The gray-purple gourd shook. A stream of information flooded into Lin Yuan's mind.
"So, it turns out that after absorbing the seven types of liquid, there's actually more to it," Lin Yuan rubbed his temples, processing the information the gray-purple gourd had transmitted to him.
To summarize:
There is an eighth type of liquid that follows the seventh purple liquid. However, to condense this eighth liquid, specific requirements for both the physical body and the internal space must be met.
The physical body must reach the level of the twelfth rank, and the internal space must evolve into the state of an internal universe.
Only with such a physical body and internal space can the augmentation from the eighth liquid be supported.
"Twelfth rank?"
"Internal universe?"
Lin Yuan was astonished. An existence that meets both of these conditions likely only applies to the Strongest Ones.
According to the information from the Mysterious Emperor Lineage, there is a slight hope of raising the physical body of an eleventh-rank life form to the threshold of the twelfth rank by relying on various external secret techniques and specific merging rules.
However, an internal universe? That can only be formed during the ultimate breakthrough, a process of extreme sublimation.
Even Lin Yuan's current internal world is far from meeting the minimum standard of an internal universe.
Even if he were to undergo another infusion of chaotic void origin, which would greatly boost the foundation of his internal world by several levels, it still wouldn't compare to an internal universe.
The internal universe of the Strongest Ones is the source of their power, their reliance to transcend the river of time, akin to a weakened version of the main universe.
"What is the origin of this gourd?" Lin Yuan's expression grew serious as he studied the gray-purple gourd floating in front of him.
Although he didn't know what use the eighth liquid from the gourd would have for an internal universe, judging by the effects the previous seven liquids had on Lin Yuan's internal world, it's easy to predict that even a Strongest One would undergo some form of transformation because of it.
And that's truly remarkable.
What level are the Strongest Ones at? Certain treasures and rare items might significantly impact the lives of tenth and eleventh-rank beings, but when it comes to the Strongest Ones, they're virtually useless.
Not to mention causing transformation.
Lin Yuan had never heard of a treasure that could transform a Strongest One.
"I must keep this gourd safe," Lin Yuan focused his thoughts.
Previously, Lin Yuan believed that the mysterious gourd only affected life forms below the twelfth rank, but even so, its value far exceeded that of the Eternal Spring.
But now? Even the Strongest Ones could experience transformation because of it.
The value of the mysterious gourd is immeasurable.
"Where should I store it?"
With a thought, Lin Yuan connected with the Mysterious Emperor Secret Realm, placing the mysterious gourd inside a spatial ring and then sending it to the deepest part of the Mysterious Emperor Secret Realm.
Although Lin Yuan's true body resided on the main star of the Milky Way, within the human civilization's territory and under the watchful eyes of the Strongest Ones, it still wasn't entirely foolproof.
For example, if several ultimate alien beings joined forces, they might take advantage of the human civilization's Strongest Ones not reacting in time to kill Lin Yuan and then seize the mysterious gourd.
Of course, such a possibility is slim. How likely is it that ultimate beings would collaborate to attack a mere tenth-rank life form?
Moreover, with the presence of the Divine Sealing Bead, even ultimate alien beings wouldn't be able to completely kill Lin Yuan.
But the possibility exists, and Lin Yuan had to be cautious.
Storing the mysterious gourd in the Mysterious Emperor Secret Realm would be almost foolproof.
Since the Mysterious Emperor Secret Realm's inception, no Strongest One has ever entered it.
The mysterious gourd would be much safer in the Mysterious Emperor Secret Realm than near Lin Yuan.
It would only be slightly more inconvenient to use later, but Lin Yuan didn't mind.
The Black Planet.
The space of the Life and Death Reincarnation Rule Guidance Path.
One of Lin Yuan's avatars sat there, continuously observing the alternation and merging of life and death.
Every second, Lin Yuan gained new insights into the Life and Death Reincarnation Rule. With Unrivaled Insight and the guidance path, Lin Yuan's cultivation in this merging rule was almost soaring.
"Marvelous, marvelous, marvelous."
"To think that life and death could merge in this way?"
Lin Yuan immersed himself in it, with inspiration constantly flashing in his mind.
