40: Chapter 40 The Valley of Wind and Thunder is Perilous, and Flocks of Thunder Eagles Gather

On the way back to the Capital City of Yan State, the four were silent.

The message Ji Mingyue sent via the Yaoguang Holy Land alliance token weighed on everyone's hearts like a giant stone. The Western player "Zeus"—the player who received special rewards for being the first to create a character on the first day of the server launch—had actually broken through to the Dao Palace Realm.

What did this mean?

It meant the acceleration of game progress, a drastic change in the competitive landscape, and more importantly... the time window left for Lin Ye and the Heavenly Court was rapidly closing.

"The server-wide announcement should sound soon." Chen Hao rode alongside Lin Ye, his brows furrowed. "The Dao Palace Realm is the first major Realm Breakthrough; the System will definitely make a global announcement. By then, everyone's eyes will be focused on Zeus, but it will also stimulate more top players to desperately push through their Bottlenecks."

Su Qingyue said softly, "For us, this is both pressure and opportunity. If Lin Ye can become the first player in the Eastern Wasteland to break through to the Dao Palace Realm, the Heavenly Court's reputation will soar, and it can attract more talent to join."

"But the prerequisite is being able to break through safely." Zhang Meng looked back in the direction of Wind and Thunder Valley. "Brother Ye has the Dao Palace Token now and can break through at any time. But how do we hide the heaven and earth phenomenon during the Breakthrough? It definitely won't work in the Capital City of Yan State; it's too conspicuous. And going to the wilderness is dangerous..."

Lin Ye had been thinking about this problem. Hearing Zhang Meng's words, he said, "Go to Yaoguang Holy Land."

The three looked at him simultaneously.

"Since Ji Mingyue sent a message asking me to go back and discuss, it means the Holy Land intends to intervene." Lin Ye analyzed. "If I can reach a deeper level of cooperation with the Holy Land, perhaps I can break through in a secret chamber provided by them. There are Formations there to shield, so the phenomenon won't leak out."

"But will the Holy Land agree?" Chen Hao was skeptical. "Although they have formed an alliance with us, that is more about investing in potential. Providing a secret chamber to help you break through is already beyond the scope of a normal ally."

"That's why negotiation is needed." A sharp light flashed in Lin Ye's eyes. "I have something they are interested in—the 'Void Scripture'. Although it cannot be passed on, I can promise to provide certain help to the Holy Land in the future when I have achievements in the Laws of Space. In addition, the [Thunder Crystal] dropped by the Thunder Eagle King is an Epic-grade material, which is of great value to Cultivators who practice thunder-based Cultivation Techniques. It can be used as a bargaining chip."

He paused. "Most importantly, if I become the first Dao Palace Realm player in the Eastern Wasteland, it will also be beneficial to the Yaoguang Holy Land—it proves their investment vision and enhances the Holy Land's influence among players."

Su Qingyue nodded. "That makes sense. The cooperation between the Holy Land and player factions is still in the exploration stage. If they can successfully Cultivate the first Dao Palace Realm player, it is indeed a good demonstration case."

With the plan finalized, the four accelerated. The wind-chasing colt galloped on the official road, kicking up a trail of dust.

In the afternoon, the city walls of the Capital City of Yan State were visible in the distance. But just five miles from the city gate, Lin Ye suddenly pulled the reins.

"Wait."

He looked up at the sky. There, a light screen was slowly unfolding.

It was the server-wide announcement light screen, which usually only appeared when major events occurred. On the light screen, golden characters emerged line by line, each radiating an aura of majesty:

[Global Announcement: Congratulations to the Western player "Zeus" for successfully breaking through to the Dao Palace Realm, becoming the first player in the entire server to step into this Realm!]

[Reward: Exclusive title "First Person of Dao Palace" (All Attributes +10%, Reputation +50,000), Special Building Blueprint [Dao Palace] x1, Epic-grade Equipment Treasure Chest x1]

[The Realm Breakthrough System is fully open! All players who reach Level 30 can accept the Dao Palace trial quest!]

[A new era has arrived, brave ones, go and chase higher Realms!]

The announcement played three times in a row.

The entire game world boiled over at this moment.

Lin Ye could feel that the Spiritual Qi in the surrounding air had subtle fluctuations—those were the energy ripples caused by countless players being excited. In the public channel, information was scrolling crazily, and exclamations, envy, jealousy, and challenges in various languages poured out like a flood.

"He really broke through..." Chen Hao muttered.

"Let's go." Lin Ye's expression was calm. "This is just the beginning."

When the four entered the city, they clearly felt the change in the atmosphere within the Capital City of Yan State.

Players on the street were walking hurriedly, many with a sense of urgency on their faces. Taverns and teahouses were full of people, all discussing Zeus's Breakthrough. Prices at the trading house began to fluctuate, especially for those Medicinal Pills and Materials that could assist in Breakthroughs, with prices rising at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"It's only been half a day..." Zhang Meng clicked his tongue. "Level 30 Breakthrough Pills were 500 Spirit Stones each yesterday. I just glanced at the trading house as I passed by, and they've already risen to 800!"

"The prices of scarce resources are always the most sensitive." Lin Ye was not surprised. "Next, all players who reach Level 29 and 30 will desperately charge towards the Dao Palace Realm. Consumables like Breakthrough Pills, Pulse-Protecting Pills, and Gathering Spirit Formation Plates will continue to rise in price."

