Loong Feng thirstily immersed himself in comprehension; compared to these three icebergs, any other expert paled in comparison. Those magnificent patterns of law, resembling rays of starlight, truly contained the ultimate mysteries, and merely gazing upon them was a pleasure, continuously elevating Loong Feng's understanding of the blade.
Lost in contemplation, half a year passed unnoticed. While conventionally half a year, the Phantom Sea Clone actually comprehending this was within the Miniature Universe, amounting to five millennia.
“Fusion?”
“Although the Lord of Star River is formidable, his so-called secret method of fusion, 'River Beneath the Night'… is far too rigid.” Loong Feng gently shook his head. “It’s initially a technique similar to a Miniature Universe-level range secret method, meant to assist in attack. While the combination is decent, it feels like taking a shortcut.”
“This is the true path that the ultimate fusion secret method should follow.” A battle blade suddenly materialized in Loong Feng’s hand—it was the Jue Ke Blade. Ever since obtaining the Mad Demon Extermination Armor, his strongest combat method had naturally been the 'Exterminate God' move, so he rarely used this Jue Ke Blade.
“The 'Misty Annihilation' move has long been broken through by me to the realm of the ultimate secret method. Let’s use the 'Misty Light' move… for fusion,” Loong Feng murmured softly.
His mastery over the Secret Pattern Flow had deepened so much that even before arriving at the Tomb Mausoleum Boat, he had already comprehended several ultimate secret methods. For instance, 'Misty Light,' which was originally an ultimate secret method for a Universe Hegemon, had been perfected flawlessly, achieving the realm of an ultimate secret method for a Universe Master.
Standing atop the stream of chaotic energy, he glanced at the three icebergs in the distance, and Loong Feng moved instantly, gripping the Jue Ke Blade.
Whoosh~
A hazy silken thread suddenly appeared in mid-air—it was the trace left by the blade as it traversed the void, dreamlike and illusory, having already exhausted the essence of the 'Misty Light' move. Immediately following it, another hazy silken thread emerged… thread connecting to thread, ceaseless, instantly filling the sky with countless dreamlike threads, and the further back it went, the faster the threads formed, their power growing terrifying, constantly erupting and strengthening.
“Boom!”
These misty threads eventually transformed into an illusory blade shadow that vaguely permeated the entire void. It swept through space, and the void became utterly clean, as if wiped by a rag, erasing everything. This seemingly simple misty shadow possessed a power that made the heart tremble.
“The first move… let’s call it Misty Void,” Loong Feng chuckled softly.
Creating an ultimate fusion secret method was not difficult for him now, especially after cultivating the Rhinoceros Emperor Array and the Ninth Abyss Secret Method in tandem for so long; his comprehension and mastery of secret methods were already exceptionally high. If he were simply creating an ultimate fusion secret method, Loong Feng could have done it faster, but after digesting some of the mysteries contained within the three icebergs and comprehending the 360 sets of Blade Secret Tomes, Loong Feng disdained using a shortcut fusion secret method like 'River Beneath the Night'; instead, he aimed for a true fusion ultimate move!
The artistic conception of 'Misty Void' continuously overlapped until it reached its perfect limit, unleashing its final power!
“Candidate Blade Technique First Form created.” That cold, mechanical voice suddenly sounded.
Loong Feng looked up in shock at the star in the dark sky, frowning slightly. “It seems my creation of blade techniques is being monitored…” Whether one created a technique oneself is actually easy to monitor; the power displayed when using a self-created secret method is clearly different from using a learned one.
“Even the ultimate fusion secret method didn't meet the requirement? The standard must be very high.” Loong Feng stopped congratulating himself over 'Misty Void' and continued to study the three blade mountains.
Time flowed.
Loong Feng increasingly felt that the blade inheritance was unfathomable; he was no longer satisfied even with the previously created 'Misty Void'. He intended to create an even stronger blade technique.
In the Miniature Universe of the Giant Axe Creator:
The Phantom Sea Clone sat cross-legged, his eyes fixed on the void. A trace of divine power materialized in the air into a hazy silhouette, demonstrating sequence after sequence of blade techniques. The Secret Pattern Flow path was inherently skilled at creating secret methods. When Loong Feng’s Secret Pattern Flow mastery was only at the Universe Venerable level, he could create the ultimate secret method for a Universe Master, 'Golden Light,' though luck played a part.
Creating secret methods based on laws, versus creating them based on studying the Secret Patterns themselves—these were two distinct approaches. The Secret Pattern Flow was more direct. As Loong Feng’s thoughts shifted, sequences of blade techniques were born with incredible speed, showcasing the might of the Secret Pattern Flow lineage.
“Compared to those 360 sets of Blade Secret Tomes, my blade techniques are too rudimentary.”
“The Dao of Golden Emptiness… it can still be stronger.”
“It should, it should…”
Loong Feng held a vague sensation in his heart. Especially the longer he comprehended the three blade mountains, the stronger this feeling grew. The desire within him was suppressed, as if a barrier was difficult to breach. It was constantly brewing… As his foundation in blade comprehension deepened, and his mastery of the Secret Pattern Flow increased, even approaching a limit for a 'Universe Master,' Loong Feng’s insight into the next move became clearer.
In the blink of an eye, nine years passed in the Inheritance Ground.
Loong Feng gently drew the Jue Ke Blade from behind him atop the chaotic energy stream, Clang, the blade's cry echoing in the void.
