Swallowed Star 2: Origin Continent: Volume 9: Chapter 18 (356): [Another Path]

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Swallowed Star 2: Origin Continent
Volume 9: [Advancing Through the Darkness]
Chapter (356): [Another Path]
(18th of Volume 9)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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Origin Continent, Origin World - Huyang City, City Lord's Mansion.

Inside the Star Tower.

Luo Feng had been here for a long time, using the Book of Wisdom and the Eye of Life and Death to study high-level Hunyuan Bloodlines.

As for low-level Hunyuan Bloodlines, he had already thoroughly researched them.

However, among high-level Hunyuan lifeforms, he had only studied seven, and right now he had just three left.

"Hmm?" Luo Feng sensed an intangible fluctuation descending, and a weapon suddenly materialized before him.

It was the same way as when he had exchanged for treasures using reward points from the Infinite Space Treasury- this treasures appeared in exactly same way!

'This blade.' The moment Luo Feng saw this blade, he instinctively held his breath.

The entire blade was pitch-black, its power completely restrained. Yet, just looking at it gave him the same overwhelming feeling as when he gazed upon the Blood Scale of the Star Tower- supreme and inviolable!

Its level of power even reminded him of the Origin World's source.

"Is this the blade I can wield?" Luo Feng cautiously reached out and gripped the hilt.

The blade offered no resistance.

Luo Feng held it firmly.

"What a terrifying weapon."

As he grasped the blade, he faintly understood that even though he was still a lifeform confined within the "cage", a single swing of this blade could annihilate even high-level Hunyuan Lifeforms.

This blade contained the highest form of destructive power, a weapon coveted even by World-Class Hunyuan powerhouses.

It was only because the practitioner faction had too few World-Class Hunyuan lifeforms, while the spoils of war were abundant, and in this critical moment of survival, figures like Yuan and the others had opened access to these treasures for practitioners.

As long as one's talent is sufficient, these treasures could be exchanged. Of course, if a practitioner dies, the treasures would be reclaimed.

Unlike the Blood Scale within the Star Tower- which is, after all, just a scale and couldn't unleash its full might- this is a blade naturally born of the Infinite Hunyuan Space, inherently imbued with terrifying destructive power.

Holding the blade, Luo Feng felt like a little mouse touching the button of a nuclear weapon.

A casual swing could bring about cataclysmic destruction- at the very least, an entire Origin World would likely face utter ruin.

'I'm too weak.'

'Before breaking free from the "cage", this blade would only serve as a tool for enlightenment.'

Luo Feng understood this well.

Of course, this was precisely why he had exchanged for it- to aid in his cultivation.

To cross-reference it with the Blood Scale of the Star Tower.

"Let's take a look."

Luo Feng opened his Eye of Life and Death between his brows.

Instead of immediately using the Book of Wisdom, he first attempted to observe the interior of this Void-Severing Blade.

Hum-

Inside the Void-Severing Blade was an endless network of rune patterns!

This is...?

Luo Feng gazed upon the vast, boundless web of rune patterns. Based on his understanding of life and destruction, he instantly discerned that the rune patterns he saw fell into just two categories.

One category was Destruction, making up roughly 89%.

The other was Life, accounting for about 11%.

"Only two types of rune patterns?" Luo Feng was momentarily dazed.

He had studied so many Hunyuan Bloodlines, as well as the Eye of Life and Death and the Blood Scale of the Star Tower- all of which contained multiple categories of rune patterns- this was unexpected.

"But this is a weapon- its rune patterns are pure." Luo Feng marveled. 

"This is exactly what I wanted- Destruction as the core, Life as the auxiliary."

As Luo Feng carefully observed, he also began refining the blade with his own power.

The weapon had already been prepared by figures like Yuan, making the refinement process simple.

In just half a day, Luo Feng succeeded.

The moment refinement was complete-

As Luo Feng held the blade, a destructive aura rose from its surface, while a similar aura emanated from his own body.

