Chapter 6: Choice and Harvest

“Alright, half an hour is up!”

Just as Lu Qingshan had decided on the “Heavenly Thunder Chaos Stele,” the black-robed emissary suddenly entered and shouted to the crowd: “Now tell me which Chaos Stele you wish to contemplate—I’ll record your choices!”

With that, the black-robed guide began walking from one end of the corridor, repeatedly asking each person their selection.

“I choose the ‘Wind Shadow Chaos Stele.’”

“I choose the ‘Mother Ancestor Chaos Stele.’”

…

As the black-robed emissary approached Lu Qingshan’s direction, the werewolf warrior Klimo—who had once exchanged a glance with Lu Qingshan—suddenly stepped forward again.

“Brother Qingshan, let me tell you!”

Klimo whispered secretly: “Though all these Chaos Steles were created by our human race’s supreme elders, they vary in strength! Before coming to the Chaos City, I learned their rankings from a senior.”

“The ‘Great Axe Chaos Stele’ ranks first, the ‘Cosmic Chaos Stele’ second, the ‘Yanshan Chaos Stele’ third, the ‘Dark Shadow Chaos Stele’ fourth…”

“Brother Qingshan, if you’re going to choose, pick one of the top-ranked steles—your future strength will surely be greater!”

Hearing this, Lu Qingshan paused slightly.

The Chaos Steles do have rankings, yes—but that’s because the corresponding Skybridge levels differ in height!

In early cultivation, masters at the same level are nearly equal in power, differing only in their methods.

Moreover, Klimo and he were neither prodigies; choosing top-ranked steles would be an unwise move.

Remembering Klimo’s enthusiasm, Lu Qingshan decided to offer a gentle warning and told him of a Realm Lord in the Yanfeng Universe who had delayed his lightning origin cultivation while pursuing the time origin, ultimately failing to break into the Immortal realm.

Upon hearing this, Klimo’s face showed deep thought.

Soon, the black-robed emissary reached Lu Qingshan’s side: “Which one do you choose?”

“I choose the ‘Heavenly Thunder Chaos Stele.’” Lu Qingshan replied without hesitation.

“Good! Next!” The emissary’s gaze immediately turned to Klimo beside him.

Klimo hesitated slightly, then said: “I choose the ‘Golden Peak Chaos Stele!’”

Hearing Klimo’s choice, Lu Qingshan immediately held him in higher regard.

The ‘Golden Peak Chaos Stele’ was similar to the ‘Heavenly Thunder Chaos Stele’—both began with lower-origin laws and gradually progressed to higher-origin laws; one started with metal origin, advancing toward space origin; the other began with lightning origin, advancing toward time origin.

Klimo, after receiving Lu Qingshan’s hint, swiftly chose the most suitable stele for himself—he was indeed decisive.

Soon, the black-robed emissary had recorded all their choices, then turned and said: “Alright, I’ve noted your selections. Now follow me!”

Hearing this, Lu Qingshan and the others followed him deeper along the corridor.

Moments later, they arrived at an extremely vast cultivation ground.

This cultivation ground spanned dozens of kilometers in length and width.

Lu Qingshan and the others stood within it, while the emissary stood before them and said: “There are fifty Chaos Stele contemplation chambers. Seven are occupied; the other forty-five are empty.”

“I will now name the forty-five empty chambers’ corresponding Chaos Steles. Those who chose these steles, walk directly to the far-left entrance—you’ll be assigned to your chosen chamber.”

“‘Yanshan Chaos Stele,’ ‘Heart Trace Chaos Stele,’ ‘Heavenly Thunder Chaos Stele’… ‘Cosmic Chaos Stele!’”

The emissary pointed toward the distance, and Lu Qingshan and the others soon saw a massive entrance thirty meters high at the far left end of the vast cultivation ground.

“Go now,” the black-robed guide continued.

Hearing this, most cultivators instantly became streaks of light, flying toward the distant entrance—including Lu Qingshan, who had chosen the ‘Heavenly Thunder Chaos Stele.’

Entering the portal, Lu Qingshan and the others found themselves in a corridor sixty meters wide and one hundred twenty meters high.

