Swallowed Star 2: Origin Continent

"Divine King White Feng, let's proceed with the handover." Luo Feng looked toward Divine King White Feng.

Divine King White Feng gave a slight nod and immediately split his body into thirty-six avatars. "Come, I'll lead the way." Luo Feng also split into thirty-six avatars, heading to different entrances of the Heavenly Pillar Realm to conduct the handover.

The Origin Path of Time, Origin Path of Space, Origin Path of Life, and Origin Path of Infinity all had avatar techniques, though each varied.

For the Time branch, avatar techniques—including the true body—totaled only three: past, present, and future! But each of those avatars possessed a complete physical body and soul, each with peak strength, as if three complete selves engaged in battle. Moreover, these three selves could exist on different timelines.

The Space Path was similar. The number of avatars one could cultivate was limited, but each powerful avatar could retain a complete physical body and soul.

The Life and Infinity paths, however, were different.

The Life Path allowed unlimited avatars, but all were separated from the self. For example, Luo Feng had only one powerful soul. If he split off a part of it, the resulting soul would be considerably weaker.

He could only control a limited number of World Life Forms! The more he split, the weaker he became.

The Infinity Path was similar. Though called "infinite," it ultimately remained singular.

Destruction, Extremity, Causality, Matter, and World usually did not allow for the cultivation of avatar techniques.

Take Yuan's illusory avatars, for instance. In truth, they originated from a path not found on the Origin Continent—the 'Void Realm Path'. Yuan's current path was the fusion of 'Illusion and Reality', attempting to unite the 'Void Realm Path' with the World Path. Yet this fusion path was even harder than Luo Feng's own path.

Luo Feng based his foundation on the Life and Destruction paths—each with a complete Origin Path to reference.

Yuan's Illusion Path had no reference at all. To merge it? Naturally, it was even more ephemeral and out of reach!

"Brother Luo He, the duty of guarding now falls to you." Divine King White Feng completed the handover with Luo Feng and smiled as he entrusted the task. "Acting as the guard here, you might take some abuse. You'll need to endure it."

"I understand." Luo Feng smiled and nodded.

As the foremost Treasure Land, the Heavenly Pillar Realm allowed guest officials at most to serve as guards. Those who truly entered to explore the inner regions were always high-ranking members of the two Royal Clans! Many within the two clans who cultivated the Primordial Bloodline were notorious for their bad tempers.

Divine King White Feng nodded and then flew off.

Luo Feng watched him leave.

"Divine King White Feng and Emperor Xuan are life-and-death friends and have fully joined the Ancient Flame Kingdom. But even so, it seems he suffered a fair bit." Luo Feng thought to himself.

Guest officials who were Second Stage Divine Kings and favored by the Royal Clan of the Ancient Flame Kingdom were all extraordinary! The weak, after all, were not even worth their attention.

In terms of strength, Divine King White Feng could rival King Tiandu and Emperor Guixu—his reputation was widely known.

Of course, from the outside's perspective...

Luo Feng, while still at the First Stage Divine King, could contend with the Ruler of Shiguo. Now as a Second Stage Divine King—with thirty-six avatars—he likely wasn't far off from Divine King White Feng or Emperor Guixu. Most importantly, Luo Feng rose incredibly fast and had immense potential! Even Emperors and Monarchs had to pay attention.

Emperor Yan, Emperor Xi, and Emperor Wu specifically targeted Luo Feng not only because of past grudges with Emperor Chu, but also because they sensed the threat Luo Feng posed.

So they sought to strip him of his guest official status, preventing him from obtaining key opportunities.

However...

It was Emperor Fu who appointed Luo Feng to guard the Heavenly Pillar Realm.

As a reigning Emperor, his authority was supreme. Since he supported Luo Feng, Emperor Yan and the others were powerless to object.

"Wng."

Luo Feng activated the formation disc obtained during the handover. The terrifying might of the grand formation enveloped the surrounding area.

"All thirty-six auxiliary formations are integrated with the central core formation. The whole formation is mainly controlled by Emperor Xuan." Luo Feng could sense it. "I can only guide and manipulate the formation's power."

"With the formation's might, I can suppress even Emperor Guixu or Divine King Wuxin." Luo Feng confirmed.

The Ancient Flame Kingdom's formation in the foremost Treasure Land was among the most fearsome. Unless the Queen Fengdu or Great Earth Divine King personally led the Wheel Reincarnation Pavilion team, they would not be able to advance through the formation.

But if they did, Emperors and Monarchs guarding the land from both ancient kingdoms would attack at once. With their cooperation and the formation's might, the power unleashed was unimaginable.

"Though I am the guard, I can't let cultivators in on my own. Since Emperor Xuan controls the formation, he can sense everything happening here." Luo Feng's role was merely to increase the difficulty of breaking the formation ten- or hundred-fold.

Without a guard, a stationary formation disc could be easily broken.

With a guard carrying it, the enemy would first have to kill the guard! And to kill a Second Stage Divine King like Luo Feng's avatar under the protection of the formation? The difficulty was obvious.

"According to what Master gave me, the greatest opportunity in the Heavenly Pillar Realm's outer zone lies in the thirty-six Heavenly Pillars." Luo Feng's thought stirred. At once, he separated an avatar and flew toward one of the towering Heavenly Pillars in the distance.

He could not enter the inner region's opportunities as a guest official, but he could explore the outer ones.

…

The Heavenly Pillars were so tall their tops could not be seen.

Luo Feng landed in front of one and immediately noticed a figure in purple armor not far away.

"Demon King Yano." Luo Feng recognized him at a glance.

