Chapter 280: Lin Yuan’s Age

Nine-Layer Black Tower.

First layer.

Lin Yuan's figure appeared.

The surroundings were incredibly empty, with only the black staircase in the center being exceptionally conspicuous.

Lin Yuan understood that only by reaching that black staircase would he be considered to have passed the first layer of the Black Tower.

Following the black staircase, he could also enter the second layer of the Black Tower.

Buzz.

Lin Yuan pondered for a moment, then strode toward the black staircase in the center.

In the next moment, a heavy pressure enveloped him from all directions.

Lin Yuan felt his mental will showing signs of collapsing; the invisible, formless pressure almost tore him to pieces.

"I don't have a Physical Body right now, not even the power of the Soul. If I want to withstand this pressure, I can only rely on my comprehension of Laws or Cosmic Power."

Lin Yuan thought to himself, while simultaneously trying to operate the Space Rules to compress the space around him, but unfortunately…

Lin Yuan's comprehension of the Space Rules was limited. Before long, that invisible pressure seeped through space and descended upon him once again.

"No wonder Senior Shen Ji said that one needs to master the complete Space Rules at the very least to pass the first layer."

Lin Yuan thought to himself. Only by mastering complete space, allowing him to stretch or shorten spatial distances at will, would it be difficult for any external attack to land on him.

"For an eighth-stage lifeform, wanting to pass the first layer is too difficult." Outside the Nine-Layer Black Tower, the humanoid stone statue watched Lin Yuan's actions inside the tower. "Back then, Master set it so that those at the eighth-stage Peak could enter this place to temper themselves."

"But out of hundreds of thousands or millions of eighth-stage Peaks, perhaps only one can pass the first layer."

The humanoid stone statue Shen Ji thought to himself. When Lin Yuan operated the Space Rules, he knew that the other party had not mastered the complete Space Rules.

Under such circumstances, the probability of passing the first layer of the Black Tower decreased even further.

"Hmm?"

"Cosmic Power? This little guy indeed has mastered a type of Cosmic Power."

The humanoid stone statue Shen Ji watched with great interest. "This Cosmic Power integrates Yin and Yang into one. Is it a high-grade Cosmic Power? And he has Cultivated it to the third stage?"

"Interesting, but relying on this alone, it is still very difficult to pass the first layer."

The humanoid stone statue Shen Ji deduced in his heart. However, his interest had already been piqued. Having mastered a high-grade Cosmic Power Cultivated to the third stage, Lin Yuan could at least hold out in the first layer for a long time.

The first layer of the Black Tower.

Lin Yuan perceived that the Space Rules could not block the heavy pressure enveloping him from all sides.

Without hesitation, he activated his Taiji Power.

The black and white Yin and Yang Taiji Power turned into a barrier on the surface of his body, blocking all the pressure outside.

"Finally stabilized."

Lin Yuan let out a small sigh of relief.

He was truly afraid that he wouldn't even be able to pass the first layer.

Although with the Mo Yu Mark, Lin Yuan had infinite chances to try again.

But if he couldn't even pass the first layer at the start, the difficulty of the subsequent layers could well be imagined.

"The trials within the Black Tower can only be relied upon by oneself. Either one must master the complete Space Rules or other pillar rules, or master a sufficiently powerful Cosmic Power."

Lin Yuan drew a conclusion.

What he didn't know was that there was a third way, which was to borrow external force.

Some special treasures and supreme treasures could be brought into one's mental will. However, the Moyu Tower Master detested borrowing external force during trials, and specifically had the humanoid stone statue Shen Ji monitor the trial process.

Lin Yuan continued walking toward the central black staircase.

As he neared his goal, the pressure enveloping him became increasingly heavier.

But relying on his Taiji Power, Lin Yuan could still barely withstand it.

Until—

Woo.

The invisible pressure almost condensed into substance, beginning to form terrifying creatures that rushed at Lin Yuan, ultimately crashing against the Taiji barrier and turning into dust.

