Below the Mountain

A hundred Time-Space Points for a cup of wine? And that was the cheapest one?

Even though Zhou Zheng now had over twenty thousand Time-Space Points, he was still secretly alarmed.

If he remembered correctly, Feng Zhuhong had specifically borrowed a hundred Time-Space Points from him last time. She had only repaid it after completing this mission.

All he could say was that these Silver Token Divine Envoys were all outrageously wealthy, far beyond ordinary Cyclic Reincarnators.

Zhou Zheng chatted with the Overlord Blade Master for quite a while and learned many things from him.

For example, the rankings here were automatically updated by the Temporal Temple according to the strength a Cyclic Reincarnator displayed. They were also extremely accurate, with an error generally not exceeding ten places.

For another, battles in the Time-Space Arena could be arranged in advance.

The tavern was managed by Subconscious No. 008 of the Temporal Temple Artifact Spirit. If someone wanted to challenge a particular person, they could submit an application to it. Then, even if the challenged person was not in the tavern, they would still receive the message.

As time passed, about half an hour later, another figure suddenly appeared in the tavern.

The figure's characteristics were extremely obvious. At a glance, Zhou Zheng could tell it was a Demon from the Dark Abyss.

"Haha, Rixim, it's you!" The Overlord Blade Master instantly rose to his feet.

"Hm? Overlord Blade Master? Why is it you again?" The Demon's expression changed. "Do you live here?"

"Cut the nonsense. Since we've run into each other, let's fight! It's been years since we last met. I wonder whether your Great Annihilation True Meaning has improved?" The Overlord Blade Master stood up with a laugh.

"Since you're asking to be beaten, I'll oblige you!" The Demon's expression instantly turned into a cold sneer.

A moment later, the two left the tavern under Zhou Zheng's watchful gaze.

Zhou Zheng glanced at the now-empty tavern and did not linger either. After draining the barrel of Azure Wave Dew in one gulp, he left as well.

Whoosh!

Zhou Zheng returned directly to his Private Space.

"I have fifteen years of cultivation time ahead of me." Without doing anything else, Zhou Zheng began considering his cultivation plans for the next fifteen years.

He was quickly absorbing the pure power of heaven and earth within Origin Stones to nourish his body and soul. Given another fifteen years, no matter what, he should be able to reach Saint Level.

Next were the two Proto True Meanings. He had to perfect them as soon as possible and turn them into genuine Second-grade True Meanings.

There was no rushing the evolution of the Time Acceleration Profound Mystery into a True Meaning. That depended on opportunity.

Finally, there was the combination of the Mysteries of Wind, Thunder, and Light. That could also be put on the agenda.

After sorting out what he needed to do, Zhou Zheng quickly settled into a calm cultivation rhythm.

Time passed quickly during his cultivation. In the blink of an eye, twelve years had gone by.

At that moment, beneath a mountain brimming with life on Time-Space Island No. 954, Zhou Zheng lay in front of a thatched cottage, staring blankly at the sky.

Of course, he only appeared to be spacing out. In reality, Zhou Zheng's consciousness was wholly immersed in the world of Micro-particles.

In Zhou Zheng's perception, everything on the mountain was not as beautiful as ordinary people saw it. Its true form was no different from anywhere else.

Everything was made of countless Particles—the earth, the trees, even the life within them.

The only difference was that seemingly identical Particles contained slight differences in different existences. The essence of those differences came from the Micro-particles within them.

"Mastering the laws by which Micro-particles construct Particles, and Particles construct all things—this is another path! And the essence of Micro-particle True Meaning is control over Micro-particles themselves!" Zhou Zheng pondered inwardly.

Over the years, Zhou Zheng would often take out the Special Lifeform Corpse to study it.

After all, it contained a great many Micro-particle Profound Mysteries and was indeed enormously useful to Zhou Zheng. While comprehending the Special Lifeform Corpse, he could often sense another path from its peculiar Particle structures, or even the unique Micro-particle structures within certain special Particles.

However, Zhou Zheng's main focus at the moment remained the Micro-particle True Meaning. As for that other path, he only studied it from time to time.

The two paths both seemed to involve Micro-particles, but they were actually completely different.

