High-Level Martial Era

In the center of the Divine Palace, a space wide enough for hundreds of meters, large enough for two Prime Warriors at high levels to engage in a grand battle.

And the entire Divine Palace was so solid that, no matter how they unleashed their explosive power, it wouldn't cause the slightest damage to the Divine Pillars or the floor.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"

Li Yuan's long spear in hand danced about, like several agile serpents soaring, fast and fierce, yet it didn't cause much disturbance in the air, repeatedly slamming against the Golden Armored Warrior number one.

Warrior number one held a huge combat saber in hand, its light fluttering and continuous, time and time again blocking the assaults of Li Yuan's long spear.

"His Spear Technique, amidst its unrelenting persistence, has gained an additional ferocity compared to two days ago, becoming even more unpredictable and fierce in attack," Warrior number one's eyes were focused, fully committed to defending against the attacks from Li Yuan's Spear Technique.

On the first day of sparring with Li Yuan, he, relying on his own advantage in Sword Technique and by drawing upon a more formidable power from the heaven and earth, combined with superior Physical Quality, was able to suppress Li Yuan easily with absolute strength and speed!

But as time passed...

The second day, the third day... especially after the fifth day, Warrior number one felt the drastic changes in Li Yuan's Spear Technique; it was no longer straightforward, becoming gradually more agile.

The attacks became increasingly bizarre.

"Previously, he was only focused on defense, trying to purely withstand and block my attacks," Warrior number one could sense clearly, "Now it seems, he is embarking on a new path with his Spear Technique."

"Hmm, the pointers I gave on the fourth day seem to have been quite helpful to him," Warrior number one thought to himself.

Although the change in Li Yuan's Spear Technique wasn't fully complete, a trend was already showing.

"I still need to push him harder," Warrior number one pondered in secret.

The three of them, as Golden Armored Warriors, were the final test's Gatekeepers, but not merely that.

They also undertook the task of 'actual combat sparring'.

Guarding the gate was not the goal; how to make the challenger stronger, how to help them break through the obstacles more quickly... that was their true purpose.

...

"Huff! Huff!"

Inside Li Yuan, the Perfect Star Vein operated, with over eleven thousand Life Stars suddenly shining brightly... their vigorous rotation also made Li Yuan's Spear Technique resonate more with the natural fluctuation of the world, and its might had greatly increased once again.

The spear like rolling stars, one move seamlessly connected to another, amid the continuous flow of his Spear Technique now erupted with furious energy, making its might even more astonishing.

Following another collision.

Boom! Li Yuan was suddenly forced to retreat, but Warrior number one did not pursue.

"Haha, thank you, Senior number one, for showing mercy," Li Yuan laughed heartily.

"Li Yuan, lad, your Spear Technique has changed since yesterday, the attack is stronger, and I almost have to go full force to suppress you," Golden Armored Warrior number one also sheathed his combat saber, expressing his sentiment.

"Hmm," Li Yuan smiled and nodded, feeling the other's restraint in power.

Except for the first day of their encounter when Golden Armored Warrior number one unleashed his full strength, allowing Li Yuan to experience his limit... every day thereafter, he only revealed strength that was just a bit stronger than Li Yuan's.

He was purely there to spar with him.

"Impressive."

"Haha, we can all see, Li Yuan, that even our big brother is having a tougher time defending against your Spear Technique."

"Such rapid progress, truly envious."

"Unlike us, having lived so long, there's scarcely been any change in our skills," the other two Golden Armored Warriors couldn't help but speak out.

Li Yuan couldn't help but laugh.

At their first meeting, he thought the three Golden Armored Warriors were dull, but after more contact, he felt differently; their wisdom seemed quite high, and they were very talkative.

They were like people who had been holding back for a long time, finally encountering someone and needing to vent thoroughly.

In addition to practicing his Spear Technique,

Li Yuan was also happy to interact with them.

"Li Yuan, I don't know if you're on the right path with your Spear Technique," Golden Armored Warrior number one said, "After all, I'm just a puppet, I can only give you some advice; the cultivation of your skills ultimately depends on your own comprehension."

"Even the great master only left the Map of Myriad Stars to provide you with some guidance, rather than telling you exactly how to walk each step," Warrior number one continued.

"Understood."

