Silver-white arrows slammed into his body once more. His flesh was vaporized, leaving behind a resplendent soul.
His soul was like glazed glass, brilliant with myriad colors, packed full of countless soul micro-particles. Every particle was like a miniature soul avatar, making the soul solid and full.
The soul had not grown much stronger in raw power. The fusion of real and illusory had changed the essence of the soul, not its strength.
Lin Moyu understood very clearly that the true roots for strengthening the soul had already been planted. Next he simply needed to water them and the soul would continuously grow stronger.
Breaking through the Great Supreme level was only the starting point. He had already taken half a step onto the path toward the Life-Forbidden Zone.
Next, he still had to seek out the real and illusory of the flesh, find the illusory side of the body, and let the flesh, like the soul, fuse real and illusory to lay down the strongest foundation.
That would be another step toward entering the Life-Forbidden Zone. As for realm, once these two steps were complete, realm would naturally follow.
Now that his soul would no longer be vaporized, Lin Moyu murmured,
"It is over. You should completely disperse as well."
His soul burst apart.
Countless soul micro-particles flew out as the Calamity Scepter swept across, smashing the silver-white giant to pieces.
Lin Moyu's soul micro-particles surged into the drifting dust, transforming into tiny hunters that destroyed the scattered silver-white substance once again.
That silver-white substance was invisible to the naked eye, yet it could not escape the hunt of the soul micro-particles. They carried Lin Moyu's will. No matter how tiny something was, they could find it.
His battle shifted from the macro scale to the micro scale.
Soul micro-particles hidden within the silver-white substance were rapidly wiped out.
When the giant reformed again, a third of its body was missing.
Before it could act, the Calamity Scepter swept across again and shattered it anew.
Lin Moyu's soul micro-particles continued their assault.
The tempo of battle completely changed.
It was no longer a simple back-and-forth of you hit once, I hit once. The value of the giant had been squeezed dry by Lin Moyu. It was time for it to reach its end.
Very soon, the special silver-white substance that made up the giant was completely destroyed.
All of Lin Moyu's soul micro-particles returned, and his flesh completed rebirth within violet light.
Lin Moyu sensed the changes in his soul and flesh.
At this point the essence of his soul already surpassed that of his body. There was now a faint sense of discrepancy between the two.
"Looks like the flesh has to grow stronger as well."
He still had not found the illusory side of the body. His vague intuition told him that his body was not yet strong enough. Only after it became stronger would the illusory side reveal itself.
Strengthening the body required him to go court death in an even grander way. He already had a method; he only needed to carry it out.
His gaze fell on the eight-layered pagoda not far away.
This Heaven-and-Earth core was the fattest piece of meat, waiting for him to feast on it.
The Undying Fire flew out and smoothly fell upon the pagoda, beginning to refine it.
The Calamity Scepter flew out as well, sharing the feast with the Undying Fire.
Large amounts of Rule Crystals tumbled out of the pagoda.
The silver-white Heaven-and-Earth had no rule-born beings. Its rules were extremely simple, but that did not mean it had no rules. On the contrary, its rule power was extremely strong and pure.
The quantity of refined Rule Crystals was also extremely high, and their quality superb.
"This time, Technique God Heaven-and-Earth should be able to evolve."
This time he had obtained an eight-wheel Heaven-and-Earth. By using Heaven-Burst Earth-Rend to grant it new life and re-evolution, the Heaven-and-Earth power and Primordial Qi born from it would be more than enough for Technique God Heaven-and-Earth to feast to its heart's content.
Technique God Heaven-and-Earth was now only a step away from qualitative transformation. This time there was an eight or nine out of ten chance it would advance and change in essence.
After its first Heaven-and-Earth great tribulation, Technique God Heaven-and-Earth would at least be able to become a seven-wheel Heaven-and-Earth.
The refinement process of the Undying Fire went very smoothly. It grew ever stronger.
Its growth seemed to have no limit. As long as enough food was provided, it could grow stronger without end. The essence of the Undying Fire was simply too strong. Up to now he still had not touched its limit.
As he refined the Heaven-and-Earth core, scenes surfaced in the flames.