For a typical tenth-rank life form, understanding a pillar-level merging rule could require countless efforts and experiences.
But for Lin Yuan now, it had almost become 'routine.'
"Life is not just life."
"Death is not just death."
As Lin Yuan continued to comprehend, his understanding of these two rules deepened, and so did his grasp of the Life and Death Reincarnation Rule.
If considered individually, the life rule and the death rule are not particularly strong pillar rules.
But when the two merge, the power of life and death reincarnation bursts forth, making it one of the most lethal among the many merging rules.
Alien Battlefield No. A076.
Compared to the large alien battlefield where Lin Yuan was, this battlefield had a higher intensity of warfare, with four peak races gathered: human civilization, the Tianyu Clan, the Infernal Clan, and the Insect Race.
The entire battlefield was like a meat grinder, with eighth and ninth-rank experts dying every day.
Even tenth-rank experts, unless they were at the A-grade level, could easily fall if they lost control in the heat of battle.
Of course, those who dared to come to the large alien battlefield were usually just avatars, but the loss of an avatar still significantly impacted the true body.
Raising an avatar to near the strength of the true body requires resources no less than those for the true body itself.
If a tenth-rank expert loses an avatar, it might take thousands or even tens of thousands of years to recover.
Whoosh.
At the center of Battlefield No. A076, deep within a thousand-mile-wide permanent spatial rift, gray misty gas slowly seeped out.
The permanent spatial rift was filled with this gray misty gas.
This was the chaotic void, the source of countless universes.
And just outside this permanent spatial rift, a radiant seven-colored 'aurora' swiftly pierced through the void.
Wherever the 'aurora' passed, all the gray misty gas evaporated.
Buzz.
In just a few breaths, the radiant seven-colored aurora plunged into the permanent spatial rift.
On Battlefield No. A076, many strong beings were engaged in fierce combat.
Even tenth-rank A-grade and eleventh-rank experts occasionally entered the fray, tipping the balance of the local battle.
At that moment, a radiant seven-colored aurora shot out from the permanent spatial rift above the battlefield.
Boom!
The aurora tore through everything. The incredibly stable space on the large battlefield was as fragile as thin paper, and even the battlefield itself seemed weak.
"Ahhhh!"
"What is that?"
On the battlefield, many eleventh-rank beings hadn't even reacted before being reduced to dust by the aurora.
In an instant, the entire Battlefield No. A076, with a diameter of hundreds or even thousands of light-years, collapsed rapidly. Countless lives, including eleventh-rank experts, perished.
Moreover, an invisible ripple spread from each dead life, extending throughout the universe.
"This?"
"That aurora?"
Around the battlefield, towering figures appeared, gravely observing the shattered large alien battlefield and the nearly undiminished radiant aurora.
"Stop it."
More than ten towering figures quickly acted, spreading powers that transcended time and space, eventually restraining the aurora.
"This aurora carries the power of a causal curse. Every life that perished under it will suffer corresponding causal curse effects."
"Lives below the tenth rank probably can't withstand it."
"Another technique from some relic?"
The more than ten towering figures, all Strongest Ones, exchanged a few words and began studying the aurora.
Over the long ages, various anomalies had often emerged from within permanent spatial rifts, such as the Strongest One's corpse over a hundred years ago and the radiant aurora just now.
Both had clearly reached the twelfth rank level, especially the aurora, which still possessed terrifying power after crossing infinite distances.
The events on Battlefield No. A076 quickly spread throughout the universe's various races.
"What?"
"A large alien battlefield is gone?"
Lin Yuan blinked in surprise, looking at Vice Tower Master Nalan.
Large alien battlefields, each with a diameter of hundreds of light-years, were immense even in the vast cosmic expanse.
How could one just disappear like that?
"It's said to have been destroyed by an aurora from beyond the universe," Vice Tower Master Nalan said, his tone also filled with astonishment.
Generally, large alien battlefields are personally crafted by Strongest Ones, making them extremely difficult to destroy.
Even in battles between Strongest Ones, they might only shatter a part of the battlefield, as they try to avoid damaging it as much as possible.
