Chapter 691: The True Star Realm Battlefield

Lu Shaoyuan leaned back in his chair. His aged hands rested on the edges of the armrests, knuckles thick and calloused—the undeniable mark of a lifelong martial artist.

"Not all Grandmasters are the same," he began slowly. "You might have heard this before, but you may not truly understand it. Even among Grandmasters, some are stuck at the first step for their entire lives. Their Dharma Form remains just a Dharma Form, never transforming into anything else.

"Some manage to reach the second step, contracting their Dharma Form into a Domain. Within their own Domain, they are gods. And then there are those who can reach the third step, condensing their Domain into Divine Intent. Wherever their Divine Intent reaches, that becomes the Rule."

As he spoke, he raised his right hand and lightly tapped his index finger on the desk in front of him.

The tap seemed casual, but Xu Wuyi clearly sensed that in that split second, the air in the entire room stagnated. It was as if a freely flowing river had suddenly been frozen solid by an unseen force.

When Lu Shaoyuan retracted his hand, the stagnation instantly vanished, and everything returned to normal.

"This is Divine Intent," he said, his voice as calm as ever. "The Rule I cultivate is called 'Stasis.' Stabilizing the Storm, stabilizing the hearts of men, and stabilizing heaven and earth. Once my Divine Intent is released, all things in creation can be brought to a stasis."

Xu Wuyi looked at him, an indescribable feeling welling up in his heart.

This was the third step.

The externalization of the Dharma Form, the construction of the Domain, and the condensation of Divine Intent. After these three steps, a Grandmaster would become the true ruler of this domain of heaven and earth.

"But as you just saw," Lu Shaoyuan continued, "my 'Stasis' is ultimately just one type of Rule. It can stabilize objects, slow down time, and force all things to cease their movement. Yet, it inherently has its limitations."

"Limitations?" Xu Wuyi asked.

"Yes, limitations," Lu Shaoyuan nodded. "Because it can only 'stabilize.' It goes deep, but it isn't broad enough. Perhaps my cultivation isn't profound enough, or perhaps the upper limit of this Rule itself simply stops here.

"Upon reaching the Grandmaster level, sheer martial prowess is no longer enough. What we compete with is our comprehension and application of Rules."

He paused. His gaze fell upon Xu Wuyi's face, turning exceptionally serious.

"But you are different. Your Heart Image is Order. What is Order? It is the culmination of all Rules. Flame is an Order, Gravity is an Order, mountains are an Order, water is an Order, and Stasis is also an Order.

"What you have mastered isn't one specific Rule, but the Rule above all Rules. What does this mean? It means you don't have to painstakingly comprehend other Rules to advance, unlike other Grandmasters."

Lu Shaoyuan's voice grew slightly agitated, a hint of color flushing his aged face.

"Do you know how many Grandmasters are stuck at the first step, unable to cross it for their entire lives? It isn't because they lack talent or effort, but because the hierarchy of the Rule they've mastered is too low.

"If a Grandmaster who has mastered the 'Flame' Rule wishes to advance, they must comprehend concepts related to fire, search for its origin, and gradually delve deeper into it.

"Combustion, temperature, light, heat... all of these things must be comprehended, accumulated, and fused together bit by bit. They have to study what fire is on a physical level, all the way to how fire is born on a philosophical level...

"But this process is too difficult. Some people ponder it for a lifetime and still fail to see through it.

"However, you have mastered Order. This is a Rule of the highest hierarchy, one of the most abstract origins in the world. No matter which Grandmaster you face, you will never be outmatched."

He suddenly smiled, a look of gratification softening his aged features.

"That is why I said your step forward was immense, and absolutely correct."

Xu Wuyi listened quietly, a wave of enlightenment washing over his heart. So that was it. No wonder he had been able to construct his Domain so naturally after stepping into the Grandmaster realm. It was because those elements were already within his Rule to begin with; they weren't foreign concepts, but natural extensions of himself.

The hierarchy of "Order" was simply too high—so high that it could naturally form a Domain. Combined with his sufficient prior accumulation, he was able to reach this step effortlessly.

This was the true meaning of the Heart of Order.

"You're only twenty-three this year, yet you've already reached this step," Lu Shaoyuan said, his gaze carrying the affection of a caring elder. "The road ahead of you is still long, and you can go even further. Over the years, I've seen countless geniuses in the Federation, but you are the very first of your kind."

He paused, his voice turning somewhat low.

"I'm old now, and I won't live much longer. Shen Jin's generation isn't young anymore either. The Federation needs someone to take up the mantle, someone who can hold the line for us old bones on the Star Realm Battlefield.

"I didn't know who that person was before, but now I do."

As he spoke, he raised his hand and gently patted Xu Wuyi on the shoulder. The hand was light, but Xu Wuyi could feel the strength contained within it, as well as an even deeper expectation.

He remained silent for a few seconds before speaking. "Speaker, I will do my best."

Lu Shaoyuan nodded, saying nothing more. He pulled his hand back and leaned against his chair, a trace of exhaustion appearing on his aged face.

"Alright. I called you over today just to see you and say these words. Now that we've met and I've said my piece, you can go back and get some good rest," he said, before pausing for a moment. "I've already notified Shen Jin. He'll be rushing back in the next few days. Once he returns, he'll tell you more things—secrets regarding the Star Realm Battlefield. Now that you're a Grandmaster, you have the right to know."

Xu Wuyi's heart skipped a beat.

The Star Realm Battlefield.