After an extended period of intensive cultivation, the Star-Eating Grass had finally reached the seventh level of World Master rank.
In terms of raw combat strength, even an average Immortal Marquis might struggle against it in direct confrontation.
After all, once a Thousand-Vine Star-Eating Grass broke through to the Immortal realm, it would naturally reach the peak of King level! At the World Master stage, rivaling an Immortal Marquis wasn't particularly surprising, the plant's inherent advantages in binding and entanglement made it a nightmare opponent for anyone lacking overwhelming power or specialized counters.
"Devour!" Han Jue commanded, signaling the Star-Eating Grass to attack him.
[No Limit]!
Layers upon layers of spatial barriers instantly materialized around his body, forming an intricate defensive web that shielded Han Jue from the Star-Eating Grass's aggressive assault. Each layer bent space itself, creating a nearly impenetrable barrier against conventional attacks.
Han Jue nodded slightly, satisfaction warming his chest.
Indeed, after fully comprehending all 108 fundamental essences of the Origin Laws of Space, his innate secret technique [No Limit] could now effortlessly ignore attacks from ordinary Immortal Marquis-level opponents, roughly equivalent to withstanding assaults delivering up to 1,000 times a World Master's baseline power!
Attacks exceeding 1,000 times World Master power fell into Immortal King territory, representing a qualitative leap beyond anything at the Marquis level.
Han Jue didn't know the exact upper limit of [No Limit]'s defensive capabilities, but he roughly estimated that shattering his spatial defenses would require King-level attack power at minimum. Perhaps even Universe Venerable attacks might be partially mitigated, though testing that theory seemed unnecessarily dangerous.
"Star-Eater, return," Han Jue said, withdrawing the massive plant life form back into his World Ring.
His gaze shifted toward the manor's entrance, his Six Eyes perceiving movement beyond the walls before it became visible.
With his breakthrough to World Master level, staff from the Virtual Universe Company would soon arrive to formally test his strength and deliver the customary nutrient capsules with their accompanying solutions. The procedure was standard for all cultivators advancing to significant milestones, documentation, verification, and rewards.
But Han Jue's thoughts had already moved past such mundane administrative matters.
Could he obtain a clone?
It was impossible not to desire one. Having a clone was like possessing multiple lives, freeing up energy to comprehend different laws simultaneously and allowing him to accomplish vastly more than a single body ever could.
Especially during the Universe Master era, having clones was tantamount to possessing the combat power of multiple Universe Masters, each body representing a separate vector of overwhelming force that could operate independently or coordinate in devastating combinations.
More importantly, clones could manifest truly massive divine bodies! Physical scale translated directly to power at higher cultivation levels, and some special life forms possessed bodies spanning entire star systems.
Han Jue was already contemplating his future trajectory after achieving Immortality. The possibilities sprawled before him like an infinite landscape waiting to be explored.
"Your Highness Han Jue, since you are a core member of the Primal Secret Realm, your position at the Virtual Universe Company's Ganwu branch will be a high-ranking appointment with significant authority and implications," the black-uniformed envoy explained respectfully, his demeanor deferential. "Therefore, the final decision will be made at a high-level executive meeting before the official appointment is issued. This process takes considerable time, generally at least one month, though it may extend to six months depending on various political factors."
Han Jue nodded slightly, acknowledging the information without particular concern.
Political maneuvering among the company's leadership didn't particularly interest him. Whatever position they eventually assigned would suit his needs adequately. His status as a personal disciple of the Lord of Ice Peak meant that most bureaucratic obstacles simply evaporated before him like morning mist.
He watched the envoy depart before returning to the manor with his delivery of nutrient capsules.
"Your Highness, your status is extraordinarily noble," Ian observed with a genuine smile as he walked beside Han Jue, his tone mixing respect with conversational warmth. "Once you assume your position in Ganwu Universe Nation, you'll likely surpass even the three giants in effective authority. Your word will carry immense weight throughout the entire nation."
"Ian, tell me honestly, what is your actual strength?" Han Jue asked, glancing at his assigned guardian with curiosity.
"Uh..." Ian hesitated momentarily, clearly caught off-guard by the direct question. But he recovered quickly, speaking with characteristic forthrightness, "Your Highness, I should be considered a high-level Immortal King by current standards."
"High-level Immortal King?" Han Jue nodded thoughtfully.
The assessment matched his expectations reasonably well. Ian possessed considerably more strength than barely-qualified Kings, though he hadn't quite reached peak King level. A solid middle-ground protector, competent but not overwhelming.
"Ian, this journey might attract assassination attempts from King-level Immortals or even Universe Venerables," Han Jue said with casual certainty, as if discussing weather rather than potential mortal threats. "After all, this represents the only real opportunity those alien races have to eliminate me before I depart for the outer battlefields. They'll definitely gamble that I don't have sufficiently powerful guardians accompanying me."
"Don't worry, Your Highness! Any enemy will have to step over my corpse first!" Ian declared with fierce determination, his eyes blazing with protective resolve.
"Forget it. High-level King is still too weak," Han Jue said bluntly, shaking his head.
"Have you left coordinates for your Kingdom of God in Ganwu Universe Nation? Next, we'll depart the Primal Secret Realm directly and teleport back to Ganwu through your Kingdom of God. I'll bear the teleportation expenses personally."
Is high-level King considered too weak? Ian felt momentarily stunned by the assessment.
