Chapter 131: Cosmic Law

Name: Jiang Ming
Qi Cultivation: Fifth Layer (Grandmaster, Yin-Yang Sutra)
Body Cultivation: Sixth Transformation (Blood Exchange, Dragon-Elephant Suppressing Heaven Art, Mortal Body Dao Embryo)
Spirit Cultivation: Sixth Rank (Domain, Yin-Yang Spirit Refining Sutra)
Techniques: Myriad Swords Return to Origin, Four Swords of Zhuxian, Heaven-Opening Method, Divine Footwork, Inch Fist (21st Level), Yin-Yang Forbidden Technique, Spirit Servitude Technique, Sword Controlling Technique, etc.
Talents: Hundred-Fold Comprehension, Nirvana Regeneration, Soul Dominion, Master of Space, Destiny's Favor, Infinite Genes (Temporarily solidified)
Mission: Comprehend a genetic technique within one year and succeed in initial practice to evolve genes.

The situation has not changed much. The three swords of Zhuxian have become four, yet each blade is a system unto itself, containing myriad variations. Additionally, the Heaven's End Step has been integrated into the Divine Footwork. Learned from Ren Tianxing, it is now nearly comparable to teleportation, while remaining agile and versatile.

As for the Heaven-Opening Method? This was the single axe strike used against Shi Lei, possessing the magnificent power to split the heavens and crack the earth; however, due to insufficient time, it has not yet been fully developed. The most significant change remains that after becoming the Martial Champion in the Great Examination, the talent "Destiny's Favor" has fully solidified, becoming one of his true innate abilities. On the surface, this talent seems useless.

To this day, Jiang Ming has one temporary talent remaining, a talent he values immensely, yet it is extremely difficult to obtain permanently: Infinite Genes! In reality, this is the reason he has been tempering his physical body throughout the Great Examination period, excavating every ounce of his bodily potential. By combining his own foundation with numerous specimens and the various theoretical genetic techniques he has absorbed, he is laying the groundwork to create a true genetic technique. Now at the Sixth Transformation, with his physical potential fully unearthed at this stage, he has impatiently come to contemplate the Heart of the Universe.

He has very little time—only one year. Over a month has already passed, and he had little to show for it until now. He pinned his hopes on contemplating the Heart of the Universe; in fact, this was the fundamental reason he gave his all during the Great Examination. Exposing his trump cards did not matter because he could always improve and progress—he feared nothing. But if he missed this talent, it would truly be lost forever.

With a flash of light, Jiang Ming appeared in an inexplicable space. It was vast, boundless, and empty, yet it was filled with terrifyingly immense vitality—so dense it made his heart tremble—along with a faint, ancient, and vicissitudinous aura that shook his very soul.

*Thump...*

Suddenly, a sound erupted, incomparably heavy, capable of echoing through the boundless universe. Its penetrating power was terrifying, reaching deep into his mind and causing his thoughts to pause for an instant. Turning around, Jiang Ming discovered a heart floating in the endless void. It was not large, only the size of a house. At a single glance, endless Dao rhymes surged forth, transforming into overwhelming information that threatened to scatter his consciousness. He nearly couldn't help but scream.

"That is the Heart of the Universe!" Jiang Ming realized.

Just then, an invisible ripple radiated out, causing his vision to blur slightly. When he looked directly at the Heart of the Universe again, the intense pressure was gone. He drifted toward it involuntarily, arriving before it in the blink of an eye, and sat cross-legged.

"The opportunity comes but once; grasp it firmly."
"Merge your mind with the Heart of the Universe, and contemplate the Origin of the Universe!"
"The crisscrossing lines are Order; the dotted stars are the Origin."

Suddenly, a gentle voice echoed in Jiang Ming's mind—he heard it and understood it. The implication was that by merging his mind with the Heart of the Universe, he could attain enlightenment. But there was only one chance, and no mention of how much time it would take.

"Perhaps it is related to my own endurance?" Jiang Ming mused, clearing his mind of distractions and entering a state of no-thought. He adjusted his blood essence, spirit, and true Qi to their absolute peak. With a thought, his consciousness merged into the Heart of the Universe before him, and in an instant, his mind soared.

Light flowed and divine brilliance was endless. Jiang Ming felt his consciousness expand a hundred million times, spreading rapidly upon entering a vast domain. It spread at the speed of light—no, faster than light. The situation was beyond description. His mind was incredibly clear, and his senses were sharp. Crisscrossing lines appeared in his mental sea, each one like a chain; with a mere focus, endless information flowed from them.

