Swallowed Star 2: Land of Origin

The Clearing Spirit Liquid spread naturally as soon as it entered his mouth, naturally affecting the soul.

"This..." Luo Feng was stunned.

Although he had learned about some of the uses of the Clearing Spirit Liquid from his master, Luo Feng was still somewhat astonished at this moment! The Primordial Crystal Spirit Fruit was miraculous, but it only increased the speed of thought by twenty or thirty times, while maintaining an extremely high state of comprehension!

But the Clearing Spirit Liquid, it mainly targets the soul.

It was a 'cleansing' of the soul, washing away many distracting thoughts.

"In the Infinite Space of that treasure land, when clashing wills with those spiritual beings, one is often contaminated by their spirits. I have repeatedly cleansed those contaminations and honed myself," Luo Feng murmured in a low voice, "But in fact, it is relatively easy to cleanse external contaminations. Cleansing one's own distracting thoughts is much more difficult."

"Before coming to the Infinite Space, I had long been practicing the Great Destruction Heart Refining Technique to hone myself, but the progress was extremely slow."

"However, with this Clearing Spirit Liquid, during the effect of the spiritual liquid, one can continuously cleanse away one's own distracting thoughts."

The soul is the core of a cultivator.

As the soul began deep cleansing, Luo Feng realized the benefits of this state.

"My distracting thoughts are indeed too numerous."

With the help of the Clearing Spirit Liquid, Luo Feng quickly sorted through his endless myriad thoughts from over the years, which also formed his conscious awareness. As these thoughts were chaotic, his heart was also in chaos.

However, these thoughts are also a part of Luo Feng.

The so-called removal of distracting thoughts is not an erasure! If completely erased, then it would be removing a part of one's self.

While erasing a part of one's self-awareness is a form of cultivation, Luo Feng was not willing to choose this method!

The true removal of distracting thoughts is a form of organization!

Organizing the countless thoughts into different systems.

Some thoughts, when cultivating the Great Dao of Life Origin, are distractions; yet when cultivating the Great Dao of Destruction Origin, they can be an aid.

Some thoughts are key to making the spiritual will more determined. But they may not necessarily be beneficial to cultivation.

Thoughts... do not have a simple dichotomy of good or bad.

Even at a certain moment, a change in spiritual cognition can immediately affect countless thoughts. The past cleansing of the soul, the cognition of the spirit, can be completely overturned in an instant.

Therefore, as one's spiritual will progresses, it becomes increasingly difficult to enhance.

"The Clearing Spirit Liquid, it's as if it has allowed me to enter a higher status to observe my countless thoughts and re-hone my spirit," Luo Feng said, as he preliminarily cleansed his thoughts for the first time with the aid of the spiritual liquid.

"Let's take another look at the 'Calamity Beast Diagram.'

The body far in the Infinite Space opened the 'Calamity Beast Diagram' given by Emperor Ming.

Emperor Ming, a cultivator of the Primordial Bloodline and an Emperor; yet his spiritual will was calm and unwavering, very composed. He did not possess the typical unrestrained and frenzied emotions common to the Primordial Bloodline system, and his spiritual will was also the most terrifying Luo Feng had ever seen.

It was far beyond him, undoubtedly a will beyond the Ultimate Realm of God King.

"Whoosh."

The black-red scroll slowly unrolled.

Confronted with the dark and frenzied aura, Luo Feng saw a depiction of a Calamity Beast unlike any he had ever seen before.

"What is this?" Luo Feng, with just a preliminary look, determined, "This painting corresponds to the fifth to tenth layers of the Three Thousand Void Calamity Beast Diagram."

The Calamity Beast Diagram sold externally, even when combined with the Void Diagram for viewing, could demonstrate the complete Three Thousand Void Calamity Beast Diagram.

But it only contained some superficial flavor.

The 'Tribulation Beast Image,' though more authentic, offered Luo Feng only limited enlightenment.

"This painting."

Luo Feng was shocked upon seeing it.

Although it only correlated with six layers of the complete Three Thousand Void Calamity Beast Diagram, its artistic conception was many times more intense.

In a daze.

Luo Feng saw the powerless Catastrophe Beast, cautiously seeking powerful companions, but being sent by them on life-threatening ventures to hunt for food. In the end, all the food was consumed by the powerful companions, not sharing a bite with it.

At this moment it was too weak and had to seek protection from powerful companions.

It learned to please the strong, to make friends, to hunt the weak, to eat secretly until full...

But those it called companions, those it called prey, they too wanted to hunt it, and through strength or luck, it survived numerous calamities and quickly grew stronger.

