Chapter 528 - 368: Sand of Space-Time (2)

He reached out again. This time, just as the three stones were about to blink, the slowed time caught their trajectory.

Ian’s fingertip finally touched one of them, but the sensation was very strange.

The sensation was not of a solid object, but more like a ball of cold, solidified time, creating an awkward sense of "displacement" in his mind.

It was as if his finger and the stone were not in the same time stream.

"This is... Sand of Space-Time," Ian muttered to himself, the memory of an ancient book he had once read surfacing in his mind.

Sand of Space-Time forms in places where the Rules of a world fluctuate violently, such as where two worlds collide or where large spatial Rifts have existed for a long time.

It contains pure space-time Rule Fragments and can aid in the comprehension of Time and Space Rules.

It is also a top-tier material for constructing High Tier Witchcraft and forging Witchcraft Tools. Typically, only small amounts can be generated after a world-level cataclysm.

He looked at the transparent stones in his hand, his eyes growing brighter.

The Profound Yellow World has a two-hundred-year history of Rifts. Countless spatial rifts have existed for a long time, causing violent fluctuations in the world’s Rules.

’It’s certainly reasonable that Sand of Space-Time could be produced here, but ordinary people wouldn’t be able to touch it at all.’

’These three are still too few. I can’t make anything significant with them.’

’Using them to enhance my Time and Space Rules would be an incredible waste.’

Ian placed the stones back in the box and looked at Wei Song.

"This is an important lead. Have that Superpower User lead the way to where he found the stones. Conduct a comprehensive survey of the surrounding one-hundred-kilometer radius."

"Also, issue a global announcement: anyone who finds similar transparent stones, regardless of size or quantity, can exchange them for ten times their volume in Source Crystals."

Wei Song was taken aback. "Ten times their volume in Source Crystals? That price..."

"Completely worth it." Ian was inwardly exhilarated. ’While Source Crystals are valuable, they aren’t that rare in the Profound Yellow World.’

He looked at his right hand, where the Power of five different Rules slowly swirled in his palm.

’If I collect enough Sand of Space-Time, maybe I can forge a true ’Space-Time Witchcraft Tool’.’

A flicker of anticipation crossed his eyes. In the Wizard World, Space-Time Witchcraft Tools were the stuff of legend.

With such a tool, whether clearing the pollution in the Estelle World, building a Wizard Tower in the future, or exploring the Void, he would have a tremendous advantage.

"Understood. I’ll make the arrangements immediately." Wei Song nodded firmly.

Ian closed the Crystal Box, carefully placing it in the deepest recesses of his Dimension Ring.

’First, I should bring my Time and Earth Rules to completion and continue to increase my strength.’

’Let’s begin.’

He rose and walked to the center of the secret chamber, took out the earthen-yellow Soul Gemstone, and piled several thousand Source Crystals in front of him.

Soul Gemstones could not only be used to create the control center for a Wizard Tower, but their pure essence could also be absorbed directly.

He sat down cross-legged, and his consciousness sank into the depths of his Sea of Spirit. A notification from his system panel appeared at the edge of his vision.

[Do you wish to absorb the Level Four Soul Gem?]

’Yes.’ With a thought from Ian, the Soul Gemstone instantly melted.

It transformed into a stream of earthen-yellow light that sank into his brow.

His Sea of Spirit shuddered violently!

The earthen-yellow light, like a rushing river, poured frantically into the outermost Star Orbit.

The progress bar for his Earth Rule, at 75%, began to jump rapidly: 76%, 78%, 82%...

With each jump, a new layer of patterns appeared on the surface of the Blazing Star Core, its aura growing more profound, stable, and indestructible.

At the same time, Ian began to guide the Energy from the Source Crystals.

Thousands of Source Crystals lit up simultaneously, transforming into golden filaments of light that poured into his body.

The majority flowed into the Blazing Star Core, driving the evolution of his Rules.

A smaller portion flowed toward the Time Orbit. The filaments of light wrapped around it, and the transparent orbit began to spin faster.

Its rotation grew faster and more unstable—at times as swift as lightning, at others as slow as a snail.

The surrounding air began to distort, and the scene within the secret chamber blurred into afterimages.

Wei Song retreated to the edge of the secret chamber, raising a layer of his Domain to protect himself.

