The pinnacle secret technique of the Universe Master!
A technique on par with the Lord of Sirius's greatest creation, its perfection marked another significant leap in Han Jue's strength.
He stepped out from the palace on Earth. In truth, the structure was merely the Holy Flame Palace, a palace-type treasure he'd shrunk down and placed here, much like Venerable Ripple's gilded temple on the Moon.
Whoosh!
The moment Han Jue emerged from the Holy Flame Palace, a stunningly beautiful woman materialized beside him.
"Senior Sister!" Han Jue smiled warmly.
"Mm." Venerable Ripple nodded, then put on an expression of mock indignation.
"Tell me, how exactly did you manage to create a pinnacle Universe Master secret technique? Why can't I?" she complained, though her tone held more humor than genuine frustration.
If she could create such a technique, Venerable Ripple would finally have her chance to break through to the Universe Master realm!
Currently, she stood just one hair's breadth away from fully mastering the fundamental Law of Time.
The Lord of Ice Peak had said it himself, once Venerable Ripple could create a pinnacle Universe Master secret technique, breaking through to Universe Master would be almost guaranteed.
"Senior Sister, don't be too anxious," Han Jue reassured her. "Take your time. You'll be able to create one eventually."
Venerable Ripple nodded slightly.
Of course she understood. Having waited countless epochs already, she wouldn't let impatience derail her now. She was merely teasing him because of how effortlessly he seemed to accomplish these feats.
Han Jue, however, was lost in thought.
In the future, once he reached the Universe Sea, both the Broken East River inheritance and the Jin World inheritance would be complete, far simpler paths than trying to break through to Universe Master or True God through comprehension alone.
In the original timeline, the Lord of Ice Peak had broken through to become a True God precisely because of those inheritances.
Others followed similar paths. The Lord of Chaos City, among others.
By the end of this reincarnation cycle, the human race, thanks to those inheritances and Luo Feng's overwhelming strength, had dominated the primordial universe, giving birth to nearly a hundred True Gods and thousands of Universe Masters.
Obtaining those inheritances as soon as possible remained absolutely necessary.
"Junior Brother, what are your plans now?" Venerable Ripple asked curiously. "Will you continue creating secret techniques, or focus on comprehending the Laws of Space to break through to Universe Master?"
"I'm planning to travel," Han Jue replied.
"Since my birth, I've barely had any time to relax. I've always been cultivating, fighting, pushing myself forward. I haven't had a proper chance to see the human territory, to truly experience this universe. Now that alien races no longer dare assassinate me, it's time to take a breath."
The beautiful scenery he'd witnessed in the Wuhua Secret Realm had sparked something in him, a desire to see more, to understand the cosmos beyond battlefields and training grounds.
"Indeed," Venerable Ripple nodded thoughtfully. "You really should relax. Constant cultivation without respite isn't always beneficial."
"Go ahead. Don't worry, I'll take good care of Earth."
"Thank you, Senior Sister."
Teleportation, away!
This time, Han Jue planned to truly appreciate the beauty of the universe.
He didn't need to experience mortal suffering to gain insights. Simply growing closer to the universe itself, observing its wonders directly, would help him understand its laws on a deeper level.
Before leaving Earth for his cosmic journey, Han Jue met with Hong and Lei Shen.
Both were doing remarkably well, having officially broken through to the Immortal realm. Each possessed strength comparable to Invincible Kings and limit-level Kings, making it likely they'd become Universe Venerables in the future.
Their immediate plans involved exploring secret realms throughout the universe. Han Jue arranged for them to visit the Eternal Lake Secret Realm, where the Lord of Starflow would watch over them. Even if they died there, they wouldn't lose any treasures and could be resurrected.
As promised, Han Jue gave each of them a supreme treasure.
At his current level, there were almost no supreme treasures left in his clan's vault that could enhance his strength. Some top-tier and pinnacle supreme treasures had already been claimed by other Universe Masters. The few high-level supreme treasures Han Jue possessed, he'd eventually exchanged for treasure points, not given away, but traded with the clan for several ordinary supreme treasures and one high-level melee-type supreme treasure longsword, which he gifted to his Star Stream Sea clone.
After bidding farewell to his acquaintances, Han Jue officially embarked on his journey.
During this voyage, Rimuru chose to wander the universe alongside him.
Having fused with the Soul-Gathering Gold body, Rimuru now possessed the strength of a peak-level King. Unfortunately, its talent for law comprehension was clearly average at best. Being able to utilize the Soul-Gathering Gold's capabilities was already impressive, breaking through to Universe Venerable was virtually impossible.
Fortunately, Han Jue didn't expect Rimuru to fight.
Being a mascot or a stress-relieving companion wasn't such a bad role, was it? Besides, Rimuru in slime form felt quite pleasant to touch!
Besides Rimuru, the Star-Eating Grass also traveled the universe with Han Jue.
After being severely injured by Venerable Yuming, the Star-Eating Grass's divine body had now fully recovered.
As a plant life form, its talent was comparable to Rimuru's, and breaking through to Universe Venerable would prove nearly as difficult. However, plant life forms possessed alternative evolutionary paths.
If the Star-Eating Grass managed to break through to Universe Venerable, it would be comparable to a mid-level Universe Venerable. With continued cultivation, it could even become a Universe Overlord, or perhaps even a top-tier Universe Overlord, like the legendary World Tree.
Of course, this process would consume vast amounts of resources. Just getting the Star-Eating Grass to break through to Universe Venerable would require resources equivalent to a top-tier soul-type treasure, with only a 10% success rate.
Still, Han Jue wasn't in a hurry.
Even if they broke through to Universe Venerable immediately, it wouldn't significantly help him. Better to let nature take its course.
When he grew stronger in the future, obtaining treasures to help them improve would be far easier. There was no need to exhaust himself trying to forcefully enhance them now.
One hundred years after leaving Earth.
Han Jue had traveled throughout the entire Ganwu Universe Kingdom, witnessing all its beautiful scenery and experiencing its various cultures. Thanks to the outstanding work done by King Ganwu, after Han Jue's previous... forceful corrections, all large-scale criminal organizations within the Ganwu Universe Kingdom had been eradicated. Only petty theft remained, with no truly heinous incidents occurring.
The Virtual Universe Company branch, led by Marquis Ganren, was performing admirably.
After completing his tour of Ganwu Universe Kingdom, Han Jue didn't stop. He continued his journey to the next universe kingdom.
Humanity's territory comprised a total of 1,008 universe kingdoms!
Among them, Ganwu Universe Kingdom was located near the core of human territory, virtually free from alien incursions and war, a place of relative peace.
The cosmic kingdoms near the territories of the other three peak races told a different story. Alien infiltration, constant warfare...
The humans living in those border universe kingdoms were far more battle-hardened. Powerful individuals regularly chose to join cosmic armies, entering extraterritorial battlefields to fight against alien races, because their families and friends had suffered heavy casualties under alien invasions!
Han Jue intended to travel throughout the entire human territory.
Perhaps even the entire primordial universe.