Ten Years Later

Qin Ming held his daughter, feeling his wife's warmth, his consciousness like a weary bird returning to its nest, sinking completely into this sea of illusory dreams woven from the deepest happiness he yearned for.

He no longer struggled.

On the ninth island of the Illusion Sea, Qin Ming's figure fell utterly still, even... carrying a trace of peaceful indulgence.

The Black Scaled Elder watched from afar, and finally let out a long sigh.

"What a pity!"

In the Illusion Sea, Qin Ming woke up.

But not because he had broken free from the illusion—on the contrary, he was completely immersed in it.

His consciousness lived an entire lifetime within the illusion, dying of old age. The illusion judged him fully lost and automatically ended the trial.

In the Virtual Universe, within the Primal Secret Realm estate on Rain Phase Mountain.

Qin Ming's figure reformed, but his face was pitch black.

He had actually been completely lost in the illusion!

The ninth island of the Illusion Sea corresponded to a peak Domain Lord-level willpower trial.

He hadn't passed it, proving his will was merely average—just at the level of an ordinary Domain Lord.

In truth, Qin Ming had had a chance to break free!

But... the "Qin Xue" and "Ruoxi" in the illusion, the warmth he most deeply craved, pulled him back, making him willingly abandon the struggle and choose to indulge in that false yet perfect happiness.

"Ha..." Qin Ming let out a low, self-deprecating laugh, rubbing his brow.

Fair enough!

Looking back on his journey—transmigrating from Earth, becoming a scion of a cosmic-level clan, gaining a clone in the Jin World, crushing the Genius Tournament, being taken as a personal disciple by Chaos City Lord, with resources, status, talent... he had almost everything.

Too smooth. This life had truly been too smooth!

So smooth that he had never faced true desperation, never endured the agony of longing for something unattainable over long years, never suffered the pain of watching loved ones die before his eyes with no power to stop it.

His will had grown in favorable circumstances, relying on talent and fortune, not forged through endless hardship and solitude.

The trial of the ninth layer of the Illusion Sea had taught him a harsh lesson!

"It seems... my will needs tempering." Qin Ming slowly exhaled a turbid breath, his gaze gradually turning resolute.

This failure was like a bucket of cold water, waking him up.

He understood that the true path of a strong one wasn't just about comprehending laws and piling up resources—mindset and will were equally indispensable.

In the original story, Luo Feng's rise to the peak had been inseparable from his unyielding will.

He glanced at the virtual assistant interface; the points from the Immortal Altar and Illusion Sea had already been credited.

"I'll wait. Once my first clone is hatched, I'll use training missions to hone my resolve!"

Qin Ming settled his mind.

On one hand, he continued to comprehend laws through his Jin World clone.

On the other, he deliberately read through the Virtual Universe Company's treasury of secret texts and senior insights on will training and mental cultivation.

Days passed swiftly in calm, fulfilling cultivation.

Ten years flew by in an instant.

On this day, in the Quiet Reflection Hall.

The Star Crystal Beast's body, which had been shrouded in dense life and space-time fluctuations, suddenly blazed with light!

The originally blurry, shifting form of the Space-Time Nightmare Beast contracted sharply, then erupted with dazzling silver-white radiance!

The light lasted a full quarter-hour before slowly receding.

Beside the Star Crystal Beast, another figure had appeared.

It seemed composed of flowing liquid silver light and fine crystals, its form graceful and dreamlike, sometimes clear, sometimes hazy.

Around it radiated a natural, heart-stopping space-time fluctuation. Its slowly opening eyes were like whirlpools reflecting the birth and death of stars, unfathomably deep.

The Space-Time Nightmare Beast clone was finally fully gestated!

Qin Ming absorbed all the knowledge related to the Space-Time Nightmare Beast.

A gene level of 180 times meant that this clone, from the moment of birth, possessed a physical foundation far surpassing ordinary immortals!

Its top-tier affinity for time and space laws made him feel as if the surrounding space-time had become an extension of his body—clear and effortless.

"Hoo... finally done."

The Space-Time Nightmare Beast clone moved lightly, feeling the surging power and profound law resonance, a hint of satisfaction flickering in its eyes.

"Unexpectedly, it consumed a full ten years."

Feeling the formidable power of the Space-Time Nightmare Beast, the faint restlessness from Qin Ming's decade-long wait vanished in an instant.

"This Seat will remain in the Primal Secret Realm, continuing to cultivate step by step, while this Space-Time Nightmare Beast clone..."

With a thought from Qin Ming, the aura of the Space-Time Nightmare Beast rapidly contracted and shifted, and within a few breaths, it transformed into his human form.

"It's time to accept a training mission, truly step into the universe, and temper my will!"

A flower raised in a greenhouse cannot withstand the wind and rain.

A true strong one must be forged into steel through genuine danger and slaughter!

"Uh... just don't get forged into 'juice'!"

A cold joke flashed through Qin Ming's mind.

Virtual Universe World, Mission Acceptance Hall.

Qin Ming (the Space-Time Nightmare Beast clone, henceforth referred to as the main body) opened the training mission panel.

Training missions were the real-world whetstones prepared by the Virtual Universe Company for the secret realm geniuses.

Based on danger level, the missions were divided into five tiers.

Safe Tier: 0% mortality rate.

Normal Tier: 10% mortality rate.

Difficult Tier: 20% mortality rate.

Dangerous Tier: 50% mortality rate.

Desperate Tier: 90% mortality rate.

"Since it's about tempering, it must be the Dangerous Tier. Safe, Normal, or even Difficult tiers won't achieve a true honing effect."

Qin Ming's gaze was calm as he directly selected the "Dangerous Tier" mission acceptance.

"Beep!"

A glaring red-font warning instantly popped up on the screen.

"Warning! Warning! Lord Qin Ming, this is your first time accepting a training mission.

Based on probability calculations from numerous instances throughout the history of our Virtual Universe Company, choosing the 'Dangerous Tier' for a first mission carries a mortality rate as high as 78.2%!

Please choose carefully!

If you confirm to proceed, please click 'Confirm'; otherwise, cancel this acceptance."

The stark red numbers were alarming, but Qin Ming's eyes showed no ripple.

"Confirm."

He clicked confirm without a moment's hesitation.

The screen refreshed, instantly displaying a list of Dangerous Tier missions.

1. Viska Star (Virtual Universe Company, Primal Secret Realm)

2. Seven Flame Palace (Virtual Universe Company, Heaven and Earth Secret Realm)

9. Dragon Tower Star (Virtual Universe Company, Primordial Secret Realm)

18. Nine Star Sea (Giant Axe Dojo, Giant Axe Secret Realm)

36. Blood Luo World (Virtual Universe Company, Primordial Secret Realm)

186. Flame Ice Continent (Cosmic Galaxy Bank, Black Hole Secret Realm)

Densely packed, a total of 186 optional mission locations.

Qin Ming's gaze swept rapidly over the list, familiar names catching his eye one after another.

"Blood Luo World..."