Su Qingyue said softly, "Qian Duoduo should have already noticed. With his business sense, he will definitely be hoarding goods in large quantities at this time."

"That's his business." Lin Ye said. "Let's go back to the headquarters first."

Returning to the Heavenly Court headquarters, they indeed saw Qian Duoduo busy running around. In front of him were piles of account books and cargo lists, and several assistants were running in and out, constantly reporting various data.

"Brother Ye! You're back!" Qian Duoduo's eyes lit up when he saw the four. "Saw the announcement, right? Opportunity! A huge opportunity!"

He rubbed his hands excitedly. "I started sweeping the market in the morning and invested all the funds I could mobilize. I collected 300 Breakthrough Pills, 500 Pulse-Protecting Pills, 50 sets of Gathering Spirit Formation Plates, and various medicinal herbs that assist in Breakthroughs... The prices of these things are now 60% higher than yesterday! And they are still rising!"

Lin Ye nodded. "Well done. But don't hoard everything; release a portion appropriately to recover funds. Prices cannot keep rising forever; after the first wave of impact passes, there will be a slight decline."

"Understood! I'm already arranging it." Qian Duoduo lowered his voice. "Also, I received news that several large guilds are organizing teams, preparing to pioneer dungeons above Level 35 and wild BOSSes. They want to grab the Breakthrough Materials needed for the Dao Palace Realm before others."

"Which guilds specifically?"

"'Overlord Pavilion' and 'Blood Fiend Alliance' local to Yan State, 'Iron-Blooded War Flag' from Zhao State, 'Qingyun Sect' from Qi State, and also... the 'Olympus' branch established by Western players." Qian Duoduo's expression was solemn. "Olympus is the guild established by Zeus, and it's currently in the limelight. Although their branch was just established, they have absorbed many high-end Western players, and their strength cannot be underestimated."

Olympus... It really has started to expand.

Lin Ye had expected this. As the first Dao Palace Realm player in the entire server, Zeus would inevitably use this advantage to expand his power rapidly. As one of the most important maps in the early stages of the game, the Eastern Wasteland was definitely a region he would focus on conquering.

"Keep paying attention." Lin Ye said. "Also, help me contact Ji Mingyue. I want to take a trip to Yaoguang Holy Land."

"Now?"

"Now."

Half an hour later, the welcoming Disciple of Yaoguang Holy Land arrived at the Heavenly Court headquarters.

She was a young female Cultivator around twenty years old, wearing the Holy Land's standard Daoist robe with a white base and blue trim, with a sword at her waist and a cold temperament. Seeing Lin Ye, she slightly cupped her hands: "Senior Brother Lin, Senior Sister Ji asked me to come and pick you up. Please come with me."

Senior Brother? Lin Ye was stunned, then immediately realized—the Yaoguang alliance token had given him the status of "ally." Within the Holy Land, lower-ranking Disciples indeed had to call him Senior Brother.

"Thank you, Junior Sister." Lin Ye returned the salute, then instructed Chen Hao and the others: "You stay at the headquarters; I'll be back shortly."

"Be careful." Su Qingyue said softly.

Yaoguang Holy Land was located in the mountains thirty miles west of the Capital City of Yan State. Unlike ordinary Sects, the Holy Land was not built on the top of the mountain, but... suspended in mid-air.

Seven mountain Peaks were arranged in the position of the big dipper, each one hundred feet off the ground, connected to the ground by thick chains. Rainbow-like bridges connected the mountain Peaks, and amidst the swirling clouds and mist, majestic buildings were faintly visible, with cranes circling and spiritual springs and waterfalls, a scene of immortal aura.

The welcoming female Cultivator took out a token and waved it at the sky. A rainbow extended down from the nearest mountain Peak and landed in front of the two.

"Senior Brother Lin, please."

Stepping onto the rainbow bridge, Lin Ye could feel the solid touch coming from under his feet, but looking down, it was transparent light. There were faint light screens on both sides of the bridge, blocking the high-altitude gale.

"This is the 'Rainbow Bridge', condensed by light-based Formations." The female Cultivator explained. "Those who are not Disciples or allies of the Holy Land cannot summon this bridge and cannot go up to the main Peak of the Holy Land."

Lin Ye nodded. The Holy Land's protection was indeed strict.

Walking across the rainbow bridge, he stepped onto the first mountain Peak. This should be "Tianshu Peak," the head of the seven Peaks of Yaoguang. The summit was a wide square, paved with white jade, engraved with complex star maps. In the center of the square stood a ten-foot-tall giant bronze buddha lamp, with curling incense smoke in the lamp, emitting a fragrance that calmed the mind.

Around the square were halls of various functions: Transmission Hall, Law Enforcement Hall, Mission Hall, Scripture Pavilion... Disciples wearing various Daoist robes came and went, and seeing Lin Ye, a stranger, they all cast curious glances.

"Tianshu Peak is the main Peak of the Holy Land, where daily affairs are handled." The female Cultivator introduced as she walked. "Senior Sister Ji is waiting for you in the 'Yaoguang Hall'; that is the place where the Holy Master and Elders discuss matters. Usually, only Core Disciples and distinguished guests can enter."