Luo Feng and the blade seemed to merge into one.

"Am I... naturally becoming part of the blade?" Luo Feng murmured.

"No, it must be that my current realm is too low to fully control it. Instead, I'm being influenced by the blade."

"Hmm?"

While gripping the blade, his mind faintly sensed an existence in an incredibly distant place.

That place was far, far beyond the Origin Continent's Origin World- even farther than the Dark Holy Realm by an immeasurable degree.

Among the telepathy perceptions of Luo Feng's multiple clones, there was only one certainty: this mysterious place was at a unfathomably distant.

Whoosh-

Phew,

'That mysterious realm.'

Luo Feng vaguely sensed endless destructive aura.

In a blur, Luo Feng vaguely sensed one weapon after another. Each weapon had a different appearance, and gave Luo Feng the feeling that it was no less than the Void-Severing Blade. Many weapons were hidden there!

Compared to that mysterious realm, the destructive aura within the Void-Severing Blade was less than a speck of dust.

The Void-Severing Blade must have been born there.

Holding the blade, Luo Feng instinctively understood. He could sense that the Void-Severing Blade held a deep sense of belonging to that place- its true home.

"If I ever break free from the 'cage' and gain enough strength, I must go there and see for myself." Luo Feng was deeply curious.

But for now, he set the thought aside.

He then used the Book of Wisdom to further study the Void-Severing Blade. As its master, the blade offered no resistance, allowing the Book of Wisdom to unveil its many secrets.

So, with Destruction as the core, the fusion of Life and Destruction can reach such heights?

Luo Feng watched as countless layers of space within the Book of Wisdom continuously displayed the runic patterns of the Void-Severing Blade.

The patterns kept emerging, and as time passed, earlier ones even transformed.

"I see another path- one where Life and Destruction merge differently." Luo Feng whispered to himself.

Previously, the most dazzling revelation had been the runic patterns of the Star Tower's Blood Scale.

There, he had seen a path where Life was dominant, and destruction supplementary. When Life reached an overwhelming level, even the slightest motion could unleash boundless power, effortlessly achieving devastating effects in Destruction.

His Dao of Life and Death had followed this path.

"But in truth, with Destruction as the core and Life as the supplement, one can also reach the highest level." Now, Luo Feng saw this alternate path- the one revealed by the Void-Severing Blade.

"By using life as a catalyst, it instead brings about ultimate destruction."

Every wisp of vitality could trigger destruction a hundred million times over.
And this hundred-million-fold destructive force could create chain reactions, setting off immeasurable waves of annihilation- true obliteration of all things!

This is madness.

"Such destruction might even consume the wielder in the end," Luo Feng murmured to himself.

"This is a path meant for weapons- one that Hunyuan Lifeforms themselves would struggle to bear."

Any Hunyuan Lifeform must first ensure its own survival! That's why even the most destructive among them retain traces of life-oriented rune patterns in their bloodlines.

No matter how much they are skilled in destruction, a Hunyuan Lifeform would never be as extreme as a weapon.

"My original path is correct- the Dao of Life and Death should be centered around life." Luo Feng pondered. 

"But I can still incorporate some insights from pure destruction to refine my own way."

A new horizon unfolded before him, and Luo Feng couldn't help but lose himself in contemplation.

Dark Holy Realm - Large Hunyuan Hall

"He used his one-time treasure exchange on the Void-Severing Blade." Two high-level Hunyuan Lifeforms had been observing Luo Feng's progress.

"We, as high-level Hunyuan Lifeforms, received ample resources during our cultivation phase. But once we reached this level, the support dwindled rapidly." The flame-robed woman sighed. 

"Even I don't qualify to exchange for the Void-Severing Blade."

"You were given your chances," the silver-haired, silver-browed man replied coldly. 

"You awakened into a high-level Hunyuan Lifeform through bloodline evolution alone. Why would the Lords invest further in you?"

The woman nodded reluctantly.

She understood.

