Yun Ming's successful grafting, without wasting the subsequent nurturing process, was precisely because he genuinely felt the pressure of this battle. In case Xu Yuan needed to retrieve Jue prematurely for combat, he prepared accordingly.
However, based on his observations, even if Xu Yuan and the Abyss Lord's battle placed him at a disadvantage, there was no need to interrupt the nurturing of Jue.
"Teacher, what the cosmic will nurtures is ultimately what the cosmic will nurtures."
Xu Yuan didn't feel at a loss.
"I personally tested it, feeling his Heavenly Sacred Splitting Abyss Halberd, just to experience the differences in super-divine artifacts. In my perception, super-divine artifacts are like divine-forged metals, condensing one's own essence and deriving their unique laws."
Yun Ming looked at Xu Yuan, not understanding his words.
The level of divine-forged metal and super-divine artifacts were clearly not on the same plane.
Especially condensing essence, which was the beginning of deriving laws.
What was the difference here?
"Independent of cosmic space, possessing its own laws." Xu Yuan explained.
Its own laws.
At this moment, Yun Ming understood Xu Yuan's meaning.
"All planes, though they have their distinctive laws, are still imprinted in the universe."
"Yes, the plane laws of ascending god-level planes will spread throughout the universe, but even those that haven't reached god-level planes, their inherent laws are shared with the universe." Xu Yuan nodded and said, "However, super-divine artifacts completely possess their unique laws."
Though Yun Ming understood Xu Yuan's meaning, he still found it hard to imagine how to make the nurtured laws independent of the universe.
"Teacher, beyond the plane is the universe; is there something even broader beyond the universe?" Xu Yuan posed a critical question.
Yun Ming froze.
For a moment, he couldn't follow Xu Yuan's train of thought.
Something even broader?
Beyond this universe, could there be something even broader?
"This world has no end, and neither does cultivation." Xu Yuan said indifferently.
His words made Yun Ming ponder deeply.
Cultivation has no end.
"So, based on such imagination, you believe there is something broader beyond the universe? According to the definitions of those scientists in the Federation, the universe itself is infinitely vast, the entirety of the world itself."
Xu Yuan shook his head.
"Teacher, countless plane evolutions have already explained everything. The results of laws under different evolutions are different. Our universe has a set of fundamental laws, but why can't this logic of laws have other possibilities? And what are the places based on these other foundational laws?"
Xu Yuan said, "Teacher, have you heard of chaos power?"
Yun Ming nodded.
He had indeed heard of this power. It was rumored that chaos power was the force from the initial birth of the universe, representing the origin of all forces.
"Chaos power, the origin of everything, the beginning of all things, but from another perspective, isn't chaos power also the initial force that evolved the universe?"
"Even now, chaos power still exists, though it is extremely rare. It's hard to find in the universe, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. The fact that this initial force of the universe has persisted until now doesn't it indicate that this power is inexhaustible?"
"Just like the stellar power on the Douluo continent, although it is the origin of all forces, after being digested by the plane, it turns into heaven and earth primordial energy, becoming nourishment for the plane's growth. But in reality, stellar power still exists on the Douluo continent, because the broader heavens and earth of the universe continuously provide stellar power to Douluo Planet."
"The universe is expanding, evolving, but the driving force behind all this cannot be without reason."
In Yun Ming's mind, he temporarily understood the meaning of the broader heavens and earth that Xu Yuan spoke of.
"But, if we follow what you're saying, does that mean this world really has no end? Beyond the plane is the universe, beyond the universe is an even broader heaven and earth, and beyond that broader heaven and earth, might there be an even broader world?"
Xu Yuan smiled and said, "Teacher, you're right, this possibility exists. But what if there is an ultimate concept? The difference between chaos power and stellar power is not trivial."
Stellar power is violent, but the forces it contains are all-encompassing.
In reality, it only encompasses everything and doesn't have particularly top-tier powers, like destructive power.
But chaos power is different. Chaos power includes creation and destruction, and its very existence is already in its ultimate form.
"I call the heavens and earth beyond the universe chaos, where nothing has been conceived, a world where no concepts exist. With the birth of the universe, the corresponding concept of chaos arises. Therefore, chaos doesn't exist, yet it does. It exists through the opening of the universe but always runs through the development of the universe. As long as new universes are conceived, chaos will exist."
