A weight seemed to lift from Ji Ning's chest. In that moment of release, he felt lighter—mentally and spiritually. His will had just undergone a baptism of fire, and it emerged sharper than ever. With his will tempered, his path toward awakening divine perception had accelerated, and his Dao Heart—his spiritual resolve—had become far more unshakable.
[System Notification: Your bound ally Ji Ning has tempered his Dao Heart. As a result, your own soul-consciousness and willpower have been enhanced. Divine Perception and Dao Heart resonance has significantly increased.]
In Ji Ning's home world, even cultivators at the Purple Palace stage—roughly equivalent to elite Qi Refining experts—could divide their attention during battle, controlling flying swords or formations. When Ji Ning had broken into the Innate Stage of the Scarletbright Nine Heavens Diagram at age eleven in the original timeline, he had already reached the threshold of Divine Perception—a level most mortals never even glimpsed.
Normally, only True Form Daoists could refine their soul enough to manifest Divine Perception. Ascending beyond that—achieving a Primordial Spirit soul—was something only high-level Daoists could do after decades of effort.
But Ji Ning was never "normal." His reincarnation had brought him into the Underworld, where he'd encountered a being from a World Realm who gifted him the Nuwa Visualization Diagram, a profound and incredibly rare meditative art. In the Ji clan, there wasn't even a record of such a method.
So while most had to refine their bodies, survive hardships, walk the path of Dao comprehension, and use those experiences to nourish their souls, Ji Ning had the kind of edge that made destiny blink.
Even so, he'd spent ten years meditating on the Nuwa Diagram. He was already brushing up against the limits of what that technique alone could offer. This latest wave of emotional and spiritual upheaval had pushed him past that threshold—and into the realm of Divine Perception without even realizing it.
From the perspective of the Swallowed Star universe, the concepts of "Divine Perception" and "Dao Heart" would align with Soul Consciousness and Willpower—core to understanding Origin Laws.
"Before this, I was honestly worried," Wei Wen mused silently. "If my consciousness and will were too weak, the feedback from some of Luo Feng's future opportunities might have overwhelmed me."
But with Ji Ning as a bound ally, Wei Wen now had no such fear. Ji Ning's own breakthroughs were now feeding directly back into him—strengthening him in areas that mattered most: clarity of will, mental resilience, and soul comprehension.
"The stronger the will and consciousness, the easier it is to perceive the fundamental laws."
Wei Wen understood something others didn't. Not everyone needed to be a genius to become great. Look at Hong and Thunder God. Their raw talent didn't match Luo Feng or Bolan, and their brain capacity wasn't anything special. But they kept growing. Bolan might've topped out as a Universe Lord, but Thunder God reached the same level eventually. And Hong? He surpassed it.
It wasn't just intelligence—it was the power of the will.
Ji Ning's voice broke his thoughts.
"Brother Wei's grace, Ji Ning will remember it until the end of this life—and the next."
Ji Ning moved to bow deeply, but Wei Wen's divine perception flicked outward. With a thought, he supported Ji Ning upright again.
Honestly? Wei Wen felt a little guilty. He had already gained so much passive strength just from Ji Ning's progression—and would keep gaining more.
"No need for formalities," Wei Wen smiled. "We're brothers now. Just call me Wei."
"Exactly," Luo Feng added, grinning. "Ji Ning and I are sworn brothers now. What's a few treasures between family? No need to keep standing around being polite."
Wei Wen truly admired them both. Ji Ning and Luo Feng were righteous, loyal, and trustworthy—exactly the kind of people you could trust to guard your back without hesitation.
"If Brother Wei ever needs anything, Ji Ning will repay it with blood if I must," Ji Ning said with unshakable resolve.
"Enough of the formalities!" Ji Yichuan, Ji Ning's father, laughed with genuine joy. "Let the feast begin!"
Still, Wei Wen noticed the slight doubt in Ji Yichuan's expression. The man couldn't quite believe someone as strong as Wei Wen would give so much without asking for anything in return.
