Swallowed Star: Primordial Artifact

Chapter 302 Lord of the Spirit Rhinoceros
Just as Jiang Ye was anxiously searching for the Time Pupa inside the mountain, wondering when it would fully mature, he realized that he was in a state of great distress.

Above the golden river suspended below the mountain peak, ripples suddenly spread across the space.

Whoosh!
A figure formed from glittering starlight slowly emerged—this figure was over a hundred meters tall, surrounded by bands of light like the Milky Way, and seven pairs of translucent wings spread out like nebulae, each flap stirring up tiny fragments of spacetime. His face had a liquid metallic texture, and his features shifted and changed, sometimes becoming sharp angles, sometimes soft curves, defying categorization by any racial characteristics known to humankind.

"Five thousand epochs have passed since I was ordered by my master to guard this place. In the most recent epoch, the Time Cocoon has taken shape and its power has grown considerably. At the same time, several voids around the Morning Sand Starfield have been frequently generating spatial vortexes, and several groups of alien races have managed to break in, but I have dealt with them all one by one." The figure murmured to himself, his voice seemingly coming from the distant void, carrying an ethereal and mysterious charm.

"Be careful, come and sweep through once a day."

"Kill all intruders. We must not let the news get out. Although most powerful beings wouldn't recognize the Time Cocoon even if they saw it, if they notice something amiss and the news leaks out, it will likely bring endless trouble to our master. This is, after all, an extraterrestrial battlefield. According to the rules, beings above the Universe Venerable level are not allowed to enter. But our master has said that in the face of strength, any rules are meaningless. The temptation of being able to easily obtain a Primal Treasure is absolutely irresistible to any Universe Venerable."

"This Time Cocoon will surely be my master's. Once you successfully refine it, its survivability and combat strength will be greatly enhanced. At that time, even burning my divine body will not be a problem. Perhaps my master will even reward me with one or two precious treasures when he is in a good mood!"

According to his established pattern of sweeping, he would first use the 100 wormholes in this core area to travel to 100 different locations, using his powerful divine abilities to explore each one, and then carefully examine the situation of the cone-shaped mountain. Once all the explorations were completed, if any intruders were found, he would mercilessly annihilate them.

"Let's first see if any unlucky guys have broken in, then let's check if the Time Cocoon has fully formed."

After saying that, the figure, whose body was shimmering with starlight, flew straight towards the suspended cone-shaped mountain peak.

……

Inside the suspended cone-shaped mountain, Jiang Ye was intently gazing at the Time Cocoon before him.

This primordial treasure's core material, the Light Cocoon, whose value rivals that of a low-grade treasure, still exhibits the external manifestations of the three laws of wind, light, and lightning on its surface. The surrounding spatial cracks are constantly being created and destroyed like spider silk, clearly indicating that it has not yet truly reached its mature state.

"When will it finally take shape?" Jiang Ye asked anxiously.

Give up? Impossible.

But if they wait here idly, they worry that it will only be a waste of time. Although this time pupa has already taken shape, according to estimates, it may take shape within this thousand years, or it may take shape immediately, or it may take a thousand years.

"If it's truly for this one precious material, I wouldn't mind waiting here for a thousand years. I can use this time flow to hone my secret technique," Jiang Ye thought to himself. "However, King Lin Yuan has given me a pleasant surprise..."

……

Within the inner world, King Lin Yuan stood respectfully before him.

He held a crystal ball that emitted a deep blue light in both hands. The crystal ball seemed to contain a deep ocean, its light flowing and mysterious, captivating all who beheld it.

"What is this?"

Jiang Ye's gaze fell on the crystal ball, and he asked a question.

"Master, this is a Spirit Pearl, a rare treasure I obtained by chance when I was a Realm Lord. Since it recognized me as its master, it has remained within my soul. When I was a Realm Lord, it allowed my consciousness to comprehend the laws of the universe hundreds of times faster than usual. Unfortunately, it was only effective against the fundamental law of water. However, upon reaching Immortality, I discovered that it also possesses a strong soul defense function. It can be said that it played a significant role in my becoming a Limitless Soul Master at the King level," King Lin Yuan explained respectfully.

"Hmm!" Jiang Ye carefully examined the crystal ball, and after a moment of thought, said, "Since it is so important to you, you can keep it for now. When the time is right, I will find a way to upgrade and modify this spirit orb for you. I guarantee that its power will be increased to a higher level."

"Thank you, Master! However..." King Lin Yuan was moved to tears, but hesitated before he could finish speaking.

