Drifting Blood

Inside the spaceship.

Yin Congyang took out a bottle of wine and two cups from his storage space, pouring a cup for Steven.

Steven took the cup, gave it a light sniff, and his eyes lit up. "This wine is excellent—rich aroma, mellow and balanced."

Yin Congyang smiled, retrieved a jar from his storage space, and handed it to Steven.

"This counts as a specialty of the Green Pouch Secret Realm. After my usual training, I always have a cup as a bit of a break. Now I've got this one jar left, so I'll give it to you, Mr. Steven..."

In truth, he rarely drank at all, but this was indeed wine produced in the Green Pouch Secret Realm. He'd stocked up before leaving, with over a hundred jars still in his space ring. This one jar alone weighed a ton, enough to last Steven quite a while.

Steven took the jar and said with a laugh, "I also like a drink after training. Looks like we share a hobby, hahaha..."

Putting the wine away into his storage space, he said to Yin Congyang, "Actually, coming to the End-of-the-World Secret Realm at this time is a bit of a disadvantage for you. After all, the qualification battle starts in a few decades. But since you entered the core layer through the 61st floor of the Heaven-Reaching Tower, it shouldn't be a big problem. Among the nearly ten thousand Universe Levels in the End-of-the-World Region, probably half can't beat the opponents on the 61st floor of the Heaven-Reaching Tower..."

Yin Congyang asked curiously, "The End-of-the-World Secret Realm itself is the outermost of the four secret realms. So if I rank low in the qualification battle, what happens?"

"The Primal Region has the fewest members—only 100 World Lords, 10 Domain Lords, and 3 Universe Levels. Anyone extra gets demoted to the Primordial Region. The Primordial Region has 1,000 World Lords, 100 Domain Lords, and 30 Universe Levels, and the extras drop to the Heaven and Earth Region. The Heaven and Earth Region has 10,000 World Lords, 1,000 Domain Lords, and 300 Universe Levels, and the rest are all swept into the End-of-the-World Region. That's why the End-of-the-World Region has so many people. But even the End-of-the-World Region isn't immune to demotion. The rule for Universe Levels is this: the top 100 in the End-of-the-World Region's qualification battle face the bottom 50 of the Heaven and Earth Region. The top 50 from that match join the Heaven and Earth Region. Anyone in the End-of-the-World Region who ranks in the bottom 100 for three consecutive qualification battles gets expelled from the secret realm and joins the Universe Legion for the Outer-Domain Battlefield. If they accumulate enough merit, they might even get a chance to return to the End-of-the-World Secret Realm..."

Steven spoke eloquently, explaining the rules of the End-of-the-World Region's qualification battle to Yin Congyang.

"I see. That's reasonable enough. After all, anyone entering the core layer for the first time will probably rank low. But if they're in the bottom hundred three times in a row, elimination is deserved..."

Yin Congyang wasn't particularly moved after hearing this. After all, there were nearly ten thousand Universe Levels in the End-of-the-World Region alone. If someone ranked in the bottom hundred for three straight qualification battles, their talent and potential were indeed lacking. It was better to leave the core layer for the Outer-Domain Battlefield, where the mortality rate was extremely high. If they could survive there, breaking through to Domain Lord or even World Lord wasn't impossible.

The two chatted a bit more, then left Steven to drink on his own while Yin Congyang picked a cabin and went to train.

After finishing his daily practice, he sat cross-legged, sent a sliver of consciousness into the Virtual Universe, and made some adjustments to his assigned suite to better suit his habits.

Then, sitting in a chair, he ordered his Optical Computer, "Open the 'Treasure Vault' and search for the secret technique 'Drifting Blood'."

Yes, he had been struggling without systematic guidance. Though he had entered the door of the Law of Space, he couldn't delve deeper. If he could enter Chaos City now, he could choose a Chaos Tablet to study. But since he wasn't in the Initial Universe, he had to find a way through the secret techniques in the Treasure Vault.

According to the original text, Drifting Blood was described as the combat secret technique best suited for learning the first three diagrams of the [Nine Universes Chaos Tablet]. The [Nine Universes Chaos Tablet] started from the Law of Space, and the first three diagrams fully presented the 108 essences of the Law of Space for one to comprehend.

Yin Congyang didn't necessarily have to choose the [Nine Universes Chaos Tablet], but exchanging for the Drifting Blood secret technique was undoubtedly appropriate. Drifting Blood not only helped understand the essence of the Law of Space but was also a combat secret technique usable in battle. Though integrating sword techniques into axe techniques would be difficult, his clone didn't have to use an axe. Giving the clone a good sword would work just as well for combat.

"Drifting Blood secret technique found. Price: 800 points. 30% discount for the Primitive Secret Realm, 20% for the Primordial Secret Realm, 10% for the Heaven and Earth Secret Realm, full price for the End-of-the-World Secret Realm," the Optical Computer reported to Yin Congyang.

"...Exchange," Yin Congyang said with a curl of his lip, inwardly complaining, "End-of-the-World Secret Realm members really are treated like stepchildren—no discounts on anything..."

"Exchange successful. 800 points deducted. Remaining balance: 1,170 points."

"Please wait. Someone will deliver the secret technique shortly."

Yin Congyang pondered for a moment, then ordered the Optical Computer, "Search for secret realm treasures like 'Life Fruit', and also metal-attribute and fire-attribute treasures. List them for me."

"Search complete. Life Fruit: 50 points each," the Optical Computer reported. "Metal-attribute and fire-attribute treasures include..."

