The silver mirror appeared quite ordinary. Even in the two-dimensional world, treasures and weapons of the twelfth-star grade would still be suppressed, showing only a fraction of their true power.
The bronze compass Lin Yuan owned, the inner armor of Tuoba Ancient God, and Pei Shen's black iron staff were no exception.
However, after carefully examining the silver mirror, Lin Yuan discovered the immense spatial energy fluctuations contained within it.
"Spatial energy?"
Lin Yuan's expression grew serious. To exhibit such a level of spatial fluctuation in this two-dimensional world—what would it be like in the main universe?
"This mirror is far from ordinary," Lin Yuan thought to himself.
"But what's the purpose of this mirror?"
Lin Yuan spent quite some time trying different methods, including using his own blood, but nothing revealed its secret.
"Tuoba Ancient God probably only obtained this mirror recently," Lin Yuan speculated.
During his prolonged pursuit of Tuoba Ancient God, the latter had fled desperately without ever using the mirror.
This suggested that Tuoba Ancient God didn't know the mirror's abilities either, because in a life-or-death situation, any life-saving tool would be used.
"I'll figure it out eventually."
"Even if I can't uncover its secrets here, once I take it out of this world, I'll surely be able to find out."
The silver mirror was suppressed by the two-dimensional world, preventing its various abilities from being displayed. As long as Lin Yuan could bring it back to the main universe, all its mysteries would naturally be solved.
Even if Lin Yuan couldn't figure it out on his own, he could consult the spirit of the Mysterious Emperor's Secret Realm or the humanoid statue Shen Ji in the Devil Jade Space.
With this in mind, Lin Yuan carefully stored the silver mirror and then took out the inner armor of Tuoba Ancient God.
The inner armor was incredibly light. When Lin Yuan put it on, he felt a faint protective force covering his limbs and torso.
Wearing this inner armor, any attack aimed at Lin Yuan would be blocked by the armor itself. Even residual forces that penetrated would be dispersed and diluted.
"No wonder Tuoba Ancient God was so hard to kill." A smile appeared on Lin Yuan's face.
Wearing this inner armor would undoubtedly maximize his defensive capabilities.
"If I could bring this armor into the outside world, I can only imagine how powerful it would be," Lin Yuan thought with excitement.
Among all types of weapons and tools, defensive items were far more valuable than offensive ones. After all, in any situation, survival was the top priority.
"The only downside is that the head isn't covered," Lin Yuan shook his head slightly.
The inner armor only protected his limbs and torso. As for the head? Unless there was a corresponding helmet, it would remain exposed.
In this two-dimensional world, there was no such thing as regrowing a head. Once the head was destroyed, even the strongest would die.
Of course, the head was a vital point, and every strong being from the myriad races would naturally protect it. When Tuoba Ancient God was fleeing from Lin Yuan, he had taken great care to shield his head.
Moreover, although the head was a critical weak point, the skull was also the hardest bone in the body, and warriors from the myriad races focused heavily on refining their bones.
To directly crush someone's skull, especially if they were of the same level of strength, was extremely difficult.
"There's still the issue of residual force penetration," Lin Yuan thought. He had killed Tuoba Ancient God by allowing the residual force to seep into his body and then unleashing it in a final, devastating strike.
"This silver mirror could serve as a heart protector."
Lin Yuan took out the mirror and placed it over his chest.
Though he hadn't figured out the mirror's purpose, its material was incredibly tough and indestructible, a common trait of all "artifacts" in this two-dimensional world.
With the mirror as a second layer of defense, at least Lin Yuan's heart would be better protected than other parts of his body.
Given Lin Yuan's mastery of the longevity cultivation method, as long as his heart or head wasn't fatally damaged, he could heal from injuries to his other organs.
"The iron staff."
After donning the inner armor and positioning the heart-protecting mirror, Lin Yuan turned his attention to the black iron staff.
The staff's ability was simple: it amplified power. The same attack, when delivered through the black iron staff, could increase in strength by two to three times.
