Time rules are the foundational pillars of the world, and among all pillar rules, they are the highest. Comprehending rules like life and space can be done at the sixth or seventh rank.
But time rules? Without reaching the ninth rank and becoming a multi-space life form, one cannot even sense the fluctuations of time rules, let alone comprehend them.
Even with Unrivaled Insight, Lin Yuan did not attempt to forcibly comprehend time rules at the eighth rank. The efficiency would have been too low, making it not worthwhile.
"Out of the 2,173 time rule models, I have now comprehended 851."
Lin Yuan thought. Typically, ninth-rank powerhouses do not spend much energy on comprehending time rules, often not even getting started on them at the peak of ten million layers.
Tenth-rank powerhouses have a deeper understanding of time rules, but they only comprehend between 200 and 500 time rule models.
As for comprehending 851 time rule models? That is something only extremely powerful and special tenth-rank powerhouses or eleventh-rank powerhouses can achieve.
To fully comprehend time rules, one must be an eleventh-rank peak powerhouse preparing to attempt a breakthrough to the Strongest One.
One of the prerequisites for attempting to reach the Strongest One is to fully comprehend time rules and then integrate them with space rules, mastering spacetime for the ultimate leap.
During this process, spreading one's evolutionary path and having more beings cultivate it increases the power for the ultimate leap.
"Unfortunately, there are too few divine essences with time attributes. Among the main god essences, only the God of Divination and the Lord of Light possess time attributes, and among the true god essences, there is only one."
Lin Yuan sighed inwardly. If there were more divine essences with time attributes, he could have comprehended a thousand time rule models.
Comprehending a thousand time rule models at the ninth rank would not be as unprecedented as developing over 2.3 billion space layers, but it would still be extraordinary and unparalleled.
Generally, only those with unique time talents, or one-of-a-kind special life forms, could achieve this.
"Time slows down."
With a thought, the time flow around Lin Yuan's body began to slow, rapidly decelerating so that while a day passed outside, only an hour passed for Lin Yuan, achieving a 12:1 time flow ratio.
This is the maximum time flow rate Lin Yuan can currently control, primarily due to his life essence being too heavy. Slowing his own time flow comes at a significant cost.
For an ordinary ninth-rank life form, Lin Yuan could easily achieve a 1,000:1 time flow ratio.
In the river of time, slowing down a whale requires far more energy than slowing down a small fish.
"Time slowing down makes perceiving the grand rules fuzzy." Even with a 12:1 time flow ratio, Lin Yuan found his perception of the grand rules significantly diminished.
It can be inferred that in an environment with a time flow ratio of thousands or tens of thousands to one, comprehending the grand rules would be nearly impossible.
"No wonder ninth and tenth-rank powerhouses are reluctant to use time treasure chambers for cultivation." Lin Yuan pondered.
The Strongest Ones in the main world have the ability to slow down the time flow in a certain area, even refining similar treasures.
However, in such environments with slowed time flow, it is difficult to make much progress in cultivation, and the time spent still counts against one's lifespan.
"Time flow variations in a specific area make perceiving the grand rules fuzzy because the grand rules themselves naturally fluctuate with the main time flow."
"But when I transmigrate using the Gate of Myriad Realms, the dimensions and planes I reside in have the same time flow, so even if the time flow differs from the main world, it does not affect comprehending the grand rules."
Lin Yuan realized another benefit of using the Gate of Myriad Realms to traverse dimensions and planes.
Over the six hundred years, aside from time rules, Lin Yuan also comprehended the essences of other rules, such as life rules.
The divine essences of the gods and main gods have undoubtedly been of immense help to Lin Yuan, saving a lot of time.
Without these divine essences, Lin Yuan could still reach his current height, but it would take significantly longer.
Not utilizing the divine essences as 'keys' would greatly reduce Lin Yuan's efficiency.
Time passed.
Two more years went by.
Longshan Fang and his wife eventually died of old age. Having reached the lifespan limit of this world, unless they ignited the divine fire and changed their life essence, they would die naturally.
