Mission completion reward: 1,000,000 points.
Additional reward: 100,000,000 points.
Both rewards have been distributed.
Evaluation: His Highness Han Jue performed exceptionally well, demonstrating immense strength. He damaged nineteen percent of a high-level Immortal King's Divine Body and, working alongside the Guard Leader, held three Immortal Kings in check until reinforcements arrived. He deserves the highest reward.
"Hiss! Senior Sister, slow down!"
Inside the Gilded Temple on the Moon, Venerable Lianyi was treating Han Jue's wounds. Her hands moved with clinical precision, each motion sending jolts of pain through his battered body.
"Your bones are completely shattered, your meridians severed," Venerable Lianyi said coldly, her expression impassive. "From a cellular perspective, you're already dead. If I had to quantify the damage you sustained in terms of energy expenditure, it would be equivalent to the resources needed to cultivate both the fourth and fifth levels of the Ice Peak Nine Hells Body."
"Isn't there a solution?" Han Jue asked helplessly, wincing as another wave of healing energy coursed through him.
If he hadn't pushed himself to the absolute limit, he would have died on that battlefield.
Venerable Lianyi shook her head slightly. "The Water and Sky Holy Flame is powerful, but it cannot match your genetic multiplier and power amplitude in the long term."
"When you truly reach Immortality, the flame's effectiveness will be eliminated entirely," she continued. "After that, your power amplitude, over four thousand times, will become your primary combat method. When you reach Immortality, your physical amplitude will extend to your entire Divine Body."
After a moment's pause, she added, "When the Lord of Sky Eclipse Palace departed, he mentioned that you helped him capture a supreme treasure. As a reward, he gave you a precious treasure."
"What treasure?" Han Jue asked with interest, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten.
"A domain-class treasure called the Molten Flame Pool."
Venerable Lianyi raised her hand, and a palm-sized pool of water materialized above her palm. The liquid within shimmered with an intense crimson glow, radiating waves of scorching heat.
Han Jue wasn't surprised that treasures could be resized at will, such was their nature.
Venerable Lianyi continued, "The Lord of Sky Eclipse Palace said this treasure appears capable of fusing with special flames, potentially elevating it to a top-tier treasure. I'm curious whether your Water and Sky Holy Flame can integrate with it."
Han Jue accepted the Molten Flame Pool, bound it as his master, and began experimenting immediately. The pool, when fully deployed, encompassed a vast expanse of crimson water spanning a million kilometers in diameter. The liquid was actually composed of countless compressed flames, their combined power sufficient to instantly incinerate a peak-level Immortal Marquis and pose a serious threat even to an Immortal King.
This was undoubtedly a valuable domain-type treasure, designed primarily for trapping and attacking enemies. Though fire-attributed, once Han Jue achieved World Master level and gained comprehension of all ten fundamental laws, its elemental restrictions would become irrelevant.
Law Domain!
With a thought, Han Jue attempted to merge his domain with that of the Molten Flame Pool. While the compatibility between his Water Domain and the pool wasn't naturally high, the integration succeeded, albeit with some difficulty.
"This creates a spatial blockade comparable to a peak-level Immortal King," Venerable Lianyi observed after sensing the result. "Unless someone has reached the King's limit, they won't be able to break free. That's more than sufficient for your current needs."
"Now, try adding the Water and Sky Holy Flame."
Han Jue nodded. The Water and Sky Holy Flame separated from his body and, under his meticulous control, merged into the Molten Flame Pool, replacing the ordinary flames entirely.
The transformation was immediate and dramatic.
Han Jue could clearly feel the Molten Flame Pool's power increase by more than tenfold. Its primary attribute shifted from fire to water, the originally crimson pool turning a deep, oceanic blue that resembled actual water rather than compressed flames.
"Excellent, a top-tier domain treasure," Venerable Lianyi said with satisfaction, nodding her approval. "I'm confident that even an ordinary Immortal King couldn't withstand the burning power of your Molten Flame Pool now. At minimum, it would require a peak Immortal King to endure it. As for its trapping capability, even an Invincible King might struggle to break free easily."
"But because of this integration, I can no longer use the Water and Sky Holy Flame to enhance my strength directly," Han Jue said with concern, noting the trade-off.