"But what? Speak quickly!" Jiang Ye said impatiently.

King Lin Yuan hurriedly prostrated himself on the ground, his forehead pressed against the earth, and explained in a panic, "Master, to tell you the truth, the reason I plotted against you was because of this treasure. This spirit pearl is my most important treasure; all my achievements today are thanks to it. Back in the Star Tower, when you appeared near me, it resonated with you. I was momentarily blinded by greed, which is why I committed such a heinous act. I beg your forgiveness, Master!"

"Oh?" Upon hearing this, Jiang Ye's heart stirred, and he reached out and picked up the spirit pearl from Lin Yuan Wang's hand, examining it carefully.

As soon as the spirit pearl approached Jiang Ye, its inner blue light rapidly swirled, and an endless aura of the water's primordial laws spread out.

At the same time, a strange fluctuation suddenly emanated from Jiang Ye's body, echoing the spirit pearl.

With a thought, a jet-black longsword instantly appeared in Jiang Ye's hand. The sword began to hum and vibrate, as if responding to the summons of the Spirit Pearl.

This jet-black longsword is the very same sword-shaped item that the King of Tianyi Kingdom bestowed upon Jiang Ye—the Mo Yuan Sword.

Jiang Ye initially intended to use it as his primary weapon, but after the Qiankun Cauldron investigated it, he learned that it was made from the Lingxi Sacred Crystal secreted by a special life form born from the primordial universe—Lingxi. Its true purpose was to open the Lingxi Divine Kingdom.

At the time, Jiang Ye's access was limited, and he couldn't find any relevant information. Later, he was bestowed the Devouring Abyss Sword by the Lord of Chaos City, so he put the Ink Abyss Sword aside and gradually forgot about its existence.

Under the light of the spiritual pearl, the black sword that had been trembling quietly—the Mo Yuan Sword—suddenly emitted a loud hum.

Then, a shocking scene unfolded. Cracks began to appear on the blade of the Mo Yuan Sword, spreading rapidly until they covered the entire blade in the blink of an eye. With a crisp shattering sound, the Mo Yuan Sword shattered, turning into countless tiny black fragments scattered across the ground.

However, amidst the debris, a crystal key emitting a soft yellow light slowly emerged.

This yellow crystal key has an antique design and is engraved with exquisite patterns that resemble some kind of ancient script, appearing and disappearing under the light.

"What... what's going on?" Jiang Ye muttered to himself, his eyes fixed on the yellow crystal key, his heart filled with shock.

It should be noted that the strength of the material used in the Mo Yuan Sword was praised even by the King of Tianyi Kingdom.

King Lin Yuan was equally shocked by the turn of events; he clearly hadn't expected such a situation to occur.

After a long while, he came to his senses and said cautiously, "Master, I... I have never seen anything like this before. This crystal ball has existed in my soul ever since I recognized it as my master, and this has never happened before."

Jiang Ye nodded slightly, lost in thought. He recalled the initial investigation of the Qiankun Cauldron; the Mo Yuan Sword was forged from the Spirit Rhinoceros Sacred Crystal secreted within the Spirit Rhinoceros's body, and was used to open the Spirit Rhinoceros Divine Kingdom.

Could it be that this suddenly appearing yellow crystal key is the real key to unlocking the Spirit Rhinoceros Divine Kingdom? And the previous Ink Abyss Sword was merely a cover for this key?

"What a wondrous crystal. Let me examine it with my mental power." Jiang Ye's mental power seeped into the yellow crystal key like a gentle stream, and in an instant, everything around him became illusory and hazy. His consciousness seemed to detach from his body, placing him in a chaotic, undeveloped void. In the distance, the faint sound of ancient bells could be heard, deep and resonant, each note seeming to strike the depths of his soul.

In the void, countless golden runes slowly emerged, moving and intertwining in the air like living things, forming a series of grand and mysterious patterns.

In the image, a strange creature resembling a rhinoceros but radiating brilliant light roams freely in the vast universe.

With each step it takes, it opens up a new space; with each roar it makes the stars tremble.

“Lingxi!” Although it was Jiang Ye’s first time seeing this creature, for some reason, he blurted out its name.

As the name "Lingxi" was uttered, Jiang Ye's consciousness space trembled violently. Golden runes transformed into streams of light and entered his sea of ​​consciousness, unleashing a deluge of memories like a burst dam—

In the vast, empty void, a shimmering liquid crystal drifted in the chaotic energy currents.

After countless years of weathering, this crystal began to gradually transform, slowly coalescing into a rhinoceros horn and limbs...