Passing through the square, they arrived in front of a magnificent hall. The hall door was about five feet high, made entirely of sandalwood, with patterns of sun, moon, stars, mountains, and rivers carved on the surface. A plaque hung on the lintel, inscribed with the three golden characters "Yaoguang Hall," with vigorous brushwork, faintly containing Law fluctuations.

"Senior Brother Lin, please enter. Senior Sister Ji is inside." The female Cultivator stopped outside the hall.

Lin Ye pushed the door and entered.

The space inside the hall was large, but the furnishings were simple. In the center was a huge round table with seven chairs around it. At this moment, only two chairs were occupied—Ji Mingyue, and an old man with white hair and beard and a kind face.

The old man was wearing a simple gray Daoist robe, holding a bamboo slip in his hand, and was reading intently. He looked like an ordinary scholar, but Lin Ye could feel that the aura around the old man was as deep as the abyss, as if he had merged with the entire hall and the entire mountain Peak.

"Lin Ye has met Senior, Miss Ji." Lin Ye bowed.

Ji Mingyue stood up and smiled as she introduced: "Lin Ye, this is the Seventh Elder of my Yaoguang Holy Land, Daoist name 'Xuanwei'. Elder, this is Lin Ye."

Elder Xuanwei put down the bamboo slip and looked up at Lin Ye. His eyes were very clear, without the turbidity of ordinary old people, but instead as pure as a baby's. But when stared at by these eyes, Lin Ye felt as if he had been completely seen through.

"Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body, Peak of the Wheel Sea Realm, mastering the rudiments of the Laws of Space... Not bad, not bad." Elder Xuanwei nodded slowly. "Mingyue said you have great potential; the old Daoist was still a bit skeptical, but now seeing you in person, you are indeed extraordinary."

"Senior is overpraising."

"Sit down." Elder Xuanwei pointed to the chair opposite. "Mingyue has already told me everything about you. You want the Holy Land's secret chamber to break through to the Dao Palace Realm?"

Lin Ye sat down and said frankly, "Yes. Breaking through to the Dao Palace Realm will trigger heaven and earth phenomena; it is not safe in the wilderness and too conspicuous in the Capital City of Yan State. The Holy Land's secret chamber has Formation shielding; it is the best choice."

"The Holy Land does have such a secret chamber." Elder Xuanwei stroked his beard. "But that is prepared for Core Disciples, and it usually requires consuming a large amount of contribution points to use. Although you are an ally of my Holy Land, you are not an official Disciple after all..."

"The Junior is willing to pay the price." Lin Ye took out the Thunder Crystal and placed it on the table. "This item is an Epic-grade material, containing pure thunder power, which is of great benefit to thunder-type Cultivators. The Junior is willing to use this item to exchange for permission to use the secret chamber."

Elder Xuanwei glanced at the Thunder Crystal, a flash of surprise in his eyes: "The Origin Crystal of the Thunder Eagle King? You killed that beast?"

"By luck."

"It's not luck." Elder Xuanwei shook his head. "The Thunder Eagle King has occupied Wind and Thunder Valley for thirty years. The Yan State royal family has sent troops to encircle and suppress it three times, but they all returned without success. You were able to kill it by relying on strength and wisdom."

He paused and suddenly asked: "What do you think about Zeus breaking through to the Dao Palace Realm?"

The topic changed suddenly, but Lin Ye knew this was the point. What the Holy Land really cared about was not a Thunder Crystal, but the trend of the entire player group, and... the Holy Land's position in it.

Zeus's Breakthrough will widen the strength gap between players.

Lin Ye organized his thoughts, "The first player to reach the Dao Palace Realm will gain the most attention and resources."

His guild, 'Olympus,' will expand rapidly, absorbing high-end players.

Before long, they will become the overlords of the Western server, and then... infiltrate other major regions.

"Will the Eastern Wasteland be one of their targets?" Ji Mingyue interrupted.

"It certainly will be," Lin Ye affirmed. "The Eastern Wasteland has rich resources, a large player base, and currently, there is no unified, powerful guild."

"For Olympus to expand, the Eastern Wasteland is the best choice. I estimate that within a month at most, their main force will enter the Eastern Wasteland."

Elder Xuanwei remained silent for a moment, then slowly said: "The Holy Land has actually been observing you 'players'."

"You have only descended into this world for a little over a month, but your growth speed far exceeds that of the native Cultivators. Some have predicted that within a hundred years, players will become a significant force influencing the entire world's landscape."

He looked at Lin Ye: "The Holy Land is willing to cooperate with potential player factions; it is both an investment and a means of self-preservation. The appearance of Zeus proves the correctness of this prediction. Therefore..."

A flash of light appeared in the old man's eyes: "The Holy Land can provide you with a secret room to assist your Breakthrough. Not only that, but we can also provide some of the resources needed for the Breakthrough. However, there are two conditions."

"Senior, please speak."

"First, after your Breakthrough, you need to publicly announce an alliance with the Yaoguang Holy Land, and at an appropriate time, complete three tasks for the Holy Land that do not violate morality."

"Second," Elder Xuanwei paused, "The Holy Land hopes that you can become one of the leaders among the players in the Eastern Wasteland. Not the only one, but one of the most important ones. The Holy Land needs its own voice within the player community."

The conditions were looser than expected.

Lin Ye thought for a moment and nodded: "I agree. But a 'leader' is not self-proclaimed; it requires strength and reputation. If the Holy Land truly wants to support me, in addition to the secret room and resources, support is needed in other areas—such as intelligence sharing, or standing up for me on certain occasions."

