The first form of the Flame Void Saber

Chu Yuan took out a dozen or so storage bracelets, all spoils he had seized after killing natives.

He branded them with his Spiritual Imprint one by one to claim ownership, then took out the treasures inside.

"Feiluan, see if there's anything good."

Feiluan swallowed the fruit in one bite and flew over, his eyes shining as he scanned them.

"Fire Flame Grass, 150 million Ganwu Coins a stalk. Thirteen stalks in total. Trash."

"Earth Yang Marrow, 600 million Ganwu Coins per jin. Forty-two jin in total. Also trash."

"Golden Morning Iron Essence. Now this is decent, an E3-grade metal. Unfortunately, there's too little of it."

"A Tier 3 Force Weapon of the lowest grade. Only worth 20 billion Black Dragon Coins."

"A Fourth-Order Origin Force Weapon, also of the lowest grade, and damaged to boot. Its value has plummeted. It'll sell for 8 billion Ganwu Coins at most."

"Trash! Trash! Junk! Why is it all trash?!"

Following Chu Yuan on his treasure hunts, Feiluan had seen far too many good things.

Now, in Feiluan's eyes, these things were no different from trash by the roadside.

"Hmm? There is something good after all."

Feiluan's eyes lit up as he picked out a cylindrical stone one meter tall and about half a meter in diameter.

"This is Star Ripple Sand, the most precious local treasure of the Star Ripple Secret Realm. It can be used to forge Fifth-Order Force Weapons, and occasionally even low-grade Immortal Divine Weapons. It sells for 1.8 billion Universe Coins a tonne. There are about thirty tonnes here, worth over 54 billion Universe Coins."

"Back when the major factions swept through the Star Ripple Secret Realm, Star Ripple Sand sparked the most fighting."

Chu Yuan took the Star Ripple Sand and looked it over, his expression calm. "Not bad."

Fifty-four billion Universe Coins was indeed a considerable sum, but Chu Yuan thought little of it.

These spoils seized from the natives were merely incidental gains.

The most precious things in the Star Ripple Secret Realm were the Great Void Spirit Crystal and the Hard Rock Race special lifeform, and he had pocketed both.

Even all the treasures those major factions had taken back then combined might not measure up to Chu Yuan's haul.

With such a bountiful harvest, Chu Yuan felt lighthearted and more in form than ever before.

He took out a World Ring and entered the world within it.

With a grab of his large hand, the Flame Void Saber appeared in his grasp. He poured Origin Force into it, and several secret patterns on the blade lit up in succession.

Chu Yuan began practicing the Flame Void secret technique.

Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh.

The saber whistled back and forth. As Chu Yuan swung it, flames appeared out of thin air around him and drifted about him.

At times, the flames blazed fiercely; at times, they drew inward and gathered together. At times, they soared and danced; at times, they spiraled, rising and falling.

Chu Yuan sank into a state of single-minded focus, his mind oblivious to everything else.

As time passed, he gradually resonated with the Fire Origin Law. With one swing of his saber, the power of his Fire Domain surged, breaking through to the seventh stage.

It did not end there. Chu Yuan continued practicing the secret technique, and the power of his Fire Domain kept transforming.

Nine days later, it reached the eighth stage.

At the same time, Chu Yuan's comprehension of the Fire Origin Law grew more profound.

"The Fire Origin Law-this is the true Fire Origin Law!"

Chu Yuan's eyes snapped open, flames seeming to burn within his pupils.

His saber technique had changed. Though the moves were the same, the power of law they contained was utterly different.

Hum. Hum. Hum.

Several secret patterns on the Flame Void Saber suddenly blazed with dazzling firelight. Chu Yuan swung his saber, and roaring flames gathered into a tremendously powerful blade of fire that shot through the air.

"Prairie Fire Form!"

Swish!

The blade of fire tore through the earth and swept across a distant mountain. Like a red-hot blade slicing through butter, it effortlessly cut through the mountainside.

