Chapter 792: Chapter 516: You Must Surpass Light
During the period of seclusion to break through the Sixth, Lu Chenzhou was also pondering how to elevate Phoenix Form Fist to the level of Supreme Divine Skill.
He already had the embryonic form of an idea—namely, to fuse Lightning Dao and Phoenix Form Fist, pushing speed to the utmost limit.
Mystic Turtle, ultimate in defense.
White Tiger, ultimate in slaughter.
Phoenix, ultimate in speed.
Grey Dragon, overall balanced, focuses on constitution and healing.
In this way, he could merge Yuji, Power Extreme, and Speed Extreme with the first three Symbols, achieving true integration.
However, the creation of a Supreme Divine Skill is not something achieved overnight. Without a fully-formed cultivation technique, there are inherent risks. He hadn’t intended to use it, but now, to pass the trial, he couldn’t worry about too much.
Across the universe, a blood-colored long rainbow streaked the sky, stretching for thousands—tens of thousands—of miles... Lu Chenzhou’s speed, for a short moment, increased to several hundred times the speed of sound, comparable to the escape speed of many at Absolute Peak.
Demon Venerables like Lightning Demon Venerable, who are supreme in speed, typically have an escape speed limit of a thousandfold the speed of sound. Without using special shortcut cultivation methods, this is about the speed limit for Seventh Realm. Faster than this requires a higher realm.
The crimson divine bird’s gaze burned bright.
The reflection of the Light Chaser appeared within its pupils.
"Caught up!"
His will and qi-blood were both burning.
Lu Chenzhou gave his all.
A hundred miles, fifty miles, thirty miles...
The two sides closed in within a range of ten miles.
"Kingdom of the World God!"
In a thought, an endless, profound world descended into the cosmos. Upon a mountain summit, a giant tiger roared at the heavens.
"Shrinking Realm to a Foot!"
With a single step, he vanished.
When he appeared again, he was already behind the Light Chaser.
"Great Wilderness Prison Demon Curse!"
The power of the Five Elements surged forth, and under the force of spiritual power, formed a world-covering giant hand, imprisoning the Light Chaser inside.
The Light Chaser collided in all directions.
[Trial complete.]
A cold female voice echoed.
The Kun Character Technique also just happened to reach its limit.
Lu Chenzhou was bathed in blood, lying in the void of the universe, gasping for breath. He hadn’t been injured during his battle with Demon Emperor in this realm, but now he’d managed to hurt himself from racing.
Earth Immortal Dew slid down his throat, and he stood up.
At some point, the Light Chaser had transformed into a tall woman draped in an emperor’s illusion. Her figure was lofty, her gaze brilliant as shooting stars, and she wore a dazzling phoenix-plume robe, her entire being enveloped in the radiance of the dawn clouds at daybreak.
"Aurora Senior?"
[You could say that. The artifact spirit of this palace replicates all the memories of the Aurora Empress. According to those heart cultivators, I am the Aurora Empress... But objectively speaking, the Aurora Empress fell in the Divine War long ago.]
"Senior, did I pass the trial?"
[You have. Strictly speaking, you aren’t a cultivator of the Kun Gu Realm, so you weren’t qualified to participate. But since your talent is excellent, I gave you entry. Correspondingly, the last trial’s difficulty was also increased.]
"...Senior, have you considered that if I failed, this legacy would be lost to dust? At this difficulty, for Qi Refiners, it’s too high."
[It is very high. But I thought they would reform the cultivation system for this, focusing on the Speed Extreme Dao. I didn’t expect that, after all these years, nothing has changed.
If it had gone as I wished, and cultivators of the whole realm focused on Speed Extreme Dao, they could have forged an elite force of the fastest in the world, sharp blades on the battlefield and the means of survival in times of crisis.
In the distant future, it’s not impossible such a path could give rise to a Great Power mastering Infinite Dao, seeing spatial distance as nothing, existing everywhere in this universe!]
