40
Sure, here's the line-by-line translation while retaining the essence of the story and minimizing pinyin usage:
---
### Chapter 394: Transformation of Power (Please Subscribe)
On the black planet, within the space that guides the cycle of life and death.
A manifestation of Lin Yuan sat here, observing the endless cycle of life and death before him.
"Life is death, and death is life. Life and death are merely different aspects of the cycle. So this is how it is, this is how it is."
Lin Yuan's face lit up with understanding as he broke through a certain barrier in his comprehension of the cycle of life and death, reaching a new level.
The Fourth Realm.
The Fourth Realm of the cycle of life and death.
In the two-dimensional world, a millennium had passed, while a century had gone by in the main universe.
One hundred and fifty years ago, Lin Yuan began to comprehend the cycle of life and death.
One hundred years ago, he reached the Second Realm of the cycle of life and death.
Now, after another hundred years, Lin Yuan's understanding of the cycle of life and death surpassed the Third Realm, reaching the Fourth Realm.
"Although the cycle of life and death only encompasses the two major rules of life and death,"
"In essence, it explains the cycle itself. If I hadn't been in this guiding space, it would have taken me more than ten times the effort to reach this stage."
Lin Yuan felt deeply moved. Even with his extraordinary insight, the obstacles and barriers couldn't hinder him for long.
For other evolvers, it wouldn't be a matter of time; they likely wouldn't overcome these barriers before their lifespan ended.
Among various species, particularly in human civilization, there were many eleventh-tier evolvers stuck at the Third and Fourth Realms of the foundational rules.
Anyone who could reach the eleventh tier was undeniably the top genius of their era.
"This guiding space is no longer useful to me."
Lin Yuan looked around at the intertwining rules of life and death, feeling no more insight, for he had reached the same level as this guiding space in these rules.
In simple terms, Lin Yuan had fully comprehended this guiding space.
"With my understanding of the cycle of life and death at the Fourth Realm, the Great Destruction Rule and other foundational rules have also reached the peak of the Third Realm, ready to step into the Fourth Realm at any time."
Lin Yuan thought to himself. Although comprehending multiple foundational rules at once could divide his focus, the simultaneous progression and clash of these rules often brought unexpected advancements.
Whether it was the cycle of life and death or the Great Destruction Rule, they were all part of the Chaos Rule, sharing the same origin.
"I can inform Supreme Xia Qin to arrange for a tenth-tier human evolver to take my place." Lin Yuan thought silently.
Since this guiding space was no longer effective for Lin Yuan, he might as well lease it out. According to the original agreement with Supreme Xia Qin, one guiding space was worth a billion merit points.
"Time to go."
Lin Yuan turned and left the guiding space.
Outside the guiding space.
Lin Yuan's figure appeared.
The next moment.
Not far away, a stern-faced man in a black robe materialized.
"Why did you come out?" The black-robed man looked at Lin Yuan, frowning.
Each of the twelve guiding spaces on the black planet allowed each life form to enter only once.
In other words, re-entry was not possible.
Lin Yuan had spent just over a hundred years in the cycle of life and death guiding space and then chose to leave. According to the rules of the black planet, he could no longer enter the cycle of life and death guiding space.
This made the black-robed man feel a bit regretful. Lin Yuan had broken through from the First Realm to the Second Realm of the cycle of life and death in just fifty years.
In terms of talent and aptitude, Lin Yuan was undoubtedly the most monstrous and perverse tenth-tier life form the black-robed man had ever seen.
But even the most talented and monstrous individual would be considered extremely foolish to leave the guiding space without reaching the Fourth Realm of the cycle of life and death.
"Because this guiding space is no longer of any use to me."
Lin Yuan glanced at the black-robed man and spoke.
"No longer of any use?" The black-robed man was momentarily stunned, then looked at Lin Yuan in disbelief. "You... You reached the Fourth Realm?"
Only by reaching the Fourth Realm could one say that the guiding space was useless to them.
A hundred years ago, when Lin Yuan reached the Second Realm of the cycle of life and death, an inadvertent leak of his aura disrupted the balance of the rules within the guiding space.
This led the black-robed man to infer that Lin Yuan had reached the Second Realm.
Later, when Lin Yuan reached the Third and then the Fourth Realm, he did not leak any aura or disrupt the balance within the guiding space, so the black-robed man was unaware of Lin Yuan's exact level.
"Yes."
Lin Yuan nodded, raising his right hand. The power of life and death swirled around his fingertips, and faintly, a vast wheel of reincarnation appeared.
"Really the Fourth Realm?"
Seeing the wheel of reincarnation at Lin Yuan's fingertips, the black-robed man had no more doubts. Even so, he felt a sense of incredulity.
Had Lin Yuan really reached the Fourth Realm so quickly?
### Chapter 394: Transformation of Power (Please Subscribe)
On the surface, it seemed that Lin Yuan spent fifty years advancing from the First Realm to the Second Realm, another hundred years moving from the Second Realm to the Third Realm, and then from the Third Realm to the Fourth Realm.
Each level breakthrough took fifty years.
It appeared normal.
However, the reality of advancing in levels is far more complex.
The higher the level, the more time it takes to advance even a small step.
Among human civilization's many evolutionary geniuses, some took only a few hundred to a thousand years to advance from the first to the seventh tier, but then remained stuck at the seventh to eighth tier for tens of thousands of years.
These are living examples.
This is even more true for comprehending integrated rules.
In the estimation of the black-robed man, Lin Yuan's fifty-year advancement to the Second Realm was impressive, but he expected it would take five hundred to a thousand years for him to reach the Third Realm.
To reach the Fourth Realm, it would likely take around ten thousand years.
This estimate was based on Lin Yuan's extraordinary talent, which allowed him to reach the Second Realm in just fifty years.
Yet, Lin Yuan had done it—fifty years from the First to the Second Realm, fifty years from the Second to the Third Realm, and fifty years from the Third to the Fourth Realm.
This indicated that Lin Yuan's comprehension speed was accelerating exponentially.
"Can you send me out?" Lin Yuan asked the black-robed man, who seemed a bit lost in thought.
On the black planet, the paths behind the twelve gates were one-way.
Entering was possible, but to exit? That required the black-robed man's assistance.
"Out?"
"Alright."
The black-robed man quickly recovered, giving Lin Yuan a deep look before waving his right hand and sending him to the surface of the black planet.
In an instant.