"Reasonable." Elder Xuanwei smiled, "Young man, you are very clear-headed and haven't gotten carried away by the favor of the Holy Land. Good, these can all be discussed."

Over the next half hour, both parties finalized the details of the cooperation.

Yaoguang Holy Land will provide the [Star Secret Room] of Tianshu Peak for Lin Ye's use. That is one of the best places for seclusion in the Holy Land, with three layers of Formations: a Spiritual Gathering Formation, a Calming Formation, and a Protective Formation, which can ensure the safety of the Breakthrough to the greatest extent.

At the same time, the Holy Land will gift three [Star Medicinal Pills], which are Earth Rank Medicinal Pills that can stabilize the Realm and improve the quality of the Dao Palace.

In return, Lin Ye needs to publicly announce his alliance with the Holy Land after the Breakthrough and complete three tasks for the Holy Land within the next three years.

Additionally, if the Heavenly Court develops and grows, it needs to prioritize trading with the Yaoguang Holy Land under equal conditions.

The agreement was reached, and Elder Xuanwei took out a token with flowing starlight: "This is the access token for the Star Secret Room. The Breakthrough can be carried out at any time, and the Holy Land will protect you. Also..."

He looked at Ji Mingyue: "Mingyue, take Lin Ye to the Scripture Pavilion and pick a Cultivation Technique suitable for the Dao Palace Realm. Consider it a greeting gift from the Holy Land."

A flash of surprise crossed Ji Mingyue's eyes, but she quickly returned to calm: "Yes, Elder."

Leaving the Yaoguang Hall, Ji Mingyue led Lin Ye to the Scripture Pavilion. On the way, she whispered: "Lin Ye, you are lucky. Elder Xuanwei is the most open-minded of the seven Elders in the Holy Land and has always advocated cooperation with the outside world. If it were other Elders, they might not have been so forthcoming."

"Because of Zeus?" Lin Ye asked.

"Partly." Ji Mingyue nodded, "The Elders have realized that the player group is a force that cannot be ignored. Rather than being hostile, it is better to cooperate. And you are currently one of the players in the Eastern Wasteland with the most potential to compete with Zeus."

She paused and added: "Of course, you are not the only one. Jiang Hao, the 'God King Body' of the Jiang Family; Ji Haoyue, the 'Void Body' of the Ji Family; the 'Yaochi Saintess' of the Yaochi Holy Land; and several monsters among the Loose Cultivators are all on the Holy Land's watch list. But you are the only one who actively approached the Holy Land and demonstrated sufficient value and sincerity."

Lin Ye understood. The Holy Land is investing in multiple lines, and he is one of the potential stocks selected.

The Scripture Pavilion is located on Tianshu Peak and is a nine-story tower. The tower is built with unknown black stone, and the surface is carved with Seal runes. At the entrance, two old men sat cross-legged, their aura as deep as the sea, at least experts above the Four Extremities Realm.

Ji Mingyue showed the token and explained the purpose. One of the old men opened his eyes and swept a glance at Lin Ye: "Dao Palace Realm Cultivation Techniques are on the third floor. Limited to one hour, you can only choose one. Register here after selecting, and do not pass it on."

"This Junior understands."

Entering the Scripture Pavilion, the first floor space is huge, with bookshelves like a forest, densely packed with Jade Slips, bamboo slips, and animal skin scrolls. Most of the Cultivation Techniques here are for the Wheel Sea Realm, and although there are many, the quality is generally not high.

The second floor space is smaller, but the quality of the Cultivation Techniques has improved significantly, mostly Profound Rank, occasionally Earth Rank.

The third floor only has a dozen bookshelves, and each bookshelf only holds a dozen Cultivation Techniques. But every one of them emits powerful aura fluctuations.

"Yaoguang Holy Land is famous for its Star Laws, so most of the collected Cultivation Techniques are of the Star attribute." Ji Mingyue introduced, "However, there are also high-level Cultivation Techniques of other attributes. You are a Chaos Body, theoretically, you can Cultivate any attribute Cultivation Technique, but it is best to choose one that is neutral or highly inclusive."

Lin Ye nodded and began to browse.

[Star Qi-Drawing Art (Earth Rank High Grade)]: Draws the power of stars into the body, the cultivation speed is extremely fast, but it requires night to Cultivate, and it has high requirements for star affinity.

[Sun True Scripture · Incomplete Manual (Earth Rank Peak Grade)]: Extremely Yang and rigid, cultivating to the extreme can turn into the sun. But it is incomplete, only the Dao Palace chapter.

[Taiyin Jade Book · Incomplete Manual (Earth Rank Peak Grade)]: Extremely Yin and soft, opposite to the Sun True Scripture. Also incomplete.

[Five Elements Heaven Derivation Art (Earth Rank High Grade)]: Cultivates the Five Elements of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth simultaneously, balanced and upright, but the progress is slow.

[Void Scripture · Incomplete Manual Two (Heaven Rank Low Grade)]: Space Law Legacy, it is the same series as the first volume you already have. But there is only the Dao Palace chapter, and the cultivation conditions are harsh.

When he saw "Void Scripture · Incomplete Manual Two", Lin Ye stopped.

Heaven Rank Cultivation Technique! And it is a continuation of the Space Law!

