Chapter 131: Shocking Nightmare

Lin Qing carefully examined the inheritance stele.

This combat art is called The Casting of the Divine Countenance.

It is a primordial-level combat art of the Life faction, renowned for its power and defense; only those with a Life faction or Order faction soul, and who have refined the basic combat art Six Movements of the Sinking Star to the instinctive level, stand a slim chance of entering it.

Practicing this combat art demands extreme insight and exceptionally high physical fundamentals.

Lin Qing suddenly understood.

So, the combat art he had advanced just a few days ago—Six Movements of the Sinking Star—was the prerequisite for this The Casting of the Divine Countenance.

Like the relationship between The Free Body and the Star-Undying Body.

"Life faction or Order faction?"

Lin Qing frowned: "This is a Life faction combat art—can the Order faction practice it too?"

"Of course," Chen Guang explained beside him. "Life and Order are adjacent factions, and all six factions have adjacent and opposing relationships."

"But primordial-level combat arts still care about factions? Isn't that about the soul?" Lin Qing asked with interest.

"Ordinary primordial-level combat arts indeed have nothing to do with soul factions."

Chen Guang said: "But these top-tier primordial-level combat arts all have later sections, and the subsequent stages inevitably involve the sixth energy level—the energy level belonging to each faction's power."

"Sixth energy level?" Lin Qing half-understood.

"Before becoming a primordial being, Master, you can only refine the first section of this combat art—the Primordial Countenance," Chen Guang said.

Lin Qing nodded slightly.

"Go try it—place your hand on the stele and you'll experience a perfect practice session."

Chen Guang said: "As long as you master the first section of this combat art, you pass the first trial."

Lin Qing said nothing more and immediately walked to the stele, placing one palm upon its smooth, icy surface.

The next moment—

"Boom!"

He seemed to hear a roaring sound, and his consciousness plunged into a strange state.

In a daze, Lin Qing felt a vast energy surging through his body, condensing and compressing in a unique pattern, making the energy density grow increasingly extreme until it collapsed into an immensely heavy special force, gathering into a round, pure black star—then it ended.

That incredibly heavy, high-density energy slowly flowed, bringing with it terrifying power.

"Huh?" Lin Qing suddenly opened his eyes, as if waking from a dream, raising his hands to feel the changes in his body.

But he discovered that no such collapsed, high-density energy existed within him.

It seemed all of it had been an illusion.

"So this is the cultivation process of The Casting of the Divine Countenance?"

Recalling it, Lin Qing suddenly understood how to cultivate this combat art.

"How was it? Useful?" Chen Guang asked.

"Very useful," Lin Qing nodded.

He wouldn't dare say more, but given some time, at least entering the art would be no problem.

He had already experienced the complete cultivation process—if he still couldn't enter it, he might as well go smash his head against a block of tofu.

"The cultivation method of Six Movements of the Sinking Star differs from this The Casting of the Divine Countenance, but the artistic conception seems very similar?"

Lin Qing mused: "The special artistic conception after reaching the instinctive level of Six Movements of the Sinking Star is nearly identical to this The Casting of the Divine Countenance."

"That's the difference between instinctive level and mastery level."

Chen Guang said: "Only by refining Six Movements of the Sinking Star to the instinctive level can you perceive that imagery—and only then might you succeed in cultivating The Casting of the Divine Countenance."

Lin Qing nodded slightly.

He turned to the second statue and asked: "Next, the challenge is two statues?"

"You can try," Chen Guang nodded.

…

Five seconds later.

"Boom!"

As a delicate fist shattered the sound barrier in an instant, its terrifying power struck Lin Qing's skull directly.

Lin Qing felt his consciousness plunge into darkness; when he opened his eyes again, he was outside the Star Transmission Tower, back in reality.

"So strong…."

Recalling the battle, Lin Qing couldn't help but feel helpless.

After both statues awakened, each was far stronger than him—absolutely comparable to a third-rank elite inspector who had mastered a primordial-level combat art.

The highest tier of power below an inspector, and they attacked together.

He used Instant Light Assassination, yet couldn't even break their defense.

There was no way to fight them.

Unless he got an opportunity to launch a javelin mid-air with acceleration, he couldn't damage even one statue.

And Chen Guang and Zhao Jiayi couldn't help him during the trial.

"Chen Guang."

After Lin Qing called out, the emotionless little girl appeared before him, silently watching him.

"If two statues are this hard, what level of power is needed to pass three statues?" Lin Qing couldn't help asking.

