Translator: CinderTL
Driven by an insatiable desire to elevate his Life Level and rapidly advance his Mind Realm, Li Chunjun plunged back into his relentless hunt for Heart Demons.
With the Golden Crow Battleship's remaining three engines dismantled, they now had five ships capable of swift reconnaissance missions.
Furthermore, Elsa had mastered the Human Race's methods of wielding Divine Sense. As her condition gradually improved, the Spirits of Nature's sensory range expanded accordingly.
In just one month, Li Chunjun traversed nine Lesser Thousand Worlds.
These nine worlds proved instrumental in eliminating his final vulnerabilities.
In a Lesser Thousand World that had been completely reduced to silent desolation, Li Chunjun halted.
His powerful Divine Sense radiated outward in concentric circles, meticulously scanning the entire realm for any potential dangers. This thorough search was essential to prevent any unexpected incidents during his upcoming refinement of the Eternal Light.
Half an hour later, Li Chunjun stood atop a smoldering hill that had once been the highest peak in this Lesser Thousand World. Now, with nearly the entire realm submerged in magma, it was merely a small rise.
Ignoring the extreme environmental conditions, he swiftly deployed an Array Formation to conceal his presence and focused his Heart-Mind entirely on his Lifebound Flying Sword within.
Over the past few months, he had undergone two Nirvana transformations.
The first had successfully fused Gold Fusion into the Scarlet Sky Sword.
The second had refined the Primordial Dao Rhythm within the Eternal Light.
These two transformations, powered by the Flaming Phoenix Power, had slightly alleviated the Mind Contamination plaguing him, enabling him to continue purging six to seven hundred Heart Demons.
"The Primordial Dao Rhythm of the Eternal Light hasn't been fully refined into the Scarlet Sky Sword yet. This Life Level advancement..."
Li Chunjun's thoughts raced.
After carefully assessing his current state, he ultimately decided that caution was paramount. He wouldn't force the complete refinement of the Eternal Light's Primordial Dao Rhythm during this advancement.
Ensuring his surroundings were secure, he swiftly concentrated his Essence Qi into the Scarlet Sky Sword.
Yes, only Essence Qi.
His powerful mental power remained focused on combating the Mind Contamination within his Spiritual World; he couldn't afford to divert it.
This incomplete refinement method would inevitably leave the Scarlet Sky Sword's fusion with the Primordial Dao Rhythm somewhat lacking, but...
Better safe than sorry!
Even his Lifebound Flying Sword, precious as it was, couldn't compare to the value of his own life.
Not only did he avoid expending his mental power, but even the final sliver of "leveling up" experience came not from a weakened Heart Demon, but from a Pill!
He used this inanimate object to bridge the final gap in his advancement from Life Level 34 to 35. He wouldn't allow any room for unforeseen complications.
As his Essence Qi rapidly drained, the Scarlet Sky Sword and the Primordial Dao Rhythm shone together in radiant harmony.
Just as Li Chunjun's Essence Qi reached its limit, jeopardizing the coherence of his Heart-Mind, the Heart Demon Contamination that had been accumulating deep within his Spiritual World erupted in full force. A dense, black tide of corrupting power crashed against the barrier he had constructed using Mind Power and mental fortitude.
With a single strike...
...Li Chunjun's mind was flooded with chaotic thoughts!
Why should he concern himself with the lives of the countless beings in the Azure Star Minor Realm?
He could become a demon himself!
The entire Cosmos was nothing more than nourishment for his growth!
Yu Jin, Su Fang, Zuo Cheng, Huang Tian—all of them should be refined into the Human Emperor Banner, becoming part of his own power!
The greatest reverence for life is to merge billions of lives into his own, making all living beings extensions of himself, sharing his fate. Only then could true equality among all beings and universal justice be achieved.
These frenzied thoughts surged relentlessly, corroding Li Chunjun's Heart-Mind and threatening to warp his very worldview.
Fortunately, before this corrupting power could fully spread, an indescribably refreshing surge erupted from the depths of his mind. In an instant, it washed away all the chaotic thoughts that had infested his consciousness.
The surging tide of Mind Contamination rapidly dissipated, like snow melting under the scorching sun.
With the impurities purged from his mind, the purifying power swiftly permeated every limb and meridian. His Essence Qi-depleted body, parched like long-dry land, drank deeply from this divine rain, and an unprecedented vitality flourished in every corner of his being.
"Hah!"
Li Chunjun immersed himself in this blissful state, allowing his mind to fully relax.
Compared to the oppressive chaos of the recent resurgence of malevolent thoughts, the feeling that his consciousness was about to be overwhelmed and replaced by another, he now felt an unprecedented clarity and invigoration.
In this state of mental clarity, his Mind Realm effortlessly shattered the barrier between the Third and Fourth Layers.
With a slight activation of his Heavenly Heart Eternal Method, he gained a clear understanding of the true nature of those chaotic thoughts and consciousnesses.
And equally...
He comprehended how to completely eradicate these disruptive thoughts and consciousnesses.
Fire!
Using Mind Power as fuel and pure conviction as kindling, ignite the Heart Flame!
This was the defining characteristic of the Fourth Layer of the Heavenly Heart Eternal Method!
Heart-Burning Flames!
The power of Heart-Burning Flames was no longer limited to purifying and incinerating the Divine Sense, thoughts, and will that had eroded his mental realm. It could also attach itself to his Divine Sense, using it as a medium to burn away the Divine Sense, will, and beliefs of others.
At this stage, his Mind Power was no longer confined to stabilizing his own mental state. It had truly manifested externally, gaining the ability to influence living beings imbued with "spirituality."