He reached out and took the Jade Slip. The Jade Slip felt warm in his hand, and the internal Space Law fluctuations resonated with the "Void Scripture · First Volume" in his body.

[Void Scripture · Incomplete Manual Two (Heaven Rank Low Grade)]

Cultivation Requirements: Already mastered "Void Scripture · First Volume", Divine Sense ≥ 300, Space Affinity ≥ 15%.

Effect: Dao Palace chapter Cultivation Technique, can open the Dao Palace Secret Realm space attribute, unlock higher-level space abilities.

Description: The second volume of the "Void Scripture", specifically designed for Dao Palace Realm Cultivators. Cultivating this volume allows you to open up the "Void Divine Treasure" in the Dao Palace Secret Realm, greatly improving the control of Space Law. However, the difficulty of cultivation is extremely high, and it cannot be attempted by those who are not excellent in space talent.

The cultivation requirements are very harsh. Lin Ye's Divine Sense is currently 225, and his Space Affinity is 10%, neither of which meets the standard. But after breaking through to the Dao Palace Realm, his attributes will have a leap, which should be able to meet the requirements.

More importantly, this is a continuation of the "Void Scripture"! If he can collect all nine volumes, what level would the complete "Void Scripture" be?

"You want to choose this?" Ji Mingyue was a little surprised, "Although the Void Scripture is powerful, the difficulty of cultivation is too high. And this is just an Incomplete Manual; the follow-up may not be found. It is better to choose a complete Earth Rank Cultivation Technique, which can at least be cultivated all the way to the Four Extremities Realm."

Lin Ye shook his head: "Just this one."

Cultivation Techniques are about quality, not quantity. The "Void Scripture" has a high degree of fit with his Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body, and the potential of the Space Law is limitless. Since he has embarked on this path, there is no reason to turn back.

"Alright." Ji Mingyue stopped persuading him, "Then when are you going to break through?"

"Tomorrow." Lin Ye put away the Jade Slip, "I'll go back to the Capital City today to arrange some things. I'll come to the Holy Land early tomorrow morning."

"Okay, I'll wait for you."

Leaving the Yaoguang Holy Land, it was already evening when he returned to the Capital City.

Lin Ye summoned core members like Chen Hao, Su Qingyue, Qian Duoduo, and Qin Ruoxue to the meeting hall.

"I'm going to the Yaoguang Holy Land tomorrow to go into seclusion for a Breakthrough." He got straight to the point, "Fastest three days, slowest seven days. During this time, all matters of the Heavenly Court will be handled by Qingyue, assisted by Qian Duoduo. Chen Hao is responsible for security, and Qin Ruoxue will continue intelligence work."

Everyone nodded, without objection.

"Also," Lin Ye looked at Qian Duoduo, "Take advantage of the rising price of Breakthrough resources, sell half of the Medicinal Pills we have hoarded to recover funds. But keep half for our own people in the Heavenly Court to use for Breakthroughs in the future."

"Understood."

"Qin Ruoxue, focus on the movements of the Olympus guild. Also, make a list for me of other players in the Eastern Wasteland who have the potential to impact the Dao Palace Realm."

"It's already being done." Qin Ruoxue handed over a dossier, "Currently, there are nine other players in the top ten of the Eastern Wasteland level ranking besides you. Three of them are Loose Cultivators, four are guild leaders of major guilds, and two are children of noble families. The one most likely to break through second is probably Jiang Hao of the Jiang Family. He is currently level 29, and it is said that he has already accepted the Dao Palace trial mission."

Jiang Hao, God King Body. In his previous life, he was indeed the second to break through after Zeus, with a time difference of less than a week.

"Keep watching." Lin Ye took the dossier, "If Jiang Hao breaks through, notify me immediately."

After arranging all matters, it was already late at night.

Lin Ye returned to his room and took out the [Dao Palace Token]. The token felt warm to the touch and contained pure Dao Law fragments inside. Using it to break through can increase the success rate by 5% and make the Dao Palace Secret Realm more stable.

He kept the token close to his body, then took out the Flood Dragon's Reverse Scale. There were still two-thirds of the Dragon Saliva Liquid inside. This Dragon Qi could be used during the Breakthrough to further consolidate the Foundation.

Finally, there was the Jade Slip of "Void Scripture · Incomplete Manual Two". Lin Ye did not study it immediately, but used his Divine Sense to carefully perceive the content.

The Dao Palace Secret Realm is divided into five layers: Heart Divine Treasure, Liver Divine Treasure, Spleen Divine Treasure, Lung Divine Treasure, and Kidney Divine Treasure. Each layer corresponds to an attribute, and after opening it, it can greatly enhance the corresponding ability.

Ordinary Cultivators open them in the order of the Five Elements: Heart belongs to Fire, Liver belongs to Wood, Spleen belongs to Earth, Lung belongs to Metal, Kidney belongs to Water. But the cultivation method of the "Void Scripture" is completely different—it requires opening the "Void Divine Treasure" while opening any one of the Divine Treasures.

The Void Divine Treasure is not within the five internal organs, but in the "Void" of the Dao Palace Secret Realm. It does not belong to the Five Elements, exists independently, and is the carrier of the Space Law.

"First open the Void Divine Treasure, then use the Void to nurture the five internal organs..." Lin Ye muttered to himself, "This Cultivation Technique is indeed overbearing."

