Chapter 223: Darkness, Transformation of the Void

"Remember, although there is no time limit for the three worlds, the Star God Trial will end after twenty-four days, at which point the points will be tallied directly."

After the white-haired woman in black robes gave this final reminder, she vanished from the spot.

In the vast square, only hundreds of trial participants and the three silently rotating spatial gates remained.

"Lin Qing, which world's trial will you enter first?" Tuoluocha asked via telepathy from beside him.

"Doesn't it all amount to the same thing which one I choose first?" Lin Qing responded via telepathy.

"That is not entirely the same."

Tuoluocha said, "These three worlds are obviously modified. Compared to those natural cosmic wonders, the various void mysteries involved in these three worlds are shallower and easier to comprehend. Especially the Dark World, which blocks your other senses, allowing you to rely solely on void perception; this can make your perception of the void more pure and direct, obviously an excellent environment for comprehending the void."

He sighed, "Such an environment closer to the void exists only in the Divine Office Lands, which is why so many people, knowing they have no hope of becoming a Star God, still come to participate in the Star God Trial."

"But the Dark World is also the most dangerous one," Lin Qing said.

"Indeed." Tuoluocha nodded and sighed, "Under conditions where nothing can be perceived, those monsters in the darkness, the most terrifying of which possess the strength of the tenth layer of the Yu Xingyuan, make it very easy to die."

He couldn't help but shake his head and say, "If only there were no danger, I could first train my perception of the void in the Dark World, then go to the Mirror World and the River World; my attainment in the void would surely improve greatly."

Lin Qing pondered thoughtfully.

"With strength like yours, Lin Qing, you can indeed do that."

Tuoluocha said with some envy, "Although the Dark World cannot replenish energy, with your strength, as long as you maintain defense continuously, you can hold out for a long time before your energy is exhausted."

He said helplessly, "As for us with insufficient strength, we have no choice; we can only start by improving our void attainment in the safe Tianhe World, then train in the Mirror World, and only then can we go to the Dark World."

Lin Qing understood his meaning.

For these three worlds, the level of danger and the help they provide for the void are directly proportional.

The most dangerous Dark World offers the greatest help to the void, but if one's strength is insufficient, one cannot stay long.

The safest Tianhe World offers the least help, serving more for training and verification.

"In that case, I will start with the Dark World..."

Having made his decision, Lin Qing immediately said, "I am going in first."

"Go ahead, go ahead." Tuoluocha nodded helplessly and slightly.

He was considered a peerless genius within the Five Source Sea Civilization, not only mastering a combined divine technique but also possessing a very powerful secret art; his strength was at the peak of the ninth layer of the Yu Xingyuan.

If luck was on his side, perhaps there was still a slight hope of becoming a Star God.

After all, most of the two thousand-plus trial participants were only at the peak of the eighth layer of the Yu Xingyuan, and the Divine Selection stage did not rely entirely on strength.

But if the difference in strength was too great, it was also difficult to make up for.

"Huff."

While the many trial participants were still considering, Lin Qing simply took a step and was the first to vanish inside the middle spatial gate.

Seeing this, the group of trial participants also felt some envy.

They all came from second-level civilizations and had void creatures to teach them; naturally, they understood that the Dark World offered the greatest help to the void, but since it was so dangerous, they dared not enter rashly.

"Forget it, since we have no hope of becoming a Star God anyway, let's not pursue points; let's go to the Tianhe World to train first, then the Mirror World and the Dark World."

"His strength is strong, but he comes from a planet civilization; he hasn't even had the chance to integrate into a void secret realm, nor has he perceived the void rules of the Void Sea; in the Tianhe World and the Mirror World, he might not catch up to us."

"Indeed, all three worlds test attainment in the void; what attainment in the void could someone from a planet civilization have?"

"That's true; with strong strength, he only gains more points in the Dark World. In the Mirror World, if his strength is strong, his mirror is also strong; what is tested are external means and void attainment. The Tianhe World is even more so."

"Who will obtain the position of Star God in this trial is not yet certain."

Each trial participant was a heaven's favorite of their respective civilization; especially those at Turs's level, each more arrogant than the last, so naturally, they would not admit defeat at this moment.

The facts were indeed so.

In previous Star God Trials, trial participants with extraordinary strength had appeared, but because the Divine Selection stage mainly tested void attainment, they ultimately failed to obtain the position of Star God.

"Trial participants, please note: in this Dark World, for every minute you endure, you will receive one point; a maximum of ten thousand points can be obtained."

As soon as he entered the Dark World, Lin Qing heard a cold voice ring in his mind.

"One point per minute? That means enduring for ten thousand minutes, nearly seven days, to get ten thousand points..." He realized in his heart.

This was pure darkness.

Not only was there a lack of light signals, but the body's other senses, even mental force perception, were blocked.

It seemed as if everything in the world had turned into dark nothingness.

At this moment, the only thing he could rely on was his perception of the void.

It was empty and desolate, as if nothing existed, yet the fluctuations of the void remained clear.

The void fluctuations within a range of several thousand meters were extremely clear, but more distant spaces began to gradually blur.