"What about chaos power? Where does chaos power come from?" Yun Ming asked.
Xu Yuan fell into deep thought.
"Chaos power possesses creation and destruction, so why must it necessarily be materialized? It comes from nothingness, born in the chaos without concepts, leading to the conception of a new universe, the nurturing of a new universe."
"Perhaps, in different universes, chaos power is different."
Xu Yuan's thoughts were free and unrestrained, quickly describing to Yun Ming the chaotic universe he envisioned.
"Chaos doesn't exist, yet it truly exists at the point of each universe's conception. Because of chaos, there is the evolution of the universe from nothing to something, with inexhaustible chaos power."
Yun Ming was plunged into astonishment.
"From nothing to something..."
"Doesn't that mean everything is an illusion?"
Xu Yuan shook his head firmly, "No, existence is real."
"It's just the distinction between nothing and something."
"Teacher, don't you like to explain from the perspective of dimensions? Nothing and something, isn't this also a kind of dimensional leap? Perhaps reaching the pinnacle of cultivation means mastering this dimension."
Xu Yuan explained using the theory of dimensions that Yun Ming could most easily understand.
Sure enough, after hearing this explanation, Yun Ming's eyes became clear, no longer hazy.
"Teacher, what you mentioned before about the virtual and the real, can be seen as the dimension of matter and energy, or the dimension of matter and spirituality."
Virtual and real, nothing and something.
Adding the four-dimensional space that exists through superposition, essence, and the path of derived laws.
Walking through these paths directly leads to eight dimensions.
This...
The road has been paved; it's up to you whether you can walk it.
This might be the fundamental essence of cultivation.
So-called power is always secondary; the true essence of cultivation lies in transcendence, transcending layers of constraints, achieving the sublimation of life's essence.
At this moment, even Xu Yuan himself had new insights.
He gained a different understanding of the Supreme God King.
Perhaps, above the God King, there shouldn't only be the single path of the Supreme God King's throne, but also the path of dimensions.
No, starting from the God King realm, one should not be limited to so-called authority.
Xu Yuan realized that whether it's the path of the God King or the Supreme God King, both are based on existing laws, condensing authority to grasp the authority of external heavens and earth, controlling the external world, but never truly developing and forging their own path.
Perhaps there are some, but Xu Yuan hasn't seen them.
"The path of the God King is still the condensation of essence, not the mastery of authority."
It's just that the condensation of essence requires support, the existence of the divine realm, the assistance of authority, thus the condensation of authority, the formation of the supreme divine position.
However, returning to the essence, the existence of authority itself serves the purpose of condensing essence.
Therefore, as long as this can be achieved, it doesn't matter whether there is a divine realm or whether authority is condensed.
"Not talking about this, what I'm asking you now is about Jue." Yun Ming didn't continue pondering these profound theories.
The current issue was that Jue's opportunity was cut off.
It could have been done in one step, but you want to make up the second half yourself. Why?
"Teacher, even the Supreme God King is in opposition to the cosmic will. I think this crucial juncture of Jue ascending to a super-divine artifact should be handled by me."
In short, he didn't trust the cosmic will.
Even if the cosmic will had no selfish motives, who knows, in future confrontations, it might become a weapon for the opponent.
Xu Yuan clearly remembered that in the abyss, his calamity rune was so blatantly requisitioned.
Though its power was greater, causing more astonishing destruction in the abyss, it still sent chills down Xu Yuan's spine.
That was his power, the power derived from his inner realm. Though the early conception and evolution of the runes were external, they were used like tools at will, which was a huge shock to Xu Yuan as the owner.
Your power can be used by the cosmic will at any time.
How terrifying was that.
Interrupting the nurturing of Jue was also to avoid this.
The evolution of the calamity rune indeed owed much to the heavens. Xu Yuan added too little personal content to this rune.
So he didn't want to repeat the same mistake.
Jue's ascension must no longer be entirely dominated by the cosmic will.
Super-divine artifacts, if not self-ascended but nurtured by the cosmic will, could they truly succeed?
