Cosmic Professional Gladiator

739 Preliminary Study

The cosmos beyond the spaceship was a kaleidoscope of colors, a dreamlike vista.

Li Miaomiao and her daughter, Xu Lixing, sat sipping beverages, chatting.

“Cheer up, Lixing. I left your father to be with you. Don’t mope all day,” Li Miaomiao said, smiling. Xu Jingming’s clone had spent too much time with her, causing Li Miaomiao to need some time away. Sometimes she deliberately abandoned her husband to spend time with her daughter!

“How can I be cheerful?” Xu Lixing clutched her cup. “Fangjin and Biyun have had a terrible falling out. My grandchildren are like enemies.”

Li Miaomiao said, “On ancient Earth, it was common for brothers to feud over the throne. Our Xu family has too many resources, so our clansmen will naturally fight over them.”

“But Fangjin and Biyun are biological siblings.” Xu Lixing looked haggard. “The younger generation can quarrel or feud, but siblings should stay out of it. It hurts me most when they turn against each other.”

“How could they not get involved?” Li Miaomiao smiled. “The Xu family has two main branches. One descends from Fangjin, the other from Biyun. As leaders of the branches, how could they remain aloof?”

Li Miaomiao comforted her daughter. “Lixing, your children and grandchildren have their own destinies. Do not fret over them. After all, they are Origin lifeforms who have lived 10,000 years. Your children are not foolish. Since they have feuded, it was their choice.”

“You’re right, Mother. You’re right.” Xu Lixing nodded, sighing. “But I spent so much effort raising Fangjin and Biyun. From their birth, I focused on grooming them. To see them come to this…”

“People change.” Li Miaomiao said, “Fangjin and Biyun have also changed in 10,000 years. You cannot keep treating them like children.”

“Sometimes I think if our Xu family lacked so many resources and wealth, we might be spared much trouble. Fangjin and Biyun might still be close,” Xu Lixing remarked softly.

“Without resources, neither would live to see this day!” A voice rang out. Xu Jingming appeared, saying, “Without resources, your husband Meng Tian could never have become a cosmic legend.”

Li Miaomiao and Xu Lixing whirled, hastily rising to their feet.

“Dad.” Xu Lixing felt a twinge of shame.

“You relied on external forces to become Origin lifeforms.” Xu Jingming gazed at his daughter. “Now you complain of too many resources? Many families and lives are risked for mere scraps, yet here you grouse over riches?”

“No, I just worry for my children,” Xu Lixing said quickly.

“Evolution is the growth of life and the growth of mind.” Xu Jingming looked at his daughter. “Your children also suffer and must choose under pressure from their offspring. These trials will grow their minds. Be joyful for them!”

“Joyful?” Xu Lixing was stunned.

“They relied on external forces to become Origin lifeforms.” Xu Jingming shook his head. “Yet, they lack the mental faculty true Origin lifeforms possess.”

Becoming Origin lifeforms required immense willpower.

His grandson Xu Fangjin and granddaughter Xu Biyun clearly lacked mental fortitude.

“Fear no setbacks.” Xu Jingming gazed at his daughter. “What if they feud after facing trials? Even if they die, I can revive them.”

Xu Lixing was stunned.

“Since they can’t perish, worry not. Let them weather more storms.” Xu Jingming shook his head. “A trifle troubles you. If I must say, your mind needs honing as well.”

“Dad, it’s small to you, but the clan divides into factions warring fiercely, assassinating mid-level members.” Xu Lixing said. “Even core members quarrel openly.”

“Arrest, punish, and execute lawbreakers,” Xu Jingming said. “Let’s see who dares make trouble then.”

Xu Lixing blinked. “The core members are a few generations down, direct descendants. I…”

Li Miaomiao shook her head. “Your father is clear. I’ll lead the clan for the next 1,000 years. Just watch, Lixing. You coddle those grandchildren, making them overly bold.”

Xu Lixing nodded. “I won’t interfere. Mom, you’re in charge.”

How could Xu Lixing be ruthless to the grandchildren she had raised?

“Prepare food and drink.” Xu Jingming sat. “I crave a feast.”

Family affairs were trivial to Xu Jingming.

His wife, daughter, and clan knew not their pillar—Xu Jingming, a high-dimensional Eternal lifeform—had faced calamity for the past 5,000 years, barely surviving to this day.

