Holding his daughter and feeling the warmth of his wife, Qin Ming's consciousness was like a weary bird returning to its nest, sinking completely into this sea of illusion woven from the happiness he desired most deep in his heart—an impossibly real dream.
He stopped struggling.
On the ninth island of the Illusion Sea, Qin Ming's figure grew completely still, even taking on a trace of peaceful surrender.
The Black Scaled Elder watched from afar. In the end, all he could do was let out a long sigh.
"What a pity!"
In the Illusion Sea, Qin Ming awoke.
However, it wasn't because he had broken free of the illusion. On the contrary, he had become completely immersed in it.
His consciousness had lived out an entire life within the illusion, dying of old age. The illusion judged that he had completely succumbed and automatically ended the trial.
Virtual Universe, inside the estate in the Primal Secret Realm of Rain Phase Mountain.
Qin Ming's figure re-formed, his face dark as thunder.
He had actually become completely immersed in the illusion!
The ninth island of the Illusion Sea tested one's consciousness at the level of a Peak World Lord.
He hadn't passed, which meant his will was merely average—only at the level of an ordinary World Lord.
Actually, Qin Ming had had a chance to break free!
But... the warmth he desired most deep in his heart, embodied by "Qin Xue" and "Ruoxi" in the illusion, had pulled him back. He had willingly given up struggling and chosen to lose himself in that false yet perfect happiness.
"Heh..." Qin Ming gave a self-mocking chuckle and rubbed his brow.
That was true!
Looking back on his journey, he had come from Earth and become the young master of a Universe Level family. He had a clone in the Jin World, crushed his way through the Genius Tournament, and been taken as a personal disciple by the Chaos City Lord. Resources, status, talent... he had nearly everything.
It had all gone too smoothly. His life really had been far too smooth!
He had never experienced true desperation, endured the anguish of yearning for something unattainable over a long stretch of time, or suffered the pain of watching his dearest loved ones die before his eyes while he was powerless to help.
His will had grown in favorable circumstances. It depended on his talent and opportunities, rather than having been tempered by endless hardship and solitude.
The trial on the ninth island of the Illusion Sea had taught him a harsh lesson!
"It seems... my will needs to be tempered." Qin Ming slowly exhaled, his gaze gradually growing resolute.
This time, losing himself in the illusion had doused him with a bucket of cold water and snapped him awake.
He understood, too, that the path to becoming a true powerhouse wasn't just about Law Comprehension and stockpiling resources. Strength of character and will were just as essential.
In the original story, Luo Feng's unyielding will had been indispensable to his rise to the pinnacle.
He looked at the virtual assistant interface. The points for the Immortal Altar and the Illusion Sea had already been credited.
"I'll wait. Once my first clone has finished hatching, I'll use cultivation missions to temper my resolve!"
Qin Ming settled his mind.
On one hand, he continued comprehending the laws through his Jin World clone.
On the other, he made a point of reading the many secret manuals and seniors' insights on tempering one's will and cultivating the mind in the Virtual Universe Company's treasury.
The days flew by amid peaceful, fulfilling cultivation.
Ten years passed in the blink of an eye.
On this day, inside the Quiet Reflection Hall—
The Star Crystal Beast's body, long enveloped in intense waves of life and spacetime, suddenly blazed with light!
The hazy, shifting form of the Space-Time Nightmare Beast embryo abruptly contracted, then burst into a dazzling silver-white radiance!
The light lasted a full quarter of an hour before slowly fading.
A figure had appeared beside the Star Crystal Beast.
Its entire body seemed to be made of flowing liquid silver light and tiny crystals. Its form was elegant and dreamlike, at times clear, at times indistinct.
A wave of spacetime that made the heart tremble radiated naturally from it. Its slowly opening eyes were like whirlpools reflecting the birth and death of galaxies, unfathomably deep.
The Space-Time Nightmare Beast clone had finally finished hatching!
Qin Ming received all the knowledge related to the Space-Time Nightmare Beast.
With a Gene Level as high as 180 times, this clone had a physical foundation that far surpassed that of an Ordinary Immortal from the moment it was born!
Its exceptional affinity for the laws of time and space made the surrounding spacetime feel like an extension of its body, clear and effortless to perceive.
"Phew... it's finally done."
The Space-Time Nightmare Beast clone gently moved its body, feeling its surging power and mysterious perception of the laws. A hint of satisfaction flashed in its eyes.
"I didn't expect it to take a full ten years."
Feeling the Space-Time Nightmare Beast's power, Qin Ming's slight impatience from waiting for ten years vanished.
"My true self will stay in the Primal Secret Realm and keep cultivating as usual. As for this Space-Time Nightmare Beast clone..."
At a thought from Qin Ming, the clone's aura quickly drew in and changed. Within seconds, it had taken on his human form.
"It's time to take a cultivation mission, venture into the universe, and truly temper my will!"
Hothouse flowers couldn't withstand storms.
True powerhouses needed to be tempered by real danger and combat, forged into steel through a hundred trials!
"Uh... just don't forge me into 'juice'!"
A corny joke flashed through Qin Ming's mind.
Virtual Universe, mission assignment hall.
Qin Ming (the Space-Time Nightmare Beast clone, which would henceforth be referred to as his true self) opened the cultivation mission panel.
Cultivation missions were the Virtual Universe Company's real-world whetstones for its genius members of the secret realms.
Based on their danger, the missions were divided into five levels.
Safe Level: 0% mortality rate.
Ordinary Level: 10% mortality rate.
Difficult Level: 20% mortality rate.
Dangerous Level: 50% mortality rate.
Desperate Level: 90% mortality rate.
"If I'm going to temper myself, it has to be a Dangerous Level mission. Safe, Ordinary, or even Difficult missions won't truly hone me."
Qin Ming's gaze was calm as he directly selected the "Dangerous Level" missions.
"Beep!"
A prominent warning in red instantly appeared on the screen.
"Warning! Warning! Your Highness Qin Ming, this is your first time accepting a cultivation mission.
"Based on statistical probabilities calculated from the many cases recorded throughout the history of our Virtual Universe Company, if you choose a 'Dangerous Level' mission for your first assignment, your mortality rate will be as high as 78.2%!
"Please choose carefully!
"If you wish to continue, click 'Confirm.' Otherwise, cancel this assignment."
The glaring red numbers were chilling, but Qin Ming's expression didn't change.
"Confirm."
He clicked the confirmation without hesitation.
The screen refreshed, instantly displaying a list of Dangerous Level missions.
1. Viska Star (inside the Virtual Universe Company's Primal Secret Realm)
2. Seven Flame Palace (inside the Virtual Universe Company's Heaven and Earth Secret Realm)
9. Dragon Tower Star (inside the Virtual Universe Company's Primordial Secret Realm)
18. Nine Star Sea (inside the Giant Axe Dojo's Giant Axe Secret Realm)
36. Blood Luo World (inside the Virtual Universe Company's Primordial Secret Realm)
186. Flame Ice Continent (inside the Cosmic Galaxy Bank's Black Hole Secret Realm)
The densely packed list contained a total of 186 mission locations to choose from.
Qin Ming's eyes swept quickly over the list, taking in one familiar name after another.
"Blood Luo World..."
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