Parsing the Essence of the Time Origin Law

"Th-this is..." Fully unlocking the memory of the fourth layer of Thunderlight Flash, Lu Qingshan was completely stunned. Was this still the original manual he had created? Lu Qingshan was somewhat bewildered. Because the secret manual he had created had now transformed entirely into something he could not understand. Between the third and fourth layers, there seemed to lie an entire star field. The content involving the Lightning Origin Law had become exceedingly scarce, and almost ninety percent was now comprised of the Time Origin Law. Whereas the third layer contained only a small amount of the Time Origin Law, which Lu Qingshan could still comprehend in part. As for this fourth layer, he could not even grasp its threshold! "It seems that before I completely master the third layer, I shouldn't even dream of understanding this fourth-layer secret method..." The Time Law. He had only just crossed the threshold of the Time Law, with a mastery level of a mere 0.12%. Even with the third layer of Thunderlight Flash, he could only conjure 36 illusion bodies—still a massive gap from the third layer's limit of 108 illusion bodies! Without elevating his Time Origin Law, anything beyond this held little meaning for him. "What is that?" Suddenly, Lu Qingshan noticed a starry sky diagram lurking deep within his memories, which had appeared alongside the fourth-layer secret method of Thunderlight Flash. This diagram... With just one look, Lu Qingshan found himself unable to pull his consciousness away. One star, two stars, three stars... a total of nine stars of varying sizes and shapes hung across a vast starry sky, irregularly arranged in a twisted yet natural pattern. Lu Qingshan focused his gaze on the star closest to him. Suddenly, all his memories regarding the third layer of Thunderlight Flash surfaced in his mind. So that's how it is... How laughable. I have already mastered the first and second layers of Thunderlight Flash to perfection, beyond what anyone could surpass, yet my grasp of the third layer was actually this crude. These 36 illusion bodies can actually transform in so many different ways. My previous experience only gave me the method to use the illusion bodies, leaving me completely ignorant of their origin. But now... I seem to be seeing the most fundamental essence of the illusion bodies... Essence! Feeling discomfort surging from his soul, Lu Qingshan hurriedly severed his connection to the starry sky diagram. As his consciousness returned to reality, ten days had unwittingly passed in the outside world. At this moment, there was no longer any regret in Lu Qingshan's eyes over being unable to cultivate the fourth layer—only shock! Indeed! The source of Lu Qingshan's shock was that starry sky diagram with the nine stars. What those stars exhibited seemed to be the most primitive essence of the universe's Time Origin Law... and Lu Qingshan's comprehension of the starry sky diagram was precisely the process of parsing the essence of the Time Origin Law. "How is this possible?!" Lu Qingshan was not merely marveling at how he had stumbled onto such a path. Parsing the essence of a law was an exceedingly secretive matter for anyone else, even for Undying powerhouses. Even within the core of the Five Great Hegemons, it was rarely popularized among geniuses. Because this path was simply too difficult! It was not because secret methods were too precious, nor was it a lack of inheritance, but rather that most people were fundamentally unsuited to walking such a path. Once chosen, they would only waste time, squandering their limited lifespans in vain. Though both concerned laws, understanding and mastering were two entirely different concepts. One taught you how to apply a law, while the other taught you how to parse the fundamental essence of the law's origin. To make an analogy, it was like how operating a lithography machine was simple, but being asked to manufacture one before using it was arduous beyond belief! Or in other words, one was using known formulas to solve a problem, while the other was the process of deriving the formulas from scratch. Lu Qingshan's previous Lightning Origin Law, largely originating from the system's returns, had a profound foundation. He had nearly mastered all its fundamental branches, which was somewhat akin to walking this path. Yet there was still a subtle difference; he had not entirely taken that route, or else he could never have obtained the Lightning Origin Law's recognition so quickly. The Lightning Law was his baseline guarantee to break through to the Undying realm and attain eternal life. Lu Qingshan would not act recklessly, let alone rashly step into a dangerous and unknown realm without guidance. What truly shocked Lu Qingshan was this: The starry sky diagram bearing the nine stars seemed to serve a function similar to the Initial Universe's Primal Chaos Tablets. Lu Qingshan comprehending the starry sky diagram was analyzing the most primitive essence of time. How was this any different from a Primal Chaos Tablet that recorded and allowed one to contemplate the Time Law? Moreover, Lu Qingshan noticed that this starry sky diagram with nine stars seemed incapable of fully explaining the vast Time Origin Law required for the fourth layer of Thunderlight Flash. Perhaps behind these nine stars, there was an even vaster starry sky waiting for him to uncover! Feeling the heavy pressure weighing on his soul, Lu Qingshan dared not rashly enter that starry sky to contemplate it again. Closing his eyes, he eased the strain on his soul while organizing what he had just gained! ... In the blink of an eye, several more days passed. Had it not been for having to resolve his disciple Ling Yu's doubts, Lu Qingshan would still have been immersed in organizing his gains from his last contemplation of the star diagram. Inside Ling Yu's manor, this was the final day of Lu Qingshan's half-month teaching schedule. Compared to half a month ago, Ling Yu's hair was somewhat disheveled and the rims of her eyes were slightly red. Clearly, these past two weeks had not gone smoothly for her... "Do you want to give up?" Lu Qingshan asked. "No, Teacher... I have already caught a glimpse of the pattern, and I have a great many doubts waiting for you to answer." Ling Yu's tone was resolute. "I said I wouldn't give up, and I never will!" Looking at this persistent young woman, a smile appeared on Lu Qingshan's face. Not giving up was good. Not giving up was the right choice. If she didn't work hard, how was her teacher supposed to grow stronger? "Speak, then. Tell me your questions," Lu Qingshan said with a genial tone and a smile on his face. ... A day later, Lu Qingshan had provided textbook answers to every question Ling Yu raised. Not only that, he even prepared solutions in advance for several problems she was bound to, or might possibly, encounter. Of course, all of this was predicated on Ling Yu being able to cross the threshold of the Time Origin Law; she only needed to master the slightest hint of its application. If she could not manage even that, everything Lu Qingshan had added would be of little use. "Going forward, I will no longer personally supervise your lessons. You are free to arrange your study time with me as you see fit. You can comprehend the third layer of Thunderlight Flash, or you can follow Instructor White Eyebrows' guidance to improve in other areas." Lu Qingshan looked at the young woman before him and said with a smile, "Whether you can cross the threshold of the Time Origin Law is entirely up to you. No one else can help you!" "Teacher Lu." Ling Yu's expression grew solemn, gratitude flashing in her lively eyes. "Your teachings just now have almost cleared away all my doubts prior to crossing the threshold of the Time Law. If I still cannot manage to step across, it only means Ling Yu lacks sufficient talent, and no one else is to blame..." "Do your best!" After offering a word of encouragement, Lu Qingshan turned and left... In terms of movement technique, Ling Yu had reached the limit of nine illusion bodies. In crossing the threshold of the Time Law, he had helped as much as he could, and the rest was up to her. Lu Qingshan's teaching responsibilities were essentially complete until Ling Yu crossed the threshold of the Time Law. Moving forward, White Eyebrows' side was the priority! Leaving Ling Yu's place, Lu Qingshan returned to the training room in his villa and once again projected his consciousness into that vast starry sky of nine stars!