But thinking carefully about Han Jue's extraordinary identity and the enemies likely targeting him, the evaluation seemed... disturbingly accurate. The alien races wouldn't dispatch anything less than peak Kings to attempt his assassination. High-level Kings could delay such enemies but likely couldn't guarantee victory.
"That's not necessary, Your Highness. It's merely a few Hunyuan Units," Ian protested modestly. "The teleportation cost isn't particularly burdensome."
Teleporting through one's Kingdom of God might be expensive for ordinary Immortals, but for an Immortal King of Ian's caliber, the expenditure represented pocket change, annoying perhaps, but hardly crippling.
"Then let's go," Han Jue agreed simply.
"Do you desire the secret technique of clones?"
Inside the Ice Peak Hall, an imposing figure sat upon the throne, a silver-haired man with graying temples, wearing bloodstained ancient armor and carrying a legendary sword. His presence filled the vast chamber like an ocean contained within walls. He looked down at Han Jue with calm, penetrating eyes that seemed to pierce through layers of reality.
"Yes, Teacher. Is there any feasible method?" Han Jue asked with genuine curiosity, his expression earnest.
"The secret art of clones is generally a natural innate secret technique possessed by powerful bloodlines, such as Golden-Horned Beasts or certain special life forms," the Lord of Ice Peak explained calmly, his voice carrying the weight of vast knowledge. "The most common method for ordinary cultivators to obtain clones is through body-possession techniques, but that approach doesn't apply to you."
"Besides body possession, there are special opportunities bestowed by the primordial cosmic consciousness itself, certain rare opportunities hidden within secret realms scattered throughout the universe, and even the unique secret technique mastered by Primal Chaos City's guardian 'Kandri', all of these can produce similar effects."
"And you," the Lord of Ice Peak said, his gaze sharpening as he stared intently at Han Jue, "you have two realistic opportunities to obtain clone secret techniques."
"Which two?" Han Jue couldn't help asking, leaning forward with barely restrained eagerness.
"First: After you break through to World Master level, you'll enter a particular secret cosmic realm to undertake exploration missions," the Lord of Ice Peak continued methodically. "As far as I know, that realm contains a special opportunity allowing World Masters to create clones. However, those who successfully obtain it are extraordinarily rare, the requirements are quite stringent, and the challenges are severe. Most who attempt it fail."
"Second: The primordial cosmic consciousness itself. You've already attracted its attention sufficiently that it granted you your Six Eyes bloodline. It's not impossible that it might also grant you a secret clone technique, though I'll be honest, the probability is extremely low. The universe doesn't give gifts freely, and you've already received one monumental blessing."
"Another secret cosmic realm?" Han Jue felt genuine surprise at the revelation.
The Lord of Ice Peak glanced at him knowingly. "Yes, it's exactly what you're thinking. It's the same secret cosmic realm your two senior brothers entered long ago. Your senior sister also entered it recently after reaching World Master level."
"That secret realm is genuinely dangerous. The highest cultivation level permitted to enter is Universe Venerable, while the minimum is World Master. The mortality rate is... substantial, even among our most talented disciples."
"If you prefer not to risk it, you can choose to go to the outer battlefields instead and accumulate merit there. Wait until you've reached World Master level, then make your decision with full awareness of both options."
"By the way," the Lord of Ice Peak added with particular emphasis, "you must first pass through Primal Tongtian Mountain at the World Master level before you can legitimately ascend to that cultivation realm. The Virtual Universe Company maintains strict requirements for advancement, demonstration of capability, not merely accumulated energy."
"No problem, Teacher," Han Jue nodded confidently.
The World Master-level Primal Tongtian Mountain roughly corresponded to the sixteenth level of Tongtian Bridge in terms of difficulty. Han Jue's current law comprehension hovered around the twelfth level, the highest among all World Master-level members of the Primal Secret Realm. As long as he continued comprehending the fourth diagram of the Ice Peak Chaos Monument and deepened his mastery of the Water-Sky Sacred Flame, breaking through the World Master-level Primal Tongtian Mountain wouldn't pose insurmountable difficulties.
"Then you may leave," the Lord of Ice Peak said, waving his hand in dismissal. "When you have fully comprehended the fourth diagram of the Ice Peak Chaos Monument or achieved breakthrough to World Master level, whichever comes first, return to see me. We'll discuss your next steps then."
"Yes, Teacher!" Han Jue bowed respectfully and departed from the virtual universe.
Of the two methods the Lord of Ice Peak had mentioned, normally only the first would offer realistic prospects for success.
But Han Jue felt that the second method held surprising promise despite its apparent improbability.
The Six Eyes!
His Six Eyes at Domain Lord level had already brought gifts encompassing all fundamental Origin Laws.
When he broke through to World Master level, couldn't he potentially obtain items or abilities related to clone secret techniques and thus acquire the ability to create additional bodies?
No, wait...
Han Jue suddenly realized something fundamental that had been nagging at his subconscious.
Everyone kept discussing clones, clones, clones. But wasn't his greatest need for clones actually about possessing a powerful divine body rather than mere multiplication of consciousness?
He possessed no shortage of talent whatsoever! His comprehension abilities were already monstrous by any reasonable standard. What he truly lacked was the overwhelming physical presence that would terrify enemies through sheer scale alone.
If he directly obtained a powerful divine body when breaking through to World Master level or Immortal level, bypassing the clone technique entirely, then did he even need clones at all?
The thought crystallized with sudden clarity. Perhaps he'd been approaching the problem from the wrong direction entirely. Perhaps the universe had a different gift waiting for him, one that would accomplish his goals through an entirely unexpected path.
Only time would reveal the answer.