170: Martial Arts Master, Great Changes in the Wilderness

Inside the classroom, Qin Jin looked over at the sound.

As far as his gaze reached, there was a female figure, her face unfamiliar, standing still, her eyes fixed on Qin Jin.

Perceiving Qin Jin’s gaze, her expression subtly shifted, as if she had thought of something, and the surprise in her eyes intensified: “You already meet the qualifications to choose this course?!”

Qin Jin did not answer, only asked: “How should I address you?”

“Third year, Sang Meng.”

She took a deep breath, calming her mind: “Student Qin Jin, although this is my first time seeing you in person, I have seen your performance in the Po Xian Cup.”

The woman responded, and although she did not receive an answer, seeing Qin Jin’s default state and the environment he was currently in, she had already confirmed it in her heart, shaking her head and sighing: “No wonder you were able to defeat Shi Luoshu.”

It was their first meeting, and there wasn't much to talk about. After a brief exchange, they said no more and took their seats.

Immediately after.

Inside the classroom, other students arrived.

This course involved improving control over power and information related to becoming a Martial Artist in the Grandmaster Realm. Only students who had undergone at least three transformations were qualified to select the course, make reservations, and prepare in advance.

Qin Jin’s presence was particularly eye-catching.

Within the academy, Qin Jin usually kept a low profile, so the impact wasn't obvious, but in reality… after the Po Xian Cup, his reputation within the academy had already soared, and even higher-year students recognized him.

Some chose to approach him and converse, while others, due to their personality, merely observed from a distance and did not get close.

Qin Jin had never resisted basic social interactions and welcomed all who came.

Until…

As class time approached, in the front section of this special classroom, within the martial arts practice area, a figure appeared silently.

It was a man, dressed in the academy uniform, appearing gentle and possessing a unique scholarly demeanor. Upon appearing, his gaze swept over all the students in the classroom.

His gaze paused for a moment when it passed over Qin Jin.

Then.

Under the students’ watchful eyes, he raised his hand and made a downward pressing motion.

As the action was performed.

In an instant, pressure materialized out of thin air above the entire classroom, rapidly descending.

Qin Jin clearly perceived the pressure coming from all directions; the origin power within his body felt as if it were freezing, its flow stagnating.

Only a very small amount of origin power remained normal, unaffected by the suppression.

At the front of the classroom.

The man’s voice sounded.

“I am Lu Heng, your instructor for this elective course.”

His voice softened: “Those who can reserve this course are all students who have undergone multiple transformations and have hopes of reaching the Grandmaster Realm.”

“Therefore, I will not waste everyone’s time and will get straight to the point.”

“A Martial Artist in the Grandmaster Realm needs to achieve ultimate control over their own power.”

“This doesn’t sound difficult.”

“However, the two characters ‘Grandmaster’ in ancient times could establish a sect and were revered. Even in today’s flourishing martial arts era, once one enters the Grandmaster Realm, their status becomes entirely different.”

“Controlling one’s own power is something we have been doing all along. I presume that all the students present, after completing each transformation, will first familiarize themselves with their growing power.”

“The difficulty lies in…”

“The word ‘ultimate’!”

“Anything that involves the word ‘ultimate’ will show a completely different distinction.”

At this point, he paused slightly.

“I have suppressed your origin power precisely to allow you to see the bigger picture from the small, gradually achieving complete control over your power.”

“Our martial arts theory is constantly being perfected. In this era, a Martial Artist who can be called a Grandmaster Realm needs to meet two major conditions.”

“Firstly, truly achieving the state where intention moves with the mind, and power moves with the body.”

“Currently, when you perform martial combat and unleash origin power, there is still a [process].”

“The process of activating and controlling origin power.”

“But when ultimate control is truly achieved, this process will also be abbreviated. When you punch, origin power will spontaneously follow, erupting with power, making your power more compatible and perfect with your body, truly achieving a state of seamless unity.”

“Secondly, the Grandmaster Domain.”

“Those who can ascend to the Grandmaster Realm transcend the Congenital Realm, and naturally have their unique aspects. After achieving ultimate control over their power, due to their own changes, Martial Artists in the Grandmaster Realm can control origin power to establish an external circulation, forming a unique domain that surrounds themselves.”