This ability...
Could also be called Manifestation of Sainthood.
However, Li Chunjun's comprehension of the Dao was currently limited. He could only achieve mental and spiritual Manifestation of Sainthood, not yet physical manifestation—meaning he couldn't condense the Great Void Kunpeng Dharma Manifestation.
"Finally, I've reached this point," Li Chunjun murmured, extending his hand.
The profound mysteries of the Void Law danced at his fingertips.
Though these mysteries held little practical power in his grasp, the realm-enhancing effects of his Heart Manifestation caused them to twist into visible distortions. At the center of these distortions, a polygonal ice prism, shaped like a snowflake, materialized out of thin air—a true creation from nothingness, a Void creation.
Yet Li Chunjun knew this was no real object. His comprehension of Spatial Laws remained incomplete.
The polygonal ice prism before him was merely a manifestation of his Heart Manifestation, rendering the fabric of space visible to the naked eye. A physical touch would reveal its insubstantial nature, lacking any of the properties of a real object.
"I can't condense a true Dharma Manifestation and manifest it in the world like the Great Powers of the Dharma Aspect Realm," Li Chunjun mused, "but simply embodying the mysteries of the Void is now effortless..."
Li Chunjun subtly sensed his current state. Describing him as a conventional Seventh-Rank life form like the Life Mother Tree was no longer adequate. He had effectively become a Void Refining Great Power, albeit one constrained from fully unleashing his abilities due to various circumstances. In fact, as long as he avoided all-out life-or-death struggles, masquerading as a Void Refining expert would pose no difficulty.
This realization brought Li Chunjun a surge of delight. The Immortal Great Wall, forged by the Immortal God Race to seal off the Land of Buried Demons, stood as an impenetrable barrier. The Immortal Gods would never permit any being, even those from the Human Race, their most formidable progeny, to breach its defenses and escape the demonic realm.
However, if this human possessed significant influence and was backed by an astonishingly powerful faction—perhaps even one with a Dao Unification expert at its helm—the Immortal God Race's leaders would have to weigh the potential consequences, no matter how strictly the Immortal Great Wall's guards enforced their orders.
In such a situation, turning a blind eye at the right moment to cultivate goodwill might not be a bad idea.
"When one comprehends 1,024 types of Void Law Mysteries, these intricacies form a circuit-like structure, marking the threshold of Law comprehension. By imbuing them with Mind Power, one can fully ascend to the Void Refinement Realm," Li Chunjun mused.
This palpable sensation of the Void Refinement Realm being within his grasp...
Few Primordial Spirits could ever experience such a feeling in their entire lives.
With a wave of his hand, he dispersed the seemingly tangible Spatial Mysteries. Yet, as he did so, a faint premonition stirred within him. His powerful Divine Sense, now infused with Mind Power capable of Heart Manifestation, swept outward, gathering the Spatial Law Mysteries scattered across the surrounding starry sky.
As he gathered these fragments, he meticulously probed their essence. After several hours of concentrated effort, he suddenly declared, "One and a half months!"
The next Cosmic Aftershock was just over a month and a half away.
Of course, this prediction had a margin of error, but at most, it would be off by a few days—far more accurate than the Golden Crow Battleship's detection capabilities.
Beyond the timing, Li Chunjun could vaguely sense the intensity of the upcoming Starquake by observing the subtle shifts in the Spatial Laws. When it reached this region of the starry sky, it would likely be around magnitude 9.
A magnitude 9 Starquake—a level capable of posing a danger to True Monarchs from the Seven Tribulations to the Ninth Tribulation.
True Monarchs like Su Fang, Zuo Cheng, and Yu Jin, who had already cultivated Mind Power, should theoretically be able to withstand it with reasonable luck.
Moreover, if he continued to travel at full speed aboard the Golden Crow Battleship to another region of the starry sky for a month, the intensity of the aftershock could diminish to magnitude 8.
Whether it was magnitude 8 or 9, Li Chunjun was confident he could withstand it.
"I've not only sensed the timing of the next aftershock, but also vaguely perceived the one after that. Based on the ripples propagating through the Spatial Laws, the subsequent Starquake should arrive in approximately three to four years."
Given the distant timeframe, his estimate was naturally imprecise.
Still, having even a rough idea was valuable.
Therefore, the next course of action was clear.
Li Chunjun's Heart-Mind directly perceived Huang Tian within the Azure Star Minor Realm. "Reduce the priority of the detection system's repairs and focus all efforts on restoring the Golden Crow Battleship's defensive systems."
He added, "The Cosmic Aftershock will arrive in one to two months, with an estimated magnitude of around 9. The probability of it exceeding 10 is low. Prioritize repairing the Golden Crow Battleship's defenses to withstand a magnitude 9 Starquake, even when its coverage extends to Blue Star."
"One to two months? A magnitude 9 Starquake?" Huang Tian paused slightly, then breathed a sigh of relief.
The unknown is the most terrifying thing of all.
Now that he knew the specific timing and estimated magnitude of the Cosmic Aftershock—a manageable 9, as he had predicted—the Nine Tribulation True Monarch felt his spirits lift.
Without questioning the source of Li Chunjun's information, he immediately pledged his full support. "Rest assured, Swordmaster Li! We will complete the initial repairs to the Golden Crow Battleship's defensive systems within a month! The people of the Azure Star Minor Realm will not disappoint you!"
(End of the Chapter)
---
📖Read (MI) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c374. [+4.3k]
🔑Early Access at $5.
✍Translated (6) Series, (3.6K+) Chapters, (5.1M+) Words.