Chapter 1270: Domain

Compared to others, he might still have some advantage, but compared to his clone, he was always being abused. Just thinking about it filled him with frustration.

Shaking his head, he cast aside his helplessness. A jade box appeared in his palm, and he gently opened it. An ancient, worn book slowly floated out.

The Tayan Ancient Book!

With a thought, it appeared in his mind.

"It is indeed the Luo family's cultivation method... but it doesn't involve techniques; it's just a cultivation system!"

After reading through the book, Zhang Xuan nodded.

The Tayan Ancient Book recorded Hall Master Yan's understanding of Luo Saint's teachings. It wasn't the Luo family's technique but an insight into cultivation.

It was like a new learning method; once mastered, it would inevitably advance one's cultivation.

However... having cultivated the Heaven's Path Technique, Zhang Xuan had already grasped the best learning method. Although the other's method was good and far superior to many techniques, it was still useless to him.

"I thought it was precious... what a pity!"

After studying it for a while longer, he couldn't help shaking his head.

He had originally thought that obtaining this book would allow him to study the Luo family's technique and better handle future matters. But now it seemed it wasn't that easy.

If the technique of a major family like the Luo family were truly leaked, it would surely have been discovered and retrieved long ago. How could it be auctioned off in a small black market in the Qianchong Empire?

"Although the Luo family's cultivation system is quite good, it still falls far short compared to Qiuwu Ancient Sage."

Both were techniques for studying space, but Qiuwu Ancient Sage's understanding of space clearly went straight to the essence, while the Luo family still fell short. However... it must be said that the two techniques did have similarities.

They seemed to share the same origin.

"By the way, if I merge this cultivation technique with the second level of the Space Derivative Scripture, can I form a Heaven's Path technique?"

A thought struck him.

The Space Derivative Scripture had five levels. So far, he had only cultivated the first level and reached its peak. The reason he hadn't continued was twofold: first, the second level's technique had too many flaws; second, his cultivation and power were insufficient.

Now that his strength had reached the peak of the Nascent Soul realm, far stronger than before, perhaps he could give it a try.

"Correct!"

He retrieved the text of the second level of the Space Derivative Scripture and, in the blink of an eye, merged it with the Tayan Ancient Book.

"It works..."

He quickly opened it, and his eyes lit up.

The five realms of the Space Derivative Scripture were: Earth Shrinking, Teleportation, Mastery, Destruction, and Creation.

He had already cultivated the first level, Earth Shrinking, to its peak. Combined with the Traveler Without Bounds technique, he could appear hundreds of meters away with a single movement, as fast as teleportation.

His mastery of space also allowed him to fight against half-step Domain realm experts.

Now, with the second level of the Heaven's Path technique, if he studied it diligently, he would surely make further progress.

Filled with excitement, he grabbed a pile of spirit stones and placed them before him. With his mind focused on the understanding of space in the Teleportation realm, he began to cultivate.

After an unknown amount of time.

He stood up, his aura rising steadily.

After some cultivation, although he hadn't reached the peak of the second level, Teleportation, of the Space Derivative Scripture, his understanding of space had greatly increased.

Previously, his strength was on par with half-step Domain realm experts. Now, he might even be able to fight against an actual early-stage Domain realm expert!

"Release!"

With a thought, a thin layer of light appeared within a meter around his body. The space within this light seemed completely under his control!

"Although this isn't a domain, it achieves the same effect..."

Clenching his fist, Zhang Xuan's eyes shone as he carefully sensed the light's function.

This light was formed by his understanding of space, aided by his soul power. Although not a domain, it was nearly identical. Within a meter of his body, he had absolute control, making him virtually invincible.

"Let's test its power!"

He pointed a finger, and the Gold Origin Cauldron appeared before him.

"Attack me with all your strength!"

"Alright!" After a slight hesitation, the Gold Origin Cauldron responded. With a whoosh, it descended from the air and charged straight at him.

The cauldron, possessing combat power at the late-stage Out-of-Body realm, was extremely fast, seemingly surpassing sound. However, as soon as it entered the one-meter range around Zhang Xuan, it immediately slowed down.

"Stop!"

He commanded softly.

The cauldron halted just before touching him, unable to move no matter how it struggled.

"If I wished, I could easily crush the Gold Origin Cauldron's spirit and severely damage its body..."

Feeling the power of control, Zhang Xuan was astonished.

No wonder it was said that above the Out-of-Body realm in the Saint Domain, each level was vastly different. Now it seemed to be true.

Previously, he thought that with enough numbers, half-step Domain realm experts could easily defeat an early-stage Domain realm expert. Now it seemed almost impossible!

Within the domain, one was directly invincible... unless one had greater power to break it or disrupt the opponent's domain from being deployed... otherwise, there was no way to resist.

"However, the consumption of true qi and soul power by the domain is too great..."

Releasing the Gold Origin Cauldron, Zhang Xuan dispelled the light around him, and a wave of fatigue washed over him.

