Time passed slowly. More and more people outside watched like hungry predators. Some stood openly beyond the formation, their malicious intent plain in their eyes. Others hid in the shadows, waiting to profit as the fisherman. Most likely, none of them would move before the final moment. They were competitors with each other as well. Move too early, and they might only end up benefiting someone else.

After observing the formation for a while, Lin Zheyu stopped paying attention. He sat down cross-legged and began comprehending the spatial rule powers within the void. Within the formation, that mysterious aura had grown so dense as to be almost impenetrable.

Combined with the aura swirling around him from his yao kills, Lin Zheyu felt his spirit become clearer than ever before. It was as if he had used a Dao Comprehension Stone and entered a state of sudden enlightenment. He glanced at the others and saw they, too, were immersed in cultivation. This state was just as rare for them.

"What is space...? Space is an objective form of material existence corresponding to time. There is cosmic space, network space, thought space, digital space, physical space, and so on. In classical physics, space is the part of the universe outside material entities. In relativistic physics..." Lin Zheyu murmured softly.

Empowered by this mysterious aura, his spirit and spiritual soul became active in a way they never had before. Without realizing it, he recalled scientific theories about space from his previous life. All at once, he felt his thinking broaden. Within his consciousness, the virtual projected world constructed by his Perception Domain began to change.

This world was a virtual image realm automatically formed in Lin Zheyu's consciousness from all feedback perceived through his powerful Perception Domain. Now, as his thoughts changed, this virtual projected world changed as well. A vast physical spatial coordinate system slowly took shape. Large amounts of physical knowledge related to space appeared within that coordinate system and formed within the virtual world.

A sharp gleam flashed through Lin Zheyu's eyes as intense delight surged in his heart.

Interesting... Mm, this is far too interesting... I never thought knowledge from my previous life could actually be useful in this world.

His previous understanding of space had been far too narrow. He had only thought of using the power of spatial rules to create spatial rifts and infuse them into weapons to enhance attack power, just like that barbarian expert from before. Such a use was far too crude. The energy cost was too high, and the returns were too poor.

Comprehending aimlessly without direction is the stupidest approach. I was sitting on a mountain of treasure without knowing it, while foolishly searching for treasure elsewhere, Lin Zheyu muttered inwardly. His spirit and spiritual soul were operating at a high level of activity, frantically digging through the knowledge he had gained in his previous life and trying to apply it to this world.

As for space, one-dimensional space is a point, two-dimensional space is a plane, and three-dimensional space is the space we normally live in. As for four-dimensional space, that touches on the concept of time. If I approach it from this angle, the latent potential of spatial rules may be hard to imagine, Lin Zheyu murmured inwardly.

A vast amount of scientific theory related to space flowed through his mind. Lin Zheyu began, in a systematic and theoretical way, using a scientific framework to understand and comprehend the so-called power of spatial rules. Though he did not know whether this path was right or wrong, or whether he might be heading astray.

Lin Zheyu could not worry about that now. The scientific theory from his previous life was the only foundation he had. And once he began using that knowledge to research and comprehend space, everything became astonishingly smooth. If before he had crawled like a snail along the great path of spatial rules, now it was as if he had climbed into a car, entered the highway, and was speeding down the road at one hundred twenty kilometers per hour.

After a long while, Lin Zheyu slowly opened his eyes.

"Damn, not majoring in physics in my previous life was a huge loss. You only realize you have studied too little when you finally need the knowledge." Lin Zheyu could not help but sigh.

Though he had found a scientific methodology for deconstructing the power of spatial rules, it was only when he truly began to use it that Lin Zheyu realized how little he actually knew about those theories. He only understood them in broad outlines. Everything still had to be explored again through his own understanding, comprehended, and then somehow turned into usable strength. Just as he was about to continue comprehending spatial rules, a familiar voice came from the darkness.

"It's him, he killed Sar!" A voice full of fury rang out, and Lin Zheyu frowned as he looked over.

Oh, so it's this fellow.

Seeing who had arrived, Lin Zheyu understood at once.

"This is troublesome. Why have these people come too?" Ji Ziyang frowned slightly when he saw them.

Besides the barbarian expert who had fought Lin Zheyu before and had grasped a trace of spatial rules, there were three others. All three had powerful auras. Judging by his clothing, physique, and aura, the one in the middle was likely a shaman. Shamans were not easy to deal with. The shamanic divine arts they wielded were extremely strange and made them excellent support for barbarian warriors in battle.

"Damn it, do you know the rules? I was here first. Get the hell out. If you don't, I'll kill you too!" Before Lin Zheyu and the others could speak, Gu Jinghong's icy voice rang out, thick with killing intent.

