The location of this crystal might belong to a node where stellar energy erupts.
If this crystal hadn't formed, it would have been fine. The continuous emergence of stellar energy here, after the spatial forces stabilized, wouldn't be an issue. It would just make this area rich in stellar energy or create a new and unique environment.
However, at the moment this node formed, the dense stellar energy created this crystal, blocking the eruption point. The stellar energy kept accumulating, causing the crystal to grow while the stellar energy here was blocked, forming a low-concentration stellar energy environment.
Once this crystal is removed, the eruption of stellar energy will cause energy transformations, affecting the space.
After Xu Yuan's explanation, Long Yuxue and the others understood the risks here and didn't rashly take the crystal away.
"Let's send some people back to report first. At least one person should stay here to keep watch," Long Yuxue said.
"I'll stay. You all go back and report. I can study a bit on my own and won't act rashly," Xu Yuan replied.
With his strong personal power and understanding of spatial forces, Xu Yuan was the safest person to research this stellar crystal alone.
His research efficiency might even be higher than that of the institute's researchers.
It wasn't that he coveted the stellar energy within the crystal.
He was simply curious about the formation process of this node.
Long Yuxue didn't hesitate and left with the other three team members.
Xu Yuan stayed alone next to the stellar crystal.
First, he integrated his Dream Space into the surroundings, stabilizing the nearby spatial forces. Then, his mental power, through the Dream Space, merged into the surrounding space.
"The energy pathways are so clear."
Compared to Douluo Star, the energy pathways here were exceptionally clear.
On Douluo Star, Xu Yuan had also integrated the Dream Space into the heavens, but even then, using the Seven Forbidden Techniques, he couldn't perceive the entire energy circulation pathways of Douluo Star.
Especially the energy conversions hidden deep within the plane—he couldn't sense them at all.
A plane's operation necessarily involves absorbing external energy to sustain itself. However, this process is hidden deep within the plane. Xu Yuan's Dream Space and Seven Forbidden Techniques might not have been advanced enough as he hadn't sensed this level yet.
Here, by merely integrating the Dream Space easily into the surroundings and letting his mental power naturally merge, Xu Yuan felt the pathways formed by the stellar energy, akin to observing a target in a transparent container with fluorescent effects.
"Perhaps this space is also my opportunity right now." Xu Yuan quickly organized the surrounding stellar energy pathways.
He separated the Dream Space from the passage's space and began experimenting alone within the Dream Space.
Using part of the energy to form similar pathways, he gradually studied the secrets of these energy operations.
Time passed, and three hours went by in the blink of an eye.
Feeling someone approaching, Xu Yuan stopped his research and looked behind him.
"Director, why did you come personally?" Xu Yuan asked in surprise.
Indeed, among the arriving researchers was Director Zhang Shaoyuan.
Zhang Shaoyuan smiled and pointed to the crystal behind Xu Yuan, saying, "This is a pure stellar energy crystal. Although the stellar energy contained within isn't enough to create a supreme powerhouse, the energy structure of this crystal itself is highly significant for research."
Unlike energy crystals formed over long periods of energy accumulation, this stellar crystal definitely formed and gradually grew within just one day.
Whether it's the special energy construction within this crystal or the unique energy operation structure of the surrounding space, both are quite worthy of study.
If thoroughly researched, artificially creating energy crystals might no longer be a dream.
Creating energy crystals could be considered an energy revolution.
It might not significantly impact ordinary life on Douluo Star, but for exploring the outside world, especially space exploration, it would be profoundly meaningful.
After all, energy crystals are solid-state. A small piece contains an enormous amount of energy when converted to its ordinary form.
If we could produce energy crystals, especially master the technology of condensing stellar energy into crystals, the energy problem for spaceships would be solved.
Listening to Zhang Shaoyuan's explanation, Xu Yuan suddenly understood.
So that's how it is.
Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind.
Useful for spaceship energy?
He clearly remembered the Starry Sea Alliance he founded before joining the Blood God Legion.