“Under the domain’s coverage, power circulates more smoothly, and defensive capabilities are enhanced, because when an enemy attacks, the first thing they target is not the physical body, but the external domain.”

“Possessing these two points, one can be called a Grandmaster.”

“Five transformations can lead to the Grandmaster Realm.”

“This is precisely because, after undergoing five transformations, a Martial Artist’s own origin power is sufficient to establish a domain, and at the same time, it is also sufficient to support maintaining the state of ultimate control after subsequent transformations.”

Speaking of this.

Lu Heng raised his hand and outlined a human figure in the void, origin power surging from his fingertips and converging in front of him.

Drawing the human figure.

As the last stroke fell, the human figure seemed to come alive, stepping forward, its interior transparent, origin power circulating within it, gushing out from the transparent figure’s hands, transforming into various agile postures.

This was a transparent demonstration.

“Next, I will teach you the specific methods of tempering, starting small and gradually achieving ultimate control over your own power.”

“In martial arts cultivation, the Congenital Realm is the first threshold, the search for spiritual opportunities, which stops countless people.”

“The Grandmaster Realm is the second threshold.”

“However, in the Congenital transformation, Martial Artists inherently make up for their talent. Even if one’s comprehension is insufficient at this threshold, with persistent effort, they can often overcome it.”

Lu Heng stood at the front of the classroom.

As he waved his hand, the transparent figure demonstrated, while he himself explained, and the specific methods of improvement were memorized by the students.

One class, nearly three hours.

Qin Jin was fully focused, his Treasure Technique already activated, studying diligently.

As the class neared its end, Lu Heng raised his palm, and the pressure around him sharply decreased.

As he waved his hand, the transparent figure that had been demonstrating transformed into pure power radiance, merging and compressing to form [locks] the size of fingertips, flying towards the students present.

“The interval between my classes is quite long.”

“Before the next class begins, if you wish to continue tempering in this manner, use this object to suppress yourselves.”

The last sentence fell.

Lu Heng’s figure vanished from where he stood.

“This Teacher Lu, he’s clearly not a simple person.”

“I wonder if he’s a Martial Saint, or a Celestial…”

Thoughts flashed through Qin Jin’s mind.

As a top academy within the galaxy, Wu Yuan’s instructors were undeniably elite figures, truly embodying the saying that many people’s most important encounters in life happen during college.

With thoughts fleeting, Qin Jin raised his wristband and checked the time.

“In a few days, Teacher Gu will return to the academy.”

“It’s a good opportunity to ask her for further guidance on related matters, and verify both.”

He stood up, and under the subconscious gazes of the other students around him, Qin Jin stepped out of the classroom.

Behind him.

Upon seeing him leave, a voice sounded.

“I never expected to see a first-year student in this class.”

“Student Qin Jin’s cultivation speed is truly unimaginable. He has completed at least three transformations, and considering he can defeat Shi Luoshu, his realm might be even higher!”

“To achieve this in the first year of enrollment is terrifying.”

Amidst the discussions.

Students left, and the classroom gradually quieted down.

…

Three days later.

Within the academy, in a certain martial arts practice hall.

Gu Huang stood at the front.

She looked a bit weathered by travel. The first thing she did upon returning to the academy was contact Qin Jin, and the teacher and student met here.

Behind her.

Qin Jin had just rushed to the location after receiving the message. At this moment, Gu Huang turned her head and said: “There’s news about the Miracle Corridor you asked about.”

Qin Jin’s spirit was invigorated, and his expression became more serious.

On the Dengxing Arena, he had once obtained a sealed invitation.

[Miracle Corridor Invitation]

After returning to the academy, he had inquired with Teacher Gu, but she was also unaware of the relevant information and promised to inquire about it.

That invitation had also remained sealed, still in a locked state.

In front of him.

Gu Huang calmly explained: “This is a covert plan currently being undertaken by the Federation.”

“The so-called Miracle Corridor is a place of opportunity built by the Federation itself. Talented individuals who perform exceptionally well in various star systems of the Federation will have the opportunity to obtain invitation qualifications through different means, enter it, and compete for opportunities.”

“This can also be considered a place of tempering.”