"But Senior was right that day, practicing the Spear Technique should follow my own heart," Li Yuan smiled and said.

Li Yuan's thoughts drifted back to the fourth day.

Since the first day, he spars with Golden Armored Warrior number one for a long time each day to test what he has learned... but the progress and gains on the first three days were not too significant.

Until the fourth day, after another round of sparring.

At that time, Warrior number one finally voiced his uncertainty: "Li Yuan, you have high Comprehension and fast skill advancement, but your Spear Technique seems too rigidly fixed on one path, too focused on defense, and too intent on making the Spear Technique conform to the so-called core mysteries of 'Defense' and 'Thickness' of the Earth Vein."

"But I wonder if your elders ever told you, the Earth Vein is not purely about defense."

"Any Law of the Great Dao encompasses everything, the Earth Vein contains many True Intents... when furious, it can burst like the stars, when continuous, it rolls like magma, as thick as the boundless earth, with endless dead silence, and also the vitality that breeds everything."

"And the Spear Technique should be more flexible and versatile, although you follow the Earth Vein towards the 'Law of Earth,' you shouldn't be so rigid."

"The spear is not a shield."

"If you truly love the path of defense so much, I think you could change weapons, like to a shield."

"Why not change to a shield?"

"Reaching the Fifth Stage Skill level, any weapon can fully display its power, but why do different experts choose different weapons? It's because of what they love in their hearts."

"The spear should lean towards offense," Warrior number one said quite seriously, "Of course, this is just my personal opinion, it might not be entirely correct, you can take it as a reference."

At that moment, Boom!

The words of Warrior number one.

Especially that phrase 'Why not change to a shield?', like a thunderclap in clear skies, instantly awakened Li Yuan, and also vaguely opened up countless thoughts in his heart.

Indeed, his Spear Technique.

It indeed had become a bit too rigid!

From the very beginning, learning the "Solid Rock Spear Technique," to the "Stellar Spear Technique," and then to the "Meaning of the Stellar," those Spear Techniques, more or less, emphasized a defensive core.

From the Spear Technique moves like "Solid Rock Pillar" and "Stellar Illumination," it could be seen, unknowingly, those Secret Manuals were also influencing Li Yuan's inner choices.

The secret manual guided him, and combined with Li Yuan's own comprehension, it led to extremely rapid progress, so much so that the first True Intent Killing Move he created, 'Stellar Whirlpool,' was biased towards defense.

All along, this path Li Yuan walked felt very normal.

But, was it correct?

"Why did I choose Spear Technique at the beginning, instead of the sword and shield that most powerful warriors would opt for?" At that time, Li Yuan suddenly recalled the original purpose of practicing the spear as a youth, "Wasn't it because I loved the spear's fluidity and carefreeness?"

"Even back in high school when I transitioned from boxing to spear, even before I encountered the 'Solid Rock Spear Technique,' the first time I creatied a similar move on my own, it was more biased towards offense with the 'Dragon Hidden in the Rock Chasm.'

The Earth Vein's Laws and the Great Dao have no fixed shapes; defense is not the absolute core.

But the core of Spear Technique must be offense.

"Why didn't I switch to a shield? Because my initial love was for the Spear Technique," Li Yuan realized at that moment.

Pursuing the path of defense is not wrong.

However, to blindly chase after an absolute defense in Spear Technique is to lose sight of the essence.

"When did I start thinking this way?"

"That's it!"

"From the time I entered the Fifth Stage Skill and began learning 'Solid Rock Spear Technique,' and later 'Stellar Spear Technique,' even up to 'Meaning of the Stellar,' each step reinforced this mindset," Li Yuan thought to himself. "Yet whether it was Teacher Li Yang, or Dean Hai, or even the principal, none of them ever persuaded me against it."

Li Yuan understood the reason.

These teachers and seniors might not be oblivious.

Especially Principal Fang Hai, who was on the threshold of the Law, could he be completely unaware?

But why did they not try to advise him?

Because his progress in skill was too rapid, to the point where not even top-tier geniuses like Dantai Feng could keep up... This made the elders hesitant to definitively say he was on the wrong path.

If it were the wrong path, how could Spear Technique have advanced so terrifyingly if it was not in accord with his inner self?

