Lin Yuan was born a slave, while Kailan comes from a great family. The family's ancestor is a World Lord Level Giant Axe Warrior. They're from completely different backgrounds."

"Betting is now closed. Viewers, this life-and-death duel is about to begin."

"The two combatants are the Spirit Reader Controller Kailan and the warrior Lin Yuan. Both are at Universe Level 8."

"The battle will take place on a Flame Planet in the Flame Dragon Star Sector of the Nine Flames Universe Kingdom."

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

A black-haired young man in a black battle robe stood amid the flames, gripping a Giant Axe. He stared at the red-armored man in the sky, his face betraying no emotion.

The red-armored man stood atop the Skyfire Shuttle, looking down at the black-robed youth.

"Lin Yuan, your luck isn't very good. Our life-and-death battle was randomly assigned to this Flame Planet."

The red-armored man spoke.

"My Domain of Fire, combined with these flames, will be at least twenty percent more powerful. You have no chance of winning. Do you have any last wishes? You were born a slave, so freeing the slaves on your home planet would be effortless for me. Consider it a reward for fighting me."

"Enough talk. Let's fight." As he spoke, a black Origin Force helmet instantly covered the young man's head.

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

The young man in the black battle robe was named Lin Yuan. He was a transmigrator.

He had transmigrated here twenty thousand years ago, arriving in the world of Swallowed Star. Lin Yuan had taken over the body of a Planet Level warrior who shared his name on a slave planet in the Nine Flames Universe Kingdom.

Lin Yuan had a fine cultivation talent. He was soon discovered by a slave trader, who trained him as an elite through brutal "elite" training.

A group of talented slaves went through round after round of elimination. Those who were eliminated were sold as goods, while the survivors continued to be trained by the slave trader.

The slave trader was named Hass. One of his former slaves had become a Giant Axe Warrior.

The more wins a fighter earned in the Giant Axe Life-Death Battle, the more staggering his appearance fee became.

That slave had made Hass a fortune and shown him that cultivating elite slaves was far more profitable than simply selling them.

After all, some Universe Level slaves willingly took part in the Giant Axe Life-Death Battle, whether for the sake of their home planets or for a sliver of hope of freedom.

A Universe Level expert who won dozens or even a hundred matches in the Giant Axe Life-Death Battle could be worth as much as hundreds or thousands of ordinary Universe Level slaves sold together.

Lin Yuan passed the trials step by step, advancing to Star Level and then Universe Level. After reaching Universe Level, he agreed to fight in the Great Axe Arena's life-and-death battles for Hass, in exchange for the chance to keep cultivating and grow stronger.

After advancing to Universe Level 8, Lin Yuan honored their agreement. Under the Great Axe Arena's supervision, he formally signed a contract with the slave trader Hass: if he won 1,000 matches in the Great Axe Arena's life-and-death battles, he would gain his freedom. Once free, Lin Yuan was forbidden from retaliating against the slave trader.

At that moment, in the Virtual Universe, Hass was in high spirits in a private box on the second floor of the life-and-death battle arena's viewing stands. Lin Yuan had already brought him far more income than he'd expected.

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

Hass took a sip of the red wine in his hand and continued.

"Too bad he's run into a tough opponent this time, and he got unlucky with the terrain. It favors his opponent. Looks like this is where his run ends."

"Both sides are ready. Then—"

"The life-and-death battle begins!"

The Domain Lord Level supervisor's voice rang in the ears of the two combatants.

"Lin Yuan, die!"

Kailan shouted angrily and raised a hand. The Skyfire Shuttle split into hundreds of blades, which then reassembled. Empowered by his Domain of Fire, they became a giant firebird that shot straight toward Lin Yuan.

The giant firebird was incredibly fast. As it flew, it absorbed the flames on the planet, growing even larger.

A yellow-brown Domain of Earth sprang up beneath Lin Yuan's feet, cutting off the surrounding flames. He swung the Giant Axe in his hand, channeling immense force through his arms and into the weapon as he met the incoming firebird.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

A series of explosive roars rang out. The firebird charged again and again, but could not break through the Giant Axe's defense, reinforced by Lin Yuan's eighth-level Domain of Earth. The two seemed evenly matched.

