This starfield had once been a prosperous galaxy, but after countless ages of warfare between races, every star had been shattered. All that remained was a vast battlefield spanning roughly eight light-years, filled with countless fragments of stars.
"This place is just right."
Lu Ming nodded slightly.
There were no King-level Immortals here, and only a small number of Marquis Immortals. He was unlikely to encounter any lethal danger, so he could hunt Immortal Gods in peace, accumulate military merit and resources, and temper himself at the same time.
"This is the place. Let's set off right away!"
Lu Ming made his decision.
"Whoosh!"
The streamlined Meteor Shuttle traced a graceful arc through the starry sky.
"Accelerate and enter the Dark Universe!"
Lu Ming ordered.
"Yes, Master!"
The next moment, the Meteor Shuttle began to accelerate. In an instant, it reached the speed of light, vanished from the Original Universe, and entered the Dark Universe.
Azure Kite quickly calculated the travel time. "Master, we've entered the Dark Universe. We're expected to reach the Yungu Star Belt in five days."
"Five days."
Lu Ming nodded, then closed his eyes to rest.
At the same time, he began quietly assessing his current level of strength.
In terms of Law Comprehension, he had long since earned the recognition of the Flame Origin Law, and his understanding of the Law of Space was also profound. Judging by Law Comprehension alone, he had already reached the Immortal level.
More importantly, he possessed a Hundredfold Life Gene Level, so his basic strength far surpassed that of an ordinary World Lord.
As for equipment, he had the Yan Kong Blade and Dark Star Armor, both strengthened through sacrifice, as well as the G-grade Meteor Shuttle and the Sky Patrol Eye, with its astonishing detection range.
Among his trump cards, Little Thunder, whose combat strength was at the Pinnacle King-Level, was his greatest reliance. The ten Fire God Source Crystals, each with the power of a Pinnacle King-Level attack, were also nothing short of devastating weapons.
"Overall, my regular combat strength should be just enough to match an Early Marquis. With Little Thunder, I can suppress or even kill a High King, putting me on par with a King-Level Limit. If I add the Fire God Source Crystals, even a King-Level Limit will have to give me a wide berth."
However, Lu Ming knew perfectly well that he couldn't rely too much on external tools in the Outer-Domain Battlefield.
His next cultivation priorities were, on the one hand, to deepen the fusion of the Law of Fire and the Law of Space.
He would perfect the Nine Absolute Blades of Ember Universe. On the other hand, he would seek an opportunity to try to break through to immortality.
"Five days. That's just enough time to quietly study the laws."
Lu Ming settled his mind and immersed himself in his Law Comprehension.
Though immersed in his study of the laws, Lu Ming's thoughts weren't entirely at rest.
He thought back to his battle with Rock Wolf Immortal. Although he had successfully killed him with the ninth blade of the Nine Absolute Blades of Ember Universe, Lu Ming could sense that the technique seemed to have reached a bottleneck.
The ninth blade was indeed powerful, but its strength relied more on the sheer force of his Hundredfold Gene Level and profound Law Comprehension. It seemed he had already exhausted the intricacies and potential of the blade technique itself.
"The Nine Absolute Blades of Ember Universe is ultimately just a top-tier secret technique for those below the Immortal level. For me now, it really isn't enough."
Lu Ming pondered.
"If I want to temper myself more effectively in the Outer-Domain Battlefield and face stronger Immortals, even Marquis Immortals, I need a more powerful secret technique."
His Law Comprehension was already exceptionally high, and his Gene Level had reached a hundredfold. He had an excellent foundation. What he lacked was a powerful combat secret technique that could bring all those advantages fully to bear.
With a thought, Lu Ming's consciousness sank into his body and turned to the system panel.
"System,"
Lu Ming silently called out.
"Sacrifice my Nine Absolute Blades of Ember Universe!"
The instant he issued the command, Lu Ming felt all his understanding of the Nine Absolute Blades of Ember Universe—the memories of practicing it, its blade intent, and everything he had learned—being stripped from his mind by an unseen force. They became streams of invisible light that poured into the mysterious vortex deep within the system.
