Cultivation

Cultivation . . . 

The mysterious figure materialized before Qin Wentian, an enigmatic presence with long hair cascading to the ground, reminiscent of a primordial madman. Despite his wild appearance, his eyes bore a sharpness that cut through the veil of mystery. He fixed his gaze upon Qin Wentian and began to speak, advising him on the next phase of his cultivation journey.

"Next, you should start to form your law domain," the figure intoned. His tone carried a hint of wisdom, drawing upon the vast experience he had amassed over countless ages. "Consider this well, for you have witnessed many law domains here in the forbidden ground. Your exposure is far from limited. If possible, endeavor to merge all your law attributes into the domain you create."

Qin Wentian, however, offered a somewhat impolite response. "I have my own plans," he retorted, his eyes unyielding.

The mysterious figure's reaction was swift and stern. "What? You dare to speak to me in such a manner right after attaining the realm of an immortal king?" He snorted, unleashing a terrifying power that enveloped Qin Wentian, locking him in place. The heavens and earth seemed to close in, rendering Qin Wentian utterly powerless. His face contorted into a grimace as he stared helplessly at the enigmatic figure.

"I could end your existence with the mere flick of a finger," the figure declared ominously. "I shall grant you one more year. When I return, do not delude yourself into thinking that your current strength suffices. If you wish to escape this place alive, you must grow stronger. However, should the day come when I no longer find you intriguing, your continued existence will lose all meaning to me."

With these words, the mysterious expert turned and vanished, leaving Qin Wentian without the opportunity to retort. His expression soured, as if doused with a bucket of cold water. With the undying enigma overseeing his fate, it seemed futile even to strive for the status of an immortal emperor. There was no hope of defeating this mysterious figure.

Would he forever remain under the control of this elusive entity, incapable of escaping the forbidden ground?

Years had passed since he first entered this secluded realm. In the outside world, in the eastern regions, he was unaware of current events. He wondered about the well-being of Qingcheng and Qing'er. Since the conclusion of the adjudication battle, numerous major powers harbored animosity toward the Evergreen Immortal Empire. Had tensions erupted into full-blown war?

"Another year, as if that phrase is all he knows," Qin Wentian muttered under his breath, annoyance evident in his tone. At his level, a year for cultivation was woefully inadequate, especially when he needed to fortify his foundations and bolster his strength in every conceivable aspect. The undying figure's incessant imposition of yearlong deadlines only intensified the pressure on Qin Wentian.

Furthermore, he remained clueless about the undying old figure's intentions for each additional year. It was highly unlikely that these intentions boded well.

Qin Wentian rose to his feet, projecting his immortal sense to its limits. Radiant energies surged around his body, elevating his aura to extraordinary heights. When he emanated this newfound radiance, he appeared as a king among mortals.

His immortal sense expanded further, extending to remote corners and touching every blade of grass and every inch of soil with unparalleled clarity. His vision too had been augmented, enabling him to perceive greater distances. He clenched his fists, savoring the invigorating sensation coursing through him.

"Law domain," he whispered. With an act of will, a malevolent and destructive force permeated the surroundings, transforming into a formidable law domain. Within this domain, destructive energy surged, capable of annihilation.

This was the rudimentary form of a law domain.

Yet, the undying enigma harbored no interest in the law domains crafted by ordinary immortal kings. His standards were exacting, and meeting his expectations was no simple feat. If Qin Wentian failed to refine his law domain within a year, the enigmatic figure might lose interest and decide to end his existence.

"Law domain," Qin Wentian contemplated, his determination unwavering. "To create a genuine law domain, it must enhance my power while weakening my adversaries. Only then can this law domain truly be effective."

Qin Wentian believed that as one advanced along the path of cultivation, their understanding and insights into strength, cultivation realms, comprehension, and the utilization of the forces of heaven and earth would inevitably evolve. For instance, the immortal-foundation realm marked the commencement of law energy cultivation. From time immemorial, stellar martial cultivators had glimpsed the embryonic form of laws known as Mandates. As they progressed, these Mandates would transform into fully-fledged laws.

Within the Celestial Phenomenon Realm, constellations materialized; at the immortal king realm, law domains took shape. Both of these phenomena emanated from the same wellspring of power, yet they underwent a profound qualitative evolution as one ascended the ranks.

In his past, Qin Wentian had been a mortal. But now, he had transcended mortality to become an immortal.

He contemplated the intricacies of manifested constellations, recognizing that those with a single power were the weakest tier. True strength came from fusing insights from various mandates, resulting in constellations of unparalleled might. The same principle applied to law domains; the simplest application was to release law energy as a blast, which enhanced one's control over their law.