A screen appeared in the air, listing metal-attribute and fire-attribute treasures along with their required points.

Titanium Crystal: 20 points per cubic meter

Li-Origin Crystal: 23 points per cubic meter

Geng Metal Essence: 30 points per cubic meter

Vermilion Bird Fire: 30 points per wisp

Golden Crow Fire: 25 points per wisp

Phoenix Fire: 30 points per wisp

After reviewing the details of all the items found, Yin Congyang calculated for a moment and said to the Optical Computer, "Exchange for 2 Life Fruits, 10 cubic meters of Geng Metal Essence, and 10 wisps of Phoenix Fire. Set the delivery time for the day after I arrive at the End-of-the-World Secret Realm."

"Exchange successful. 700 points deducted. Remaining balance: 470 points."

"Beep. You have mail."

"View."

Moore's image appeared on the screen in the air. "Yin Congyang, the secret technique manual you purchased has arrived. You need to come in person to receive it."

Yin Congyang flew out the window and headed toward the End-of-the-World Region's gate.

At the gate, three Virtual Universe Company employees were holding a silver briefcase. Seeing Yin Congyang flying over, the leader shot a beam of light from his wrist, scanning Yin Congyang. "Identity confirmed. Can proceed with delivery."

The man handed the briefcase to Yin Congyang, gave a slight nod, and left with his two subordinates.

Yin Congyang didn't mind. He carried the briefcase back to his room.

After locking the doors and windows, he eagerly opened the briefcase. Inside were over a hundred densely packed manuals, each labeled Volume 1, Volume 2, Volume 3... Volume 110.

Picking up the topmost Volume 1, the black cover prominently featured the words [Nine Universes] in the center, with slightly smaller characters for "Drifting Blood" beside them, and the name "Lian Luo" at the bottom left.

Volume 1 contained hundreds of thousands of words, describing Lian Luo's understanding of the Nine Universes Chaos Tablet and the fundamental Law of Space, along with information on his created secret technique Drifting Blood. It served as the general outline for the entire set of manuals. Reading it carefully would greatly aid in planning subsequent training.

Volumes 2 through 109 analyzed the 108 essences of the fundamental Law of Space. By practicing sword techniques to analyze the law, it was quite similar to how he had previously used axe techniques to comprehend domains and laws. The difference was that Lian Luo also had a Chaos Tablet to study, making him much more efficient.

The final volume was a summary of the entire set.

In the general outline of Volume 1, Lian Luo left a note: If you haven't grasped the first sword technique after 20 years of training in Chaos City or 200 years in the Original Universe, give up. Go and slowly comprehend like other cultivators—this path isn't for you.

He stopped overthinking, reviewed the contents of Volume 1 in his mind, confirmed he fully understood it, then picked up Volume 2, gently opened it, and began reading seriously.

As he read, in the spaceship cabin, within the ring Yin Congyang wore, his Clone took a sword he had crafted himself to the specifications demanded by Drifting Blood and began ceaselessly practicing.

With the continuous practice of the first sword technique, Yin Congyang's previously fragmented insights into the Law of Space gradually began to merge, and a flood of new realizations about the Law of Space surged into his mind.

His main body simply took out a longsword as well and began practicing the first sword technique in the training room of his suite within the Virtual Universe Company.

He did not know how much time had passed when Yin Congyang stopped his sword practice, withdrew his consciousness from the virtual universe, and returned to his body. He sat cross-legged. Although he was inside an F-Grade Spaceship and Steven was also a member of the End-of-the-World Secret Realm, he still carefully set up some security measures around himself, ready to react at the first sign of any unexpected changes.

Sinking his entire mind and spirit into his dantian, he once again entered that mysterious space. He conjured a longsword and began practicing the first sword technique of Drifting Blood. As he practiced, he immediately felt a difference compared to when he had previously practiced the Heaven-Opening Axe technique.

Before, in this space, once he started practicing the Heaven-Opening Axe technique, he would quickly become immersed in cultivation, only naturally exiting this space when his insights came to an end.

This time, while practicing the first sword technique of Drifting Blood in the space, he remained clear-headed for most of the time and did not become completely immersed. Yet his insights into the Law of Space were far better than before, when he had lacked systematic guidance. Only now did he feel that this space seemed to possess a mysterious power, one that could subtly correct some of the misconceptions in his cultivation.

He had never had a formal teacher before. The Training Camp's education was a mass-oriented one for all trainees, much like in a school where all students have the same teachers and the same textbooks. For top students who wanted to improve further, they could only rely on self-study.

But self-study also required higher-level textbooks to learn effectively. Relying entirely on one's own efforts to break through from the foundation of the original textbooks made it very easy to fall into misconceptions and take detours.

His axe technique was actually extremely profound, far beyond what Drifting Blood could compare to. However, its level was too high, and Yin Congyang, whose realm was currently insufficient, could not deeply comprehend it.

After all, the Heaven-Opening Axe technique was different from Drifting Blood. Drifting Blood was a combat research secret technique; its actual combat effectiveness was only so-so. Its greater function lay in elucidating the essence of the Law of Space. It did not contain methods for combining the essence of space afterward to unleash the true power of the Law of Space. Otherwise, it would not have been sold for a mere 800 contribution points in the Virtual Universe Company's treasure vault.

The Heaven-Opening Axe technique, on the other hand, was a pure combat secret technique, and a very high-level one at that. In truth, when Yin Congyang was at the Planetary Level, Star Level, or even Universe Level, he could not unleash much of its power at all.