"Aurora from beyond the universe?" Lin Yuan raised an eyebrow.
"Yes," Vice Tower Master Nalan said. "An aurora from beyond the universe shattered the entire large alien battlefield. If not for the intervention of the Strongest Ones, the aurora's power would have likely spread much further."
This wasn't a secret; the entire universe was buzzing about it.
"Terrifying," Lin Yuan remained silent for a while.
Although he had long known that the dangers on large alien battlefields went far beyond alien races, the many dangers in the chaotic void beyond the permanent spatial rift also threatened all the strong beings on the battlefield.
"What happened to that aurora?" Lin Yuan couldn't help but ask.
"Not sure," Vice Tower Master Nalan shook his head. "It's probably in the hands of the Strongest Ones by now."
"The aurora carries the power of a causal curse. Every ninth and eighth-rank life that perished under it had both their avatar and true body destroyed. More than a million ninth and eighth-rank lives from our human civilization perished completely because of it."
Vice Tower Master Nalan added.
"Causal curse power…" Lin Yuan's expression grew serious.
A curse power capable of such widespread destruction of ninth and eighth-rank lives would be a burden even for the Strongest Ones.
"So, the resurrection date for our human civilization should be moved up," Vice Tower Master Nalan said.
According to previous patterns, the next resurrection by the Strongest Ones would have been in about two thousand years.
But after the collapse of this large alien battlefield, the number of human civilization's Evolvers who perished suddenly surged, filling the resurrection list for the next two thousand years in one go.
In such cases, the Strongest Ones usually resurrect earlier.
"The resurrection date will be moved up?" Lin Yuan nodded slightly, having some understanding of this process.
The Strongest Ones don't resurrect the dead based on a set interval but based on the number of dead lives, i.e., the number of Evolvers on the resurrection list.
Once the resurrection list is full, the Strongest Ones will perform a mass resurrection.
Supreme One Xia Qin's Personal Virtual World.
"Supreme One."
Lin Yuan's figure appeared, slightly bowing to the Supreme One Xia Qin, who sat on a throne.
"How is it?"
"How is your comprehension of the merging rules within the Inheritance Star progressing?" Supreme One Xia Qin asked with a smile.
"Not bad." Lin Yuan nodded. With the guidance of the merging rule path and his Unrivaled Insight, his comprehension of the Life and Death Reincarnation Rule was progressing by leaps and bounds.
"I came to see you because I have a favor to ask," Lin Yuan hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Oh?"
"What is it?" Supreme One Xia Qin's expression remained unchanged, but he was actually quite pleased. He wasn't afraid of Lin Yuan having requests; he was more concerned about Lin Yuan having no desires.
"I heard that the resurrection date has been moved up," Lin Yuan asked.
"Yes."
"The next resurrection will be scheduled for a year from now."
Supreme One Xia Qin nodded. With the resurrection list full, it was better to resurrect sooner rather than later.
For ultimate beings, going against the flow of time comes with a cost, but that cost is fixed.
Resurrecting one life or tens of thousands of lives carries the same cost of reversing time.
The backlash suffered afterward depends on the strength and number of the lives resurrected.
"I have a friend who just reached the sixth rank and is not on the resurrection list…" Lin Yuan said.
There are two ways to get on the resurrection list.
One is to have extraordinary talent and potential.
Such Evolvers, if they die unexpectedly, will be placed on the resurrection list by the Goddess of Wisdom.
The second is to die in battle on the battlefield. Every Evolver who fights on the battlefield is fighting for humanity, and those who die at the hands of alien races are typically resurrected by their civilization's Strongest Ones.
Of course, whether in the first or second category, the resurrected Evolvers need to bear part of the 'cost.'
But compared to being able to live again, this cost is negligible.
"You want me to resurrect your friend along with the others?" Supreme One Xia Qin asked.
"Yes," Lin Yuan nodded.
Previously, Fang Qing had his mind and will taken by the Ancient God Tuoba due to the evolution path of the Ancient God, using it to threaten Lin Yuan.
Lin Yuan naturally didn't yield to the threat.
He acted preemptively, killing the wisp of Fang Qing's mind and will.