Whether in strength or in spirit, it was becoming stronger.

"The weak Catastrophe Beast."

Luo Feng saw the most struggling period of the Catastrophe Beast; during this time, the beast was so weak that there were too many things that could kill it!

Exploited by the strong, it had to endure it. Because the slightest dissatisfaction would lead to its death and consumption!

Prey could turn around and kill it!

Death lurked everywhere.

"In the darkness, honing oneself, whether it be one's inner spirit or external strength, both are becoming stronger," Luo Feng glimpsed the hidden method of spiritual will cultivation within this painting.

This method of spiritual will cultivation was the greatest insight Emperor Ming had from observing the 'Shadow of the Catastrophe Beast,' creating a unique method of spiritual cultivation.

The Calamity Beast Diagram he externally transmitted was just the most superficial.

It seemed to be a complete Calamity Beast Diagram, but blindly aiming for completeness, in the end, made it inferior.

A small segment of the 'Shadow of the Catastrophe Beast' provided the deepest stimulation to Emperor Ming, perfectly matching his own growth. He had the deepest comprehension, constantly painting, and later deduced a method of spiritual cultivation from it.

It was only to cultivators he deemed worthy that he was willing to give out the truly core Calamity Beast Diagram.

He hadn't misjudged Luo Feng. Luo Feng rose from weakness, experiencing life-and-death struggles from a young age, able to empathize with such a state of mind. Although not as cruel as the 'Catastrophe Beast's' environment, there was still resonance.

"Buzz."

Luo Feng's spirit had already merged into the painting, transforming into the Catastrophe Beast, experiencing the dark trials.

"In weakness, sometimes there's no way out, one can only seek life within death."

"Weakness is the original sin."

"Interests are what's eternal."

The experiences with the Catastrophe Beast had been even more dark and brutal, hardening Luo Feng's spirit even more.

******

Shi Kingdom, Wuxiang City.

"Where did this Luo He come from? With no family or tribe, close only to an old servant named Luo Sa, a man named Yuan, and a disciple called Moyu Qingyan," pondered the Ancestor of Wuxiang. "Could he be the reincarnation of some old codger?"

"But there has been no word of any historical figure who cultivated the three Origin Great Dao of life, destruction, and matter," the Ancestor of Wuxiang mused. "In Infinite Space, it's even possible that he could develop a fourth branch of the Origin Great Dao."

Ancient beings almost always focused on a single Great Dao.

Cultivating three Great Dao? In the Land of Origin, such Godly Kings were extremely rare. Each one was a figure of lofty reputation, and there had never been any news of their fall.

"If he's not a reincarnation, then his talent must be truly exceptional."

"Having no family or tribe suggests two possibilities: he's either concealing his identity and his people, or he comes from the Primordial Cosmos, with his tribe remaining in his homeland," the Ancestor of Wuxiang speculated.

Although cultivators from the Primordial Cosmos were rare in the Land of Origin,

because each had climbed up from the very bottom, their potential was enormous. Among ancient existences, quite a few had emerged from the Primordial Cosmos.

"Yuan lives in Xiangjie City, right by Luo He's side."

"Luo Sa and Moyu Qingyan, on the other hand, are currently outside..." The Ancestor of Wuxiang's gaze grew ice-cold, "One old servant and one disciple, they must mean quite a bit to you, huh? For interrupting the opportunities of my Infinite Space, I shall mete out a small punishment—exterminating one servant and one disciple of yours.

When I find your tribe in the future, I will wipe out your entire clan."

The Ancestor of Wuxiang's intent to kill was intense.

As a non-Imperial Clan Godly King at the First Realm, he had paid countless prices and even used up some of his favors with the Emperor of Tian Kun to get this opportunity.

He'd even been willing to offer compensation, but Luo He wouldn't let it go and insisted on destroying his body and cutting off his opportunity.

"Shadow Sky Realm."

The Ancestor of Wuxiang immediately reached out to a highly mysterious power in the Land of Origin—Shadow Sky Realm.

"Godly King Wuxiang, whom do you want to deal with?" responded Shadow Sky Realm.

Shadow Sky Realm—the number one assassination force in the Land of Origin! No one knew who its internal members were, only that within Shadow Sky Realm... an 'Emperor-level' combatant had once taken action, shocking the entire Land of Origin and making everyone aware of the terrifying power of Shadow Sky Realm.

Because publicly known Emperors and Monarchs only existed within the two Ancient Countries!