"Close to inspector level," Chen Guang said.

Lin Qing was stunned. "Such high difficulty—how few must pass the three-statue trial?"

"Most divine office candidates only pass the one-statue trial," Chen Guang said. "Even those who master primordial-level combat arts struggle greatly against two statues working together."

Lin Qing nodded slightly.

Both stone statues were nearly perfect in speed, defense, and strength, ranking among the absolute pinnacle even among third-star elite patrols.

Even one-on-one, Urieo would struggle to defeat either statue, let alone both at once.

"Only a very few pass the trial of all three stone statues."

Chen Guang said: "If you mastered several more primordial-level combat arts and used the Bloodline Evolution Method to prematurely unlock fifth-tier abilities, there might be some possibility."

"Fifth tier?" Lin Qing fell silent.

He had naturally already researched the relevant materials.

To prematurely unlock fifth-tier abilities via the Bloodline Evolution Method, one must endure the only energy existing at the fifth tier: Primordial Energy.

But the difficulty seemed wildly extreme—since the Patrol Headquarters was established, no one had succeeded.

Even in the Urban Circle, among extraterrestrial civilizations, it was exceedingly rare.

"Absorbing fifth-tier Primordial Energy—wouldn't that make you a Primordial Being?" Lin Qing remarked.

"Not even close."

Chen Guang countered: "Normally, gene awakening allows one to withstand third-tier power, and gene recombination allows fourth-tier power—but aren't you already absorbing fourth-tier power without having awakened?"

"True." Lin Qing nodded.

"Life evolution is the process of transcending toward higher tiers."

Chen Guang said: "Only a Primordial Being can truly wield fifth-tier power—also called a 'fifth-tier lifeform.'"

She shook her head: "But the Bloodline Evolution Method only requires simple absorption—it merely unlocks abilities, doesn't grant that tier's power, and certainly doesn't cause fundamental transformation of life. The difficulty is far greater. A Primordial Being… that's someone who possesses the legendary Domain. This involves consciousness—it's not that simple."

Domain?

Lin Qing suddenly understood.

"Still, even just enduring it is extremely difficult."

Chen Guang said: "My father's primary research focus was enabling those below Primordial Beings to withstand fifth-tier Primordial Energy. A tiny number of Zhi Star geniuses can achieve this using the lower section of the Star Refining Art. My father also tried modifying the lower section to suit Earth humans—but unfortunately… he never succeeded."

She shook her head slightly. "Before he died, my father handed all his research on the lower section of the Star Refining Art to his adoptive father, Chu Hongjun. I don't know what became of it now."

"Chu Hongjun?"

Lin Qing's eyes lit up. "I wonder if this great figure has perfected the Star Refining Art?"

All of Earth civilization's high-tech equipment and research came from Dawn Group.

As founder of Dawn Group, Chu Hongjun's status rivaled that of the founder of Chaoyang Martial Hall.

"Possible," Chen Guang nodded slightly. "I have a way to contact Chu Hongjun. Would you like me to ask him?"

"You can contact Chu Hongjun?" Lin Qing fell into thought.

Chen Guang saw his concern and immediately said: "Master, don't worry. In the Urban Circle, figures like Chu Hongjun all possess Star Transmission Towers—they won't covet your things. Moreover, like the founder of Chaoyang Martial Hall, he is very accepting and supportive of Earth geniuses."

"People's hearts are hidden behind their chests," Lin Qing shook his head.

Chen Guang thought for a moment and said: "Then how about this… Master, go find your father's legacy."

"Dr. Chu Hui's legacy?" Lin Qing looked at her.

"Yes."

Chen Guang said: "Once your strength reaches another level—top-tier power below Patrol Envoy—you'll have a solid chance to claim the part of your father's legacy outside the Urban Circle. Among his legacy is a holo-communicator, which can also contact Chu Hongjun. That way, my existence won't be exposed."

"The part outside the Urban Circle?" Lin Qing asked with interest. "What's in the legacy?"

"A sum of extraterrestrial currency valid in the Urban Circle, plus some precious potions, crystals, and mechanical artifacts," Chen Guang said.

Lin Qing pondered, then asked: "Will it help me now?"

"Of course."

Chen Guang nodded slightly. "For example, the most precious item—the Primordial Crystal. This is classified by the Zhi Stars as a top-restricted resource. Without Primordial Crystals, even if you have the lower section of the Star Refining Art, you cannot unlock your bloodline's fifth-tier ability." Lin Qing fell into thought.