These were scenes recorded by the Heaven-and-Earth core, events that occurred in the early evolution of this Heaven-and-Earth.
During its first great tribulation this Heaven-and-Earth experienced an accident.
Originally, Heaven-and-Earth should have absorbed and fused the power of the Life-Forbidden Zone. Instead, the power of the Life-Forbidden Zone invaded on a massive scale.
Heaven-and-Earth had no time to fuse and filter it. All life inside Heaven-and-Earth was wiped out, even the rules collapsed.
In the end it became the silver-white Heaven-and-Earth, a dead land occupied by annihilation power.
That was the origin of the silver-white Heaven-and-Earth. Simple and cruel.
After seeing it, Lin Moyu felt no emotion.
He already had passed the age of sighing. He viewed everything with calm detachment.
Heaven-and-Earth were as numerous as cattle. Whatever accidents occurred were in fact normal and nothing to make a fuss over.
After Undying Fire and Calamity Scepter finished devouring the Heaven-and-Earth core, the silver-white Heaven-and-Earth that Supremes had classified as a deathland began to collapse.
Lin Moyu took the pagoda shell and set out on the return path.
The space passage quickly disintegrated. The power of the Life-Forbidden Zone continually surged in.
He had experienced this kind of thing many times. By now he had plenty of experience.
Lin Moyu walked very casually, strolling through the collapsing space passage, and returned to the Chaotic Primordial Wilds.
The sound of surging waves reached his ears. Heaven-and-Earth Source Water was churning.
In his sight, Bai Zhong and Bo Yang were both looking at him with a strange expression.
Lin Moyu asked curiously, "What is wrong with you two?"
Bai Zhong Great Supreme said, "Lin Daoist Friend, you have been gone a hundred years. You seem somewhat different."
Bo Yang Great Supreme added, "It appears Lin Daoist Friend has obtained some sort of opportunity."
Lin Moyu knew he was indeed different.
The difference came from the soul. His soul had completed fusion of real and illusory, likely making it the only soul among countless Heavens-and-Earth to achieve such a state.
He said calmly, "I did obtain some opportunity. In truth, every Heaven-and-Earth has opportunity. It is only a question of whether you can obtain it."
Bai Zhong asked in a low voice, "If this old man had gone to that Heaven-and-Earth earlier, what would the result have been?"
He had only sent a clone, never gone himself. There was inevitably some unwillingness in his heart.
Lin Moyu's answer made him completely give up the thought.
"Certain death."
Bai Zhong paused slightly, then bowed to Lin Moyu.
"Thank you, Lin Daoist Friend, for informing me."
Lin Moyu said, "That Heaven-and-Earth is very special. No one but me can cross it. Even if those few went, they would die as well."
Bai Zhong muttered, "So dangerous…"
He did not ask why Lin Moyu could go. That would be probing Lin Moyu's secrets. He was not so foolish.
Bo Yang Great Supreme studied Lin Moyu, as if wanting to see what had changed. But no matter how he looked, he could not find the root of it.
In a hundred years his own injuries had completely healed. A hundred years ago, the two of them had been absorbing and refining Primordial Qi. Their auras had strengthened somewhat compared to before.
Lin Moyu swept his gaze around, scanning all of Heaven-and-Earth.
Nine-Heavens Fate Technique silently activated.
All the changes in the Heaven-and-Earth great tribulation over the past century entered his eyes.
Lin Moyu murmured,
"It seems my becoming a Great Supreme has thrown Heaven-and-Earth into disorder and further accelerated the progress of the great tribulation. In as little as three hundred years, at most five hundred, the Heaven-and-Earth great tribulation will reach its peak. At that time a certain thing will appear.
"This thing may allow the two of you to break through the Great Supreme realm and reach the level of those few. There is even a tiny chance to go one step further.
"But that thing is also bound up with fate and karmic destiny. If you go fight for it, you are very likely to die. If the two of you wish to vie for it, you should first think carefully about the outcome."
As Great Supremes, Bo Yang and Bai Zhong both sensed the great tribulation. They knew that within it there was an item that was no ordinary thing.