Along both sides of the corridor stood countless ancient, towering bronze doors, each engraved with archaic characters in the universal cosmic script.

“Mother Ancestor,” “Great Axe,” “Dragon Stride”…

Before each bronze door stood an elderly three-eyed man, gentle and benevolent.

Yet what was astonishing…

All dozens of these three-eyed elders were identical in appearance—even as Realm Lord-level masters, they could detect not the slightest difference.

Lu Qingshan and the others who chose the ‘Heavenly Thunder Chaos Stele’ soon arrived before the bronze door inscribed with “Heavenly Thunder.”

The three-eyed elder before it smiled and asked: “You’re all newcomers to the Initial Universe?”

“Yes!” Lu Qingshan and the others replied respectfully.

“Heh, so young! Seeing you reminds me of my own youth!”

The three-eyed elder chuckled: “Let me introduce myself—I am the guardian of this Chaos Stele chamber. You may call me ‘Kandeli’!”

“Master Kandeli!” Lu Qingshan and the others bowed again respectfully.

“Alright, the chamber is empty—hurry inside and begin your contemplation!”

Kandeli added: “Remember, after seven days, the door opens—you must exit immediately. Understood?”

“Understood!” Lu Qingshan and the others nodded, then entered their respective chambers.

…

The interior of the chamber was vast, filled with swirling Chaos currents.

As Lu Qingshan stepped inside, he immediately saw a massive stone stele surrounded by endless Chaos currents.

The towering stele stood a hundred meters high and nearly as wide, engraved with eight profoundly intricate patterns.

Along its edge, in universal cosmic script, were carved the words: “Heavenly Thunder.”

After finding a suitable spot, Lu Qingshan sat cross-legged, focusing all his spirit on the Heavenly Thunder Chaos Stele, quickly discerning every single pattern upon it.

The first pattern showed nine scattered lightning bolts, dispersed across the image.

The second pattern still depicted nine lightning bolts, but now subtly interconnected, forming a unified whole.

The third pattern showed countless lightning bolts converging into a single thundercloud, appearing profoundly mysterious.

The fourth pattern was a star chart: one planet orbited by four thunderclouds.

The fifth pattern was a star system: one star surrounded by twelve planets, each with varying numbers of thunderclouds circling it.

The sixth pattern was a galaxy: countless stars and planets densely packed, forming a vast celestial river.

The seventh pattern depicted a strange monstrous creature.

The eighth pattern showed two utterly bizarre monsters—one clearly visible, the other extremely blurred.

Lu Qingshan slowly withdrew his gaze. He knew clearly: the strange monster in the seventh pattern represented the complete Time Origin Law—fully comprehending it would make one a Time Sovereign.

But for Lu Qingshan now, it was far too early to contemplate Time Origin Law. He needed only to observe the first four patterns and swiftly master the complete Lightning Origin Law.

Immediately, Lu Qingshan focused all his spirit on the nine lightning bolts of the first pattern.

These nine bolts represented the nine simplest essences of Lightning Origin Law. Lu Qingshan had already received the Lightning Origin Law’s recognition—this first pattern held no secrets for him.

The nine bolts in the second pattern revealed deeper mysteries of Lightning Origin Law, intertwined with elements of Time Origin Law. Though Lu Qingshan understood only fragments of the Time Origin Law within it, he had fully grasped the Lightning Origin Law’s subtleties.

The Lightning Origin Law in the third pattern was even more profound. Even with the Law’s recognition, Lu Qingshan could not yet fully comprehend it.

Thus, Lu Qingshan fixed his gaze on the third pattern of the Heavenly Thunder Chaos Stele, fully sinking into contemplation, losing all sense of time.

…

Seven days passed in an instant.

“Boom—!”

The bronze gate roared open, yet Lu Qingshan and the others remained lost in contemplation, unaware.

“Come out!”

A voice echoed directly into each person’s mind.

“Come out! Come out!”…

The voice reverberated louder and louder in their minds until all of them awoke.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Lu Qingshan and the others cast one last reluctant glance at the Chaos Stele, then rushed out through the bronze door—only then did the haunting voice fade from their minds.

