Laws of Space-Time

The next morning, Luo Chen rose early.

Sunlight filtered through the inn's window lattice, landing on the Gulu Ball at the head of the bed, its surface shimmering with a faint golden luster. He picked one up, turning it in his palm to feel the subtle, peculiar fluctuations within.

"Evil Emperor," he called out in his mind.

"What is it, kid?"

"You said last night that my martial soul isn't as simple as just capturing soul beasts. Tell me more."

The Evil Emperor fell silent for a moment, seemingly organizing his thoughts. After a while, his voice resonated in Luo Chen's mind: "This Seat only realized it last night. Your Gulu Ball appears to merely capture soul beasts, but I have sensed it carefully—the moment it strikes a target, the space-time around that target experiences an extremely brief stagnation."

"Stagnation?"

"Correct. It is as if time has been pressed on pause and space has been compressed. Otherwise, how could you possibly stuff a soul beast dozens of times larger than the ball inside?" The Evil Emperor's tone carried a hint of wariness. "This Seat has lived for hundreds of thousands of years and seen countless martial souls, but those that can touch upon the laws of space-time are... few and far between."

Luo Chen narrowed his eyes. The fact that this little Gulu Ball could capture soul beasts indeed suggested it contained the laws of space-time.

"Are you saying my martial soul is related to the laws of space-time?" Luo Chen asked.

"Not just related," the Evil Emperor replied. "I suspect your martial soul is a pure manifestation of the laws of space-time! When I... when I was trapped by you, I clearly felt that sense of spatial distortion and temporal stasis. This Seat also masters the laws of space-time; I cannot be mistaken about this feeling."

Luo Chen listened quietly as the Evil Emperor continued: "I believe that if your martial soul can reach a higher level, you might truly be able to master the power of time and space!"

"You mean...!" Luo Chen's breathing quickened. Time is supreme, space is king. If Fate does not appear, Causality is the emperor!

The two supreme laws of time and space, the God of Time and the God of Space of the Douluo Continent...

There was little record of the God of Time, but the God of Space was well-documented; his true form was the "Void Worm," and he had an elder sister named "Tang Kongkong."

If he could truly master the laws of space-time...

"Stop dreaming, kid. Your current task is to level up quickly. You only have an ordinary Gulu Ball and a Tidal Gulu Ball, yet you're already thinking about the laws of space-time."

Luo Chen rolled his eyes.

"However, this Seat does know of a place that could help you quickly grasp the laws of space-time."

"What place?" Luo Chen asked.

"It is a place I stumbled upon when I first arrived on the Douluo Continent. I had intended to investigate it after finishing my business, but I didn't expect that Di Tian would be so strong. I was slightly inferior to him. Hmph, the power of the Dragon God... if I can become a god, I must protect the descendants of my Evil Eye Clan!"

"Wait, I asked you what the place is," Luo Chen interrupted.

The Evil Emperor "tsked," seemingly displeased at being cut off, but continued: "What's the rush? This Seat was just about to say it."

Luo Chen rolled his eyes, waiting for the rest.

"That place is in the Far North of the continent," the Evil Emperor's voice turned serious. "In the deepest part of the Far North Ice Plains, there is a wasteland covered by permafrost. Nothing grows there, and even soul beasts rarely venture near. But in the center of that wasteland, there is a massive ice fissure—when I passed by, I sensed extremely dense space-time fluctuations coming from that crack."

"Space-time fluctuations?" Luo Chen frowned.

"Yes. Not from a soul beast, nor from a heavenly treasure, but pure, unadulterated space-time energy." The Evil Emperor's tone held a hint of nostalgia. "It felt as if someone had forcibly torn a space-time rift beneath the ice, and the other side of the rift connected to some unknown space. I had wanted to go down and investigate, but there was another opportunity—one that many knew of, while only I had discovered this one. I wanted both, so I chose to go after that big worm first."

Luo Chen naturally knew he was referring to the Sky Dream Ice Worm, so he didn't comment, instead asking: "What do you think is inside?"

"Hard to say," the Evil Emperor mused. "It could be the ruins of a space-time deity, or perhaps a space-time rift left behind by some ancient war. But regardless of what it is, the laws of space-time contained within are definitely purer than anything you could find elsewhere. If you want to master the power of space-time, that place... is the primary choice."

Luo Chen's eyes brightened slightly.

The Far North.

"But doesn't the Far North have many powerful soul beasts? There are the Three Heavenly Kings of the Far North, aren't there? I can't go there yet, can I?"

The Evil Emperor said: "Indeed, there are a few fellows there with decent strength. With your current power, you'd be serving yourself up on a platter. However, I can help you mask your aura; perhaps you could head straight for that fissure. But if you are discovered, you will surely be in grave danger. If that is the case, do you still dare to go?"

Luo Chen's gaze hardened. "I dare. Why wouldn't I? Wealth is sought in danger. What is a mere Far North? I intend to become a god. No time to lose—once I bid farewell to my parents, I shall depart immediately!"

"Quite the ambitious kid, aren't you? Becoming a god? Just becoming a Titled Douluo would be good enough."

Yet, deep down, the Evil Emperor felt a flicker of expectation. If this kid became a god, perhaps he could follow him and ascend to the God Realm?

Luo Chen, however, was thinking that although his awakened martial soul was the Gulu Ball from his past life, it currently seemed weaker than the phoenixes or dragon kings of other transmigrators. He had to take this gamble; perhaps this space-time rift was his own exclusive destiny!

The winter break lasted two months. Luo Chen wanted to take advantage of this time to visit the Far North. He planned to set off in ten days, and before then, he would spend quality time with his parents.

Furthermore, Su Heng needed to be settled.

"Brother Chen, are you up?" Su Heng called from outside the door.

Su Heng knocked and said, "Brother Chen, Uncle Dashan made some fish soup. I happened to run into him, so I brought some over for you. Drink it while it's hot."

Luo Chen took the bowl and drank a mouthful, the warmth flowing down his throat.

"After we finish eating, we'll go find Uncle Fule," Luo Chen said, setting the bowl down. "There are some things I need to discuss with him."

"What are we going to do?" Su Heng asked.

"You'll know when we get there. We'll most likely be ending our winter break early."

"Ending the break early? Are we going back to the academy?" Su Heng's face instantly fell.

Luo Chen intended to tell Fule about his plans and have him send someone to escort Su Heng back to Tiandou City, so he could head to the Far North without worry.

He would also send a letter to his teacher, asking him not to worry, and promising that once his business was concluded, he would return to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy on his own.