She looked at Qin Jin: “When the Miracle Corridor opens, you might want to give it a try.”

“That invitation is the entrance; you won’t even need to leave the academy then.”

“I understand.”

Qin Jin nodded.

Gu Huang’s expression became more serious as she looked at him: “Qin Jin, show me your martial arts progress.”

“Alright.”

Before Gu Huang returned to the academy, the teacher and student often communicated. At this moment, Qin Jin had nothing to hide. With a slight thought, his origin power surged forth.

His aura rapidly ascended in an instant, an invisible wave of air rolled around him, and as rich origin power surged, a glow appeared around Qin Jin.

“Is this the improvement brought by breaking through the limit?”

Gu Huang sensed the specific aura, and ripples flashed in her eyes.

“Four transformations of your own, plus an additional transformation through the Divine Martial Furnace.”

“But the origin power you possess now far surpasses that of an ordinary Five-Transformation Grandmaster.”

She could be said to have witnessed Qin Jin’s growth.

After Qin Jin gained an additional transformation through the Divine Martial Furnace, Gu Huang had already realized that her student’s talent surpassed her own in the past.

But now…

Precisely because she understood it so deeply, sensing Qin Jin’s aura caused ripples in her heart.

After all, she herself had walked this path of cultivation.

“Alright.”

Raising her hand to stop him, the ripples in Gu Huang’s eyes faded, and her expression became incredibly serious.

“Being able to break through the limits of life, and having one more transformation than others, allowing for ten transformations in the Congenital Realm—these are all experiences unimaginable to others.”

“Qin Jin.”

“Since you have achieved these, you must be even more diligent.”

Her tone was steady: “Within the Congenital Realm, lay an incredibly solid foundation, and with this, forge an invincible martial arts path, ushering in the ultimate break out when breaking through to higher realms.”

“Teacher Gu, I understand.”

Qin Jin responded earnestly.

“Lu Heng’s various teaching methods are comprehensive enough.”

“I will not make more detailed additions.”

“However…”

Changing her tone, Gu Huang raised her palm, and as origin power converged, it formed a rhomboid cube.

Power fused above it.

“This is a pure domain I created by removing other attributes.”

“Observing it will also help you improve your control over power.”

“Keep up the good work, Qin Jin.”

“With your current progress…”

Gu Huang’s voice lowered slightly: “You are very likely to become the youngest Martial Artist in the Grandmaster Realm in the history of Federation martial arts, with no one able to surpass you.”

…

Qin Jin’s schedule gradually stabilized.

He had always been accustomed to planning, setting specific tables and goals for his daily itinerary, and completing them step by step.

Improving control over power was genuinely influenced by factors of [comprehension], but Qin Jin had the augmentation of the Treasure Technique, which was already his strong suit. Coupled with his never-failing diligence, his progress was remarkably fast.

Time passed.

Today.

It was noon, and within the academy’s special cultivation room, extraordinary factors continuously moved.

Qin Jin adopted a stance, moving slowly, each punch not containing the power of origin, seemingly just a routine martial arts practice.

However…

As his movements continued, at a certain moment, a light punch, like a meteor falling into a calm sea, suddenly stirred up ripples.

Ripples emerged in the void.

Power followed his body's movement.

Qin Jin's own mind was empty, not actively urging the power of origin, yet it naturally released.

This was just the beginning.

As he practiced his fist techniques, more and more power of origin was actively unleashed with his physique, surging within the cultivation room, dispersing the surrounding extraordinary factors.

In this state,

if one wished to learn ordinary combat techniques, there was no need to expend much effort, because the power of origin itself would cooperate with the learning.

This was the Grandmaster Realm!

During the practice, the surging power of origin enveloped Qin Jin, like a ball of light, covering his figure and continuously expanding within the cultivation room.

After reaching a certain degree, under Qin Jin's control, the ball of light continuously compressed, stopping at the body's surface, gradually showing no further abnormalities.

Having completed this step, Qin Jin stopped his movements, drawing back his fists and standing upright.

If, in the past, the power of origin merely circulated within the physique, forming an internal cycle,

then now…

With the control over power, the circulation path of the power of origin was re-established; the internal cycle continued, but an external cycle also formed outside the body's surface!

And this external cycle was the domain!

