Science Fiction Novel

Luo Feng leisurely walked out of the grand Hunyuan Hall and strolled through Hunyuan City.

He observed the various cave dwellings, each reflecting a different cultural style.

He also watched the cultivators, who came in all shapes and sizes. Although most of them resembled ‘humans,’ many still retained some racial characteristics, and some even appeared in their original racial forms.

“Cultivators from numerous Origin Worlds and billions of other worlds carry the essence of different civilizations in their every word and action.”

“Yet, they all share one commonality:”

“They are all beings within the cage!”

Luo Feng’s Half-Hunyuan Life-Death Dao had already taken shape in his mind, lacking only a sliver of spiritual insight.

Coupled with Luo Feng’s extensive research into a large number of ‘low-grade Hunyuan bloodlines’ and some ‘high-grade Hunyuan bloodlines,’ his understanding of these naturally born Hunyuan beings was now very profound.

“The difference between being inside and outside the cage,”

“is like the distinction between low and high dimensions, as once described on my home planet Earth.” Luo Feng felt this explanation was quite precise.

“Within the cage, the Half-Hunyuan Life-Death Dao is already complete! There is no further progress to be made.”

“But jumping out of the cage is like entering a higher dimension. The Life-Death Dao can be greatly expanded,”

“and its richness can increase by an immeasurable number of times.”

The Half-Hunyuan Life-Death Dao was like a person in a drawing—exquisite, yet limited by its pixels.

The Hunyuan-level Life-Death Dao, however, was like a physical body in reality! The difference between the two was truly immense, like heaven and earth.

“The more I know, the more I understand,”

“just how vast the gap is between the ‘Half-Hunyuan Dao’ and the ‘Hunyuan-level Dao.'” Luo Feng frowned. “Yet, legend has it that cultivators can ascend to heaven in a single step, directly comprehending the Hunyuan-level Dao from the Half-Hunyuan level, breaking through all laws with sheer force.”

This was a legend among cultivators, and the most coveted aspiration of countless Dao comprehenders.

However, for bloodline cultivators, achieving ultimate awakening into a high-grade Hunyuan being was already extremely rare!

As for ‘ascending to heaven in a single step, comprehending the Hunyuan-level Dao, and breaking all laws with force’—that only existed in legends! “If the profundity of the Half-Hunyuan Dao is considered one unit,”

“then the Hunyuan-level Dao is at least a million, or even a hundred million, times more profound.”

“I’ve endured so many hardships cultivating the ‘Half-Hunyuan Life-Death Dao,’ and I still lack that final spark of spiritual insight. How could I possibly ascend to heaven in a single step and directly comprehend the Hunyuan-level Dao?”

Luo Feng tilted his head back, gazing at the sky.

The bionic Eye of Life-Death on his brow had become increasingly mysterious, now able to pierce through the membrane of the Dark Saint Realm and glimpse a sliver of the truth of the infinite Hunyuan Space.

The Half-Hunyuan Life-Death Dao was within his grasp.

Luo Feng could foresee that it wouldn’t hinder him for much longer.

But what about the next step?

“I’ll take it one step at a time, with my feet firmly on the ground.”

As Luo Feng pondered, he walked toward the cave dwellings of Boshu, Baiyin, and Chizheng.

Boshu and the other two, sensing Luo Feng’s approach through karmic connection, immediately came out of their dwellings to greet him.

“Congratulations, Brother Luo Feng,” Boshu said with a smile.

“You’ve finally emerged from your cultivation after 4,300 epochs.”

Luo Feng smiled.

During these 4,300 epochs, Luo Feng’s clone had only emerged to receive the massive compensation payments from the Secret Void God Emperors. All other times, he had been focused on cultivation.

The three of them led Luo Feng into the dwelling.

The four of them sat down. Chizheng said, “Brother Luo Feng, during these 4,300 epochs, cultivators from various places have flocked to Hunyuan City, all hoping to meet you and receive some guidance.”

“Once one reaches the Half-Hunyuan realm, it feels as if there’s no path forward,” Boshu sighed. “Too many cultivators hope for just a little guidance from an invincible being.”

Luo Feng nodded.

He could indeed see the path forward, but he knew it was immeasurably more difficult than the Half-Hunyuan Life-Death Dao.

“Dao Lord Longjiu and God Emperor Jike also wish to meet you, Brother Luo Feng,” God Emperor Baiyin said.

“Oh? Those two?” Luo Feng was still interested. Their profound accumulated insights might provide him with some inspiration.

“By the way, I asked you to collect life-death type secret treasures earlier, didn’t I?” Luo Feng inquired. Boshu, Baiyin, and Chizheng exchanged glances.