"A mere hundred thousand times a World Master's power, what's there to worry about losing?" Venerable Lianyi said dismissively. "You're already covered in precious treasures, plus you have eight Origin Fire Seeds integrated within your body. If you can completely merge the power of those eight Origin Fire Seeds into your physical form, imagine how powerful you'll become."
"Integrate them into my body?" Han Jue was stunned. He had considered using their power but never thought of complete integration.
"The adaptability of the Ice Peak Nine Hells Body isn't just about surviving various harsh environments," Venerable Lianyi explained. "It's fundamentally about allowing your body to absorb and assimilate a variety of different powers permanently."
"When you refine the Fourth Hell, you can attempt to completely integrate the Origin Fire Seeds' power into your body. If you succeed, you could possess a thousand times a World Master's power at the World Master level alone. Combined with your power amplitude, precious treasures, and techniques, killing an Immortal King won't be a problem."
She spoke as if it were the simplest thing in the world.
Han Jue had to admit he was tempted. This approach would indeed be far more powerful than simply borrowing external power.
"If you've made up your mind, then stop wasting time and get back to cultivation. Don't linger at the Domain Lord level any longer."
With a casual wave of her hand, Venerable Lianyi expelled Han Jue from the Gilded Temple without ceremony.
"Senior Sister, I'm injured!" Han Jue protested, his body still aching from head to toe.
But she had already closed the temple doors. Sighing in resignation, he could only endure the pain as he returned to Earth.
"Master, there's news about the Ice Wasteland World Master," Rimuru informed Han Jue after he connected to the Virtual Universe.
"What did you find?" Han Jue asked, leaning forward with interest.
"The Lord of Ganwu helped us investigate. The Immortal who transferred funds to the Ice Wasteland World Master is King Tiegu, one of the Three Hundred Nobles of Ganwu Universe Country. Of course, King Tiegu's actual power is only that of a high-ranking Immortal Marquis," Rimuru reported.
"King Tiegu?" Han Jue searched his memory. He vaguely remembered the man, he'd attended the welcoming banquet. "Contact him."
"Understood," Rimuru nodded, attempting to shake off Han Jue's hand that had been absently patting her head.
A moment later, within the Virtual Universe on Ganwu Continent, they met at an upscale restaurant.
"Your Highness Han Jue, what did you want to discuss with me?" King Tiegu asked cheerfully, though his movements betrayed a hint of nervousness. Meeting with a genius of Han Jue's caliber was no casual matter.
"King Tiegu, do you recognize this account?" Han Jue asked, projecting the bank account information of the Ice Wasteland World Master.
"Is this... Ronye's account?" King Tiegu exclaimed in surprise, his eyes widening with recognition.
"You know him? Then why did you transfer money to him dozens of epochs ago?" Han Jue asked perceptively, his gaze sharpening.
"This... sigh." King Tiegu sighed heavily, his expression growing melancholic.
"Ronye was a close friend of mine during my weaker years. We fought together on the extraterritorial battlefield, facing death side by side more times than I can count. Later, through a fortunate encounter, I managed to break through to the Immortal realm. After countless years of arduous cultivation, I eventually became one of the Three Hundred Nobles of Ganwu Universe Country."
His voice grew softer. "The transfer was to repay money I had borrowed from him back then. Once I had the resources, I returned what I owed him."
"Is he... is he dead now?" King Tiegu asked hesitantly, though his tone suggested he already knew the answer.
"He's been dead for many years," Han Jue confirmed. "He was already deceased before you transferred the money to him."
"Alas." King Tiegu's shoulders sagged, and he shook his head sadly. "I feared as much. When the transfer went through without any response from him, I suspected the worst."
"It seems you don't know where he ended up or what happened to him?" Han Jue probed.
"I don't know. We parted ways on the extraterritorial battlefield," King Tiegu replied, raising his head to meet Han Jue's eyes. "After we separated, I was fortunate enough to be promoted to Immortality and returned to Ganwu Universe Country to serve. As for what became of Ronye after that... I truly have no idea."
Han Jue frowned slightly. The investigation had reached another dead end. The clue trail was broken once again.
He would need to search elsewhere if he wanted to uncover the truth behind the Ice Wasteland World Master's death and his connection to the mysterious conspiracy.