Outside the guiding space, it was empty, leaving only the black-robed man standing there.
"In this universe, how could such a monstrous being be born?" The black-robed man muttered to himself. Though much of his memory was incomplete, he realized that Lin Yuan's cultivation speed was incredibly unreasonable.
Outside the black planet.
Lin Yuan appeared.
"Time to return."
Lin Yuan stepped out, leaving the black planet.
At the moment, he was just an avatar. Compared to a primordial spirit clone, an avatar's combat strength was very weak. Therefore, most evolvers would dissolve their avatars after use.
But in Lin Yuan's view, even a small advantage was worth keeping. Despite his avatar being far less powerful than his true form, it could traverse hundreds of light-years in a single step using spatial rules, returning to the main star of the Milky Way in a short time.
Then, it would merge with his true form, avoiding the slight loss of dissolving the avatar.
In the A101 alien battlefield.
Under a permanent spatial rift.
Lin Yuan's Taiyin primordial spirit opened his eyes.
The original A098 alien battlefield, where his Taiyang primordial spirit resided, had been forcibly reduced to two dimensions by the "white paper" that entered the universe, and no longer existed.
Even his Taiyang primordial spirit had fallen into it.
Regardless, the efficiency of accumulating the power to break the realm must not diminish.
After determining that the Taiyang primordial spirit couldn't escape for the time being, Lin Yuan had his Taiyin primordial spirit choose another large alien battlefield to expedite the accumulation of realm-breaking power.
Compared to the absolute safety of the guiding space, large alien battlefields were fraught with danger, requiring a clone to go there. An avatar might be easily killed by other aliens.
"Over the past century, the intensity of the war has decreased quite a bit."
Lin Yuan glanced at the center of the battlefield, thinking.
Not only on this large alien battlefield, but the intensity of wars on other large, medium, and small alien battlefields had also significantly decreased.
The reason was related to the "white paper" that spanned the depths of the cosmic starry sky.
Over a billion strong beings from various races had fallen into it, greatly affecting the major alliance of peak races.
At least, it had caused a shortage of war reserves.
Even though many strong beings were expelled from the two-dimensional world of the white paper, they faced fundamental losses and needed a lot of time to recover.
Moreover, the supreme beings were all studying the white paper, leading to a decrease in war intensity from top to bottom.
Lin Yuan was naturally pleased with this, as a safer environment was more conducive to accumulating realm-breaking power.
"My current amount of realm-breaking power has reached nine hundred strands."
Lin Yuan thought of the realm-breaking power stored in the Gate of Myriad Worlds, smiling.
In a hundred years, with the speed of accumulating one strand every ninety days under the permanent spatial rift of a large alien battlefield, Lin Yuan had accumulated four hundred and five strands of realm-breaking power.
Combined with the nearly five hundred strands he had a hundred years ago, Lin Yuan now had nearly a thousand strands of realm-breaking power.
"With so much realm-breaking power,"
Lin Yuan felt a slight relief.
With such a vast amount of realm-breaking power, even if his Taiyang primordial spirit were truly lost in the two-dimensional world, he had enough confidence.
Even if the Taiyang primordial spirit was erased fundamentally, Lin Yuan, with his extraordinary insight, could not restore it, he could use "customized" traversal to have the Gate of Myriad Worlds take him to a world where he could restore his Taiyang primordial spirit.
In the myriad worlds and endless dimensions, there would always be a world where the environment could restore his Taiyang primordial spirit; it was just a matter of how much realm-breaking power it would take.
"My current strength should be comparable to third-tier eleventh-level beings."
In a hundred years of cultivation, Lin Yuan reached the Fourth Realm in foundational integrated rules. However, with his strong foundation…
### Chapter 394: Transformation of Power (Please Subscribe)
When Lin Yuan was in the First Realm, he could already exert the power of the Reincarnation Rule at the Second or even Third Realm level. Now, having reached the Fourth Realm, he could likely rival the pinnacle of the Fifth Realm in pillar-level integrated rules.
The benchmark for the third tier of the eleventh level is having a pillar-level integrated rule at the Fifth Realm.
"Advancing a tier in a hundred years, not bad."
Lin Yuan nodded slightly. For an eleventh-level being, any advancement across its six tiers typically takes millions of years, even without hitting any bottlenecks.
For Lin Yuan to reach the third tier of the eleventh level in just a century was astonishing.
The most remarkable aspect was that Lin Yuan achieved this not as an eleventh-level being, but while still at the tenth level, bridging that gap.
"While I've made significant progress with many integrated rules, the space-time rule has been quite challenging."
Lin Yuan sighed inwardly.
The Space-Time Rule, formally known as the Time-Space Integrated Rule, is the most complex and difficult of all integrated rules. Understanding it is one of the thresholds for eleventh-level beings to achieve the ultimate existence.
The importance of the Space-Time Integrated Rule is self-evident.
Understanding it means that the internal world's space and time would be more stable and complete, making the transformation to an internal universe smoother.
Additionally, the Space-Time Integrated Rule helps eleventh-level beings break free from the constraints of the river of time, allowing them to stay outside it for longer and giving them more time to pursue the ultimate goal.
"Maybe it's unrealistic to master the Space-Time Integrated Rule at the tenth level."
Lin Yuan thought to himself. For even an eleventh-level being, mastering the Space-Time Integrated Rule elevates them to the fourth tier, and raising it to the Fifth Realm gives them a chance to reach the ultimate level.
Attempting to achieve what only fourth-tier eleventh-level beings can do while still at the tenth level isn't just about combat prowess; it's about deep understanding of rules.
Tenth-level beings simply lack the sensitivity to the fluctuations of time-space rules that eleventh-level beings have.
"Never mind, even without mastering the Space-Time Integrated Rule, my insight should allow me to understand it quickly once I reach the eleventh level."
Lin Yuan stopped dwelling on it.
On the main star of the Milky Way.
Lin Yuan's true self sat cross-legged.
"The tenth level martial arts chapter?"
Decades ago, Lin Yuan had begun considering opening the tenth-level chapter.
Since understanding the Reincarnation Rule, Lin Yuan had been at the peak of the tenth level, qualifying him to open the tenth-level martial arts chapter. Now, his Reincarnation Rule had already reached the Fourth Realm.
"My tenth-level martial arts chapter must be unique."
For decades, Lin Yuan had attempted to draft hundreds of openings for the tenth-level martial arts chapter, but none were satisfactory.
