novelraw Chapter 186: Five Years Later
Chapter 186: Five Years Later
"The space... has changed?"
The golden-robed Jin Xingkong's expression shifted slightly.
He could clearly feel the spatial suppression around him skyrocket.
The space within a radius of half a million kilometers seemed completely frozen.
"Is this Wu's spatial Divine Body secret method?" The bald brute was equally in disbelief.
As a direct descendant of the Heavenly Hole lineage from the Dongyou Cosmic Human Empire, he naturally knew Wu's intelligence inside and out. He was well aware that this opponent possessed a suppressive spatial Divine Body secret method.
After all, the last person to face this Divine Body secret method, Chaxi Zhuiyuan, also hailed from the Dongyou Cosmic Human Empire.
Initially, the bald brute was quite puzzled as to why Su Yuan had not utilized his spatial Divine Body secret method. Now, it was clear that the man had not been holding it back; he had been silently channeling it the entire time.
Now that the spatial Divine Body secret method had fully formed, his suppression and control over the surrounding space had reached the absolute peak.
"Trying to trap all of us here permanently?" A figure whose body resembled a spatial blade stared with icy eyes. "Let us see if you actually have the ability to do so."The fact that Su Yuan suddenly activated his spatial Divine Body secret method to suppress them just as they were planning to retreat made his intentions blatantly obvious.
However, trying to simultaneously trap eight peak Tier 9 experts? Especially when they were fleeing in all directions? Neither Jin Xingkong nor the other peak Tier 9 experts believed Su Yuan could pull it off.
Trapping one or two of them might be possible, but all of them?
It was far too difficult.
"Palm Universe..."
Su Yuan closed his eyes, carefully sensing everything within the half-million-kilometer radius.
The Divine Body secret method, Palm Universe, had two forms of execution. The first was literally a universe within the palm.
The second... was the universe enveloped by the palm.
It meant the very world around them was treated as if it rested in his hand.
And right now, Su Yuan was executing the second form.
The entire half-million-kilometer domain had completely transformed into Su Yuan's palm.
Compared to the first method, this second form covered a vastly broader range, perfectly suiting Su Yuan's intention to trap every single one of his enemies.
Rumble—
Space surged and churned like rushing water.
The eight peak Tier 9 experts, who had previously only felt a mild sense of gravity, immediately realized that something was horribly wrong.
'How can a spatial Divine Body secret method with such a massive range still maintain this level of suppression?' Jin Xingkong was shaken to his core. The spatial Divine Body secret method he cultivated was called Space Domain, which also fell under the suppression category.
Because of this, he was thoroughly aware of the advantages and drawbacks of such secret methods.
The advantages were naturally comprehensive. Suppressive spatial Divine Body secret methods were the most versatile techniques—capable of offense, trapping enemies, preserving one's life, and more.
The drawback, however, was that the larger the area covered, the weaker the power became.
Yet right now, Su Yuan's suppression and mastery over space appeared completely flawless to Jin Xingkong, lacking any drawback whatsoever.
"I will deal with you first."
Su Yuan took a step forward. Within the area enveloped by his Palm Universe, he could "practically" achieve spatial teleportation.
Of course, using the word "practically" meant there was still a difference between this and a Stellar Life Form tearing through space for long-distance teleportation. At its core, he was merely manipulating space to shorten the physical distance, achieving an effect similar to true teleportation.
"Not good!"
Jin Xingkong's pupils violently contracted. His Space Domain covered several thousand feet around his body, allowing him to instantly detect the overwhelming pressure from the Palm Universe.
But before Jin Xingkong could even react, Su Yuan's figure appeared directly in front of him.
Whoosh!
Without a shred of hesitation, Su Yuan swung his fist, smashing it straight toward Jin Xingkong.
Powered by the Divine Body secret method, Indestructible Golden Body, Su Yuan's entire frame became tough and immortal.
And being tough and immortal meant he could sweep through anything in his path.