This time, Lin Yuan did not use the world's power within his internal world to delay his parents' deaths because it was meaningless. A year later, when he returned, they would still be dead.
Living one more year or one less year did not make much difference.
Moreover, Longshan Fang and his wife had no fear before their deaths. They were proud of having a son who established an era, which was a tremendous honor.
In the Human Realm.
The ruins of Longshan City.
In front of the Longshan family cemetery.
Lin Yuan appeared, this time not as his two primordial spirits but as his true self.
Standing in front of Longshan Fang and his wife's tombstone, Lin Yuan's expression was calm, showing no joy or sorrow, just standing quietly.
Around the cemetery, important members of the Longshan family came and went. Given that Longshan Fang and his wife were the parents of Longshan Yuan, their status in the family was unshakable.
Their deaths even brought divine avatars of martial gods from the Martial World to pay their respects.
However, no one saw Lin Yuan standing in front of the tombstone, as if they were in different dimensions.
Lin Yuan looked at the tombstone. Though he was not truly Longshan Yuan, he had developed feelings over the years.
"You have left, and in a year, I will leave too." Lin Yuan murmured. In a year, his stay in this transmigration would end.
Unless Lin Yuan was willing to spend ten threads of boundary-breaking source power to descend again, he would not have the opportunity to return.
"I should prepare my final arrangements." Lin Yuan stood in front of his parents' tombstone for a long time before silently disappearing.
In the Martial World.
Longshan City.
Although there were fewer than a hundred martial gods in the Longshan family, the construction of Longshan City was extremely luxurious, far surpassing Wanxiang City.
The first member of the Longshan family to become a martial god was named Longshan Quan. As for the likes of Longshan Ling and others, they had not yet ignited the divine fire.
Though not yet dead, they did not have many years left and were spending their remaining time in the human realm.
In the Martial World, the many martial gods of the Longshan family were led by Longshan Quan, who had a significant influence as the first martial god of the family.
In the Longshan Hall.
Longshan Quan and several other martial gods of the Longshan family gathered to discuss.
"Ancestor is too benevolent, giving so many opportunities to outsiders." Longshan Quan's expression showed dissatisfaction. Over the years, his dislike for the martial gods of Wanxiang City had grown.
The Martial World was created by their ancestor and should have been the private domain of the Longshan family. Yet, it was overrun by outsiders.
Several other martial gods nodded in agreement. They had long considered the Martial World their backyard. How could the martial gods of Wanxiang City be worthy of sharing the same space?
Suddenly.
A figure silently appeared beside them.
"Ancestor."
"Ancestor Longshan."
Seeing this, Longshan Quan and the other martial gods of the Longshan family immediately bowed respectfully.
"Ancestor, you are finally willing to see us." Longshan Quan said excitedly.
Since ascending to the Martial World a hundred years ago, he had only seen Lin Yuan once. Despite several attempts to visit, he received no response.
Lin Yuan gazed at Longshan Hall and Longshan City, speaking calmly, "The Longshan family flourished because of me. I do not want it to decline because of me."
"Ancestor, how could the Longshan family decline because of you? Your power is the greatest in history. You created the Martial World and welcomed martial gods. The reverence for you among human beings surpasses even that for the gods."
Longshan Quan was puzzled.
As long as Lin Yuan existed, the Longshan family's status was unquestionable, almost an iron law.
"But I will also leave," Lin Yuan continued.
"Leave?" Longshan Quan was stunned. "Where are you going, Ancestor? When will you return?"
The other martial gods exchanged confused looks.
"I will not return." Lin Yuan said softly.
"Not return?" Longshan Quan was shocked. Lin Yuan was the pillar of the Longshan family and this world. His sudden disappearance would cause unimaginable upheaval.
The impact on the Longshan family would be devastating.
"Yes, I will not return." Lin Yuan looked at the martial gods of the Longshan family. "So, from now on, the Longshan family must not be too harsh on the martial gods from other clans."
Though Lin Yuan cared only about the spread of martial cultivation, he had never been concerned with the rise and fall of the Longshan family.
