189: Chapter 189 Conferring Titles and Kingships: Combat Power

Chapter 188: Comprehending the Star Dome Domain

That barrier, facing the torrent that had accumulated to its limit, held for only a few breaths before quietly dissolving like melting snow.

"Boom!"

It felt as if some invisible shackle within his body had been completely shattered.

His True Essence, blood and Qi, and Primordial Spirit Power instantly connected and merged, ultimately settling into a brand new, incomparably thick and refined state.

A surging sense of power filled every corner of his body; every movement now contained power far exceeding what it had before.

Feeling the True Essence within him, as steady and heavy as the earth yet containing infinite vitality, Li Wen slowly opened his eyes.

In his originally deep eyes, galaxies seemed to be flowing at this moment. A restrained yet astonishing divine light flashed and vanished, immediately returning to calm, leaving only a stillness as unfathomable as an ancient well.

He exhaled a long breath of stale air; his breath was long and drawn out, seemingly carrying a metallic resonance.

"Finally, the Peak of the Great Sun Realm." Beneath his calm tone lay the certainty of finally stepping into this realm and a trace of imperceptible relief.

This step across meant that the door to a higher level was already close at hand.

The next few days were for consolidation, a natural progression.

He meticulously combed through the immense power within his body, allowing this power of the Peak realm to completely settle and harmonize, leaving no room for any flimsiness or further improvement.

Evening, April 7th, 236 galactic calendar.

Li Wen rose from his meditation, his surging True Essence circulating within his body, harmonious and fluid, having truly reached the limit of the Great Sun Realm.

He changed into casual clothes, left his residence silently, and arrived at a secret reception room in the Underground Fortress Pass.

The captain stationed in Changning City, who had been temporarily transferred from another fortress to hold the fort for him, was already waiting there.

"Captain Li." The captain stood up, his attitude respectful.

"Thank you for your hard work. For the next period of time, I'll leave Changning City to you."

Li Wen was concise, handing over several defense nodes that needed focused attention and recent briefings on Yao Race activities to the other party.

"It is my duty; rest assured, Captain Li." The captain took them solemnly.

The handover process was simple and efficient, taking only a few minutes.

Subsequently, Li Wen's figure seemed to merge into the night, disappearing silently from the fortress without alerting any team members or the city defense System.

His departure did not even leave any record in the command center.

This was completely different from the situation when Captain Zhao Zheng made his Breakthrough.

After all, he was different from Captain Zhao Zheng; even if Captain Zhao Zheng succeeded in breaking through to become a Marquis-level Divine Demon, the Human Race would only have one more ordinary Marquis-level Divine Demon.

But once he successfully crossed the threshold of a Marquis, based on the terrifying combat power he had already displayed in the Great Sun Realm, he would very likely leap directly to the Peak of the Marquis level.

The strategic value of one Peak Marquis-level powerhouse was enough to equal more than a dozen ordinary Marquis-level ones.

Not to mention his widely anticipated future potential to reach the King-rank, or even the Peak King-rank.

This would be a force capable of instantly changing the strategic balance between the Human Race on Blue Star and the Yao Race.

The Yao Race and their minions, the "Shadow," would never sit by and watch him successfully break through.

Once his whereabouts were leaked, what awaited him would surely be a frenzied interception and assassination.

To avoid these unnecessary troubles, Li Wen chose to leave in a low profile.

The night was the best cover.

Li Wen's figure, like a stream of light merging into the night wind, instantly swept across the sky above the city.

His speed had already surpassed the limits of ordinary King-rank Divine Demons, even faster than the fastest aircraft currently possessed by the Human Race.

The continuous lights receded rapidly beneath his feet, and the sound of the wind was left far behind him.

It didn't take long before the familiar yet slightly strange magnificent outline of Kindling University came into view in the distance.

When Li Wen's figure appeared on the Kindling University campus again, the news was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, quickly sending ripples spreading out.

Whether they were old Disciples who had already stepped into the Flying Star Realm, or new Disciples who had only just come up the mountain, their gazes were involuntarily drawn to that steady figure.

"Look! It's Senior Brother Li Wen!"

"It really is him! He's back!"

"Returning at this time—could it be for—"

Whispers arose everywhere, filled with surprise, excitement, and deep admiration.

This Prodigy, who had long been famous on Blue Star and was regarded as the future hope of the Human Race, caused a sensation every time he appeared.

Soon, the campus forum and internal communication groups were flooded with messages about "Li Wen returning to school," and countless discussions and speculations emerged instantly.

