Chapter 696

What the Law Source Fruit tree meant by “can’t compare,” was not size, scale, or depth of foundation.

By those measures, the Chaos Void was the largest and most undisputed existence in the surrounding dimensional gap.

Dimensional spaces have ranks as well, and the Chaos Void is definitely top-tier.

In those aspects, Lin Yuan’s inner universe is still far from the Chaos Void.

But setting those aside, judging purely by the perfection of the spatial world—

the Law Source Fruit tree actually felt the Chaos Void was inferior to this inner universe.

In the minute operation of laws and the Dao, this inner universe was more complete.

“How is that possible?”

The Law Source Fruit tree was in disbelief.

What kind of existence is the Chaos Void? It is a colossal entity in itself, further refined and perfected by one time being after another.

It has already reached a certain extreme—how could it be surpassed?

“Who is this lord… what is his origin?”

Its mind trembled. The saying “the student surpasses the master” almost never applies to world-nurturing.

Worlds birthed by the Chaos Void have their foundations set—surpassing the Chaos Void is basically impossible.

Yet Lin Yuan’s inner universe broke that rule, shaking the Law Source Fruit tree on a deeper level.

For example: perhaps Lin Yuan’s background is terrifying; perhaps he is a time being from another dimensional space, who infiltrated the Chaos Void for some design?

And a time being who can silently blend into a dimensional space like the Chaos Void must at least be a lord, and would have paid a tremendous price.

“A Time Lord?”

The Law Source Fruit tree shuddered.

Even in the mysterious dimensional gap, actions at the Time Lord level are extremely rare. The tree had only ever watched time beings battle from afar.

But a Time Lord?

It had never even seen one.

At the Time Lord level, what they scheme for is their own timeline—past, present, and future become one. They seal their own timeline, cut it off from all, and attempt to impact the Perfect Domain.

Such beings even possess a sliver of the capability of a Perfect Time Being—able to go to the past and alter it within a small range.

Of course, short of the fourteenth rank, even a Time Lord must pay a brutal price to change the past.

In truth, once at the thirteenth rank, the struggle among time beings is no longer in the spatial domain, but gradually shifts to the level of timelines.

They scheme in the past, and scheme for the future.

This is what it means to be a time being.

Some time beings abandon gains and losses in the present solely to secure a successful future.

Victory and defeat among time beings are not confined to the present; one must stretch the timeline and judge from a distant future.

“No wonder… no wonder.”

The Law Source Fruit tree suddenly understood.

If Lin Yuan were a great Time Lord, then everything made sense. Such terrifying power would be much more reasonable on a Time Lord.

“Only—what would a great Time Lord be plotting, paying a terrible price to enter this dimensional space?”

The tree couldn’t help but wonder.

From the height of a Time Lord, what would justify such infiltration?

“Forget it.”

“These aren’t things I can fathom.”

The tree shook its head. With the far future that a Time Lord beholds, there must be profound meaning in this. It wasn’t even a time being; it could never grasp a Time Lord’s plans.

“This might be a great opportunity for me.”

It suddenly thought: being taken by a Time Lord isn’t a bad thing—at the very least, it would count as the Time Lord’s “tree,” no?

Second Source World, Qingyun Sacred Mountain.

Lin Yuan’s true body had long since returned from the trial space opened by the Lord of Wu Shan.

But he had left an incarnation there to constantly comprehend the inheritance left by the Lord of Heavenly Radiance.

“The Tao of Runes.”

Sitting cross-legged, Lin Yuan’s mind was immersed in the Lord of Heavenly Radiance’s understanding of runes.

“Condensing runes with mental power, blood energy, soul power, and so on is the simplest use of runes—and the most superficial understanding.”

The Lord of Heavenly Radiance’s gentle radiance shone everywhere, and Lin Yuan studied intently.

The original volume of the inheritance left by the Lord of Wu Shan contained the Lord of Heavenly Radiance’s imprint. With that imprint, it was tantamount to directly “facing” the Lord of Heavenly Radiance, greatly aiding comprehension.

This was why an original inheritance was precious.

No matter how valuable a copied inheritance is, it always strays a bit from the founder’s intent.

“The inheritance I created is divided into five tiers. The first tier: the carrier of runes is no longer one’s own power, but all things under heaven—mountains and rocks alike can form runes.”

“The second tier: anything with form, including living beings, can serve as a carrier and condense runes.”

“The third tier: formless things such as the seven emotions and six desires can also condense runes. At this tier, even if you fall into a time loop and cannot directly use the Tao of Runes, you can still use it indirectly.”

The Lord of Heavenly Radiance spoke gently, like a patient teacher.

“Heaven and earth are runes, things with form are runes, and the seven emotions and six desires are runes as well?”

A flood of inspiration surged through Lin Yuan’s mind.

His understanding of runes rose rapidly.

[Your Unrivaled Insight defies the heavens. Comprehending the rune inheritance has greatly deepened your grasp of the Tao of Runes.]

