Chapter 459: Lord of the Yan Eagle: Tempering the Will

'Creation' is a talent secret art bestowed by the primordial universe upon special beings like the Lord of the Nine Hells; even though Lu Qingshan has already stepped into the fifth-tier realm, he cannot grasp its essence in a short period of time.

While Lu Qingshan was observing the many Imperial Princes under the Lord of the Nine Hells perform the 'Creation' secret art, his second avatar was also continuously advancing toward the black-patterned Shi Zhu space within the Universe Boat.

The black-patterned Shi Zhu space is located extremely deep within the inner domain of the Universe Boat. According to the current maps of the human race, to reach the black-patterned Shi Zhu region, one must pass through nearly a thousand dangerous zones along the way.

And the interior of the Universe Boat has no spatial wormholes at all. Even though some relatively safe zones can be crossed directly via teleportation, those dangerous places can only be traversed by flight.

Therefore, to reach the black-patterned Shi Zhu region smoothly, even a fifth-tier Lord of the Universe would need to spend several hundred years to accomplish it.

Of course, a mere few hundred years is utterly trivial for a powerhouse like Lu Qingshan, who has already existed for an immensely long time.

Moreover, Lu Qingshan still has other avatars; while the second avatar is traveling, the other avatars can continue to cultivate.

……

The black-patterned Shi Zhu space is considered a relatively safe zone within the entire inner domain of the Universe Boat.

Apart from battles between powerhouses, virtually no danger exists in this region.

The entire space is jointly supported by sixteen colossal black-patterned Shi Zhu reaching over a thousand light-years in height. However, aside from the space near the black-patterned Shi Zhu being completely solidified and unable to teleport, other areas are extremely safe and can be traversed entirely by teleportation.

And on these sixteen Shi Zhu reaching over a thousand light-years in height, extremely profound black secret patterns are inscribed.

The level of these secret patterns is so high that even the strongest beings of the universe cannot fully comprehend them!

Besides this, each black-patterned Shi Zhu carries overwhelming might, constantly emitting terrifying volitional impacts. Even the strongest beings of the universe cannot truly approach any single black-patterned Shi Zhu.

But regardless, such a special zone that can be naturally observed, and which also contains many profound secret patterns, naturally attracted some powerhouses here.

Safe, able to teleport, fast time-flow, possessing extremely high-level secret patterns……

The combination of many factors has also made the black-patterned Shi Zhu region a place of rest and cultivation for the many powerhouses who venture deep into the inner domain of the Universe Boat.

Mist spreads, stretching endlessly into the distance.

Hum!

A burly figure clad in purple-gold armor suddenly appeared out of thin air within the black-patterned Shi Zhu region—it was precisely Lu Qingshan, who had spent several hundred years traveling.

"Hm?"

Sensing the solidified space around him, Lu Qingshan's heart stirred slightly: "Cannot continue teleporting!"

"Haha, after spending over four hundred years, I've finally reached this black-patterned Shi Zhu space!"

Afterward, Lu Qingshan looked at the sixteen colossal heaven-piercing Shi Zhu ahead and finally breathed a slight sigh of relief in his heart.

One must know that during the past four hundred-plus years of travel, his second avatar had encountered quite a few dangers along the way.

Although with Lu Qingshan's current strength, even encountering the strongest being of the universe, he would have a chance to retreat unscathed.

But the interior of the Universe Boat is vast and endless; along the way he experienced countless dangerous zones, and even had to pass through regions long-term garrisoned by other forces within the Sea of Universes.

Even with Lu Qingshan's current strength, he encountered several crises.