Human civilization's evolution path, from the first to the eleventh level, sees the tenth level as not the most critical or powerful, but as a crucial transition.
Especially for the martial arts evolution path, the tenth level chapter is of utmost importance.
"The path I walk at the tenth level can't be replicated, so the tenth-level martial arts chapter should address all martial arts tenth-level evolvers."
Lin Yuan quickly contemplated, continuously constructing the details of the tenth-level chapter in his mind.
Outside the main star of the Milky Way.
A young-looking man with a weathered gaze suddenly appeared.
"I spent all my accumulated merit points and even took out an eighty million merit point loan under my family's name to gather one hundred million merit points for a chance to advance further..."
This weathered-gaze man was named Xuanyuan Fan, an ancient tenth-level evolver from the Xuanyuan family.
Among all tenth-level evolvers in human civilization, Xuanyuan Fan ranked in the top ten, far surpassing the pre-breakthrough Vice Tower Master Nalan.
This was because Xuanyuan Fan had comprehended two pillar-level integrated rules, with the Reincarnation Rule reaching the peak of the First Realm.
However, without advancing to the Second Realm, Xuanyuan Fan couldn't break through to the eleventh level. Reaching the Second Realm in the Reincarnation Rule was no longer just a matter of hard work; it required external stimulation.
"According to the ancestor, the Galactic Star Lord has control over a place that can help advance my Reincarnation Rule, but it requires one hundred million merit points..."
Xuanyuan Fan felt a bit of heartache.
Even with his family's contributions on the battlefield, his accumulated merit points were only twenty million.
Without leveraging his family's reputation, he couldn't have gathered one hundred million merit points.
Even if he did, he would still need to repay the human civilization with eighty million merit points, which would take millions of years, even if he managed to break through to the eleventh level.
"I wonder what kind of place requires a hundred million merit points? But the ancestor wouldn't deceive me," Xuanyuan Fan thought.
It was under the advice of his family ancestor, one of the nine supreme beings of human civilization, that he made this decision.
"The Galactic Star Lord... our civilization's greatest genius. Reached the tenth level two hundred years ago," Xuanyuan Fan recalled information about Lin Yuan.
"Such a lucky kid..."
Xuanyuan Fan felt intense envy. A place worth a hundred million merit points must be invaluable.
Buzz.
Shortly after Xuanyuan Fan arrived at the main star of the Milky Way, he contacted Lin Yuan through the virtual network.
Moments later.
A young man appeared nearby.
"Galactic Star Lord," Xuanyuan Fan's expression changed slightly as he observed the silently appearing young man.
Having reached the peak of the First Realm in the Reincarnation Rule, Xuanyuan Fan could faintly sense a grand Reincarnation Millstone within Lin Yuan.
Before this overwhelming millstone, Xuanyuan Fan felt like an ant that could be crushed at any moment.
"Isn't the Galactic Star Lord newly at the tenth level? How can his aura be so terrifying, and his understanding of the Reincarnation Rule so deep?"
Xuanyuan Fan was shocked, realizing Lin Yuan's mastery far exceeded his own.
"Too terrifying. Is this our civilization's greatest genius?" Xuanyuan Fan felt a tremor in his heart, now deeply respectful of Lin Yuan.
"Galactic Star Lord, here are one hundred million merit points," Xuanyuan Fan respectfully handed over the points to Lin Yuan.
"Good."
Lin Yuan nodded, sending Xuanyuan Fan the coordinates of the black planet.
Currently, the star region where the black planet was located belonged to Lin Yuan. Unauthorized entry was against human civilization's laws, even for eleventh-level evolvers.
"One hundred million merit points received."
Lin Yuan watched Xuanyuan Fan leave respectfully, feeling quite pleased.
He then looked towards a certain point in the cosmic starry sky, where the two-dimensional world was located.
(Chapter End)
### Chapter 395: The Return of the Celestial Gate (Please Subscribe)
#### The Two-Dimensional World
Snow fell heavily, covering the land in a blanket of white.
In Hǎiyuè City, Lin Yuan walked through the streets, occasionally stopping to sit at a nearby table and savor the city's cuisine.
"Hǎiyuè City was established by the Hǎiyuè tribe, far from the Twelve Ancient Kingdoms. There's little conflict here, and the people are very friendly to outsiders," Lin Yuan thought as he enjoyed the food.
Over ten thousand years, Lin Yuan had explored almost every corner of this two-dimensional world. This was his second visit to Hǎiyuè City, the first being eight thousand years ago.
Lin Yuan only revisited places he was particularly fond of, and the unique cuisine of Hǎiyuè City was one of those attractions. This time, his primary aim was to enjoy the food again.
"Eight thousand years have passed. The city's inhabitants have changed over dozens of generations, but the food's taste has remained the same," Lin Yuan mused, sipping a drink made from a blend of dozens of unique fruit juices, offering a very distinct flavor.
"The snow is getting heavier."
Lin Yuan put down his drink and gazed at the snowflakes drifting from the sky.
In this two-dimensional world, each snowflake resembled a work of art, glittering like precious gems.
Lin Yuan reached out to catch a falling snowflake, observing its intricate structure. The snowflake, like a labyrinth, was complex yet perfect, akin to a simplified version of this two-dimensional world.
The more Lin Yuan observed, the more he became absorbed, losing himself in the perfection of the snowflake's structure.
**Your extraordinary insight deepens as you observe the essence of the snowflake.**
Lin Yuan, immersed in the snowflake's intricate design, was oblivious to the intensifying snowfall. Others had taken shelter indoors, leaving him the only one outside.
"Mother, is that person an outsider?" a curious little girl inside a nearby shop asked, looking at Lin Yuan.
Lin Yuan's attire was distinctly different from the other residents of Hǎiyuè City, making him easy to spot as an outsider.
"That outsider is silly, sitting out there in such heavy snow," the girl remarked, blinking in wonder.
"You shouldn't speak ill of others," her mother scolded gently but firmly. The women of the Hǎiyuè tribe appeared gentle but were actually quite strong-willed.
"Okay, I'm sorry," the girl said, looking down in remorse.
"Still, if he stays out there, he'll catch a cold," the mother murmured, frowning slightly as she looked at Lin Yuan, hesitating.
At that moment:
**Your extraordinary insight deepens as you observe the essence of the snowflake. You have broken through to the 136th Realm of the Ancestor of Sorcery.**
Lin Yuan's eyes shone with brilliance as he felt the change in his internal energy, causing him to laugh instinctively.
