One Year's Time

Ji Yun strode into the alloy passageway, the alloy hatch behind him slowly sealing shut.

The mirror-like entrance was now dim and lusterless, and the twisting black currents that had been there on his first visit had vanished without a trace.

Ji Yun spoke toward his arm guard: "Connect to the intelligence."

The Auxiliary Optical Computer flared to life, specks of light gathering from the air to form the same bald crystal being as before.

"Your Excellency."

The bald crystal being, as an intelligent system, clearly possessed memory.

"It seems Your Excellency has found Falling Ink Star's second base on Earth." The bald crystal being sighed. "That base's intelligence is two grades higher than mine—the highest-grade intelligence on this planet. She granted Your Excellency authorization, so naturally you can access my system."

"Mm." Ji Yun nodded. "I came here for that Luo Feng."

"That Earthling Luo Feng triggered a death trial. If he passes within three years, he'll come out." The bald crystal being said with a smile. "This trial was set by the master of Falling Ink Star, not decided by the intelligence. I'm afraid I have no authority to release him."

Ji Yun thought for a moment, then said: "Then tell me his status and the probability of him passing."

The bald crystal being smiled faintly: "This Luo Feng has a brain domain breadth of 21, which counts as a genius even among Psychic Masters. Passing the trial is expected—fast in a year, slow in two."

"Good, I understand."

Having received his answer, Ji Yun turned and left. The bald crystal being withdrew from Ji Yun's Auxiliary Optical Computer and returned to the No. 9 civilization relic.

"Open the door." Ji Yun transmitted the message to the staff outside.

"Sister Xin, Brother Yun said Luo Feng will come out in a year at the fastest, two years at the slowest."

As soon as Ji Yun got home, he told this to Luo Yue, and Luo Yue relayed the news—neither good nor bad—to Xu Xin.

"A year?" Xu Xin's voice on the other end of the call was deeply dejected.

"Xiao Yue, don't try to comfort me. Tell me the truth—what did Councilor Ji Yun say?"

"No, that's really what Brother Yun said." Luo Yue hurriedly replied. "Brother Yun, you talk to Sister Xin."

Ji Yun came out of the kitchen, egg white still smeared on his hands.

"Is that Xu Xin?" Ji Yun put his head near the Communication Watch.

"It's me, Councilor Ji." Xu Xin's voice grew tense, as if she might faint if Ji Yun's answer were even slightly off.

"Xu Xin, don't be nervous. I'll tell you the truth."

"Luo Feng is undergoing a trial. If he succeeds, fast in a year, slow in two, he'll definitely come out. Just wait patiently."

Ji Yun didn't dare tell Xu Xin that Luo Feng's trial was a death trial. A death trial—just the name made it sound hard to pass, and failing meant death. Saying that would leave Xu Xin at a loss.

"Really?" There was still some disbelief in Xu Xin's voice.

"Just wait patiently." Ji Yun gestured to Luo Yue and turned back to the kitchen.

"Brother Yun's words are never wrong, Sister Xin, just rest assured." Luo Yue continued comforting Xu Xin on her end.

Not long after, a loud bang came from the kitchen.

Ji Yun had blown up the kitchen.

Inside the Limit Dojo headquarters.

Hong had an Ancient Civilization Gravity Room, but it was only used by the Limit Dojo's Inspectors. These Inspectors didn't know much about the universe and had no methods for rapidly absorbing energy, so they rarely used the gravity room.

But Ji Yun was different!

With over a hundred Wood Bud Crystals in hand, Ji Yun could boost his strength very quickly. Given enough time, reaching Star Level wasn't impossible.

Since graduating, Ji Yun hadn't trained in this room. The Ancient Civilization Gravity Room could reach 1000 times gravity. Based on Ji Yun's understanding, a Planetary Level first-stage warrior's muscles and bones could withstand 1000 times Earth's gravity! The reason they couldn't handle it was because their internal organs and meridians hadn't been tempered, and weak organs and meridians also reduced the body's efficiency in absorbing energy.

Taking a deep breath, Ji Yun activated the gravity switch on the Ancient Civilization Gravity Room.

First, 100 times gravity.

The moment it activated, Ji Yun felt as if a stone were pressing down on his body—heavy, but not unbearable.

"Then 200, 300..." Ji Yun muttered to himself.

When the gravity multiplier reached 600, Ji Yun suddenly felt as if he were crushed under a mountain. His bones and muscles were fine, but his meridians seemed to bear immense pressure, and his blood flow became sluggish.

"I'll adapt to 600 times first." Ji Yun exhaled. Sweat began to pour from his body, dripping steadily onto the floor.

Soon, over ten days had passed.

Ji Yun had fully adapted to 1000 times gravity. Moreover, scanning the Ancient Civilization Gravity Room, he learned that its upper limit wasn't 1000 times. Based on his estimation, a Planetary Level first-stage warrior could use 1000 to 2000 times gravity, and this Ancient Civilization Gravity Room could reach an astonishing 8999 times.

However, reaching that multiplier required sufficient energy. Clearly, Earth's so-called electrical power wasn't enough to support it. There might be some energy source inside this spacecraft that could fully power the gravity room.

Inside the gravity room.

Ji Yun, barefoot and wearing only a loose pair of beach shorts, practiced some fist and foot techniques.

These techniques came from texts Ji Yun had found from before the Great Nirvana. After practicing them, he discovered they had a good ability to calm the restless emotions that arose from his cultivation.

At the same time, the philosophical principles in techniques like Taiji Fist brought about many subtle shifts in his state of mind—changes that weren't drastic but happened gradually. Ji Yun only felt himself becoming calmer, yet without losing his humanity.