Shadow Sky Realm could deploy an Emperor-level combatant. Could this mysterious existence be one of the Emperors or Monarchs from the Ancient Countries? Or some other enigmatic powerhouse?

No matter what, it affirmed the status of Shadow Sky Realm!

"Great Saint Luo He has one servant named Luo Sa and one disciple named Moyu Qingyan. I require your Shadow Sky Realm to assassinate the pair," the Ancestor of Wuxiang transmitted his message.

"Do you need us to attempt an assassination on Great Saint Luo He? Though he has an avatar in Chu Capital, we have a fifty percent chance of success," said Shadow Sky Realm.

The Ancestor of Wuxiang inquired, "What's the price?"

"Since he has an avatar in Chu Capital, it demands the action of our highest-tier members; the cost will be one thousand Primordial Crystals or an equivalent value," stated Shadow Sky Realm. "Just to clarify in advance, with only a fifty percent chance of success, no treasures will be refunded if we fail."

"One thousand Primordial Crystals." The Ancestor of Wuxiang's heart trembled at the price.

Was this a price he, a Godly King at the First Realm, could afford to hear?

"Just kill Luo He's servant and disciple," said the Ancestor of Wuxiang. Experience more tales on empire

"His servant Luo Sa is at the Primal Chaos Realm. Eliminating him requires five hundred billion Cosmic Sand."

"His disciple Moyu Qingyan is an eternal true god. As Luo He's only direct disciple, killing him will cost one hundred billion Cosmic Sand."

"Servant Luo Sa might be a reincarnation," Shadow Sky Realm pointed out. "If you are willing to spend five hundred billion Cosmic Sand, we can request our upper echelon to obliterate all of Luo Sa's avatars with a single thought."

"Of course, according to the rules of Shadow Sky Realm, all assassinations might fail, and no fees will be refunded," stated Shadow Sky Realm.

The Ancestor of Wuxiang wasn't surprised. Shadow Sky Realm might not have pleasant speech, but their credibility in their operations was well-established. The price wasn't steep; as long as sufficient benefits were provided, Shadow Sky Realm would undoubtedly send enough strength to carry out the assassination.

"No need, six hundred billion Cosmic Sand will do," said the Ancestor of Wuxiang.

That sum wasn't so painful for him to part with.

But five hundred billion Cosmic Sand? The Ancestor of Wuxiang had to weigh that carefully; with such a massive expense, he was contemplating taking action himself.

As an exalted figure, he had his pride to consider! Specifically targeting someone to kill a Primal Chaos Realm being and an eternal true god—him doing so would be a blow to his reputation. Hence, he let Shadow Sky Realm handle it.

After all, Shadow Sky Realm wasn't bothered by dirty or tiring tasks.

"Please make an immediate payment of six hundred billion Cosmic Sand. Once we receive it, we will act at once," said Shadow Sky Realm.

...

Meanwhile, in the treasure land of Infinite Space, Luo Feng was engrossed in comprehending the Calamity Beast Diagram when suddenly a mark in the palm of his left hand flashed.

"Hm?" Luo Feng took notice of it.

The mark on his palm was transmitting information—his evaluation had been updated!

"Trialist: Luo Feng of the Land of Origin"

"For battling with emperor-level secret techniques, new evaluation of the Great Dao: average. Reward points: 100. You have not opened a new branch of the Great Dao; more effort is needed."

"As a being of the Primal Chaos Realm, reaching the will of the Ultimate Realm of God King, evaluation of spiritual will: high-grade. Reward points: 10,000. Your spiritual will is quite outstanding; please continue to maintain it after becoming a Godly King."

"Total reward points: 10,192.34."

When Luo Feng initially comprehended the first emperor-level secret technique of the Great Dao of Life and Death, he received 100 reward points. After that, he comprehended many more emperor-level secret techniques but didn't receive any additional rewards.

"Will of the Ultimate Realm of God King?" Luo Feng smiled, clearly, by the standards of Infinite Space, he had finally reached the threshold of the Ultimate Realm of God King's will.

"That's a high reward." Luo Feng was somewhat astonished; a full ten thousand points.

Having been in Infinite Space for so long, Luo Feng had accumulated a total of 10,100 points from spiritual will, 100 points from new branches of the Great Dao, and 22.34 points from killing native life forms.

He had earned a total of 10,222.34 points.

Having spent 30 points to exchange for "World Life Form," he was left with 10,192.34 points.

"I've suddenly become so much richer." Luo Feng felt that breakthroughs in opening new branches of the Great Dao and advancing spiritual will were the best ways to earn reward points, far surpassing the killing of native life forms.