"Chains of Rules!" Jiang Ming realized. He also discovered stars arranged in strange patterns, all in constant motion. As he observed, his consciousness continued to expand at high speed. Jiang Ming was completely immersed.

"The Extreme Point..." Suddenly, he felt a touch on a thick chain, and his understanding of the Extreme Point state deepened exponentially. Soon, this terrifyingly profound state reached its limit. There were even deeper Dao rhymes above, but contemplating them carried too high a burden. Fearing the strain, Jiang Ming immediately reined in his thoughts.

As his consciousness expanded, he felt other familiar ripples: Yin-Yang, Space, Life and Death, Light and Darkness, and so on.

"Heaven-Opening..." Another familiar ripple. Jiang Ming quickly contemplated it, and soon, it reached perfection. This rate of improvement shocked him, causing his concentration to waver, though he quickly stabilized it. He also discovered that as his consciousness expanded and time passed, his burden grew heavier. Especially after mastering the Extreme Point and Heaven-Opening states, the burden increased significantly.

"Once the limit is reached, I will surely be expelled!" Jiang Ming understood and immediately halted his various lines of thought. Whether they were unfamiliar states, arts of fusion, or even the ripples of time and chains of causality, he forced himself to resist.

"The most urgent matter now is the Way of Genes!" Jiang Ming knew his priorities.

"Crisscrossing lines, dotted stars..." The phrase echoed in his mind. He shifted his focus away from the chains and onto the stars. They were arranged in straight lines, moving in chaotic patterns, forming nebulae, or spiraling like chains—the variations were endless. Whether it was the function of the Heart of the Universe or his super-powered hundred-fold comprehension, he gained enlightenment in a flash.

The heavens and earth are a Great Universe; the human body is a Small Universe. If the Great Universe is compared to the human body, then are the stars not like cells? Jiang Ming was immersed in this thought. At first, he found no way in, but then he suddenly noticed two stars colliding and merging into one, causing a violent change within. His thoughts paused, and a flood of ideas surged forth. His mind suddenly soared, revealing a sea of stars where countless nebulae transformed into spirals, triangles, and more.

"It is just like genes..."
"Within the stars—stars, star systems, nebulae, galaxies, star domains..."

Combining this with his own Way of Genes, analyzing the genes of different races from the specimens he had observed, the genetic changes of special physiques, and the many theoretical genetic cultivation methods, all of it turned into a flame of wisdom at that moment, burning fiercely until it finally refined a single, brilliantly radiant star. The star then exploded, transforming into thousands of characters that rapidly arranged themselves into genes, from simple to complex!

"The true Genetic Cultivation Method!" A surge of immense joy filled Jiang Ming's heart. However, the burden on his mind grew heavier and more oppressive. His consciousness was still expanding rapidly. He ignored everything else and continued to contemplate, turning it into his own nourishment.

*Hum...*

Suddenly, Jiang Ming's consciousness paused, and everything turned into a vast whiteness. His mind had returned. Before he could steady himself, his vision darkened, and he was teleported away. Upon regaining his composure, he found himself back on the altar. Standing before him were Hong Xuanji and Qian Yuan.

"Did you gain anything?" Hong Xuanji asked upon seeing Jiang Ming return, then immediately added, "Surely you did, but do not speak of it! Remember, this opportunity belongs to you alone; treat it as your deepest foundation. After all, since the Great Examination, the information regarding you is no longer a secret. This contemplation can become your greatest trump card!"

"Go now. Return to the Sacred Academy with Instructor Qian, rest, and prepare to enter the secret realm!"

After Hong Xuanji spoke, he waved his hand, and the altar fell into silence. Jiang Ming opened his mouth, wanting to ask where the Heart of the Universe was located and what kind of place it was, but ultimately, he restrained himself.

He was then taken by Qian Yuan back to the Blue Star and returned to the Sacred Academy. By then, night had fallen. It was August 7th, 9918, of the Tianwu Calendar.

"I will take you to your quarters at the Academy. Each person gets a detached villa—it's quiet and suitable for rest and cultivation," Instructor Qian said as they walked through the campus. They had landed and were moving quickly, and he began to provide some advice.

"The school is huge, very huge. You have a map in your email; take a look when you have time. There are also maps everywhere on campus to guide you!"
"The library!"
"The gravity chamber!"
"The cafeteria!"
"And so on—take a look when you can!"

"There are also school rules and student benefits!" Qian Yuan paused and smiled. "In your case, once you return from the secret realm, you will likely be heading to the Myriad Realms Battlefield. You only need a cursory understanding of this place!"

"Your generation is known as the 'Golden Generation'!"
"You are all too strong!"
"Too talented!"
"Even I find it incredible!"

