Chapter 221: Severing the Origin Source

Three corpses floated in the void.

With a wave of his hand, Jiang Yan summoned the storage bags from the bodies.

After a casual search, he found that these three brothers were quite honest—their storage bags were packed with items, though none were particularly valuable.

There were tens of thousands of Star Core Coins alone, along with some Galactic Coins, totaling six Cloud Core Coins.

“As for these three ships…”

Jiang Yan glanced over and noticed they were only equipped with simple drives, even more ordinary than the Bu Chen, which he had received as a promotional gift.

Still, even the smallest mosquito carries a bit of meat. Jiang Yan stored them all in his spatial ring.

With the looting complete, he casually set fire to the corpses to dispose of them.

“From this, it seems that Babata from Star Star likely only has an Eighth Rank Peak Realm, and their Transcendent power isn’t much stronger than Blue Star’s. Their strength is probably weaker than that of Eighth Rank cultivators from major Transcendent factions.”

“But to be safe, I should first solidify my Domain. Once I break through to the Source Domain, I’ll be completely secure.”

During his months away, Jiang Yan hadn’t forgotten about his old “friend” from Star Star.

“Perfect. After breaking through to the Seventh Rank and reaching the Source Domain, I’ll go snatch some fuel for the Bu Chen and then return to Blue Star.”

With his plan set, Jiang Yan returned to the Bu Chen.

“Bu Chen, find an uninhabited planet to land on.”

One minute later.

Jiang Yan landed on a desolate, orange-hued planet.

The planet was barren, with bone-eroding gales sweeping across its surface, but to the current Jiang Yan, they were nothing to worry about.

He raised a Chaotic Void Domain and stepped inside, taking out the Origin Source light sphere.

“That Sky Demon can probably sense the location of this sphere. Good thing I have the Chaotic Void Ancestral Spirit.”

With this thought, he wrapped another layer of Chaotic Void Ancestral Spirit around the sphere, released two Doppelgangers to act as his Protectors, and then slipped inside.

Indeed, the space inside the sphere was real and could even sustain living beings.

The sphere was roughly divided into two parts. The first was the Myriad Soldier Talisman Jiang Yan had just obtained—ever-changing, unpredictable, and mysterious.

The second was the abundant Origin Source energy within the space.

It seemed the great expert from Tianyuan Star had refined part of the Sky Demon’s Origin Source into the Myriad Soldier Talisman, while the remaining portion was sealed and preserved within this space.

“The Sky Demon’s Origin Source power is too immense. Even with [Heaven Rewards Diligence], I must handle it carefully.”

“Got it!”

With a thought, Jiang Yan began using his Spiritual Power to cut the dense Origin Source energy around him into thin, small slices.

But how thin was thin enough?

Jiang Yan had found the answer long ago while eating a certain type of pulled noodles.

“Let’s go with the standard for beef slices.”

With the theory in place, it was time for practice.

His Spiritual Power took the form of a steel saber, but it didn’t seem sharp enough.

Jiang Yan focused his mind, and his Spirit Platform trembled faintly.

The steel saber was repeatedly tempered and honed by the Spirit Platform until, after a long while, it finally reached a level capable of cutting the Origin Source.

He controlled the Spiritual steel saber and slowly made a cut into the Origin Source.

It was silent and seamless, but Jiang Yan clearly sensed a strand of energy, as thin as a hair, separating from the surrounding air.

“Success!”

Theory confirmed by practice—Jiang Yan was now filled with delight.

“Although most of the Origin Source was used to refine the Myriad Soldier Talisman, the remaining energy here should be enough for me to cultivate for a while, right?”

As he absorbed that slice of Origin Source, both his Spiritual Power and the Chaotic Void Ancestral Spirit grew stronger.

“In addition to breaking through to the Source Domain Realm, I can also try advancing the Spirit Platform to the Tidal stage!”

A double blessing.

Jiang Yan smiled: “Thanks to nature’s gifts!”