If one were to perceive the current Qin Jin with mental power, upon contact, their mind would be like falling into a quagmire, unable to advance, thus slowing down.

If someone were to engage in close combat, they would also need to attack the domain first before breaking through to the person.

Having completed this step, Qin Jin's mood was instead exceptionally calm.

He thought for a moment, summoned his professional panel, and focused his gaze on it.

[Martial Artist: Grandmaster Realm]

“According to the panel's judgment, I am also a Grandmaster.”

“If I report this to the relevant departments of the Federation, after their review, I can even queue up to wait for the combat mechas provided by the Federation.”

Some things, before they are achieved, are greatly yearned for, but once that step is truly completed, one becomes very calm, without much ripple.

After all, once the number of transformations reached five, everything was a matter of course.

His thoughts completely settled down.

Qin Jin let out a long breath, stepped out of the cultivation room, and returned to the courtyard area.

Within the courtyard area, the number of people had noticeably decreased.

In the three academic years of Wuyuan, as time passed, the proportion and duration of mission periods would gradually increase, after all… Wuyuan aims to cultivate Martial Artists who possess both realm and combat power, requiring genuine tempering.

Now, the first round of the mission period had begun, and many of the academy's students had already departed.

Stepping out of the cultivation room,

Qin Jin lightly touched his terminal and softly called out.

“Candle Kite.”

Beside him, Candle Kite's small figure appeared.

She flew around Qin Jin once, her tone filled with anticipation: “Qin Jin, are you ready to depart?”

“Mhm.”

Qin Jin responded: “List out the missions available for me to choose from.”

“Alright!”

Candle Kite replied, a flash of light in her eyes, forming a light screen in front of her.

Within the light screen,

lines of information were displayed.

Qin Jin's gaze swept over it, clearly seeing that in just a few seconds, mission information was constantly changing and rapidly increasing.

Moreover, it was being updated every moment.

“The number of missions available for me to choose from is so large?”

Qin Jin's voice sounded.

He had already heard Candle Kite explain the relevant information and was somewhat prepared, but seeing such a vast number of selectable missions still surprised him.

“Normal first-year students have significant restrictions on the mission modes and mission levels they can participate in, and missions are issued specifically for them.”

“However, Qin Jin, your selectable missions are now equivalent to those of students not cultivating within the courtyard area, so there has been a significant change.”

Candle Kite hovered beside the light screen, explaining earnestly: “The academy’s mission system is connected to various departments of the Federation, collecting missions across various aspects, which is why there are so many.”

Hearing this, Qin Jin nodded.

He pondered for a moment: “Candle Kite, help me filter them.”

“I can.”

“Any specific requirements?”

“This mission should lean towards combat, allowing me to encounter sufficiently strong opponents, and ideally also involve mecha-level combat, with the mission duration covering this mission period.”

After simply stating two requirements, the number of missions on the light screen significantly decreased.

With Candle Kite's assistance, Qin Jin began to review the remaining missions.

Qin Jin had entered the second cycle of academy missions early, and in this cycle, students held absolute dominance over mission selection.

Despite being filtered, the remaining number of missions was still considerable.

Qin Jin roughly scanned them and saw small-scale war missions such as clearing out interstellar pirate strongholds, small-scale exploration missions to explore star sea anomalies, and pursuit missions targeting bounty criminals.

Even…

Within the missions, there were also tasks related to assisting mecha manufacturing teams in completing mecha debugging.

This type of mission also involved a considerable number of combat tests, after all… a truly reliable combat mecha must undergo tempering through blood and fire.

After a period of browsing,

Qin Jin's gaze lingered on one of the missions.

With a glance, Qin Jin spoke: “This is it.”

“Okay.”

Candle Kite floated to the front of the light screen and performed some operations.

[Mission target being submitted…]

[Mission personnel confirmed]

“Qin Jin, it’s done.”

“We can depart at any time. Do you need to return to your residence to prepare?”

“No need.”

Qin Jin shook his head.

With a portable base, all the items he needed to carry were placed inside the base, ready for use at any time.

Taking Candle Kite, Qin Jin rode a vehicle to the academy's docking area.

It was the mission period, and the academy's docking area was much emptier.