The Starry Sea Alliance absorbed top factions with various cutting-edge technologies related to spaceship manufacturing. While they integrated all these technologies, they still couldn't fully overcome the energy aspect.
According to Xu Yuan's requirements, making a spaceship capable of briefly exploring space seemed hopeful.
However, overcoming the energy technology hurdle remained a significant headache for the Starry Sea Alliance.
Xu Yuan recalled that in the original story, this hurdle relied on a structure inside the Godslayer Missile, similar to nuclear reactions, which gave the research team some ideas.
Now, the Starry Sea Alliance should still be researching that technology.
But without dismantling the Godslayer Missile, overcoming this technology was basically impossible.
"This energy crystal technology is indeed a new direction."
Meanwhile, Xu Yuan also began experimenting within the Dream Space.
Though it seemed like only three hours had passed, a whole day had already elapsed within the Dream Space.
During this day, Xu Yuan replicated the energy pathways he perceived but didn't discover any special effects.
Zhang Shaoyuan's words inspired him.
"If these pathways aid in the crystallization of stellar energy, there are only a few directions: gathering stellar energy, high compression, or some sort of stimulating condition, etc."
Gathering stellar energy and high compression were basically impossible. After a day of research within the Dream Space, Xu Yuan found no such effect.
Thus, if there was any effect, it was likely a hidden one, like a stimulating condition.
"This is a node where stellar energy erupts, so the stellar energy here is inherently dense and highly concentrated," Xu Yuan stared at the location of the stellar crystal, pondering, "This crystal is also growing, indicating that the environment here is special to some extent."
Perhaps, the environment created by these energy pathways is suitable for stellar energy to condense into solid crystals?
This was Xu Yuan's hypothesis, and he needed to test it within the Dream Space.
Unfortunately, even with a specific direction, his attempts only made some progress.
"The stellar energy has partially liquefied, but it quickly disperses, showing no stable structure formation."
For stellar energy, perhaps a liquid state cannot have a stable structure, while a solid state can better confine it.
However, perhaps the stellar energy Xu Yuan provided didn't meet the standards. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't solidify the stellar energy. Instead, as he increased the concentration of stellar energy, he became more familiar with the process of liquefaction.
Xu Yuan didn't continue studying energy crystal technology indefinitely. After a few hours of experimentation, he confirmed that the research team was familiar with the surrounding environment, had preliminarily set up a temporary research base, and built safety measures with the outside, then he departed.
He continued deeper alone.
With the Dream Space able to suppress space relatively easily, traveling within this spatial passage was very smooth.
After a day of exploration, he encountered an Abyss creature for the first time.
"Mo Mei?" Seeing the Mo Mei that suddenly appeared before him, Xu Yuan was startled.
However, he soon relaxed.
This Mo Mei's power was severely depleted, giving off a lethargic feeling.
"Abyss creatures are also troubled by this environment."
Unlike humans, Abyss creatures aren't particularly intelligent; they possess basic thinking abilities, but only basic cognitive skills.
Perhaps they would choose to restrain their Abyss energy based on experience, but the violent instincts within their bodies caused them to react more intensely than soul masters under stress.
This led Abyss creatures to frequently be swept away by the spatial forces here.
The Mo Mei before Xu Yuan was already a lord-level creature. Its spiritual strength compared to human soul masters was close to the Lingyuan realm, yet it appeared lethargic, seemingly exhausted from resisting the spatial forces earlier.
"By the way, does this space still retain the effects of my previous primitive Dream Space?"
Since it was a fusion of two spaces, half-real and half-illusory, could it still transform stellar energy?
Xu Yuan used a mental shock to kill the Mo Mei in front of him.
The Mo Mei exploded into a ball of energy and rapidly disappeared into the depths.
"There's still some!"
Xu Yuan sensed changes in some stellar energy.
"Unfortunately, it seems the effect of transforming stellar energy is gone, but under the influence of Abyss energy, this space still increases the intake of stellar energy."