“Jingming, you have quite the appetite.” Li Miaomiao smiled, watching her husband eat and drink heartily.

“I’m pleased, so my appetite thrives.” Xu Jingming smiled, glancing at his daughter as he ate. “Lixing, you need to deal with Fangjin and Biyun’s other halves.”

Xu Lixing looked puzzled.

“Fangjin’s wife Dodo’an Nonaeclipse and Biyun’s husband Scarletjade Swordcrow—their other halves share blame for the rift,” Xu Jingming said. “They became Level 10 Origin lifeforms through their own efforts. With extraordinary minds and wit, had they wished the siblings close, it would be so.”

Xu Lixing fell silent. “True, they are geniuses.”

“Meng Tian’s personality compares well. He covets nothing, caring only for you.” Xu Jingming sighed.

As a Heart Realm high-dimensional Eternal lifeform, could his children’s affairs escape him?

Of his daughter’s and grandchildren’s marriages, Xu Jingming approved most of his daughter and Meng Tian’s.

Meng Tian was devoted to Xu Lixing.

Esteeming him for this, Xu Jingming occasionally gave resources. Recently, Meng Tian had become another human cosmic legend.

******

In the Heart Realm’s beast hide space floated a silver sheet larger than a stellar system.

Xu Jingming stood atop the page, gazing down and studying it closely.

A piece of paper drawn by an Ultimate being? Examining the spearmanship, Xu Jingming was captivated. Simple yet profoundly complex, it seemed to pierce the dominion, time, space, karma—all obstacles.

Nothing can withstand this strike. A dominion is frail before it.

Even a third-realm existence would be pulverized.

The Primordial Star or Abyss would be left with a gaping hole.

Xu Jingming murmured.

Learning 10-20% might make me reach the third realm. The more he saw, the more enthralled he became. All legacies paled beside this spearmanship.

The Heart Divine Weapon, Red Lotus Fire, Monhado, and others seemed crude by comparison.

The Eight Directions Map was rudimentary.

Lord Louye gave me such a treasure. Xu Jingming sighed, moved by Lord Louye’s forthright generosity. Though Louye had studied countless years, memorizing each stroke, its worth remained vast.

I can’t memorize this. Gazing intently, Xu Jingming swiftly forgot each portion read.

The information contained in the brush strokes surpassed his mind’s capacity, slipping away once seen.

Xu Jingming carved the sheet into 10,000 squares, studying each to record insights lest they be forgotten.

Researching and noting.

Days passed. Xu Jingming gained much.

The dean, Tower Master, Island Lord, and Redmond knew not Xu Jingming’s Myriad Species World odyssey.

Life was calm.

Slightly more than 5,000 years had passed since their coming to South Pavilion 3609 Dominion. Keeping a low profile, the dean and others avoided disputes, befriending all and integrating gradually.

Myriad Star Island’s strength was recognized. The dean, Tower Master, and others easily made friends.

So this is the Heart Divine Weapon’s 11th realm. Xu Jingming was enlightened. Studying the silver page for three years, he recorded manifold insights.

Gaining much, reading the Heart Divine Weapon legacy brought another revelation. 𝒃𝒆𝙙𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Without me realizing it, the Heart Divine Weapon has surpassed Red Lotus Fire to become the legacy I’ve cultivated the most. Xu Jingming smiled. At the 11th realm, the Heart Divine Weapon was peak Eternal.

Xu Jingming extended a hand. A faint spear appeared, nurtured from the precious Sin Bead.

With this, I can slay a foe’s mind. Holding the spear, Xu Jingming was satisfied. The Heart Divine Weapon lineage was famed for combat, their attacks formidable.

Granddreamer from the psychic weapon lineage was once invincible under the half-step third realm. My strength should match Granddreamer’s now, but with a weapon, the difference will be vast.

Reaching Heart Divine Weapon’s 11th realm and wielding a psychic weapon, Xu Jingming dared say he was invincible under half-step third realm.

Without a psychic weapon, a clone’s strength was mediocre.

Though I have many clones, I only have one psychic weapon. Xu Jingming frowned. I must buy materials swiftly to refine more psychic weapons.

Without a third-realm weapon, he had to rely on numbers to win.

With more psychic weapons, his numerous psychic clones would be sufficiently formidable!