Qin Wentian immersed himself in thought. This rudimentary law domain was the most basic, offering minimal enhancement. Immortal kings at the initial stage typically formed such domains. But as they progressed, their domains evolved, growing more formidable and terrifying.

His thoughts drifted to the legendary senior brother Bai Wuya, whose effortless victory over the Deepflame Immortal King had left an indelible impression. Had Bai Wuya's supreme power stemmed from an extraordinarily potent law domain?

"Why did that madman discourage me from forming my law domain too early?" Qin Wentian mused aloud. He considered his own battles with the immortal kings of the Evergreen Empire when he was only at the immortal-foundation realm. None of them had been heaven-chosen, limiting his understanding of immortal kings. He needed to rely on his own insights.

Qin Wentian continued to explore the ancient city, seeking inspiration from its rare sights. He knew that these experiences could potentially offer profound insights.

During his meandering, he frequently paused to contemplate rather than rush into forming his law domain. Most of his time was dedicated to deep introspection.

He began to discern similarities between the process of contemplating the immortal king realm and the creation of innate techniques. Proficiency in using innate techniques and the comprehension of cultivation were, to some extent, interconnected.

At the immortal king realm, one had to forge a body of laws and radiate their law energy to exert control over a specific area. Powerful innate techniques served as triggers to unleash the might of these laws.

In theory, a person with powerful perception and control over divine inscriptions and runes could potentially establish a domain of laws, gathering ordinary law energy to transform into devastating attacks. However, this was an immensely challenging endeavor in practice.

"God's Hand," Qin Wentian thought suddenly. He recalled witnessing Ancient Emperor Yi unleashing the true power of God's Hand through a projection shown to him by the ancestral phoenix of the Southern Phoenix Clan. The palm strike had been potent enough to slay supreme experts over vast distances, a power that could make even gods and devils tremble. The energy source of God's Hand originated from one's body, akin to the body of laws needed for law domains. Qin Wentian decided to refine his body of laws by tempering it with the power of God's Hand.

As he explored, Qin Wentian would pause frequently to contemplate and refine his body of laws. His entire being emitted a dazzling divine glow, an unrivaled presence exuding boundless might.

Yet, he remained unsatisfied with his progress. God's Hand excelled in offense, its runes adaptable to different attributes to unleash diverse energies. Qin Wentian's understanding of divine inscriptions and runes, honed through the Battle Saint Art, allowed him to manifest anything he wished. Now, he aimed to fuse the art of truth into his attacks, thereby amplifying their devastating power.

Qin Wentian embarked on a journey of experimentation, making mistakes and learning from them. Back in the sacred academy, he had perfected his innate techniques by facing a mirror, and the Myriad Law Records from the Heavenly Talisman Realm had further enriched his knowledge. His monstrous comprehension abilities, an internal talent, remained hidden from the eyes of others.

Now, he would rely on these formidable abilities to craft a truly formidable law domain.

Ordinary law domains held no appeal for him; they would merely serve as symbols to signify his attainment of the immortal king realm.

As the year sped by, time seemed to pass faster than ever before. At his current level, each cultivation session consumed significantly more time than in his earlier days. Unbeknownst to him, the mysterious figure silently materialized beside Qin Wentian. Observing him with his eyes closed, Qin Wentian radiated an immense aura of law immortal light. Terrifying fluctuations surged from him as his body of laws took shape. His physical form alone exuded a strength unmatched in the world.

Before him, a vast expanse was enveloped by the law domain he had forged. Countless ancient runic characters floated in the air, shrouded in a devilish aura that pierced the heavens. This energy emanated a destructive and oppressive force. Qin Wentian ceaselessly experimented, seeking to unlock the greatest potential and create a law domain capable of instant, devastating power, rather than one that required time to accumulate strength.

Developing such a potent law domain posed a formidable challenge.

The mysterious figure cast a brief glance at Qin Wentian but, for the first time, chose not to rouse him from his meditation. He remarked, "Your cultivation speed is rather sluggish, but your law domain shows promise. I see some minor techniques and methods here. Once your law domain's embryonic form is complete, you can refine it further. I suggest you do so promptly; my patience is limited."

With those words, he waved his hand, scattering a collection of items onto the ground before departing. Among the scattered treasures were ancient books gleaming with radiant knowledge, powerful divine weapons, and other valuable artifacts. In the external world, these items would have sparked earthquakes of interest. Yet here, they were tossed out casually, left on the ground for Qin Wentian to study and refine.

Although Qin Wentian had heard the mysterious figure's advice, he remained deep in his meditative state, continually probing his insights. He sought to deepen his comprehension, tirelessly striving to attain perfection.

Time slipped by unnoticed, and what had begun as his recent breakthrough to the immortal king realm now felt like a relentless gallop towards further enlightenment.