Once he encountered a strange beast with the strength of the strongest being of the universe, and was hunted by it for several years. In the end, he only managed to escape smoothly thanks to his abundant divine power reserves and astonishing defense;

Another time, he accidentally entered a strange place not marked on the human race's maps, and was swept into a bizarre vortex. If not for the aid of a peak palace-type supreme treasure, he would likely have perished directly in that dangerous place;

But even riding the peak palace-type supreme treasure, Lu Qingshan still spent several decades before breaking out of that strange place;

On yet another occasion, Lu Qingshan encountered a lone strongest being of the universe from the first reincarnation era. This person was extremely vicious, and usually relied on his own strength to coerce many Lords of the Universe;

Because he had once suffered a loss at the hands of the Founder Giant Axe during a contest over a supreme treasure, upon seeing Lu Qingshan, this strongest being of the universe quickly developed the intention to kill and seize treasures;

Fortunately, the opponent's strength was not that formidable to begin with—only seventh-tier—and could not pose a major threat to Lu Qingshan, who carried vast reserves of divine power. So after tormenting Lu Qingshan for a while, that strongest being of the universe voluntarily gave up.

As for the remaining journey, Lu Qingshan became even more cautious.

But even so, he still encountered many dangers.

However, speaking of it, while encountering these dangers, he also came across some treasures and opportunities.

Merely during these four hundred-plus years of travel, Lu Qingshan had already obtained quite a few gains, the most precious being a top-tier supreme treasure weapon.

Of course, such gains are very precious for ordinary Lords of the Universe, but for Lu Qingshan, who is now armed to the teeth, they count for nothing.

Besides this, while traveling, Lu Qingshan also encountered many alien powerhouses.

Even though these alien powerhouses had never encountered Lu Qingshan, they had also obtained information about him from their respective factions.

Whether out of curiosity or for other reasons, these powerhouses would sometimes proactively engage Lu Qingshan in a bout. And faced with their invitations to fight, Lu Qingshan naturally would not refuse.

Because sparring with these powerhouses was likewise a form of tempering for him, one from which he could benefit greatly.

The one that left the deepest impression on Lu Qingshan was a powerhouse from the Eastern Emperor Sanctuary Universe whom he encountered over two hundred years ago—the 'Lord of the Wilds'!

This Lord of the Wilds was one of the rare sixth-tier Lords of the Universe in the Eastern Emperor Sanctuary Universe. He possessed the supreme treasure 'Wilds Divine Armor', and his strength was indeed extraordinarily incredible.

At the time, Lu Qingshan encountered the Lord of the Wilds when a top-tier supreme treasure armor emerged into the world. Subsequently, the two naturally erupted into a great battle over the supreme treasure.

Originally, Lu Qingshan thought that since the opponent's supreme treasure was an armor, his own strength should not be that great, but he was completely wrong.

Apart from the might of the supreme treasure, the Lord of the Wilds had also reached the limit in his comprehension of the Dao of Spacetime. If the opponent were in the primordial universe, he would probably have been able to break through to the realm of the strongest being of the universe.

It was just a pity that he was born at the wrong time, appearing in a Sanctuary Universe. If the master of the sanctuary did not permit it, he would likely never have the chance to break through to the realm of the strongest being of the universe.

Therefore, in their battle, Lu Qingshan was completely suppressed by the Lord of the Wilds, and the supreme treasure was naturally taken by the opponent in the end.

Of course, with the protection of many supreme treasures, the Lord of the Wilds naturally could not do anything to Lu Qingshan either.

In the end, after a battle lasting a full day and night, the Lord of the Wilds also acknowledged Lu Qingshan's strength, and the two gained a bit of camaraderie forged through combat.

Lu Qingshan greatly admired the Lord of the Wilds' strength, and the Lord of the Wilds also had considerable interest in Lu Qingshan, the super genius who had recently risen to fame in the Sea of Universes.

Over the following year or so, the two sparred with each other, mutually verifying what they had learned, and got along rather pleasantly.

And through his exchanges with the Lord of the Wilds, Lu Qingshan gained a deeper understanding of the Sea of Universes.

After all, the other party hailed from a Sanctuary Universe and had already experienced countless reincarnation eras; his knowledge was naturally far beyond what Lu Qingshan could match.

Of course, when it came to matters involving the secrets of their race, the Lord of the Wilds certainly kept his mouth shut.

And so, after exchanging with the Lord of the Wilds for a period of time, Lu Qingshan took his leave and continued on toward the black-patterned Shi Zhu space.

