Five Elements Domain

Yin Congyang continued his steady training and studies at the Training Camp. From time to time, he contacted Luo Feng and the others through the Virtual Universe. When he learned that they had used the Life Fruit to evolve Luo Feng's Cloud-Touching Vine to the second level of the Universe Level, securing their safety and helping them obtain countless Thunder Stones to exchange for treasures, he was delighted for them.

Then, several months later, a hundred billion Universe Coins suddenly appeared in his bank account. Only after seeing the email Luo Feng sent him did he learn that they had left Thunder World. Thunder God had received World Lord Kabu's inheritance, while Luo Feng had sold all their treasures through the Universe Galaxy Bank for more than ten Hunyuan Units. He had given Yin Congyang a hundred billion Universe Coins. Yin Congyang didn't stand on ceremony and gladly accepted them.

At the same time, Ming Yu sent an email explaining that Luo Feng had repaid the three hundred million Ganwu Coins he had borrowed earlier, so Yin Congyang no longer needed to pay him back.

From then on, the three of them took turns exploring and training on Earth and in the Black Dragon Mountain Starfield, waiting for the Genius Tournament to begin.

After another two years at the Training Camp, Yin Congyang finally cultivated the Fire Domain through his tireless efforts.

After breaking the stable triangular formation, the power of his four Law Domains reached a new level. But when he used them, he still felt that something was missing. By studying how the domains connected and changed, he realized that only after cultivating the Domain of Earth would the Five Elements Domain be complete. So he spent points on several secret techniques related to the Law of Earth and began working relentlessly to cultivate the Domain of Earth.

Over those two years, his physical strength had finally reached Planetary Level Nine, and his Force Amplitude had surpassed fifty times. Yet, just as when he had first reached the peak of Apprentice Level, he still couldn't sense any hope of breaking through to Star Level.

Based on his previous experience, the fluctuations in his Dantian would continue transforming and evolving his body for at least several more years. Only then would his physical strength and soul power truly reach the peak of Planetary Level. At that point, he might be able to break through to Star Level.

One day, he suddenly received a call request from Luo Feng.

As soon as the call connected, Luo Feng asked, "Congyang, when do you think you'll break through to Star Level?"

"Probably not for several more years. Why?" Yin Congyang had a pretty good idea why Luo Feng was asking. Sure enough, Luo Feng told him about the Genius Tournament next.

"Have you heard of the Universe Human Peak Genius Tournament? A Suspended Notice appeared in the sky above Black Dragon Mountain Island in the Virtual Universe today. It has information about the tournament. I'll send it to you to take a look..."

With that, he sent an email. Yin Congyang read it carefully, then looked up at Luo Feng, who was watching him expectantly. "Only Star Level contestants can participate. I'm still at Planetary Level, so I definitely won't make it in time..."

"Ah, what a shame. I was hoping the four of us brothers could compete with the countless geniuses across the universe together..." Luo Feng looked regretful.

"Brother Hong, Brother Lei, and you have all been at Star Level for years," Yin Congyang said with a reassuring smile. "This is the perfect opportunity for you to compete against all the Star Level geniuses in the Ganwu Universe Kingdom and see how far your own strength can take you. As for me, even if I break through to Star Level, I won't get far right after the breakthrough. I haven't had time to build a foundation or gain any insight into the laws..."

Then he changed tack. "But you're different. I believe you can make it to the final round. When the time comes, give it everything you've got. The Virtual Universe's Core Layer is full of the most talented people. Competing alongside them is your chance to soar to new heights! Besides, being a core member of the Virtual Universe Company is a prestigious status and would also provide Earth with excellent protection."

"Don't worry. I'll do my best to enter the Virtual Universe Company's Core Layer," Luo Feng replied solemnly. Then he grinned. "When I make it, I'll look out for you. If anything comes up, just drop my name—Luo Feng! Haha..."

"Sounds good. I'll be waiting for that day," Yin Congyang replied with a laugh. They chatted for a little longer before ending the call.

The start of the Genius Tournament stirred up the Planetary Level prodigies at the Training Camp. A few Class A members at Planetary Level Nine even wanted to break through to Star Level early so they could participate. But after the four instructors sternly rebuked them, they finally gave up on the bold idea.

More than three years later, at the Training Camp's student villas.

Yin Congyang was training as usual in the basement. Axe shadows swept in every direction as his gold, blue, green, and red domains spread out across a small area. Within them, flecks of ochre light appeared now and then, only to be quickly suppressed by the wood-green light, while the fiery red light continually infused the ochre glow with energy.

Watching the changes in his domains, Yin Congyang couldn't help feeling excited. Ever since comprehending the Fire Domain more than three years ago, he had been striving to perfect the Five Elements Domain. Only today had he finally seen hope of success.