"Ha ha ha ha ha!"
Even though Lin Yuan tried to restrain his aura, the terrifying sound waves made the air ripple, causing all the city's inhabitants, including the city lord, to look on in fear.
"What is this?"
Everyone in the shop clutched their heads in pain.
Fortunately, Lin Yuan quickly stopped laughing, preventing any harm to the city's inhabitants.
"It's time to leave."
Lin Yuan glanced around and then disappeared.
Inside the shop, the little girl and her mother finally recovered.
"Mother, that outsider's laugh was so scary," the girl said, trembling as she clung to her mother.
"That outsider must be an extraordinary strong person," her mother replied, her voice also shaking. Then she sternly told the girl, "I've told you many times not to judge others casually. We're lucky that powerful man didn't mind."
The mother was somewhat frightened.
Just a laugh had caused such a reaction. Even the city's strongest, the city lord, couldn't match that.
If Lin Yuan had taken offense at her daughter's words, they would have been in serious trouble.
"I understand, Mother," the girl said, tears welling up in her eyes, realizing her mistake.
#### Outside Hǎiyuè City
A figure stood in the sky.
The falling snow evaporated within a hundred meters of the figure, turned to steam by an immense aura of energy and blood.
"Ten thousand years, and I've reached the 136th Realm of the Ancestor of Sorcery."
Lin Yuan nodded slightly.
From an ordinary person in the two-dimensional world to reaching the 50th Realm of the Ancestor of Sorcery, Lin Yuan took over three hundred years. However, advancing from the 50th to the 136th Realm of the Ancestor of Sorcery took ten thousand years.
Lin Yuan was quite satisfied with this progress. He knew that from the 50th Realm onwards, each breakthrough was not a normal advancement but involved struggling against the constraints and suppression of the world itself. Originally, he had planned to reach the 100th Realm within ten thousand years, so surpassing his expectations by reaching the 136th Realm was a significant achievement.
"These past ten thousand years have seen fewer and fewer strong warriors from various races," Lin Yuan thought as he stood in midair, watching the falling snow.
According to his estimates, there should be no more than a thousand strong warriors from various races left in the two-dimensional world. It wasn't that they were being hunted down; most of them had realized that staying here wouldn't help them escape. Instead of dying of old age in this world, many chose to destroy their avatars voluntarily.
In the two-dimensional world, one couldn't comprehend many rules, and staying longer wouldn't improve their true selves outside this world.
"It's almost time to head to Tiānshān," Lin Yuan thought, realizing that the Celestial Gate would open again in about six months.
At Luochuan Settlement.
Over ten thousand years, the former Luochuan Settlement had evolved into Luochuan City, with the descendants of Zhā Rán Valley serving as its city lord. As for Zhā Rán Valley himself, he had long since passed away. However, thanks to Lin Yuan, Zhā Rán Valley had lived a comfortable life and even had a longer lifespan than other strong warriors of his level.
Before heading to Tiānshān, Lin Yuan intentionally stayed in Luochuan City for a while.
"My old residence is still here, unchanged," Lin Yuan noted as he spotted his former retreat.
"In this two-dimensional world, I have no acquaintances left," Lin Yuan mused. After a brief stay in ancient Luochuan City, he left.
Next, Lin Yuan specifically visited the capital of the Blood Rain Kingdom.
Like Luochuan City, the Blood Rain Kingdom had changed emperors many times, and the title of Prince of the North had been revoked by one of the later emperors. Over ten thousand years, things had changed, and even the strongest warriors found it hard to endure. The lifespan of an ordinary Ancestor of Sorcery was typically only two to three thousand years. To live for ten thousand years, one had to at least reach the 20th Realm of the Ancestor of Sorcery, a feat achievable only by a few top-tier warriors of the tenth or eleventh rank.
Lin Yuan observed everything silently before leaving the capital of the Blood Rain Kingdom.
This time, even if he couldn't open the Celestial Gate, Lin Yuan wouldn't return.
#### At the Peak of Tiānshān
Many strong warriors from various races had already gathered early.
Compared to the first time the Celestial Gate opened, it was much quieter this time.
Only a few hundred strong warriors from various races were scattered around.
"Over these ten thousand years, my exploration of the power within my supreme weapon has far surpassed what I achieved ten thousand years ago. I can probably now rival the 60th Realm of the Ancestor of Sorcery," thought the Four Divine Kings, standing quietly with a hint of battle intent in their eyes.
In the two-dimensional world, strong warriors from various races faced suppression from the world once they reached the 10th Realm of the Ancestor of Sorcery, making further advancement difficult. However, this suppression was much less on supreme weapons, which contained part of a supreme being's essence. Uncovering the power of such a weapon was much easier than advancing one's realm.
Without this supreme weapon, the Four Divine Kings wouldn't have been able to reach the 60th Realm of the Ancestor of Sorcery, even in ten or twenty thousand years.
"Now, I should be able to compete with the human 'Blood Rain'," thought the Four Divine Kings with grand ambition. "Human Blood Rain, not killing me back then was your biggest mistake."
The Four Divine Kings steadied themselves, their eyes filled with intense battle intent.
Suddenly…
At that moment, a figure appeared at the central peak.
"Human Blood Rain."
"Human Blood Rain is here."
The strong warriors from various races around felt a surge of excitement and all turned to look.
In fact, most of the strong warriors present had come just to see Lin Yuan again and to see if he could push open the Celestial Gate this time.
"Human Blood Rain!"
The Four Divine Kings, filled with fighting spirit, also looked at Lin Yuan.
"Hm?"
Lin Yuan seemed to sense something and glanced at the Four Divine Kings.
Boom!
With just one look, the Four Divine Kings' mind roared, and their legs trembled uncontrollably. If not for the desperate reliance on the power of the supreme weapon within them, they would have collapsed to the ground.
"How is this possible?"
"How can he be so strong?"
The Four Divine Kings couldn't help but roar inwardly. Just one look from Lin Yuan had left them in such a state, indicating that the gap between them and Lin Yuan was far greater than it had been ten thousand years ago.
At least ten thousand years ago, they wouldn't have been so overwhelmed by a single glance.
"How could human civilization produce such a monster?" The Four Divine Kings finally took several steps back to barely hold on.
