Chapter 692: Light

Lin Yuan looked at the Eternal Painting sensed by his mind.

It was boundless and vast, just like a real 'Origin World'.

Yet Lin Yuan clearly felt that although the framework of the great painting had been erected,

within the great painting, many areas remained blurry and blank, not yet drawn.

"This is an unfinished painting," Lin Yuan murmured with a solemn expression.

If this great painting were completely finished, it would be a real 'Origin World'.

By then, relying on this great painting, the Lord of Wu Mountain would at least be able to rank among the Thirteenth Order Lords.

Reaching the height of a Time Lifeform, everything one pursued was related to their own Great Dao; the Lord of Wu Mountain stepped into the Thirteenth Order through the Dao of Painting, and to take a step further, he needed to paint a complete 'Origin World'.

"Incredible."

Lin Yuan closely observed the Eternal Painting.

How vast and boundless was an Origin World? It was no longer a matter of physical size, but rather that it encompassed countless rules and Great Daos.

Wanting to paint an Origin World was equivalent to creating an Origin World; its difficulty was far greater than Lin Yuan cultivating Infinite Void to its theoretical seventh layer.

The Ultimate goal of Infinite Void was the Chaos Void, and although an Origin World was equivalent in level to the Chaos Void, an Origin World was far more complete and perfect than the Chaos Void.

The various Thirteen Step Time Lifes of the Chaos Void had left behind numerous special places

to compensate for the hidden flaws of the Chaos Void, but an Origin World had no need for that.

Because an Origin World had no hidden flaws to speak of; it was inherently near-perfect.

"Although it isn't finished, it is more than enough for me."

Lin Yuan viewed the Eternal Great Painting.

The great painting itself was composed of infinite runes.

The Lord of Wu Mountain used runes to paint, depicting an Origin World that encompassed the cosmos.

[With your Heaven-Defying Comprehension Ability, viewing the unknown great painting, your comprehension of The Dao of Runes has increased.]

Lin Yuan's mind immersed itself within the boundless Eternal Great Painting, and every aspect of himself was improving.

The Great Dao of Runes was essentially an auxiliary Great Dao that could harmonize with any cultivation system.

With the help of runes, one could achieve many things that were previously impossible or extremely difficult to accomplish.

For example, opening particle worlds, which Lin Yuan was currently undertaking.

Originally, sustaining the existence of each particle world required dedicating a fraction of mental energy.

For Lin Yuan, whose goal was opening an infinite number of Ganges-sand particle worlds, this was unacceptable.

Yet The Dao of Runes resolved this flaw, using the operation of runes to sustain every particle world without requiring any mental energy.

An unknown amount of time passed.

Lin Yuan slowly opened his eyes.

"How was it?"

The Golden Figure looked at Lin Yuan and asked.

"The inspiration was immense."

Lin Yuan nodded.

That Eternal Great Painting had already been imprinted deep into his mind.

Whenever he wished to comprehend it, he could do so at any time.

"You're already so touched by just this?"

The Golden Figure chuckled.

"Hmm?"

Lin Yuan looked toward the Golden Figure.

Did the implication of his words mean there were other benefits?

"Senior."

Lin Yuan immediately called out.

"Haha." A smile appeared on the Golden Figure's face.

With his seniority, even if those Eternal Childs called him that, it was only natural.

But Lin Yuan?

Lin Yuan's strength was too monstrous.

So monstrous that the Golden Figure didn't even treat him as a lifeform beneath an Eternal Lord.

"What is the purpose of this trial space?" the Golden Figure asked.

"To nurture a new Eternal Lord," Lin Yuan pondered for a moment and replied.

This was also what the Golden Figure had told him from the very beginning.

The trial space was an arrangement made by the Lord of Wu Mountain before the great cataclysm of heaven and earth.

It was set up so that after the Demon Disaster descended, a new Eternal Lord could be cultivated for this world.

Only in this way could the 'Demon' Disaster be eradicated.

"Then do you think the great painting left behind by the Lord of Wu Mountain can Cultivate an Eternal Lord?"

the Golden Figure asked.

"This…"

Lin Yuan looked thoughtful.

The Eternal Painting left by the Lord of Wu Mountain was unfathomably profound.

Even other Thirteen Step Time Lifes would need to comprehend it slowly over time.

For Lin Yuan, it was even more so.

Even after stepping into the Thirteenth Order, he would continue to benefit from that great painting.

Yet essentially, the great painting did not mention how to step into the Thirteenth Order.

Even if one completely comprehended this Eternal Painting, for stepping into the Thirteenth Order—

especially for breaking through the time loop—it provided no qualitative help.

If it could not help one step into the Thirteenth Order, nor increase the probability of breaking through the time loop,

then this great painting was of limited significance, not even as useful as having one more cultivator for the Martial Dao Lin Yuan had spread.

At least that would strengthen the 'anchor' a bit more.