“With a flip of the hand…”
“Becomes a universe.”
Loong Feng murmured softly.
“Rise!”
The burning divine power spread out like an endless heavenly curtain, emanating from Loong Feng and enveloping a stretch of the void, instantly forming a world. Immediately, this miniature universe violently contracted and collapsed. During the collapse, it transformed into dense, dazzling streaks of golden blade light—a staggering 10,081 streaks of golden light, each complementing the others, all cleaving toward the center simultaneously…
It was like a super-star undergoing destruction, violently expanding only to rapidly contract into a black hole.
The might was unbelievably immense.
Loong Feng’s face was filled with excitement as he whispered, “This move has exhausted the limit of the Dao of Golden Emptiness! The 10,081 possibilities of Golden Emptiness evolution are all fused into one strike, carried by the destruction of a universe, achieving supreme power—far stronger than the mere self-detonation of other experts. This is a true fusion ultimate move. It might even surpass the ultimate move resulting from the fusion of the five great laws by the Lord of Five Chaos. This move shall be named 'Universe of Gold'.”
Excitement, sighs, and reflections.
After creating this move, Loong Feng knew that he had exhausted every mystery of the Dao of Golden Emptiness. This was the true pinnacle of the 'Dao of Golden Emptiness' in terms of secret method application—a truly perfect technique.
“Candidate Blade Technique Second Form created,” the cold mechanical voice sounded.
Loong Feng looked up at the stars in the dark sky, waiting silently for a moment, then frowned. “Hmm? Even after creating this move, I still haven't met the requirements of Duan Donghe? This… this… even this doesn’t meet Duan Donghe’s requirements. Must I create a Universe Master level secret method?”
'Misty Void' was a top-tier fusion ultimate move, slightly superior to 'River Beneath the Night,' likely comparable to the Great Annihilation ultimate move of the Lord of Five Chaos.
'Universe of Gold' exhausted the limit of Golden Emptiness, a truly perfect technique. In Loong Feng’s view, this represented the true theoretical ceiling for a Universe Master level secret method; it could not be surpassed.
Yet, having created both moves, the requirements were still unmet.
It must require a higher level then.
“Universe Master?” Loong Feng grew troubled.
“What should I do?”
Becoming a Universe Master is difficult. For paths like the Secret Pattern Flow, Loong Feng could only reach the limit of a Universe Master; other paths were similar unless Loong Feng chose a new path and broke through.
If he cannot become a Universe Master, yet is required to create a 'Universe Master Secret Method,' this is practically impossible in the Sea of the Universe!
Without a breakthrough, he cannot grasp the mysteries of that level.
Of course…
Back then, Loong Feng’s Secret Pattern Flow mastery was only at the Universe Venerable level when he created 'Golden Light.' Theoretically, with his current nearly ultimate Secret Pattern Flow mastery as a Universe Master, he might be able to create a Universe Master secret method. Especially with 360 Blade Secret Tomes for reference and guidance from the three blade mountains…
Theoretically… it was possible!
Since Duan Donghe arranged it this way, with the guidance of the three blade mountains, he should be able to create even stronger moves.
But this has never happened in the Sea of the Universe!
It is too difficult!
“I must gamble,” Loong Feng gritted his teeth, disregarding the risk.
In another Inheritance Ground within the inheritance space:
The handsome Venerable Green Blood looked at the two majestic icebergs before him. Countless rays of starlight danced within the icebergs, appearing exquisitely beautiful even to one who did not grasp their mysteries.
“I have a feeling…”
“A technique that can exhaust the ultimate limit of the Dao of Time and Space…” Venerable Green Blood muttered to himself, searching for that sensation.
In another Inheritance Ground:
The Lord of Deer Insect sat cross-legged, deep in thought, before a towering ice mountain. “I have 36 sets of Secret Tomes for reference, along with these Law Patterns imbued with ultimate mystery… I was already a sixth-tier Universe Master, and I effortlessly created what could be called the most perfect secret method of the Universe Master stage. I even created two consecutively.”
“However, it still hasn’t met the requirements.”
“Must they want me to create a Universe Master secret method?” The Lord of Deer Insect was vexed.
He was a sixth-tier Universe Master and had lived long enough that the secrets of the Universe Master stage held no mystery for him. Since the Holy Land Universe could not nurture a Universe Master, he was limited to this realm. If his current strength were in the Primal Universe, he would have a real chance of breaking through to become a Universe Master. Of course, his current strength was accumulated over multiple reincarnation eras.
With profound accumulation, aided by Ancestor Ziyue this time, he was naturally extraordinary.
“According to the Ancestor, these Law Patterns are the true ultimate power, integrating all laws within them. Using the Law Patterns… it is indeed possible to gain enlightenment, but it’s very difficult; it depends on one's comprehension,” the Lord of Deer Insect worried immensely.
At this moment, especially among the more ancient Universe Masters, particularly those from the East Emperor Holy Land and the Ziyue Holy Land, many had already created ultimate fusion secret methods, so almost all were stuck at the same threshold.
Those who broke through the second bottleneck had access to sets of Secret Tomes for reference and one iceberg to observe.
Those who broke through the first bottleneck had no Secret Tomes, only one iceberg!
To meet Duan Donghe’s requirements under this most basic inheritance was clearly extremely difficult. Yet, none of the experts dared to give up in the slightest, striving harder, each hoping for a glimmer of possibility—a chance at the core inheritance of Duan Donghe’s lineage.