But in fact, it wasn't that this path completely suited Li Yuan; it was because his talent in Spear Technique and Earth Vein was too high, and this terrifying talent only manifested more and more as he progressed.

The Visualization Method of the Mind Spirit Divine Palace only strengthened his spiritual and willpower... but it couldn't change his comprehension.

"The Seven Star Civilization ultimately hasn't been engaged in Martial Arts Cultivation and Life Evolution for long; many things are still in their infancy. Just like with cultivation above the Fifth Stage Skill... many seniors dare not give a broad direction for fear of misguiding, and the rest is up to one's own discernment," Li Yuan pondered.

"Therefore, since I'm still improving rapidly, that's why the Principal, Bai Shan Semi-Divine, and others naturally let me practice on my own."

"Number One Fighter may not have the same level of skill realm as Principal Fang Hai, but he follows a Divine Being and has a much higher perspective. He carries no burden regarding me in his heart. Even though he saw my rapid progress, he felt something was off about my path and spoke out directly."

...

Therefore, from the fourth day after arriving at the Earth System Divine Being Inheritance Hall, Li Yuan completely awakened.

"The spear has no fixed form, nor does the Law have a constant shape," Li Yuan murmured. "Spear Technique should be more adept in offense, not just pure defense."

"The Law of the Great Dao encompasses everything and doesn't dictate one must follow the path of defense."

From that day on, Li Yuan truly changed.

He picked up the long spear once again.

He deliberately began to forget 'Stellar Spear Technique,' forget 'Meaning of the Stellar,' forget the many Second Rank and Third Rank secret manuals he learned in the 'Seven Star Civilization.'

Everything started with practicing the spear according to his own heart.

Just like in high school, after learning and mastering the basic spear moves, he trained entirely based on his own preferences... and then he fumbled upon the move 'Dragon Hidden in the Rock Chasm,' which propelled him into the Third Stage Skill.

The present Li Yuan.

His spiritual power grew stronger, he had higher compatibility with the Earth Vein, his mind underwent multiple transformations... but the earnest love for Spear Technique that began in his youth never changed.

"Observing the Myriad Stars Chart."

"Practice the spear!"

...

Today, after another sparring session with Number One Fighter.

Li Yuan then ate and drank his fill.

He had prepared these high-energy foods and water in his storage treasure well in advance before entering the Divine Palace ruins; he had an ample supply of them.

In reality, the majority of a Prime Warrior's energy comes from refining the Origin Power in nature; food and water are merely supplementary.

Moreover, the Hall of Inheritance provided 'nutritional food' so that the challenger wouldn't starve.

It's just that the provided nutritional food tasted very bad.

Then, Li Yuan returned to the enormous stone wall and began another observation and Spear Technique cultivation session

Whoosh, Whoosh, Whoosh~

The stars rolled like waves crashing against everything, bringing a sense of heaviness along with a hint of wildness and unrestrainedness, which dramatically increased the offensive might.

"This is the Spear Technique my heart yearns for," Li Yuan revealed a faint smile, growing increasingly joyous.

"In the past, I pursued the Mysteries of True Intent and stronger defense even more, but I somewhat lost sight of the true essence."

"The Mysteries of True Intent are fine, or the profound mysteries of the universe's motion for that matter, they should serve me, not the other way around."

...

While Li Yuan and Lin Lanyue were in deep cultivation at the core of the Relic Divine Palace.

Time passed day by day.

The outside world, however, was already in turmoil.

Within a war fortress of the Fierce Feather Star Realm, in a vast conference room, no less than ten figures gathered.

"Gentlemen, I have just arrived here," a deep voice spoke up. "How long has Li Yuan been in the Divine Palace ruins?"

He was a towering figure resembling a brown bear, donned in heavy metal armor, his hair unkempt, slightly disheveled, yet his overpowering aura made those nearby, like Yu Jinghai and others, feel somewhat suppressed.

He was none other than the Seven Star Civilization's greatest Prime Warrior of the present age, Lude Nef, from Feixing, who had more than one Flying Heaven Level Alien Race death on his hands.

Everyone turned to look at him, then exchanged glances with each other.

"Lude Nef," Wu Manong spoke slowly. "He's been inside for fourteen days... still no news, and we can't confirm whether he's alive or dead."