"Fortunately, I have the Blood Cauldron King's clone, and I have visited many cosmic wonders in the Cosmic Wonders Museum; my attainment in the void is already very high..."

Lin Qing secretly rejoiced.

The Blood Cauldron King had walked the path of void creatures for over a million years and had long ago used the Divine Office to push through and experience the method of transforming into a void creature.

Although the transformation method was not suitable for Lin Qing's main body, the void mysteries involved in it, Lin Qing still understood.

Especially the cultivation over these few hundred years had greatly advanced the Blood Cauldron King's clone.

It could be said that only a tiny bit was lacking to truly recognize the void essence required for it, thereby transforming into a void creature.

Therefore, Lin Qing's attainment in the void was so high that among this group of trial participants, if he claimed second place, probably no one would dare to claim first.

For others, being able to perceive the void within a range of a few hundred meters was already good.

With such a small range of void perception, once ambushed, it would be very difficult to react in time.

"As expected... in this Dark World, perceiving the void is too clear."

Lin Qing was also extremely delighted in his heart.

Such a modified environment could not be found even within the Museum of Cosmic Wonders.

The void fluctuations he sensed were identical to those sensed by the Blood Cauldron King's projection.

"The aspect of the Void... so it is like this?"

Lin Qing sensed carefully, while the Blood Cauldron King's projection, inside the training room of the Vacuum Great Tomb, contemplated with a tenfold time flow.

In this trial ground of the Star God, the time flow was already one-thousandth of that on Earth; the time experienced by the Blood Cauldron King's projection was equivalent to ten thousand times that of his original body!

For every second the original body experienced, the Blood Cauldron King's projection had several hours of contemplation time!

The previously rather vague aspect of the Void gradually became clear.

It is said the Void has infinite aspects; what every person perceives is different. As long as one recognizes just one, one can become a Void creature; the more true aspects one recognizes, the more terrifying the power.

When a Void creature recognizes multiple true aspects of the Void and accumulates enough, it may see the true spatial rules.

"This is a good opportunity. If I can use this chance to let the Blood Cauldron King's projection break through, recognizing other true aspects of the Void will be easier for me in the future!"

At this moment, Lin Qing carefully sensed the void fluctuations within the dark void, contemplating them intently.

Such a rare opportunity naturally could not be missed. "However, there is no energy here at all; even an alternate space cannot be opened..."

Lin Qing pondered silently, "Since energy cannot be replenished here, I cannot waste energy. If I were to use World God constantly, I'm afraid I could not last even a few hours, let alone seven days."

The best method is to use void sensing to detect monsters in the darkness ambushing, then unleash power.

But the strength of the dark monsters is so astonishing that their ambush speed must be extremely fast. Relying solely on void sensing to guard against them, unless one's void attainment is high enough, it is very likely one will be too late.

However, Lin Qing had a better method.

Suddenly—

【Current Order Level decreased by 15.1 levels】

As a line of blood-red text floated before his eyes, a long-bladed divine weapon instantly appeared in Lin Qing's hand. Simultaneously, he began to condense energy; the newly learned Primordial Annihilation was already in a primed state, poised to strike.

Only then did he sense via void sensing that an entity rushing at high speed had appeared several thousand meters away, its speed so fast it was nearly at the speed of light!

Normally, for a distance of merely several thousand meters, the time required for something moving nearly at light speed is far too short. Even if one could react, there would be no time to condense energy and unleash the incredibly complex combination divine techniques.

But having prepared in advance makes all the difference!

!

"It is completely in time."

Lin Qing felt a moment of relief, instantly gripping the long-bladed divine weapon in his hand, and swung a slash toward that direction!

Although he could sense nothing, nor could he sense the offensive power of Primordial Annihilation, he immediately sensed via void sensing that the figure rushing at high speed had vanished in an instant.

No need for the Black Flame projection to merge, nor for World God; relying solely on himself and this perfect divine technique, Primordial Annihilation, he already possessed the combat power of the tenth layer of the Yu Xingyuan.

"Very good."

Lin Qing showed a faint smile. "With this, I can completely minimize energy consumption!"

Normally, sensing via the void and then using a divine technique would be too late.

This would require maintaining a primed state at all times; otherwise, one might be ambushed and killed. But if one maintains a primed state constantly, the consumption is not small, and one cannot last long.

Yet, through the Entropy Reverser's prompt, combined with void sensing over a range of several thousand meters, he could prepare in advance!

Moreover, the Entropy Reverser also provides judgment on the level of danger; he could use this to adjust energy consumption, ensuring energy remains at the lowest level!

"Last seven days?"

Lin Qing laughed, feeling very confident in his heart. "Unless the ambush frequency of the dark monsters is too high, even seventy days, I can last!"

He immediately focused his attention on void sensing, while the Blood Cauldron King's projection also began to contemplate carefully.

Indeed, the attack frequency of the dark monsters was not high, but extremely sudden, with no pattern whatsoever.

Even with high void attainment, one must condense a certain amount of energy in advance to withstand the ambush of the dark monsters.

However, leaving this dark world requires only a thought; therefore, as long as one is not too greedy, one will not be killed by the dark monsters.