According to the records in the Jade Slip, after successfully opening the Void Divine Treasure, the Dao Palace Secret Realm will be more than ten times more stable than other Cultivators, and some Space Abilities that can only be used in the Four Extremities Realm can be mastered in advance.

But the risk is also high. If the opening fails, the Dao Palace will be damaged at best, and the Secret Realm will collapse at worst, and the cultivation base will be completely ruined.

"Wealth is sought in danger." Lin Ye put away the Jade Slip, a flash of determination in his eyes.

That night, he didn't sleep, but sat quietly and adjusted his breathing, adjusting his state to the best.

At dawn, Lin Ye quietly left the Heavenly Court headquarters without alarming anyone.

The streets of the Capital City were still very deserted, with only a few early-rising NPCs busy. Lin Ye rode out of the city and galloped toward the Yaoguang Holy Land.

When the first ray of sunlight illuminated Tianshu Peak, he stepped on the Rainbow Light Bridge again.

Ji Mingyue was already waiting at the bridgehead. She had changed into a white training suit today, her long hair simply tied up, looking capable and neat.

"Ready?" she asked.

"Ready."

"Follow me."

Ji Mingyue took Lin Ye, not to the Star Secret Room of Tianshu Peak, but toward the deeper parts.

Passing through the bridges between several Peaks, they came to the most remote one of the seven Peaks of Yaoguang — "Kaiyang Peak".

Kaiyang Peak is different from other Peaks; there are no magnificent palaces here, only simple stone houses and Immortal Caves. The top of the Peak is a flat rock platform, and in the center of the platform, there is a deep pit with a diameter of three zhang.

Inside the pit, starlight is bright.

That is a kind of materialized starlight, flowing like liquid in the pit, emitting a vast and pure power of stars. The pit walls are carved with runes, and those runes slowly rotate under the reflection of starlight, as if they have come alive.

"This is... Star Pool?" Lin Ye was shocked.

Star Pool, one of the most precious cultivation resources of the Yaoguang Holy Land. It is said that the first generation Holy Master used great Divine Ability to attract star essence from the Nine Heavens and gathered it. The power of stars in the pool can wash the Physical Body, purify the Divine Soul, and has a miraculous effect on breaking through the Realm.

But the Star Pool is usually only open to the Holy Master, Grand Elders, and the most Core Disciples. Lin Ye, an outsider, can actually use it?

"It was specially approved by Elder Xuanwei," Ji Mingyue explained, "The Elder said that since we are investing, we must make a heavy bet. The Star Pool, combined with the Star Secret Chamber, can increase your Breakthrough success rate to over ninety percent."

She paused, her expression serious: "But you must remember, this favor is one that the Holy Land will expect you to repay."

"I understand," Lin Ye said solemnly.

"Then let's begin. The Star Secret Chamber is at the bottom of the pool." Ji Mingyue pointed to the Star Pool, "Jump in, sink to the bottom, and there you will find a stone gate. Use your access token to open it; the secret chamber is inside. During your Breakthrough, I will stay outside and act as your Protector."

Lin Ye did not hesitate any longer. He took off his outer garment, leaving only his undergarments, and then leaped into the Star Pool.

"Splash—"

There was no splash of water, only starlight spraying up.

The moment he entered the pool, Lin Ye felt his entire being enveloped by a warm and vast power. That starlight seeped into his body through every pore, scouring his Meridians, nourishing his wheel sea secret realm, and even cleansing his Divine Sense.

He dove downwards.

The pool was deep, at least thirty meters. The further down he went, the denser the starlight became, and the greater the pressure. However, Lin Ye's Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body operated automatically, converting the star power into Chaos Power; not only did he feel no discomfort, but he actually felt entirely at ease.

At the bottom of the pool, there was indeed a stone gate.

The stone gate was ancient and simple, with a pattern of the big dipper carved on its surface. Lin Ye took out the access token and pressed it into the center of the stone gate.

"Click—"

The stone gate slowly opened, revealing a small space behind it.

It was a secret chamber composed entirely of star power. The walls, floor, and ceiling were all flowing starlight. In the center of the secret chamber was a meditation cushion, and above the cushion floated a fist-sized pearl—that was the [Star Pearl], which could stabilize the mind and prevent Qi Deviation.

Lin Ye walked into the secret chamber, and the stone gate closed behind him.

He placed the Dao Palace Token in front of him, the flood dragon reverse scale on his left, and the "Void Scripture: Incomplete Manual II" Jade Slip on his right. Then, he sat cross-legged on the meditation cushion and closed his eyes.

The Breakthrough began.

First, he had to trigger the Great Dao Laws within the Dao Palace Token.

Lin Ye injected his Divine Sense into the token. The token instantly transformed into countless golden points of light, merging into his wheel sea secret realm.

The dried-up Chaos bitter sea began to boil.

The seawater rose at a speed visible to the naked eye, going from dried-up to full, from calm to violent. The last crack on the seabed completely healed under the scouring of the Great Dao Laws.

When the bitter sea was filled to its limit, a change occurred.

In the center of the bitter sea, a whirlpool slowly formed. The whirlpool spun faster and deeper, finally "chiseled" an opening at the bottom of the sea.

Below the opening was another space—a hazy, uncultivated Secret Realm.

The Dao Palace Secret Realm!