Li Wen did not linger; his figure moved slightly, and within a few flashes, he had appeared in front of the quiet bamboo courtyard behind Wudao Peak.

"Principal." He bowed respectfully.

The white-haired Principal was tending to a few spiritual plants in the courtyard that were emitting a glowing starlight. Hearing him, he looked up, a gentle smile appearing on his face: "You're here? Your aura is very stable; it seems everything is ready."

He put down the watering can in his hand and looked Li Wen over carefully, his eyes full of gratification and expectation.

"Yes." Li Wen nodded, and at the Principal's gesture, walked over and sat on a nearby stone stool.

Without much small talk, the Principal asked a few questions about the situation in Changning City like an ordinary Elder, and Li Wen answered briefly.

The topic naturally turned to the upcoming Breakthrough.

"The Star Dome Domain is the key to connecting with heaven and earth and Awakening one's own Origin; it is also the Foundation for future Domains," the Principal said in a calm voice. "This Peak is profound, but how long it takes to fully comprehend it depends on one's own Opportunity. Remember, the two words 'Star Dome' not only describe its vastness but also point to its essence: you yourself are the center of that Universe. Go, calm your heart and comprehend it."

"This student understands." Li Wen responded solemnly.

During the brief meeting, the Principal's words were like a calming stone, causing the last trace of uncertainty in his heart to dissipate.

Bidding farewell to the Principal, Li Wen's thoughts flickered, and the next moment he appeared at the foot of Nine Heavens Peak.

The mountain was still the same mountain, shrouded in clouds and mist, with Sword Qi faintly appearing.

He arrived at the familiar Courtyard A1.

The courtyard was still tidy, obviously maintained by someone.

It was just that the faces of the Disciples coming and going on the mountain were mostly strangers now.

Upon inquiry, he learned that the Peak Master, Fang Qinghan, had gone to hold the fort at a large Interstellar Gate half a year ago, and the affairs of the Peak were temporarily managed by a senior Elder.

The fellow Disciples he once knew had either gone down the mountain or been transferred to the front lines; a sense of things remaining the same but people having changed quietly welled up in his heart.

He didn't stay long, just sat quietly in the courtyard for a moment, feeling the lingering aura of his past that remained there, before rising to leave.

His goal was clear—Star Dome Peak.

Before he even truly stepped onto the mountain path of Star Dome Peak, a completely different aura rushed towards him.

This mountain was not a strange or precipitous Peak; instead, it appeared exceptionally reserved.

The air was permeated with an indescribable tranquility and depth.

As far as the eye could see, the plants and rocks seemed to be dyed with a layer of faint starlight.

Even in the daytime, one could faintly feel a Concept of galaxies descending.

Looking up, the Peak did not seem to be a solid entity, but rather shrouded in a flowing, dreamlike light blue halo, as if it were connected to the deep space of the Universe.

Li Wen climbed the steps, his gait steady.

The closer he got to the summit, the clearer the feeling of merging with the starry sky became, as if every step was taken on the veins of the stars.

The summit was an open flat area, with a huge, neither-gold-nor-jade opening in the center.

Soft light flowed around the opening, faintly revealing an aura that made one's mind calm.

This was one of the core secret places of Kindling University—the Star Dome Cave.

Li Wen did not hesitate at all and stepped into the cave.

The interior of the cave was far more vast than it looked from the outside, as if it formed its own space.

The sight that met his eyes made him pause slightly.

It was different from the solemn scene of everyone sitting and comprehending that he had imagined.

Deep in the cave, beside a naturally formed stone table, two people were sitting.

One of them was Captain Zhao Zheng, who had entered this place half a year ago, and the other was also a sturdy man with a deep and profound aura.

What surprised Li Wen even more was that on the stone table in front of them, there was a stone chessboard engraved with the trajectories of stars, and next to it were two steaming teacups.

The fragrance of tea, mixed with the crisp aura inside the cave, permeated the air.

"Check! Hahaha, Senior Brother Zhang, your corner star layout was still broken by me!" Captain Zhao Zheng's hearty laughter echoed in the slightly empty cave.

"Hmph, you only had the advantage of the first move." The sturdy man called Senior Brother Zhang did not seem angry.

The two were about to start a new game when Captain Zhao Zheng caught a glimpse of the figure at the cave entrance out of the corner of his eye. He was stunned for a moment, then a surprised smile bloomed on his face: "Junior Apprentice Brother Li? Hahaha! I guessed you would come! Come here, come here!"

