Secrets and the Great Accomplishment of the Clone

"I lost..."

Staring at the axe blade halted before his brow, feeling that sliver of edge that could sever all obstacles, the sudden turn from death to life sent a cold bead of sweat sliding down Zhao Yun's temple.

"I declare, the winner of this year's Gaishi Star Universe-Level Warrior Battle is—Yin Congyang!"

The clear voice rang through the arena.

Amid the roar of countless spectators, Yin Congyang put away the Heaven-Opening Axe, raised both hands high, and accepted the overwhelming cheers.

Turning to look at Zhao Yun, who wore a hint of disappointment, he tilted his head: "Drinks?"

"Sure, of course. Can't beat you, but can I outdrink you..." Zhao Yun quickly shed his dejected expression, broke into a smile, and replied loudly.

"Hold on, you two. There's one more procedure," said the owner of that clear voice—a middle-aged man in a cyan battle suit, lean and scholarly in bearing. "I still need to issue you both the Warrior Proof, so you can return and complete your missions."

Yin Congyang and Zhao Yun exchanged a glance, reached out to take the slowly drifting Warrior Proofs, and after pocketing them, both bowed respectfully to this middle-aged scholar World Lord.

"Gaishi Star boasts beautiful scenery and abundant resources," the World Lord said with a smile. "You two are welcome to visit Gaishi Star often in the future. Just show your Warrior Proof, and you'll receive courteous treatment."

The two bowed again in thanks, then, under his somewhat complex gaze, departed together.

Iron Flow City, Immortal Arrival Pavilion.

Yin Congyang and Zhao Yun were deep in cheerful conversation, drinking face to face.

"...So you've never been to Chaos City. No wonder someone with your strength is still in the End-of-the-World Secret Realm," Zhao Yun said, slightly tipsy and somewhat relieved. "Your strength is nothing like an ordinary End-of-the-World Region member. That actually restores a bit of my confidence. Imagine me, a proper Radiance Secret Realm member, losing to an End-of-the-World Secret Realm member—I was afraid I'd get expelled when I got back..."

"Zhao Yun, don't sell yourself short over one loss," Yin Congyang said, also a bit flushed after drinking the strong liquor Gaishi Star brewed specifically for high-level cultivators for so long. "There's a saying from my homeland: 'As long as the green hills remain, you'll never lack firewood.' As long as you're still alive, there's always a chance..."

"But from what I've heard, your strength still falls quite short of the Primordial Secret Realm members," Yin Congyang continued. "How many layers of the Heaven-Reaching Bridge have you cleared now? Five? Six?"

"You haven't even entered Chaos City, yet you know about the Heaven-Reaching Bridge?" Zhao Yun was somewhat surprised. "Looks like you're not without connections either. I've been stuck at layer five of the Heaven-Reaching Bridge for over a hundred years, but layer six is still just out of reach."

Yin Congyang nodded. "From what I know, leaving aside the new batch of geniuses recruited into the Primal Region, the veterans are at least at layer six of the Heaven-Reaching Bridge, and a few are even at layer seven. And among this batch of geniuses, there really are some with extraordinary talent..."

"Haha, can their talent be higher than yours? Not many have stood out from the Elite Training Camp and cleared the 61st floor of the Heaven-Reaching Tower at Star Level. What's even more impressive is that you've already reached the strength of layer five of the Heaven-Reaching Bridge without ever studying the Chaos Stele. Once you study the Chaos Stele and train in Chaos City for a hundred years, your strength will take another leap..."

Yin Congyang nodded, then shook his head. "I don't think my talent is lacking, but whether I can contend with those geniuses, I'll only know after trying. There's always a chance. By the way, is your mission considered complete? When are you heading back? If you're not in a hurry, want to come with me to the End-of-the-World Secret Realm for a visit?"

"Afraid not. Time's a bit tight. We brothers can keep in touch in the Virtual Universe from now on. As for the mission, of course it's complete—thanks to you holding back."