Lin Ye did not hesitate and immediately activated the Breakthrough method recorded in the first volume of the "Void Scripture".

Chaos Power surged out from the wheel sea and, through that opening, poured into the Dao Palace Secret Realm.

"Open the Void Divine Treasury!"

Following Lin Ye's will, the Chaos Power frantically condensed, compressed, and took shape within the Dao Palace Secret Realm.

It was a difficult process. The essence of the Void Divine Treasury was "nothingness," but to create "existence" out of "nothingness" required the consumption of massive amounts of energy and a strong will.

Lin Ye gritted his teeth and persisted. The starlight in the Star Pool flowed in endlessly through the walls of the secret chamber, replenishing his consumption. The Star Pearl cast a soft light, stabilizing his mind.

Time passed minute by minute.

Within the Dao Palace Secret Realm, a vague outline gradually took shape—it was a gray, constantly twisting and deforming spatial node. It had no fixed form, sometimes becoming a sphere, sometimes stretching, sometimes shattering, and sometimes reassembling.

This was the essence of the Void Divine Treasury: unstable, yet inclusive of everything.

When the outline of the Void Divine Treasury was stabilized to a certain degree, Lin Ye began the second step.

"Use the void to nourish the five organs—first, open the Heart Divine Treasury!"

The heart belongs to fire and is the head of the five organs. According to the normal order, this treasury should be opened first.

Chaos Power surged out from the Void Divine Treasury, transforming into blazing flames, and began to open up in a corner of the Dao Palace Secret Realm.

This time it was much smoother. With the Void Divine Treasury as the "source," the Heart Divine Treasury formed extremely quickly. In just one hour, a divine palace burning with gray flames appeared in the Secret Realm.

The Heart Divine Treasury, complete!

[System Prompt: You have successfully opened the Heart Divine Treasury!]

[All attributes +20%, Fire Resistance +30%, Fire Skill Power +20%]

[Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body trait triggered! Heart Divine Treasury quality upgraded to "Chaos Fire Palace"!]

[Additional effect increase: All attributes +10%, Chaos Fire power +50%]

The quality had improved!

Lin Ye felt a surge of joy, but he did not stop and immediately began to open the Liver Divine Treasury.

The liver belongs to wood. Chaos Power surged from the Void Divine Treasury, transforming into vibrant vitality, and opened up a cyan divine palace in another corner.

The Liver Divine Treasury, complete!

Then came the Spleen Divine Treasury (Earth), Lung Divine Treasury (Metal), and Kidney Divine Treasury (Water).

With the support of the Void Divine Treasury, the entire process was like cutting through bamboo. Five hours later, all five organ divine treasuries were fully opened!

[System Prompt: You have successfully opened the Five Organ Divine Treasuries!]

[All attributes cumulatively +100%, Five Elements Resistance +30% each, Five Elements Skill Power +20% each]

[Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body trait triggered! All Five Organ Divine Treasuries upgraded to "Chaos Divine Palace"!]

[Additional effect increase: All attributes cumulatively +50%, Chaos Power recovery speed +100%]

The Dao Palace Secret Realm was completely formed!

It was a vast space; in the center was the constantly twisting and deforming Void Divine Treasury, surrounded by five Chaos Divine Palaces: the Heart's Chaos Fire Palace, the Liver's Chaos Wood Palace, the Spleen's Chaos Earth Palace, the Lung's Chaos Metal Palace, and the Kidney's Chaos Water Palace.

The five palaces were arranged in the pattern of the mutual generation of the Five Elements, forming a wonderful resonance with the Void Divine Treasury.

And the opening between the wheel sea secret realm and the Dao Palace Secret Realm had now stabilized into a "channel." Chaos Power could flow freely between the two Realms, forming a complete grand cycle.

[System Prompt: Congratulations on breaking through to the Dao Palace Realm!]

[Your level has increased to Level 40!]

[Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body Second Layer unlocked! All attributes +50%, Experience Gain +100%, ignore Dao Palace Realm Bottleneck!]

[Unlocked second Chaos Divine Ability: [Chaos Heaven Opening] (Growth-type)]

[Obtained Dao Palace exclusive skill tree!]

Done!

Lin Ye opened his eyes, and a sharp light shot out from them.

He could feel an unprecedented power surging within his body. The total amount of Chaos Power had increased by at least three times, and its quality was even more refined. His Divine Sense range had expanded from one hundred meters to three hundred meters, and his perception was sharper.

More importantly, the five Chaos Divine Palaces and the Void Divine Treasury in the Dao Palace Secret Realm were like an engine that never stopped, constantly generating Chaos Power. Now, even if he did not actively Cultivate, his strength would slowly increase.

[Name: Lin Ye]

[Race: Human Race]

[Level: 40 (Dao Palace First Layer)]

[Physique: Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body (Second Layer)]

[Qi and Blood: 58000 / 58000]

[Divine Power: 48000 / 48000]

[Attack: 4200-4800]

[Defense: 3800]

[Dao Technique Bonus: +150%]

[Innate Divine Ability: Chaos Domain (30-meter range, enemy -30% attributes, ally +20%), Chaos Heaven Opening (Prototype)]

[Mastered Laws: Space (Affinity 15%)]

[Skills: Void Step (Entry Level), Void Cutting (Elementary), Chaos Law Breaking, Chaos Soul Nourishing...]