Normally, this kind of immortal durability could only be used for defense.
As for offense? It was too slow and lacked finesse. Given how a peak Tier 9 expert like Jin Xingkong manipulated space, he would have fled far away long before Su Yuan's fist even got close.
It would have been impossible to even graze him.
But now?
With the world enveloped in his palm, the terrifying spatial suppression made it impossible for Jin Xingkong to move a single inch. Under these circumstances, his only option was to take Su Yuan's punch head-on.
Because of this, the offensive aspect of the Indestructible Golden Body could be fully unleashed.
This was the result of synergizing different Divine Body secret methods.
When Su Yuan reached the Perfected Divine Body stage, the three Divine Body secret methods he selected were not only the most suitable for his cultivation, but they also complemented one another, creating an effect where one plus one was far greater than two.
"No!"
Watching Su Yuan's fist, radiating with immortal golden light, hurtle toward him while he was completely unable to dodge, Jin Xingkong's face contorted in absolute despair.
Boom!
When the punch landed, Jin Xingkong felt as though he had been struck by divine lightning. Even his consciousness began to blur.
A second punch!
A third punch!
In the blink of an eye, Su Yuan threw three devastating punches. The terrifying force pierced right through Jin Xingkong's Divine Body, completely obliterating his mental will.
This was the result of Su Yuan deliberately holding back. Otherwise, it would not have been just Jin Xingkong's mental will that was wiped out; his Divine Body would not have survived either.
However, having lost the mental will sustaining it, Jin Xingkong's Divine Body also began to dissolve and collapse.
"Stay."
With a simple thought, Su Yuan used the power of his Palm Universe to silently intercept a sliver of the Great Cycle of Universal Power essence from within Jin Xingkong's crumbling Divine Body.
"Jin Xingkong is dead just like that?"
In the distance, the complexions of the other seven peak Tier 9 experts turned incredibly ugly.
When they initially saw Su Yuan target Jin Xingkong first, they had secretly felt a wave of relief.
Because that meant they would have the time to escape from Su Yuan's Palm Universe.
But now?
Jin Xingkong could not even last a single breath. What time did they have to escape?
Hum— The phantom image of the Heavenly Hole within the bald brute's eyes suddenly boiled violently, as if trying to tear itself from the depths of his pupils and descend upon the Divine Body World.
"Heavenly Hole?"
Su Yuan's figure materialized nearby. Simultaneously, a pure golden vertical eye silently opened in the center of his forehead.
The Divine Body secret method, Eye of Through-Void.
To deal with Jin Xingkong, Su Yuan had simply used his fists.
But to deal with the bald brute, Su Yuan activated the Eye of Through-Void.
This was the fastest method the Gray Mirror had provided to eliminate this specific opponent.
"Ah?!"
When the bald brute met the vertical pupil on Su Yuan's forehead, he instantly felt the Heavenly Hole deep within his own eyes being forcefully suppressed.
His own mental will also began to fracture and disintegrate at a terrifying pace.
"Collect."
Watching the bald brute's Divine Body uncontrollably dissolve, Su Yuan once again extracted a sliver of the Great Cycle of Universal Power essence from within it.
"Third."
Taking another stride, Su Yuan arrived beside the third peak Tier 9 expert.
As for the result?
Naturally, there was no suspense. Not a single one of the peak Tier 9 experts managed to last more than a single breath once Su Yuan struck.
Within the domain of the Palm Universe, the power of these peak Tier 9 experts had already been drastically suppressed, reduced to less than a fraction of their usual might.
Conversely, bolstered by the Palm Universe, Su Yuan's own strength had multiplied dozens, if not hundreds, of times over. Under this drastic shift in momentum, the eight peak Tier 9 experts were as fragile as wet paper before him. If he had not been worried about damaging their Divine Bodies and causing the extracted Great Cycle of Universal Power essence to be incomplete, Su Yuan would not have even needed to attack personally. He could have simply swept them all away with the sheer, absolute force of the Palm Universe.