In the grand war between factions, high-level Hunyuan Lifeforms like them were mere foot soldiers.

Among their kind, those who ascended through comprehending the mysteries of their bloodlines still received significant support. But for beings like them- whose chances of reaching the World-Class Hunyuan level were negligible- resources were scarce.

"As a fusion-path practitioner, his combat prowess surpasses others I've seen," the silver-browed man, Qiu Ge, remarked.

"The Lords noted that Luo Feng walks an extreme path. He doesn't seek balance between life and destruction- instead, he pursues the absolute pinnacle of life's limits. This makes fusing the two far more difficult... but also far more formidable upon success." Yi Feiya, the flame-robed woman, added thoughtfully.

"He emerged from the Dark Holy Realm," Qiu Ge said with a faint smile. 

"As its guardians, if we don't assist him now, we'll never get another chance once he breaks free from his 'cage.'"

Yi Feiya's eyes gleamed with realization.

"A fusion-path practitioner of his talent will almost certainly reach the World-Class Hunyuan level," Qiu Ge continued. 

"When that happens, if he favors us, we might secure positions under his command. Life would become... easier."

"How do we help him?" she asked.

"He's on the verge of a breakthrough but lacks a final catalyst. We'll select the perfect opponent for him." Qiu Ge's gaze turned sharp. 

"Among the 30,000+ imprisoned high-level Hunyuan Lifeforms, we'll choose one best suited to push him forward."

"Helping him ascend- that's a favor worth claiming." He smirked. 

"If this doesn't work, we'll devise another plan."

"Let's go." Yi Feiya agreed.

They both knew their current status as high-level Hunyuan Lifeforms was fleeting.

Soon, they would be the ones looking up to Luo Feng.

Whoosh-

Deep within the Large Hunyuan Hall, the two guardians arrived at a sealed dimension- a prison holding tens of thousands of captured Hunyuan Lifeforms.

As they entered, the imprisoned beings stirred, their eyes locking onto the intruders.

"We're selecting one of you to be released into the wilds of the Dark Holy Realm," Qiu Ge announced, his voice icy. 

"Consider it... a fleeting taste of freedom."

The prisoners tensed.

"Being Released?"

To them, "release" was a death sentence. Stripped of their true power and cast into hostile territory, they'd be hunted down by practitioners.

"Who among you is willing to be volunteer?" Yi Feiya's gaze swept across the cages.

Silence.

Then, a swirling mass of black mist spoke up:

"I pledge allegiance to the practitioner faction! Let my life-core be refined-"

"Too late." Qiu Ge sneered. 

"The Lords already conducted a mass recruitment. Millions of captive Hunyuan Lifeforms swore loyalty and had their cores bound. You missed your chance." Qiu Ge sneered.

"What? Too late!" Many of the prisoners, recently transferred here, paled.

"Only the Lords can refine life-cores. So the only chance to surrender is when the lord recruits you." Yi Feiya's tone was final.

Her eyes then settled on one particular cell- a colossal being of molten rock, its body radiating suppressed fury.

"You." She pointed. 

"Your strength is formidable, and your size is the greatest here. You'll be our chosen 'gift' to the Dark Holy Realm."

The towering fiery prisoner stiffened.

"Me?!"

"But first, we'll suppress you further." Qiu Ge activated a seal, and the prisoner's aura plummeted. Its body shrank, its power withering until it barely surpassed that of a peak God Emperor.

The other prisoners watched in grim silence.

They all knew what this meant.

"I'll die," the rock-like Hunyuan Lifeform growled. 

"But in the end, your entire faction will fall. The Lords will stand alone amidst ruins, and all realms will become our hunting grounds!"

"We'll see." Qiu Ge smirked, then clenched his fist. The prisoner's form compressed into a tiny sphere, resting in his palm.

With that, the two guardians departed with the prisoner, leaving behind a prison filled with dread and resentment.

But in their hearts, they knew:

Once imprisoned, their fate was out of their hands.

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END OF CHAPTER

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