"Without my specifically arranged formations, it still exerts such effects. I wonder what happened during the formation of this space."
Curious, Xu Yuan continued deeper, exploring this mutated spatial passage.
Abyssal Plane.
"It actually formed a celestial phenomenon."
The Abyssal Sage King mobilized Abyss energy to recover all residual energy from Abyss creatures that died in the spatial passage.
In this process, he also sensed the energy flow within the passage.
"The settings of the illusory space established on Douluo Star side have transformed into rudimentary rules and fused into this phenomenon."
Between the half-real and half-illusory, this result was achieved.
"The space is so sensitive that even I can only stabilize less than one-third of the area."
While Douluo Star explored, the Abyssal Sage King even took the initiative to explore this newly formed space.
"The plan to further weaken Douluo soul masters cannot proceed."
The Abyssal Sage King didn't care much about this.
Previously, he didn't care because the supposed weakening was just a gradual tightening, helping him confirm whether the God Realm truly disappeared.
Now, he didn't care because the situation on Douluo Star was complex, with a sleeping plane master present.
"It is said that the Sea God had a hammer, resembling the hammer manifested by Douluo Star's rules, especially the blood-red patterns, almost overlapping with the aura of the Asura. This plane master must be related to him."
Having basically confirmed that the God Realm had moved far away, just as he began the final step of devouring Douluo, he received this information, causing the Abyssal Sage King to hesitate.
Should he initiate the final step?
"The disappearance of the God Realm is basically confirmed. Even if Douluo Star has a plane master, he surely isn't as strong as me."
The Abyssal Sage King was confident.
Both sides had comparable volumes.
However, the Abyssal Plane was a pure energy plane, and all powers could be allocated by him.
Douluo Star was different. Being a physical plane, most of its energy had transformed into physical existence. Even the numerous soul masters and soul beasts as life forms were manifestations of Douluo's plane energy, which obviously the plane master of Douluo Star couldn't utilize.
"Perhaps I should have initiated earlier." The Abyssal Sage King felt a tinge of regret.
An opportunity was given!
He realized that the six thousand years of attrition also caused him to lose an excellent opportunity.
"Probably my consumption of Douluo Star's power indirectly helped that guy take over the plane master."
Damn!
But it wasn't without opportunities.
"My Heavenly Sacred Splitting Abyss Halberd is temporarily kept secret; even my mother doesn't know about it. It's my trump card."
The plan continues!
The Abyssal Sage King made a decision.
The only change was to be more cautious to avoid being outmaneuvered by that Sea God.
"Devil Emperor, descend. This should be the most problematic link in my plan. Continue to retain it, but as a backup plan, don't deploy all forces there."
The Abyssal Sage King gazed at the spatial passage.
"The exploration of this celestial phenomenon cannot be neglected. Controlling this area might help me nurture another super divine artifact."
Rule collisions bring disasters but also opportunities.
The reason the Abyss could nurture a super divine artifact was due to its continuous devouring of other physical planes, colliding multiple times with their planes, causing rule changes at the core of the plane. Finally, utilizing the vast energy of the Abyss, it nurtured the Heavenly Sacred Splitting Abyss Halberd.
"Moreover, the celestial phenomenon shouldn't be something the Sea God could prearrange. After all, the birth of every celestial phenomenon is accidental; he couldn't possibly foresee it to this extent."
"The celestial phenomenon connects two planes. As long as I control this passage and strengthen it to the point where it can receive me, I can attempt to descend into the passage."
At the connection between the passage and Douluo's plane, a fatal blow could be dealt to Douluo Star.
"This phenomenon is still gestating. Wait a few months, and it should be sufficiently developed."
At the connection between the Abyss and the spatial passage, endless Abyss armies surged into the passage.
At one-third of the passage, a large number of Abyss creatures died, transforming into energy returning to the Abyss.
This cycle repeated endlessly.
