Chapter 710: The Secret at the Peak of the Lawful Path

Xu Jin had assumed that his contemplation during the second round of the Lawful Path would push his Candi Platform's Space Law star directly to the ninth-rank limit, enabling transformation.

At the very least, even if he didn't reach the limit, he'd be close enough to trigger transformation.

But the outcome surprised Xu Jin.

When the first round of the Lawful Realm ended, Xu Jin's Candi Platform Space Law star looked like this.

【Space Law: Eighth Rank (78)】

He was already close to the limit.

Yet after two days of contemplation on the second round of the Space Law Path, he realized the Space Law Path was tricking people.

Or rather—he had cleared it.

Above the sixty-sixth step of the Space Law Path, Xu Jin encountered mostly Space Law star wills he had already contemplated.

Those he hadn't contemplated were now rare.

But they still existed.

That was normal.

But after Xu Jin reached the seventy-sixth step of the Space Law Path, he encountered not a single new Space Law star will he hadn't already contemplated.

Even when he ascended past the eightieth step, nine Space Law star wills surged simultaneously.

But they were merely different combinations of wills he had already seen.

For others, this would be impossible—but for Xu Jin, as he activated his Candi Platform's Space Law star, a slight adjustment of combinations triggered identical Space Law star wills.

Then he passed effortlessly.

Thus, Xu Jin climbed steadily upward, all the way to the ninety-eighth step of the Space Law Path!

Still, not a single new Law of Space appeared.

One more step ahead lay the peak of the Space Law Path. Xu Jin looked back at the path, his face filled with frustration.

No one had told him it would be like this.

Yet now, Xu Jin had figured it out.

The Space Law Path was an artifact artificially forged.

It was said that before leaving the Emperor Dongxuan Star Realm, Emperor Dongxuan Emperor slain eight powerful tenth-rank peak Star Commanders, extracted their essence blood, divine souls, and core relics of their life-bound artifacts to forge the Rank Yan Dao Pearls, then refined them into the Lawful Path using a special material.

It was a legacy left by Emperor Dongxuan Emperor for his birth realm.

In that case, it was normal for the Lawful Path to have a limit.

Even though those Star Commanders were all tenth-rank peak, their mastery of their respective Laws varied in depth.

The difficulty of comprehending Space Law was several times greater than other Laws.

It was perfectly normal it wasn't higher.

But Xu Jin, this anomaly, had ascended straight to the ninety-eighth step in one go.

【Space Law: Ninth Rank (91)】

He glanced inward at the jade tablet of his Candi Platform and saw the Space Law Path only reached ninety-one—still short of the limit.

"Since I've come this far, I might as well see what awaits at the peak of the Lawful Path before leaving.

Next, I should attempt the Thunder Law Path." Xu Jin mused.

During the Grand Selection, Xu Jin's Thunder Law star had already been fully replenished to its limit, but he felt the Thunder Law Path would still yield significant gains.

The reason was simple: during his last attempt, the Thunder Law Path still contained Thunder Law star wills he hadn't contemplated.

Moreover, compared to Space Law, the difficulty of comprehending Thunder Law was greatly reduced.

Logically, the tenth-rank Star Commander who specialized in Thunder Law, slain by Emperor Dongxuan Emperor, likely had a higher cultivation level than the one who specialized in Space Law.

In the next instant, the Space Law star on his Candi Platform rotated slightly, its wave pattern perfectly matching the current Space Law wave pattern around him.

Instantly, like fish and water entwined, Xu Jin stepped effortlessly onto the ninety-ninth step of the Space Law Path.

Thus, he had reached the peak of the Space Law Path!

Ahead, there was no path.

Yet strangely, a faint, shimmering star vortex stood before him like a gateway, within reach.

"If it's a gateway, what lies beyond?" Xu Jin wondered.

He wanted to step inside and see—but hesitated.

It felt too risky.

To leave now felt like a waste.

What if there were hidden treasures?