"Hmm?"

Lin Yuan frowned.

As a terrifying creature crashed into the Taiji barrier, he clearly felt the Taiji barrier shake.

"This won't do."

Lin Yuan realized he couldn't let those terrifying creatures touch the Taiji barrier.

"Limitless Power."

"And Destruction Power."

Lin Yuan utilized four or five high-grade Cosmic Powers in a row, beginning to actively hunt down those terrifying creatures condensed from the invisible pressure.

Rumble.

The vast and mighty Limitless Power permeated the surroundings, and the Destruction Power began its sweep.

During this, Lin Yuan interspersed the use of other Cosmic Powers, occasionally using dozens of ordinary Cosmic Powers as well.

"This is much easier." A smile appeared on Lin Yuan's face. Combining multiple Cosmic Powers often yielded greater effects.

The Lingxu Immortal King of the Spirit Realm had only comprehended one high-grade Creation Power and six ordinary Creation Powers, but the latter's cooperation was not inferior to high-grade Creation Power at all.

Lin Yuan mastered even more ordinary Cosmic Powers, and their cooperation was even more perfect. Along the way, he walked toward the central black staircase almost in a crushing manner.

"Senior Shen Ji said that the faster one passes the first layer, the richer the rewards will be."

Lin Yuan quickened his pace. The surrounding invisible pressure became heavier, and more and more illusory creatures condensed. However, under the sweeping sweep of his active Cosmic Powers, Lin Yuan didn't even stop his steps.

Very soon.

Within a hundred meters of the central black staircase.

A nearly substantial black eight-clawed creature condensed, its terrifying aura blotting out the sky.

"Hmm?"

Lin Yuan finally stopped his steps.

He on this black eight-clawed creature felt a faint threat.

"Quick battle, quick decision."

"No need to hold back."

Lin Yuan was unwilling to waste time on the black eight-clawed creature. He only wanted to pass the first layer as quickly as possible to see what rewards there would be.

Therefore, he struck with all his might without hesitation.

Rumble.

Dozens of Cosmic Powers mixed together.

Among them, a wisp of Cosmic Power was incredibly deep, faintly emitting a primal aura. It was precisely the Primal Power that transcended high-grade Cosmic Power.

In the Spirit Realm for over nine hundred years, if not for the help of that Primal Stone that fell from the Nine Heavens…

Even with his Heaven-Defying Comprehension, it would have been very difficult for Lin Yuan to comprehend such a mysterious power that transcended high-grade Cosmic Power.

The first stage of Primal Power's power was close to transcending a high-grade Cosmic Power at the third stage.

Woo woo woo.

That condensed, nearly substantial black eight-clawed creature let out a frantic roar in the final moments of its life, and was immediately crushed into dust under the weight of one Cosmic Power after another.

"Hurry up and go."

Lin Yuan continued to stride toward the black staircase in the center.

The first layer of the Black Tower had spatial suppression, making it impossible to teleport or compress space, and he couldn't even fly. If Lin Yuan wanted to reach his goal, he could only walk.

"There shouldn't be any more creatures blocking the way after this, right?" Lin Yuan did not stop his steps, but he felt a bit worried.

Now, he could be considered to have played all his trump cards, even using his Primal Power. At least in terms of mental will, he had no stronger means.

Actually, thinking about it carefully, there still was.

That was the Physical Body Divine Ability, 'Reinforcement'.

Once Lin Yuan activated this Divine Ability, his Physical Body, Soul, mental will, and everything else would increase tenfold.

At this moment, even though Lin Yuan only had his mental will, it would still receive the amplification of 'Reinforcement'.

However, this Divine Ability was meant to be kept as a hidden trump card, and using it would plunge him into a brief period of weakness. Unless absolutely necessary, Lin Yuan would not use it.

Outside the Nine-Layer Black Tower.

