690 Slow Improvement

Xu Jingming gazed intently at the complex, multifaceted high-dimensional weapon that lay before him. He infused it with his Heart Realm Force, analyzing its construction process and immediately pinpointing the three damaged parts.

I’ll start by creating those three components, he thought, constructing an illusory realm with ease.

Though the high-dimensional scholar may have been stronger, Xu Jingming knew that there were limits to what he could achieve when it came to constructing illusory realms.

Heart Realm Force gathered in the illusory realm and slowly condensed into a component.

Huh? Xu Jingming frowned. I clearly saw the entire construction process. Why is the component I create different from those created by him?

While the high-dimensional scholar could create a masterpiece with ease, for him, it would only be a poor imitation. It couldn’t even be considered a replica that could pass off for real!

I don’t believe that I can’t even make a good replica. Xu Jingming patiently tried again and again.

Practice makes perfect, and he began to figure out the unspoken rules. And in just two days, he had created the first component.

At the very least, the structure looked identical.

Over the course of the next three days, his attempts completed the remaining two components.

I’ve finished manufacturing the three components, he thought to himself. But there’s another problem. I don’t know the detailed material attributes of these three components, so I can only make them appear the same on the surface. The material attributes of the components can only be figured out through repeated testing.

He looked at the damaged components in front of him and began to emulate their material.

“Turn illusion into reality!”

The three components gradually condensed from the illusory realm, and a large amount of Heart Realm Force fused into them, turning them into physical objects.

It wasn’t difficult to turn illusions into reality. For example, in the universe, the Force could construct all matter! But in high-dimensional space… As the Heart Realm’s most fundamental force, the Heart Realm Force could indeed construct over 99% of the materials in this realm, if one understood their basic composition.

Xu Jingming was bewildered by its design and could only try his best to replicate it.

I’ll give it a shot. Xu Jingming allowed his Heart Realm Force to penetrate the multifaceted weapon, breaking it down piece by piece before reassembling it anew, replacing the damaged components with three new ones.

After understanding the complex construction process, he was able to disassemble and install the multifaceted high-dimensional weapon without breaking a sweat.

Whoosh!

Xu Jingming emerged from the scientific ruins with the multifaceted weapon in hand and arrived at the edge of Myriad Star Island.

First experiment.

Xu Jingming had studied the detailed construction process and knew precisely how to wield this high-dimensional weapon.

The Heart Realm Force surged into the multifaceted high-dimensional weapon floating before him. He could feel the energy coursing through its internal mechanisms, and he knew that it was ready for action.

With a single thought, he triggered the weapon, and a terrifying fluctuation descended upon the vast expanse in front of him.

It was as if a colossal bubble had emerged from thin air, obliterating all matter and energy in its path.

Buzz.

The multifaceted weapon emitted a distinct buzz, and Xu Jingming frowned as he observed it closely. He used his Heart Realm Force to explore the weapon’s interior. Two of the three components have cracks. The materials used were not up to par.

“Jingming!” The dean’s voice echoed across the void as he materialized beside Xu Jingming. He grinned as he gazed upon the multifaceted weapon beside him. “You repaired this high-dimensional weapon so quickly?”

Xu Jingming smiled. “It hasn’t been fully repaired. This weapon was created from the Heart Realm’s illusory realm, so I can repair it. However, it will take time.”

The dean nodded in agreement. “It’s not very powerful. It’s only an attack at the peak Eternal level. The forbidden weapons we repaired have the might of a half-step third realm after simplification.”

The dean was a peak Eternal, and he found the weapon’s potency lacking. He could easily deliver a casual strike that was no less powerful than this high-dimensional weapon.

“Its potency is average; this is an experimental work of a high-dimensional scholar.” He nodded in admittance.

It had to be known that the high-dimensional scholar was no joke. He had once fought an Abyss Sovereign. Xu Jingming was a little disappointed that such an existence’s high-dimensional weapon was so weak.

“There are a total of five forbidden weapons we’ve repaired. Tower Master, Island Lord, and I each have one. There are still two left… You can give it a try,” the dean said.

“I’ll finish exploring the scientific ruins first.” Xu Jingming was in no rush.

…

Xu Jingming had poured his heart and soul into scouring the scientific ruins, but it was all for naught.

Two high-dimensional weapons created using the Heart Realm lineage, Xu Jingming thought to himself, shaking his head in disbelief. Both peak Eternal, and still in the experimental phase! Even as a forbidden weapon, one alone wouldn’t be enough to take down a half-step third realm.

With the experimental manual and a trove of high-dimensional weapons at someone’s disposal, there is a chance that one can unlock the secrets of the scientific path. But alas, my scientific aptitude is average at best. I should refocus on the Heart Realm. After spending a month studying the ruins, he decided not to waste any more time on this futile endeavor.

…

Heart Realm territory, beast hide space.

Xu Jingming sat cross-legged, his mind focused on the Sin Flower floating before him. With each petal that bloomed, he drew in a massive amount of sin, harnessing its power with his Heart Realm Force.

Black Lotus Fire.

He began to set up a complex structure of engravings—the Black Lotus Diagram. He extracted endless sins and fused them into the diagram, creating a lifelike representation of the lotus.

And under the fusion of countless sins, a wisp of black flame finally rose. It was a qualitative change from the original Nine-leaf Cleansing Lotus Fire.

Darker, filthier, and more terrifying—its power was countless times greater.

Black Lotus Fire One-leaf realm. Xu Jingming’s heart didn’t stir. After all, he had already achieved the Eternal realm, and mastering the Black Lotus Fire was only right for one of his caliber. It was the might of the Eternal realm threshold.

The Black Lotus Diagram continued to evolve, growing more complex and devouring endless sins.

