September 23rd
After leaving the elite training camp, Han Jue made his first stop at Ruin No. 12, where he seized the Black Dragon Mountain X81 spacecraft and its three Silverium Guards before returning to Jiangnan Base City.
It was only then that Han Hesheng learned his brother had entered unknown ruins and had been out of contact for several days. The news struck him like a physical blow, worry immediately etching itself across his features.
But before mounting a rescue operation, Han Jue had one critical task to complete.
"Rimuru, can you identify the source of my father's injuries?" Han Jue asked mentally, his consciousness reaching toward the AI companion residing in his optical brain.
Rimuru's awareness swept over Han Hesheng with clinical precision, analyzing cellular damage and residual energy patterns with the efficiency only a sophisticated artificial intelligence could manage.
"It appears he was caught in the peripheral effects of a Planetary-level battle," Rimuru reported after his brief examination. "He sustained some internal injuries, but nothing life-threatening. The Blue Heart Dew in that collection of miscellaneous resources is a Planetary-level medicinal item that can rapidly heal injuries of Planetary level or below."
Han Jue rummaged through the World Ring's contents, quickly locating the Blue Heart Dew Rimuru had indicated.
The substance resembled pale blue liquid, almost identical to water in its transparency. When Han Hesheng consumed it, he felt his injuries healing almost instantaneously, vitality flooding back through his system as damaged tissue regenerated at visible speeds.
"Father, keep these Spirits of Plants and Trees," Han Jue instructed, producing several precious cultivation resources from his storage. "Use them to reach Planetary level as quickly as possible. The upcoming battle will require every warrior of that caliber we can muster."
"Little Jue, you..." Han Hesheng began, his voice thick with emotion and unspoken concerns.
Before his father could articulate his worries, Han Jue's figure blurred and vanished from sight, leaving only disturbed air currents in his wake.
Han Hesheng stood alone in the empty room, helpless resignation crossing his weathered features as he shook his head slowly.
The child has truly grown up, he thought with a mixture of pride and melancholy. When did he become strong enough that I'm the one who needs protection?
Now that he knew the Bronze City's location, finding his uncle became considerably simpler.
"This was likely a cargo transport vessel initially, then heavily modified into its current configuration," Rimuru concluded after analyzing the structure remotely through Han Jue's enhanced perception. "It's running entirely on automated systems. The strongest defensive mechanisms are only capable of threatening Planetary Level Four or Five warriors at most."
Han Jue nodded, processing this assessment.
According to Rimuru's evaluation, the ruins probably didn't contain anything particularly valuable, at most, a few treasures that could benefit Planetary-level warriors. But for Earth's current situation, that represented considerable wealth. Resources that would be considered mundane in the wider universe were priceless here on this isolated world.
Without hesitation, Han Jue began violently cracking the ruins' outer defenses!
Rimuru seized control of the intelligent systems with contemptuous ease, and the lethal mechanisms ceased their deadly patterns instantly. As Han Jue penetrated deeper into the Bronze City's depths, he discovered five bodies in a corner chamber, the remains of the warriors who'd ventured inside, along with Han Hechang, wedged into a defensive position against the wall.
Han Hechang had successfully evaded the Planetary-level mechanical guards through skill and experience, avoiding venturing too deep into the most dangerous sections. As a result, though seriously injured, his wounds weren't life-threatening.
After rescuing his uncle and administering healing resources, Han Jue systematically emptied the ruins of everything valuable. He handed the collected materials to Han Hechang to distribute as he saw fit, Han Jue himself had no use for such relatively low-level items given what Rimuru's inheritance had already provided.
"Little Jue, what exactly is your current strength?" Han Hechang asked, confusion and wonder evident in his voice as he observed his nephew's casual display of overwhelming power.
"Sufficient to defeat Thunder God in single combat," Han Jue replied after brief consideration, his tone matter-of-fact despite the stunning declaration.
Speechless with shock, Han Hechang could only obediently follow Han Jue back to Jiangnan Base City, his mind still struggling to reconcile the young warrior before him with the nephew he'd known.
With Han Jue's assistance and the concentrated resources he provided, both brothers, Han Hechang and Han Hesheng, successfully broke through to Planetary level in just one day of intensive cultivation. The transformation qualified them to participate in the upcoming war against the monsters, adding two more critically powerful warriors to humanity's forces.
Over the following days, Han Jue systematically examined the complete legacy left by the Lord of the Ice Wasteland.
The inheritance could be divided into two primary categories: Secret Techniques and Law Comprehension.
From this vast repository of knowledge, Rimuru carefully selected several disciplines most suitable for Han Jue's current development stage and natural talents:
"Myriad Avatars,""Ice Wasteland Sword Technique - Foundation,""Absolute Original Heart," and "Snow Wind."
"Myriad Avatars" was a profound martial art focused on comprehending the fundamental Origin of Space, divided into five distinct levels.
The first level, Three Avatars, corresponded to barely crossing the threshold of spatial law comprehension!
The second level: Ten Avatars!
The third level: One Hundred Avatars. Some weaker Realm Masters only reached this level of spatial law understanding during their entire lives!
The fourth level: One Thousand Avatars!
The fifth level: Ten Thousand Avatars!
Beyond ten thousand avatars lay teleportation, a realm even the Lord of the Ice Wasteland had never achieved despite his considerable talents and extensive lifespan.
The technique possessed another remarkable feature: it could incorporate the fundamental Origin of Water, allowing the avatars to persist longer and even possess a degree of autonomous combat capability! Of course, this synergy required exceptional comprehension of both law systems working in perfect harmony.