"With nearly seven days for me to contemplate, during these seven days, I will focus solely on sensing the Void."

Lin Qing set his mind at ease and immediately began to study the true aspect of the Void intently.

Although the void mysteries he studied would ultimately only allow him to recognize the true aspect needed for the Blood Cauldron King's projection to transform into a Void creature, having the Blood Cauldron King's projection transform into a Void creature earlier would bring great benefits to him as well.

Days passed.

As Lin Qing sensed the Void more deeply, especially since his original body's authority was at the tenth power level, granting him extremely high void sensing, it made contemplation easier for the Blood Cauldron King's projection.

In the blink of an eye, five days had passed.

Meanwhile, inside the training room of the Vacuum Great Tomb, the Blood Cauldron King had already endured over ten years of time.

Upon the boundless pure white land, the Blood Cauldron King's projection sat cross-legged, carefully contemplating the void fluctuations sensed by the original body, analyzing various void mysteries from within them.

Suddenly—

"So it is like this..."

The Blood Cauldron King's projection suddenly opened his eyes, a smile of genuine joy appearing at the corner of his mouth. "Is this the true appearance of the Void?"

At this moment, the space that seemed like nothingness in his eyes had completely changed its appearance.

It was a space composed of countless void ripples, like undercurrents intertwining beneath water, or like endless airflows merging together; boundless energy formed this infinite space with such a structure.

"Void creature..."

The life structure of a Void creature, which the Blood Cauldron King had experienced when promoting his divine office, floated into Lin Qing's mind. Naturally, he fused this true aspect of the Void with the life structure.

Taking this endless, ripple-like true aspect of the Void as the foundation, gathering boundless spatial energy, the life form created by this is the true Void creature!

"Transform."

At Lin Qing's thought, as if heavenly thunder struck the earth fire, boundless spatial energy in the Void surged and gathered. His life structure transformed into a strange, ripple-like structure, beginning to transform at an astonishing speed.

Such a transformation lasted a full half-year before finally ending completely.

"Success."

Sensing the life level and the powerful Void life form of the Blood Cauldron King's projection at this moment, Lin Qing could not help but feel secretly alarmed.

"So these are Void Beings? No wonder each one of them is terrifyingly powerful…"

Lin Qing finally understood why every Void Being possessed at least peak Yu Xingyuan Tenth Layer strength.

The reason was simple.

A body formed from spatial energy alone already possessed peak Yu Xingyuan Ninth Layer strength!

Once one used the terrifying energy of merging oneself into the void to inscribe Holy Characters, reaching peak Yu Xingyuan Tenth Layer strength was effortless!

An ordinary Star Divine Officer, without any divine techniques, was only at Yu Xingyuan Eighth Layer strength.

This single metamorphosis alone caused a surge of more than two whole layers.

"No wonder the descendants of Void Beings all have such high genetic indexes, casually reaching over a hundred times the universal standard…"

Lin Qing sensed the genetic index of the Blood Cauldron King's avatar. Under the metamorphosis of spatial energy, even though the Blood Cauldron King's avatar's genetic index had already been over a thousand times the universal standard, it had now risen to roughly two thousand times.

Judging from spatial energy's enhancement effect on genes, the genetic indexes of Void Beings should universally be over a thousand times the universal standard.

With such powerful genes, it was no wonder every descendant was extraordinary.

Moreover, it was also because descendants could not bear it — the genetic ceiling for descendants through normal bloodline inheritance was only around a hundred times the universal standard.

"Once nine sets of Holy Characters are inscribed, the Blood Cauldron King will have strength close to Yu Xingyuan Eleventh Layer, even somewhat stronger than the Nine Star Emperor."

Lin Qing nodded inwardly.

The upper limit for inscribing Holy Characters was nine sets, but by paying the price of splitting their lives, Void Beings could also wash away their own Holy Characters.

And vitality meant nothing to Void Beings at all — the spatial energy that could nurture everything could be completely converted into vitality, replenishing it to peak in just a few breaths.

Therefore, every Void Being was an existence nearly eternal and undying.

"Also, the Blood Cauldron King's avatar can now enter the Void Sea…"

Lin Qing revealed a faint smile. "Too bad the Blood Cauldron King isn't a being natively nurtured by Earth, so it can't make Earth evolve into a high-dimensional planet…"

A high-dimensional planet could be said to already be connected to the Void Sea of the universe's high-dimensional layer, possessing a single connection point.

But it was merely a single point.

To truly open up this point and transform it into a Void Secret Realm would require the high-dimensional planet to absorb a massive amount of Star Origin Stones.

"Take it slow. To open up a Void Secret Realm, Earth still needs enough Authority Awakeners working together in concert." Lin Qing took a deep breath.

"Next, the Blood Cauldron King's avatar needs to create its own divine technique…"

Lin Qing pondered inwardly. "The Nine Star Emperor spent several hundred thousand years without creating a divine technique belonging to himself, and the Nine Star Progenitor also took nearly ten million years to succeed. I wonder how long the Blood Cauldron King's avatar will need…"

(End of this chapter)