Chapter 255: The Sixth Volume: The Second Level of the Dao of Life and Death

Luo Feng comprehended the deep-seated mystery patterns of the Star Tower, countless patterns spiraling inward, even probing to its deepest layers where time itself began to stagnate; beyond that, the deeper patterns began to glow with color.

At the end of the spiral path formed by the colored patterns lay a blood-red scale edged with twelve hues.

This blood-red scale resembled the highest rule.

It was supreme.

It was indestructible through countless calamities, eternal and unperishing.

"The core of the Star Tower's mystery patterns is 'the weight, solidity, and eternal imperishability of life.'" Luo Feng had observed them too many times; staring directly at the blood-red scale continually assaulted and corrupted his spiritual will.

Luo Feng temporarily withdrew from observation and began to channel his own power.

"Hum."

A phantom tower materialized, triangular in shape, gradually solidifying as mystery patterns flowed across its surface.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, the phantom tower collapsed.

"Why is it so hard to create a 'Nine-Branch Fusion Technique'?" Luo Feng sighed softly.

Just as a normal Grand General of the Second Realm could easily create peak-level Second Realm techniques, creating a "Ultimate Realm Technique" instantly skyrocketed in difficulty. Figures like the Emperor of Gui Xu, the Witchheart Grand General, certain Emperors of the Flame Wind Ancient Nation, and the monarchs of the Thunder Ancient Nation spent eons and managed to create only a few Ultimate Realm Techniques.

The same logic applied.

For the Nine Branches of the Dao of Life and Death, Luo Feng had so far created nine techniques.

The previous five: "Great Annihilation Form," "Heavenlight Silver Shuttle," "Blacklight Evasion Art," "Dripping Blood," and "Cage" had all been perfected to the Eight-Branch Fusion level.

"Eight-branch fusion is easy for me—I've already created nine techniques. But I can't create a single Nine-Branch Fusion Technique." Luo Feng shook his head lightly.

The Nine-Branch Fusion Techniques of the Dao of Life and Death were Ultimate Realm techniques of that Dao—far more difficult than Eight-Branch Fusion techniques.

In contrast, the pure Dao of Life and the pure Dao of Destruction, guided by precise principles, allowed Luo Feng to exchange for the Destruction Scale and Lotus Heart Seed; now he could create Ultimate Realm Techniques for both.

"The Ultimate Realm Techniques of pure Life and pure Destruction don't feel particularly hard."

"But the fused Dao of Life and Death—nine-branch fusion—is extremely difficult."

Luo Feng attempted to condense a phantom Star Tower using his own power.

The phantom Star Tower—protecting oneself! Pursuing the ultimate in defense!

"Why is my condensed phantom Star Tower triangular? Why not a nine-tiered tower?" Luo Feng realized he was still far from the truth; even if the nine branches truly fused, it would only be a mere fraction of the Star Tower's essence.

Luo Feng could only calm his mind and devote himself to cultivation.

"What's wrong with the phantom Star Tower? Why can't it stabilize?" Luo Feng studied the mystery patterns in detail, day after day passing.

Suddenly, one day—

Long-term contemplation triggered a qualitative transformation.

In Luo Feng's mind, four of the Dao of Life and Death's branches—Heavenlight, Dripping Blood, Traveler, and Eternal—suddenly fused perfectly into one, leaving not a trace of confusion.

The Dao of Life and Death thus entered the Grand General Second Realm!

From then on, Luo Feng had reached the Grand General Second Realm in all three paths: Life, Destruction, and Life and Death. Of course, the first two paths were far easier—he had already created several Ultimate Realm Techniques.

"Hahahaha! After creating nine Eight-Branch Fusion Techniques, the Dao of Life and Death finally entered the Grand General Second Realm. Without precise Dao guidance, the accumulation requirement is indeed astronomically high." Luo Feng was in high spirits. "I wonder how much reward point the Infinite Space will grant."

The Infinite Space placed great emphasis on spiritual will and Dao creation.

…

Infinite Space.

On a lake island, there were no spiritual beings—only one of Luo Feng's projections, surrounded by mist that veiled half the lake.

"Dao of Life and Death, Second Realm." Luo Feng sat cross-legged on the shore, gazing at the lake before him; with a single thought, he began to manifest the Dao's profundities.

Huh.

A thread of power detached from Luo Feng, slicing through the air in a trajectory that effortlessly severed layers of space, even carving black fissures into the fundamental membrane of the Infinite Space; then, the thread condensed into a single drop of blood.

That drop of blood transformed into a star, slowly rolling through heaven and earth, causing both to tremble.

Then, that tiny star became a dark abyss, naturally beginning to devour everything around it.

The dark abyss collapsed, turning into a speck of light; the moment the speck formed, a terrifying domain spread in all directions.

…

A single thread of power fully displayed the myriad profundities of the four branches of the Dao of Life and Death—Heavenlight, Dripping Blood, Traveler, and Eternal. Only by fully comprehending these profundities could one manipulate the fusion and transformation of the four branches so effortlessly.

Finally—

"Hum."

A message arrived through the mark on Luo Feng's palm.

"Trialist: Origin Continent, Luo Feng."

"Having used the Dao of Life and the Dao of Destruction as foundations, you have forged a new Dao. Evaluation of the new Dao: S-Class. Reward: 100, 00 points. On this new Dao, you have finally taken your second step—continue striving to fully master this Dao."