The humanoid stone statue Shen Ji, who had been watching Lin Yuan's tower-climbing trial with great interest, had fallen into silence at some point.

Looking at Lin Yuan on the screen before him, who was charging toward the central black staircase with irresistible force, his newly awakened brain once again turned to mush.

What was he seeing?

An eighth-stage lifeform was actually taking on the trial and rushing through the tower?

This was unbelievable to the humanoid stone statue Shen Ji. He had guarded the Nine-Layer Black Tower for countless years, experienced the Peak period of the Demon Jade Tower, and witnessed many incredible Geniuses.

But at the eighth-stage lifeform stage, no matter how strong a Genius was, if they wanted to pass the first layer of the Black Tower, they had to be cautious and advance slowly.

eighth-stage lifeforms who had mastered the complete Space Rules were no exception.

As for "rushing"?

Indeed.

The faster one went through the trial, the richer the rewards would be.

The humanoid stone statue Shen Ji would actively inform every trial-taker.

But it was merely a notification.

It was just like saying, "If you Cultivate hard, you might become a Supreme Powerhouse in the future."

It was just talk.

Serving as a basic encouragement.

For an eighth-stage lifeform, passing the first layer was already extremely forced.

How could they care about "speed"?

"One type of Cosmic Power, two types of Cosmic Power… fifty types of Cosmic Power…"

The humanoid stone statue Shen Ji counted until he was somewhat numb. Lin Yuan activating one Cosmic Power after another also fell into his eyes.

But the more it was so, the more horrified he became.

How could there be an eighth-stage lifeform who mastered dozens of Cosmic Powers simultaneously?

Did this make any sense?

Was this still an eighth-stage lifeform?

The humanoid stone statue Shen Ji fell into self-doubt.

He even speculated whether some earth-shattering change had occurred in the outside world during his slumber, leading to a decrease in the difficulty of comprehending Cosmic Power?

But no matter how much it decreased, that was still Cosmic Power!

"Hmm?"

"That type of Cosmic Power?"

The humanoid stone statue Shen Ji's pupils shrank slightly, his gaze locked onto a certain drifting Cosmic Power.

This Cosmic Power emitted a primal aura; it was precisely Primal Power.

"High-grade Cosmic Power? No, this is not high-grade Cosmic Power!" Stormy waves surged in the heart of the humanoid stone statue Shen Ji.

Cosmic Power was divided into two types.

First was ordinary Cosmic Power.

Second was high-grade Cosmic Power.

Actually, even among ordinary Cosmic Powers and high-grade Cosmic Powers, there were differences in strength.

Some ordinary Cosmic Powers and high-grade Cosmic Powers were simply stronger than others of the same level.

But no matter how strong, there was a limit.

The wisp of Primal Power that the humanoid stone statue was currently observing was, in essence, superior to all high-grade Cosmic Powers.

"Origin-level Cosmic Power, this is Origin-level Cosmic Power."

The humanoid stone statue Shen Ji's mind was somewhat dazed.

Origin-level Cosmic Power was a legend to eighth-stage lifeforms.

eighth-stage lifeforms had hope of comprehending Cosmic Power, but that only referred to ordinary Cosmic Power and high-grade Cosmic Power.

Even high-grade Cosmic Power was rare.

As for an eighth-stage lifeform comprehending Origin-level Cosmic Power… even though the humanoid stone statue had once followed the Moyu Tower Master, he had only heard of it.

Such a Prodigy, even during the Peak period of the Demon Jade Tower, would immediately be accepted as a Personal Disciple by the Moyu Tower Master and cultivated with all their resources.

But Lin Yuan had not only done it, he had also comprehended dozens of other Cosmic Powers along the way, of which there were more than ten high-grade Cosmic Powers alone.

"Master, if only you had disappeared a bit later…" The humanoid stone statue Shen Ji's heart trembled. An existence who comprehended Origin-level power during the eighth-stage lifeform period, with a bit of cultivation, would probably be able to guard a region in less than a million years.

