Illusory Spirit King

The Cosmic Boat fragment was very close to the massive wind vortex. Even the stray gusts of wind that escaped and struck it filled the fragment, already traveling at several times the speed of light, with endless howling gales. The gales, like countless blades, powerful enough to cleave a neutron star, furiously lashed at Luo Feng's body, striking his hair, eyelids, and pupils...

To Luo Feng, however, it felt like a gentle breeze.

"Luo Feng!" A figure appeared out of thin air in the distance and then walked towards him.

"Uncle-Master," Luo Feng said, looking at Ice Peak Master in surprise. "How did Uncle-Master end up on this Cosmic Boat too?"

During the battle with Yuan Ao Master, he and Ice Peak Master had teamed up to seize the Entanglement Diagram, sharing the experience of fighting a common enemy. Moreover, he had helped Ice Peak Master, and given their uncle-master/nephew-disciple relationship, the Ice Peak Master, widely rumored to be cold and unapproachable, was quite close to him.

"Why shouldn't I be here?" Ice Peak Master asked.

"No, it's just, isn't our human race primarily focused on the Tilted Peak Sector in the Universe Ocean?" Luo Feng quickly explained. "So I thought Uncle-Master would be there."

"Previously, yes, the Tilted Peak Sector was the main focus," Ice Peak Master explained. "However, you just contributed an extremely detailed and quite extensive map of the Cosmic Boat. The first time exploring a new map always yields greater rewards, so naturally, many powerhouses from our human race would be tempted to come here. What's more... the Giant Axe Founder, having obtained an Ultimate Supreme Treasure, also wants to explore the Cosmic Boat. He's currently emerging from within the Tilted Peak Sector, and at his speed, he should reach the Cosmic Boat in about a century or two."

"The Giant Axe Founder isn't exploring the Tilted Peak Sector anymore?" Luo Feng asked in surprise, flying alongside Ice Peak Master.

"Perhaps he will continue exploring it in the future."

Ice Peak Master explained, "During the battle with Yuan Ao Master, the Giant Axe Founder didn't actually reach the deeper regions of the fragmented map we obtained. He was very lucky; within the inner region... he fortuitously discovered a special place, and perhaps other things happened, but in any case, the Giant Axe Founder ultimately obtained an Ultimate Supreme Treasure."

"Obtained in the inner region?" Luo Feng was surprised.

Ultimate Supreme Treasures are usually found in the core regions, rarely appearing in the inner regions.

Of course, their appearance in the inner region isn't impossible. If even the 'White Wings' could appear within the mountain belly at the edge of a water-contact zone, then anything is possible.

"It was in the inner region, so he emerged quickly," Ice Peak Master said. "Now, our human race's focus is on the Cosmic Boat. As for the unexplored areas of the Tilted Peak Sector... they'll likely be postponed."

Luo Feng understood.

The map he contributed covered a much larger area, whereas the one obtained during the battle with Yuan Ao Master was merely a few fragments of the Entanglement Diagram, which had shattered into dozens of pieces. Its described scope was fragmented and lacked a complete route from the outer region to the core.

...

A moment later.

At a scar-like location on the Cosmic Boat fragment, within a colossal canyon for humans, a white, domed temple had been constructed.

"Exploring the Cosmic Boat's map region naturally means exploring the inner region. Therefore, the peak powerhouses of our human race will arrive one after another," Ice Peak Master said, walking towards the white temple. "Currently, three have arrived: myself, Virtual Gold Master, and Zhenma Master from other races within our Hong Alliance. With you, that makes four."

"Zhenma Master?" Luo Feng was surprised.

"After all, the Hong Alliance is an alliance. We'll also create a simplified map, about two or three-tenths of the one you contributed, for them," Ice Peak Master said. "But remember, alien races are still alien races. Even within an alliance, we cannot give them all our secrets. These secrets were obtained by our human race through desperate efforts. Those not of our kind will never be completely loyal. Many among them secretly trade with other forces."

Luo Feng nodded.

Those alien races, dependent on humans for survival, would naturally prefer to sell information for benefits when tempted by other forces. As long as no evidence was left, it was impossible to investigate. Historically, there had even been cases where some dependent alien races, due to certain circumstances, left the Hong Alliance to join another. If even the human powerhouse 'Blaze Emperor' could abandon humanity, it was no surprise for alien races to leave the Hong Alliance.

Luo Feng and Ice Peak Master communicated via divine power transmission, unheard by the powerhouses inside the temple.

"Luo Feng, Ice Peak."

"Galaxy Lord, Ice Peak Master."

Two figures appeared at the temple entrance, welcoming Luo Feng and Ice Peak Master.

"Virtual Gold Master, Zhenma Master," Luo Feng greeted.

...

Just as Ice Peak Master and Virtual Gold Master weren't in a hurry to enter but waited for other human powerhouses, Luo Feng naturally didn't rush either. He waited patiently, and as days passed, human powerhouses arrived one after another, such as Peng Gong Master, Desolate Mirror Master, and others, all pillars of the human race.

One day.

Outside the temple, at the top of the canyon, Luo Feng and Virtual Gold Master stood at the cliff edge, letting the fierce winds howl around them.

"Is there something you wish to discuss with me privately?" Virtual Gold Master asked, his brows lowered, his aura as steady as a mountain.

"Virtual Gold Master," Luo Feng said, "My Earth lineage had three brothers emerge back then. Hong was the eldest, and I was the third. I believe Virtual Gold Master is aware of this. My eldest brother later became your disciple. Initially, I could still contact him, but then he disappeared and hasn't been seen since. It's been a long time, and I haven't been able to reach him. I wonder what his situation is now?"