Especially now, the more he stared, the more it resembled a Star Gate.

"What am I guessing for?" Xu Jin suddenly shook his head and chuckled. He was on the Lawful Path—it was an artifact of the Emperor Dongxuan Dao Palace. Commander Tian Zhang True Person was here; he could simply ask.

【True Person, what lies at the peak of the Lawful Path?】Xu Jin sent a starlight message directly to Commander Tian Zhang True Person.

Inside Commander Tian Zhang Palace, Commander Tian Zhang True Person was handling official duties.

As ruler of the Emperor Dongxuan Star Realm, he possessed many supreme privileges, yet was also bound by mountains of administrative work.

There was no helping it.

In this world, nothing was perfect.

After opening the second round of the Lawful Path for the three Dao Heirs, he hadn't looked again.

He had already seen everything worth seeing in the first round.

He had witnessed Xu Jin's monstrous talent—there was no need to watch further.

He'd simply wait three days until the second round ended, then retrieve the artifact.

Suddenly, starlight flickered across his Emperor Dongxuan Seal.

"Who could it be?"

As ruler of the Emperor Dongxuan Star Realm, Commander Tian Zhang True Person commanded immense authority; aside from a few True Persons, no one dared send him a starlight message without cause.

In the next instant, as his mind stirred, his divine sense sank into the Emperor Dongxuan Seal—he instantly recognized it: that little brat, Xu Jin.

【At the peak of the Lawful Path? When you reach it, you'll know.

There are benefits.】Commander Tian Zhang True Person replied.

For Xu Jin, this prodigy with a background tied to the Emperor, Commander Tian Zhang True Person's patience and tolerance were exceptionally high.

【Benefits? May I ask, True Person, what kind of benefits?】

【Don't get ahead of yourself, boy. But then again, Yuan Yuan Chengfa, Su Chu Xuan—they'll never get this chance. They'll be refining their Dao or breaking into the tenth rank within a year or two; their talent isn't sufficient to reach the peak of the Lawful Path.

You're different.

You've already reached the seventieth step of the Space Law Path, correct?

Yet you're only late eighth rank. To reach ninth-rank peak, you'll need at least ten years.

If you attempt the Space Law Path another six or seven times, you'll likely reach its peak—then you'll know everything!】Commander Tian Zhang True Person replied patiently.

【True Person, I've already reached the peak of the Space Law Path.】

In an instant, Commander Tian Zhang True Person sat bolt upright, his eyes utterly filled with shock.

"Already reached the Space Law Path? How is that possible?

It's only been two days!"

In the next breath, as his imperial seal floated above his head, his divine sense departed his body and landed atop the Space Law Path.

When he saw Xu Jin standing at the ninety-ninth step—the peak of the Lawful Path—even his legendary composure couldn't suppress the indescribable shock in his eyes.

"How did you do this?" Commander Tian Zhang True Person stammered.

Seeing Commander Tian Zhang True Person suddenly appear, utterly stunned, Xu Jin realized his performance might have been terrifying.

But it was too late—he'd already frightened someone.

"True Person, the Space Law star wills appearing on the later steps of this path were all ones I'd already encountered. Many I've fully contemplated. Though the pressure was immense, I slowly climbed up." Xu Jin said.

"Already encountered? But… but the pressure from ten combined star wills is still enormous—wait, you said you fully contemplated them?

You comprehended them all?" Commander Tian Zhang True Person gasped. "Do you realize this Space Law Path was forged from the Space Law of a tenth-rank Star Commander?"

"Not entirely, but over half I've fully comprehended," Xu Jin replied humbly.

Commander Tian Zhang True Person stared at Xu Jin, his heart surging like mountains crashing into oceans.

Emperor Dongxuan Emperor had left this Lawful Path over a thousand years ago. In that time, countless Dao Heirs from Emperor Dongxuan had stepped onto it.

Yet not a single one had ever reached its peak.

Of course, it wasn't that Emperor Dongxuan's Dao Heirs lacked talent.