Xu Jingming nurtured it for more than a day, until he had finally reached the Two-leaf realm. The color of the Black Lotus Fire was now more saturated and even more terrifying.

I’ve reached the Two-leaf realm. Xu Jingming thought, nodding slightly as he continued to sketch the next level of the runic structure.

Time passed.

Xu Jingming had finally come to a halt after a year and a half.

The Black Lotus Fire Three-leaf realm is my limit for now. Xu Jingming frowned slightly. My mind can’t withstand any greater sins.

The sins had become too much to handle. Even though he had mastered the fourth realm of the Eight Directions Map, the Appetite and Lust realm, Xu Jingming still felt like his consciousness was in chaos. He didn’t dare to extract more sins.

His mind wasn’t ready, and he could still be corrupted if there were excessive sins.

I’ve been born for more than 10,000 years. I’m considered very young among high-dimensional Eternal lifeforms, but my mind is ultimately a little weak. Xu Jingming acknowledged his weakness. Moreover, I haven’t figured out the form of the Five-leaf Black Lotus Diagram for the Red Lotus Fire. I can’t set up the Five-leaf Black Lotus Diagram!

On the one hand, cultivating flames required extracting sufficient sins. On the other hand, one needed to understand the forms of the Cleansing Lotus, Black Lotus, and even the Red Lotus.

Cleansing Lotus, pure and ethereal.

Black Lotus—it’s corrupt and dark, like a living thing tempting me. The higher the form of the Black Lotus, the more terrifying it is. Just the appearance recorded in the Nine-leaf Black Lotus terrifies me, as if I were looking at an endless abyss. Xu Jingming shook his head gently. According to the legacy’s description, I have to go to the Abyss to see the Abyss Red Lotus at close range to understand the Abyss Red Lotus Diagram.

Therefore, if I want to rely on Red Lotus Fire to reach the half-step third realm, I have to visit the Abyss.

But there was no hurry.

He had to first strengthen his mind and control the level of sin needed to condense Red Lotus Fire, which would be countless times greater than now. He doubted whether even the Sin Flower contained enough sin to make it possible.

He knew that he needed a stronger mind to even begin to view the Abyss Red Lotus.

It can’t be helped. Red Lotus Fire is ultimately the legacy of Master of the Abyssal Void. Master of the Abyssal Void has a deep relationship with the Abyss. Xu Jingming’s rapid progress had slowed down considerably.

Xu Jingming paused at the Eight Directions Map’s Appetite and Lust realm, unable to make any headway.

He knew that his understanding of the Abyss was superficial and that he needed to accumulate more in every aspect.

Xu Jingming shook his head. My cultivation of the Three Threads of the Heart Realm has temporarily slowed down due to my mental stagnation.

He had reached a bottleneck in every aspect.

This is the normal speed of improvement for the Eternal realm, right? Xu Jingming smiled. He was still satisfied with his growth.

******

Home universe, Primordial Research Institute headquarters.

Primordial One, Whitejail, and Sherwood—three cosmic legends—gathered to meet Xu Jingming.

“Deputy Dean.” The three of them were very respectful as they looked at the black-robed man painting by the lake. The painting emitted an endless darkness that was shrouded by a force that prevented them from seeing it clearly.

Yet, the three cosmic legends couldn’t shake off the invisible dark aura that swayed their minds.

The aura of a mere painting is already so terrifying. What kind of painting is it? The three cosmic legends guessed.

As expected of an Eternal from the Heart Realm lineage. His influence probably exceeds that of the dean and the others.

As cosmic legends, they naturally knew that… Xu Jingming had already reached the high-dimensional Eternal realm! The Heart Realm’s Eternal realm strength was unimaginable.

A single word of his, a look of his, or even a remnant wisp of his aura can control our minds, right? Primordial One was secretly surprised. He was my junior brother back then, but in the blink of an eye, he has become a high-dimensional Eternal lifeform.

“What’s the matter?”

Xu Jingming stopped painting. On the drawing board was a dark abyss, but upon closer inspection, a dark abyss—pulsating with life—stared back at him in the form of a black lotus flower.

“Deputy Dean,” Primordial One said respectfully, “this is the latest revival list.”

Xu Jingming swept his gaze and knew all the names on the list.

The dean and the others are always slacking off, leaving me with these trivial matters, Xu Jingming thought to himself, frustration seeping into his mind. But he couldn’t blame them; resurrecting beings using consciousness carriers was an arduous task since returning in person was difficult.

Xu Jingming’s many clones had the strength of the Eternal realm, making it easier for him to revive them.

And after breaking through to the Eternal realm himself, he had to shoulder the burden of guarding their homeworld, dealing with the species war, and revival, while the others enjoyed their free time.

“The Heart Realm lineage is great; they have countless clones, so we can rest easy knowing that Jingming will handle the race’s matters.” The dean and the others were very happy.

Xu Jingming was speechless when he recalled this scene.

He was indeed the most suitable person.

“Anything of note happening lately?” he inquired.

“The human race is holding steady, but our neighbors, the Void Celestials, are causing quite a stir with their latest selection,” Primordial One responded. “And the Hellions just saw one of their own break through to become a cosmic legend. Sovereign Moyou is his name.”

Sovereign Moyou? Xu Jingming fell into thought. It’s him?

The same Sovereign Moyou he encountered when he became an Origin lifeform and entered the species battlefield.

Sovereign Moyou was revived after his death and lost the Eyes of Nightmare, Xu Jingming realized. But he also escaped its corruption. After such a long time, he really broke through.

Xu Jingming turned to face Primordial One, Sherwood, and Whitejail.

“Let’s begin the revival.” He cast his gaze across the lake in front of him.