With his Unrivaled Insight, he comprehended the third tier in just over half a month.

“The seven emotions and six desires?”

With a thought, Lin Yuan stripped away his own anger and formed a tiny rune.

“No wonder the Lord of Heavenly Radiance was confident that merely grasping the third tier would aid in breaking a time loop.”

He nodded slightly. Though he didn’t know what kind of time loop he would face, as long as there is life, there are seven emotions and six desires—thus they can serve as carriers for runes.

Blood energy, soul power, mental power, even world and universe power might be sealed and unusable. But the seven emotions and six desires? Without them, would one still be alive?

Surely he wouldn’t end up in a time loop with no life at all? Even if there were no other beings, he himself is alive and can generate the seven emotions and six desires to act as carriers.

Of course, within a time loop, even if he found carriers for runes, their final power would be greatly diminished—but at least he wouldn’t be completely helpless.

“The fourth tier.”

Lin Yuan looked to the fourth tier of the inheritance.

The reason he had grasped the first three tiers so quickly, and could now undertake the fourth, was his own Unrivaled Insight and that Eternal Painting of the Lord of Wu Shan.

The latter gave him a broad understanding of the rune Dao of this Source World; then, with the Lord of Heavenly Radiance’s inheritance and his Unrivaled Insight, he advanced by leaps and bounds.

“What are runes? They are everything. Whatever you see and feel can likewise become carriers for runes.” The Lord of Heavenly Radiance smiled, explaining carefully.

“What I see and feel?”

Lin Yuan nodded. That scope is much broader—especially within a time loop. Perhaps the loop he falls into will have few living beings—only him. In that case, even if he can generate the seven emotions and six desires, they are limited.

Whereas what he sees and feels, anything he witnesses or perceives can become a carrier.

“Lord of Heavenly Radiance.”

Once again, Lin Yuan sensed how formidable this Eternal Lord was. The Lord of Wu Shan sought to paint an Source World.

The Lord of Heavenly Radiance sought—everything.

“Yet even a time being this powerful was trapped? Or did they willingly allow themselves to be trapped?”

Lin Yuan’s heart grew heavy. According to the spirit of the trial space the Lord of Wu Shan had opened, all the Eternal Lords, including the Lord of Wu Shan, were trapped.

Only thus could there be the slightest chance in the future.

If they were not trapped, perhaps the Eternal Lords could survive, but this Source World was doomed to perish without even a sliver of hope.

Precisely because of this, the Eternal Lords like the Lord of Wu Shan chose to be trapped, all their power sealed, unable to affect the heavens and earth after the “demon” calamity descended.

“Continue comprehending.”

Lin Yuan collected his thoughts and began studying the fourth tier.

Compared to the first three, he progressed a bit slower on the fourth.

But with his insight, it was only a matter of time.

In fact, many powerhouses had cultivated this inheritance created by the Lord of Heavenly Radiance.

But most stopped at the first tier—or the second.

As for the third? Since this inheritance began spreading, those who truly grasped the third tier were exceedingly few.

And no one had comprehended the fourth.

Not everyone possesses Lin Yuan’s accumulation and insight.

In the eyes of those in the Three Stages of Freedom, this inheritance was akin to a celestial tome. Even knowing that comprehension would greatly aid in becoming an Eternal Lord, one still has to be able to comprehend it.

Even among the Eternal Lords, a great many had not grasped the fourth tier.

The grand hall atop Qingyun’s holy peak.

The sect master and elders had been quite at ease lately.

Because of Lin Yuan’s presence, “demons” had virtually vanished around Qingyun Sacred Mountain.

At first, the sect master and elders speculated wildly, but once they confirmed it was Lin Yuan’s doing, they relaxed at once.

With Lin Yuan here, the Qingyun Sacred Sect was as solid as Mount Tai, with no fear of being breached by Great Demons or giant fiends.

How could the sect master and elders not be delighted?

With demon calamity everywhere, even sacred sects and supreme sacred sects, though they endured, faced unending pressure every moment.

The Eternal Sect at the world’s center was no exception.

Its foundations were unfathomable, and it had methods laid down in advance by the Eternal Lords—but its burden was even greater.

A host of Source Demons, and even that Demon God?

“Hm?”

Just then, the sect master’s expression shifted slightly. On the distant high dais of the great hall, a cyan rune slowly lit up.

“This rune can sense messages from the Eternal Sect at the world’s center. Is an Eternal Envoy about to arrive?” The sect master’s heart trembled.

Who knew how long it had been since the last Eternal Envoy came.

So long the sect master had begun to wonder whether something had gone terribly wrong with the Eternal Sect at the world’s center.

Deep in the Qingyun Court.

Upon learning that an Eternal Envoy would soon arrive, the sect master immediately informed Lin Yuan.

“An Eternal Envoy? The Eternal Sect is sending a powerhouse here?” Lin Yuan looked at the sect master.

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