"The Sacred Body and the Supreme Bone appeared simultaneously, along with the Innate Dao Body, the Immortal Spirit Body, the Reincarnation Body, and more!"
"If I had participated in such an examination back in my day, I might not have even made it into the top twenty!"

"But enough of that!"
"You should have gained a great deal this time. After you settle into your residence, take some time to digest it all."
"Shi Lei and the others will return tomorrow. Rest for another day, and by the 10th, you will be heading to the Myriad Realms Battlefield!"
"Oh, and don't forget to choose your weapons!"
"You can bring them into the secret realm with you."
"Remember, choose what is suitable!"

As they spoke, they arrived at a villa district. Surrounded by flowers, swaying green bamboo, murmuring streams, and layered sword-mountains, the environment was beautiful and quiet. Jiang Ming chose Villa No. 6.

"Good, go get some rest. If you have any questions, contact me immediately!" Qian Yuan gave a few more instructions and then took to the air.

"When will I be able to fly for real?" Jiang Ming felt a tinge of envy.

"For you, it shouldn't take too long!" A familiar voice sounded. Jiang Ming couldn't help but smile, turned around, and said, "How did you know I was here?"

"I was looking around from the teaching building just now and happened to see you walking this way. So, I came over to see you!" The person who arrived was Qin Zhiyan. She had her hands behind her back, looking a bit more lighthearted.

"Won't you invite me in for a seat?" She tilted her head.

"You are my class monitor; I couldn't possibly refuse you entry!" Jiang Ming laughed. "Please!"

"Hee hee, thanks!" Qin Zhiyan walked in.

The villa was not much different from where he had been cultivating previously. After Jiang Ming took a quick tour, he arrived in the living room. "How have you been? Are you adjusting well?"

"It feels good, though there are too many courses!" Qin Zhiyan said, looking a bit troubled. "You can attend them, or study on your own, but you must earn credits. In liberal arts, there are subjects like botany, herbology, mineralogy, toxicology, biology, talent studies, genetics, and so many more. For example, just the toxicology course is thirty-six hundred pages thick, and they require you to memorize it all."

"Although there's no time limit, it still makes my scalp tingle!"
"But most of the time is still spent on cultivation!"
"The food here is excellent, containing extremely dense vital essence!"
"The vital energy concentration in the cultivation chambers is several times that of the outside world!"

Qin Zhiyan spoke briefly.

"But looking at you, it seems you enjoy this kind of life," Jiang Ming remarked.

"Of course, because the pressure is gone!" Qin Zhiyan brushed back her long hair. "Remember Qin Erhu? He was imprisoned for ten years. These days, Qin Yi avoids me whenever he sees me, and no one from the Qin family bothers me."

"The Sacred Academy is worthy of its name," Jiang Ming said with satisfaction. "If you have any trouble in the future, go to your mentor. If they can't help, tell me."

"Jiang Ming, thank you!" Qin Zhiyan looked at him, her eyes clear as water. "You have always helped me; I don't know how to repay you."

"We've been classmates for three years, and you are my class monitor; it's only right that I help you," Jiang Ming waved his hand.

Qin Zhiyan smiled. She hesitated for a moment, her face flushing slightly.

"I..." She bit her lip. "Jiang Ming, your time is precious, so I won't disturb you anymore. When you have free time, don't forget to contact me; I'll take you around the campus properly."

"All right!"

Qin Zhiyan left. Jiang Ming felt a touch of strangeness. He closed the door, went directly into the cultivation chamber, and sat cross-legged in the center. Closing his eyes, he focused his mind inward.

He had gained so much from contemplating the Heart of the Universe—so very much. The Extreme Point state was perfected. The Heaven-Opening state was perfected. Had there been more time, he would have surely mastered all fifteen major states. It was a pity that time had run out.

"Fortunately, the Genetic Technique was successfully deduced!"
"Comprehended by observing the universe!"
"I shall call it the 'Universal Genetic Technique'!"
"It's a pity I only managed to comprehend three layers!"
"The first layer: Double Gene!"
"Once practiced successfully, the genes will sublimate, and the basic strength will directly double!"
"But..."
"Practicing it will be extremely difficult."

It wasn't just difficult; it was equivalent to genetic recombination. If there was any mistake, the genes would collapse, and he would die. Even he, the creator, had no confidence in succeeding on the first try. Yet, a single failure meant all his efforts would be for nothing, and his physical body would collapse. It was even more terrifying than the forbidden techniques.

"Should I try it now?"

Starting tomorrow, he would strive to return to two chapters a day, or perhaps even more.

(End of chapter)