Chapter 168: The Machine Clan Spaceship (Part One)

Qin Ming cupped his hands to show that he understood.

He did not go to retrieve the Great Void Horizon Step. Instead, he made a circuit around the bookshelves, and soon grasped how the books were organized: by the ten fundamental laws of the universe.

There were only two slim volumes on time, and Qin Ming disregarded them without a second thought. Space was king and time supreme—not for nothing. It was far too early for him to delve into time; studying it now could easily unsettle his mind.

In the end, he stopped before the books on the Law of Wind. They covered introductory discussions, applications, secret arts, and the characteristics of the law at different levels, among other things.

“Notes on Domains!”

Qin Ming pulled out the book.

Perhaps because the Way of Domains was so fundamental, the introduction was brief, yet it cut straight to the heart of the matter. His eyes lit up, and he found himself absorbed in its pages.

Outside his body, the cosmic origin law of wind rippled and spread in delicate waves. Dream Butterfly, reclining as she read, knitted her brows slightly, but paid it no mind.

Before long, a domain appeared around Qin Ming.

A domain of wind. Within it, cool breezes stirred and gentle drafts eddied, with a hint of wildness beneath them.

Dream Butterfly’s frown deepened.

A little later, her expression eased, and she gave the faintest nod.

Half an hour passed before Dream Butterfly finally turned to look at Qin Ming.

It was the first time she had truly looked at him.

Her eyes were like a dream, like an illusion, as if they held another world within them—brilliant and many-colored, drawing the thoughts of all who gazed into them.

“Your comprehension is passable.”

Her voice rang only within three feet of her.

She could clearly sense that Qin Ming had gone from knowing nothing of domains to grasping one in an instant. Now he had reached the sixth level, and still he showed no sign of stopping. His domain continued to rise.

Seventh, eighth, ninth!

Qin Ming had comprehended the Domain of Wind all the way to the ninth level, reaching its peak.

Dream Butterfly nodded and returned to her book.

She had seen plenty of people attain the nine levels of a domain in half a day. If Qin Ming had not been her junior fellow disciple, she would not have spared him a second glance.

Qin Ming set the book down and closed his eyes, immersing himself once more in what he had learned.

After nearly half an hour, he opened his eyes, a smile rising unbidden to his face.

“This place really is a treasure trove!”

“Though I’ve comprehended the cosmic origin law of wind, working my way from nothing to the ninth level of a domain wouldn’t have been difficult—but it would have taken a great deal of time. Here, one book pointed out the crucial principles, and I reached the ninth level in a single stretch!”

“Exhilarating!”

He could not help saying the last word aloud.

“I once knew a genius who comprehended the Law of Wind and its nine levels of domain in a single hour. That same day, he spent another three hours comprehending the Law of Light and its nine levels of domain.”

Dream Butterfly’s voice drifted over, cool and even.

She remained half-reclined, book in hand.

“I stand corrected.” Qin Ming’s heart gave a jolt, and he bowed.

He did not doubt what she said. She had no reason to lie.

He also understood that she was cautioning him, lest he grow conceited.

He was not about to become conceited, but it was still important to show that he understood.

Still…

To comprehend the cosmic origin law of wind and its nine levels of domain in one hour, then grasp the Law of Light and its nine levels of domain in another three hours that same day?

That was hard to believe.

“Are there really geniuses like that in the world?” Qin Ming could not help asking.

“How vast is the universe? How far have you even traveled?” Dream Butterfly’s voice was cold. “Some special lifeforms are born with command of the laws, and can control domains with ease.”

“That’s truly astonishing,” Qin Ming said. “Second Senior Sister, is it better to comprehend as many laws as possible, or as few as possible?”

Dream Butterfly paused, then turned toward him and sat up straight. The moment Qin Ming saw her face, an indescribable allure flooded his mind, and his heart began to pound.

He was about to lower his head when her bearing changed completely. A sacred majesty radiated from her, so inviolable that it left no room for impure thoughts. He could only long to bow down before her in reverence.

“The World Lord realm is the best time to comprehend the laws,” Dream Butterfly said seriously. “The fewer you pursue, the faster you will advance. The more you pursue, the farther you may ultimately go.”

“What are the advantages and disadvantages?” Qin Ming pressed.