Before leaving, he still gave a few reminders.
"Ancestor..." Longshan Quan's face turned pale, looking at Lin Yuan with pleading eyes.
He realized that Lin Yuan's words might be true, that the Longshan family would lose its greatest support.
"Since I am leaving, I will leave something behind." Lin Yuan extended his right hand, and three crystals emitting profound auras floated in the air.
"What is this?"
Longshan Quan was stunned, then his body began to tremble uncontrollably.
Main god cores.
These were main god cores.
Since Lin Yuan killed the twenty-four main gods, the twenty-four main god cores had not been seen again.
Despite longing for the main god cores, no one dared to seek them, knowing they were in the hands of the Longshan family chief.
"These three main god cores will remain with the Longshan family. When you reach the peak of the upper god, you can attempt to refine them."
Lin Yuan said.
Having comprehended all twenty-four main god cores, they were no longer of much use to Lin Yuan.
Main god cores are the 'keys' to the rules of this world. If taken out of this world, they would automatically collapse, and new main god cores would reform somewhere within the world.
Therefore, Before returning to the main world, Lin Yuan naturally had to arrange the main god cores' placements.
"With these three main god cores, the Longshan family can prosper for millions, even tens of millions of years."
Lin Yuan looked at the excited Longshan Quan.
With these three main god cores, the Longshan family would have the equivalent of three main god-level powerhouses in the future.
This foundation would make it extremely difficult for anyone to shake the Longshan family, unless another person like Lin Yuan appeared.
As long as the Longshan family did not self-destruct and remained cautious and humble, their glory would not diminish.
"Thank you, Ancestor."
"Thank you, Ancestor."
Longshan Quan immediately knelt, and the other martial gods followed suit.
"As for the remaining twenty-one main god cores, I will release one periodically for the other martial gods to compete for."
"The Longshan family should not involve itself in this competition."
Lin Yuan continued.
He did not plan to leave all twenty-four main god cores with the Longshan family, as that would make their status unchallengeable and create a monopolistic situation among martial cultivators.
This would not benefit the development of martial cultivation.
To truly advance martial cultivation, it required the flourishing of multiple schools, not a single dominant family. Without Lin Yuan's restraint, the Longshan family would undoubtedly suppress other martial talents.
"Understood."
Although the martial gods of the Longshan family were reluctant, they had no choice but to comply with the Ancestor's decision.
"Ancestor..." Longshan Quan started to speak but realized the figure before him had vanished, leaving only three main god cores floating quietly.
"Ancestor has left." Longshan Quan stood in a daze.
"Ancestor is too benevolent." The other martial gods looked longingly at the three main god cores but dared not make a move.
Who knew if the Ancestor was still watching them from the shadows?
"Indeed, Ancestor is benevolent." Longshan Quan sighed. "But since the Ancestor has decided, the Longshan family will follow his words, restrain our members, and completely abandon the competition for the other main god cores."
"Understood."
The martial gods of the Longshan family nodded in agreement.
In the depths of countless space layers.
Lin Yuan sat cross-legged.
"I have done everything I needed to do." Lin Yuan looked down, gazing at the Martial World, the Sea of Light, the Abyss of Darkness, and the human realm.
"Now, it is time to return to the source."
Beside Lin Yuan, two figures appeared—the Yin Primordial Spirit and the Yang Primordial Spirit.
Simultaneously,
The 'bell-shaped' original fine gold floated before him, slowly rising and falling, emitting a mysterious aura.
Swish.
The forms of the Yang Primordial Spirit and the Yin Primordial Spirit began to disintegrate, turning into the purest energy and merging into the original fine gold, and so did Lin Yuan's true body.
Because the true body and the two primordial spirits were so powerful, even the process of disintegration was slow.
A year later.
As the physical body, soul, and internal world turned into the final energy and merged into the Essence gold, the projection of the Gate of Myriad Realms in Lin Yuan's mind began to shine brightly.
"It's time to go back."
Lin Yuan's mind and will poured into the Gate of Myriad Realms, disappearing from this world.
...
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