The shaman in the middle raised a hand and pointed toward Lin Zheyu as he said indifferently, "We are not here to fight you for this. We came for that man."

"Hmph, then get lost all the same. If you want to seize him, come back after this is over. I have claimed this place. Anyone who stays becomes my enemy," Gu Jinghong snorted coldly. After speaking, he swept an icy gaze across the crowd, his eyes full of threat.

The shaman said calmly, "Fine."

This sudden turn left Lin Zheyu, who had been hoping to watch a good fight, instantly disappointed. He thought, Fight already. Backing down this fast is no fun at all.

"Boring." Lei Yongtao found it just as dull.

"Fellow Daoist Xiao, you killed a barbarian shaman?" Ji Zitong asked curiously.

"Yes. That fellow attacked me for no reason, so I killed him while I was at it," Lin Zheyu said as if it were nothing.

"No wonder. Shamans are extremely rare among the barbarians. Only one in ten thousand may possess the talent to become a shaman. Ordinary shamans are one thing, but those who dare come here are all barbarian geniuses, each one highly treasured. You killed a genius shaman, so it is no surprise they hold a grudge. You will need to be careful in the future," Ji Zitong warned.

Tu Yuan and the others knew all this as well, but had not mentioned it to Lin Zheyu. After all, they had only met by chance. Ji Zitong, however, had thoughts of befriending him, so she went out of her way to offer the warning.

"Thank you for the warning, Miss Ji." Lin Zheyu cupped his hands toward Ji Zitong in thanks.

He knew Ji Zitong was showing goodwill and had thoughts of drawing him closer. Was that not why he had displayed enough strength in the first place, to show his value and make others wish to win him over?

"You are too polite, Fellow Daoist Xiao. We are all friends, are we not?" Ji Zitong blinked and said with a smile.

"Haha, of course we are friends," Lin Zheyu replied with a smile.

Seeing Ji Zitong's slightly playful blink, Lin Zheyu found it rather amusing. Before this, she had given him the impression of an icy beauty. But after getting to know her, he realized she was nowhere near as cold or unapproachable as she seemed.

"Oh, and be careful when fighting later. Do not assume those people truly left because of Gu Jinghong's threat. Barbarian shamans are deeply scheming. They may be hiding in the dark, preparing to strike behind the scenes. Their shamanic divine arts are extremely strange. They may have a way to briefly break through the formation's defenses and attack you directly. Be careful," Ji Zitong said after a moment's thought, warning him again.

She had dealt with barbarians many times and knew well how insidious shamans could be, as well as how strange their methods were. As an immortal cultivator with many techniques at her disposal, she was not particularly afraid. But Lin Zheyu was only a martial artist, and she worried one careless moment might let him fall into a hidden trap.

"Mm, I will be careful." Lin Zheyu nodded seriously.

The abilities of barbarian shamans were indeed strange. Even he had nearly fallen victim to that illusory dream realm through a single lapse in caution.

***

"Why aren't we making a move?"

In the darkness, the burly barbarian man spoke with displeasure. His burning gaze fixed on his companion, shrouded in black robes, waiting for an explanation.

The black-robed shaman said indifferently, "Gu Jinghong's reputation must be respected. Besides, there is no need for us to clash with him head-on and help relieve pressure for Ji Ziyang's group."

The black-robed shaman glanced at the burly man and the other beside him and said in a calm tone, "Nade, Sali, if the two of you wish to avenge Sar, you may stay behind. Troubled times are coming, and the descent of yaos is near. This opportunity is too important. I cannot stay here and accompany you in revenge."

Of the five of them, only Nade and Sali had been especially close to Sar and harbored strong feelings of revenge.

"I... sorry, but I also think this opportunity is too important. How about after this is over, I go with you to seek that man out for revenge?" the barbarian named Nade said after a pause.

Sali and Sar were blood brothers. He was not. There was no reason to ruin his own future over the dead Sar.

Sali snorted coldly and said viciously, "Hmph! Barbarian cultivation values an unobstructed heart. Cowering like this, what use is an opportunity even if it comes? If none of you will go, I will. If I do not kill him, my heart will remain blocked. Even if the opportunity for rule fragments descends, I will comprehend nothing."

He turned and looked at the black-robed shaman. "Leave me a strand of that formation-breaking black light. I will go myself."

The black-robed shaman said calmly, "Fine!"

From beginning to end, the man had remained utterly calm. His tone was as still as an ancient well, as though nothing that happened could stir even the slightest emotional ripple in him. The black-robed shaman parted his lips and murmured a phrase filled with strange syllables. As the words fell, he waved his right hand, and a streak of black light sank into the totem on Sali's body.