"Is it really that simple?" Lin Yuan was somewhat astonished. He could sense the unique nature of the earthy-yellow crystal before him.
The faint connection it had with the entire Mysterious Emperor's Secret Realm made Lin Yuan certain that the six-armed figure wasn't lying.
As long as he refined this earthy-yellow crystal, he would be able to inherit the entire Mysterious Emperor's Secret Realm.
By then, the Mysterious Emperor's Secret Realm, which even the Strongest ones couldn't pinpoint, would become Lin Yuan's private garden.
However—
Was it really this easy?
No battles fought.
No trials experienced.
No obstacles encountered.
He had just entered the Mysterious Emperor's Secret Realm, reached the core area, and obtained all of this?
"Simple?" The six-armed figure thought for a moment, "It is indeed simple."
In fact, His Majesty the Mysterious Sovereign had left behind many trials and numerous obstacles.
But the six-armed figure had observed part of Lin Yuan's strength and knew that those trials and obstacles would be meaningless.
So he simply didn't bother with them and directly handed everything over to Lin Yuan.
"Your aptitude, your talent, they are worthy of the gift from my Mysterious Emperor lineage," the six-armed figure said directly.
He was just short of writing "I have high hopes for Lin Yuan" on his face.
"I can sense that the real years you have lived through are not long, definitely not more than four thousand years."
"In such a short time, you've developed so many layers of space. I've never seen such a foundation. I believe you have a great chance of becoming a Twelfth-Rank Lifeform."
The six-armed figure looked at Lin Yuan. "His Majesty would be pleased to have a successor like you."
"I understand now." Lin Yuan suddenly realized that the six-armed figure had been watching him all along.
Indeed, as the 'Heavenly Dao' of the Mysterious Emperor's Secret Realm, nothing within the secret realm could be hidden from him.
"What can I do for His Majesty?" Lin Yuan put away the earthy-yellow crystal and asked.
"There's nothing you need to do," the six-armed figure said meaningfully. "You just need to remember the name of 'His Majesty the Mysterious Sovereign' and, in the future, spread the Mysterious Emperor's Evolution Path."
"I know that cultivating the Mysterious Emperor's Evolution Path has a high threshold, but that's okay. With your talent and aptitude, you will live a very long time in the future, so you can do it as you see fit."
The six-armed figure said.
"Remember the name of His Majesty the Mysterious Sovereign."
"And spread the Mysterious Emperor's Evolution Path?"
Lin Yuan didn't find this hard to accomplish, especially since the six-armed figure hadn't set any standards, like specifying how many years it must be done within.
This left very flexible standards, and even if Lin Yuan didn't actively pursue it in the future, it wouldn't be a problem.
"Correct."
"At His Majesty's level, the concept of life and death no longer exists. As long as future generations still remember his name, as long as his cultivation method continues to be passed down in the world, perhaps in an unimaginably distant future, there will be a day when he returns."
A trace of hope appeared in the six-armed figure's tone.
"Return?"
Lin Yuan was startled.
Although the six-armed figure hadn't said it explicitly, and the humanoid statue in the Devil Jade Space, Shen Ji, had not made a conclusion, Lin Yuan subconsciously believed that His Majesty the Mysterious Sovereign had already fallen, and the owner of the Devil Jade Tower had also fallen.
After all, if they weren't dead, how could they have remained missing for so long? Even if they were trapped, they should have had some means of contacting the outside world.
But from what the six-armed figure was implying, even if His Majesty the Mysterious Sovereign had indeed died, could he still return?
Returning would mean resurrection.
The Strongest ones could resurrect others, but how could the Strongest ones themselves be resurrected?
The essence of resurrection is reversing the river of time, pulling out the fallen beings from the past and bringing them back to the present moment.
But the Strongest ones?
They have long since transcended the river of time, with the past, present, and future being one. If a Strongest one dies, it's impossible to resurrect them because their life imprint cannot be found in the past.
And even if it could be found, who could bear the cost of resurrecting a Strongest one?
Resurrecting a lifeform as strong as a Strongest one is not without cost. The cost is borne by the Strongest one performing the resurrection, and the more powerful the resurrected lifeform, the greater the backlash.
Normally, resurrecting a Rank Eleven powerhouse is enough to have a significant impact on a Strongest one. But resurrecting another Strongest one of the same level?
The Strongest one would fall because of it.
Strongest ones have eternal lifespans, but that doesn't mean they cannot die.
