Myriad Sword Soul Imprint

Within the Thunder World, on the renowned Canglan Star in the Heilong Mountain Starfield.

Luo Feng had been in the Thunder World for 36 days.

On the vast grasslands, weeds grew rampant, some even exceeding ten meters in height. Nurtured by the universe's primordial energy, these weeds were incredibly tough, comparable to A-grade alloys, far more resilient than even diamonds on Earth. As the wind swept through, the grasses bent low, occasionally revealing fierce beasts resting amidst them.

Five streaks of light swiftly darted through the tall grass.

In the distance, a colossal beast, its entire body covered in azure scales, lay like a small mountain, its head drooping. Sensing something, it lifted its head, let out a low growl: “Roar~~” and then lowered its head once more.

“We've left the territory of the Green-Scaled Crocodile. There's a pack of fierce beasts 18.9 kilometers ahead, at eleven o'clock. We'll bypass them.” The five streaks of light paused briefly. Luo Feng, clad in alloy battle armor, transmitted telepathically, “Let's go. We'll cover another 3000 kilometers today before resting.”

“Yes, Master,” Tienan River and Aogu replied respectfully.

Both Tienan River and Aogu were extremely deferential.

Whoosh!

The five streaks of light continued their rapid advance...

“With Babata's alerts, I thought this Cosmic Apprentice Mercenary Assessment would be much easier. I didn't expect it to be more complicated and troublesome than I imagined.” Luo Feng gazed into the distance, flying on his Duntiansuo, the tall grass beside him rapidly receding. “I thought we could reach Wind Thunder Canyon in a month, but it looks like it will take at least half again as long!”

Nearly four hours later.

“Stop,” Luo Feng transmitted.

All five stopped simultaneously.

Even Hong and Lei Shen followed Luo Feng's commands in the Thunder World, for they knew... Luo Feng possessed a special warning device that could detect dangers within a certain radius.

“Tienan River, Aogu, you two will take turns guarding. My Big Brother and Second Brother will rest first,” Luo Feng said.

“Yes, Master,” the two respectfully replied.

The two responded respectfully.

Luo Feng surveyed his surroundings. It was already night, and the dense weeds made it almost impossible to see anything with the naked eye.

“Our luck was good today; we didn't encounter any dangers all day,” Lei Shen said with a smile. “Now we can finally relax a little.”

“I was also worried it would be like yesterday,” Hong sighed in relief.

Luo Feng couldn't help but recall yesterday's events, still feeling a lingering fear. Yesterday, his squad had been advancing along their usual route, moving easily as they always did. Suddenly, their warning device detected five fierce beasts charging towards them from 18 kilometers away, clearly having spotted their squad early.

If there were no obstructions in their line of sight, it was normal for a Star-level expert to see hundreds of kilometers away with the naked eye.

With five fierce beasts pursuing their squad, escaping would have been easy, given the dense grass.

However...

But perhaps one of those five fierce beasts had an exceptionally keen sense of smell, relentlessly tracking the five of them. During the chase, it let out roars that attracted the attention of other fierce beasts on the vast grassland. Instantly, the pursuit escalated from five fierce beasts to over a hundred.

In the end, it was only by relying on Aogu, combined with the Crimson-Mixed Copper Mother Fragment, and two Flowing Silver Guards, that they managed to escape by the skin of their teeth.

“Our luck was still pretty good yesterday,” Luo Feng mused. “If that 'Black Ring Snake Swarm' had appeared earlier and formed a pincer attack with those hundred fierce beasts, we truly wouldn't have escaped.”

“Black Ring Snake Swarm?” Lei Shen's eyes widened. “Don't even mention it. Just thinking about yesterday still gives me chills. It was the worst day we've had in this Thunder World.”

“Hurry up and cultivate properly,” Hong urged in a low voice. “Opportunities to cultivate in the Thunder World are rare.”

“Mhm.”

“Alright.”

Luo Feng and Lei Shen said no more, closing their eyes and beginning their meditation.

Luo Feng was very satisfied with his cultivation days in the Thunder World. Although there were occasional unexpected incidents during their journey, causing constant anxiety and even several brushes with death, under such pressure... his cultivation over these 36 days had made astonishing progress.

Perhaps it was because the Thunder World was filled with the universe's primordial energy, allowing him to cultivate faster.

Or perhaps, it was due to the 'Evolution Agent' he had obtained from the Virtual Universe.

In any case!

In just 36 days, combined with the time it took to travel from Bailan Star to Qiulong Star, and then from Qiulong Star to Canglan Star—a total of about two months—he had advanced from the 'Star-level Second Tier' to the 'Star-level Third Tier.' This was merely an improvement in his physical constitution. The truly significant progress... was in his comprehension of the Duntiansuo and Soul Imprint techniques.

...

Luo Feng's personal Virtual Space.

Above a cloud-piercing peak, Luo Feng, clad in white robes, appeared out of thin air. Beside him stood a blood-red castle perched on the mountaintop.

“Rumble~~~” The castle gates opened.

“Master,” eighteen rock giants respectfully called out.

“Mhm.”

Luo Feng entered the castle directly. Guided by an attendant, he entered the cultivation chamber. The four walls of the chamber were lined with bookshelves, densely packed with books—all secret texts of the Yunmo Star lineage. Luo Feng walked directly to one of the bookshelves and took out a golden book, 'Soul Imprint, Volume Two'.

Holding the book, Luo Feng sat directly on a nearby chair and began to read.