"Ice Wasteland Sword Technique - Foundation," the Ice Wasteland Realm Master's renowned blade art. Even its foundational forms involved extremely high power amplification factors, allowing warriors to unleash their physical potential completely while providing significant assistance to Han Jue's self-created sword techniques.
"Absolute Original Heart," a secret method of soul defense perfectly suited to Han Jue's personality and mental cultivation. Its core philosophy could be summarized in two words: Self!
This technique divided into four stages: Entry, Proficiency, Mastery, and Perfection. Upon reaching the Mastery level, practitioners became immune to soul attacks from Realm Master-level opponents. At Perfection, immunity extended to some Immortal-level soul attacks!
Long ago, the Lord of the Ice Wasteland had cultivated this secret technique to Perfection. Combined with the Ice Wasteland Sword in hand, even weaker Immortals might not have been his match in direct combat. Unfortunately, he'd been nearing the twilight of his lifespan by then, perishing before even entering the Primordial Secret Realm despite his formidable abilities.
Anyone who mastered this technique would find Han Jue essentially unbeatable in battles between geniuses of the same generation. No mental attacks would threaten him; no illusions could trap his consciousness.
"Snow Wind," created by the Lord of the Ice Wasteland himself, was a comprehensive manual studying the profound essence of the fundamental Origin of Water.
He'd written this text near the end of his life, condensing millennia of accumulated understanding. If one could fully comprehend its depths, they would stand at the threshold of mastering the complete Origin of Water and achieving Immortality.
It was only after engaging deeply with this manual that Han Jue fully understood the changes that had occurred when his Six Eyes mutated upon reaching Planetary level.
First, the Six Eyes had fundamentally transformed Han Jue's genetic multiplier, elevating it to triple genetic level! He'd become exponentially more attuned to both the fundamental Origins of Water and Space!
This transformation was the primary reason he hadn't reached Stellar level directly after consuming the Heaven's End Ice Crystal Fruit despite its immense contained energy. Triple genetic multipliers required significantly more resources for advancement, the energy demands increased geometrically with each level.
The Six Eyes' mutation could continuously increase his genetic multiplier, something Han Jue hadn't anticipated when he'd first awakened the ability. Perhaps one could imagine what capabilities the Six Eyes might manifest in the future? Would the technique of creating true clones even become possible? With the Six Eyes, Han Jue would never need to abandon his original body to possess another being. After all, his current form appeared no less gifted than some naturally exceptional species in the universe.
It seemed this mutated Six Eyes was far more powerful than Han Jue had initially imagined, and with each advancement, its capabilities continued expanding beyond prediction.
Second, perhaps due to the Heaven's End Ice Crystal Fruit's profound properties, the Six Eyes had gained the ability to directly observe the fundamental laws governing the Origin of Water in the universe itself. This elevated Han Jue's innate talent for water-based comprehension to a level surpassing even those considered "darlings of the law", natural geniuses born with extraordinary affinity.
Looking at the countless glowing lines now visible in his enhanced vision, geometric patterns representing water's fundamental operations throughout reality, Han Jue smiled with helpless resignation. Perhaps he'd need an eyepatch someday to appear normal?
Fortunately, he could control the perception freely, activating and deactivating it at will.
September 29th
Luo Feng successfully mastered the third stage of the Nine-Layer Thunder Blade, approximately six months ahead of schedule compared to the original timeline. Upon completion, he received his promised rewards from Han Jue: a supply of Dragon Blood and the Sky Shuttle.
Hong also rewarded Luo Feng's achievement with an additional portion of Dragon Blood. After utilizing both supplies completely, Luo Feng's physical fitness reached junior War God level, while his psychic power rose to high-level War God equivalency, effectively making him an invincible War God by Earth's current standards.
When Luo Feng excitedly asked Han Jue about his future training plans, eager to continue his rapid development, Han Jue simply transported him directly into Ruin No. 9 without further explanation.
He probably wouldn't emerge for at least a year or two, but the gains would be worth the isolation.
September 30th
Thunder God summoned Mo Henderson and the other Speakers for what he'd described as an "important evaluation."
What followed was a systematic demonstration of power.
Han Jue challenged and defeated them all in turn, his victories decisive enough to leave no room for dispute or resentment. He officially secured his position as Earth's Third Speaker through undeniable martial superiority!
Of course, Thunder God unleashed his full might during their personal duel, employing every technique and strategy in his considerable arsenal. Despite his planetary-level strength and decades of combat experience, he still failed to overcome Han Jue's defenses or land a decisive blow.
Mo Henderson and the other challengers witnessed this demonstration firsthand, their expressions growing increasingly grave as they recognized the vast gulf separating them from this sixteen-year-old prodigy. They secretly resolved to never provoke Han Jue, challenging someone so overwhelmingly superior would be suicidal foolishness.
October 1st
The War God Palace convened an emergency assembly in the virtual conference space.
Han Jue attended in his capacity as the newly appointed Third Speaker, taking his position among Earth's leadership for the first time.
Hong led the proceedings, his commanding presence filling the digital chamber. After brief formalities and announcements, he delivered the declaration that would change everything:
Humanity would launch a counteroffensive against the monster populations.
October 8th
Inside the War God Palace's primary command center, Earth's most powerful warriors gathered in person rather than through virtual projection. The gravity of what was about to commence demanded physical presence.
"How are your preparations?" Hong asked, his voice carrying the weight of command despite its conversational volume. The black-clad warrior's crew-cut hair and intense gaze swept across the assembled leaders.
"We're ready," replied the representatives of the major powers in rapid succession, their voices carrying determination and barely suppressed anticipation. "We can begin the war at any moment!"
"Excellent!"
Hong's fist slammed against the conference table with explosive force, the sound echoing like a starting gun.
"The counteroffensive begins now!"
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