"The Domain of Earth really is amazing at defense. Let's see you deal with this."

Kailan swept a hand, splitting the firebird in two. One half became a smaller firebird that locked horns with the Giant Axe. The other suddenly broke apart, forming over a hundred flaming blades that shot toward Lin Yuan from every direction.

Some blades pierced through the Domain of Earth's obstruction and shot straight at Lin Yuan.

Lin Yuan dodged at top speed, pushing his footwork to its limit. Even so, two blades grazed him, and blood flowed from his wounds.

"You've already lost. You're too slow. Your strength is impressive, but you can't hit me. Even if I can't defeat you in one blow, I can wear you down."

Kailan prepared to launch another attack with the firebird and flying blades.

"I can't keep hiding this anymore." Lin Yuan thought to himself.

Suddenly, the domain around Lin Yuan blazed with golden light, glinting through the yellow-brown earth. It was a Domain of Metal! Sixfold!

The Great Axe Arena matched life-and-death fighters with opponents close to their own strength. The stronger a fighter appeared in one battle, the stronger his next opponent would be. That was why many experts hid their true strength and kept tricks up their sleeves. Otherwise, it was very difficult to reach 1,000 wins.

Lin Yuan had awakened his Domain of Metal after his 500th win, during a training session in a solo space in the Virtual Universe. Only the fighter could enter these solo spaces, and no one inside could contact anyone outside. The Great Axe Arena granted this privilege to slave fighters.

At that moment, in the Virtual Universe, in the stands on Island No. 10720.

"My god, Lin Yuan really kept his strength hidden!"

"Kailan's going to lose."

"Yeah. An eighth-level Domain of Earth combined with a sixfold Domain of Metal. Unless Lin Yuan runs into an opponent who comprehends an Origin Law during battle, he'll basically be unbeatable from here on."

"Heh, I've made a bit of money today."

"Ahhh! My two million!"

In a private box on the second floor, Hass's eyes lit up. He was even more delighted.

"Winning would be best! Winning would be best! Just win a few more matches! My little money tree."

On the Flame Planet.

For the first time, Kailan, clad in red armor, furrowed his brow.

Lin Yuan gripped the Giant Axe and easily broke through the firebird's obstruction, charging toward Kailan.

Under the combined pressure of the Domain of Earth and the Domain of Metal, Kailan's movements slowed, and his advantage in agility vanished.

The distance between them rapidly closed. Lin Yuan gripped the axe with both hands, pouring all the strength of his 54-fold Force Amplitude into it.

Earth was weighty and solid, all of one piece.

Metal was unyielding and fierce, exceptionally sharp.

Though far from the power he would have after comprehending an Origin Law, it had already begun to take shape.

An immensely heavy blow came straight down toward Kailan. He had nowhere to dodge.

"Die!"

In that instant, Kailan remembered the promise he'd made to his father before entering the Giant Axe Life-Death Battle.

Though Kailan came from a great family, his branch hadn't produced a strong fighter in a long time, and its standing in the family had steadily declined.

Before setting out, he'd promised his father he would win 1,000 matches, earn the title of Giant Axe Warrior, become an Outer Member of the Great Axe Arena, and join the family's Core Layer. He would restore the glory of his branch.

Ten meters, five meters... The blade drew closer and closer to Kailan.

Kailan shouted and did everything he could to drive the firebird formed by the Skyfire Shuttle back in front of him. His mind raced, searching his memories for every technique he could find.

"Fire... Fire... So that's how!"

"I see it!"

In an instant, flames surged skyward from Kailan's Domain of Fire. Its power increased several times over, and the restraints of the two domains seemed to vanish. Kailan retreated at high speed, dodging the attack when the blade was just one meter away.

Kailan controlled the scattered blades and merged them back into the firebird. Its speed surged as it rushed toward Lin Yuan from behind.

Lin Yuan barely managed to turn around and steady himself. He held the broad side of his axe across his body, blocking the firebird.

"Boom!"

Lin Yuan was sent flying. He tore through the raging flames and slammed heavily into the ground.

Lin Yuan was gravely wounded.