"Th-this..."
After fully releasing the memories of the fourth layer of Thunderlight Flash, Lu Qingshan stared, dumbfounded.
Was this still what the manual I created originally looked like?
Lu Qingshan was somewhat bewildered.
The manual he had created had now become something he could not understand at all.
The fourth and third layers seemed to have an entire star field between them. Very little of the fourth layer concerned the lightning origin law; almost ninety percent concerned the time origin law.
The third layer, by contrast, contained only a small amount of the time origin law, and Lu Qingshan could still comprehend some of it.
As for the fourth layer, he could not even find the door!
"It looks like I can forget about understanding this fourth-layer secret technique before I fully master the third layer..."
The time law.
He had only just crossed the threshold of the time law, with a mastery of just 0.12%. Even with the third layer of Thunderlight Flash, he could only manifest 36 phantom bodies, still a long way from the third layer's limit of 108!
Without improving his grasp of the time origin law, what came afterward held little meaning for him.
"What is that?"
Suddenly, Lu Qingshan noticed an image of a starry sky hidden deep within his memories. It had appeared together with the fourth-layer secret technique of Thunderlight Flash.
This image...
One glance was enough for Lu Qingshan to discover that he could not shift his consciousness away.
One, two, three... nine stars in all, differing in size and shape, appeared against a vast starry sky, arranged irregularly in a distorted yet natural configuration.
Lu Qingshan focused his gaze on the star closest to him. Suddenly, every memory concerning the third layer of Thunderlight Flash surfaced in his mind.
So that was how it worked...
Laughable.
I have thoroughly integrated the first and second layers of Thunderlight Flash, to the point that no one can surpass me, yet my grasp of the third layer is actually this crude.
These 36 phantom bodies actually have so many ways of transforming. My previous experience only gave me the methods for using the phantom bodies. I knew absolutely nothing about where they came from, but now...
I seem to have seen the most fundamental essence of the phantom bodies...
Essence!
Feeling discomfort coming from his soul, Lu Qingshan hurriedly severed his connection to the Star Map. His consciousness returned to reality, and without his realizing it, ten days had already passed outside.
At that moment, there was no longer any regret in Lu Qingshan's eyes over being unable to practice the fourth-layer secret technique. Instead, there was shock!
That was right!
The source of Lu Qingshan's shock was the Star Map of those nine planets. What those planets displayed seemed to be the essence of the universe's most primordial time origin law... and Lu Qingshan's contemplation of the Star Map was a process of dissecting the essence of the time origin law.
"How is this possible!"
Lu Qingshan was not marveling at having unexpectedly embarked on such a path. Dissecting the essence of laws was an extremely closely guarded matter to others, even immortal experts. Even among the Five Giants at the very core, it was rarely explained to geniuses.
Because this path was too difficult to walk!
It was not that the secret techniques were precious, nor that there were no inheritances. Rather, most people were simply unsuited to such a path. Once they chose it, they could only waste time, spending their limited lives for nothing.
Though both concerned laws, understanding and mastering them meant two entirely different things. One taught you how to use laws, while the other taught you to dissect the fundamental essence of the origin of laws.
For example, using a lithography machine was simple, but asking you to manufacture one before using it would be difficult beyond measure!
To put it another way, one involved using known formulas to solve problems, while the other involved deriving those formulas.
Since most of Lu Qingshan's previous grasp of the lightning origin law had come from the system's rebates, his foundations were deep, and he had mastered almost all its basic branches. It was actually similar to embarking on such a path.
Yet there were also subtle differences between the two. He had not fully embarked on that path; otherwise, he could never have gained the lightning origin law's recognition so quickly.
The law of lightning was his safeguard for breaking through to become an Immortal and gaining eternal life. Lu Qingshan would not act recklessly, much less rashly step into dangerous and unknown territory without guidance.
What truly shocked Lu Qingshan was this.
The Star Map bearing those nine stars seemed to serve a purpose similar to the Chaos Steles of the Initial Universe.
By studying the Star Map, Lu Qingshan was analyzing the most primordial time essence. How was this contemplation any different from studying a Chaos Stele that recorded the time law?
Moreover, Lu Qingshan sensed that this Star Map of nine stars seemed utterly incapable of expounding the vast time origin law required for the fourth layer of Thunderlight Flash. Perhaps beyond this map of nine stars, an even vaster starry sky awaited his exploration!
Feeling the heavy pressure on his soul, Lu Qingshan did not dare rashly enter that starry sky to contemplate it again. He closed his eyes, easing the pressure on his soul while sorting through what he had just gained!
In the blink of an eye, several more days passed. If he had not needed to answer his disciple Ling Yu's questions, Lu Qingshan would still have been immersed in sorting through his gains from his last contemplation of the Star Chart.
At Ling Yu's manor, it was the final day of Lu Qingshan's half month of teaching.
Compared to half a month earlier, Ling Yu's hair was somewhat disheveled, and her eyes were slightly red. Clearly, the past half month had not gone very smoothly for her...
"Do you want to give up?"
Lu Qingshan asked.
"No, teacher... I've already caught a hint of a pattern, and I still have many questions waiting for you to answer."
Ling Yu's voice was firm. "I said I wouldn't give up. I will never give up!"
Looking at the persistent girl, Lu Qingshan's lips curved into a faint smile.
Good, don't give up.
Not giving up is the right choice.
If you don't work hard, how is your teacher supposed to get stronger?
"Go on, tell me your questions!"
Lu Qingshan spoke kindly, a smile on his face.
A day later, Lu Qingshan had given standard answers to every question Ling Yu raised.
Not only that, Lu Qingshan had even provided solutions in advance for several problems Ling Yu was about to encounter, or might possibly encounter.
Of course, all of this depended on Ling Yu crossing the threshold of the time origin law. She only needed to grasp the tiniest trace of how to use it.
If she could not even manage that, the additional things Lu Qingshan had explained afterward would actually be of little use.
"From now on, I won't personally push you to attend lessons anymore. You can choose freely during my teaching hours. You can study the third layer of Thunderlight Flash, or improve in other areas according to Instructor Bai Mei's guidance."
Looking at the girl before him, Lu Qingshan said with a smile, "Whether you can cross the threshold of the time origin law depends entirely on you. No one can help you!"
"Teacher Lu." Ling Yu's expression was solemn, and gratitude flashed through her lively eyes. "Your teaching just now has already resolved almost all my questions leading up to crossing the threshold of the time law. If I still can't cross it, then my talent is insufficient. I can't blame anyone else..."
"Keep at it!"
After offering Ling Yu those words of encouragement, Lu Qingshan turned and left... In movement techniques, Ling Yu had reached the limit of Nine Illusory Bodies. He had already done everything he could to help her cross the threshold of the time law. From here on, he could only rely on himself.
Until Ling Yu crossed the threshold of the time law, Lu Qingshan's teaching duties were more or less complete. Next, Bai Mei's side would be the main focus!
After leaving Ling Yu's place, Lu Qingshan returned to the villa's training room and once again cast his consciousness into that vast starry sky of nine stars!
(End of chapter)