Under Candle Kite's guidance, Qin Jin arrived in front of a small starship.

The starship's exterior was streamlined, with a black and blue color scheme, appearing quite profound. On both sides of the hull, there was no Wuyuan emblem.

Qin Jin was aware of this point.

In some missions, the identity of a Wuyuan student could not be revealed, hence the starship had no obvious markings.

Standing beside the hull, Qin Jin took out his identification card.

The moment he took it out,

information flashed across the small screen on the front of the ID card.

[Identity verification in progress]

[Verification complete]

[Student Qin Jin, wishing you a smooth journey through the stars]

The information passed.

The hatch opened.

Qin Jin boarded the starship, took Candle Kite with him, and briefly toured it.

Though small, it was fully equipped. The starship provided by Wuyuan would naturally not be ordinary; inside, the cultivation area, living area, and cockpit were orderly, and plenty of living supplies were prepared.

In the foremost cockpit, various instruments were in simplified mode, but if the pilot required, they could switch modes and manually control it.

At the very top of the cockpit was a star map, containing all publicly available information on the Federation's star regions, which could be zoomed in and out to confirm updated routes.

This was Qin Jin's first time entering a starship's cockpit.

Beside him, Candle Kite's introductory voice sounded: “This starship was produced at our Wuyuan’s subordinate starship manufacturing factory.”

“Because it is not a combat starship, its combat weapon configuration is relatively weak, but its defensive capabilities and other aspects of performance are very good.”

“Its factory name is [Voyager]. If you are not satisfied, you can change it.”

“Let's use this one.”

Qin Jin had no expectations for his own naming ability. He looked at Candle Kite, who was eager and quite expectant, and smiled slightly: “Candle Kite, the task of piloting it is yours.”

The starship itself possessed an automatic piloting function.

However…

A top-tier artificial intelligence from Wuyuan was undoubtedly more trustworthy.

“Alright!”

Candle Kite rubbed her hands together, and under Qin Jin's gaze, she connected her personal terminal to the starship's internal computer, taking over the controls.

The next instant,

the starship started.

“Captain Qin Jin.”

“Pilot Candle Kite, reporting for duty.”

Her voice echoed from the starship's broadcast, filled with joy.

“It seems that the Candle Kite avatar responsible for communicating with me truly enjoys piloting starships.”

Qin Jin's thought flashed, and his tone also became a bit more serious: “Depart!”

A roar sounded from outside the starship.

With a surge of energy, the starship began to ascend rapidly.

Qin Jin stood in the cockpit, gazing at everything outside.

This was not his first time riding a starship, but it was truly his first solo interstellar voyage, accompanied only by Candle Kite, which was undoubtedly quite novel.

“After truly reaching the high realms of martial arts, traversing the star sea alone is merely a common occurrence.”

“I still need to continue striving to improve.”

With Candle Kite piloting, Qin Jin felt sufficiently at ease. He sat down in the cockpit, raised his wrist, and extracted his mission information from his personal terminal.

[Mission Source]: Federally issued to specific targets

[Mission Location]: Unnamed planet in the eastern starfield of the Weiyang Galaxy

[Mission Objective]: Clear special conditions and biological threats within the planet

[Mission Introduction]: After completing the eradication of a large-scale star sea anomaly, the Federation discovered a special life planet within the anomaly. You need to proceed to the designated location to receive the next step of the mission.

Planet cleanup mission.

Within the Federation, this was not a new occurrence. Some life planets had habitable environments but might contain special conditions unsuitable for migration.

In the early days of Federation expansion, there were established Federation legions for pioneering, and naturally, there were also individuals and organizations full of adventurous spirit exploring the vast star sea. Cooperation often existed between the two, and over time, this became an unwritten tradition. For some less impactful events, the Federation would also issue missions to gather more personnel to participate.

Qin Jin had learned through Candle Kite that these types of missions had a high combat frequency, and… because the star sea anomaly had left a deep impression on him in the Wu Sheng Stele, he chose this mission after seeing the relevant information.

Qin Jin carefully browsed the mission-related information, while also calling Candle Kite to help search for more detailed information about the mission location and other aspects.

The [Voyager] ascended, entering the star sea.

…

Martial Arts Department.