The Senior Brother Zhang beside the stone table also looked curiously at Li Wen.

Li Wen walked over with a trace of confusion on his face: "Senior Brother Zhao, Senior Brother Zhang. What is this—"

Looking at the chessboard and the hot tea, he really couldn't connect this leisurely scene before him with the legendary, difficult, and obscure comprehension of the Star Dome Domain.

Captain Zhao Zheng stood up, enthusiastically pulled Li Wen to sit down, and skillfully poured him a cup of hot tea. "Come, come, sit down and have something warm. Do you find it very strange?"

He laughed heartily and explained, "This Star Dome Domain is truly profound and mysterious. When I first came in, I was just like you, wishing I could spend all twenty-four hours a day sitting still and pondering, but what was the result?"

"It was useless. My mind was just a mess, and I became increasingly anxious. It wasn't until I chatted with Senior Brother Zhang later that I understood, you can't rush this."

"It's like a star hidden in the fog; the harder you stare, the less clearly you see it."

"Sometimes, if you clear your mind and do other things, feeling the aura in this cave, a flash of inspiration might just pop out on its own."

"Combining work with rest and maintaining a peaceful state of mind is the right path."

Senior Brother Zhang also nodded slightly. "Junior Brother Zhao Zheng's words are crude but true. The Star Dome is vast, and it cannot be forced. Everyone who can enter this cave has an Opportunity; you just need to wait for the flowers to bloom."

Li Wen nodded thoughtfully and took the tea handed to him by Captain Zhao Zheng.

The tea was warm and carried a unique, refreshing fragrance. After it went down his throat, a cooling sensation went straight to his Sea of Consciousness, and his spirit seemed to be invigorated.

Under this unique atmosphere, the three of them chatted like old friends.

The topics ranged from the defense of Changning City to the changes at Kindling University, uniquely avoiding the pressure of Cultivation.

After a few pots of tea, the slight tension Li Wen had felt from his Breakthrough and the journey quietly dissipated, and his state of mind became unprecedentedly peaceful.

Bidding farewell to Captain Zhao Zheng and Senior Brother Zhang, who continued to "combine work with rest," Li Wen began to stroll inside the cave.

The cave walls were not ordinary rock but a deep, mysterious black, naturally adorned with countless fine, star-like bright spots.

They were emitting a faint but pure starlight, illuminating the entire cave in a dreamlike manner.

The most peculiar part was the dome, which seemed like a flowing, miniature projection of the starry sky, with the trajectories of the stars slowly moving and changing according to some profound Law.

Floating in the air were visible pale silver energy light spots, like miniature stardust, which naturally merged into his body with his breathing, bringing wisps of coolness and enlightenment.

Deep in the cave, there were several vortices formed by naturally converging energy, emitting different fluctuations of Dao rhyme.

Without deliberately choosing a location, Li Wen sat cross-legged on a smooth stone platform in the center of the cave.

He closed his eyes, letting the omnipresent starlight and mysterious aura envelop him.

His mind completely calmed down, no longer deliberately pursuing, but trying to "feel" and "listen" to the voice of this Star Dome.

Meanwhile, in the outside world, the news of Li Wen entering the "Star Dome Cave" had already spread.

The entire Kindling University, and even some Divine Demons who were paying attention to the matter, were guessing how long it would take for this legendary Disciple to comprehend the mysterious Star Dome Domain.

"Senior Brother Li Wen has gone in! How long do you guess it will take?"

"With Senior Brother Li's Heaven-Defying Comprehension Ability, I think three months should be the absolute limit!"

"Three months? You're underestimating Senior Brother Li! I bet two months! Maybe even faster!"

"You guys are too optimistic, right? That's the Star Dome Domain! Even a Genius needs a process. I'll be conservative: four months?"

"I think one month isn't impossible!"

"One month—hiss, although I really want to believe it, that's too terrifying. I think three months is a more reliable guess."

"Agreed, about three months, after all, his accumulation is too deep; he is just waiting for the right moment to shine."

"I, on the other hand, think that the world of a Genius cannot be measured by common sense; maybe he really can create a miracle?"

Various discussions fermented in the cultivation grounds, the Martial Arts Field, and even on the internet.

Most people leaned towards a period of two or three months; this timeframe both acknowledged the difficulty of the Star Dome Domain and expressed strong confidence in Li Wen's talent.