Bo Yang's lips moved.
"Is Lin Daoist Friend planning to vie for it?"
Lin Moyu smiled.
"You can guess whether I will."
Bo Yang answered with some hesitation, "You probably will, I think…"
He did not sound sure at all. Bai Zhong was the same.
They had watched Lin Moyu grow step by step. Though his speed was astonishing, because of Heaven-Sovereign's previous divinations, they knew Lin Moyu was no ordinary man, so they felt everything so far had been within reason.
Before now, everything was still within the scope of expectation.
Ever since Lin Moyu broke through the boundary restriction and entered the Chaotic Primordial Wilds, they discovered everything had changed. Lin Moyu's growth was gradually surpassing their imagination, and he was moving faster and faster.
They could no longer keep up. By now they could not understand Lin Moyu at all.
Lin Moyu's understanding of Heaven-and-Earth, his recognition of the Chaotic Primordial Wilds, his view of this great tribulation, and his position and posture within the great tribulation had all become an unsolvable riddle.
Fortunately, they had shown him some favor earlier and formed some karmic ties, so they could gain some benefits. They also knew it would stop at that.
After all, what they had done contained selfish motives and was something they were fated to do within Heavenly Calamity Great Supreme's layout, rather than a sincere initiative to help Lin Moyu.
Lin Moyu beating up Bo Yang Great Supreme was for this very reason. This was karma, and Bo Yang could only take it.
They were even less able to know whether Lin Moyu would go and vie. Normally speaking, he should. But Lin Moyu never acted normally.
Lin Moyu smiled.
"Since we are talking about this, I will say one more thing. That thing belongs to me. I am not going to fight for it, merely to take it back.
"If you two wish to avoid this great tribulation, then in the near future move less and observe more. It is best to find a place to hide. Do not concern yourselves with the storms outside. You should be able to safely weather the tribulation.
"Once the great tribulation is over, Great Supremes will still be Great Supremes, beings beneath one person and above billions."
He had stated things very clearly. He believed the two of them would understand.
Bo Yang nodded slightly.
"This old man understands. But if, by chance…"
"There is no by chance," Lin Moyu shook his head. "If Heaven-and-Earth make a mistake, then they must die. The instinct of Heaven-and-Earth is to seek life, so there will be no mistake."
His words were filled with absolute confidence, making Bo Yang and Bai Zhong's expressions change.
Their instinct told them Lin Moyu was too arrogant, yet they also felt it was as it should be.
Lin Moyu had spoken correctly. In the Chaotic Primordial Wilds, no one knew Heaven-and-Earth better than Lin Moyu.
Even Hun-Tian Wild Dragon, who had partially fused with Heaven-and-Earth, could not compare.
Having mastered over a hundred Primordial Techniques and created Nine-Heavens Fate Technique, Lin Moyu's understanding of Heaven-and-Earth had reached an unimaginable level.
Not to mention this Heaven-and-Earth, even former Supremes might not surpass him.
It was precisely because of this that Lin Moyu could toy with Heaven-and-Earth, playing them within his palm.
Lin Moyu said to Bai Zhong Great Supreme,
"Bai Zhong Daoist Friend, I wish to borrow Heaven-and-Earth Source Water."
Bai Zhong naturally did not refuse.
"Please, Lin Daoist Friend."
Lin Moyu smiled and once more sent out two masses of Primordial Qi, handing one to each of them.
"These are the remaining portions."
These two masses of Primordial Qi were larger than the previous one. Lin Moyu was never stingy in this regard.
The two were overjoyed and hurried to receive them.
With these two masses of Primordial Qi they could completely surpass the Great Supreme realm. Even half a step beyond would make their strength surge.
Only Great Supremes could understand the pain of having made no progress in strength for countless years, knowing there was still a path above yet being unable to take even half a step.
Primordial Qi was the light of hope for them.
Lin Moyu flew toward Heaven-and-Earth Source Water.
As he approached, the Source Water automatically parted, and a giant opening appeared within the lake. Heaven-and-Earth Source Water avoided him of its own accord, because he was Heaven-and-Earth's public enemy.
