In the Virtual Universe, Jiang Fang and Yao Rao clung tightly to Chen Qing's arms without saying a word. The Original Ancestor watched them through narrowed eyes for a long while before finally speaking slowly:
"You can withstand a Venerable's crushing attacks again and again. The Void Nether Armor couldn't do that. You've got plenty of secrets, kid,
but there's no need to explain. Just be careful. Don't reveal it carelessly once you're out there."
Chen Qing nodded helplessly. With the Green Lotus bolstering his Origin Core, destroying it was impossible, but sealing it was still possible.
Only once the Green Lotus had fully grown would its roots reach straight into Chaos. Then he wouldn't have to worry about being sealed and could keep absorbing the source.
Fortunately, the puppet couldn't think. It had pinned Chen Qing to the plaza and kept grinding him down. Otherwise, if it had simply tossed him out, he really would have been at a loss.
"How long?"
Palace Master Biluo glanced at the two women, then turned her gaze to Chen Qing.
"If I go all out, it'll still take more than ten years to gain preliminary recognition."
"Don't rush to study the Secret Script Diagram. Focus on the laws!"
Hearing Palace Master Biluo's explanation, Chen Qing looked at her curiously. She hadn't been this polite to him before.
Still, these secret scripts would help him comprehend the fifth level. It was rare to find something that benefited both sides.
"Little one, this thing looks like it could save your life, but if you take it out, at most it'll buy you a little time. Whether it'll still be yours afterward is another matter."
Chen Qing's eyelids drooped slightly. Even the Overlord of the Mist Shadow Race hadn't been able to hold on to this treasure, let alone him.
If he exposed it, he would undoubtedly attract a whole crowd of Universe Masters. Even Overlords wouldn't be qualified to get involved.
After all, Primal Stars opened only once every so many years, and even then only one Peak Supreme Treasure appeared. Even the strongest beings might personally enter the fray.
By then, the powerful members of his race would certainly have to step in. Even if the dozen or so bigwigs above him didn't want it, they'd have to agree to lend a hand. They'd put in the effort, after all.
"Besides, once you've made it recognize you, when you need it, you can just hide inside!"
"I understand what you two seniors mean. Don't worry, I'll be careful."
Chen Qing didn't stubbornly insist on his own way. After all, no one knew what he was comprehending, and insisting would only worry the women he loved.
"Use it when you need to. It's far less dangerous than the secret you're keeping now."
The Original Ancestor's voice was soft, but his words carried weight. Through the mist, Chen Qing could make out his indistinct face. He nodded.
Palace Master Biluo looked at the two women beside her. Her cold voice rang out:
"Remember this. Even if you have to kill yourselves, never let yourselves be enslaved.
"If you die, I can still Reverse Time and Space to revive you. But once you're enslaved, even if you're revived, you won't be yourselves anymore—and Chen Qing's secret won't be a secret!"
Jiang Fang and Yao Rao both straightened instinctively. This was the first time they had heard about resurrection, and they were even more shocked that their teacher had spoken so much.
Inside the Origin Core, Chen Qing sensed what was happening outside. The puppet was still pressing down on it, grinding away with all its might.
But with the Green Lotus's roots wrapped around it, the Origin Core seemed to exist in another dimension. Apart from making it roll constantly, the puppet had no effect at all.
What if it kicks me out?
Feeling a little uneasy, Chen Qing hurriedly sat cross-legged beneath the Green Lotus, calmed himself, and focused on sensing the Lotus Seed.
In a hazy trance, he finally sensed the outside world through the Lotus Seed again.
Outside the Origin Core, several phantom roots stretched out and soon connected with the plaza floor.
Although the Origin Core's range of movement had shrunk, the process of imbuing the plaza had sped up. At last, he no longer had to worry about being interrupted.
Now I'm safe. If I hadn't made such a good haul earlier, I'd really want to slap myself twice.
Chen Qing touched his little face but couldn't bring himself to do it. He settled down and focused all his attention on gaining recognition.
World Lord Power wasn't divine power, and unlike Luo Feng, Chen Qing couldn't go straight to the core.
He had to withstand the Supreme Treasure's own pressure with his will before his power could seep inside. Now that he was concentrating completely, the process was much faster.
Thirteen years passed in a flash. All those years, Jiang Fang and Yao Rao had been sitting on the hill.
They were either comprehending the laws or receiving instruction in the Virtual Universe.
"Water can form a maelstrom and set off ripples in space. These ripples mainly come from the rotation of its fundamental principles...
"Combining them this way can strengthen the speed of space's rotation... The space maelstrom is complete!"
A maelstrom suddenly appeared above Jiang Fang's head. Yao Rao calmly watched the droplets fall, her nostrils flaring twice.
"She's actually overtaken me! But I'm almost there too. I've already reached the fastest speed..."
The commotion outside the city didn't disturb Chen Qing. At that moment, he was making one final push, adding another brick to his big house!
A year later, the entire palace suddenly shuddered. The puppets on the plaza collapsed with a crash, and the boundless mist around them began gathering toward the center.
"Besides the main hall, there are side halls on either side and another at the back, with 10,081 rooms inside.
"There's also a main hall in each of the two side pavilions, with fewer rooms. How is it? This is our home now!"
At that moment, 108 Marquis-Ranks and 36 King-Ranks stood in neat rows around the plaza.
Chen Qing stood in front of a pavilion with the two women, excitedly explaining the treasure's features.
"Later, we can increase the number of puppets under our control tenfold, or even add a dozen Venerables!"
"Young man, with a palace this big, are you planning to be emperor and build yourself a whole harem?"
Yao Rao licked her lips, though her eyes narrowed. "All flash and no substance. Tell us something useful!"
"Heh, of course not!" Chen Qing quickly put on a more serious expression.
"The main thing is defense. It can reduce physical attacks to one hundred-thousandth of their original strength and Soul Attacks to one ten-thousandth.
"Suppression and speed still depend on our own strength. As for offense, that depends entirely on the materials themselves."
"That's already very good, especially its defense against Soul Attacks. It's no worse than a Peak Supreme Treasure of the same type!"
Jiang Fang sighed. "There must have been quite a story behind it!"
"Probably just the usual ambushes and sneak attacks. It has nothing to do with us. It's surnamed Chen now!"
"Getting cocky!"
Ignoring Yao Rao's eye roll, Chen Qing turned serious and looked at the two women.
"I need to go into seclusion now. Leave your imprints in the side hall, and you'll be able to use it temporarily. Be careful while exploring the secret realm!"
This was the plan they had agreed on. The two women would go out to explore the secret realm. Yao Rao, in particular, was only a little short of gaining the Time Law's recognition, so she was understandably anxious.
Chen Qing wouldn't hold them back. He would go into seclusion inside the treasure and let them carry it with them.
"This secret realm is only a half-finished world, so the level of its life forms shouldn't be very high.
"The environment is harsher, but that will help us comprehend the laws. Don't worry!"
Jiang Fang waved a hand and headed toward the palace beside them.
"Good luck, young man. I'll reward you when you come out!"
Yao Rao winked at him, then turned and strolled away.
"The fifth-level Secret Script Diagram is complicated, but at least it points the way. That's the benefit of a legacy!"
Chen Qing placed his Origin Core in the main hall and slowly sat beneath the phantom Green Lotus.
After communicating with the Lotus Seed several times, he had found that this brought him closer to the source.
Besides, Creation had been passed down by the Lotus Seed in the first place. He was sure that after merging with it, comprehending the laws would be easier!
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