“Crunch, crunch.” Babata, the demon shrouded in a black robe with blood-red eyes, sat nearby, taking large bites out of a bright red apple. He glanced at Luo Feng, then nonchalantly continued munching. Suddenly, he froze, stopped, and turned to look at Luo Feng, scrutinizing the book in Luo Feng's hands.

“Luo Feng?” Babata exclaimed in surprise.

“Hm, what is it?” Luo Feng looked up, puzzled, at Babata.

“You, you've already finished the basics of 'Soul Imprint'?” Babata asked, astonished.

Among the secret teachings of the Yunmo Star lineage, 'Soul Imprint' ranked first. Ever since Luo Feng obtained these secret teachings, he had studied the important, foundational parts that Babata had arranged. Afterward, he began to study according to his interests. Luo Feng primarily focused on 'Soul Imprint' and 'Tower of Void'.

From the descriptions in the books, it was clear that the Yunmo Star Master was most proud of these two secret manuals.

The Yunmo Star Master once said in 'Soul Imprint': “The Soul Imprint technique is the most crucial secret art of my Yunmo Star lineage, and it was my greatest reliance in my rise to power, Huyan Bo.”

And the Yunmo Star Master also said in 'Tower of Void': “Disciple, you must never slack off in cultivating the Tower of Void. If I had managed to cultivate the 'Seven-Layered Pagoda' of the Tower of Void back then, I wouldn't have perished! When venturing through the cosmos, defensive techniques must be diligently practiced!”

Thus, Luo Feng had always diligently cultivated these two great secret arts.

Cultivating these secret arts required a vast amount of time, energy, and also comprehension! Although he hadn't possessed these manuals for long, and his strength had increased quite rapidly, it was primarily due to the 'Golden Horned Beast' body that his power had grown so quickly.

Otherwise, according to Babata's plan, it would have taken him fifty years to reach the Star-level! This was mainly because a solid foundation was crucial... After such a long time, Luo Feng had finally completed all the most basic requirements of 'Soul Imprint.' However, 'Tower of Void' still remained at its most basic first layer.

“What's wrong, Babata? Is it strange?” Luo Feng asked, surprised.

“You've met all the requirements in 'Soul Imprint, Volume One'?” Babata pressed.

“Yes, I have,” Luo Feng replied.

“Oh? Tsk, tsk, as expected of a soul nurtured by a Golden Horned Beast body, it's powerful enough,” Babata couldn't help but praise. “I originally thought it would take a few more years.”

“Right, Luo Feng, starting today, you can learn the 'Myriad Sword Soul Imprint' from 'Soul Imprint, Volume Two.' This is the most fundamental 'Soul Imprint.' Once you've fully mastered the 'Myriad Sword Soul Imprint,' you'll be qualified to condense an 'Enslavement Soul Imprint,'” Babata explained.

Luo Feng listened with a surge of anticipation.

To truly control someone using the Soul Imprint technique was difficult, requiring a high level of mastery in the 'Soul Imprint' secret art. At least for now, he couldn't do it.

“Learn the Myriad Sword Soul Imprint first?” Luo Feng opened the book.

“Babata, there are many Soul Imprint cultivation methods here, why cultivate this one?” Luo Feng couldn't help but ask.

“Idiot!”

“It's better to specialize than to be scattered,” Babata scolded. “Aren't you primarily cultivating the Duntiansuo? Then the Soul Imprint technique you learn only needs to be able to affect your enemies. This 'Myriad Sword Soul Imprint' forms sword-like soul imprints for direct soul attacks! It will make your enemies' heads ache terribly, and if they're distracted for even a moment during battle, you can use the Duntiansuo to shred them into mincemeat.”

“Mhm,” Luo Feng nodded.

“Let's begin. The Myriad Sword Soul Imprint isn't easy to cultivate, but once you've finished, with your mastery of Soul Imprint, you'll be able to condense an 'Enslavement Soul Imprint.' Then you can directly enslave others, making them your permanent servants, just like your teacher has nine Immortal Servants,” Babata dangled the bait.

Enslavement Soul Imprint!

How exciting! Luo Feng was incredibly eager for this secret art. Even if it was just for the 'Enslavement Soul Imprint,' he had to diligently cultivate the 'Myriad Sword Soul Imprint.'

...

While Luo Feng's consciousness was in his personal Virtual Space, reading the 'Soul Imprint' secret art and beginning to cultivate the first offensive Soul Imprint technique he learned—the Myriad Sword Soul Imprint—his other body, the Golden Horned Beast, was completely immersed in cultivating 'Absolute Space' within its inner world.

Inner world.

On the golden continent, the Golden Horned Beast, vast as a mountain range, was continuously performing the 'Absolute Space' secret art.

“Hm?”

A hint of dissatisfaction flickered in its dark golden eyes. “After all this time, I still can't master the first layer of 'Absolute Space.' What's going on?” In the Thunder World, under constant pressure, Luo Feng's mental acuity and comprehension seemed to have improved significantly, giving him some insights into 'Absolute Space.' However, mastering the first layer of 'Absolute Space' was still a distant goal.

“Woo—”

The Golden Horned Beast threw its head back and let out an angry roar. Its body length now exceeded 900 meters.

Indeed, after consuming the metal combination with 89 times the evolution efficiency for over three months—equivalent to over 22 years of normal evolution—it had advanced from the Star-level Seventh Tier to the Star-level Ninth Tier! A Golden Horned Beast at the Star-level Ninth Tier... was just one step away from entering the Universe-level! And this step was the most challenging one in the entire Star-level evolution process!