Lin Yuan glanced at the Four Divine Kings again, sensing their intense emotions towards him.
In truth, Lin Yuan didn't care much about the Four Divine Kings.
Ten thousand years ago, the Four Divine Kings were no match for him, and after ten thousand years, the gap had only widened.
For Lin Yuan now, the only opponent in this two-dimensional world was the Celestial Gate itself.
Time passed slowly.
Finally.
Above the peak of Tiānshān, intense spatial fluctuations emerged again.
A Celestial Gate slowly took shape, appearing before the many strong warriors of various races.
In the deepest part of the two-dimensional world.
In a vast space, before a huge painting, a half-meter-tall old man yawned and slowly opened his eyes.
Ten thousand years in the two-dimensional world was just a brief nap for him, incredibly short.
"Let's see how far they've come in ten thousand years."
The half-meter-tall old man stretched and looked at the huge painting before him.
Within the painting, mist swirled, containing a vast and real world.
"What?!!"
Seeing this, the half-meter-tall old man was suddenly dumbfounded, as if he had seen a ghost.
(Two chapters complete~
Please give me some monthly votes~~
Chapter ends here)
## Chapter 396: Pushing Open the Door (Subscription Request)
In front of the enormous painting, the half-meter-tall old man was taken aback.
He could manipulate everything within the two-dimensional world depicted in the painting, as if the entire two-dimensional world were part of his own body, with nothing escaping his notice.
As for the numerous powerful warriors from various races who had fallen into this two-dimensional world? To the old man, they held no secrets either, as he could see through them at a glance.
But it was precisely because of this that the old man was increasingly astonished as he continuously observed Lin Yuan standing before the Celestial Gate through the entire two-dimensional world.
"I originally intended to observe for another ten thousand years to see what this little guy would achieve after breaking through the limits of thirty worlds," the old man thought to himself.
Lin Yuan had broken through the limits of thirty worlds in just over three hundred years after descending, which had puzzled the old man.
In his estimation, as long as Lin Yuan continued to break through thirty world limits in the next ten thousand years, it would be sufficient.
The higher the world limit, the harder it becomes to break. The first thirty world limits and the subsequent thirty world limits are entirely different concepts.
So the old man had specifically allowed ten thousand years.
"I thought I had high expectations, that breaking sixty world limits in ten thousand years and three hundred years would be enough. But I never expected this little guy to far exceed my expectations, breaking ninety-nine world limits in just ten thousand years?"
The old man steadied himself, realizing that Lin Yuan had broken a total of one hundred twenty-nine world limits in ten thousand and three hundred years since his descent.
"Even twelfth-level beings, those beyond the constraints of the river of time, falling into this low-dimensional space, couldn't possibly break so many world limits in just over ten thousand years, right?"
The old man still found it hard to believe. Even twelfth-level beings, if they fell into a low-dimensional space, could use some extraordinary means to accelerate their cultivation speed.
But even so, reaching Lin Yuan's current level might take ten thousand or even a hundred thousand years.
"Is he really just a being within the river of time?" The old man repeatedly confirmed. Beings below the twelfth level, also known as beings within the river of time, are bound by the constraints of time.
Even in the chaotic void, the beings within the river of time are vastly different from those outside it. The latter far surpass the former in all aspects.
This is determined by the essence of life; beings within the river of time are limited in what they can see and perceive.
While the twelfth-level beings outside the river of time perceive a vast and boundless reality.
"Truly terrifying," the old man confirmed that Lin Yuan was still deeply entrenched within the river of time, his expression one of utter astonishment.
Lin Yuan's current cultivation speed was the fastest among all beings within the river of time since the creation of this two-dimensional world.
Moreover, he had created an insurmountable gap with the second fastest.
Even among the many powerful beings outside the river of time, Lin Yuan's cultivation speed was unbelievably fast.
"No need to continue observing."
"Let him in directly."
The old man glanced at the rapidly forming Celestial Gate.
Continuing to observe further, the old man even worried that Lin Yuan might break more world limits and eventually escape the constraints of the two-dimensional world.
Although this possibility was nearly zero, it was considered impossible.
But previously, the old man had never thought Lin Yuan could break so many world limits in ten thousand years.
At the peak of Tiānshān.
Lin Yuan stood before the Celestial Gate, looking at the rapidly forming gate with a slight excitement in his heart.
All he had done in the two-dimensional world over ten thousand years was for this moment, to push open the Celestial Gate in front of him.
Only by pushing open the Celestial Gate could he hope to leave this two-dimensional world.
Only by leaving this two-dimensional world could he avoid fundamental losses and preserve his Solar Primordial Spirit.
Only by leaving this two-dimensional world could the many rare items he had obtained realize their true value.
As the Celestial Gate gradually manifested, it also stirred the emotions of other strong warriors from various races.
Although these strong warriors were in competition with Lin Yuan, especially the Four Divine Kings and other eleventh-level perfect beings who had lived under Lin Yuan's shadow for ten thousand years.
But—
All the strong warriors genuinely hoped that Lin Yuan could push open the Celestial Gate.
Only if Lin Yuan opened the Celestial Gate would it mean the gate could be opened, giving them a chance too.
And if Lin Yuan opened the Celestial Gate and left this two-dimensional world, the Four Divine Kings and other eleventh-level perfect beings would have their opportunity.
If Lin Yuan did not leave, no other strong warrior in this two-dimensional world could compete with him.
The Four Divine Kings had initially been confident about challenging Lin Yuan this time.
But a mere glance from Lin Yuan had brought them back to reality.
"Master Blood Rain."
From the human civilization, Xuanyuan Duo and other eleventh-level human evolvers looked at Lin Yuan standing before the Celestial Gate with great anticipation.
In the past ten thousand years, they had not even met, but it did not stop them from placing all their hopes on Lin Yuan.
In the depths of the cosmic starry sky.
Many supreme beings were closely watching the 'painting' spanning the starry sky.
"The Celestial Gate is about to open."
"Let's hope it can be opened this time."
The supreme beings quickly exchanged thoughts. Although there were not many strong warriors from various races left in the two-dimensional world, those that remained were the true elite and foundation of their respective groups and forces.
Boom.
At that moment.
The nine supreme beings of human civilization suddenly erupted with terrifying auras, wildly stirring the spacetime fluctuations within hundreds of thousands of light-years.
"Hm?"
"Human civilization? Are they activating their Clan Guardian Weapon?"