"Approximately more than three kilometers deep," Xu Yuan calculated his depth of penetration. "If this anomaly hasn't affected the length of the passage itself, then I should currently be at the one-third position of the passage."
"From here, the frequency of encountering Abyss creatures begins to increase. It seems the Abyss exploration efficiency is still higher than the Blood God Legion."
The other side had explored two-thirds of the length, while the Blood God Legion here hadn't reached one-third.
Reaching the one-third position was only Xu Yuan.
Other main forces hadn't explored beyond one kilometer.
"Cao Dezhi is also inside. He left earlier than me, probably penetrating deeper than me, but it doesn't matter much. The mutation of this passage has obviously become a buffer point for both sides. How much area they occupy initially may determine how much benefit they gain in the future."
Advancing here, Xu Yuan had discovered more than one opportunity.
The stellar energy crystal was just one type.
"The entire space transforms from reality to illusion and vice versa. In the half-real and half-illusory state, illusions affect the rules while reality provides the foundation. The formation of this space involved cosmic space input. The entire process could even be seen as the birth of a plane."
At least the initial stage of a plane's birth.
"Pity that Abyss creatures can afford to experiment with their lives, but the Blood God Legion cannot. There's no way around it."
Xu Yuan eliminated the Bahan in front of him and continued to explore forward.
Since the overall exploration of the legion lagged, individual efforts were needed to seize opportunities further ahead.
In the blink of an eye, Xu Yuan had spent three days in the passage.
"Hmm?"
Xu Yuan felt a strong energy fluctuation and immediately changed his expression.
He sensed a familiar presence.
It was Cao Dezhi.
Ahead.
Cao Dezhi gritted his teeth and stepped forward, bursting with soul power to repel the fifteenth-ranked Xiniu of the Abyss.
(T/N: I have no idea who 'Xiniu' is, the wiki doesn't have anything either)
"The power of the Abyssal Sage King is indeed formidable, directly stabilizing such a vast area of space. No wonder the Abyss exploration is so fast."
With no choice, he had to enter the region where the Abyssal Sage King had stabilized the space to battle Xiniu.
Otherwise, he feared that using soul power would get him swept away by spatial forces into the dimensional gap.
At that time, it would be even more troublesome.
Even so, he might face more threats from the Abyss.
"Senior, retreat!"
A mental transmission calmed Cao Dezhi's heart.
Feeling that the spatial forces behind him seemed to stabilize somewhat, he immediately retreated.
The enraged Xiniu roared and charged towards Cao Dezhi.
A silvery flash flickered across the dark luster of the thick horn on his head.
Boom!
The spatial forces fluctuated.
Cao Dezhi looked toward Xiniu and saw that it had just triggered a spatial upheaval.
He quickly retreated, and Xu Yuan quickly retracted the range of the Dream Space stabilizing the spatial forces.
Xiniu's horn collided with the weak spot in the space, instantly shattering it.
From afar, Xu Yuan saw the profound cosmic space.
Just one glance nearly made one fall into it.
"Don't stare at the cosmic space. That's a dimensional gap, the space between different dimensions, even scarier than a dimensional layer!"
Dimensional layers are just chaotic, causing disorientation and facing crises brought by changes in spatial forces. But dimensional gaps are much more dangerous, causing chaos on a cognitive level.
Not being a four-dimensional life form, peeking into the four-dimensional cosmic structure would only lead to getting lost.
Cao Dezhi directly pulled Xu Yuan to retreat.
By the time Xu Yuan realized, he had already been pulled back more than three hundred meters by Cao Dezhi.
"Sure enough, I knew that since the illusory space was your setup, you should have a way to handle this environment." Cao Dezhi's voice sounded in Xu Yuan's ear.
Clearly, he also felt the reason why the surrounding space had become stable now.
"I don't know the specifics of your soul skill, but I assume you developed it towards real and illusory changes. The current state of this passage is very special, existing in a combined real and illusory state. Follow me back to the exit of the passage and carefully experience this state—it's your greatest opportunity."
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