"You mean Hong?" Virtual Gold Master rarely showed a smile. "He truly lives up to being your elder brother; he's indeed a genius. His initial progress wasn't particularly fast, but he's very unique. While most powerhouses progress slower the further they go, he's different. His cultivation speed wasn't fast at first, but he continued to break through later on."

Blazing Fire Venerable was Virtual Gold Master's disciple.

How fast did Blazing Fire Venerable cultivate?

Compared to him, Hong's initial cultivation was indeed extremely slow.

"When he first joined my tutelage, apart from his proficiency in willpower and illusions, he was quite ordinary in other aspects. Among all my disciples, he was the weakest," Virtual Gold Master said. "But in the later stages, he managed to catch up to the average progress level of my many disciples. Just tens of thousands of years ago, he went to the Star Domain Prison for training. Later, he broke through to Undying in the Star Domain Prison and reached King-level, named Illusory Spirit King... He was then directly mentored by Giant Axe and entered Giant Axe's Universe for further cultivation. I don't know anything beyond that; you can ask Giant Axe."

"In Giant Axe's Universe?" Luo Feng nodded. "No wonder I couldn't contact him."

The human race has two miniature universes: the Initial Universe and Giant Axe's Universe.

The Original Ancestor's heaven-defying secret technique, the 'Virtual Universe,' could encompass the entire Primal Universe! However, no matter how powerful, it couldn't penetrate the Universe Ocean... thus, it couldn't affect other miniature universes. The Initial Universe was an exception because it belonged to the Original Ancestor, so it could also be affected and covered.

Therefore, the scope of the Virtual Universe was the 'Primal Universe' plus the 'Initial Universe.' Since Hong was in Giant Axe's Universe, he naturally couldn't be contacted.

"But he can't compare to you," Virtual Gold Master said, looking at Luo Feng. "In such a short time, you've entered the ranks of Universe Masters..."

Luo Feng smiled.

"However, you're not quite suited for this Cosmic Boat," Virtual Gold Master said. "Previously, when you ventured into the outer region of the Tilted Peak Sector, even if Chaos City Lord and others entered its inner region, they wouldn't go deep. If you encountered danger, he would rush to save you. But this time is different. With this newly acquired map, many powerhouses will delve deep into the inner region for exploration... If you encounter danger even in the outer region, it might be too late to save you."

"It's fine," Luo Feng just said.

"I know you possess those wings that control space-time," Virtual Gold Master shook his head. "But if you encounter an enemy with a peak domain-type Ultimate Supreme Treasure that breaks your technique, you'll be truly in danger! Although you have the ability to create clones, if this clone is killed and your wing-type Ultimate Supreme Treasure and other treasures are seized... the loss would be immense. I won't say more; your treasures are ultimately your own. If you choose to take risks, I have no right to interfere."

Whoosh!

Virtual Gold Master then flew downwards. Luo Feng stood at the cliff edge, looking down, feeling speechless.

...

After waiting for nearly a month on the Cosmic Boat fragment, sixteen Universe Masters from the Hong Alliance had gathered there and finally decided to depart.

Some would explore the outer region.

Some would enter the inner region.

"The inner region is perilous! Even I, your master, could perish if careless." As a group of Hong Alliance powerhouses flew out of the temple, Chaos City Lord instructed Luo Feng, "Those who dare to enter the inner region generally possess at least the level of Ice Peak or Virtual Gold. Unless they have extremely powerful heaven-defying life-saving abilities. You absolutely must not venture in rashly."

Luo Feng was speechless. He needed to go to the Sky-Reaching Demonic Pillar to temper his willpower. He hadn't even mentioned that he planned to go to the Azure Token Secret Chamber area in the future—which was already at the edge of the core region. If he dared to say he was going there, his teacher, Chaos City Lord, would surely be furious.

"Chaos, Luo Feng isn't foolish," Virtual Gold Master said from the side. "He occasionally encounters danger even in the outer region. In the inner region, not to mention alien powerhouses, the numerous naturally occurring dangers alone are beyond what he can overcome. Going there would be suicide. He wouldn't be so reckless."

Chaos City Lord frowned slightly: "He is my disciple."

Virtual Gold Master's lowered brows twitched slightly, and a faint smile appeared on his face: "He is a part of our human race, and I also wish him well."

"Let's go!" Peng Gong Master said.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

One by one, they teleported away quickly. Before leaving, Chaos City Lord gave Luo Feng a concerned glance and then teleported away. Virtual Gold Master, with a strange smile, looked at Luo Feng and said, "Don't cause trouble. Your teacher and I will be in the inner region; we won't have time to help you." He then also teleported away.

...

Everyone departed, leaving only those preparing to stay in the outer region, some of whom wanted to invite Luo Feng to explore with them.

"No, I'll go alone."

Luo Feng quickly departed with a single teleportation.

Teleporting repeatedly, it took him about twenty minutes to finally reach the surface of the massive, damaged Cosmic Boat. According to the map left by Jie Fan Zi and the original maps of the human race, there were hundreds of routes to enter the inner region. The human powerhouses naturally dispersed, and Luo Feng's destination was the 'Sky-Reaching Demonic Pillar,' so he naturally chose a route that was relatively shorter and had fewer dangerous areas.

"According to estimates, this route has a total of 892 extremely dangerous areas."

"Some safer spots can be traversed by teleportation, but extremely dangerous areas can only be flown through slowly. I estimate it will take about 500-600 years to reach the Sky-Reaching Demonic Pillar."

"Forward!"

Luo Feng swiftly flew directly towards a massive, deep, damaged entrance below, which was entangled with numerous vines. This entrance was a colossal fissure, approximately 280,000 light-years long, with its widest point around 92 light-years across. Giant vines climbed around it, and countless ice crystals adorned the edges of the fissure.

Whoosh, Luo Feng had already plunged into the depths of the dark, icy great fissure...