“Boom—!”

The ancient bronze gate slowly closed.

“You’re all newcomers to this chamber—I must remind you!”

The three-eyed elder Kandeli smiled: “Next, find a residence—you’ll live there for the next three hundred years!”

“But if you wish to continue contemplating the Chaos Steles, you must join the inner circle of one of the Five Great Powers, then apply for access to the ‘Skybridge Dimension’ within the Virtual Universe.”

“Skybridge Dimension?” Many cultivators were puzzled.

Kandeli looked at them and smiled: “You’ve already experienced the miracle of the Chaos Steles. Even core members of the Five Great Powers must meet strict conditions to contemplate them! Each time you pass a level of the Skybridge, you earn one chance to contemplate a Chaos Stele—so seize this opportunity!”

Hearing this, everyone’s eyes lit up.

Only those who had contemplated the Chaos Steles understood how miraculous their effect truly was.

During contemplation, their consciousness was fully immersed in the stele’s images—its efficacy was hundreds of times greater than normal training.

Most crucially, the Chaos Steles could guide them and even shatter their bottlenecks!

Some among them were Realm Lord Peak masters who had already fully comprehended the complete lower-origin laws.

In their long cultivation, gaining new breakthroughs required bloody battles for every opportunity—yet now, simply passing a Skybridge level granted them a new contemplation chance. To them, this was pure blessing!

As for joining the inner circle of the Five Great Powers? No problem at all!

The inner circle offered countless benefits—many had long sought to join and failed. Now that the chance had come, who would refuse?

As for future obedience to orders?

Before the temptation of greater strength—even Immortality—what did that matter?

“Alright, you may go,” said the three-eyed elder Kandeli calmly.

Hearing this, Lu Qingshan and the others bowed respectfully, then became streaks of light and departed.

…

After leaving the governor’s mansion, Lu Qing and his group quickly parted ways and began searching for their respective residences.

Chaos City covered an enormous area; apart from a handful of special buildings, every cultivation residence was identical.

From the black-robed guide’s earlier introduction, Lu Qing had learned that if a residence’s door was pale white, it meant no one lived inside.

So he quickly selected one, then placed his hand on the door.

“Drip, drip, drip…”

As a prompt tone sounded, the door swiftly shifted from pale white to deep gray.

“Welcome, Master.”

Then, an electronic voice echoed in Lu Qing’s ear: “I am the service AI. During your stay, I will serve you. Whatever you need—food, drink, anything—just ask.”

“Hmm.”

Lu Qing nodded slightly, then stepped directly into the residence.

The interior was extremely well-equipped, with every conceivable device available.

Lu Qing made no pause, but went straight up the stairs to the third-floor balcony—the most common gathering spot for cultivators in Chaos City.

After all, the insight time in Chaos City was invaluable; they would not waste it on indulgence, but instead devoted every moment to comprehending the fundamental laws.

On the rooftop of these cultivation residences, one could directly observe the external manifestations of cosmic laws, and there were also carved insights left behind by past cultivators—perhaps offering useful references.

“My talent is still too poor!”

Lu Qing sat cross-legged on the rooftop, silently sighing: “Though my understanding of the Lightning Fundamental Law improved greatly after contemplating the Thunder Chaos Stele, I’m still far from fully comprehending it!”

“To fully grasp the complete Lightning Fundamental Law within the next three hundred years, I’d best join the core tier of the Virtual Universe Corporation and attempt the Heavenly Thunder Bridge, then contemplate the Heavenly Thunder Chaos Stele several more times!”

“As for later matters, I can always ask Hoge to find me a safer job!”

His sixth disciple, Hoge, was now an immortal in the core tier of the Virtual Universe Corporation, with strength at the High Military Lord level—he could easily arrange a relatively safe ordinary position for him!

“But right now, my most important task is to absorb and internalize the insights I just gained from contemplating the Heavenly Thunder Chaos Stele!”

With this thought, Lu Qing quickly entered cultivation mode, diligently digesting the insights he had just gained from the Heavenly Thunder Chaos Stele.

(End of Chapter)