Whether they were valuable treasures or the Supreme Treasures everyone coveted, they all had their own secret patterns inside.
Some of these patterns reinforced, some amplified, some suppressed, and some even represented laws.
Secret scripts were derived from secret patterns. The simpler the meaning expressed by each script, the closer it was to the fundamentals.
The fourth layer was a complex Secret Pattern Diagram. It was impossible to predict how long it would take to fully comprehend.
The best approach was to understand its most fundamental secret scripts. Otherwise, there would be no way to continue to the fifth or sixth layers.
"Everyone knows that secret scripts are a great path, but no one can walk it!"
When she learned Chen Qing was studying an artifact-refining inheritance, Palace Master Biluo merely furrowed her brow without objecting.
Original Ancestor, however, took an interest. He sipped his tea as he talked with Chen Qing.
"Because it's too complicated?"
"Complexity is a given. The main problem is that we don't know the logic behind breaking down and combining secret patterns.
"Perhaps what we think of as secret scripts are still just relatively simple secret patterns."
Chen Qing had sensed this while comprehending Fundamentals. When many secret scripts came together, their fundamental nature could change.
If he tried to break them apart without knowing that, success would come down to luck. Even if he managed it, he might not know whether he was right.
If comprehending laws was like a blind man feeling an elephant, with each person touching a different part and forming a different impression,
then fully comprehending the laws was like seeing the whole elephant.
The Secret Pattern Diagrams were like diagrams of its internal organs, while the secret scripts were something even deeper.
They could form patterns to help comprehend laws, just like the Chaos Stele.
They could also make full use of laws, like secret techniques. Beyond that, they could be used for amplification, genetic diagrams, treasure refining, and more.
Different people understood things in different ways, and created different secret scripts. There were also various Secret Pattern Schools in the Universe Ocean.
Perhaps only powerful beings who had comprehended the source on the Origin Continent had the chance to study them systematically.
Thinking of this, Chen Qing couldn't help envying Mountain Sitting Guest. His artifact-refining inheritance must have contained a complete set of secret scripts.
Otherwise, he could never have become a famous God King for refining treasures, much less reached the God King realm.
And when he had searched a perilous land for Luo Feng and found Mo Hua's Secret Pattern Diagram, he had quickly managed to break down some simple Secret Pattern Diagrams.
"So if you're refining equipment, you don't need to study them too deeply. The secret patterns you know are enough for now. If you're interested, you can comprehend more later."
Chen Qing understood that, but he had no choice. This concerned his very foundation.
Fortunately, Creation had been passed down through one continuous lineage. It was just that Chen Qing had once treated it as a Guidance Technique.
Even after repeatedly comprehending it and discovering some unusual segments, he had only extracted them to coordinate with his exertion of strength, eventually developing Fundamentals.
Later, with the help of the Primal Universe, he had directly formed the Origin Core. He hadn't experienced many of the wondrous aspects of the next two layers.
He had always known what happened without knowing why. Now he had run into a problem: he couldn't even see the entrance to the fourth layer.
Judging from the artifact-refining inheritance and Original Ancestor's words, Creation should also contain its own rules for analysis. Its foundations had to be at the very beginning.
What he needed to do now was break apart the Secret Pattern Diagrams and find their most basic elements.
"But what rules do the nine Secret Pattern Diagrams in the first layer follow?"
Chen Qing rubbed his aching head. He had been thinking about it for months without making any progress.
"Why does this feel a bit like solving the Rhino Emperor Game? That thing seems to improve comprehension. Comprehension is connected to the soul, right?"
Chen Qing's eyes lit up. The Rhino Emperor Game established its rules through the first few boards, and Creation seemed similar.
Since the Rhino Emperor Game was connected to the soul, would carving Creation with his soul make it clearer?
He did it at once. Chen Qing repeatedly visualized the nine patterns, and his soul slowly began drawing along with them. Surprisingly, it really worked.
He simply hadn't expected that drawing them would take nearly two hundred years. Every time he completed a Secret Pattern Diagram, it caused a different vibration in his soul.
That soothing sensation made his soul more sensitive to its surroundings and gave him finer control over his mind. It also made him more and more absorbed.
When Chen Qing completed all nine Secret Pattern Diagrams at once, the soul within the Origin Bead shuddered, finally jolting him awake.
"Looks like... maybe... my Soul Amplitude is full too!"
Was this inheritance really that incredible? When the Green Lotus truly bloomed, would it flip the entire Primal Universe upside down?
This time, not only had his understanding of the Secret Pattern Diagrams deepened, but he also clearly grasped the changes in his soul.
If he extracted a section, made some adjustments, and added a cultivation template for his race, this might actually work.
Since he'd come this far, he might as well take a break and clear his head.
In Chen Qing's private room in the Virtual Universe, he seized the chance while the three of them were together and quickly sent Jade Lotus II to the two women.
"Senior, from now on, let's split Jade Lotus into two volumes. There's no need to change the name. I'll leave this in your hands."
Chen Qing sat in front of Biluo, speaking very slowly.
"My head's running a little hot. Could you let Jiang Fang and Yao Rao take some time off to relax?"
Chen Qing wasn't close to Chaos City Lord, and the man was so busy that there was no need to bother him.
Palace Master Biluo was different. If she didn't agree, his wife wouldn't be free—and that meant he wouldn't be happy either. He needed to flatter her a little.
"I've never seen anyone so shameless!"
Palace Master Biluo was nearly laughing with anger. He wasn't even bothering to pretend anymore, and he still expected her to pass things along.
Original Ancestor gently swirled his teacup without hurrying to drink. Watching the show was much more entertaining now.
"Three days!"
Biluo finally held back her temper and squeezed out two words, deeply unwilling.
"Two hundred years! Surely it should be two years, at least!"
Chen Qing opened his mouth wide in exaggerated shock, making Biluo hesitate. After all, she didn't know what that sort of experience was like.
"At most three months!"
Palace Master Biluo thought it over and conceded a little, then immediately added, "There's absolutely no room for negotiation!"
"Great!"
Chen Qing replied with satisfaction, then vanished.
He'd nearly forgotten what it was like to be a man. He needed a refresher. Some functions could deteriorate, after all. It had nothing to do with cultivation; it was a choice of life!
At Thunder Mountain, Chaos City Lord smiled at Luo Feng's performance.
Ever since he'd agreed to help Luo Feng choose a secret technique two hundred years ago, he'd paid more attention to him. He simply hadn't expected to discover such a promising young talent.
Judging by his "Sky-Tearing Claw," Luo Feng's skill was already quite impressive, with hints of the Path of the Beast God. He seemed to have a talent for it.
After all, he'd made such rapid progress even in the Primal Universe. His comprehension certainly wasn't weak, and he also had the traits of the Earth Lineage.
"No, I can't let such a promising talent be snatched away. Others have their eyes firmly fixed on the Earth Lineage. It'll be safer to take him as my disciple sooner rather than later.
"Luo Feng is about to return to the Initial Universe. I should meet him first."
It had to be said that Chen Qing's influence was beginning to show. Fortunately, it hadn't led to anything bad. Luo Feng would probably become his disciple several hundred years earlier than in the original timeline.
Just as City Lord had made up his mind, another message arrived from Palace Master Biluo.
"Well, would you look at that. Does this kid have some kind of compulsion?"
After reading the message, City Lord wasn't as excited as he had been last time. Instead, he had the leisure to think about other things.
"Unbelievable. The transformation of the soul is so gentle, slightly strengthening both the soul and the will. But how should I reward him?
"I'd better discuss it with everyone. Who would've thought I'd have to rack my brains over a young fellow one day?"
Before you continue