This scene of Su Yuan effortlessly slaughtering eight peak Tier 9 experts also fell into the eyes of the hundreds of Tier 8 and Tier 9 experts spectating from afar.
These experts had already been in a state of panic. Under the envelopment of the Palm Universe, peak Tier 9 experts could still barely manage to move, but them? They found themselves practically paralyzed.
But upon witnessing the fate of the eight peak Tier 9 experts...
Every single Tier 8 and Tier 9 expert fell into dead silence.
"How was Jin Xingkong so weak?"
"And that guy from the Heavenly Hole lineage..."
Numerous absurd thoughts surfaced in the minds of the experts, but they quickly snapped back to reality.
It was not that the eight peak Tier 9 experts were weak; it was that Su Yuan was overwhelmingly strong.
So strong that even the majestic peak Tier 9 experts appeared incredibly feeble in comparison.
In the center of the battlefield.
After Su Yuan carefully dispatched all the peak Tier 9 experts.
He turned his gaze toward the hundreds of Tier 8 and Tier 9 experts watching from the distance.
"Lord Wu..."
Under Su Yuan's scrutinizing stare, a Tier 9 expert stepped forward. "We hail from..."
This Tier 9 expert began to declare his affiliations, hoping that Su Yuan would spare their lives out of respect for the forces backing them.
After all, they had not lifted a finger during the entire battle, even though they had harbored thoughts of sweeping up the spoils or waiting for the peak Tier 9 experts to mutually destroy one another.
But in the end, they had never acted on those intentions.
"Are you threatening me?"
Su Yuan glanced over the crowd. In the next instant, the pure golden vertical eye on his forehead opened once again.
The Divine Body secret method, Eye of Through-Void.
This particular Divine Body secret method solely attacked a person's mental will. Even the bald brute from the Heavenly Hole lineage, who specialized in mental will, could not resist it—let alone these ordinary Tier 8 and Tier 9 experts.
Hum!
Wherever the gaze of the Eye of Through-Void landed.
One by one, the consciousnesses of the Tier 8 and Tier 9 experts plummeted into darkness.
As their Divine Bodies uncontrollably dissolved and collapsed, a sliver of the Great Cycle of Universal Power essence within them was siphoned away by Su Yuan.
"Hm?"
After dealing with everyone, Su Yuan felt a slight stir in his heart and looked not too far away.
There, a small tree, about half the height of a person, stood firmly trapped in space.
It was the very divine medicine that had just manifested.
Swish!
Su Yuan beckoned with his hand, and the divine medicine "willingly" flew over, landing gently in front of him.
"Gold, wood, water, fire, earth—the five elements, along with lightning, and life..."
Su Yuan observed it for a moment, sensing that this divine medicine contained eleven types of Cosmic Forces. These eleven Cosmic Forces intertwined and merged, forming a highly stable Great Cycle of Universal Power.
Of course, the Great Cycle of Universal Power within the divine medicine was different from that of a Divine Body. The former was nurtured naturally by the universe, which was why it contained a staggering eleven different Cosmic Forces.
"I should extract a bit from this as well."
Staring at the waist-high sapling before him, Su Yuan snapped off a tiny branch.
This tiny branch contained the Great Cycle of Universal Power flowing through the sapling.
Although the Great Cycle of Universal Power within the divine medicine encompassed a large number of Cosmic Forces, it was born innately, meaning its depth was somewhat lacking. Its usefulness to Su Yuan was not as tremendous as one might expect—it was roughly equivalent to the Great Cycle of Universal Power mastered by a single peak Tier 9 expert.
Take a Great Cycle composed of four Cosmic Forces as an example: some Late-stage Starry Sky Lifeforms could only use it to cultivate to Tier 5, while others could use the exact same foundation to reach Tier 8 or even Tier 9.
Why was this the case?
Naturally, it was because their depth of comprehension regarding the Great Cycle of Universal Power was entirely different.