The blade of fire surged onward unstoppably, stretching several thousand meters into the distance. Flames lingered in the air, refusing to dissipate for a long time.

The mountain rumbled thunderously. A section of its peak slowly slid off and crashed heavily onto the earth.

The cut was mirror-smooth and charred black.

"Hahaha! Prairie Fire Form! I've finally mastered it!"

Chu Yuan could not help laughing aloud.

To master the Prairie Fire Form of the Flame Void secret technique, one first had to cross the threshold of the Fire Origin Law.

Once it was mastered, one could be called invincible among Star Levels, with scarcely an opponent to match them.

"Congratulations, Master!"

Feiluan promptly popped out to congratulate him, flying back and forth around Chu Yuan.

"Congratulations, kid."

Xiong Ba also came to offer his congratulations, his gaze somewhat complicated as he looked at Chu Yuan.

When he had first begun following Chu Yuan, he had thought little of Chu Yuan's talent and felt he was unworthy of being his master's direct disciple.

Later, as they spent more time together, he gradually discovered that Chu Yuan's talent was rather good.

And now, he saw Chu Yuan fully erupt with the dazzling brilliance of a race-level genius.

At thirty-three, he had attained an eighth-stage Fire Domain and crossed the thresholds of both the Fire Origin Law and the origin of the Law of Space.

With such talent, such aptitude, and such strength, joining the Virtual Universe's core layer would be effortless.

Even Master's talent back then couldn't compare to his. Perhaps he really does have a chance to avenge Master!

Xiong Ba clenched his furry paws, a trace of hatred flashing through his eyes. Master, just watch. I'll help your disciple grow strong quickly. One day, he'll surely avenge you and kill that damned bastard!

Leaving the World Ring and returning to the ship's main control room, Chu Yuan brought out a large quantity of fine wine and food, along with Blue Crystal Fruit for dessert.

"Come on, eat and drink to your hearts' content."

Wineglass in hand, Chu Yuan had his six bodyguards celebrate with him.

"It looks like Master's strength has made another breakthrough. That must be why he's so happy."

"Come and eat. Everything Master brought out is good stuff you can't get elsewhere."

"Like this Blue Crystal Fruit. It costs 100,000 Ganwu Coins each. Even Universe Levels can't bear to eat too many."

Chu Yuan ate and drank with his six bodyguards, celebrating for seven days and seven nights.

During that time, Chu Yuan also entered his home in the Virtual Universe and fought several fierce battles with Meiji.

Unfortunately, although the Virtual Universe could simulate the experience with one hundred percent accuracy, Chu Yuan always felt something was missing. It lacked the flavor of crossing real blades and spears in reality.

Three more days passed, and Chu Yuan returned to Water Dragon Planet. Only after a fierce battle with Meiji in reality did his pent-up fire subside.

Entering the Virtual Universe, Chu Yuan arrived at the Trial Tower on Stardust Island.

Many geniuses had gathered outside the Trial Tower that day. With a glance, Chu Yuan counted no fewer than a thousand.

At that moment, all thousand-plus geniuses were watching the Trial Tower intently. Many looked uneasy and anxious.

At the very front of the crowd, Chu Yuan spotted Jiulufen, ranked second among the Star Level geniuses.

He stood there expressionlessly with his arms folded across his chest, like a mountain.

Beside Jiulufen, Chu Yuan also saw Philip, Leilin, and Barut, all of whom ranked among the top ten Star Level geniuses.

Besides these Star Level geniuses, quite a few Universe Level geniuses had also come to join the excitement.

Chu Yuan even spotted several Domain Lord instructors in the crowd.

"Quite a scene, isn't it?"

Telian walked up beside Chu Yuan and said with a chuckle, "Only the top-ranked Kangas challenging the Trial Tower could draw this much attention."

The corners of Chu Yuan's mouth lifted with a hint of teasing. "Is he confident he can clear the tenth layer? If he fails with so many people watching, won't he lose all face?"