“We spread the word that you, Brother Luo Feng, wished to acquire some life-death type secret treasures,” Boshu explained. “Given your current reputation, many cultivators were willing to sell, and we found it difficult to select only the top five. So, we waited for you to emerge from seclusion to choose them yourself.”

“Good.”

Luo Feng nodded. “In that case, make a preliminary selection of the best 20 items and have those cultivators come over! I’ll then personally choose the ones I need.”

Boshu, Baiyin, and Chizheng understood.

“I will inform those 20 cultivators right away,” Boshu said. As a True Witch lineage cultivator, his discerning eye was naturally sharp! Luo Feng felt confident allowing him to make the initial selection.

“God Emperor Luo Feng has emerged from his dwelling!”

“He went to God Emperor Boshu’s dwelling.” “I can confirm his location.”

Within Hunyuan City, some God Emperors, like City Lord Feng Qiao, had met Luo Feng before. When Luo Feng didn’t intentionally conceal himself, they could sense his current location through karmic connection.

Immediately, cultivators one by one rushed towards God Emperor Boshu’s dwelling.

“He’s out?”

“He’s finally out!”

Dao Lord Longjiu and God Emperor Jike, upon receiving the news, also hurried over. Both wished to meet God Emperor Luo Feng.

“Everyone, please rest in the garden for now. God Emperor Luo Feng needs to meet other guests first.” Boshu, Baiyin, and Chizheng each sent out clones to personally manage the reception of these visitors.

There was no other way; there were simply too many visitors, and their power was immense!

Besides Dao Lord Longjiu and God Emperor Jike, over three hundred other peak-level beings had arrived! Many Half-Hunyuan Dao Comprehenders and Half-Hunyuan bloodline cultivators had also gathered, numbering in the tens of thousands, and their numbers were still increasing with time.

Boshu and the others needed to ensure they were properly received first.

“God Emperor Luo Feng has agreed; he will definitely meet all of you today,” Boshu stated.

“No rush.”

“We’ve waited 4,300 epochs; we have plenty of patience,” said one cultivator after another, all very polite. No one could gauge the temper of an invincible being, and if Luo Feng were angered, he might simply leave. It would then be difficult for them to meet him again.

Deep within the dwelling.

Luo Feng first summoned twenty cultivators. Their strengths varied; some had reached the peak level, while others were at the late-stage God Emperor Dao Comprehender level. “Please present your secret treasures,” Luo Feng said. “If I wish to purchase any, I will offer a suitable price. You are free to decide whether to sell or not.”

Luo Feng smiled faintly.

“I am willing to offer my secret treasure to God Emperor Luo Feng as a gift,” one cultivator said.

“I am also willing to gift mine.”

“And I, too.”

One cultivator after another expressed their willingness to gift their treasures.

The so-called ‘free gift’ actually meant Luo Feng would owe a karmic debt! If Luo Feng himself was particularly concerned with karma, he would definitely have to repay it in the future! The stronger Luo Feng became, the more valuable this ‘karmic debt’ would be.

The cultivators who could come to the Dark Saint Realm were not foolish; they all knew that ‘gifting’ was the way to gain the most.

“There’s no need,” Luo Feng gently shook his head.

“I will offer a suitable price.”

At his current level, these life-death type secret treasures merely broadened his horizons and assisted his cultivation; their importance was no longer as great.

Want to give them away for free?

Luo Feng no longer accepted gifts easily.

“Everyone, please present your secret treasures for display,” God Emperor Boshu said from the side.

The twenty cultivators knew that ‘gifting’ was out of the question, so they could only present their items one by one.

Luo Feng glanced at them. His accumulated knowledge in life-death concepts was so profound that he could determine the value of these twenty life-death type secret treasures with a single look.

“They are all secret treasures refined by beings who have escaped the cage, or naturally born treasures,” Luo Feng thought. “Their values vary.”

“I’ll take these nine,” Luo Feng said, selecting nine items and quoting a price for each.

The usual practice applied.

The price was still double the normal rate in the Dark Saint Realm! For Luo Feng, this amount of Hunyuan crystals was negligible.

“God Emperor Luo Feng is indeed generous.” Since they couldn’t give their items away for free, most of the cultivators showed delight upon hearing Luo Feng’s offers. Being able to sell at double the price was already very worthwhile.

“We are willing to sell.”

Of the nine secret treasures Luo Feng selected, eight cultivators agreed to sell, with only one hesitating.

“God Emperor Chanfu, for your secret treasure, God Emperor Luo Feng offered fifty billion Hunyuan crystals, which is already quite substantial,” Boshu said. “Why the hesitation?” “Buying and selling is a matter of choice,” Luo Feng said with a slight smile.

He wasn’t particularly bothered by it.