But both Ji Yichuan and his wife, Yuchi Xue, could tell that Wei Wen held no hidden agenda. With his strength, if he wanted anything from them, there would be no need for tricks or deception.
Once the banquet ended, despite their repeated pleas, Wei Wen politely declined their offer to stay longer and left the Ji clan's West Prefecture.
The Desolate Era universe was far more dangerous than Earth in Swallowed Star. He'd already achieved his main objective—binding Ji Ning—and it was smarter to withdraw and return his soul-consciousness to the safer terrain of Luo Feng's world.
"Remember the direction I mentioned," Wei Wen said before leaving. "Once your Scarletbright Diagram breaks into the Innate Realm, try exploring that area. Carefully."
"Got it, Brother Wei. Once I break through, I'll go," Ji Ning promised, his eyes full of anticipation.
Swallowed Star Universe
October, November, December. Wei Wen remained at the top of the Black Dragon Ranking in the Elite Training Camp. Luo Feng followed closely.
Both had become names the major factions whispered about. Two young men, barely 18, who had climbed to the peak as soon as they entered the camp. But despite their fame, they kept an exceptionally low profile—almost never showing up in public events or duels.
Luo Feng focused on cultivation, relying on Mu Ya crystals to speed up his breakthroughs. He was now both a Planetary Level 2 Warrior and a Planetary Level 2 Psycher.
But he was clever—he didn't flaunt it. The moment he started advancing with the Mu Ya crystals, he understood their value. They were enough to drive any high-tier fighter mad with greed.
If others found out he had access to them, they'd tear him apart.
So he did what Wei Wen did—stayed low, kept to himself in his private pavilion.
Aside from their suite-mates Zhao Ruo and Shi Jiang, almost no one in the camp ever saw Wei Wen and Luo Feng. The rest of the camp just assumed they were buried in relentless training and praised their dedication.
But the truth? They had already surpassed the God of War level and were standing among the Planetary Ranks.
Wei Wen, in particular, had grown terrifying. In pure explosive strength, he was just a notch under Hong. But with his Black God Set, even Hong couldn't kill him. Hong didn't have the penetrating weaponry needed. Wei Wen did.
In Luo Feng's basement, he loosened his grip, letting the dull, depleted Mu Ya crystal fall from his fingers.
"January and February are break months," Luo Feng muttered. "Wei Wen was right. I'm already a Planetary Level Stage Two Warrior and Psycher."
He smiled faintly.
"After the holiday... it's time I finally fulfilled that childhood dream."
Dojo of Limits, Global Headquarters
Inside a pressure chamber resembling a gravity field, Hong stood motionless, dressed in black. His posture was like a blade—razor-straight.
Opposite him stood a bald man—relaxed, scratching his head.
"We finally tuned the force-exertion method," Hong said calmly. "Tiny breakthroughs at our level are priceless."
"Right? It's hard to grow at all when you're this strong," replied the bald man—Thunder God, the second-strongest fighter on Earth.
"You're lucky. You already have a domain. I still can't wrap my head around it no matter how I try," he said, frustrated.
Hong just smiled.
"Speaking of domains... Wei Wen hasn't shown up at the Trial Tower lately. Maybe he's hiding his progress?"
"You think he's planning something big again?" Thunder God's tone was half-joking, half-nervous.
Three months had passed, and Wei Wen had been strangely quiet.
"Now that you mention it... I am curious," Hong said. "Let's go see for ourselves."
Moments later, they arrived at the Elite Training Camp.
Hong activated his auxiliary AI device—a high-end system not inferior to the one Luo Feng had gained from Ruin No. 9. It was linked to both the Elite Camp and the Virtual God of War Network.
And then he froze.
Eyes wide.
"What the...?!"
The scan results were impossible to deny.
Two Planetary Level cultivators had appeared inside the Elite Training Camp.
Without anyone noticing.