After easily defeating his opponents in four consecutive rounds and concluding the one-on-one arena finals, the title of Ender the Green Demon had spread, and the awe-inspiring image of him slaughtering participants in the arena free-for-all was etched into the memories of countless people, with some even imitating that scene to make movies.
Ender was oblivious to the happenings in the outside world. Having been granted three years of rest, he immediately opened his messages upon returning to his residence on Molten Rock Island, seeing the names and contents of the two secret techniques.
The first Soul secret technique was called "Eye of Distortion," while the second Space Law secret technique was the familiar "Myriad Thread Flow."
"The Soul secret technique 'Eye of Distortion'—Cultivators will endure some pain when constructing the Eye of Distortion, and this pain has a strong will-tempering effect. When the Eye of Distortion is successfully constructed, meaning the first layer is cultivated, the Soul form will transform into a Eye of Distortion."
Below the first paragraph of the "Eye of Distortion" in Universal Common Script, there was an eye outlined by countless lines. This eye, at a glance, appeared normal, just with a unique art style.
But upon closer inspection, one would find that the eye only seemed normal; in reality, it was composed of hundreds, even thousands, of distorted eyes, truly bizarre!
However, after observing that eye for a moment, Ender felt a slight dizziness, as if he had been struck by Spiritual Force.
He closed his eyes, no longer looking at the strange eye, and only recovered after resting for a while.
"That eye is strange," Ender muttered softly. "Just looking at it for a while felt as uncomfortable as being hit by Spiritual Force."
He scrolled up with his finger, examining the Cultivation method of "Eye of Distortion." After reviewing the contents of this Soul secret technique, he found that it only had a first layer. From the content he had read so far, this secret technique should have more than one layer.
"Although Lord of Ganwu is a bit poor, this poverty is only within the Human Race Universe Venerable circle. As a Universe Venerable, the reward he gave me shouldn't be an incomplete Soul secret technique."
Ender felt it was strange, so he flipped through the contents of the "Myriad Thread Flow" secret technique, and the result was that "Myriad Thread Flow" was complete.
He secretly speculated, "It's estimated that the Soul secret technique 'Eye of Distortion' is a high-Rank secret technique, and just its first layer is comparable to the complete 'Myriad Thread Flow' secret technique."
After reading both secret techniques, Ender closed the light screen and closed his eyes, pondering carefully, "Marquis Rong Dian, the Messenger of Lord of Ganwu, told me to primarily Cultivate the Soul secret technique 'Eye of Distortion.'"
Recalling the situation when he met Marquis Rong Dian in World Master Molten Rock's palace, he thought to himself, "Marquis Rong Dian once said that although my will is good, it's not top-tier among those of the same Rank."
"So Marquis Rong Dian… No!" Thinking of this, Ender suddenly understood. "It must be that Lord of Ganwu believes my weakness lies in my will and Soul defense, which is why he rewarded me with 'Eye of Distortion,' a secret technique that can temper my will and enhance my Soul defense."
"Logically, Illusionists are the second most common faction among Spiritual Masters, second only to Controllers, so there should be many of them," Ender murmured. "But in this Pinnacle Genius Battle, I haven't encountered a top-tier Illusionist yet."
"Even Lord of Ganwu believes that my will and Soul defense are my weaknesses," he murmured. "Then my will and Soul defense levels should not be top-tier among my peers."
Ender recalled carefully and realized that will and Soul defense were indeed his weaknesses. In the Original Universe, he had once encountered a Spiritual Force attack from a Universe Level Spiritual Master, but he had resisted it with his powerful Spiritual Force and decent will.
And in the Virtual Universe, he had simulated battles against Illusionists of the same Rank. The Illusionists simulated could barely affect him with their illusion attacks.
Thinking of this, Ender's expression slightly darkened. "If even a simulated Illusionist can affect me, then if I truly encounter a top-tier Illusionist in the Pinnacle Genius Battle finals, I will likely lose with my current will and Soul defense levels."
"Fortunately, there's the reward from Lord of Ganwu," Ender's mood relaxed considerably. "It allows me to Cultivate 'Eye of Distortion' during the three years of rest."
He reopened the light screen, preparing to Cultivate "Eye of Distortion." As for "Myriad Thread Flow," a Space Law movement-type secret technique, he had no intention of Cultivating it.
Because his talent in Space Origin Law was average, it was almost impossible to Cultivate "Myriad Thread Flow" to an introductory level within three years.
Back then, he spent a long time Cultivating "Space Secret Technique," but he couldn't even comprehend Space Law; he could only detect Space Law fluctuations.
Therefore, instead of wasting three years Cultivating "Myriad Thread Flow," it would be better to focus his energy on successfully Cultivating the Soul secret technique "Eye of Distortion."
Having set his goal, he first attempted to Cultivate "Eye of Distortion" in the Virtual Universe, and after achieving some results, he would return to the Original Universe to Cultivate.
Ender began to Cultivate according to the content on the light screen, but soon he suddenly opened his eyes wide, his face contorted, his whole body convulsing, and beads of sweat the size of soybeans dripped from his forehead, as if he was enduring immense pain.
"This is what you call 'some pain'?!" Ender gritted his teeth, roaring in his heart, "If this is 'some pain,' then what is intense pain?!"
Pain!
It was too damn painful!
And it wasn't physical pain, but pain directly acting on the Soul, as if his Soul was being torn apart—it was truly heart-wrenching!
This was still the Virtual Universe, with only 75% sensory simulation enabled. If it were 100% sensory simulation, he would probably be tormented into unconsciousness by the intense pain.
After a long time, Ender finally recovered from the pain. Still shaken, he decided to rest for a day.
After spending a day roaming in virtual games, he seemed to have forgotten yesterday's intense pain and began Cultivating "Eye of Distortion" anew.
With his previous experience, Ender was exceptionally cautious in today's Cultivation, slowly, bit by bit, beginning to construct the Eye of Distortion.
Perhaps the construction speed was slow this way, but the pain brought by such construction was bearable for him, unlike yesterday when the pain was so intense it forced him to stop Cultivating.
Initially, Ender's Cultivation speed for "Eye of Distortion" was very slow; the intense pain only allowed him to Cultivate slowly. But as his pain tolerance increased, his Cultivation speed gradually accelerated.
Finally, after two and a half years, he successfully Cultivated "Eye of Distortion." His Soul form also transformed into an eye outlined by countless lines, somewhat similar to the eye on the light screen, yet with significant differences.
In the remaining half year, Ender also attempted to Cultivate "Myriad Thread Flow," but still failed to comprehend Space Origin Law.
Instead, his Cultivation progress in Wood Origin Law was good. Perhaps it was due to the improvement of his Soul will, as he was now able to skillfully perform the second form of Green Vine Pillar, Endless Vine, in the Virtual Universe.
At this point, the Pinnacle Genius Battle finals began…