An Advance on "High-level Marquis"!

Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.

Only when the dull rumble of the Bronze Gate opening again reached him did Hu Yanbo abruptly awaken from his profound state of enlightenment.

A trace of reluctance flickered in his eyes, but far greater were his immense satisfaction and joy.

After a glance at the still-majestic, mysterious Chaos Stele, Hu Yanbo turned without hesitation, transformed into a streak of light, and shot out of the chamber.

Lord Kandri still stood at the entrance with a smile, giving everyone who emerged a slight nod.

Hu Yanbo bowed to the guardian, Lord Kandri, along with the other participants, then quickly left the passage.

Chaos City had countless residences, so he chose an unoccupied one at random and settled in.

The residence came with its own secluded cultivation chamber. Hu Yanbo entered, immediately sat cross-legged, and turned his attention inward.

Seven days of studying the Nine Universes Chaos Stele, particularly its fifth diagram, the Star System Chart, had given him an immense amount of information.

That overarching perspective had given him a comprehensive understanding of the mysteries of Space Teleportation, but many details and insights remained like scattered fragments. He needed to promptly organize and absorb them before he could truly make them his own.

He closed his eyes and focused, his consciousness working at high speed as he began systematically organizing and summarizing his gains.

After an unknown length of time, Hu Yanbo slowly opened his eyes. Their sharp gleam was now restrained, and his aura was steadier and more substantial than before he entered the chamber.

With a thought, he looked again at the Prepayment System interface in his mind.

[Follow-up condition for the advance: 1. Travel to the Initial Universe and study a Chaos Stele. Completed!]

[Advances currently available: One]

The simple words represented enormous possibilities.

"It's done!" Hu Yanbo could not suppress the smile spreading across his face.

One session studying the Chaos Stele had not only repaid the advance for a "stable Immortal Body," but also made the foundation of his strength considerably firmer.

More importantly, the word "One," glowing once again, meant he was eligible to rapidly acquire power once more!

A future of growing ever stronger was always something to look forward to, wasn't it?

Before turning his attention fully to the system interface, Hu Yanbo began considering what he needed from his next advance.

The ultimate purpose of an advance was, of course, to improve his strength, but "strength" was a composite of many different aspects.

He needed to make the wisest and most urgent choice.

Law comprehension? Secret techniques? Life gene level? Or stronger weapons and armor?

His thoughts raced, the advantages and disadvantages clearly laid out.

A more powerful secret technique would certainly be formidable, but it did not seem particularly necessary at the moment.

After all, secret techniques could be purchased. Even if he could not unleash their full power as he could with a technique he created himself, they would still meet Hu Yanbo's current needs.

Improving his life genes could greatly enhance the strength and resilience of his divine body. It was one of the paths to the true pinnacle in the Swallowed Star World.

However, every treasure required to improve his gene level was an unparalleled rarity in the universe. Its "repayment conditions" would inevitably be unimaginably demanding, far beyond anything he could easily fulfill at his current stage.

Hu Yanbo swiftly discarded the options one by one.

"Ultimately, the foundation of everything is still law comprehension and the divine body!" In mere moments, Hu Yanbo reached a decision.

Law comprehension defined his realm and his authority to draw upon the power of the universe origin.

His divine body was the vessel, the foundation that held his power.

Improving these two meant improving his very essence, enhancing his survivability and combat capabilities in the most direct and comprehensive way.

Greater law comprehension would also help him create even stronger secret techniques!

A stronger divine body would allow him to withstand fiercer divine power burning and wield more powerful weapons!

Once I reach High-level Marquis, Demon Hand King will no longer be a lethal threat, Hu Yanbo thought.

Demon Hand King had only barely reached King Rank, while Hu Yanbo possessed a top-tier Soul Defense Secret Technique. Once his comprehension of spatial laws and the strength of his divine body advanced another step, reaching High-level Marquis...

Then both Demon Hand King's soul attacks and physical attacks would be almost useless against him.

Even if he could not win, retreating at his leisure would certainly be easy.

"Once I become a High-level Marquis, I'll be able to roam this vast universe openly and freely!"

At that thought, a surge of bold ambition rose in Hu Yanbo's heart.

In less than three years, he was already setting his sights on High-level Marquis. Who could witness such an outrageous rate of progress without declaring him "brimming with talent"?

Give me an advance on High-level Marquis comprehension of the Space Law! Hu Yanbo directed the thought at the panel in his mind.

Investing in his own foundation in exchange for genuine freedom and confidence-this was an extraordinarily worthwhile bargain!

[Name: High-level Marquis comprehension of the Space Law.]

[Repayment conditions: 1. Become the disciple of a Peak King expert and earn their recognition. 2. Experience a life-and-death battle. 3. Study a Chaos Stele ten times.]

[Accept the advance?]

[Yes/No]

"So many options?" Hu Yanbo was slightly taken aback by the system's display in his mind.

All three options had a substantial causal connection to becoming a High-level Marquis.

Become the disciple of a Peak King expert and earn their recognition.

That was the most straightforward explanation.

With personal guidance from a Peak King expert over a long period, Hu Yanbo's talent would certainly allow him to break through to High-level Marquis.

As for experiencing a life-and-death battle, the boundary between life and death held great terror, but also great opportunity.

Throughout the universe, there were plenty of examples of people squeezing out their potential in desperate circumstances and breaking through in the midst of battle. A true fight on the edge of life and death could serve as both a catalyst for a breakthrough and the finest whetstone.

As for studying a Chaos Stele ten times, ten consecutive sessions would provide enough accumulated insight for any Early Marquis to make a tremendous leap.

Of course, under normal circumstances, that would not guarantee an Early Marquis expert would become a High-level Marquis.

Completing any one of these three conditions would suffice to explain the entire causal chain behind his advancement.

"Three conditions... it seems the system also recognizes that breaking through to High-level Marquis isn't easy, so it has provided different repayment paths."

Hu Yanbo quickly analyzed them. "Taking a master means relying on an accomplished teacher; fighting means relying on my own will and opportunities; studying means relying on accumulated resources and comprehension. Each path has its own advantages and disadvantages in terms of repayment difficulty."

After a brief consideration, Hu Yanbo made his decision without hesitation.

"Accept the advance!"

Although none of the three repayment conditions was simple, their difficulty was within an acceptable range. They were not impossible tasks.

Apart from the "life-and-death battle," whose somewhat uncontrollable risks made him instinctively reluctant, the other two-"taking a master" and "studying a Chaos Stele"-were goals he could plan for and work toward, making them relatively safe and manageable.

The instant he completed the thought, Hu Yanbo felt his perception of the Space Law become incomparably clear and profound. In particular, the many subtleties of Space Teleportation naturally flooded his mind, as though he had painstakingly cultivated and studied them for countless millions of years.