Golden runes swirled rapidly in Jiang Ye's sea of ​​consciousness, and Lingxi's legendary life flashed before his eyes like a magnificent historical scroll.

Suddenly, a deep and majestic voice echoed in Jiang Ye's mind, carrying endless vicissitudes and weight.

"I, the Lord of the Spirit Rhinoceros, have no race. Since the birth of the universe, I have been alone. Those who possess the Spirit Rhinoceros Key must travel to the Spirit Rhinoceros Divine Kingdom. If their talent, aptitude, and abilities match, they may receive my inheritance. The cosmic coordinates of the Spirit Rhinoceros Divine Kingdom are..."

“Special life form, Lord of the Spirit! Inheritance…” Jiang Ye covered his throbbing head, silently reciting these key pieces of information.

A simple message.

This simple message made Jiang Ye instantly realize that the Spirit Key was actually a key treasure for unlocking the inheritance of a universe master.

"The Lord of the Spirit Rhinoceros?" Jiang Ye was full of doubt, and immediately connected his consciousness to the virtual universe. Unlike when he first obtained the Mo Yuan Sword, he now had extremely high authority in the virtual universe, and could easily investigate many secrets of the universe.

……

In the virtual universe.

Jiang Ye sat at his desk, his eyes fixed on the laptop screen, and quickly began searching for "Lord of the Spirit Rhinoceros".

brush.

A single entry appeared on the screen instantly, and that was the only one.

"Hmm?" Jiang Ye quickly clicked to check.

Lord of the Spirits: A very, very ancient cosmic lord.

Born in the early stages of the universe, possessing unparalleled talent, it comprehended the powerful fundamental laws of spacetime over countless years, advancing to the rank of Universe Lord. It was capable of cultivating a special Law Orb, enhancing the efficiency of its cultivation and comprehension of laws. It has now perished!
"Ah!" Jiang Ye looked at the simple message and was shocked.

Jiang Ye continued to peruse relevant materials, trying to find out the reason for the fall of the Lord of the Spirit Rhinoceros. However, even among the human race, there was no clear record of this.

Some accounts say that in pursuit of a breakthrough to a higher realm, he ventured into the unknown reaches of the universe, never to return; others speculate that he was severely wounded in an epic battle against other powerful cosmic lords, ultimately perishing. However, neither account can be definitively confirmed, adding to the mystique surrounding the Lord of the Spiritual Rhinoceros.

"Such a powerful super expert has actually fallen." Jiang Ye sighed inwardly.

The extraordinary and unparalleled talents that special life forms born in the early universe must possess!

"Even if one is a master of the universe, so what?" Jiang Ye murmured to himself. "Even the strongest in the universe, if they were to risk a terrible price to kill a master of the universe, most of them would probably be doomed. Unless they are beings like the 'Lord of the Nine Netherworlds' or the 'Lord of Chaos City' who possess heaven-defying abilities."

However, this is only applicable to certain special occasions.

The Lord of Chaos City was known as invincible in the initial universe.

The Lord of the Nine Netherworlds is considered invincible in the Nine Netherworld Sea.

But in this vast universe, where is there true invincibility? And what immortal being can truly be immortal? Before the ironclad law of reincarnation, unless one can transcend it, no one can escape this destined fate of falling.

……

Within the Three-Colored Abyss
Upon regaining his consciousness, Jiang Ye sighed, "When luck comes, you can't stop it. We haven't even left the Ancestral God Sect yet, and now we have the inheritance of a Universe Lord."

Jiang Ye was well aware that the inheritance of a universe master must contain astonishing wealth and opportunities, and there should be at least a few supreme treasures.

Just thinking about it made Jiang Ye's heart race.

Jiang Ye turned his gaze back to the Time Chrysalis, which was not yet fully formed. "Perhaps I could go to the Spirit Rhinoceros Divine Kingdom and arrange for a soul servant to keep an eye on it here."

……

Just as Jiang Ye was lost in thought, his heart filled with hesitation, the towering figure of the alien race, formed from the glittering starlight, was rapidly approaching the cone-shaped mountain. With a flash, it flew straight into one of the hundred caves in the cone-shaped mountain. This cave was winding and deep, stretching for hundreds of kilometers, its interior dark and gloomy, filled with a repressive atmosphere.

Upon seeing this, the alien powerhouse instantly shrank his divine body and disappeared into the cave like a streak of light.

The seven pairs of semi-transparent wings behind him trembled slightly, each flap creating ripples in the space, and he sped towards the depths of the cave at an extremely fast speed.

(End of this chapter)