In the office,

Wuyuan Vice Principal, Vice Principal Fang Hanmei, was reviewing documents on a light screen.

Just then, a gentle voice sounded in her ear.

“Vice Principal Fang, Student Qin Jin has departed.”

The person was unseen, but the voice was heard, and it was Candle Kite!

This time, her voice was gentler.

“Oh?”

Vice Principal Fang Hanmei put down the document in her hand: “What type of mission did he choose?”

“Planet cleanup mission.”

On the light screen in front of her, relevant information was displayed.

“Cleanup missions are not low in danger.”

Vice Principal Fang Hanmei murmured, then asked: “Have all relevant arrangements been made?”

“They were already arranged after the mission was confirmed.”

“And…”

“Qin Jin's mentor proactively retrieved relevant data. From her demeanor, it seems she intends to accompany him secretly.”

“Gu Huang truly dotes on her student.”

Vice Principal Fang Hanmei shook her head and sighed: “Gu Huang received similar treatment when she was cultivating at the academy. How long has it been, and she has become the one protecting others.”

“Since she is willing to accompany him, our relevant preparations seem a bit redundant.”

“Vice Principal Fang, should we cancel them?”

“No need.”

Vice Principal Fang Hanmei refused: “Being absolutely foolproof is always better than a slight oversight.”

“Candle Kite, you must learn to understand the implicit meaning of our human words. This is the direction for your further improvement.”

Speaking of this, she rose from her seat and walked to the window, gazing into the distance towards the starship docking area.

“It’s truly not easy to nurture and witness a genius grow successfully.”

“We are afraid of not protecting them thoroughly enough, leading to unexpected incidents.”

“Yet, we cannot be too meticulous, lest they lose the meaning of tempering and become Waste.”

“Qin Jin.”

She murmured, speaking his name: “He is the most outstanding and rapidly advancing student in the academy in recent years.”

“I wonder how long his rapid progress will continue, and how far he can go in the future.”

“Speaking of which…”

She began to communicate with the unseen Candle Kite: “After the proposal regarding Qin Jin was put forward, the resistance encountered was much smaller than I anticipated. Is there something I don’t know about?”

“Did Principal Chi know, and that’s why he made this decision?”

“Candle Kite, what do you think?”

“I think, Principal Fang, you are overthinking.”

“Overthinking?”

Vice Principal Fang Hanmei pondered.

Candle Kite’s voice sounded again: “Based on my judgment, Principal Chi has a 99.7% chance of making this decision simply because he believes Qin Jin’s displayed talent is worthy.”

“Is that so.”

Vice Principal Fang Hanmei was silent for a moment, then finally nodded and said, “Candle Kite, you are right.”

...

The Great Wilderness.

A team was moving across the wilderness.

Behind them, tamed fierce beasts followed, either dragging or carrying their prey.

The Si Huo Tribe’s hunting team.

After the ceremony, everything in the Si Huo Tribe returned to normal. Having learned the radiation range of other surrounding tribes, exploration and hunting never ceased.

At this moment.

The leader of this hunting team had a rather young face.

Qi Ze!

Although he was young, he was an undeniable veteran of the Si Huo Tribe, and one of the first Treasure Technique awakeners to appear within the tribe. After Xia Yanh Tiger became the tribal chief, he was put in charge of some matters concerning the hunting team.

The team moved swiftly.

As they were advancing, a tribesman’s cry rang out.

“What is that?!”

A cry of alarm.

The members of the hunting team all looked in the direction he pointed.

Looking up, at this very moment, the clear, cloudless sky suddenly had dark, gloomy clouds floating in it.

At first, there was only one patch of dark clouds, but in a brief breath, they expanded and grew continuously. The sky quickly darkened, even the two great suns above the firmament were obscured, and there was a sense of dark clouds pressing down on the city.

“Is it going to rain?”

Within the team, murmurs sounded.

In an instant, the Great Wilderness seemed to enter night prematurely, and the hunting team had no choice but to light torches to illuminate their surroundings.

Looking up at the sky, the dark clouds stretched endlessly, seemingly without end, covering the entire firmament of the Great Wilderness.

However, within the dark clouds, there was no lightning, no rain. After forming, they simply remained static in the sky, creating a peculiar scene.