"It's just a possibility. His Majesty, after all, didn't take that final step." The six-armed figure shook his head and said.
"The final step?"
Lin Yuan looked at the six-armed figure.
Such secrets are only known to those at the ultimate level.
"You should know that the Evolution Path contains the Dao of its creator," the six-armed figure said.
"As long as His Majesty's 'Dao' remains, it means that His Majesty has not completely died."
"And His Majesty's name is unique as well. Remembering His Majesty's name can also assist in his return."
"So that's how it is."
Lin Yuan thought to himself. The significance of an ultimate existence surpasses his imagination.
Of course, His Majesty the Mysterious Sovereign must have gone very far in the ultimate field and possesses some characteristics that transcend the ultimate, which is why there's hope of returning after death.
It's just unknown whether the owner of the Devil Jade Tower has reached this level. The Devil Jade Space is merely a training ground left behind by the owner of the Devil Jade Tower, different from a true legacy like the Mysterious Emperor's Secret Realm.
"Alright."
"If you want to refine the core of the secret realm, it might take some time. Now, let me introduce you to the treasures and legacies within the Mysterious Emperor's Secret Realm."
The six-armed figure was in a good mood. Having found such an outstanding successor for His Majesty the Mysterious Sovereign, even though this successor seemed very weak now, there was finally hope for the future.
Perhaps before this secret realm perished, he might witness Lin Yuan stepping into the ultimate field?
"Treasures and legacies?"
Lin Yuan was slightly curious, and his expression showed anticipation.
The earthy-yellow crystal was stored in his internal world, where it was being refined with the power of the world. Lin Yuan realized that it wouldn't be refined in a short time.
However, it probably wouldn't take too long.
Based on the sensation this crystal gave Lin Yuan, once it was fully refined, Lin Yuan would become the 'Master' of the Mysterious Emperor's Secret Realm, possessing all 'permissions.'
"First is the 'Source of Mysterious Emperor,' also known externally as the 'Mysterious Emperor Crystal.'" The six-armed figure moved with a thought, and the surroundings shifted, bringing Lin Yuan to a vast space.
"That mountain?"
The first thing Lin Yuan noticed was a small mountain in the distance.
The small mountain was earthy-yellow in color, only a few hundred meters high, and looked utterly unremarkable.
However—
"Is that mountain made entirely of Mysterious Emperor Crystals?"
Lin Yuan was somewhat shocked. In the outside world, a Mysterious Emperor Crystal the size of a fist could sell for a sky-high price of ten thousand Universe Crystals.
But right now, this small mountain in front of him, several hundred meters high, was made entirely of Mysterious Emperor Crystals?
How many Universe Crystals was this worth? Lin Yuan's mind moved rapidly, and he quickly calculated that the value of this mountain, in terms of Universe Crystals, would be measured in trillions upon trillions.
Trillions upon trillions of what? Not civilization coins, not Universe coins, but Universe Crystals.
The entire wealth of an eighth-rank powerhouse might be around ten thousand Universe Crystals, and a ninth-rank powerhouse might have no more than 300M.
And here, the value of the Mysterious Emperor Crystals reached trillions upon trillions?
"In fact, these Mysterious Emperor Crystals were collected after the indigenous life forms in the secret realm died of old age," the six-armed figure shook his head and said. "And as time passed, a significant portion of the Mysterious Emperor Crystals naturally dissipated."
"Died of old age?"
Lin Yuan was amazed.
Below the Strongest ones, unless they were like Shen Ji, the humanoid statue, a 'puppet' or 'artifact spirit,' every living being had a lifespan limit.
Only by achieving the ultimate could one attain eternity.
"Are all these mine?" Lin Yuan asked.
"They are all yours," the six-armed figure smiled and said.
Although Lin Yuan hadn't yet refined the core of the secret realm and wasn't technically the master of the Mysterious Emperor's Secret Realm, in the eyes of the six-armed figure, Lin Yuan had already been chosen.
"I have a suggestion," the six-armed figure hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Please go ahead," Lin Yuan responded immediately.
"It's best not to take all these Mysterious Emperor Crystals out at once," the six-armed figure said.
"Each time the Mysterious Emperor's Secret Realm opens, there are always more than one Strongest ones trying to lock down its specific location."
"But how could they break the means left by His Majesty?" The six-armed figure scoffed. "Those Strongest ones want to obtain the legacy left by His Majesty, but they have never succeeded."