It was primarily due to their cultivation levels.

Like Yuan Yuan Chengfa and Su Chu Xuan, most would reach a certain step on the Lawful Path, then focus on breaking into the tenth rank.

It was simply a matter of cost and benefit.

Spending seven or eight years—or even more—on the final ten or twenty steps held no meaning.

The higher the step, the greater the talent required.

As Xu Jin said, only comprehension mattered.

Only after fully comprehending the relevant Law could one enter the final twenty steps.

Not just those with poor talent—even the greatest prodigies, if their insight and accumulation were insufficient, couldn't ascend the final steps even after years of effort.

For example, Yuan Yuan Chengfa: on his favored Fire and Earth Paths, reaching the seventieth step was easy, the eightieth possible, and the ninetieth achievable with a decade of effort.

But the final few steps—without divine artifacts to aid contemplation—he might spend decades and still fail.

For a thousand years, the mystery at the peak of this Lawful Path had drawn the attention of many True Persons.

But each and every one failed at the last moment.

Not only did they fail to glimpse its true form, they wasted the precious time of their own geniuses, now filled with regret.

What of a Tenth-Rank Tianyang Xingjun?

The requirement for this Lawful Heavenly Path is late Ninth Rank.

Once one's cultivation base reaches Ninth Rank's peak, they can no longer ascend the Lawful Heavenly Path.

Let alone a Tenth-Rank Tianyang Xingjun.

"True Person?"

You said there are benefits to reaching the summit of the Lawful Heavenly Path—what exactly are they?

Did you send them to me?

Or are they inside the Star Gate at the summit of this Lawful Heavenly Path?" Xu Jin suddenly asked.

This snapped Commander Tian Zhang Tianyang Zhenjun back to reality; he looked at Xu Jin with a complex expression. "I only know there are benefits to reaching the summit, but I don't know what they are."

"Ah, even you don't know? Then what good are these 'benefits' you mentioned?"

Xu Jin had wanted to say, "What's the point of you talking about benefits if you don't even know them yourself?"

But remembering Commander Tian Zhang Tianyang Zhenjun's power and status, he carefully rephrased his words.

"It's right here."

Commander Tian Zhang Tianyang Zhenjun pointed to the hazy vortex Star Gate at the very end of the Lawful Heavenly Path. "Step inside, and you'll see for yourself!

But what exactly it is—I don't know.

This Lawful Heavenly Path was crafted by the Emperor himself as a legacy treasure.

Back then, the Emperor merely said this Lawful Heavenly Path exists solely to select geniuses from the Emperor Dongxuan Star Realm and cultivate supreme talents!

One day, if a supreme talent steps onto the summit of this Lawful Heavenly Path, he may enter the Star Gate and receive his own destiny!" said Commander Tian Zhang Tianyang Zhenjun.

"True Person, you mean I should enter the Star Gate and find out for myself?" Xu Jin, though clear, confirmed once more.

"Exactly!

Since you've reached the summit of the Lawful Heavenly Path, go in now. What kind of destiny you gain depends on your own fortune.

But I imagine whatever the Emperor called a 'destiny' won't be insignificant," said Commander Tian Zhang Tianyang Zhenjun.

"Thank you for your guidance, True Person," Xu Jin bowed and added, "True Person, then I'm going in."

"Go!"

The next instant, as Xu Jin was about to step forward, Commander Tian Zhang Tianyang Zhenjun suddenly called out, "Xu Jin."

"What is it, True Person?"

"If you're not bound by any restrictions, when you come out, remember to tell me what's inside."

"True Person, rest assured—if there are no restrictions, I certainly will!" With that, Xu Jin stepped into the mysterious Star Gate at the summit of the Spatial Lawful Heavenly Path.

Watching Xu Jin vanish, Commander Tian Zhang Tianyang Zhenjun could only smile bitterly. "How tragic—I've guarded this thing for so many years and still don't know what lies behind it."

"But I'll know soon enough."

(End of Chapter)