This domain-like light, though powerful and making him invincible, consumed true qi and soul power at a terrifying rate.

Even though he had cultivated the Saint Seal and was a Heaven-recognized saint, after sustaining it for a dozen breaths, he felt utterly exhausted, as if all his true qi had been drained.

"I should use it as little as possible in the future..."

This move was very powerful, but the consumption was too great and dangerous for himself. He should use it sparingly, only in life-or-death situations!

"By the way, now that I've comprehended a domain-like spatial ability, if I fight my clone again, can I easily crush him?"

After resting a while and recovering his consumed true qi, a thought occurred to Zhang Xuan, and he clenched his fist.

He had always been oppressed by his clone. Now that he had comprehended a domain-like ability, fighting him again should lead to an easy victory!

As soon as he thought of it, he summoned his clone.

Without a word, the battle began, shaking heaven and earth.

The Gold Origin Cauldron hid to the side, trembling.

After three breaths, Zhang Xuan had dark circles under his eyes. After five breaths, he was spitting blood profusely. After ten breaths, he lay on the ground, unable to move...

"Let's fight again next time..."

Full of frustration, Zhang Xuan quickly circulated his Heaven's Path true qi to recover his strength.

He had thought that comprehending the domain would allow him to dominate his clone, but instead, the clone still beat him miserably.

How the hell did this guy cultivate...

He thought he could win, but then he got beaten up... It was always like this!

Absolutely abnormal!

After circulating his true qi for two cycles, his injuries fully recovered. He glanced helplessly at his clone, then without lingering, left the hive.

If it really didn't work... he would wait until his strength increased again to take revenge!

He walked out of the room.

It was already broad daylight. After a night of cultivation, although he was still no match for his clone, his strength had greatly increased, and he felt refreshed and delighted.

Just as he stepped into the courtyard, he saw Zhang Jiuxiao rushing over excitedly: "Teacher Zhang, I've broken through to the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm, haha..."

His excitement was hard to conceal.

The other had been progressing rapidly, and now he had caught up. A sense of pride welled up within him.

Being able to keep up with the cultivation speed of a Heaven-recognized master... wasn't that something to boast about?

"Congratulations!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

"No need to be polite... Now that my cultivation is the same as Teacher Zhang's, I should be able to pass the re-examination..."

Before he could finish, Zhang Jiuxiao suddenly choked, his face twitching as he looked at Zhang Xuan with some confusion: "Teacher Zhang... you, you've reached the peak of the Nascent Soul realm?"

"Yes, I had enough accumulation, so I just broke through casually."

Zhang Xuan nodded.

"Enough accumulation? Casually..."

Zhang Jiuxiao almost burst into tears.

Accumulate your sister!

You only broke through yesterday, and after one night, you've advanced... What did you accumulate?

For others, after reaching the Nascent Soul realm, a small level requires over a decade or decades of accumulation. You did it in one night... Do you have to be so heaven-defying?

His eyes reddened, and Zhang Jiuxiao felt the confidence he had just kindled being extinguished again.

Other cultivators advanced quickly but had unstable power and weak combat strength... This guy advanced so fast, yet his ability to fight above his level was so fierce...

He really couldn't compare with him, or he wouldn't even know how he died.

Seeing him so crushed, Zhang Xuan's frustration from being beaten by his clone dissipated, and he nodded with satisfaction.

Compared to his clone, he was far inferior, but compared to others, he still had some advantage.

"Teacher Zhang, Teacher Zhao wants us to gather in the main hall. The re-examination is about to begin..."

Knowing that continuing to talk about cultivation would only bring humiliation, Zhang Jiuxiao dropped the subject.

Acknowledging, Zhang Xuan followed him out.

In the main hall, the more than thirty master teachers who had been seen before had already arrived, standing on both sides with solemn expressions.

When Zhang Xuan arrived, they greeted him one by one and then said no more.

Standing behind the crowd, he looked up and saw Zhao Xingmo and Hall Master Yue standing in the middle.

Yue Yiquan was still somewhat swollen, with patches of blue and red here and there, clearly not fully recovered from the beating by the puppet the day before.

The higher one's cultivation, the less effective medicinal pills were. For someone of his strength, a quick recovery would require at least an eighth-grade pill, and such medicine was not easy to obtain even for a hall master of the Master Teacher Pavilion.

"Since everyone is here, let's begin the re-examination!"

Stepping forward, Zhao Xingmo looked around: "The Saint Son Hall recruits students based on strength, wisdom, overall perspective... all can be criteria. In the preliminary exam, we tested combat strength. As long as your strength was sufficient, you passed. The re-examination won't be so simple!"

"Now, I'll explain the rules of the re-examination!"

Everyone's gazes focused on him.

It concerned whether they could enter the Saint Son Hall, so it was crucial. They were afraid of missing a single word.

"The re-examination, though complicated to describe, is actually simple: do everything possible to eliminate your opponent!"

With a solemn look, Zhao Xingmo waved his hand: "In other words... a cage match!"