This seemed ruthless, but it was Fang Qing's best hope for survival.
If Lin Yuan hadn't acted, allowing Tuoba Ancient God to replace Fang Qing, his own memories would have been polluted, making even resurrection impossible.
However, with Fang Qing's talent, he had not yet reached the conditions required for resurrection.
So he wasn't on the Strongest Ones' resurrection list, and Lin Yuan had to personally ask Supreme One Xia Qin for help.
"No problem."
"Just send me the citizen ID of the one to be resurrected later."
Supreme One Xia Qin said nonchalantly.
For an ultimate being, resurrecting a newly advanced sixth-rank Evolver is a simple matter, especially when done alongside the mass resurrection of other Evolvers.
"Thank you, Supreme One." Lin Yuan expressed his gratitude more solemnly.
What might seem like a trivial matter to the Strongest Ones was something that those below the ultimate level couldn't even dream of.
A Year Later.
Summer Yu Evolution Tower.
Lin Yuan stood alongside many tenth and eleventh-rank Evolvers.
Every time the Strongest Ones performed a resurrection, many high-level Evolvers would be present to witness it.
The operation of the time-space rules involved in such an event is highly beneficial for any Evolver studying the rules of time and space.
"Milky Way Star Lord, this must be your first time witnessing a resurrection by a Strongest One, right?" Vice Tower Master Nalan stood next to Lin Yuan, asking in a low voice.
"Yes," Lin Yuan nodded.
Based on the rate at which human civilization's Evolvers fall in battle, it takes about ten thousand to fifty thousand years to fill the resurrection list.
This means the Strongest Ones typically perform a resurrection every ten thousand to fifty thousand years.
"Then make sure you watch closely."
Vice Tower Master Nalan quickly added, "When a Strongest One reverses time, part of the river of time will be revealed. Observing it closely will greatly benefit your understanding of the time rules."
"I understand," Lin Yuan immediately replied.
In fact, Lin Yuan had already seen the full view of the river of time, so this wouldn't be anything new to him.
But he didn't mention this to Vice Tower Master Nalan.
Soon.
Under the watchful eyes of all the Evolvers, the figure of Supreme One Xia Qin silently appeared.
Although he didn't emit any aura, just by standing there, Lin Yuan could feel the rules of the cosmic starry sky retreating before him.
The Strongest Ones possess internal universes, containing numerous complete rules, with a life essence that transcends the main universe's starry sky.
"Supreme One…" This was the first time Lin Yuan had seen a Strongest One's true form in the universe.
Although he had previously been taken out of the river of time by a Strongest One, at that time, Lin Yuan was just a wisp of mind and will.
"It's starting."
Vice Tower Master Nalan suddenly whispered.
He had witnessed many resurrection scenes by the Strongest Ones and was very experienced in such matters.
As soon as Vice Tower Master Nalan spoke, a strong surge of time-space energy began to flow.
A vast, illusory river appeared before Supreme One Xia Qin.
Lin Yuan also sensed the overwhelming power of the time rules, far surpassing anything he had previously experienced while comprehending time rules.
Supreme One Xia Qin continued to move against the flow of the river of time, reaching specific points and then extending his enormous hands to fish out amber-like figures from the illusory river.
With each movement, thousands or even tens of thousands of amber figures were fished out. At the same time, an invisible backlash from the universe and the river of time began to fall upon Supreme One Xia Qin.
But Supreme One Xia Qin effortlessly blocked the backlash.
Unless resurrecting large numbers of eleventh-rank experts or extremely special beings at the eleventh rank, this level of backlash was insignificant to the Strongest Ones.
"The river of time."
"Except for ultimate beings, all creatures and spirits exist within the river of time."
Lin Yuan thought to himself, understanding that although all beings below the twelfth rank exist within the river of time, their presence within it varies in size depending on their strength.
When Lin Yuan first grasped the time rules as a ninth-rank Evolver, his presence in the river of time was as small as a subatomic particle.
"But now that I've been a tenth-rank for a while…"
"I wonder what my presence in the river of time looks like now?"
Lin Yuan's mind stirred as he began to sense the true river of time and gauge the size of his presence deep within it.
...
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