Treasures like Heaven-and-Earth Source Water, rule-born products of Heaven-and-Earth, could not permit Lin Moyu to touch them.
As he entered the lake, Heaven-and-Earth Source Water formed a massive hollow around him, churning ceaselessly a hundred meters away from his body.
Suddenly the Source Water actively surged closer, as if wanting to touch him, but before contact it once again retreated and pulled back to a hundred meters away.
Lin Moyu's identity alternated between Heaven-and-Earth's public enemy and Heaven-and-Earth Great Supreme.
When he became the public enemy, Heaven-and-Earth Source Water stayed one hundred meters away. When he became Great Supreme, it actively approached.
As his status alternated, the Source Water sometimes drew near, sometimes moved away.
Watching these changes, Lin Moyu wore a faint smile and crooked his finger.
"Come here."
Nine-Heavens Fate Technique activated. Rules were forcibly altered.
The Heaven-and-Earth Source Water that had been moving away suddenly rushed in together, instantly swallowing Lin Moyu.
Heaven-and-Earth Source Water possessed the ability to filter impurities from the Dao, but Lin Moyu's power was already incomparably pure. The Source Water's ability had little effect on him.
Naturally, Lin Moyu was aware of this. What he wanted was not its filtering ability, but the Source Water itself.
Technique God Heaven-and-Earth opened a small mouth and began absorbing Heaven-and-Earth Source Water.
Within Technique God Heaven-and-Earth there was already Heaven-and-Earth Water-Mother. Now, with Heaven-and-Earth Source Water as well, when Technique God Heaven-and-Earth experienced its first great tribulation in the future, he could use these two waters to nurture living beings.
This would be a way to enrich Heaven-and-Earth. Enriching Heaven-and-Earth was also a method of making it stronger. Many methods complemented each other. There were many paths, and they could all be walked.
Leaving his body within the Source Water, his soul entered Technique God Heaven-and-Earth.
"Heaven-Burst Earth-Rend."
With a low shout, the eight-layered pagoda obtained this time exploded and turned into smoke and dust.
Within the dust, a brilliant light-mass blossomed like a blazing sun, radiating exuberant vitality.
The shell of the eight-wheel Heaven-and-Earth began re-evolving anew amidst the ashes.
The vitality and Heaven-and-Earth power it burst forth with were completely different from before, more than ten times stronger than a seven-wheel Heaven-and-Earth.
Technique God Heaven-and-Earth immediately began greedily devouring it.
Yet Lin Moyu was surprised to find that the speed at which Technique God Heaven-and-Earth absorbed was actually slower than the speed at which the eight-wheel Heaven-and-Earth was re-evolving.
An eight-wheel Heaven-and-Earth, once reborn and evolving, moved extremely fast, giving birth to endless powerful Heaven-and-Earth power and Primordial Qi.
The Heaven-and-Earth power it produced was extremely strong. Technique God Heaven-and-Earth needed time to refine it before it could be absorbed. The same was true for Primordial Qi. Technique God Heaven-and-Earth could not quite keep up.
The space occupied by the eight-wheel Heaven-and-Earth grew larger and larger and even began to show a trend of guest overwhelming host.
If left alone, there would be two possible outcomes in the end.
One, another Heaven-and-Earth would appear inside Technique God Heaven-and-Earth, and it would be an eight-wheel Heaven-and-Earth. Technique God Heaven-and-Earth would become less pure, its upper limit affected and difficult to advance further.
Two, Technique God Heaven-and-Earth would be blown apart and replaced by this eight-wheel Heaven-and-Earth.
Neither result was what Lin Moyu wanted.
"Just as expected."
Lin Moyu was not surprised. He had already anticipated this situation and had long prepared a countermeasure.
With a thought, countless micro-particles invisible to the naked eye flew out from his soul. Every particle was equivalent to a miniature soul avatar.
Innumerable particles flew into the reborn and evolving Heaven-and-Earth, helping Technique God Heaven-and-Earth absorb the newly born Heaven-and-Earth power and Primordial Qi.
In doing so, he not only helped Technique God Heaven-and-Earth, but also used it to replenish his own soul's strength.