He focused even harder on his axe techniques and domains. The ochre light kept developing within the domains. But after several years of training, the Domain of Wood and his other domains had already reached the peak of the First Layer, and the Domain of Wood was suppressing the still-forming Domain of Earth quite severely.

Yin Congyang's thoughts shifted. His axe techniques didn't falter, but he adjusted the proportions of the various Law Domains with his mind, increasing the energy of the Domain of Gold and Fire Domain while reducing the energy supplied by the Domain of Wood.

Among the Five Elements, metal overcame wood, while fire generated earth. As the Domain of Gold suppressed the Domain of Wood, the Domain of Wood's suppression of the Domain of Earth gradually weakened, while the Fire Domain gave the ochre domain greater support.

The ochre light within the domains grew brighter and brighter, then formed fine ochre secret patterns.

As soon as the first ochre secret pattern appeared, the Fire Domain suddenly poured far more energy into the Domain of Earth. The ochre secret patterns multiplied rapidly. But as the Fire Domain's power waned, the balance between the different elements was immediately disrupted.

Once the Fire Domain weakened, the Domain of Wood quickly replenished its energy. Then the Domain of Water replenished the Domain of Wood...

After the forces of the Domains of Gold, Water, Wood, and Fire regained their balance, the secret patterns of the Domain of Earth had grown increasingly intricate, reaching the peak of the First Layer. Then the Domain of Earth's secret patterns gradually interlocked with those of the other four domains, bringing the forces of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth into an unprecedented state of balance.

Once the five domains were completely balanced, their secret patterns shone in a dazzling array of colors.

Suddenly, the secret patterns of the Domain of Gold, which he had comprehended first, began interlocking with those of the Domain of Water. The Domain of Water then interlocked with the secret patterns of the Domain of Wood, and so on. The secret patterns of each domain interlocked with those of the element it generated, turning the entire domain into an incredibly perfect yet complex whole.

The forces of the different elements continued to circulate, merge, and replenish one another. The bottleneck broke at once, and the domain's power underwent a qualitative leap, surging straight to the Second-Layer Domain.

Watching all this, Yin Congyang still sensed that something was wrong. The Five Elements cycled endlessly, allowing all the forces to unite and greatly increasing their power. But the domain's power couldn't come from nowhere; Yin Congyang, as its master, had to supply its most basic energy. If this cycle couldn't stop, and the energy he could provide wasn't replenished—or wasn't replenished fast enough—the domain would collapse. That was clearly a flaw no perfect domain should have.

Watching the forces of the different domains continue circulating, Yin Congyang pondered in silence. Then his eyes lit up. The Five Elements both generated and overcame one another; generation and overcoming were the most fundamental principles of their relationship. If they only generated one another, their power would go unchecked, and the cycle couldn't last.

Yin Congyang recalled a passage from an ancient text he had once read. It described how the Five Elements generated and overcame one another: "Water generates wood, and wood in turn generates fire, but wood is depleted in the process, so water grows angry and overcomes fire. The strong can attack the weak; earth gains strength from wood. The substantial can overcome the insubstantial; water is stopped by earth. Yin can dispel yang; fire is extinguished by water. The fierce can defeat the unyielding; metal is damaged by fire. The firm can subdue the soft; wood is cut down by metal. Thus, the five elements circulate and change in turn: following the order, they generate one another; going against it, they overcome one another. In this way, each fulfills its role and completes its own path." (Note 1)

Yin Congyang's thoughts stirred. As the forces of the elements continued to generate one another, the force of metal began to restrain wood even as it generated water. The force of water, after receiving what metal generated, flowed into wood while also restraining fire. The same pattern continued with the other elements, forming another perfect domain in which the Five Elements both generated and overcame one another.

Once the force of earth finally restrained water, the entire domain began to operate on its own. Countless secret patterns emerged, each shimmering with the colors of the Five Elements. They swallowed and replaced the secret patterns formed by the five elemental forces, transforming the domain from something like a unified whole into a truly indivisible one.

The earlier Five Elements Domain had been like a porcelain disk broken into five even pieces and glued back together. It looked whole, but cracks remained. Though they didn't affect its use, it was still less sturdy than an intact disk. Now, however, the domain was a flawless, unbroken disk. No—it had transformed from a porcelain disk into one of diamond, more than ten times as strong as before.

What's more, the Five Elements Domain had become self-sustaining, its power renewing itself without end. It consumed far less energy, allowing one unit of power to produce the effect of three units before, which further enhanced its might.

The domain where the Five Elements had merged was now one indivisible whole. Yet Yin Congyang could still wield each element's power freely, and its might had increased tremendously. His Second-Layer Domain was now every bit as powerful as the Ninefold Domain of an ordinary Star Level cultivator.

With the Five Elements Domain complete, Yin Congyang finally breathed a sigh of relief. Next, while continuing to cultivate his domain, he would begin trying to make contact with the various Universe Origin Laws and the higher laws of space and time.

P.S. Note 1 comes from Su Wen.