And the Heaven Swallowing Demonic Art that Su Yuan cultivated most heavily relied on absorbing the depth of a Great Cycle of Universal Power.
It was exactly because of this that whether it was a divine medicine or an immortal divine medicine, their utility to Su Yuan was far less significant than imagined.
Outside the encampment.
The Canghai Tower Master and his group had been standing there early on, waiting for Su Yuan's return.
"Brother Wu." Seeing Su Yuan descend, the Canghai Tower Master immediately spoke up, his tone deeply respectful. "If you hadn't intervened this time, Brother Wu, our Canghai Tower would have absolutely suffered devastating losses."
With so many Tier 8 and Tier 9 experts involved, once a chaotic melee broke out, the numerous members of the Canghai Tower would undoubtedly have borne the brunt of the assault.
"It was a minor matter." Su Yuan gently shook his head. "This divine medicine..."
With a wave of his right hand, the waist-high sapling floated toward the Canghai Tower Master.
"Brother Wu, I truly wouldn't dare accept this divine medicine..." the Canghai Tower Master could not help but stammer.
If Su Yuan had merely been an ordinary peak Tier 9 expert, the Canghai Tower Master might have had the thick skin to accept the divine medicine.
But in that battle just now, Su Yuan had slaughtered peak Tier 9 experts as easily as butchering chickens. Under such circumstances, even if he had the courage of ten thousand men, the Canghai Tower Master wouldn't dare stick to their previous agreement and claim the prize.
"It's fine. We had an agreement. I said I would secure this divine medicine for you."
Su Yuan stated in an indifferent tone.
"This..." The Canghai Tower Master's heart trembled.
The agreement did indeed require Su Yuan to secure the divine medicine, but it only meant securing it. What was the meaning of slaughtering absolutely every single expert vying for it?
However, meeting Su Yuan's unquestionable gaze, the Canghai Tower Master apprehensively accepted the divine medicine.
"Brother Wu, if you ever have any orders in the future, please speak plainly. My Canghai Tower and the Xien Family will unquestionably obey," the Canghai Tower Master immediately vowed after storing the divine medicine away.
This vow was not limited solely to the Divine Body World; it included the Xien Family in reality as well.
Following that.
He continued to chat with the Canghai Tower Master for a few more moments.
Then, Su Yuan turned around and left.
After this incident, on the surface, the biggest winner was the Canghai Tower Master. After all, he had acquired the divine medicine.
But in reality, the one who reaped the greatest harvest was Su Yuan. He had extracted the Great Cycle of Universal Power essence from so many Tier 8 and Tier 9 experts, including the essences of eight peak Tier 9 experts.
To Su Yuan, a harvest of this magnitude was simply unprecedented.
One had to remember that the last time Su Yuan killed Chaxi Zhuiyuan and those dozens of experts, Chaxi Zhuiyuan had been the only one at Tier 8; the rest had merely been Tier 7.
Even under those circumstances, Su Yuan's strength had surged exponentially, rocketing from that of an ordinary peak Tier 9 expert to a level where he could effortlessly sweep away anyone in that realm.
If he gained this much more Great Cycle of Universal Power essence, it was highly foreseeable that Su Yuan's strength would undergo yet another massive leap in the near future.
Whoosh!
At a certain hill.
Su Yuan's figure materialized, and he walked into a mountain cave nestled beneath the hillside.
This mountain cave was incredibly well-hidden. For the next ten years, no one would discover it.
Therefore, Su Yuan selected this very mountain cave as his location for secluded cultivation.
Having harvested so much Great Cycle of Universal Power essence in one fell swoop, Su Yuan needed a session of secluded cultivation to thoroughly absorb these essences and perfect his own Great Cycle of Yin-Yang and Five Elements.
"Let's begin."
Inside the mountain cave, Su Yuan sat cross-legged and circulated the Heaven Swallowing Demonic Art, swiftly beginning his absorption and comprehension.
Time flowed on.
In the blink of an eye, five years had passed.