Mentor Moke looked at Lin Yuan in surprise.
"You can actually just barely use the third level of the Burning Universe Flame Wild Axe—Burning Sky?"
"Mentor, I've only just begun to get a feel for the third level. When I practiced the first and second levels, everything felt smooth, without any bottlenecks. But I still can't figure out the third level," Lin Yuan said.
"No bottlenecks with the first and second levels? It seems your comprehension and understanding of the Law of Fire Origin are already far beyond those of cultivators at the same level. As for the third level..." Mentor Moke explained to Lin Yuan.
"The problem lies with the Law of Space Origin. Your comprehension of it isn't deep enough, so you can't maintain the space of flames."
"As for your comprehension of the Law of Space Origin, there's only so much I can help you with. You should ask your teacher."
"Thank you for your guidance, Mentor," Lin Yuan said.
The Law of Space Origin? Lin Yuan thought. Although he had gained a trace of insight into the Law of Space Origin, his talent in it was only average. On top of that, he had spent all this time on other forms of cultivation, so he had indeed neglected his practice of the Law of Space Origin.
Afterward, Lin Yuan asked Mentor Moke to explain some of the most difficult subtleties of the Law of Fire Origin, then returned to the cultivation room in his residence.
In the days that followed, Lin Yuan drank the venom and continued tempering his will and comprehending the second layer of Ten Thousand Hearts Undying. While waiting for the effects on his soul to fully recover, he also worked on comprehending the Law of Space Origin.
Finally, after Lin Yuan drank the diluted venom for the third time, his willpower broke through.
[Your willpower has broken through to World Lord Level. You have received one guaranteed draw from 0–10. Would you like to draw?]
"Guaranteed rare reward!"
"Draw!" Lin Yuan waited eagerly.
...The little ball stopped on the number 3.
[Congratulations! You have won rare reward number 3: Secret Technique, Dominion Records. Would you like to claim it? If you do not claim it, the prize will be stored in System Space.]
"Dominion Records? What kind of secret technique is this?"
"Claim it!"
Whoosh!
A stone slab appeared in Lin Yuan's hand. It was exceptionally sturdy, and strange illustrations covered its surface, each accompanied by a passage of explanatory text.
Lin Yuan focused his awareness on the slab, and information automatically entered his mind.
"A secret technique for enslaving others with willpower?" Lin Yuan made sense of the information in his mind. "Once mastered, it lets you enslave others through sheer willpower alone? How domineering!"
Ordinary enslavement secret techniques required both willpower and soul amplitude, combined with the techniques of the secret art, to achieve soul enslavement.
"However, because this secret technique doesn't rely on soul amplitude, it can enslave far fewer servants. Even after fully comprehending it, you can enslave at most ten."
"Being able to enslave ten servants is still very impressive!" Lin Yuan exclaimed in delight.
"The secret technique has three layers. Mastering the first lets you enslave one servant, the second lets you enslave five, and the third lets you enslave ten. Once mastered, you can use it to enslave someone as long as your willpower is one level above theirs." Lin Yuan continued examining the information in his mind.
"But to cultivate even the first layer, your willpower has to reach at least the Immortal level?" Lin Yuan's spirits immediately sank. It seemed he wouldn't be able to practice this secret technique anytime soon.
He would have to wait until his willpower broke through again.
As the Ranking Tournament drew closer, the atmosphere in the Nine Flame Sacred Land grew increasingly tense.
In the Nine Flame Sacred Land Arena in the Virtual Universe, many students went to spar and compete every day. Lin Yuan also occasionally exchanged a few moves with the chubby Cohen.
However, Lin Yuan didn't want to bully the chubby boy, so he only used the Thousand Mountain Axe when sparring with him.
After several matches, Cohen noticed that Lin Yuan's use of the Thousand Mountain Axe had changed completely since the beginning. His Laws of Earth and Space Origin blended together more naturally, and his Secret Technique moves were more powerful. Later on, Lin Yuan seemed to deliberately hold back during every sparring match.
His good friend's rate of progress was simply too fast.
During the period before the Ranking Tournament, Lin Yuan fully comprehended twenty-four of the seventy-two most difficult subtleties of the Law of Fire Origin. He also fully comprehended more than half of the twenty-seven relatively difficult subtleties of the Law of Earth Origin, taking another step forward in his comprehension of the Origin Laws.
As his comprehension of the Laws deepened, the power of his Secret Technique moves naturally increased as well.
As for the Law of Space Origin, Lin Yuan asked his teacher, Marquis Yuankun, for guidance every so often.
Lin Yuan also entered the Law Tower of Space to pursue insights and studied the Secret Patterns on the Golden Leaves of the Kras Ancient Tree.
A year before the Ranking Tournament, Lin Yuan finally crossed the threshold of the Law of Space Origin.
[Your comprehension of the Law of Space Origin has crossed the Origin Law threshold. You have received one draw. Would you like to draw?]
"Draw!"
[Congratulations! You have won reward number 32: 1% comprehension of a Lower Origin Law. Would you like to claim it?]
"Don't claim it."
Now isn't the time to claim it, Lin Yuan thought.
Lin Yuan already had enough resources for the time being. Even if he claimed this 1% comprehension of a Lower Origin Law, it would only let him cross the threshold of the Law of Wind Origin or the Law of Lightning Origin and earn another draw.
Based on Lin Yuan's experience with draws so far, ordinary rewards were of relatively little value.
He wanted to wait until he broke through to Domain Lord Level or even World Lord Level before using it. By then, the prize pool on the wheel should be better than it was now.
"Beep. Master, you have a new email."
The Smart Optical Brain's cheerful voice rang in Lin Yuan's mind.
Lin Yuan checked the email.
"Huh? Teacher wants to see me, but this time it's in the Virtual Universe."
Lin Yuan usually visited his teacher in person, since his residence was very close to his teacher's palace.
Lin Yuan connected his awareness to the Virtual Universe.
Virtual Universe, Nine Flame Continent, Nine Flame Sacred Land region.
Lin Yuan arrived at a villa. It was his teacher's temporary residence in the Virtual Universe while he was stationed on Red Flame Planet.
Lin Yuan had long since obtained permission to enter. He pushed open the door and went inside.
Lin Yuan entered the living room and saw that, besides his teacher, Marquis Yuankun, there was another man there.
The man had long golden hair and wore a magnificent blue robe. He looked quite young, a faint Secret Pattern between his brows and a sharp gaze in his eyes.
"Teacher." Lin Yuan first bowed to Marquis Yuankun.
"You're here, Lin Yuan. Let me introduce you. This is your Second Senior Disciple, Carl. His title is Marquis Golden Sword."
Marquis Yuankun introduced the man beside him to Lin Yuan.
"So you're the new disciple Teacher took on?" Marquis Golden Sword said with a smile as he looked at Lin Yuan.
"This is Lin Yuan. It's a pleasure to meet you, Second Senior Disciple."
Lin Yuan remained as respectful as ever. He had often heard that his teacher had an Immortal senior disciple who had been granted the title of Marquis. At last, he had met him today.
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