One used Micro-particles for construction, while the other controlled Micro-particles themselves.

Zhou Zheng did not dwell on the matter. Before long, he refocused on sensing the omnipresent world of Micro-particles.

In the past, Zhou Zheng usually spent no more than three days comprehending any one True Meaning.

The reason was simple. Zhou Zheng had long discovered that studying one True Meaning for an extended time was not necessarily effective. Alternating between them was better and often produced remarkable results.

This time, however, was highly unusual. Zhou Zheng remained motionless where he was for seven or eight days straight.

At that moment, Mo Zitong was practicing her spear atop a stone platform at the summit of the mountain. More than ten illusions continuously appeared around her, while countless indistinct spear shadows flickered about, carrying an imposing momentum.

Suddenly, Mo Zitong paused slightly. As if she had sensed something, she abruptly stopped and looked around vigilantly.

"Who is it? Come out!"

Mo Zitong shouted coldly.

A moment later, laughter rang out. Then Feng Zhuhong's figure suddenly appeared within a patch of space.

"Little Sister Zhuhong?" Mo Zitong was slightly startled. Only after sensing the other woman's aura did she confirm that she had not mistaken her.

"You've finished this mission?" Mo Zitong asked.

"Mm. I encountered another Danger-level Mission. Luckily, I suddenly gained enlightenment and comprehended the Shadow Space Proto True Meaning." As Feng Zhuhong spoke, a strange look appeared on Mo Zitong's face.

"How did you suddenly master the Shadow Space Proto True Meaning?" Mo Zitong said. "I remember that the Profound Mysteries you mastered were Dark-type!"

"I had dabbled in both Dark-type Profound Mysteries and Shadow-type Profound Mysteries before," Feng Zhuhong explained. Only then did Mo Zitong understand.

Dark-type Profound Mysteries had nothing to do with Shadow Space, but Shadow-type Profound Mysteries were different. Using Shadow-type Profound Mysteries to master Shadow Space was quite possible.

"Little Sister Zhuhong truly deserves to be a newcomer who entered the Temporal Temple alongside the captain. You really are extraordinary!" Mo Zitong said with a smile.

She had heard about it before. Feng Zhuhong had joined the Temporal Temple together with Zhou Zheng, but Zhou Zheng's talent was terrifying. He had mastered a Second-grade Proto True Meaning in an incredibly short time, which was why the gap between them had widened.

Normally, it was not easy for newcomers assigned together by the Temporal Temple to pull ahead of one another.

Zhou Zheng's talent was terrifying, so logically, Feng Zhuhong should not have been too far behind either.

Now it seemed that the Temporal Temple's arrangement had indeed been correct. Feng Zhuhong had also mastered a Third-grade Proto True Meaning at an extremely fast pace.

Though it could not compare to a Second-grade True Meaning, if she were placed in some mortal world, she would still absolutely be a genius at the very pinnacle of talent.

"Big Sister's Illusion Proto True Meaning has already become Illusion True Meaning. I'm still far behind," Feng Zhuhong said modestly.

As Feng Zhuhong and Mo Zitong spoke, their conversation soon turned to this Solo Mission.

Within the Black Wind Squad, aside from Zhou Zheng, the other three carried out a mission once every three years. It had now been twelve years since their previous group mission ended, which happened to be the time for Herk and the other two to undertake their third Solo Mission.

Not long ago, Mo Zitong and Feng Zhuhong had entered Solo Missions at the same time. Mo Zitong had merely completed hers and returned first, while Feng Zhuhong had returned somewhat later.

After the two spoke for a while, Feng Zhuhong suddenly asked in puzzlement, "I remember that when the mission first began, the captain was spacing out down there. My mission has already ended, so why is the captain still like this?"

"I'm not sure. Perhaps he suddenly gained some enlightenment?" Mo Zitong said uncertainly. Then she added, "In any case, don't disturb the captain!"

"Mm!"

Feng Zhuhong nodded, though she was secretly shocked.

During the last group mission, Zhou Zheng had suddenly vanished for nearly a month. Then, after the mission ended, he had suddenly gone from a Bronze Token Divine Envoy to a Silver Token Divine Envoy. And now he had gained enlightenment again?