The two drank for a long while longer, idly envisioning their future training careers. Yin Congyang, enjoying a rare day of relaxation, was about to take his leave from Zhao Yun when Zhao Yun grabbed him.

Waving his hand to release a Force Shield, Zhao Yun said mysteriously, "Brother, where do you plan to go when you reach Domain Lord level in the future?"

"How would I know now? But I doubt I'll be able to return to my home Universe Kingdom. Why, do you have any suggestions?"

"If—and I mean if—you can enter the Primal Region in a few hundred years, or even better, the Original Region, then when you're sent out as a Domain Lord, if you don't have a particular place in mind, you might consider the 'Jiyuan' Universe Kingdom. This Universe Kingdom is close to the border of Human Territory, so its location is rather special. All Five Great Forces have permanent Universe Legions stationed there, and moreover..."

He paused, looking somewhat smug. "I got word from a secret channel that the Jiyuan Universe Kingdom has a secret realm that opens for a hundred years every ten thousand epochs. That secret realm is extremely special—only Domain Lords and those below Domain Lord can enter; anyone above Domain Lord can't get in. In a few hundred years, that secret realm will open again... From the data I've gathered, several now-famous experts in our Universe Mercenary Alliance entered that secret realm when they were Domain Lords. So I speculate that secret realm must bring enormous benefits to Domain Lords..."

Yin Congyang felt a stir of gratitude in his heart. This new friend, known for less than a day, truly lived up to the name War God—not only was he strong, but he was also bold and forthright, a friend worth knowing deeply.

"Alright. If I can break into the Primal Region or Original Region by then, I'll choose the Jiyuan Universe Kingdom when I'm sent out as a Domain Lord. That said, are you also planning to break through to Domain Lord in a few hundred years?"

"Yes, that's my plan. I'm from the Jiyuan Universe Kingdom myself, so when I'm sent out, it'll definitely be to my home Universe Kingdom. Then we brothers can explore that secret realm together—wouldn't that be splendid?"

"Then it's settled!"

The two raised their cups, clinked them together, and downed the drink in one gulp.

They exchanged a smile. With this pact, each felt the other's temperament and character suited them well, and their bond of friendship deepened by another notch.

Yin Congyang set down his cup and said with a laugh, "We brothers met through a fight and became friends—truly kindred spirits at first sight. The fate between us is no small thing. After today's parting, we'll have to meet again in the Virtual Universe. When we cross paths in the cosmos later, I'll drink a grand toast with you, Brother Zhao Yun!"

Zhao Yun rose to see him off, watching as Yin Congyang leaped out the window, shot straight into the sky, and vanished from sight moments later.

He let out a long breath, the slight buzz of intoxication instantly fading. He too leaped out the window, flying off in another direction, disappearing without a trace in a few breaths.

Two months later, Yin Congyang returned to the End-of-the-World Region aboard his E9-Grade "Forest Ranger" spacecraft. He first went to the End-of-the-World Region Management Office to submit his mission items, gaining 5,120 points, bringing his total to 5,590 points.

Back at his residence, he instructed his Optical Computer to search for treasures related to the Law of Water and the Law of Earth, and also exchanged for 2 Life Fruits.

He spent 300 points each on treasures for his Water and Earth clones, plus 100 points for the Life Fruits, leaving him with 4,890 points.

A day later, the exchanged treasures and Life Fruits arrived. Yin Congyang went into seclusion again and smoothly completed the cultivation of his Water and Earth clones.

Relying on the immense life force of the Life Fruits, all five clones ultimately reached Universe Level, Fifth Stage. The elemental affinity of each clone for its corresponding law increased dramatically, roughly matching the affinity of his earliest Wood-law clone, Azure Dragon, for the Wood Law.

His main body, leveraging the clones' affinity for each law, found it much easier to comprehend the laws of the Five Elements.