"The cost of activating such a weapon is not small. What are they trying to achieve?"
"What are they trying to achieve? Naturally, it's to protect that 'Blood Rain'!"
The supreme beings, with their rapid thinking, immediately understood why the nine supreme human beings were doing this.
If Lin Yuan succeeded in pushing open the Celestial Gate and escaping the two-dimensional world to return to the main universe, he would inevitably be exposed to the many supreme beings present. Given his extraordinary performance in the two-dimensional world, some supreme beings would surely try to kill him immediately, like the empresses and ancestors of the Zerg and Tianyu clans, or other ultimate entities.
"Hmph, for just a life within the river of time, such a big fuss. The supreme beings of human civilization... tsk tsk."
"A big fuss? If you had a descendant like 'Blood Rain', you would probably make an even bigger fuss than the human civilization is doing now."
The supreme beings communicated among themselves but had no objections to the actions of the nine supreme beings of human civilization. Some even voluntarily stepped back to show their goodwill.
First, once Lin Yuan escaped the two-dimensional world's constraints and returned to the main universe, even if his clone was killed, there would be no fundamental loss, making the kill less meaningful.
Second, they also had clan members in the two-dimensional world. If Lin Yuan left, other strong warriors from various races would also start pushing open the Celestial Gate and leaving. If they attacked Lin Yuan now, when their own clan members tried to leave the two-dimensional world, the nine supreme human beings would certainly not let it go easily. Rather than causing mutual harm, it was better to make concessions.
Of course, this was the mindset of most ultimate beings. The ancestors of the Tianyu clan thought differently. The strong warriors of the Tianyu clan who fell into the two-dimensional world were eliminated early on and had no chance of escaping.
However, even the ancestors of the Tianyu clan couldn't shake the nine supreme human beings wielding the Clan Guardian Weapon.
"No suspicion aroused..."
The supreme beings of Xia Qin and the other eight exchanged glances and slightly relaxed.
At this moment, the aura of the human civilization's Clan Guardian Weapon still permeated a significant portion of the 'painting', making it impossible even for supreme beings to detect the aura of the human 'Blood Rain' escaping the two-dimensional world.
The ultimate beings on the scene had only guessed part of the reason behind the actions of Xia Qin and the other supreme beings. The real reason was to conceal Lin Yuan's true identity.
If the ultimate beings realized that the human 'Blood Rain' escaping the two-dimensional world was just a tenth-level life form, all of them would likely want to attack.
What a joke, a tenth-level life form overwhelming an eleventh-level perfect legendary life like the Four Divine Kings. Even the nine supreme human beings were startled. They believed that if such a monstrous talent appeared in another force, they would also try to kill him.
Fortunately, the ultimate beings did not think in that direction. They just thought the nine supreme human beings were purely protecting 'Blood Rain'.
This assumption wasn't wrong. If Lin Yuan hadn't informed them himself, the nine supreme human beings would have assumed 'Blood Rain' was an eleventh-level perfect legendary life form.
In the two-dimensional world.
At the peak of Tiānshān.
Lin Yuan stood quietly before the Celestial Gate, which was gradually becoming tangible.
Soon, the gate fully materialized.
The dense spatial power rippled outwards like waves.
Lin Yuan stood before the gate, not pushing it immediately but reflecting on the past ten thousand years.
The ten thousand years were undoubtedly the longest period he had experienced since becoming an evolver.
Even though only a century had passed in the main universe, the ten thousand years in the two-dimensional world were undeniably real.
Whenever Lin Yuan recalled, everything from the past ten thousand years appeared vividly before him.
"Even if I can't push it open this time, I will wait for the next ten thousand years, and the ten thousand years after that..."
Before starting to push the gate, Lin Yuan had already prepared for the worst.
After all, the last time the Celestial Gate appeared, he had exhausted all his strength and couldn't budge it.
Even though his power had significantly increased now, he still had no assurance that he could open the gate.
"Let's begin."
Lin Yuan collected his thoughts and gently placed his hands on the gate.
In the next moment.
The previously closed Celestial Gate slowly opened.
"Hmm?"
Lin Yuan was slightly stunned. He had just placed his hands on the gate without using any force, and it opened?
Lin Yuan even felt that if an ordinary person stood here, they could easily push the gate open as well.
"What is going on?"
Thoughts raced through Lin Yuan's mind. Ten thousand years ago, he couldn't move the gate even with his physical abilities enhanced. Now, just placing his hands on it had opened it?
The stark difference led Lin Yuan to a speculation.
Whether the Celestial Gate could be opened might not depend on one's strength but whether the 'gate' was willing to open?
Here, 'gate' was just a metaphor and not just this particular gate; it could imply another entity.
Whoosh.
The gate slowly opened.
The many powerful warriors from various races around fell into brief silence before erupting in excitement.
"The gate, the gate is open."
"I knew it, the gate could be opened. Last time was just an accident."
The warriors excitedly conversed. Even though most of them couldn't enter the gate, at least they could pass the rare items they obtained through those who could.
Even if a significant portion had to be given up, it was still much better than leaving them in the two-dimensional world.
"The gate!"
The Four Divine Kings' confidence surged once more.
With Lin Yuan present, he had no chance of entering the Celestial Gate this time. But next time, after Lin Yuan left, who in the entire two-dimensional world could compete with him for the next gate opening?
Before the Celestial Gate.
Lin Yuan didn't step in immediately. The differing difficulties in opening the gate twice made him ponder other possibilities about what lay beyond.
"I've already opened it," Lin Yuan thought for a moment, then looked back at the excited human evolvers before lifting his right foot to step in.
If this two-dimensional world was indeed controlled by some will that could easily change the difficulty of opening the gate, then it wouldn't matter whether Lin Yuan stepped in or not.
For now, the gate was his only hope of leaving, so no matter how cautious he was, he had to go in.
Whoosh.
Lin Yuan stepped through the Celestial Gate.
Immediately after, the solidified gate began to slowly close and fade away.
The intense spatial fluctuations at the peak of Tiānshān quickly calmed, as if nothing had happened.
In the cosmic starry sky.
The moment Lin Yuan pushed open the gate, the nine supreme human beings, including Xia Qin, were on high alert, ready to activate the Clan Guardian Weapon. If Lin Yuan appeared, he would be immediately enveloped by its power.
The other ultimate beings could not perceive Lin Yuan's aura through the weapon.
Thus, the biggest secret about Blood Rain was preserved.