Don't underestimate that amount of amplification. In this two-dimensional world, where power was incredibly hard to enhance, a two- or three-fold increase was enough to elevate a warrior's strength by several levels.
"The only problem is that it's too large and too conspicuous."
Lin Yuan stroked the black iron staff, deep in thought.
Unlike the compact inner armor and silver mirror, the nearly two-meter-long staff was impossible to hide and extremely noticeable wherever it was.
This was due to the fact that artifacts in the two-dimensional world couldn't be refined. Otherwise, an artifact's size could normally be adjusted according to its owner's will.
"Still, the size isn't too much of an issue," Lin Yuan considered. After all, the staff provided the most direct boost to his combat strength.
As for the inner armor? Unless he found himself in a desperate situation, Lin Yuan didn't think he'd need to rely on it much.
The armor enhanced his ability to stay alive, but in this world, very few beings could force Lin Yuan into a position where he needed to rely on it for survival.
Moreover, as time passed, Lin Yuan's power was growing at an increasingly rapid pace, and such opponents would soon vanish.
"This time, I've gained quite the haul."
Lin Yuan reflected on his gains from this action.
First, there was the satisfaction of revenge, permanently damaging a portion of Tuoba Ancient God's mind and will.
Tuoba Ancient God was a fifth-tier eleventh-rank special lifeform, and his chances of becoming an ultimate being were already slim. Now, having lost part of his mental essence, his chances were almost zero.
It wasn't that he couldn't try, but attempting the breakthrough would likely result in death, with little hope of success.
This blow to Tuoba Ancient God's future was Lin Yuan's way of avenging the wrongs done to him.
Lin Yuan's friend, Fang Qing, had essentially died at Tuoba Ancient God's hands. Though Fang Qing had been revived by a Strongest One, the grudge had been formed.
If Lin Yuan had the ability, he naturally wouldn't let Tuoba Ancient God off the hook.
Second, the three artifacts Lin Yuan obtained had significantly enhanced his overall strength.
Defense, offense, and the "foresight" from the bronze compass had turned Lin Yuan into a well-rounded warrior with no weak points.
If he could unlock the full potential of the silver mirror and harness its spatial capabilities, Lin Yuan would be unstoppable in this two-dimensional world.
Moreover, these gains wouldn't be limited to this world. If Lin Yuan managed to return to the main universe, his rewards would multiply.
Three artifacts were equivalent to three twelfth-star-grade treasures or weapons. The mere thought of it thrilled Lin Yuan.
"Time to continue cultivating."
"I can feel it—the nineteenth level of the Witch Ancestor Path is almost within reach."
Lin Yuan mused to himself. He had been stuck at the eighteenth level of the Witch Ancestor Path for some time and had already gained deep insights into the nineteenth level.
In the virtual world, Deputy Tower Master Nalan contacted Lin Yuan with updates on major events happening in the two-dimensional world.
This was something Lin Yuan had specifically requested, as he had been lying low in the Luo Chuan base for a long time and didn't have much information on what was happening in the world's core.
Though Lin Yuan was confident that his Unrivaled Insight would allow him to surpass the eleventh-rank perfected lifeforms, he wasn't arrogant enough to ignore everything around him.
"Big news, big news."
Deputy Tower Master Nalan looked serious as he quickly spoke upon seeing Lin Yuan, "A mysterious expert, as powerful as the Nine Great Powerhouses, has emerged in the Ancient Blood Rain Kingdom."
The Ancient Blood Rain Kingdom was relatively inconspicuous among the twelve ancient kingdoms. While there were strong warriors of the myriad races present, no one of extraordinary power had ever emerged from it.
This was why Tuoba Ancient God and the other special lifeforms had targeted the Blood Rain Kingdom. They were looking for easy prey.
However, they had gotten more than they bargained for this time, as Tuoba Ancient God and the others had suffered a major defeat.
"That mysterious expert from the Blood Rain Kingdom is terrifying. He killed Tuoba Ancient God and Pei Shen with his bare hands, and those two were wielding artifacts," Deputy Tower Master Nalan said, his voice full of awe.
