In the Coiling Dragon universe, "Divine Perception" and "Soul Power" are two different things.
They have similarities, but they are not the same.
The "Unity of Heaven and Man" achieved in Sanctuary stage can be considered a rudimentary form of Divine Perception.
When a Sanctuary-level cultivator fully masters a certain profound law, that law, under the influence of the rules of heaven and earth, can condense into a Divine Spark
Once a soul enters the Divine Entity, a god-tier cultivator is essentially in a constant state of "Unity of Heaven and Man."
The difference is that their "Heaven" has shifted: what was once the ultimate laws of the world during Sanctuary now becomes the law they themselves have comprehended.
Soul power radiating from the Divine Spark is known as Divine Perception.
Generally, a demigod-tier cultivator's Divine Perception is far stronger than ordinary soul power.
This is because Divine Perception is the fusion of soul power with the comprehended ultimate law, forming a power far beyond its individual components.
However, in this world, some individuals possess talents and luck that far exceed ordinary imagination.
For instance: soul mutation.
A soul mutator's soul power can be far greater than that of ordinary gods.
Locke recalled that in the Coiling Dragon universe, the protagonist Linley, after achieving a four-element soul mutation, had soul power tens of times stronger than his Divine Perception.
Until now, Locke could only sense water elements; clearly, he had affinity only for the water element.
Thus, he naturally did not expect to become a soul mutator himself.
But this did not prevent him from studying how to use soul power more efficiently.
For example, his initial technique, Celestial Dance Treasure Wheel, was only a "deception" of the five senses of the soul. It was only when Locke's soul research progressed further that he could truly strip the five senses, converting deception into actual soul attacks.
"Deception" is an illusion; "stripping" belongs to soul attack.
Even as a transmigrator, Locke did not overestimate himself.
After all, the Coiling Dragon universe, being a subsidiary of the main Hongmeng Universe, was inherently weaker than the main universe.
Breaking through the Coiling Dragon universe's limits had, so far, been achieved by only Linley a thousand or so epochs later.
Locke's water-element affinity meant he could not replicate Linley's path, removing any notion of being a "protagonist" from his mind.
From over twenty years of reading web novels, he knew: protagonists are never concerned with transcending their universe.
Locke even suspected his upper limit might only reach that of an ordinary high-tier god.
To survive against those stronger than himself, Locke believed he had to strengthen his illusions.
Once his strength increased, evolving "deceptive illusions" into true soul attacks would be straightforward.
"I understand now… I see…"
In the Locke City training hall, Locke held a faint wisp of fire in his hands, his eyes reflecting sudden comprehension.
"Elemental Law Ultimate…"
Staring at the soul flame in his hands, Locke clapped his hands.
With a boom, the soul flame shattered instantly.
Splash…
As the soul flame broke, the tall figure that had been standing behind Locke lost all light in their eyes, suddenly collapsing forward, lifeless.
With a wave of his hand, blue light flashed. Fieobo's body instantly lost all moisture, turning into a black mummified husk that shattered into black ash.
Locke had long since forgotten how long he had been in seclusion.
Yet this time, the results of his seclusion left him extremely satisfied.
His comprehension of the Profound Mystery of Illusionary Fog had increased three to four times compared to before.
Locke estimated that if he had possessed even ten percent understanding of this law before, he now had at least forty percent.
Furthermore, by studying Fieobo's soul in the "Unity of Heaven and Man" state, he inadvertently comprehended another ultimate law of the water element: the Essence of Water.
The flame Locke had just held was a soul fragment of Fieobo's understanding of the Essence of Water.
In other words, Fieobo, stripped of the Fire Elemental Law Ultimate by Locke, had lost the qualification to enter the "Unity of Heaven and Man" state.
Put differently, Fieobo had been demoted from Sanctuary.
If anyone else knew of this, Locke would undoubtedly become the target of every Sanctuary-level cultivator.
This was precisely why Locke directly destroyed Fieobo's soul, eliminating him outright.
Even if Locke could alter Fieobo's memory to forget he had once been a Sanctuary, leaving such a person alive was far too risky. Destroying the evidence was far cleaner.
Stepping out of the training hall, Locke focused his mind.
In an instant, everything inside the lordly manor was imprinted in his mind.
However, Locke found it strange that he could not sense the presence of his parents anywhere inside the manor.
Leaving the training hall, Locke headed toward Cole.
Along the way, he passed many patrolling guards and busy maids, all seemingly oblivious to his presence.
Passing a side residence, Locke saw Cole's wife—the daughter of the Ross chairman—playing with a little girl of five or six.
After watching for a moment, Locke continued toward Cole.
Cole was in the manor's meeting room handling affairs.
Every day, numerous matters required Cole's attention, and some major decisions needed his judgment.
As the person entrusted with full management of Locke's territory, Cole, though lacking a noble title, commanded respect—even the two viscounts inside Locke City did not dare show him disrespect.
After all, Cole was Lord Locke's younger brother.
And Cole had not disappointed.
With decades of trading experience, Cole managed Locke's territory exceedingly well.
By now, Locke City had a population exceeding two million, projected to peak within ten years.
Upon entering the meeting room, Locke saw Cole discussing matters with the two viscounts.
As Locke's gaze fell upon them, he was struck by a sudden startling realization.
From Cole and the two viscounts, he saw aging.
The two viscounts had once been captains of the Tsunami Legion—genuine ninth-level warriors.
A ninth-level cultivator could live up to five hundred years.
Only after four hundred thirty years would a ninth-level warrior truly enter "old age," their body beginning to deteriorate.
How long had Locke been in seclusion?
(End of Chapter)
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