The first layer of the Black Tower.

The thing Lin Yuan was worried about did not happen.

After crushing that black eight-clawed creature, he did not encounter any decent obstacles afterward.

Lin Yuan thus easily arrived at the central staircase.

Swoosh.

The humanoid stone statue Shen Ji appeared here.

He stared straight at Lin Yuan, as if looking at some rare and precious treasure.

"Senior Shen Ji," Lin Yuan asked tentatively, "I wonder if my speed in passing the first layer is considered fast?"

Knowing that the faster he went through the tower, the richer the rewards would be, Lin Yuan had held back almost nothing just now.

Aside from his Physical Body Divine Ability, 'Reinforcement', he could be said to have gone all out.

"Is it considered fast?" The humanoid stone statue Shen Ji fell into silence once again.

This was no longer just "fast." At the eighth-stage lifeform stage, Lin Yuan's speed in passing the first layer was undisputedly the fastest, and he had pulled ahead of the second place by a gap like a heavenly chasm.

"Very fast."

The humanoid stone statue Shen Ji took a deep breath, calming the shock in his heart.

"That's good."

Lin Yuan was reassured. Under the condition of going all out, he believed that none of the eighth-stage Experts in the Main World's Universe would be his match.

But the Demon Jade Tower was not a force of the Main World, but came from outside the Universe, so Lin Yuan was still very humble.

"With your potential, you may choose any three items from all the rewards of the first layer," the humanoid stone statue Shen Ji said.

Normally, passing the first layer of the Black Tower would grant one treasure. The value of the treasure was determined by a combination of the speed of passing the tower and the potential displayed.

Lin Yuan mastering one Origin-level Cosmic Power, along with over ten other high-grade Cosmic Powers and dozens of ordinary Cosmic Powers, had completely exceeded the limits of the humanoid stone statue Shen Ji.

Thus, he simply listed all the treasures of the first layer for Lin Yuan to choose from himself, and increased the quantity from one to three.

This was also the maximum authority of the humanoid stone statue Shen Ji.

"Alright."

Lin Yuan looked forward to it.

"However, before choosing the treasures, there is still a process to go through." The humanoid stone statue took out a black mirror.

"This mirror can sense the traces of time and roughly estimate your true age."

The humanoid stone statue said.

This was also a type of potential. For the same tower-passing speed, the younger the age, the higher the potential naturally was.

"But rest assured, it's just going through the motions. With the Cosmic Power you've mastered, even if you are five million years old, it won't affect the final reward."

The humanoid stone statue spoke.

The limit Lifespan of an eighth-stage lifeform was five million years.

The five million years here referred to the limit Lifespan after various life-extending methods.

Normal eighth-stage lifeforms would almost reach the end of their lives by the time they lived to one million years.

The meaning of the humanoid stone statue's words was that no matter how old Lin Yuan was, solely by mastering Origin-level Cosmic Power, his age could be completely ignored.

After the humanoid stone statue finished speaking, he activated the black mirror.

Instantly, a hazy light enveloped Lin Yuan, and immediately following that, some ancient characters appeared on the mirror.

The humanoid stone statue glanced at it casually.

In his view, determining Lin Yuan's age was completely meaningless.

If it weren't for the rules set by the Moyu Tower Master,

he would have already listed the rewards by now and let Lin Yuan choose at will.

While the humanoid stone statue Shen Ji was pondering which three rewards Lin Yuan would choose,

his gaze carelessly swept over the ancient characters on the black mirror.

In an instant, the humanoid stone statue's expression froze once again.

He carefully read the characters on the mirror, then turned to look at Lin Yuan in disbelief, "You are only two thousand years old? An eighth-stage at two thousand years old? Comprehended dozens of Cosmic Powers at two thousand years old? Comprehended Origin-level Cosmic Power at two thousand years old?"

The humanoid stone statue Shen Ji felt his worldview collapsing.