Today, Lu Qingshan has finally smoothly reached his destination—the black-patterned Shi Zhu space.

"Having spent several hundred years, I've finally reached this black-patterned Shi Zhu space!"

Lu Qingshan gazed into the distance at the black-striped Shi Zhu ahead, then thought to himself: "Now my will is not far from breaking through to the strongest level of the universe. I hope the tempering here can let me break through in one go, so that future cultivation will be faster!"

Thinking of this, Lu Qingshan immediately transformed into a streak of flowing light that swept across the void, then flew toward a black-striped Shi Zhu.

But just at this moment…

"Hmm?"

Lu Qingshan, who was flying at extreme speed, suddenly turned his head to look into the distance.

Although the interior of the black-striped Shi Zhu space was relatively safe, Lu Qingshan—who had suffered quite a bit on his way here—had been continuously releasing his domain to probe the surrounding situation.

"I actually really did run into the Lord of the Swallow Eagles!"

After noticing the figure rapidly approaching him, a smile couldn't help but appear on Lu Qingshan's face.

On his way to the black-striped Shi Zhu space, Lu Qingshan would also occasionally exchange ideas with the powerful beings within the Hong Alliance in the Virtual Universe.

And the Lord of the Swallow Eagles of the Swallow Eagle race, upon learning that Lu Qingshan was about to come to the black-striped Shi Zhu space, had been continuously contacting Lu Qingshan in the Virtual Universe to draw the two of them closer.

The Swallow Eagle race had always been considered the most steadfast ally of the human race; they had already joined the Hong Alliance back when the Ancestor rose to prominence.

Later, when the Ancestor was suppressed by the will of the Primal Universe's origin, although the human race still had the Giant Axe Founder—a strongest being of the universe—their momentum was certainly not what it had been during the Ancestor's era. At that time, some powerful races chose to break away from the Hong Alliance, but the Swallow Eagle race had always steadfastly followed the human race.

And since the Lord of the Swallow Eagles dared to venture into the inner regions of the Cosmic Boat, his strength was naturally extremely extraordinary, fully comparable to Lord Bingfeng, Long Xing Zhi Zhu, and others; he was only slightly inferior in protective treasures.

After several hundred years of exchanges, the relationship between Lu Qingshan and the Lord of the Swallow Eagles had naturally grown much closer.

Upon learning this time that Lu Qingshan was about to arrive at the black-striped Shi Zhu space, the Lord of the Swallow Eagles had come over specifically to welcome him.

"Lord of Wan Jie!" A voice was transmitted directly into Lu Qingshan's mind through the domain.

This Lord of the Swallow Eagles was a strange bird entirely blue-green in color, with some golden plumes growing on the top of his head. With his wings spread, he was over a hundred thousand kilometers wide—indeed much larger in size than Lu Qingshan.

"Lord of the Swallow Eagles!" Lu Qingshan likewise smiled and flew toward the other party.

"Earlier I detected a domain appearing and guessed it might be you, Lord of Wan Jie, so I came straight over!"

The Lord of the Swallow Eagles spoke in the common human tongue: "Being able to meet the Lord of Wan Jie within the black-striped Shi Zhu space truly makes one happy!"

One must know that, as far back as when he had escaped unscathed from the hands of three Universe Masters of the Skeleton race, Lu Qingshan had already become somewhat famous throughout the Sea of Universes.

Although some powerful beings felt Lu Qingshan's strength was somewhat exaggerated, in the recent several hundred years, Lu Qingshan had crossed hands with quite a few fifth-tier Universe Masters, and sometimes even gained a slight upper hand.

Especially when Lu Qingshan had escaped unscathed from the hands of that strongest being of the universe from the First Reincarnation Era, he naturally gained the recognition of even more powerful beings.

Precisely because of this, the Lord of the Swallow Eagles was now so enthusiastic toward Lu Qingshan.

"I'm also quite happy to see you, Lord of the Swallow Eagles!"

Lu Qingshan likewise said with a smile: "When I was out adventuring on the Extraterrestrial Battlefield back then, I even had dealings with the powerful beings of your Swallow Eagle race!"