"Infinite Dao?"
[That is a concept proposed by my eldest senior brother, Wuji Dragon Lord. He believed that ’Speed Extreme’ is not the real limit. The true ultimate Dao is Infinite—the infinity of speed, to be everywhere, to be all-powerful. To such a being, the universe would have no notion of space or time, perhaps even transcending the universe and governing all dimensions. Should one master Infinite Dao, not even Gods would be feared.]
"..."
Lu Chenzhou felt a tremor in his heart.
This Wuji Dragon Lord is some kind of genius.
[You’ve completed the assessment. By the rules, I acknowledge you as Master. Henceforth you are Master of Wuji Palace. Naturally, you must also protect the Kun Gu Civilization within your ability. At minimum, guarantee the Three Suns Palace legacy is not severed. I’ll impart to you a cultivation method. Only after finishing its corresponding test can you fully refine Wuji Palace, this Eighth Rank Spiritual Weapon, inheriting the Empress’s mantle.]
"May I pass this cultivation method on to other Kun Gu Realm cultivators?"
[Common cultivation methods, I’ve already given them during previous trials. The core method must be earned through the trial.
...
Forget it. I see now it’s too much to demand. You may impart the core cultivation method to those above the Sixth Realm.]
"Alright."
A vast stream of information flooded into Lu Chenzhou’s mind.
On the Martial Arts Tree, new martial arts appeared, on par with Moving Mountain Scripture and Garan Nine Secrets.
Ninth Rank!
[Chasing Light · Sky Escape: First Layer (1%)]
The cold female voice sounded again.
[I’ve already initiated the core cultivation method into you. Chasing Light is the crystallization of my Master’s lifelong learning. Comprehend this art, and you will reach the ultimate speed of the world, rivaling the ancient True Spirits ’Kua Zu’ and ’Wind Thunder Golden Peng’. Even some Gods will find it hard to chase you down. Back in those days...]
The Aurora Empress fell silent.
[In short, Chasing Light is extremely strong. It’s not just an escape technique; it’s a combat method. Of all martial powers, speed is unbroken. If you can strike at light speed, kick at light speed, there will be few defenses in this world you cannot shatter.
Chasing Light is divided into four Chapters.
The first Chapter is Sky Escape. Sky Escape is lightning. Apart from [light], lightning is the ultimate speed within a world. When mastered to the utmost, one reaches one percent of light speed.]
Lu Chenzhou mused.
"Three thousand kilometers per second."
Roughly 8,800 times the speed of sound.
[There are no shortcuts to mastering Speed Extreme Dao. Pursuing the limit of speed is the journey of chasing light.
When you surpass lightning and then surpass light, you will naturally master Speed Extreme Dao, and potentially go even further.]
Lu Chenzhou nodded.
This was about what he had expected.
He too had sought Speed Extreme, failed, settled for Lightning Dao instead, and by accident ended up on the right path.
[The second Chapter of Chasing Light is the Aurora Chapter. Only after perfecting Sky Escape can you train it. The Aurora Chapter will teach you how to go from one percent of light speed to true light speed. Achieve that and you will reach perfection. I myself became stuck at this Chapter, infinitely close to light speed...
But even to my death, I never managed to master it. So far, apart from the Sun Chasing Dragon Emperor, only my eldest brother Wuji Dragon Lord has done so. Perfect the Aurora Chapter and you’ll have one foot in the threshold of Great Power. Beyond that, there are no more methods—only your own path ahead.
Great Power cannot be taught.]
"I have only received the Sky Escape Chapter."
[The Aurora Chapter requires you to go to Sun Chasing Palace and pass my Master’s assessment. Sun Chasing Palace is my Master’s companion treasure. He fell in the Heavenly Pond Great World.]
"Heavenly Pond..."
Lu Chenzhou had heard of it.