As the nine supreme human beings' aura spread, the other ultimate beings cooperated, withdrawing their senses and only paying attention to the 'scroll' itself.
Time passed.
The nine supreme human beings quickly realized something was wrong.
Even after the gate closed and faded away, they detected no spatial fluctuations outside the scroll, let alone any sign of Lin Yuan.
"What's going on?"
"Where's that 'Blood Rain'?"
"Didn't he enter the gate? Why hasn't he appeared?"
Not only were the nine supreme human beings puzzled, but the other ultimate beings also sensed something was amiss.
"The gate in the two-dimensional world created a spatial fluctuation. Could it be that it wasn't a passage to the outside world?"
"If it doesn't lead to the outside, then where does it lead?"
The supreme beings frowned. Whether Lin Yuan could leave the two-dimensional world was not just a concern for human civilization but also for the many powerful beings still trapped inside.
If Lin Yuan entered the gate but didn't return to the main universe, it implied that other warriors who pushed open the gate later wouldn't return to the main universe either.
"Xia Qin, where is 'Blood Rain' now after entering the gate?"
"Yes, Xia Qin, if he hasn't escaped the two-dimensional world, where does that gate lead?"
Some ultimate beings turned to Xia Qin, questioning him directly.
Blood Rain was from human civilization, so Xia Qin should be able to contact him to determine his latest status.
This was something all the ultimate beings present were eager to know.
"What's the rush?"
Xia Qin frowned, glancing at the other ultimate beings but didn't immediately contact Lin Yuan.
Although he didn't know where the gate led, Xia Qin speculated it must be a crucial place.
Lin Yuan needed to focus his energy on dealing with whatever was there.
Contacting and disturbing Lin Yuan now wouldn't be beneficial. Xia Qin believed that once Lin Yuan had a moment, he would reach out on his own.
As Lin Yuan stepped through the gate, he felt his consciousness and will rapidly elevate, regaining the support of spatial dimensions, transitioning from two-dimensional to three-dimensional.
At the same time, he felt himself detaching from a world, a boundless giant painting containing vast worlds, which he was now leaving.
"Is that the two-dimensional world I fell into?" Lin Yuan realized that the giant painting was the two-dimensional world that had trapped him for over ten thousand years.
"The feeling of dimensional ascent and descent..." Lin Yuan marveled at the sensation. When he was pulled into the painting, he hadn't had time to understand what descending to a lower dimension felt like.
Now, as he freed himself from the painting and regained his normal life form, he fully grasped the experience.
"Hmm?"
Lin Yuan noticed something. Although he had escaped the two-dimensional world, he hadn't returned to the main universe.
"Where is this?"
He looked around, seeing a vast space surrounded by endless gray gas, with the giant painting being the most prominent feature.
At this moment, Lin Yuan noticed an old man sitting in front of the giant painting. Compared to the painting, the old man seemed extremely 'small', only half a meter tall, which was why Lin Yuan initially overlooked him.
As Lin Yuan observed the half-meter-tall old man, the old man also scrutinized Lin Yuan with a peculiar gaze.
end chapter
Chapter 397: Insight into the Rules, True Dominance! (Seeking Subscriptions)
"I've seen seniors." Lin Yuan immediately bowed.
Although he didn't know who the half-meter-tall old man was, since he could sit in front of the scroll, he was likely the true master of the two-dimensional world.
Entering the Celestial Gate and appearing here might be his doing.
"You're quite polite," the half-meter-tall old man smiled. It had been too long since he had communicated with living beings. Although there were many lives in the two-dimensional world, none of them interested him.
"Polite?" Lin Yuan's expression remained unchanged.
Facing an unknown entity, was it rude not to attack directly? Lin Yuan wasn't foolish.
"Well, now you should know that the giant scroll in front of you is the low-dimensional space you're currently in," the half-meter-tall old man said slowly.
"This low-dimensional space is one of the first to be created, as faithfully as possible replicating the creator's envisioned lower-dimensional world."
Lin Yuan listened quietly.
He had already gathered some information about this low-dimensional space from the six-armed figure in the Mysterious Yellow Secret Realm and the humanoid stone statue Shenji in the Magic Jade Space.
"The creator created this low-dimensional space to help explore lower-dimensional worlds and also as a gaming world that can accommodate billions of lives at once."
The half-meter-tall old man glanced at Lin Yuan. "Any life that falls into this low-dimensional space is considered to be participating in this game. The losers lose the spiritual will they invested, while the winners receive rewards. That's the rule of the game."
"A gaming world?" Lin Yuan thought to himself. The six-armed figure in the Mysterious Yellow Secret Realm mentioned that low-dimensional spaces were divided into entertainment and gambling types. The gaming world mentioned by the half-meter-tall old man should be the gambling type because it involves punishment.
"Now, you have won this game and become the only winner," the half-meter-tall old man smiled at Lin Yuan.
"The only winner?" Lin Yuan looked surprised.
"You don't think that the participants in the low-dimensional space can still leave, do you? There's no chance of that."
"From beginning to end, this game can only have one winner."
The tone of the half-meter-tall old man was calm.
Indeed, the Celestial Gate was the only way to leave the two-dimensional world, but it could only allow one ultimate being to enter.
Lin Yuan fell silent.
Originally, he had planned to create a practice method specifically for Eleven-Tier Evolvers like Xuanyuan Duo after leaving, to enhance their strength and increase their chances of entering the Celestial Gate.
Compared to the human civilization supreme beings like Xia Qin, who recreated a two-dimensional world that was only a tenth or twelfth of the virtual realm, and then derived insights to create practice methods, Lin Yuan's real experience in the two-dimensional world gave him more experience.
But now, it seemed that this idea was going to fail.
According to the half-meter-tall old man, except for Lin Yuan, no other ultimate beings could leave the two-dimensional world.
"All right."
"Now that you are the winner, you can choose your reward."
The half-meter-tall old man changed the subject suddenly and asked, "So, what kind of reward do you want?"
The half-meter-tall old man looked at Lin Yuan.
If it were other winners, even a perfect legendary life like the Four God Kings at the Eleventh Tier, the half-meter-tall old man wouldn't have been so interested.
But Lin Yuan's exhibited insight was terrifyingly exceptional. Within the low-dimensional space, everything would return to square one, and the path forward mainly relied on insight.
Of course.
Even in insight, the insight of higher-tier lives was stronger than that of lower-tier lives, which was normal.