In a ten-meter radius around Ian, the flow of time had spun completely out of control.

A small flying insect appeared from nowhere and strayed into the area. It had just flapped its wings once when its movements suddenly accelerated a hundredfold.

It was as if a fast-forward button had been pressed, its body completing an entire life cycle in a tenth of a second.

It laid eggs, hatched, grew, mated, and aged, then turned into a puff of fine powder that drifted down from the air.

Wei Song stared at the area, secretly astonished.

’Is this the anomaly that occurs during a Time Rule breakthrough? If a person had entered just now...’

Just then, he sensed Li Hao hurrying over with several high-ranking officials.

"General Wei, the fluctuations inside—" Before Li Hao could finish, Wei Song raised a hand to stop him.

"The Guardian is deep in cultivation."

Wei Song stood guard before the secret chamber door, his voice calm. "It is not a convenient time to see him. Perhaps another time."

Li Hao opened his mouth, but ultimately sighed and waved for the people behind him to fall back.

He didn’t leave, however. Instead, he stood at the end of the hallway, gazing from afar at the tightly shut metal door, from which emanated an unsettling temporal fluctuation.

The days passed, and the anomaly within the secret chamber grew increasingly pronounced.

In a hundred-meter radius with Ian at its center, the flow of time had become completely chaotic.

Sometimes an hour would pass outside while only a minute went by inside; other times, a day would pass inside while only ten minutes elapsed outside.

The Gravity Rule automatically reinforced the surrounding area, making the spatial structure exceptionally stable.

Even the air became as viscous as glue, and any ordinary creature that entered would be instantly "frozen" in place.

Wei Song stood guard outside the door every day, absorbing the Rule Fluctuations that seeped from the door’s seams. Though faint, they were of immense help to him.

「Late at night on the fifteenth day.」

The golden light inside the secret chamber suddenly began to retract, and all the chaotic temporal fluctuations subsided in the same instant.

Wei Song’s eyes snapped open, and he looked toward the door of the secret chamber.

The heavy alloy door was slowly opening inward, and Ian emerged from within.

Deep within his pupils, the five Star Orbits had completely merged, forming a golden halo that orbited the central Blazing Star Core, exuding an ineffable majesty.

"Did you succeed?" Wei Song asked.

Ian nodded, his expression relaxed as text quietly appeared at the edge of his vision.

[Time Rule: 100%] [Earth Rule: 100%]

The Rules had condensed into one, and the Blazing Star Core had entered a stable growth period. The next stage was to continuously nurture the Star Core and advance toward the path of the Radiant Moon.

Ian felt the surging Power within him; he was at least fifty percent stronger than before.

After the Earth Rule reached Perfection, a pattern resembling rock strata had formed on the surface of the Blazing Star Core, raising his defenses to a whole new level.

Now, even if he stood still and allowed a Level Four Initial Stage Mutant Beast to attack with its full might, it probably couldn’t even penetrate that new layer.

Ian raised his head, looking toward the depths of the Kunlun Mountain Range where the Rift was still slowly rotating.

’I won’t need it this time. I just need to lock onto the coordinates of the Estelle World, then I can tear space open and descend.’

’When I return, it will be time to go back to the Wizard World,’ Ian thought, a fervent glint in his eyes.

’The pollution in that world should be mostly cleared by now, and I should be able to get my hands on the knowledge of Star Realm Refined Gold and Floating Cities.’

’At that point, carrying precious resources from two worlds, I’ll be able to establish a strong foothold with maximum speed.’

He raised his hand and swiped. RIIIP! Space tore open before him like a bolt of cloth.

On the other side of the tear, a dim, gray sky was faintly visible, along with a pervasive, dark purple mist.

Ian took a step forward, and his figure vanished into the tear.

The tear slowly closed behind him, leaving not a single trace.

Outside, Li Hao and the others were still waiting. When he saw Wei Song emerge, he hurried to meet him.

"General Wei, the Guardian... he..."

Wei Song’s tone was regretful. "The Guardian has a new mission and is unable to meet with you for the time being."

"However, he did leave new instructions. The collection of global resources and the operation of the alliance are now in your hands."

Li Hao was stunned for a moment, then nodded firmly. "Understood!"

He knew there was no need to ask too many questions about certain matters. Doing his part was enough.