The moment his final Earth clone fully coalesced, Yin Congyang's soul suddenly gained a profound insight in the void: cultivating five clones was the limit.

Although the [Clone] secret technique didn't specify exactly how many clones could be cultivated, the universe itself had limits. It wouldn't allow anyone to endlessly increase their clones. This technique could grant at most five clones. Attempting to cultivate a sixth would inflict irreparable damage on the soul, reducing comprehension, willpower, and so on, while resistance to mental techniques like Illusion Techniques and soul attacks would plummet off a cliff...

Yin Congyang suppressed a trace of regret in his heart. Having five clones was already an immense boon, and the resources spent were minimal—just over a thousand points in total. That was also because his current strength was weak, so the clones required few resources. If he had obtained this technique only after becoming an Immortal, the resources needed for a single clone would have been staggeringly vast.

Another issue was that the mysterious fluctuation in his dantian and the life fluctuation of that Mysterious Seed had initially only evolved his main body. Later, one clone was added, then two more, and now another two. As expected, the evolution efficiency had decreased—not by a simple fivefold reduction, but by about half for the main body, with that half distributed among the five clones.

But there was a benefit: the speed of soul evolution and strengthening remained unchanged. Originally, by his own calculations, by the time his body evolved to the Universe-Level limit, his soul power would barely reach the World Lord limit. Now, with his body's evolution slowed and his soul's evolution speed unchanged, it was possible that his soul could break through to Immortal before his body even reached the Universe-Level limit.

Every gain comes with a loss; every loss brings a gain. This was the fundamental truth of the universe's operation.

Now that all clones had completed their training, it was time to arm them. The water clone, Black Tortoise, already had the Mysterious God Weapon obtained from Gaishi Star, so he decided to exchange for the other four elemental god weapons to give to the four clones. This would not only boost their combat power but also aid in comprehending the laws.

Among the Nine Great God Weapons, those combining the laws of time and space were priced higher, while the others were roughly the same—slightly more expensive than a Life Fruit, costing 80 points each. Four god weapons would require 320 points.

Adding five fifth-rank Force Battle Blades at 12 points each came to 60 points total. Axe techniques and blade techniques had common ground, and countless experts in the universe wielded blades. Since the clones' appearances had been adjusted to differ from the original body, it would be more convenient to use a blade when traveling the cosmos.

"Exchange successful. 380 points deducted. Remaining points: 4,510. Ordered goods will arrive in one day. Please pick them up at the End-of-the-World Region Management Office."

The next day, Yin Congyang went to the management office to retrieve the four great god weapons and battle blades he had ordered. He distributed them to the corresponding clones, who then began studying their own god weapons, while the original body continued cultivating the Drifting Blood secret manual.

The deeper the cultivation of the Drifting Blood secret manual, the harder it became. The essence of the Law of Space was profound; the first nine forms were the easiest and most superficial. Previously, he could almost comprehend one sword technique per year, but as his training deepened, the time required naturally increased dramatically.

With the help of the mysterious space within his dantian, Yin Congyang was able to analyze and comprehend the sword techniques in the Drifting Blood secret manual at a steady pace.

Ten years after returning from Gaishi Star, Yin Congyang emerged from his cultivation chamber. Gazing at the light cast by several stars outside the window, a smile appeared on his face.

"I comprehended the ninth sword technique a few years ago, but it took until now to grasp the tenth. The difficulty has indeed skyrocketed. Still, as long as I keep making progress, a slower pace isn't unacceptable. This way, when I finally come into contact with the Chaos Tablet, my efficiency should be higher..."

According to the [Nine Universes Chaos Tablet], he had now fully comprehended the first diagram. Next came the twenty-seven spatial mysteries of the second diagram. However, without the overarching guidance of the Chaos Tablet, relying solely on the Drifting Blood secret manual made cultivation quite arduous.

"Counting the time, it'll still be decades before I set out for the Initial Universe. Should I take on a few more training missions to earn some extra points..."