Lin Yuan's level of life, among the lives that fell into the low-dimensional space this time, was not the weakest, but it didn't matter how strong.
In such a situation, breaking through the one hundred and twenty-nine levels of the world in just over ten thousand years made the half-meter-tall old man feel he should treat him differently.
"A reward?"
Lin Yuan was slightly stunned.
The six-armed figure in the Mysterious Yellow Secret Realm also mentioned that if one won from a gambling-type low-dimensional space, they would receive corresponding rewards.
But rewards differed in different dimensional spaces.
"I wonder what rewards there are?" Lin Yuan asked tentatively.
"Rewards correspond to punishments," the half-meter-tall old man said a lot, "Punishment is the permanent loss of the spiritual will clone that fell into it."
"So, the reward is all aspects of the bodies, souls, memories, and insights into the rules of all participants who entered the low-dimensional space."
"Bodies, souls, bloodlines, memories, and insights into the rules of all participants?" Lin Yuan looked slightly puzzled.
"It means if you choose the body, you can select a participant from all those who participated in the game, replicate their body, and then contemplate it."
"Choosing memories means replicating corresponding memories for you to watch," the half-meter-tall old man patiently explained.
The low-dimensional space could permanently deprive participants of their spiritual will clones, equivalent to gaining these spiritual will clones and then giving some of them to the winner.
"So, that's how it is?"
Lin Yuan thought quickly.
The guidance space in the black planet forcibly extracted part of the insight into fusion rules from the twelve-tier life, allowing other lives to gain insight. Now, the meaning of the half-meter-tall old man was to divide many parts of the spiritual will clones of all those who fell in here and let Lin Yuan choose.
Obviously, the division in the two-dimensional world was more sophisticated than that in the black planet.
"Which one should I choose?"
Lin Yuan's thoughts spun rapidly.
Among the many ultimate beings that fell into the two-dimensional world, quite a few were special lives, and many of them were unique special lives.
If their bodies and bloodlines could be perfectly divided, it would definitely greatly help Lin Yuan. At the very least, it could further enhance his body.
"Senior," Lin Yuan thought carefully and made a decision, "I want the part regarding insights into the rules."
For Lin Yuan, neither the body nor the bloodline was as important as insight into the rules. The deeper the insight into the rules, the more perfect and stable the inner world, which would also greatly benefit the body.
It might even increase Lin Yuan's chances of reaching the ultimate.
"Insight into the rules?" The half-meter-tall old man nodded. This was indeed the most precious aspect.
"Your insight is the highest I've seen." The half-meter-tall old man thought for a moment and continued, "So, I'll give you two more choices."
"Would you like all the insights into the rules of all the participating life forms, or just one type of insight into the rules of all the participating life forms?"
The half-meter-tall old man looked at Lin Yuan. "How to choose is up to you."
"Which one will you choose?"
Lin Yuan also fell into contemplation.
The so-called insight into all the rules of a participating life in the game. The subject is life itself. For example, if Lin Yuan chooses the Four God Kings, he can obtain the complete insight into the rules of the Four God Kings.
As for the insight into a certain rule of all participating lives in the game, the subject is the rule itself. For example, if Lin Yuan chooses the rule of life and death reincarnation, then he can obtain the insights into the rule of life and death reincarnation from all the ultimate beings who fell into the two-dimensional world.
Different lives, even if comprehending the same rule, would have different understandings and insights.
Just like spatial rules have many facets, fully understanding the complete spatial rules is just understanding one aspect. Even for ultimate beings, they cannot grasp all aspects of spatial rules.
The same goes for other rules and fusion rules.
Even if someone as strong as the Four God Kings cannot guarantee that their understanding of the rules is the most perfect or comprehensive; ultimately, they can only represent themselves.
And all the ultimate beings who fell into the two-dimensional world this time, if their understandings of a certain rule are gathered and integrated, not to mention perfection, they would be much stronger than any single ultimate being.
The Pillar-level fusion rules, ranging from the First Realm to the Ninth Realm, distinguish the depth of understanding of a certain Pillar-level fusion rule. Undoubtedly, the higher the realm, the more comprehensive and perfect the understanding and insight into this Pillar-level fusion rule.
"I choose the rules. I want the complete insight into the Temporal-Spatial Fusion Rule," Lin Yuan said.
The Temporal-Spatial Fusion Rule is the most difficult and obscure among all fusion rules.
Actually, this statement is not entirely accurate. The most obscure and incomprehensible fusion rule is not the Temporal-Spatial Fusion Rule but the Chaos Rule.
However, the Chaos Rule is no longer considered a fusion rule. It is the source of all rules. And considering that none of the ultimate beings who fell into the two-dimensional world this time likely had any insight into the Chaos Rule, Lin Yuan chose the Temporal-Spatial Fusion Rule.
"The Temporal-Spatial Fusion Rule?" The half-meter-tall old man nodded. "Choosing this, you might have to wait a bit longer."
"No problem," Lin Yuan immediately replied. He had waited for ten thousand years; waiting a bit longer was nothing to him.
After the half-meter-tall old man finished speaking, his gaze once again turned toward the massive scroll.
Meanwhile, Lin Yuan sat cross-legged beside him, quietly waiting.
"The flow of time here seems to be no different from the main universe," Lin Yuan thought. His true body and Taiyin Primordial Spirit were in the main universe, so they could perceive the flow of time between each other.
The Galactic Central Star.
Lin Yuan's true body opened his eyes, his consciousness connecting to the virtual world, requesting entry into Xia Qin's personal realm.
Lin Yuan's request was almost instantly approved, and in the blink of an eye, he appeared in front of Xia Qin, the Ultimate Being.
"Ultimate Being," Lin Yuan bowed slightly, knowing that Xia Qin had been waiting for him.
"How did it go?" Xia Qin looked at Lin Yuan, asking with concern. "What happened after the Heavenly Gate? I didn't detect any spatial fluctuations outside that 'blank paper.' Where were you transported to?"
"And are you safe now?"
Xia Qin quickly inquired.
"I'm safe now," Lin Yuan immediately reassured.
"That's good to hear," Xia Qin breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as Lin Yuan was safe, there was room for relaxation.
"I met the true master of the two-dimensional world inside that 'blank paper,'" Lin Yuan said after a moment of contemplation.
"The true master?" Xia Qin was surprised.
(End of this chapter)