“This secret treasure of mine is a naturally formed treasure, nurtured within the body of a World-level Hunyuan being. Its profundity is immense, and I believe it is worth one hundred billion Hunyuan crystals,” God Emperor Chanfu said, looking at Luo Feng.

God Emperor Chanfu was a Half-Hunyuan Dao Comprehender! Aside from this naturally formed treasure obtained from his home Origin World, his entire accumulation over countless years amounted to only several tens of billions of Hunyuan crystals.

He had thought this through.

Either gift it for free!

Or seize the opportunity to earn a substantial amount of resources! “One hundred billion Hunyuan crystals?” Boshu, Baiyin, Chizheng, and the other cultivators were somewhat startled. How dare he quote such a high price? God Emperor Chanfu, however, had some confidence; he was from an Origin World and had a clone, so he wasn’t particularly afraid.

“I heard that the Secret Void God Emperors compensated 750 billion Hunyuan crystals. For God Emperor Luo Feng, one hundred billion Hunyuan crystals is just a fraction. My naturally formed secret treasure must be highly attractive to suitable cultivators,” God Emperor Chanfu thought.

Luo Feng glanced at the golden bone staff in God Emperor Chanfu’s hand.

The golden bone staff, combining life-death mysteries, was much more powerful than the ‘Palm Realm’; with one strike, it could determine life or death.

“Then these eight it is.” Luo Feng waved his hand, and eight storage bracelets flew to the cultivators. Inside were the Hunyuan crystals at the agreed-upon prices, and the eight cultivators happily accepted them. “Thank you, God Emperor Luo Feng.” They were all very satisfied.

God Emperor Chanfu, on the other hand, slightly frowned as he watched this scene! God Emperor Luo Feng wouldn’t buy it just because he added fifty billion Hunyuan crystals?

“Boshu, see them out.”

Luo Feng instructed.

“Please.” God Emperor Boshu immediately escorted the cultivators away. God Emperor Chanfu felt unwilling; Luo Feng wouldn’t accept it as a gift, and he also ignored his offer of one hundred billion. He could only leave with his treasure.

“God Emperor Luo Feng, could you perhaps give us some guidance?” one cultivator eagerly asked.

“Tens of thousands of cultivators have already arrived outside. I will summon all of them today, and we can discuss the Dao publicly then,” Luo Feng said. The cultivators then showed joy and obediently departed.

Tens of thousands of cultivators were gathered in the garden outside, and their numbers were still increasing. The twenty cultivators who had brought treasures for sale were also there.

“God Emperor Chanfu, you were truly too greedy.” “God Emperor Luo Feng is an invincible being,”

“do you really think he cared deeply about your secret treasure?”

A cultivator scoffed.

News of this transaction quickly spread among the cultivators, and as God Emperor Chanfu listened to the discussions around him, he vaguely felt that something was wrong.

“Thump.” Suddenly, a hand slapped God Emperor Chanfu’s shoulder, and a terrifying power swept through his entire body.

God Emperor Chanfu turned his head and saw a dirty, dishevelled old man. The old man’s eyes were bloodshot, filled with an eerie, deranged look, and he chuckled strangely as he gazed at God Emperor Chanfu.

“Ji… God Emperor Jike?” God Emperor Chanfu’s heart trembled. Who didn’t know that God Emperor Jike was eccentric and unpredictable?

“Which secret treasure were you planning to sell to God Emperor Luo Feng?” God Emperor Jike asked.

“It’s this one.” Feeling God Emperor Jike’s malevolent aura, God Emperor Chanfu obediently took out the golden bone staff and held it.

“It’s mine now.”

God Emperor Jike snatched it away.

God Emperor Chanfu didn’t even dare to resist, watching helplessly as God Emperor Jike took the golden bone staff, without giving him even a single Hunyuan crystal in return.

“I’m visiting God Emperor Luo Feng, and I just happened to be short of a gift,” God Emperor Jike said with a wide grin.

God Emperor Chanfu, at this moment, dared not say another word.

“Dao Lord Longjiu, God Emperor Jike,” Boshu called from a distance. “God Emperor Luo Feng has summoned you two.”

Dao Lord Longjiu and God Emperor Jike immediately followed Boshu inside; they were going to meet Luo Feng first.

“Dao Lord Longjiu and God Emperor Jike are certainly different; they were summoned first.”

“After all, their accumulated insights are deeper than ours,” some of the peak-level beings remarked.

Among the crowd of cultivators were two very inconspicuous and weak individuals: Ancestor Yanfeng and Ancestor Leiting. They were at the very bottom tier of those present.

“Luo Feng should know we’ve arrived,”

“but he hasn’t summoned us.” Ancestor Yanfeng and Ancestor Leiting exchanged glances, realizing that their acquaintance with Luo Feng from previous years was still too shallow.