Countless gazes, filled with anticipation, curiosity, and even a hint of unease, were cast toward the mountain Peak shrouded in starlight.

Time began to flow silently.

Inside the Star Dome Cave, time seemed to stand still.

Li Wen sat cross-legged, not rushing to use [Absolute Focus], but trying to perceive and capture the ethereal "Star Dome Domain" in his normal state.

He cleared his mind, and his consciousness slowly sank into the unique environment of the cave.

The surroundings were not pitch black, but flowing with a deep, faint light that seemed to contain endless fragments of stars.

He could perceive a certain rhythm in the space, like the trajectories of stars, or the pulse of the Universe at its birth.

These rhythms were very blurry, like watching distant starlight through a layer of thick frosted glass.

He could feel its existence, but he could never touch the core, let alone understand the principles of its composition and operation.

Half a day passed, and his mind felt as if it had fallen into a fog; he could hardly glimpse even a fraction of where the edge of the "Star Dome" lay.

"It seems that relying on my normal state alone is indeed not enough." Li Wen realized in his heart and did not hesitate any longer.

With a slight movement of his mind, the powerful Mental Energy brought by his Scholar profession Rank Lv15 was instantly mobilized, and [Absolute Focus] was activated—boom!

An indescribable sense of clarity swept through his Sea of Consciousness.

The world suddenly became different in his perception.

The spatial rhythm, which had been hazy and blurry, now seemed to have its dust wiped away by an invisible hand, suddenly becoming incomparably clear.

The 150% boost to Comprehension Ability, superimposed on his already extremely high talent, produced a qualitative change.

Those chaotic "rhythms" were no longer incomprehensible noise, but transformed into countless clearly visible, intertwined "Star Trails".

He "saw" the flow of energy, not as disorderly rushing, but following some extremely profound trajectory.

He perceived the layers of space, not as a single plane, but as an energy field composed of countless tiny particles, constantly rising and falling with the pulse of the "Star Trails".

The basic Law fragments that constituted the "Star Dome Domain", like parts of a dismantled precision instrument, were presented one by one under his powerful Primordial Spirit perception.

Li Wen was immersed in it, his mind completely attached to those clear "Star Trails" and Law fragments.

He no longer tried to forcibly grasp or understand everything, but instead, like solving a complex geometry problem, began to deduce and construct from the most basic nodes and the most core connections.

His spirit was highly concentrated, and the vast Primordial Spirit Power in his Sea of Consciousness simulated the operation of the Star Trails, trying to understand the resonance frequency of the particle energy field and deduce the principle of spatial layer superposition.

This was a process that consumed an extreme amount of Mental Energy, but he enjoyed it; every time he untied a tiny knot, his understanding of the Star Dome deepened by a fraction.

As his comprehension deepened, a strange phenomenon began to appear around him.

It was not an earth-shattering energy explosion, but an extremely subtle change.

Li Wen, sitting cross-legged, seemed to be covered in an extremely thin, almost imperceptible layer of faint, glowing dust.

These dust particles were not stationary but flowed around him extremely slowly, following some imperceptible pattern.

Occasionally flickering, like an insignificant star blinking in the distant starry sky.

They were not solid entities, but more like the manifestation of weak resonance produced by space particles under the guidance of some Law.

This was the anomaly produced when a cultivator began to touch and understand the edge of the Star Dome Domain, and their own aura initially resonated with the cave environment.

This anomaly, which was so faint it could almost be ignored, instantly attracted the attention of Captain Zhao Zheng and Senior Brother Zhang, who were also comprehending not far away.

Captain Zhao Zheng was startled from his deep state of comprehension, and he turned his head in confusion.

When his gaze touched that layer of ethereal stardust glowing outside Li Wen's body, his pupils contracted sharply, and his face was filled with an expression of disbelief.

"Junior Apprentice Brother Li—he is—has he already touched the edge?" Captain Zhao Zheng's voice carried a dryness and shock that he himself had not noticed.

In his mind, the scene of when he first comprehended here flashed by instantly.

It had taken him a full fourteen days and nights, his mind struggling repeatedly in Chaos, before he finally captured that subtle sense of the edge and produced a similar weak anomaly.

And Li Wen—how long has he been in? Half a day? A day? He has already reached the starting point that took him nearly half a month to reach?!

This astonishment was not unique to Captain Zhao Zheng.

Senior Brother Zhang beside him gasped, his mouth opening slightly unconsciously, almost enough to fit an egg inside.