“With your talent—if you can suppress everyone of your generation, no, stand above all others for countless eras—then I would advise you to comprehend as many origin laws as you can. Otherwise, you would do better to specialize in space, while perhaps studying the Law of Wind as well,” Dream Butterfly said. “The more laws you comprehend, the more mental energy you expend, and the easier it is to become trapped in them, unable to escape. If you pursue many laws at the World Lord realm but fail to break through, you will eventually vanish into nothingness. Even if you attain immortality, your future will be long, but your growth will be limited. Cultivation is about making rapid progress. One or two or even three or four periods of stagnation are tolerable. But if it happens too often, your potential will be exhausted, and your life will be fixed in place. Specializing in one path can bring the same difficulties, of course, but they are far easier to overcome. Sometimes, only single-minded devotion can lead to achievement. Take too large a step, and you may stumble. And when you stumble, most often you fall into an abyss.”

With that, she reclined again and returned to her book.

Qin Ming cupped his hands in thanks.

But he was already weighing her words.

To ask was to show an attitude, and also to keep his options open.

He walked slowly, now and then pulling a book from the shelf. Once he had committed it to memory, he set it aside and chose another. He was quiet, and his footsteps lighter still.

A woman read; a man occasionally paused.

The great hall was filled with the fragrance of books, while outside, blood rain fell.

A strange atmosphere settled over the place.

“Senior Sister, I’m leaving.”

At last, having memorized the cultivation method for the Great Void Horizon Step, Qin Ming took his leave.

Dream Butterfly merely gave a slight nod.

Qin Ming logged off directly. It was the quickest way to leave; when he logged back in, he would appear in his villa in the Star Bay District on Black Dragon Mountain Island.

Above the Qin family castle on Earth, aboard the Qin Emperor, Qin Ming opened his eyes.

“This trip was worthwhile. But Second Senior Sister Dream Butterfly…”

He shook his head.

“Master!”

Little Fat popped out and landed on his shoulder. It looked like a real creature now, though in truth it was merely a peculiar projection. “While you were in the Virtual Universe, I scanned the whole of Earth and found a mechanical race spacecraft beneath the Bermuda Sea. Its level should be no lower than the Qin Emperor’s.”

“That spacecraft?” Qin Ming’s mind wandered for a moment as memories deep in his mind surfaced. His eyes flashed. “Little Fat, let’s go!”

“Yes, Master!”

The Qin Emperor soundlessly left the air above the castle. In the next instant, it was above the Bermuda Sea, then plunged beneath the waves.

“Master, this mechanical race spacecraft is twelve hundred meters long and completely intact. It has no intelligent system. According to my database, a spacecraft of this class should be the vehicle of an undying member of the mechanical race. Earth’s historical records suggest it has been here for a very long time. Since it was left behind, the only possibility is that its owner perished. The mechanical race are advanced intelligent lifeforms themselves; they can operate a spacecraft with only a tiny fraction of their own ability, so there would be no need for a separate intelligent system. Master, if there are no special defenses inside, we should be able to claim it!”

Little Fat was excited. “But if the passage to the core has been sealed, we definitely won’t be able to open it—not even if a World Lord came.”

“Then let’s give it a try.” Qin Ming rubbed his hands together.

“Master, you can’t go in yourself!” Little Fat stopped him, then suggested, “If there’s any defense system, your strength may not be enough to protect you. Better to have Little White carry an intelligent optical computer inside while I guide it remotely. That should minimize the danger.”

“Good idea.” With a thought, Qin Ming summoned the Moyun Vine that guarded him.

The Moyun Vine had already reached the ninth level of the Stellar rank and was close to breaking through.

It was Little White.

“Did you hear all that?”

Qin Ming patted one of its main vines.

“Yi-ya, yi-ya…”

The Moyun Vine replied.

“Go.”

He opened the hatch and sent it out.

The Moyun Vine instantly unfurled. Its thirty-six main vines were each dozens of kilometers long. A slight wave sent the sea surging.

One main vine wrapped around an optical computer and a chip Little Fat had prepared, then extended toward the mechanical race spacecraft.

“Master, the spacecraft’s outer door isn’t completely sealed. It can keep out ordinary Stellar-level powerhouses, but that’s all. There are some simple defenses inside, but they aren’t meant to stop intruders. They’re just basic isolation measures.”

“The main cabin door isn’t sealed either!”

“Master, we can go straight to the core control room!”

“Excellent!”

“Master, Little White has inserted the chip I prepared into the core. I can already connect to it… Master, there’s no resistance from the control system at all. It’s like a bride with the doors thrown wide open—wonderful!”

“Master, I’ve taken control of the spacecraft!”

Little Fat spoke rapidly.