The six-armed figure was implying something.
Lin Yuan immediately understood.
The Mysterious Emperor's Secret Realm had opened many times.
Each time it opened, how much of the Mysterious Emperor Crystals would be released? The amount would vary, but not too much.
If Lin Yuan took this mountain of Mysterious Emperor Crystals out into the world and spread them around in a short period, it would undoubtedly attract the attention of the major peak clans. Why had so many Mysterious Emperor Crystals been released this time?
While the possibility was small, it was still likely that some peak clans would suspect that a ninth-rank powerhouse had gained recognition from the Mysterious Emperor's Secret Realm, which is why they were able to acquire so many Mysterious Emperor Crystals at once.
If this suspicion arose, all the ninth-rank powerhouses who entered during this opening of the Mysterious Emperor's Secret Realm would be scrutinized, and Lin Yuan, as one of the most outstanding among them, would be a focal point.
Even if the Human Civilization protected him and other peak clans couldn't intervene, there was a small chance that someone within the Human Civilization would ask Lin Yuan about this matter.
At that point, how would Lin Yuan respond?
Lie? The Human Civilization's leaders might not believe him.
Tell the truth? What if the Human Civilization asked Lin Yuan to open the Mysterious Emperor's Secret Realm to let human evolvers in for training?
Or what if they requested Lin Yuan hand over the treasures and legacies from the Mysterious Emperor's Secret Realm?
Lin Yuan's strength was still too weak. Holding onto a treasure coveted by even the Strongest ones, like the Mysterious Emperor's Secret Realm, was a case of lacking the virtue to match the power.
Of course.
These were just remote possibilities.
The greater likelihood was that the Human Civilization would still value Lin Yuan's potential and wouldn't risk alienating the most talented genius in human history over something as trivial as the Mysterious Emperor's Secret Realm.
But Lin Yuan wasn't going to allow himself to face such moral dilemmas.
"You could take out a portion of the Mysterious Emperor Crystals every hundred thousand years. If you spread it out over hundreds or even a thousand times, it shouldn't attract too much attention."
The six-armed figure said.
Every time the Mysterious Emperor's Secret Realm opened, some Mysterious Emperor Crystals would be released. The amount would fluctuate, but as long as it didn't increase too much at once, it wouldn't cause a significant impact.
"Understood."
Lin Yuan nodded.
At that moment, a strong desire for power surged within him. If he were a Strongest one, he wouldn't have to hide anything. Even if he announced to the entire universe that the Mysterious Emperor's Secret Realm was his, what could others do?
Without a Strongest one overseeing it, the Mysterious Emperor's Secret Realm could already prevent other Strongest ones from prying into it. If it had a Strongest one watching over it, who would dare to have an opinion?
"There are also some weapons, secret treasures, minerals, plants, blood, and the corpses of special life forms, among other things," the six-armed figure said. "These were all left behind by ninth-rank powerhouses who tried to stay in the secret realm."
The Mysterious Emperor's Secret Realm opens once every two hundred thousand years, and when it does, it stays open for a hundred years.
The secret realm contains many places of opportunity, as well as the Mysterious Emperor Crystals found within the indigenous life forms.
For many ninth-rank lifeforms across the universe, the Mysterious Emperor's Secret Realm is an absolute treasure trove. The opportunities in a hundred years are worth more than tens of thousands of years of accumulation.
What if one could remain in the secret realm after it closed and only leave when it opened again?
What would the harvest be like then?
Two hundred thousand years is not too long for ninth-rank lifeforms.
So, during the first few times the Mysterious Emperor's Secret Realm opened, a significant number of ninth-rank lifeforms tried to stay in the secret realm after it closed.
Even now, some ninth-rank powerhouses still refuse to give up, trying all kinds of ways to stay in the Mysterious Emperor's Secret Realm.
After all, the rewards are too great. Just a hundred years is worth tens of thousands of years of accumulation. What about two hundred thousand years?
"So many?" Lin Yuan's eyes brightened.
With just one glance, Lin Yuan saw that there were about two hundred and forty-eight ninth-rank secret treasures, along with some special life form corpses and other items.
The corpses of special life forms are extremely valuable, as their bloodlines can be extracted to create bloodline potions. When Lin Yuan was previously sweeping through the Milky Way Star Domain, he killed some special life forms and turned them into bloodline potions.
Lin Yuan could predict that, as the bloodline cultivation branch of the Martial Dao Evolution Path developed, it would significantly advance human civilization's understanding of bloodlines.