Demon King Yano was one of the top three guest officials of the Ancient Thunder Kingdom in terms of strength. He walked the Destruction Path, also cultivating the Primordial Bloodline. His power was immense, and he was highly valued by the Ancient Thunder Kingdom.

Divine King Yano looked up at Luo Feng.

"Divine King Luo He." Divine King Yano smiled slightly. Though arrogant, he didn't dare underestimate Divine King Luo He. His momentum was indeed terrifying. Many ancient powerhouses on the Origin Continent believed… Divine King Luo He had the potential to rival the Emperor tier.

"Demon King Yano." Luo Feng nodded, then carefully observed the towering Heavenly Pillar.

This Heavenly Pillar was covered with countless secret patterns.

Luo Feng watched silently.

"Boom!"

As he observed, the secret patterns transformed into a giant axe—seemingly infinite in size! The axe was so massive that Luo Feng could only see a part of it. Yet it seemed to break through all laws, cleaving everything…

Luo Feng was utterly shaken.

He watched in a daze for several days before stopping.

"The concept behind this axe truly surpasses a complete Origin Path." Luo Feng thought. "It faintly carries the rhythm of the Blood-Red Scale from the Star Tower. But the Blood-Red Scale's secret patterns are far more vast and detailed, requiring Beyond Divine King-level willpower just to view. This Heavenly Pillar... Divine King Ultimate Stage will should be enough. The patterns here are relatively rough and casual."

Luo Feng could tell at a glance—there were about 3,600 spiraling, interwoven secret patterns that led him to see the axe image.

The secret patterns were far simpler than those on the Blood-Red Scale from the Star Tower.

But the concept was lofty, and the pressure from observing was lighter. A typical Second Stage Divine King from the Origin Continent could observe the scene hidden within the pillar.

"This axe feels like it belongs to the Destruction Path. But it's far more profound than the Destruction Origin Path."

"In the future, I must continue to study it."

Luo Feng didn't immediately immerse himself.

Right now, his main focus was on the Twenty-Four Phases Form. Having his World Life Form break through was the top priority.

This kind of scene—whose concept far exceeded that of a complete Origin Path—yet had such simple secret patterns! Comprehending it would surely be much harder than understanding a complete Origin Path. That was also why the two Royal Clans allowed guest officials to observe it.

Major breakthroughs were rare. Gaining even one insight and developing a powerful secret technique was already excellent.

…

Luo Feng observed all thirty-six Heavenly Pillars in succession. Each pillar had secret patterns spiraling upon it. With his mental will, Luo Feng could clearly witness the final scene those secret patterns formed.

Some formed axes that cleaved everything…

Some, a river with no end…

Some, a strange cube…

Some, a lotus of flames…

Each scene possessed a concept that transcended the Origin Paths.

"I heard that after fully grasping an Origin Path, there's no longer any clear path forward. You have to fumble in the dark." Luo Feng thought. "These thirty-six Heavenly Pillars might be like lamps in the dark, guiding the way."

These thirty-six Heavenly Pillars were mainly related to the nine Origin Paths of the Origin Continent. For example, both the Life Path and Destruction Path had four corresponding pillars each.

"Senior Yuan truly had good intentions." Luo Feng could sense the goodwill this senior held for later generations.

After briefly exploring the outer zone of the Heavenly Pillar Realm, Luo Feng settled into his guard duties and focused on cultivation.

Time passed, one epoch after another.

"Whoosh, whoosh."

Two figures flew into the formation. The tokens they carried resonated with the formation and were not blocked.

Luo Feng, the one guarding, looked up.

"So it's Divine King Luo He standing guard." One of the figures laughed.

Luo Feng also smiled. "Divine King Tian Mu, it's been a long time."

Back when Luo Feng first arrived at the Treasure Land 'Infinite Space', he met Divine King Tian Mu. As a Royal Clan Divine King of the Ancient Flame Kingdom, Divine King Tian Mu had been quite kind to him—something rare and thus memorable.

"We're fated indeed. Back when you came to Infinite Space, you were still in the Chaos Realm. I was already a First Stage Divine King." Divine King Tian Mu smiled. "Now, you're a Second Stage Divine King, while I'm still stuck at the First Stage."

Divine King Tian Mu sighed. He had far more resources than Luo Feng and access to many treasure lands and rare resources.

Back then, he scoffed at using the Primordial Bloodline during the First Stage Divine King phase.

He wished to break through to the Second Stage on his own. If he hit a complete bottleneck, only then would he use the Primordial Bloodline.

"Tian Mu, let's go." The other Royal Clan Second Stage Divine King frowned and barked coldly. He didn't even bother exchanging words with Luo Feng.

"Farewell." Divine King Tian Mu said goodbye to Luo Feng and departed with his companion.

Luo Feng watched them leave.

…

In a flash, Luo Feng had guarded the Heavenly Pillar Realm for twenty-seven epochs. During this time, two Royal Clan Divine Kings from the Ancient Flame Kingdom had entered. The Ancient Thunder Kingdom had three Royal Clan Divine Kings enter. One of them glanced at Luo Feng but couldn't be bothered to say a word before entering the depths of the Heavenly Pillar Realm.

"I've long heard that the Royal Clan Divine Kings of the Ancient Thunder Kingdom often cultivate the Primordial Bloodline and treat all non-Royals like slaves." Luo Feng thought, "Compared to them, the Ancient Flame Kingdom is slightly better."

Amid peaceful times, Luo Feng slowly comprehended each Phase of the Twenty-Four Phases Form. With accumulating experience, his pace quickened until at last, he fully grasped it.

"It's done."

All of Luo Feng's avatars scattered across Infinite Space, the Dream Domain, the Heavenly Pillar Realm, the Primal Universe near his homeland, and Huyang City revealed smiles at that moment.