[ Ding! Sacrifice successful! ]
[ Calculating a random return multiplier based on the value of the offering... ]
[ Ding! Congratulations, Host. You have received a 9,600-fold return! ]
[ Generating reward... ]
[ Congratulations, Host. You have obtained the inheritance of the pinnacle art Burning Universe Space-Splitting Slash! ]
Whoosh!
A torrent of information, far more vast, profound, and mysterious than that of the Nine Absolute Blades of Ember Universe, surged into the depths of Lu Ming's consciousness!
The information was so immense that if not for Lu Ming's powerful soul and resilient consciousness, the impact would have left his mind muddled in an instant.
He seemed to witness a magnificent cosmic tableau. An endless sea of flames burned the heavens, and the scorching fire was no longer mere flame. It transformed into countless fiery threads imbued with the power to cleave space. Each thread seemed capable of tearing through the void, scorching cracks into space itself!
The Law of Fire and the Law of Space were no longer merely working in tandem. They had begun to fuse at a fundamental level, giving rise to an even more terrifying and overbearing power of destruction!
Burning Universe Space-Splitting Slash was a pinnacle art that led straight to the fusion of the Law of Fire and the Law of Space! Its vision and scope far surpassed those of the Nine Absolute Blades of Ember Universe.
It was no longer merely an Immortal-level secret technique. It was a powerful inheritance that could serve a cultivator all the way to the level of a Universe Venerable!
The art consisted of nine stages.
The first three stages corresponded to World Lords and ordinary Immortal Military Lords. They required a profound understanding of the Law of Fire and the Law of Space, as well as the ability to draw upon a trace of spatial cutting power and infuse it into the flames.
The middle three stages corresponded to Marquis Immortals. They formed a unique power known as "Burning Space Power," dramatically increasing the technique's might.
The final three stages corresponded to King-level Immortals and even Universe Venerables. Every blade carried immense power capable of scorching the heavens, boiling the seas, splitting the void, and shattering the universe!
The information contained not only the complete method of cultivation, techniques for channeling power, and guidance on the laws, but also a trace of inherited intent: an overbearing will to burn everything to ashes, tearing apart even the fabric of the universe.
Lu Ming absorbed the inheritance, entranced, his heart surging with indescribable excitement and joy.
Burning Universe Space-Splitting Slash was practically made for him!
He was already exceptionally talented in the Law of Fire and the Law of Space. Now that he had obtained this pinnacle art, which led directly to the fusion of laws, the path ahead had suddenly opened before him!
"A 9,600-fold return... It turned a top-tier secret technique for those below the Immortal level into a pinnacle art that can be used all the way to the level of a Universe Venerable!"
Lu Ming was stunned.
"The system truly has never let me down!"
Without hesitation, he immediately immersed his entire mind in studying and practicing the first stage of Burning Universe Space-Splitting Slash.
Burning Universe Space-Splitting Slash had evolved from the Nine Absolute Blades of Ember Universe, which he had already mastered to perfection.
So learning the first stage of Burning Universe Space-Splitting Slash was quite easy for him.
Moreover, he had the insights granted by the system.
Five days should be enough to complete the first stage.
The first three stages wouldn't be difficult for him.
Five days passed in the blink of an eye as Lu Ming devoted himself completely to practicing Burning Universe Space-Splitting Slash.
When the Meteor Shuttle shuddered faintly and emerged from the Dark Universe back into the Original Universe, Lu Ming slowly opened his eyes.
Deep in his eyes, two tiny flames seemed to flicker. The space around them was faintly warped—a sign that he had mastered the first stage of Burning Universe Space-Splitting Slash and begun to draw on a trace of spatial power to combine with the flames.
After five days of intense cultivation, backed by his solid foundation from mastering the Nine Absolute Blades of Ember Universe and the profound insights imparted by the system, Lu Ming had successfully completed the first stage of Burning Universe Space-Splitting Slash.
He was confident that if he faced an opponent on Rock Wolf Immortal's level again, he wouldn't need Little Thunder to intervene. With his newly mastered blade technique alone, he could finish the fight with far greater ease.