Xu Yuan recalled the aura of the Tree of Life; its strength was indeed absurd, but was that the feeling of a super-divine artifact?
No.
The Heavenly Sacred Splitting Abyss Halberd and the Tree of Life were different.
This might be why the mages on the Holy Heart Continent called them sacred artifacts rather than super-divine artifacts.
And the cultivation of other runes must no longer rely entirely on the auxiliary evolution of the cosmic will.
Of course, the assistance of heaven and earth, he had every reason to learn from.
Just now, the calamity rune's power greatly increased; Xu Yuan would still learn from it when necessary.
But it was impossible to copy verbatim.
"Hehe, then you really need to visit the plane where your father reincarnated."
Little Phoenix's voice suddenly entered Xu Yuan's ears.
Xu Yuan looked at Little Phoenix.
"What do you mean?"
"I can tell you, your conjecture is correct. Beyond the universe, there is another universe. Countless universes overlap, forming a multiverse. As for the chaos you mentioned, since it's a state and its definition is overly abstract, even if it truly exists, it might be unexplorable. So I can neither confirm nor deny it. Perhaps we can assume the existence of such a broader heaven and earth, which is chaos. From nothing to something, chaos conceived the multiverse."
"The place where your father reincarnated is not in our universe, so you might have the chance to gain some assistance different from our universe."
Want to escape someone's control?
Simple.
Just bring in another sponsor.
If that doesn't work, bring in two or three.
Learning from various sources, you'll eventually derive something of your own.
Little Phoenix's words made Xu Yuan's eyes light up.
The Linglu Continent where his father was, was not in this universe?
This was good news.
Yun Ming pondered Xu Yuan's mention of the cosmic will and didn't think Xu Yuan's understanding was wrong.
But he wasn't planning to guard against the cosmic will as Xu Yuan suggested.
Their paths were ultimately different.
The moment he opened the Underworld, Yun Ming's path was already set, determined as the path of divinity.
It was also different from the traditional path of godhood and from Xu Yuan's self-formed path. This path of divinity required him to continue controlling the heavens and earth, gaining control from all aspects.
Perhaps in the end, his divinity would develop into a supreme divine position?
Seek common ground while reserving differences.
Having received an explanation, Yun Ming no longer fretted.
Fortunately, it wasn't wasted.
Moreover, this opportunity was split into two parts, respectively given to the most suitable person.
This was actually better.
As master and apprentice continued their conversation, Xu Yuan suddenly felt a fluctuation.
This was a very unfamiliar fluctuation.
From the laws.
"What is this..."
Feeling the power of this fluctuation, Xu Yuan slightly narrowed his eyes.
"The Great Telepathy Spell?"
This was a forbidden spell of the Holy Heart Plane, mastered only by those at the supergod level.
The function of this forbidden spell was communication, enabling communication across cosmic dimensions, using the fluctuations of cosmic laws to transmit information.
"Is it Rex?" Xu Yuan wondered what important thing Rex had to say to him.
He recalled many techniques of the Great Telepathy Spell and began his first practical application.
"Xu Yuan, I don't know how long it will take for you to receive this telepathic message. It's encrypted, only your power activating the forbidden spell can decode the information inside."
"I don't know if you've returned to Douluo Planet, but isn't the threat to your Douluo Planet the Abyss? We recently discovered that the Abyss has ties with the Crimson Realm."
What?
Xu Yuan was surprised by the information he parsed from the Great Telepathy Spell.
The Crimson Realm?
Xu Yuan dug out information about the Crimson Realm from the corners of his memory.
This Crimson Realm seemed to pose a certain threat to even the Holy Heart Plane—an enormous plane.
The Abyss had connections with this plane?
Xu Yuan didn't doubt Rex.
After separating, upon learning this news, Rex informing him was already doing his best.
He continued parsing the information in this telepathic message.
"The relationship between the Crimson Realm and the Abyss is unclear for now, but they do have cooperation. Be wary of powerful beings from the Crimson Realm descending to your side."
Xu Yuan gave a bitter smile.
The news came late.
They were already here.
At this moment, Xu Yuan also knew Yan Long's origin.
He came from the Crimson Realm!
------------------------------------------------------
40+ Chapters Ahead Guaranteed: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)