"Before mastering a complete Dao, your spiritual will has successfully surpassed the Grand General limit. Evaluation of spiritual will: S-Class. Reward: 100, 00 points. Your spiritual will is exceptional. Perhaps, you can go even further?"

"Reminder: Killing any spiritual being is forbidden. Violators will be permanently expelled from the Infinite Space."

"Total reward points: 184, 93. 3." Luo Feng absorbed this information, deeply invigorated.

Forging a new Dao and reaching the Grand General Second Realm granted 100, 00 points! Combined with the 100, 00-point reward for his spiritual will surpassing the Grand General limit, this 200, 00-point sum was his greatest fortune yet.

Having been in the Infinite Space for so long, Luo Feng had always been cautious with his reward points.

His major expenditures were the Lotus Heart Seed and the Destruction Scale!

As for exchanging for transmissions, he had mainly acquired those of the Grand General First and Second Realms—he still hadn't dared to exchange for the more expensive ones.

"Since I can't kill any spiritual beings, the only way to earn reward points is to continue forging new Daos and advancing my spiritual will." Luo Feng thought.

"According to the message, fully mastering the 'Dao of Life and Death' should yield a reward."

But Luo Feng also understood one thing.

Daos like Time, Space, Life, Infinity, and Destruction already existed within the Supreme Rule; even so, in the long history of the Origin Continent, only two individuals—Di Qing and the Lord of Myriad Realms—had ever awakened a complete Dao through their own efforts.

The Dao of Life and Death had no reference at all. To comprehend the complete "Dao of Life and Death"—the difficulty was unimaginable.

"Ordinary Daos have guidance. Even those Emperors and Monarchs who have mastered five or six Ultimate Realm Techniques may still fail to awaken a Dao. Thus, without guidance, the Dao of Life and Death likely requires at least ten Ultimate Realm Techniques to be comprehended before one has a chance to awaken it."

In one by one

"What does 'further advancement' of spiritual will mean?" Luo Feng was puzzled.

Before mastering a Dao, reaching the Divine Emperor level of spiritual will earned an S-Class evaluation.

What could be higher than that?

"Forget it."

Luo Feng began to browse the Infinite Space's treasure vault.

"Huh?" Luo Feng was surprised. "The 'Grand General Ultimate Chapter' of the Perfect Transmission is still invisible?"

Perfect Transmissions for the Grand General Second Realm typically cost 10, 00 reward points. The Ultimate Chapter? Luo Feng didn't even have enough points to see it.

According to the Infinite Space's pricing model, the Ultimate Chapter was usually twenty times the cost of the Second Realm Chapter.

"Even with both evaluations as S-Class, I still can't access the 'Perfect Transmission Ultimate Chapter.' What kind of genius would qualify to learn it?" Luo Feng mused inwardly.

"With Formless and Shapeless, my limit for transformation within the Origin Continent is the Ultimate Realm Hunyuan bloodline creature. Since I don't cultivate the Material Primordial Dao, I don't need to exchange for the Ultimate Chapter of 'World Lifeform.'"

These reward points must be spent wisely.

Luo Feng carefully examined each transmission.

"Let's see the treasure information."

Luo Feng was deeply interested in the treasures, for according to Di Qing, items costing 100, 00 reward points or more could aid one in "escaping the cage," and were desperately sought after by external cultivators.

…

The top-ranked treasure: a sword, requiring 180, 00 reward points to exchange.

This sword was forged from the corpse of a Primordial Ancestor, suitable for cultivators of the Thunder, Destruction, and Material paths; contemplating it might help one escape the cage.

Reminder: This treasure is best contemplated within the Source World. Do not take it out of the Source World—otherwise, endless calamities will follow!

…

The second-ranked treasure: the Time-Space Mirror, requiring 180, 00 reward points to exchange.

Crafted from rare treasures of the Primordial Space, this mirror allows one to retain memories upon reincarnation into any Source World, immune to rejection by any Source World's Supreme Rule.

Cultivating under different Source Worlds and different Supreme Rules offers immense cultivation benefits.

Reminder: 1. This treasure is best suited for Time or Space cultivators; others will gain less benefit.

2. Do not take this treasure out of the Source World.

…

One by one, the treasures left Luo Feng stunned.

"Even if I earned S-Class in both Dao creation and spiritual will, exchanging for just one of these treasures would leave me nearly empty." Luo Feng realized how prohibitively high the threshold was.

In Yuan's arrangement, even the most brilliant prodigies could afford only one such treasure!

"Only those with sufficient talent can avoid wasting such treasures."

Luo Feng continued browsing.

Suddenly—

The 34th-ranked treasure: the Eye of Life and Death, requiring 120, 00 reward points to exchange.

This was an eye forged from the complete corpse of a World-Level Primordial Lifeform, the "Eye of Life and Death." With this eye, one could perceive the "vitality" of all things and also discern their "weaknesses of destruction."

Suitable for cultivators of the Life and Destruction paths—it aids in comprehending the mysteries of Life and Destruction, helping one escape the cage.

Reminder: Do not take this treasure out of the Source World.

…

"Excellent treasure." Luo Feng's heart burned with desire.

Other high-ranked treasures are suited either to destruction or to life.

The Eye of Birth and Destruction is suited to both life and destruction.

(End of Chapter)