“Let’s return to the tribe first.”

After observing for a while, Qi Ze made a decision, looking at the surrounding tribesmen: “Full speed ahead.”

His idea was simple.

If this was some natural disaster, returning to the tribe would be safer.

Being within the tribe, they could also be of greater help.

The hunting team advanced rapidly.

Just as they were moving.

Above the firmament.

Light appeared!

From above, brilliant light shone, illuminating the ground. Qi Ze, leading the forefront of the team, looked up and saw that within the dark clouds, beams of light, like dawn, cast downwards, like sharp swords piercing through the dark clouds. This light of heaven and earth descended from the firmament, landing on the ground.

The closest one to them seemed to be only a few miles away.

And in the distance, there were other divine lights, piercing through the clouds and landing on the ground.

The closest divine light landing spot to them was originally a small hill, but under the illumination of the divine light, and under the gaze of the hunting team members, the hill… actually began to grow!

This should have been an earth-shattering, astonishing scene, but all the repercussions were confined within the divine light, causing no other impact on the land of the Great Wilderness.

The mountain peak grew.

In an instant, the original small hill transformed into a magnificent mountain peak, with beautiful scenery.

Only after climbing several hundred zhang did the transformation cease.

The divine light still enveloped the surroundings, but it did not obscure the scene within. The interior was spiritually vibrant, clearly an extraordinary place.

At the same time.

Above the firmament, the dark clouds that had initially formed began to dissipate.

Daylight reappeared over the Great Wilderness.

Qi Ze watched all of this, filled with shock, and without any hesitation, he immediately took out his communicator from his personal pack and initiated a call.

The call connected.

“Chief, I…”

“You also saw the unusual phenomenon?”

Xia Yanh Tiger’s steady voice came from the communicator.

“Yes!”

Qi Ze was already accustomed to communicating with the communicator, but at this moment, he still couldn’t help but nod, though not face-to-face, and thought of something: “Have other tribesmen who went out also seen it?”

“That’s right.”

Xia Yanh Tiger responded: “Before you, I had already received communications from other exploration teams.”

“Besides that…”

“An anomaly has appeared right near the tribe. We have already observed it, and…”

Xia Yanh Tiger paused for a moment, not continuing, then said seriously: “Qi Ze, lead the hunting team and return to the tribe quickly. We need to hold a discussion.”

“Some of the hunted prey can be abandoned temporarily to speed up the journey.”

“I understand.”

“We are already on our way.”

The call ended.

With a wave of Qi Ze’s hand, the team’s speed increased further.

...

Si Huo Tribe, tribal stronghold.

At this moment.

The dark clouds in the sky had completely dispersed.

The divine lights that had descended had severed their connection with the firmament, still maintaining their beam-like shape in place.

Around the Si Huo Tribe, there was a place where anomalies had appeared, which was the closest water source to the Si Huo Tribe, a continuous river. The divine light descended, as if cutting the river, dividing it into two, with most of the central area enveloped. The water surface within radiated a faint glow, looking no longer ordinary.

A water source is a crucial place for a tribe’s survival, of great importance, and generally allows for no accidents.

But now…

The tribesmen of the Si Huo Tribe had discovered the changes here, but they had no time to pay much attention. Some tribesmen were stationed here, without making further arrangements.

Because…

Within the Si Huo Tribe’s stronghold, there was a place covered by a divine light.

That place was the central area of the tribe, a noble place that others usually dared not approach.

Sacrificial Spirit Hall!

The divine light beam here was narrower, only covering the Sacrificial Spirit Hall. Under the illumination of the divine light, the Sacrificial Spirit Hall, which was originally built only with stone and wood, actually seemed to possess a hint of sacredness. The huge stones and branches seemed to have undergone some changes, and even the sharp edges of the building were no longer as before, becoming much softer.

Outside the hall.

Xia Yanh Tiger was at the forefront, with Qi Chuan and Ding Yang also present, along with other tribesmen.

Qi Chuan held the shaman’s bone fragments, his eyes tightly closed, with secret runes flickering above.

After a long while, he opened his eyes.

Xia Yanh Tiger looked at him, his expression serious: “Elder Qi, have you contacted Lord Sacrificial Spirit?”