Meanwhile, on a planet where the Sky Demon was wreaking havoc.

“Damn it! Damn it!”

“Return my Origin Source! Return my Origin Source! All you wretched humans, go die!”

With every person he killed, he imagined them as Jiang Yan, then let out a maniacal laugh.

“Hehehehe, this is the price for provoking me.”

That night, the figure entirely shrouded in black substance was deeply imprinted in the Sky Demon’s mind, spirit, and body.

Indeed, the Sky Demon had carved the outline of Jiang Yan’s body from his memory onto his own flesh.

Until he found Jiang Yan, he would engrave Jiang Yan upon himself every day, never forgetting!

Subtly, it seemed a Heart Demon was beginning to fester within this Sky Demon…

Inside the light sphere, Jiang Yan’s cutting cultivation continued.

The Heaven Demon Origin power was extremely violent and unstable; even when cut to the fineness of a hair strand, it still made absorption excruciatingly difficult for Jiang Yan.

[System Log Updated]

“Your Spirit Platform is receiving overloaded spiritual substance, tearing…”

“Repairing…”

“Resilience slightly enhanced…”

“Chaotic Void Ancestral Spirit absorbing excessive energy, collapsing…”

“Repairing…”

“Quality improving…”

Logically, no one should be able to absorb the Origin Source of another life form.

Because life essences differ, just as bloodlines are incompatible; it cannot be absorbed simply and crudely.

But Jiang Yan was different.

His Chaotic Void Ancestral Spirit was originally an omnivorous species, irresistibly drawn to such highly advanced energy substances.

Having cultivated to this point, the Chaotic Void Ancestral Spirit’s palate had become extremely discerning; feeding it ordinary energy substances would cause it to spit them out directly.

But the Heaven Demon Origin was different; its energy surpassed the Chaotic Void Ancestral Spirit’s capacity, yet perfectly matched its taste.

Using [Heaven Rewards Diligence] to harmonize it, the perfect absorption method was thus born.

Steadying his mind, Jiang Yan focused on cutting while also preparing for his breakthrough.

“According to Tianyuan Star’s Martial Way descriptions, the Seventh Rank Source Domain is the peak state of a Martial Artist themselves. Martial Artists above the Seventh Rank are more adept at utilizing the world’s power, based on the Martial Artist yet transcending them.”

“And the culmination of a Martial Artist is…”

“Martial Intent, Qi, Spiritual Power, Martial Way insights, Martial Skills…”

Complex, yet specific.

“What if I fuse all these things together?”

Jiang Yan meditated, the eighteen Aperture Points within his body faintly glowing as a profound Aura rose from his form.

His Comprehension Ability was also the greatest in the world.

[Heaven Rewards Diligence] continued to trigger.

Three days later.

Jiang Yan’s Aura reached a semi-saturated state.

He slowly opened his eyes.

“Spiritual Power is sufficient.”

“Qi is sufficient.”

“Is it my understanding of the Martial Way that’s still lacking a bit?”

He pondered carefully.

“Ah, it’s Martial Intent!”

“My Martial Intent still has room for improvement!”

Jiang Yan had thought that the Awakening in the Battle Space had already brought his Martial Intent to its peak, but it seemed there were still some flaws.

“It seems I haven’t fought enough.”

Martial Intent grows stronger through battle. Since his Martial Intent wasn’t at Perfection, it must be due to insufficient combat.

“I’ve been too lax.” Jiang Yan sighed, then entered the Battle Space.

Once again facing his old adversary—the Life and Death Demon Skeleton.

A King of the Demon Race.

Life, and death.

The opponent’s mastery over these two was absolute.

The principles contained within also greatly benefited Jiang Yan.

“Just touching me drains my vitality, yet striking him allows instant recovery.”

“This Life and Death Demon Skeleton seems to possess power beyond his current realm.”

At present, Jiang Yan was completely incapable of forcing out the true strength of the Life and Death Demon Skeleton.