Every time Ji Yun finished using the gravity room, he returned to his quarters to absorb Wood Bud Crystals. Once the crystal energy was fully absorbed, he would go back to train in the gravity room again.

Half a year later.

Ji Yun stepped into the gravity room.

"Activate 3600x gravity," Ji Yun said to the auxiliary optical computer.

Instantly, the auxiliary optical computer connected to the Ancient Civilization Gravity Room, and 3600 times the force of gravity pressed down on Ji Yun.

With half a year of training and the absorption of a large number of Wood Bud Crystals, Ji Yun's physical condition was already approaching Planetary Level Stage 4. On Earth, only Hong and Thor, along with a few hidden monster beasts and the Beast Emperor, could reach this level.

3600x gravity was not enough to make Ji Yun so uncomfortable that he couldn't move.

Ji Yun extended his consciousness and entered the virtual space.

"Welcome back, Councilor Ji Yun," a clear electronic voice rang out in the virtual space.

Ji Yun walked across the silver-white ground to the Trial Tower, which was used to test the trainees of the Elite Training Camp. To the left of the Trial Tower stood a black stone pillar, on which Ji Yun's level was displayed.

"Name: Ji Yun

Gender: Male

Identity: War God Palace Councilor

Trial Tower Level: 5.9"

Only Hong in the entire world could reach the sixth floor; even Thor couldn't manage it!

The reason was that Hong possessed a domain. Although Thor's power and technique were slightly higher than Hong's, the domain made Hong truly invincible at the Planetary Level.

"My technique has broken through again, and my control over my body is even stronger."

Ji Yun stretched his body and entered the Trial Tower. "I hope I can reach the sixth floor today."

A year passed quickly.

Ji Yun went home every two days, spending one day in Jiangnan Base City before returning to his residence in Hongning Base City.

Ji Yun used the Ancient Civilization Gravity Room almost twice every three days, and the multiplier kept increasing.

In these six months, the gravity multiplier Ji Yun could withstand reached 4900x, and his physical condition was on the verge of breaking through to Planetary Level Stage 5. In other words, Ji Yun was now a Planetary Level Stage 4 powerhouse. On Earth, aside from Hong, Ji Yun dared to contend even with Thor.

Through his gains from Kunlun and Ruins No. 9, Ji Yun had successfully brought his technique level to a respectable standard. Moreover, unlike Thor, who had to figure things out on his own, Ji Yun had followed the proper path.

Thor's Nine-Layered Thunder Blade was a technique he had summarized himself based on some of his findings. Compared to Ji Yun, who had obtained a complete Planetary Level training method, Thor had truly gone down a wrong path.

It was no exaggeration to say that Ji Yun was now the number one expert on Earth in terms of physical utilization.

Ji Yun had once wanted to gift these techniques to Hong and Thor, but when he tried to record them, the auxiliary optical computer automatically displayed a message: "Non-Falling Ink Star members are prohibited from sharing." Having received such great favor from Falling Ink Star, Ji Yun had no choice but to give up.

During this time, based on his own gains, Ji Yun created a technique—Phantom Wind. According to Ji Yun's own experience, Phantom Wind pointed directly toward the Planetary Level and the domain, from technique to the comprehension of artistic conception.

Ji Yun's understanding of the domain was still rough, which made the technique somewhat unclear. Even so, Phantom Wind was still an ultimate technique on par with World Destroyer and Nine-Layered Thunder Blade.

However, compared to the improvement in his physical condition, what brought Ji Yun even greater gains was the Cloud-Touching Vine.

Having automatically devoured twelve Spirit Source Fruits at birth, the Cloud-Touching Vine's cultivation foundation was in no way inferior to the effects of nurturing with some precious fruits. The vine's quality and starting point were also high enough. Spirit Source Fruits were only inferior to the Lanke Fruit—the most suitable fruit in the universe for nurturing life—in terms of total energy and life aura. But in terms of compatibility with plants, Spirit Source Fruits were superior to Lanke Fruits.

The Cloud-Touching Vine underwent tremendous changes. Over the course of a year, Ji Yun continuously communicated with it, making the vine deeply attached to him. Ji Yun also clearly understood the limits of the vine's energy absorption.

Ji Yun's Cloud-Touching Vine had actually reached Planetary Level Stage 5 in just one year. It could only be said that Spirit Source Fruits were extremely suitable for plant life. However, as its level increased, the energy it required grew larger, and Spirit Source Fruits were indeed no longer sufficient. But for now—

With a Planetary Level Stage 5 Cloud-Touching Vine cooperating with a Planetary Level Stage 4 Ji Yun, even a Planetary Level powerhouse of Hong's caliber would not make Ji Yun afraid.

Jiangnan Base City, Wilderness Zone.

The residence of Ji Yun and Luo Yue was just an ordinary neighborhood, not a martial arts training ground, so Ji Yun never trained at home.

In the Wilderness Zone around Jiangnan Base City, with the constant hunting by human martial artists, higher-level monsters had disappeared. Occasionally, a few beast generals appearing was already surprising.

Ji Yun stood in midair.

Suddenly, a blood-red battle armor spread over his body, wrapping around his third-tier Force Battle Suit.

Ji Yun reached out and flipped his hand, and a long spear with golden patterns appeared in his grasp. He swung it lightly.

A tornado suddenly swept across the sky and earth, and even the ground began to tremble. If someone had been watching from outside, it would have looked like a hurricane had appeared out of nowhere, spinning in place without moving much.

The auxiliary optical computer lit up.

"It's me," Ji Yun said as he answered the call.

"Luo Feng is out?" Ji Yun nodded.

"Alright, I'll go."

With that, the blood-red battle armor receded, revealing a dark green long robe. Ji Yun flipped his hand and stored the long spear back into his Space Bracelet, then turned into a streak of light heading toward Ruins No. 9.