[Equipment: myriad mother qi cauldron (Dao Palace Rank), bronze buddha lamp (Repairing), wind and thunder wings (Not Equipped)]

His attributes had skyrocketed!

His Qi and Blood had soared from less than twenty thousand to fifty-eight thousand, his attack had risen from over two thousand to four thousand eight hundred, and his defense was approaching four thousand. This was just his base attributes; if all kinds of bonuses were included, his actual combat power had increased by at least five times!

Lin Ye suppressed his excitement and took out the "Void Scripture: Incomplete Manual II" Jade Slip.

Now was the time to learn.

He injected his Divine Sense into the Jade Slip, and a massive amount of information flooded his mind. This time, he found it much easier to comprehend—after breaking through to the Dao Palace Realm, both his Divine Sense and Comprehension Ability had greatly improved, and with the existence of the Void Divine Treasury, his understanding of the Laws of Space had reached a new level.

[System Prompt: You have learned "Void Scripture: Dao Palace Chapter"!]

[Void Step upgraded to "Minor Achievement"! Maximum distance increased to 30 meters, consumption reduced to 30 points, cooldown shortened to 2 seconds!]

[Unlocked new skill: [Void Evasion] (Short-distance spatial teleportation, maximum 100 meters, consumes 100 Divine Power, cooldown 10 seconds)]

[Unlocked new skill: [Void Barrier] (Create a spatial barrier to block attacks, consumption depends on attack intensity, cooldown 30 seconds)]

[Space Affinity increased to 20%!]

[Void Divine Treasury stability +30%!]

Void Evasion! Void Barrier!

These two skills, one enhancing mobility and the other enhancing defense, were both divine skills for actual combat.

Lin Ye stood up, feeling the surging power within his body. With a thought, his body instantly "vanished" from one side of the secret chamber and appeared on the other.

No trajectory, no afterimage, just pure spatial teleportation.

This was the Dao Palace Realm, this was the feeling of mastering the Laws of Space!

He looked at the walls of the secret chamber—there, the starlight was still flowing.

It was time to go out.

Lin Ye walked to the stone gate and used the access token to open it again.

The moment the stone gate opened, the dense star power from the outside surged in, but Lin Ye could now easily withstand it. He swam upward and soon surfaced.

By the side of the Star Pool, Ji Mingyue was still waiting.

Seeing Lin Ye emerge, a flash of surprise crossed her eyes. "So fast? Only six hours!"

Usually, breaking through to the Dao Palace Realm requires at least a day and a night. Lin Ye only took six hours, and his aura was steady; clearly, he had not left behind any hidden dangers.

"It went quite smoothly." Lin Ye leaped out of the pool water, and the water droplets on his body evaporated rapidly—in the Dao Palace Realm, one can initially control their own energy, achieving the state of not being stained by dust.

"Congratulations," Ji Mingyue said sincerely. "From today on, you are a true Dao Palace Realm Cultivator. The second player in the Eastern Wasteland, second only to Zeus."

"It's just the beginning," Lin Ye said calmly. "Zeus broke through earlier than me, and by now, he has at least consolidated his Realm, or perhaps even started to charge towards the Dao Palace Second Layer. I still need time."

"With the help of the Star Pool, you will consolidate your Realm very quickly," Ji Mingyue said. "Also, the Holy Land has several Dao Palace Realm missions; they are quite difficult but offer generous rewards. If you are interested, you can go and accept them."

"I will consider it," Lin Ye nodded. "For now, I must return to the Capital City of Yan State first. There are still many things to handle on the Heavenly Court side."

"Alright. Keep the access token; you can freely enter and exit the outer areas of the Holy Land in the future. If you need to use the Star Pool, just apply in advance—of course, it will require consuming contribution points or completing missions for the Holy Land."

"Understood."

Leaving Yaoguang Holy Land, Lin Ye did not ride a horse, but instead directly equipped the [wind and thunder wings].

The cyan-purple wings unfolded behind his back, each feather flickering with the light of wind and thunder. Lin Ye moved his mind, the wings fluttered slightly, and his body slowly lifted off the ground.

At first, he was a bit unaccustomed to it, as flying is completely different from moving on the ground. But soon, the powerful adaptability of the Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body played its role. Lin Ye gradually mastered his balance and began to accelerate.

"Whoosh—!"

With the wind and thunder wings fully activated, Lin Ye transformed into a cyan-purple streak of light, cutting through the sky and racing towards the Capital City of Yan State.

The flight speed was more than three times that of a wind-chasing colt!

Moreover, looking down at the earth from the air, his field of vision was wide, with mountains and rivers all in view. This feeling of free soaring made one's heart surge with excitement.

In less than half an hour, the Capital City of Yan State was already visible in the distance.

Lin Ye lowered his altitude, preparing to land outside the city. But he suddenly noticed that outside the East Gate of the Capital City of Yan State, a large group of people had gathered.

Those people were not ordinary civilians, but players—at least a hundred of them, divided into several factions, with a vague sense of confrontation. And in the center of the crowd, several familiar figures were being surrounded.

Chen Hao, Su Qingyue, Zhang Meng, and a dozen other Heavenly Court members!

They were surrounded!

Lin Ye's eyes turned cold, his wind and thunder wings flapped violently, increasing his speed by another thirty percent, like a meteor cutting through the sky, diving down towards the area outside the East Gate!