Chapter 506: Hibernation (Part 1)

Good Book

The black jade-like flesh, specifically the "black membrane layer" on its surface, appeared magnified millions of times under Meng Chuan's scrutiny. It contained an ocean of countless runes, far more vast than those found in the Bloodblade Disk. Within this complexity, the elements similar to "Endless Saber" remained the core essence.

Meng Chuan observed with a surge of excitement.

Ignoring the incomprehensible aspects, he focused on the parts resembling "Endless Saber," pondering and seeking comprehension.

"The 'Endless Saber' pursues ultimate speed," Meng Chuan mused as he observed. "I can vaguely discern some parts, and if I'm not mistaken, this must be the 'ultimate speed' rule."

"The ultimate speed rule, combined perfectly with another rule, forms the core."

Meng Chuan could clearly see this.

The two rules were distinct, like yin and yang, one akin to the heavens and the other to the earth. Though clearly different, they complemented each other to form the core.

Countless runes emerged only when these core rules were in operation, revealing the profound mystery within the "black membrane layer" on the surface of the black jade-like flesh. If Meng Chuan could fully comprehend this, he too might be able to form a similar membrane layer on his own skin.

"'Endless Saber' is currently only in the early Cavern Heaven realm. This 'ultimate speed rule' is unfathomably more profound than anything I've comprehended to date," Meng Chuan thought, maintaining a clear mind.

As recorded in the ancient texts left by Patriarch Cang Yuan:

Venerable-level ultimate techniques, upon reaching 'Cavern Heaven Perfection' and then breaking through to the 'Heaven and Earth realm,' typically evolve into formidable Emperor-level ultimate techniques. There's a small chance they might manifest as flawed techniques like 'Thunder Walk,' 'Dark Lightning,' or 'Thunder-Fire Body Refinement Art,' which, despite their flaws, still possess the power of Emperor-level ultimate techniques.

Only an exceedingly minuscule possibility exists... for someone to truly create an 'Emperor-level ultimate technique.'

While Venerable-level ultimate techniques are occasionally seen, Emperor-level ultimate techniques are legendary! Even if someone comprehends one, it is kept strictly secret.

"'Emperor-level ultimate techniques, upon reaching 'Heaven and Earth realm perfection,' represent the absolute pinnacle of limits," Meng Chuan understood these profound secrets. "Those who pursue speed can then fully master 'ultimate speed.'"

What defines ultimate speed?

It is the transformation into true light!

As one cultivates, they discover that the closer their speed approaches 'light,' the more challenging it becomes to further improve. Time itself begins to distort, and the distortion intensifies.

However, when one truly achieves the speed of 'light,' an entirely new realm opens up!

"In reality, most Tribulation Realm mighty figures cultivate methodically, gradually accumulating power over long periods. It is only upon reaching the Six or Seven Tribulation Realm, with a sufficiently deep mastery of space-time, that they naturally grasp ultimate speed." Meng Chuan understood this. He knew that as Tribulation Realm mighty figures ascended to higher realms, their abilities would become increasingly formidable.

"This Senior Dark Peacock, a Seven Tribulation Realm mighty figure, naturally mastered 'ultimate speed' and another corresponding rule at the Seven Tribulation Realm level. Furthermore, they possessed a 'rule' that perfectly combined these two. It is this synergy of all three that makes it so immensely powerful."

Meng Chuan watched, filled with profound admiration.

It was akin to a mortal seeing a great mountain and knowing it was composed of earth and rock.

Meng Chuan, too, could barely discern that three rules were embedded within the runes of the 'skin membrane.' However, fully comprehending them would be far more difficult than a mortal constructing a mountain.

"Now, let's examine its muscles and blood," Meng Chuan murmured, resuming his careful observation.

Under observation, magnified millions of times...

...the deep purple blood, magnified millions of times within his field of vision, appeared as if it were composed of interconnected 'deep purple jade.' He could discern no fine tissues, no 'rough edges,' no minute details; it was a completely smooth, deep purple jade.

"'What?'" Meng Chuan stared, dumbfounded.

Even a Venerable or an Emperor, when observing something magnified millions of times, should be able to perceive the minute components within blood, potentially even seeing 'particles' as tiny as grains of sand.

But now, particles aside, the blood was a perfect, seamless whole, with no visible runes whatsoever.

"'Strange,' Meng Chuan thought, puzzled. 'It seems I'll need to penetrate it with my primordial spirit power and use microscopic analysis to uncover more.'"

With his current primordial spirit, employing microscopic techniques...

...ordinary particles would appear as vast as a solar star! Moreover, his primordial spirit thoughts could penetrate and explore their interiors. Meng Chuan was convinced that even within the physical body of a Seven Tribulation Realm Dark Peacock, he should be able to uncover some profound mysteries.

Alas...

Yet, despite numerous investigative methods, this piece of flesh remained a blank slate, perceivable only to the naked eye.

"'I'll examine its muscles and blood again once my strength improves,' Meng Chuan thought to himself. The muscles, much like the blood, also appeared as a perfect, seamless whole, devoid of any discernible minute components."

Only the 'skin membrane' revealed runes.