Four Symbols Personnel were trapped there; since it was a Great World, it meant Great Power had once been born there, and there were likely Eighth Realm experts—without them, the Personnel would not be held captive.
[Inside Sun Chasing Palace, there should be my Master’s supreme treasure: Wind and Thunder Golden Wings, the number-one lifesaving treasure of the Great Wilderness.]
"Understood."
[According to the rules, you must master the Sky Escape Chapter within a hundred years to fully control the Aurora Palace. Until then, I will act on your behalf as steward.]
"No problem."
This kind of challenge had never daunted Lu Chenzhou.
[Do you have any other questions?]
"No."
[Then I have a question.]
"Ask away."
[You haven’t been studying Lightning Dao for long, right? When you first took my trial a few days ago, you had only reached First Rank.]
"Yes."
[Do you have a time-acceleration supreme treasure or Divine Artifact? How did you raise it to Fourth Rank so quickly?]
"Purely through my comprehension."
[I see.]
The Aurora Empress’s figure faded.
The starry sky of the universe dissolved as well.
Lu Chenzhou finally saw the full interior of the Aurora Palace. It resembled the Primordial Mountain Cave Heaven, but much smaller.
Yet even as a sparrow, all its organs were present.
There were artificial mountains, rivers, and lakes, sun, moon, and stars, plus clusters of mountains and buildings floating in the void.
Lu Chenzhou caught the scent of primordial stones.
[This is my usual cultivation dojo. You may choose a high grade ore vein as Hall Master’s dojo. Even when Aurora Palace wanders the Void, you can still cultivate without obstruction.
Moreover, Aurora Palace has many other functions. Since you have not yet refined it, I retain full control for now.]
"Thank you for telling me."
Lu Chenzhou left the Aurora Palace.
He gazed back at the towering structure behind him.
"Receive!"
The Aurora Palace shrank to a speck of dust, concealed within his body. A Cave Heaven Supreme Treasure, impossible to store in a storage space.
"Come."
The Aurora Palace descended upon the void.
"Haha, with this treasure, even if a Demon Saint arrives, at the very least I can get everyone out alive."
The commotion from the Aurora Palace drew the attention of others.
"Look, the palace just vanished!"
"Senior Lu passed the trial?"
"Look, Senior Lu has come out!"
"Told you: there’s no trial Lu Heavenly King can’t beat. If you’d been to Xia Realm, you’d understand."
The eyes of Three Suns Immortal trembled. She muttered, "Succeeded. Succeeded. Unbelievable."
Yaochi Immortal smiled. In her heart, she thought, "Excellent. The kid has brought another mighty treasure to Da Xia for me. With Aurora Palace, many things can proceed smoothly."
Da Xia’s legacy had Cave Heaven Treasures as well.
Heart Realm, Battle Realm, and many Divine relics themselves counted as Cave Heaven Treasures, though their grade was too high. And being associated with various trials, they could not be easily used.
The Aurora Palace was of utmost importance.
Lu Chenzhou clasped his hands in salute:
"Seniors, I have passed the trial and mastered the Aurora Palace. From now on, all cultivators and mortals of this realm can be transferred inside to avoid being caught in the crossfire."
Three Suns Immortal was greatly relieved.
"Thank you, Little Friend Lu."
"With so many people, a mix of good and bad, it would be prudent to check everyone before entry to prevent demon monsters from infiltrating and causing unnecessary loss," Lu Chenzhou reminded with goodwill.
"Agreed."
Three Suns Immortal ascended to Gao Tian.
She spoke, slightly excited, "With Blood Moon invading and Three Suns corrupted, the demon monsters’ strength is overwhelming. Three Suns Palace intends to lead the Kun Gu Civilization in a strategic retreat. Please mobilize everyone so that the entire population is relocated before the arrival of the Demon Saint."
...
At the same time—
Within the Void, a mighty aura shattered the Ruins Sea, hurtling this way at unimaginable speed.