Plate Seventeen: The Fruit of the World

No matter where you are, regardless of how vast the disparity in civilization, wherever there are people, there is competition, and wherever there is competition, there is intrigue.

Sangsang was not surprised that someone would strike at her from the shadows; what astonished her was that the target of these machinations turned out to be the Saintess Candidate, not the rival she had originally suspected. Was she merely caught in the crossfire because of Grandfather Anthony?

Privately, Sangsang speculated, but in truth, she wished the shadowy hand would send more formidable opponents her way, so she could glean more experience by observing them. She was weary of facing the same few familiar faces over and over.

The mastermind behind the scenes had achieved their aim: Sangsang had extracted all she could from these senior students, and her progress in martial arts had slowed. She began to discuss with Xiao Jin the feasibility of training on the real-combat platform of the Star Network.

Yaslan knew Sangsang was encountering difficulties in the Forest of Ten Thousand Trees, but did not intervene. Instead, he unveiled a new course—Clerical Skills: how to heal or cast support spells with common energies in the absence of faith power.

“All healing falls under the law of life,” he told her. “So what you must do now is comprehend the law of life. Here is a world fruit infused with this law. If you do not intend to make the life law the core of your star nucleus, you may eat it—this will save you much time in comprehending the law.”

The law chosen for forming one’s star nucleus determined the direction of one’s future development. Generally, unless there were special circumstances, people would form their nucleus based on the law governing their innate abilities.

Sangsang had discussed this with Xiao Jin. Her innate ability belonged to the soul class of laws, but its exact classification was uncertain, with another conjecture as well: Space is foundation, time is ruler, merging space and time grants supreme command.

Her synchronization ability allowed her to influence hearts, and after evolving, could simulate various energies. It was possible her ability belonged to the supreme class, or perhaps to the law of space-time itself.

Regardless of which guess was correct, Sangsang planned to master as many laws as possible before finally consolidating her star nucleus under the command of time and space. The law of life was one she needed, though not her main focus.

She gazed at the world fruit before her, the size of a fist, recalling the price listed on Xiao Jin’s shopping list: faith power in the millions, and the stars on the peel were still vague. The one before her was blue tinged with black, its constellations clustered into a nebula, marking it as high-grade—likely worth tens of millions.

Sangsang took a deep breath, summoned water to wash the peel, and took a precious bite. Instantly, a torrent of flavors—sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, salty, and astringent—exploded in her mouth, making her want to retch. Yet, remembering the exorbitant price, she shut her eyes and sought enlightenment amidst the myriad tastes. Two tears slipped down her cheeks.

It was utterly revolting.

How could anything in this world taste so vile? No wonder the laws intended for children were always made into candies, for naturally grown law fruits were nearly impossible to swallow.

Yaslan opened his palm to reveal a green candy. “Have something sweet.”

Sangsang flushed crimson.

Yaslan nudged her toward the room. “The cultivation chamber is set to the life barrier. While your insight into the law is fresh, go in and condense the projection.”

What is a law? A formula in mathematics, phonetics in language, the cycle of birth and death in humans... all rational patterns of existence are laws. If you comprehend them, you can condense a projection; if not, no matter how close you are, it’s futile.

The law of life, then, is the formula that generates life energy.

The expansive cultivation chamber burgeoned with vibrant flowers, grasses, and trees, overflowing with vitality, making the condensation of life energy much easier.

Condensing a law’s projection had three stages: first, drawing on vitality to condense life energy; second, channeling the energy back for mutual benefit; third, creating life energy from nothing, even in a desert of vitality.

Only upon reaching the third stage could one be said to have a preliminary grasp of the law, with a stable projection and entry into the first realm—barely at the threshold.

With martial training at a standstill, Sangsang abandoned the arena battles and devoted all time outside her routine practice to condensing the law of life.

By the time she reached the second stage of the law, her clerical skills had advanced from healing little rabbits’ wounds to treating heatstroke, detoxifying, and easing indigestion. At this point, Xiao Jin acquired an eligibility card for the Boundless Mirage.

The Boundless Mirage was a premier dueling platform on the Star Network, open only to geniuses. With a history spanning millennia, its creator used the law of virtual reality to make training within the Mirage effective in real life. The drawback was its age-based grading system, and advancing to higher levels required a test of mental fortitude.

The Purple Death Arena, with 100% simulation accuracy, meant a character’s death would result in real death. In the Red Arena, 99% of those whose character died became invalids in reality; in the Orange Arena, death would damage the soul and reduce cultivation; in the Yellow Arena, dying too often would lead to soul damage and limit future potential. All four required one to be of age to enter.

The fifth, Green Arena, was relatively safe, though its raw slaughter could still affect the mind and create inner demons and bottlenecks. Children under fifty were barred. The sixth, Blue Arena, was safest of all, soothing and smoothing the player’s spirit—a playground for children, but of little use for honing martial skills.

Xiao Jin had procured a card for the fifth, Green Arena, allowing Sangsang to skip grades.

“The Temple has many places in secret realms. The main brain recommended you to enter the Boundless Mirage, and the spot was secured from Lord Anthony by Sena’s request.”

Sangsang adjusted the growth of the greenery in her bonsai, while little flowers bloomed on Xiao Jin’s swing ropes, and tiny energy crystals carpeted the floor. After surveying the room, she set the bonsai by the window to bask in sunlight, giving Xiao Jin’s swing a gentle push.

“How is time measured in the Boundless Mirage?” she asked.

“One to one point two. Abilities are unaffected inside. Spiritual cultivators can absorb energy and advance, but martial cultivators must prepare ample nutritional supplements in reality.”

“I haven’t finished learning my skills, so I can’t advance yet. I’m logging in.” Sangsang kissed Xiao Jin’s forehead and strode into the nutrient chamber.

Xiao Jin crossed her feet, tilted her head, and pressed her hands to her cheeks. “I have to keep earning money too.”

The eligibility card Xiao Jin provided required a grade-skipping assessment. Sangsang, mentally mature far beyond her years, breezed through the child’s mental test. Soon, a new player named Wilderness One appeared in the Boundless Mirage’s Green Arena.

Sangsang carefully listed her goal as honing her martial skills and opted for intelligent opponent assignment—no need ever to worry about a lack of sparring partners. From mostly losing to an even win-loss ratio, then to mostly winning, her Five Elements Body Refinement technique advanced rapidly, and Wilderness One’s mastery of all disciplines soon drew attention.

Her martial practice was back on track; clerical skills also advanced steadily. Having reached the third stage of the law of life, the energy from the world fruit was spent, and further progress would take more than a day or two.

Every day, Sangsang was either training her body or practicing clerical skills. Meals and relaxation together took less than an hour. This ascetic lifestyle did not tire her; instead, she was filled with passion. Each new skill learned, every small improvement, she would share with Xiao Jin during breaks, paying no heed to the storms brewing among the other candidates.

Sena took meticulous care of Sangsang’s daily needs, shielding her from all outside disturbances so she could focus on her studies. Yaslan, pleased with her state, became increasingly invested, sparing no private treasures in aiding her.

In this nearly forgotten corner of the Forest of All Beings, Sangsang quietly gathered her strength, awaiting the day she would soar into the heavens.