Even though Nalan was an eleventh-rank being, he knew there was a vast gap between himself and Tuoba Ancient God or Pei Shen. If he encountered them in the two-dimensional world, he wasn't sure he could even escape.
Lin Yuan quietly listened on the side. He was, of course, the mysterious expert Nalan was referring to, but for now, he had no intention of revealing that.
There was no benefit in doing so and it would only attract unnecessary attention.
"Many strong beings who fell into the two-dimensional world are still hiding and cultivating in secret. The Divine King and the Nine Great Powerhouses are just a portion of them," Deputy Tower Master Nalan said, reflecting on the hundred or so years of events, including battles involving the Divine King and the recent fight in the Blood Rain Kingdom.
Deputy Tower Master Nalan had practically given up on the idea of escaping the two-dimensional world with his clone.
"Leaving this world means competing with the Divine King and the mysterious expert from the Blood Rain Kingdom. But how could I compete with monsters like that?" he sighed.
"Indeed, many powerful beings are still hiding in the shadows," Lin Yuan nodded slightly.
He knew that many of the strong beings who had fallen into the two-dimensional world had the same idea: to focus on cultivation and remain hidden until the Heavenly Gate opened.
"However, even with some strong beings in hiding, the Divine King, the mysterious expert, and others are undoubtedly the most powerful beings in this world," Deputy Tower Master Nalan continued.
Revealing their identities early didn't mean they were weaker than those hiding their identities—it was just a different approach.
"What rank does the mysterious expert hold among the known powerhouses?" Lin Yuan asked curiously, wondering where his strength stood.
"I knew you would ask that," Deputy Tower Master Nalan smiled.
He wasn't surprised by Lin Yuan's question. In fact, most of the myriad race warriors in the two-dimensional world were curious about the mysterious expert from the Blood Rain Kingdom.
After all, who wouldn't be intrigued by someone who had remained unknown until they suddenly emerged, overwhelming everyone with their power?
"According to the latest rankings, that mysterious expert is currently ranked sixth," Deputy Tower Master Nalan said, summoning a virtual screen in front of him and showing it to Lin Yuan.
"Sixth?" Lin Yuan glanced down.
"Yes," Deputy Tower Master Nalan nodded. "Personally, I think that mysterious expert could rank even higher, but he has only fought a few times."
"He hasn't crossed paths with any of the Nine Great Powerhouses. His ranking is based only on his dominant battle against Tuoba Ancient God and the other special lifeforms, so his true strength isn't fully reflected."
The rankings in the two-dimensional world were based on many factors.
Many powerful beings had fought countless battles, making it easier to assess their strength, so their rankings were more precise.
However, the mysterious expert from the Blood Rain Kingdom had only fought once, during his pursuit of Tuoba Ancient God and the others. His rank was likely lower than his true potential.
But even with that one battle, he was ranked sixth, which showed just how impactful the fight had been.
"Divine King?" Lin Yuan scanned the rankings. As expected, the top spot was still held by the Divine King.
The rankings had been established over a hundred years ago, and the top nine had undergone significant changes over time, with almost all positions shifting.
Except for the Divine King, who had remained in the top spot since the list's inception, never once being challenged.
The Divine King had earned his fame during a battle against the Tianyu race, a pinnacle race that had nearly been wiped out.
That battle cemented the Divine King' fearsome reputation and had a massive impact, almost causing several ancestors of the Tianyu race to go berserk.
"The Divine King is incredibly strong," Deputy Tower Master Nalan remarked. "And the thing is, he's different from us."
"Different?" Lin Yuan was intrigued.
He didn't know much about the Divine King. This legendary eleventh-rank perfected lifeform from the Stellar Alliance was said to be one of the most likely beings to become an ultimate lifeform in the current universe.
"I just heard about this recently," Nalan explained. "Most of us, whether human evolvers or other alien warriors, are reduced in size when we fall into the two-dimensional world, becoming more like the main human figures of that world."
"That's true," Lin Yuan agreed.
Some special lifeforms were originally tens of thousands of miles long, but upon entering the two-dimensional world, they were compressed into a height of one to three meters.