By then, bloodline potions from related special life forms would be priceless.
"Lastly."
"It is the legacy left by His Majesty."
The six-armed figure looked at Lin Yuan, and the surroundings shifted once again, bringing them to a space only a few miles in radius.
"His Majesty's legacy is divided into two categories."
"One is the Evolution Path."
"The other is secret techniques."
The six-armed figure said.
"Evolution Path?" Lin Yuan's spirit was slightly stirred.
"Yes."
"The Mysterious Emperor's Evolution Path you are cultivating is the preliminary stage of the Evolution Path left by His Majesty."
The six-armed figure raised his right hand and pointed at Lin Yuan. Instantly, a vast amount of information surged into him.
The complete Mysterious Emperor's Evolution Path, from the first stage to the twelfth stage.
Information from the first stage to the twelfth stage was rapidly absorbed by Lin Yuan.
"It truly is a Strongest one's Evolution Path," Lin Yuan thought with delight after briefly reviewing it.
This was the first time Lin Yuan had encountered an Evolution Path of the Strongest ones outside of the nine Strongest Evolution Paths of Human Civilization.
In the Devil Jade Tower, after clearing the third and fourth layers, there was a reward that included a partial Strongest Evolution Path, but Lin Yuan ultimately chose the 'Microcosm.'
"The Evolution Path left by His Majesty has a high threshold. No ultimate existence has yet emerged from it," the six-armed figure said.
"No ultimate existence has emerged?" Lin Yuan's eyes brightened. This meant that this Evolution Path was far more valuable than he had imagined.
Strongest Evolution Paths come in two types.
One is those that have produced ultimate existences.
The other is those that have not.
The former is more common, such as the nine Strongest Evolution Paths of Human Civilization, while the latter is exceedingly rare.
So rare, in fact, that it defies description.
This represents a slot for an ultimate existence.
"But don't get your hopes up too high. I can sense that in other universes, there are beings who have cultivated the Mysterious Emperor's Evolution Path to the eleventh rank," the six-armed figure added.
"Other universes?"
Lin Yuan nodded lightly.
When His Majesty the Mysterious Sovereign first created the Mysterious Emperor's Secret Realm, he established a total of 33,333 secret realms.
Even if most of these secret realms had perished, some still remained.
The principle of not putting all your eggs in one basket was something His Majesty the Mysterious Sovereign clearly understood. Just as Lin Yuan received the legacy of this Mysterious Emperor's Secret Realm, other secret realms might also have successors who met the requirements.
"Here are the secret techniques."
The six-armed figure pointed once more.
In an instant, a vast amount of information surged into Lin Yuan's mind again.
After a long time.
Lin Yuan finally absorbed it.
His Majesty the Mysterious Sovereign had left behind three secret techniques.
To be precise, three categories.
Attack.
Defense.
Escape.
The attack secret technique was 'Mysterious Emperor Strike.'
The defense secret technique was 'Mysterious Emperor's Body.'
The escape secret technique was 'Steps Through Time and Space.'
"This?"
Lin Yuan slightly pondered and understood the general effects of the three secret techniques, feeling quite shocked.
When Lin Yuan became a core disciple of the Devil Jade Tower, he had also seen several secret techniques left by the owner of the Devil Jade Tower.
After careful consideration, he chose 'Illusion to Reality,' which had the greatest effect on him. It could fully utilize the mysterious gourd and greatly enhance the combat power of his two Primordial Spirits, taking them out of their awkward position.
Lin Yuan's choice of "Illusion to Reality" didn't mean the other secret techniques were not effective.
And now, the three secret techniques left by His Majesty the Mysterious Sovereign showed Lin Yuan just how terrifying a secret technique created by a Strongest one could be.
First, there was the Mysterious Emperor Strike, which gathered all one's power to deliver a blow that exceeded one's limits.
This secret technique had four levels. The first level allowed a strike with twice one's strength.
The second level allowed a strike with three times one's strength.
The third level allowed a strike with four times one's strength.
The fourth level allowed a strike with five times one's strength.
Lin Yuan's physical body ability, 'Enhancement,' could instantly explode with ten times his strength.
This seemed far beyond the secret technique 'Mysterious Emperor Strike.'
But that wasn't sustainable and required a price—briefly weakening him afterward.
But the Mysterious Emperor Strike, once mastered at the corresponding level, could be fully integrated into any casual strike without any cost.
...
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