The Second Level of the "Ring"

"Master, you have received 1,000 points."

Xiao Le's voice sounded exceptionally sweet.

"Just leave them there. It's only 1,000 points, isn't it? Can't really do much with that." Li Dui was in a good mood, rarely chatting with his auxiliary AI.

Among the 1,000 geniuses of this batch, Li Dui was the 306th to pass the first level of the Heavenly Bridge.

If that could even be considered a ranking, then his standing among the 1,000 people had certainly risen quite a bit compared to the Genius Battle.

Geniuses who originally ranked outside the top 100 in the Genius Battle didn't have precise rankings. However, based on the Trial Tower rankings and the subsequent three rounds of the Arena Tournament, a comprehensive assessment placed the former Li Dui somewhere between 700th and 800th. He was considered to be on the lower end.

This rate of ascent should fall within a normal range. It wouldn't attract the attention of any big shots.

Li Dui left his residence and flew straight toward the City Lord Mansion.

Passing the first level of the Heavenly Bridge automatically granted one opportunity to contemplate a Chaos Stele. Li Dui intended to use it immediately.

With the Ring, for Li Dui, it was equivalent to being able to contemplate a Chaos Stele at any time. The effect was even superior to the Chaos Stele itself.

But cultivation was not something that could be improved just because one had resources.

Those top Universe Masters of the human race, such as Palace Master Tian Shi who suppressed the Xueluo World—could it be that he couldn't become a Universe Master simply because he hadn't contemplated the Chaos Stele enough times?

Li Dui believed that if Palace Master Tian Shi wanted to see a Chaos Stele, he could see whichever one he wanted, for as long as he wanted.

It must be because, after reaching a certain level, it simply became useless.

Li Dui also had to plan for a rainy day. Suppose one day the Ring wasn't as effective. If he used it in combination with the Giant Axe Chaos Stele, would there be a synergistic effect where one plus one was greater than two?

Therefore, he needed to verify it.

In front of the bronze gate of the Giant Axe Chaos Stele cultivation chamber.

Li Dui bowed to the kind-faced old man at the door: "Lord Kandeli."

This old man could be considered terrifying even among the Venerables. In particular, his survival ability was astonishing. The 52 cultivation chambers for the 52 Chaos Steles were all guarded by his 52 clones.

Such unkillable powerhouses were the most troublesome.

"Hmm, Li Dui. Here to contemplate the Chaos Stele? Hmm~ not bad, you just passed the first level of the Heavenly Bridge. You have indeed earned an opportunity. Go in, there's no one inside right now." Kandeli checked Li Dui's information, confirmed his eligibility, and spoke in a calm voice.

The bronze gate slowly opened. Li Dui thanked him and stepped inside.

The chamber was wreathed in chaotic currents. Deep within, a massive stone stele, over a hundred meters high and nearly a hundred meters wide, stood silently.

Walking up to the stele, he looked up from the bottom.

The Giant Axe Chaos Stele consisted of 12 paintings. However, the top three were obscured by chaotic currents, and one could only vaguely discern that there were patterns there. Only the bottom nine were clearly visible.

The first painting was a long crack, as if carved by a blade or axe. Beside the crack were nine smaller fissures that seemed to have burst open.

The second painting had three cracks, each with nine fissures.

The third painting had twelve crisscrossing cracks, with a total of 108 fissures.

The fourth painting showed a giant rock split in two from the middle, with debris around the break.

The fifth painting depicted a collapsing palace, its dozens of pillars seemingly swept by an axe and all snapped.

The sixth painting showed a planet, more than half of it cleaved by an axe. Countless fragments flew off, magma splashed, and it looked like a scene of destruction.

The seventh painting featured a sturdy man holding a battle axe, striking toward the sky and forming seven phantom images of the axe.

The eighth painting showed two men, each holding a battle axe, attacking each other. The axes in their hands transformed into eight phantom images each.

The ninth painting depicted a chaotic battle of countless axe-wielders, each axe in their hands manifesting nine phantom images.

The portion above the ninth painting was obscured by chaotic currents; one could only judge that there were three more paintings, but it was impossible to see their content.

Li Dui watched the nine paintings silently. He could feel that the first through the sixth were six styles of axe techniques. The Giant Axe Founder used these six styles to expound his understanding of the laws.

Normally, each painting corresponded to three levels of the Heavenly Bridge. That is to say, if one fully comprehended the first painting, one could pass the third level of the Heavenly Bridge. If one comprehended the second, one could pass the sixth level.

But Li Dui could feel that if he fully comprehended the first painting and created a blade technique corresponding to it, then fighting above his rank to pass the fourth level of the Heavenly Bridge would not be a problem.

He was truly the Giant Axe Founder, the pillar of the human race.

As for the seventh, eighth, and ninth paintings, Li Dui could only guess that they could also be expressed as three secret techniques, but he was completely unable to understand how that could be achieved.

Time was limited and could not be wasted. Li Dui sat cross-legged on the spot. As soon as he entered the state of contemplation, he sensed something was wrong. First, he clearly felt that his speed of contemplation was far beyond before—at least ten times faster.

Furthermore, regarding the Ring, he had previously only felt a connection to the light streams of one level, while the others were just like a revolving lantern.

But this time, another level of light streams gave Li Dui a special feeling.

Is it because I stepped into the Universe Rank? Li Dui pondered. Every time a cultivator advanced, it was a leap in life level.

Calming his mind, he watched the second level carefully. Li Dui slowly understood. The first level guided one on how to recognize and use the ten great laws.

Then the second level told one how the ten great laws could be combined with each other to produce greater power and mystery.

By the time he grasped this, more than half a day had passed. Yet, Li Dui didn't feel any regret over the time spent; instead, he was filled with joy.

According to his understanding, in this world, if your talent for a single-line law was high enough, becoming an Immortal was not a big problem.

And if you also had a powerful talent for combining laws, then your achievements could potentially reach the level of a Venerable.

A Venerable was considered a true powerhouse in the universe.

To think that being at the Universe Rank could yield such benefits. If I reach the Domain Lord Rank in the future, will I be able to perceive the third level? What kind of guidance would the third level provide? Law fusion?

Law fusion—that is a realm touched only by Universe Overlords, or perhaps even the level of a Universe Master.

Brother Hula Hoop is truly impressive. Li Dui took deep breaths, trying his best to calm his surging emotions.

He forced himself to cast aside distracting thoughts, placing half of his focus on the "Ring" while immersing the other half into the first diagram of the Chaos Stele.

Axe marks...

Nine cracks...

Laws...

Essence, mysteries...

"Come out."

A voice poured into Li Dui's mind, echoing repeatedly.

"Come out." "Come out." "Come out." Each repetition grew louder than the last.

"Ah!" Li Dui clutched his forehead and dashed toward the bronze gate that had long since swung open.

The moment he rushed out of the gate, the voice echoing in his mind vanished instantly.

Li Dui offered a helpless smile, bowed to Kandeli, who was resting with his eyes closed nearby, and then quickly departed.

Seven days of enlightenment had confirmed one thing for him: the Giant Axe Chaos Stele was excellent and incredibly powerful. By pointing directly to the essence of the laws, it was a rare and precious treasure for cultivation.

However, judging solely by this function, it was far inferior to the Hula Hoop.

For Li Dui, the significance of the Giant Axe Chaos Stele lay instead in the way the Giant Axe dissected and expressed the laws.

The first, second, and third diagrams were Li Dui's primary targets for enlightenment this time. The three secret techniques depicted in these three diagrams had provided him with a great deal of inspiration.