Their forms were also altered to conform to this world's standard.
"Did you ever wonder why the Divine King have four arms?" Nalan asked.
"Four arms?" Lin Yuan looked at Nalan with curiosity.
"All myriad race warriors who fall into the two-dimensional world take on the form of the dominant human-like species: one head, two legs, two arms, two eyes, one nose, and one mouth," Nalan explained.
"But the Divine King have four arms."
Nalan paused, then revealed, "Those two extra arms? They're a strongest weapon, fused into the Divine King' body."
"Because of the weapon's immense power, not even the two-dimensional world can fully suppress it, which is why the Divine King still have four arms."
"Ah, that explains it," Lin Yuan said, his curiosity satisfied.
He had noticed the Divine King' extra arms before and found it odd, but he hadn't thought much about it, assuming it was just an anomaly.
"So, the Divine King is different from us. His power comes not only from his own strength but also from the addition of a strongest weapon," Nalan continued.
The Divine King's strongest weapon was different from the black iron staff Lin Yuan had obtained. The former was perfectly suited to the Divine King' abilities.
After all, the Divine King had brought his strongest weapon from the outside universe, whereas Lin Yuan had found his staff by chance in the two-dimensional world.
A perfectly matched strongest weapon could enhance its owner's power far beyond what other beings could imagine.
This was why the Divine King had remained at the top for over a hundred years without fighting any significant battles since their victory against the Tianyu race.
"No wonder," Lin Yuan felt a bit of pressure.
There were still two hundred years until the Heavenly Gate opened. Would he be able to surpass the Divine King, who wielded a strongest weapon perfectly suited to them, by then?
"A hundred years ago, the Tianyu race probably realized this as well and tried to kill the Divine King while he was still weak," Nalan said.
"That battle didn't just involve the Tianyu race—other pinnacle races were secretly supporting the effort."
Nalan explained that even the strongest members of human civilization had quietly observed, ready to take advantage of any opportunity to eliminate the Divine King.
But after witnessing the defeat of the Tianyu race, they had given up the idea.
"This latest ranking has the mysterious expert from the Blood Rain Kingdom at sixth, while the Prison race's 'Hou Zhu' has dropped to tenth," Nalan said, glancing at the updated list and shaking his head.
Hou Zhu from the Prison race was just an ordinary eleventh-rank lifeform, but thanks to his blood-red sword, he had managed to hold a position among the top nine for over a hundred years.
In the two-dimensional world, in a barren desert, a man holding a blood-red sword sat quietly.
"My ranking has dropped to tenth, so it's clear I'm no longer considered part of the first tier of powerhouses," the man, Hou Zhu, thought.
"People think I'm only in the top nine because of luck, because of this sword."
Hou Zhu from the Prison race mused.
The Divine King also had the help of a strongest weapon, but no one questioned his strength.
Even without his strongest weapon, the Divine King was already a perfected eleventh-rank legendary lifeform.
Moreover, the Divine King' strongest weapon wasn't something they had obtained in the two-dimensional world but had brought from the Stellar Alliance.
But for Hou Zhu?
He was seen as just a lucky individual.
Without his blood-red sword, Hou Zhu would be nothing.
As a result, he had always faced the most rumors and gossip among the Nine Great Powerhouses.
Now that he had dropped out of the top nine, it was almost certain that he would face more ridicule.
"Hmph, over the years, I've given up everything, devoting myself entirely to understanding this blood-red sword. I've already mastered nine deadly techniques," Hou Zhu sneered.
The mysteries within the blood-red sword exceeded his expectations. The terrifying killing intent it contained even made Hou Zhu feel uneasy.
"Just wait."
"When the Heavenly Gate opens in two hundred years, I'll show you my true strength."
Hou Zhu took a deep breath. As an eleventh-rank lifeform, he knew the importance of patience. All the myriad race warriors who had fallen into the two-dimensional world had one goal: the opening of the Heavenly Gate.
Hou Zhu was also waiting for that day.
...
20 chapters ahead on patreon: patreon.com/David_Lord
71