Qi Chuan shook his head.

He looked at the Sacrificial Spirit Hall, which was enveloped in divine light, and said in a deep voice: “At such a close distance, with Lord Sacrificial Spirit’s capabilities, he should certainly be able to sense my call.”

“But now, my call is like a stone sinking into the sea, receiving no response.”

“It must be blocked by this divine light descending from the firmament.”

Upon hearing his reply.

Xia Yanh Tiger’s brows furrowed deeply.

Thought flickered across his face, and he calmed himself: “Elder Qi, please continue to try.”

“I understand.”

Qi Chuan responded.

Xia Yanh Tiger’s gaze turned to Ding Yang: “There is one thing I need you to do now, and I need an answer as soon as possible.”

“Chief, please tell me.”

Ding Yang replied earnestly.

“It’s not just our tribe that has experienced anomalies; many places throughout the entire Great Wilderness seem to have witnessed such phenomena.”

“After the last ceremony, our tribe made friends with many other tribes. Ding Yang, I need you to visit the tribes we are friendly with, under the pretext of a visit, and see if such anomalies have also occurred within their tribes.”

Ding Yang understood immediately, revealing a look of enlightenment: “Chief, you want to confirm the current status of the Sacrificial Spirits of other tribes!”

“That’s right.”

“The Sacrificial Spirits of each tribe often live in seclusion.”

Xia Yanh Tiger’s voice was steady: “If other Sacrificial Spirits have also encountered this situation, we can be a bit more at ease. With Lord Sacrificial Spirit’s capabilities, there must be a way to escape.”

“If the Sacrificial Spirits of other tribes are not in their secluded places, I also need you to confirm if they have undergone any changes.”

“I understand.”

Ding Yang nodded solemnly, without the slightest hesitation, and turned to stride away.

Xia Yanh Tiger watched him depart.

“Elder Qi, once the various teams outside return, the tribe will need to hold a discussion.”

“No matter what this anomaly involves, the Great Wilderness will likely not be peaceful.”

...

The Great Wilderness.

In front of a divine light.

Shi Cang carried his pack, looking at the light screen that was close at hand.

The light was soft and not dazzling. Upon approaching, a sense of warmth emanated from it.

“What is this?”

Shi Cang asked.

“I don’t know either.”

The voice of the wudao stele sounded beside his ear: “I haven’t seen it before, but it looks like some kind of heavenly opportunity.”

Beside Shi Cang, the illusory image of the broken stele appeared, seemingly sensing and observing the light screen: “The power constructing this divine light is relatively gentle.”

“Looking inside, it seems to have transformed into some kind of blessed or spiritual land.”

“Shi Cang, do you want to go in and investigate? Perhaps you can find your Dao Foundation Kindling within.”

Upon hearing this, Shi Cang’s eyes lit up: “Of course.”

As his words fell.

The illusory image of the wudao stele hovered behind him. Other parts of the illusion were dim, only the words ‘Wu Dao’ remained. The character ‘Wu’ was clear, while ‘Dao’ was ethereal, with a soft light covering Shi Cang’s entire body.

“Give it a try.”

“If you can’t enter, then the extent of my current repairs is not enough to support your entry.”

Shi Cang nodded and tentatively took a step.

With one step, there was no obstruction in front of him, and a moment later, his figure disappeared from the spot.

...

In the Star Sea.

The starship was heading towards the nearest Star Gate.

The Star Gates within the Federation were interconnected. After entering a Star Gate, the starship could choose which Star Gate to exit from.

With Candle Kite piloting, Qin Jin, after carefully browsing the mission details, went to the starship’s living area lounge.

Taking out his Judgment Badge, Qin Jin entered it.

During this period, he had grown accustomed to cultivating within his portable base, and furthermore, traveling from the portable base to the Great Wilderness provided an extra layer of security.

This mission was a solo one, and he also had to travel to other star regions. He certainly wouldn’t waste time during the journey.

Now that his transformation was complete, he also needed to strive for further progress in his Heavenly Azure Method cultivation.

Standing within the base, Qin Jin’s thoughts stirred slightly, and his professional panel appeared.

In the next instant…

His figure vanished from there, heading to the Great Wilderness.