"'This membrane is very similar to my Indestructible Divine Armor; both are naturally formed layers on the skin's surface,' Meng Chuan mused. 'It's akin to a divine ability, which must be why the runes are discernible to the naked eye.'"

"'Brother Dongning,' Venerable Qing Gu addressed Meng Chuan respectfully."

"'Qing Gu, find a room in the east side courtyard and settle down for now,' Meng Chuan instructed. 'I plan to cultivate here for some time.'"

"'Are we to remain here indefinitely?' Venerable Qing Gu inquired, his gaze involuntarily drifting towards the outside, where the cave dwelling opened into the endless extra-territorial void."

Meng Chuan smiled faintly. "In a few years, give or take, we'll depart for Black Dragon Star."

Venerable Qing Gu's eyes lit up with excitement, and he nodded repeatedly. "I understand. I shall take my leave then."

Meng Chuan nodded slightly, watching Venerable Qing Gu depart.

"Black Dragon Star."

Meng Chuan gazed into the boundless void. "I've acquired Senior Pang Ming's treasure. To accelerate my growth, I need to exchange some of the unused items for those more suitable for me. Black Dragon Star is the most crucial trade hub in the Sky Peak Galaxy."

Black Dragon Star is home to the strongest Tribulation Realm mighty figure in the Sky Peak Galaxy. It is rumored that sixty-four 'solar stars' and sixty-four 'lunar stars' were transported from distant regions to surround Black Dragon Star, forming a formidable protective array. Combat is strictly forbidden on Black Dragon Star, making it the safest location for trade.

"'Black Dragon Star is a trade hub, and among its many structures, there's an 'Eternal Tower.' Clearly, the influence of the 'Eternal Tower' has extended to Black Dragon Star,' Meng Chuan thought to himself."

From his sect's records, Meng Chuan knew even more profound secrets.

The Eternal Tower...

...is one of the preeminent powers within the boundless extra-territorial space-time! Back when Patriarch Cang Yuan became a Five Tribulation Realm mighty figure, he was invited to join its ranks. By the time he ascended to the Seven Tribulation Realm, Patriarch Cang Yuan had become a high-ranking member of the Eternal Tower.

Naturally, upon Patriarch Cang Yuan's demise, he relinquished his high-ranking position within the Eternal Tower.

Members of the Eternal Tower are replaced through generations in this way.

"'While I don't intend to trade the most precious items, even a small portion requires a sufficiently secure location. The 'Eternal Tower' on Black Dragon Star is precisely where I plan to conduct my transactions,' Meng Chuan mused. Despite the Eternal Tower's excellent reputation, he would never risk trading 'Seven Tribulation Realm secret treasures' there, for absolute safety is a myth."

When the allure is sufficiently high, anything can happen.

It's always wiser to maintain a low profile while one is still weak.

Meng Chuan had journeyed to the outer domain solely for the purpose of cultivation.

Now, with the insights he gained from the Seven Tribulation Realm Dark Peacock's flesh, he naturally immersed himself completely in its comprehension, unwilling to be disturbed.

And so, time passed, day by day.

"'Do ultimate rules give rise to ultimate sources, and do these ultimate sources, in turn, repel all external forces?' Meng Chuan pondered, still somewhat uncertain."

However, he vaguely understood why his Dantian, the 'Source of Boundless Realm,' had collapsed into a chaotic hole.

It seemed that for the God-Demon lineage to reach the 'Chaotic Hole Realm,' the most fundamental prerequisite was to comprehend an 'ultimate technique.' It was also quite normal that the 'Chaotic Hole Realm' wasn't universally applicable in Cang Yuan World; after all, for a Venerable to possess a lifespan of five thousand years and a domain nearly comparable to an Emperor's, the threshold would naturally be exceedingly high.

"'No wonder the Chaotic Hole domain repels all external forces,' he mused."

"'My divine ability, 'Indestructible Divine Armor,' is now inferior to the protective capabilities of the Chaotic Hole domain. I can abandon this ability and, using the 'Endless Saber' rule as its core, create a protective method similar to that of the Seven Tribulation Realm Dark Peacock.'"

"'It failed,' Meng Chuan muttered with a frown as the robe-like protective layer on his body shifted, then disintegrated."

A muffled thud.

Meng Chuan's right hand disintegrated into nothingness, only to swiftly reform.

"'It seems that without a 'Starry Sky Crystal,' the methods of the Starry Sky lineage are unsuitable.'"

"'Without relying on physical strength, combining only Chaotic Hole True Essence with the Chaotic Hole Domain is much easier to control.'"

"'Version fifteen of the 'Peacock Body Armor': the Bloodblade accelerated to cover fifteen thousand li in a single flash, striking the protective armor.' Meng Chuan observed the Bloodblade, which had transformed into a high-speed streak of light, assailing him from above. His 'Peacock Body Armor,' however, extended for dozens of feet around him, its protective folds spreading in all directions to absorb the Bloodblade's impact."

Boom!

A large hole was torn through the 'Peacock Body Armor.'

Meng Chuan shook his head and resumed his contemplation and study.

Years passed, and in the blink of an eye, it was five years after Meng Chuan had acquired the cave dwelling.