"Of course, the Primordial Crystals in my father's legacy are very few—nowhere near enough to unlock fifth-tier ability—but at least they offer some hope."

Chen Guang said: "If you want to quickly break through to Primordial Being, you'll need sufficient Primordial Crystals. Otherwise, you'll have to accumulate for many years."

"Are there other ways to obtain Primordial Crystals?" Lin Qing asked.

"I know some channels."

Chen Guang said: "Didn't you get a bloodline enhancement agent you haven't used yet? If you're willing to sell it, you can trade it for a large sum of Primordial Crystals."

Lin Qing nodded thoughtfully.

He didn't care—he'd always planned to trade it for other treasures anyway.

"Still, Master, your current strength isn't enough—you'd risk being robbed," Chen Guang said.

"Then wait."

!.

Lin Qing shook his head slightly. "I'll plan these things once my strength is sufficient."

He wasn't in a hurry.

After all, he'd soon be able to enter the "Cast Divine Form" combat art.

Fortunately, there was a Star Transmission Tower—otherwise, mastering such a difficult primordial-level combat art would have taken ages just to begin.

It's no rush to seek Dr. Chu Hui's legacy until my strength is sufficient.

"Pity, my father's greatest legacy is all within the Urban Circle. He once had a very loyal intelligent lifeform—I wonder what became of it."

Chen Guang whispered: "Also, my father once cultivated an extraterrestrial human with a terrifying bloodline talent—I don't know how he arranged for him. When Father was captured, part of the reason was that extraterrestrial human."

"The Urban Circle…" Lin Qing sighed.

Before he had sufficient strength, he had no intention of going there to serve as a dog to those aliens.

…

Days passed one by one.

The previously borrowed "Six Motions of Sinking Stars" was being rapidly repaid—this foundational combat art, which heavily relied on insight, was progressing swiftly for him now that he'd reached gene recombination level.

It would take just over thirty days to repay it.

Calculating it, I can repay the debt for "Sinking Stars Six Movements" by mid-November.

The advance for "Endless Heavenly Radiance" taken at the end of September is slightly slower to repay, but I estimate it will be cleared before the end of November.

Before then, "Skywing" and "Gene Cultivation Method" can also both be repaid by early November.

And he has already planned out all four of these advance positions.

Unfortunately, the "Cultivating the Heart Method" gifted by Zhao Jiayi's father still hasn't been mastered after three months; otherwise, he could have awakened his mental force.

Lin Qing could only continue trying.

In the blink of an eye, October passed.

On October 30th, Lin Qing turned exactly nineteen years old.

However, his cousin's family had all gone to the Urban Circle; the only one who cared about his birthday was Zhao Jiayi.

A few days later, both "Skywing" and "Gene Cultivation Method" were repaid.

Unfortunately, "Forging the Divine Form" still felt just short of mastery.

Lin Qing simply advanced all the previous Divine Transformation series combat techniques; though they were now of little use to him, they still added a few minor tricks.

After all, the simplified versions of these combat techniques were already effortless for him.

He repaid them on the very day he took the advance.

Although the basic combat technique "Divine Transformation" had no original-tier follow-up, its innate intimidation effect was still occasionally useful, so he spent one Special-Class Merit to learn "Divine Transformation."

This Special-Class Merit was awarded to him when he first arrived in Lin'an City, for eliminating Lei Enqi, who had ambushed him at the airport; the headquarters had rewarded him with two Special-Class Merits.

Since Special-Class Merits were of little use to him now, Lin Qing didn't mind spending one.

After advancing "Divine Transformation," because his willpower was strong and he was at the Gene Recombination level, repaying it was fast—he only needed twenty days.

He left one advance slot unused, waiting for "Forging the Divine Form" to be mastered, ready to take the advance at any moment.

……

On the night of November 7th.

A piece of devastating news, known only to the Patrol Realm's high command but enough to shake the entire world, spread like a hurricane.

On this day, the island where the Patrol Headquarters was located was suddenly attacked by extraterrestrial prisoners from the Broken Stele Prison!

It was said one mountain peak collapsed as a result, and the elite patrols stationed at the headquarters were caught in the crossfire, with over a hundred killed.

Most importantly…

One Senior Director and two Patrol Envoys were killed!

The other two Senior Directors also suffered heavy damage, and ten other Patrol Envoys sustained varying degrees of injury.

"One Senior Director and two Patrol Envoys are dead?"

Inside the villa, Lin Qing was deeply shocked and asked: "Chen Guang, what are the details? Who died? How is Patrol Envoy Tang Wanqiu?"