"Actually, besides the great painting Legacy drawn by the great Lord of Wu Mountain himself, there is another Legacy."

The Golden Figure looked at Lin Yuan and continued, "The Legacy of the Lord of Heavenly Light."

"Lord of Heavenly Light?"

Lin Yuan's mind was slightly shaken.

Whether from the records of Qingyun Sacred Mountain or the inheritances of other Three Realms of Leisure Experts Lin Yuan obtained during his explorations,

all mentioned this Eternal Lord.

The Lord of Heavenly Light was the earliest Eternal Lord to appear in this world.

And also the most mysterious Eternal Lord.

The reason for being 'the earliest to appear' was that no one knew when the Lord of Heavenly Light became an Eternal Lord.

At the dawn of heaven and earth? Or even earlier?

No one knew for sure.

All that was known was that the first time the Lord of Heavenly Light appeared before all living beings, he was already an Eternal Lord.

It was precisely because of the Lord of Heavenly Light that this world's cultivation system could flourish, and The Dao of Runes originated from the Lord of Heavenly Light.

"Although the great Lord of Wu Mountain also possessed some experience regarding how to become an Eternal Lord, it must be admitted that compared to the Lord of Heavenly Light, he fell far short."

The Golden Figure continued, "If not for the Lord of Heavenly Light, the current number of Eternal Lords would surely be less than half."

"Although the Lord of Heavenly Light did not directly train any Eternal Lords, all current Eternal Lords owe Karma to the Lord of Heavenly Light, having achieved Ultimate sublimation upon the cultivation system established by the Lord of Heavenly Light."

The Golden Figure spoke with deep emotion, holding the Lord of Heavenly Light in immense esteem.

"So that's how it is." Lin Yuan nodded slightly.

Every Eternal Lord walked a different path and had different pursuits.

The Lord of Heavenly Light cultivated a sufficiently profound cultivation Foundation for this world, which led to the birth of one Eternal Lord after another.

"To show weak lifeforms how to become Eternal Lords, the Lord of Heavenly Light specially created a Legacy with thirty-three original copies in total, and the great Lord of Wu Mountain obtained one of them,"

the Golden Figure said.

The so-called original copy of a Legacy was handwritten by the creator of the Legacy; although it could be duplicated, the charm within would diminish, and in terms of inspirational impact on a cultivator, the original copy was undoubtedly the most direct and authentic.

"This is that Legacy."

The Golden Figure flipped his right hand, and a booklet appeared before him.

"A Legacy created specifically for how to Breakthrough to the Thirteenth Order?"

Lin Yuan was quite excited inside. Up until now, every Thirteenth Order Legacy he had obtained was focused on enhancing his own strength and Foundation accumulation.

As for a Legacy specifically aimed at breaking through to the Thirteenth Order? He had none.

Lin Yuan had very limited understanding of how to Breakthrough to the Thirteenth Order and break through the time loop.

He only knew that spreading his own evolutionary path and having more living beings Cultivate it would form 'anchors' and 'Dao markers' for himself once trapped in the time loop.

As well as the fact that the time loop faced when breaking through to the Thirteenth Order would be a trial he had never encountered before; if he failed to pass the first time, the relevant memories would be erased, and the identical loop would repeat again.

This was why it was called a 'time loop'.

Lin Yuan immediately picked up the booklet in front of him.

The booklet was very thin and displayed a cyan jade hue.

"This original Legacy copy can only be comprehended here; do not take it outside," the Golden Figure said immediately.

There was only this single original copy; if Lin Yuan took it out and did not return it, future cultivators who passed the trial would lose the chance to comprehend this Legacy.

"Of course."

Lin Yuan nodded.

It was nothing more than leaving an Incarnation here permanently.

It wasn't difficult at all.

"The Lord of Heavenly Light's understanding of breaking through to the Thirteenth Order…"

Lin Yuan looked forward to it with great anticipation and immediately began flipping open the booklet.

The moment the cyan-jade booklet was opened, countless pieces of information surged out, flooding into Lin Yuan's mind.

The myriad pieces of information condensed into a towering figure.

He stood beneath the vast firmament, his entire body radiating boundless radiance that illuminated all directions—this illumination was completely different from that of the scorching sun.

The illumination of the Fiery Sun First Ancestor of the First Source World was an extraordinarily powerful erosion; wherever sunlight shone was under his domain.

In contrast, the radiance of this boundless light before him was all-embracing, tolerating everything without the slightest sense of erosion or pressure.

Observing that towering figure standing beneath the celestial vault, Lin Yuan felt only boundless 'warmth and comfort'.

"Is this the Lord of Heavenly Light?" Lin Yuan immediately understood that this towering figure radiating boundless light was the Lord of Heavenly Light.

To be precise, it was an imprint left by the Lord of Heavenly Light to carry the Legacy.

"So powerful," Lin Yuan thought to himself.