He felt relieved—thankfully Tang Wanqiu had specifically transferred him away from headquarters; otherwise, he might have been the one who died!

If even a Senior Director had perished, he didn't believe his own abilities could guarantee survival.

"It was an ambush by prisoners from the deepest restricted zone of the Broken Stele Prison."

Chen Guang said: "The leader was the most terrifying prisoner of the Broken Stele Prison—Bai Zhou. His records are unclear, but he is a Primordial Being who already possessed a rare Divine Office before reaching Primordial status."

"Rare Divine Office?" Lin Qing still didn't fully understand matters concerning Star Divine Offices.

He only knew that the three forbidden zones the Patrol Headquarters forbade approaching were places to obtain Star Divine Offices.

"Common basic Divine Offices have no limit on quantity, only on the number of times one may enter the forbidden zones."

Chen Guang explained: "But rare Divine Offices have extremely strict limits within a single life planet—perhaps only a few slots per planet, or even just one slot total. Even if the holder dies, the slot will not reappear."

Lin Qing understood.

"So, anyone who obtains a rare Divine Office is inevitably a powerhouse among Divine Office holders."

Chen Guang said: "That prisoner, Bai Zhou, led two other Primordial-level prisoners and five prisoners who held Divine Offices, storming directly into the Patrol Headquarters, apparently trying to force the headquarters to hand over something. But the headquarters refused, so Bai Zhou attacked."

"That's too powerful," Lin Qing murmured, shaking his head.

He asked: "What happened after? What was it they wanted? Did the headquarters hand it over?"

"We don't know what it was," Chen Guang said. "But the Patrol Headquarters declared they would rather be destroyed than surrender it. Later, Bai Zhou left for reasons unknown."

She added: "Tang Wanqiu is fine—only suffered minor injuries."

Lin Qing nodded slightly and sighed: "The Urban Circle really won't intervene."

"The interstellar alliance's ban naturally prevents them from acting."

Chen Guang whispered: "Master, you must understand: although Bai Zhou and these extraterrestrials are aliens, they all arrived on Earth before awakening and have grown up here."

"According to the cosmic civilization laws my father understands, under such circumstances, they are Earth's cosmic citizens, recognized by the planet's consciousness."

She shook her head: "In fact, the Urban Circle has many such cosmic citizens of Earth, but most geniuses are bound by agreements with extraterrestrial civilizations. Unlike Bai Zhou and others, who are essentially stateless—belonging only to Earth."

Lin Qing took a deep breath and sighed: "The situation is growing more chaotic."

"But… Master, I noticed something strange," Chen Guang said.

"What?" Lin Qing asked.

Chen Guang whispered: "Whether by coincidence or not, the deceased Senior Director, Aberk, and the two Patrol Envoys were all members of the Fuyong Sect. No one from the Autonomy Faction or the United Faction died—not even one seriously injured."

Lin Qing was stunned.

"So, Master, you don't need to worry too much—when the sky falls, the tall ones hold it up."

Chen Guang paused, then added: "Also… my father once said something."

"Something?" Lin Qing looked at her.

"Father said…" Chen Guang whispered: "If the moment comes when it is necessary, the former high-ranking members of the Light—Qi Lingxiao, Chu Hongjun, Yi Leina Duo—would abandon everything to protect Earth."

Lin Qing nodded slightly.

"Yi Leina Duo?" he asked again, puzzled. "Who is that? I've never heard this name before."

"She is the founder of an Earth secret organization called Twilight Front. I don't know the specifics," Chen Guang said. "However, Father said that although she is clearly an Earthling, she also has three eyes like a Zhi Star person, which is very strange."

Lin Qing did not ask further.

He was still very far from these great figures. At present, there was nothing he could do; except for continuing to improve himself, everything else was merely a waste of thought.

At least... become a Universal Citizen first.

Perhaps the shock and psychological pressure brought by this bad news also brought motivation...

Just late that night, unknowingly, Lin Qing had quietly succeeded in entering the Primal-level combat technique, "God-Refining Form"!

"It actually succeeded..."

Lin Qing also felt it was somewhat incredible; he had thought it would still take some time.

He urgently needed sufficient strength. This first Primal-level combat technique was enough to bring an astonishing transformation, so he did not waste time—

"Order."

"Advance payment, combat technique 'God-Refining Form'!"

Slept for a day, feeling better, resuming updates. One more chapter later tonight.

(End of this chapter)