Even though the towering figure did not exert the slightest pressure on him, Lin Yuan instinctively sensed that the Fiery Sun First Ancestor was inferior to the Lord of Heavenly Light.

Even the other five First Ancestors of the First Source World were inferior to the Lord of Heavenly Light.

The strength of the Lord of Heavenly Light no longer required the aid of oppressive pressure, but touched upon a higher realm.

"How to become an Eternal Lord, how to transform into a Time Lifeform," the Lord of Heavenly Light said with a smile, "the most crucial aspect is how to break through the time loop."

"The time loop is the greatest threshold for all life across infinite dimensions and planes to transform into Time Lifeforms."

"A life trapped in the time loop will face trials they have never encountered before, and past methods and abilities will lose their effectiveness."

"Therefore, to break through the time loop, there are usually two choices."

The Lord of Heavenly Light smiled and said, "First, do nothing. Since the trials faced in the time loop are things one has never encountered, preparing for them is completely meaningless regardless of what one does."

"Second, push everything to the Ultimate extreme. Though the Great Dao is infinite, it is also finite; as long as you prepare for all possible trials and achieve 'omniscience and omnipotence,' you can naturally break through the time loop with ease."

The Lord of Heavenly Light spoke in a gentle tone.

Lin Yuan listened intently.

Lin Yuan was already roughly aware of the information the Lord of Heavenly Light mentioned; it was likely just a basic introduction to breaking through the time loop.

"Next, I will explain my method for breaking through the time loop."

The Lord of Heavenly Light said with a smile, "First, what do you think runes are?"

"What are runes?" Lin Yuan fell into thought.

The rune Legacies he had encountered were all methods and secret arts.

They possessed a near-universal utility.

They could sustain the existence of particle worlds.

They could enhance the power of Ultimate killing moves.

And so on and so forth.

"In your view, runes should merely be a means; if you excel in runes, then within the time loop, you will inevitably be unable to employ runes," the Lord of Heavenly Light said.

"Correct," Lin Yuan nodded.

He had long prepared himself to lose all his methods and abilities within the time loop.

Runes?

Internal Universe?

Physical Body physique?

The more Lin Yuan excelled at something, the more impossible it would be to utilize it upon falling into the time loop.

"However, to me, runes are not a mere means; they are the fundamental essence of all things in the world. Even time itself can be replicated using runes. Therefore, even if you fall into the time loop, runes can still be utilized,"

the Lord of Heavenly Light continued.

"Runes can be used inside the time loop?" Lin Yuan's pupils constricted slightly.

"By what means do you condense runes? Heart force? Soul power? Vital Qi and blood energy? Or various other powers?" the Lord of Heavenly Light asked.

Lin Yuan listened carefully.

He condensed runes using his internal Cosmic Power.

This was also one of the primary methods Lin Yuan wielded.

"The time loop will indeed circumvent and Seal all methods you excel at. For instance, if you are skilled in condensing runes with heart force, then in the time loop you fall into, you will be unable to use any heart force."

"If you excel in condensing runes with Soul power, Soul power will be sealed; the same applies to Qi and blood energy."

The Lord of Heavenly Light looked gently at Lin Yuan, "However, the runes themselves will not disappear."

"It is only that the means you use to activate runes can no longer be used, thereby creating the illusion that runes have vanished."

Lin Yuan raptly absorbed the teachings of the Lord of Heavenly Light from the booklet. The other's comprehension of runes was simply beyond Lin Yuan's imagination; no wonder 'Li Hong' felt that among the various Eternal Lords, the Lord of Heavenly Light was uncontestedly powerful.

Now, not only did 'Li Hong' believe so, but Lin Yuan felt the same way.

"This is the true essence of runes," Lin Yuan's eyes filled with awe.

The Legacy recorded in the booklet did not directly boost Lin Yuan's strength.

It was far inferior to the harvest of opening a single particle world.

Yet Lin Yuan felt that his insights into runes had risen by a massive margin.

To put it simply,

originally, runes were like a sharp sword to Lin Yuan.

But now, runes were not just a sword to Lin Yuan.

Shield? Saber? Great mace?

Lin Yuan could effortlessly possess any weapon.

'If the power of runes can truly be utilized within the time loop, the probability of breaking through the time loop will definitely be much higher,' Lin Yuan thought to himself.

In a time loop where even the rules were restricted, being able to wield the power of runes was equivalent to cheating.

In the Chaos Void.

"Runes."

Lin Yuan instantly felt that the runes he understood were different; they were no longer confined to a certain method, but encompassed all things and everything.

"Assemble."

With a slight shift of Lin Yuan's thought, runes converged one after another to form an Incarnation.

This Incarnation possessed a terrifying aura permeating layers of spacetime, surprisingly bearing strength close to that of the Abyssal Dragon.

And this was merely Lin Yuan's external application of runes; in terms of enhancing his own strength, he had achieved an unimaginable improvement.