The "Chaotic Force Diagram" involves three stages of body refinement during the Eternal True God phase. The third stage of refinement requires a deep understanding of the laws and intricate refining techniques. However, the requirements for the second stage are relatively lower.
With Luo Feng's understanding of the essence of the laws, and with the guidance of one of Huyang City's top refining masters, Shang Tianyan, coupled with his prior accumulation of knowledge, Luo Feng was able to fully grasp the key points of the second stage of body refinement during their meal together.
"The theory is understood; now it's time for practice," Luo Feng said with a smile.
"Theory is the foundation, but practice is the ultimate demonstration of strength," Shang Tianyan replied with a smile. "Since you are refining your body, even if you occasionally fail, you can always refine your body again. Body refinement is much simpler than refining tools."
Even if most of a godly body is destroyed, it can still be restored. Therefore, body refinement has a high tolerance for errors. In contrast, creating weapons, armor, and mechanical treasures has a much lower tolerance for mistakes.
"Haha, if body refinement were as difficult as tool refining, the practice of body refinement wouldn't be as widespread," Luo Feng laughed. Many choose to refine their bodies, but very few take up tool refining.
"In this world, strength is ultimately what matters. No matter how skilled one is in tool refining, what does it amount to? When facing a stronger opponent, they still have to bow their heads," Shang Tianyan shook his head.
Luo Feng nodded. His master, Sitting Mountain Guest, could craft weapons at the God King level and had many friends, but what was the result?
Faced with the threat from the Kingdom of Shi, the Kingdom of Jin had only one path—destruction. Sitting Mountain Guest didn't rely on his friends but instead fled to the Universe Sea.
Ultimately, relying on oneself is better than relying on others.
Inside the small building, Shuang Tianyan and Luo Feng both fell silent, with Shang Tianyan lost in memories of a long-cherished figure.
…
At the Fire Realm Restaurant.
Suo Zi was focused on cooking. He had been at this small restaurant for over an era and was gradually able to handle some ordinary dishes.
"Done." Suo Zi waved his hand, and a delicious dish was successfully plated, with another servant carrying it away.
"Suo Zi Junior Brother's cooking skills have improved quite a bit," praised the other cooks in the Fire Realm Restaurant. They were also disciples of the Black Butcher and had followed him for a longer time.
"My skills are still ordinary compared to Senior Brothers," Suo Zi grinned. For him, being able to start cooking was already a big improvement.
"Suo Zi, Suo Zi!" Suddenly, a voice called out.
Suo Zi heard it and said, "My brother is here; I'll step out for a moment."
The other cooks didn't mind; after all, Suo Zi had just started and could only make a few simple dishes, so he wasn't yet a key player.
Suo Zi stepped outside and immediately saw his brother, Suo Yun, waiting.
"Suo Yun." Seeing him, Suo Zi was a bit surprised. "You…"
Suo Yun was full of confidence, beaming with a radiant smile. "I've broken through. I've finally reached the Void True God realm."
"That's great!" Suo Zi was excited. "We've been in Huyang City for over an era, and you've finally broken through to the Void True God realm."
The two brothers had come to the city seeking opportunities. One had become a guard for the Diao Rong family, while the other had been recruited into the Fire Realm Restaurant.
"I seized an opportunity and received some resources from the Diao Rong family's young mistress. After refining my bloodline, I finally broke through," Suo Yun said to his brother. "We were the most talented in our tribe, reaching the ninth level of the True God realm at a young age using ordinary cultivation methods. Here in Huyang City, with powerful techniques and resources, if I can become a Void True God, so can you!"
Suo Zi felt his blood boiling.
Indeed, the two of them were similarly talented, and even the tribe chief believed that these two young talents should venture into Huyang City.
"I've almost exhausted my resources, so I can't help you right now," Suo Yun said. "But now that I'm a Void True God, it will be easy to join a powerful force as a mid-level member. Once I'm established, I'll bring you in! Together, we can both reach the Void True God realm quickly."
"I'm doing well at the Fire Realm Restaurant, and Master treats me well," Suo Zi quickly responded.
"You're working as a cook—when will you ever accumulate enough Chaos Crystals?" Suo Yun turned to leave. "Be patient and wait for me. Once I'm settled in the new force, I'll bring you over."
Suo Yun had been hiding away to avoid being hunted and finally broke through using the resources he had gathered.
Now that he was full of confidence, he couldn't help but see his brother's job as a cook as foolish.
"Sigh," Suo Zi watched his brother leave.
"Suo Zi," the Black Butcher approached.
"Master," Suo Zi greeted him respectfully. Due to his consistent performance and Luo Feng's influence, Suo Zi had been formally accepted as a disciple by the Black Butcher.
"Your brother is right; accumulating resources as a cook is slow," the Black Butcher said. "Even after all my years, the resources I've accumulated are limited. Perhaps following your brother might offer a brighter future."
Suo Zi shook his head. "When we hunted together in the tribe, Suo Yun always liked to take risks. In Huyang City, he still enjoys taking risks. He might succeed ten times, but if he fails just once, it's over! Previously, when the entire Diao Rong family's estate was slaughtered, all the guards were killed. He only survived by staying at the Fire Realm Restaurant, waiting for Lord Luo He. I tried to persuade him, but he wouldn't listen. Master, I'd rather stay here at the Fire Realm Restaurant to learn."
"If you're willing to stay here, I won't hold back in teaching you," the Black Butcher said with a smile, feeling reassured by Suo Zi's dedication to the restaurant.
"I think the culinary path suits me better," Suo Zi said. "Cooking involves manipulating divine power and mental will, which is also a form of cultivation."
The Black Butcher nodded in satisfaction and then walked away.
As the master left, the other servants quickly gathered around.
"Suo Zi, your brother has become a Void True God?"
"That's impressive! You've been in Huyang City for just over an era, and he's already become a Void True God. I've struggled for thousands of eras and have only reached the eighth level of the True God realm."
"Suo Zi Senior Brother was already at the ninth level of the True God realm back in the tribe; his talent far surpasses ours."
The servants chatted, full of admiration. Their abilities were far inferior to Suo Zi's, and most hadn't even been formally accepted as disciples by the Black Butcher.
Suo Zi smiled but felt a bit conflicted inside.
In front of his master, he had been decisive, and his words were sincere. But seeing his brother, Suo Yun, achieve the Void True God realm couldn't help but stir some feelings.
"Is Suo Yun right? Should I take risks to seize opportunities?" Suo Zi wondered. "But the tribe chief always said that while hunting, it's better to miss ten chances than to gamble with your life."
"The culinary path may be slower, but it's more stable. As long as I spend a few hundred eras, I'll definitely gather enough resources," Suo Zi thought.
…
Inside the small building, Luo Feng also witnessed the encounter between Suo Zi and Suo Yun. These two brothers had entered Huyang City with him, so there was some bond between them.
"The lower-level True Gods in Huyang City are all struggling," Shuang Tianyan remarked as he looked outside. "Most of them have to risk everything for opportunities, and even if they manage to gather resources through life-threatening efforts, they usually fail to break through. Suo Yun is quite talented to have successfully broken through on his first attempt."
Luo Feng nodded. "Both brothers are talented. The culinary arts practiced by the Black Butcher are as intricate as refining tools or alchemy; they require the perfect combination of divine power and will to create dishes that can influence the soul. Suo Zi has entered this path quickly, showing that he, too, has talent."
Holding his wine cup, Shang Tianyan said leisurely, "They both have talent, but among the vast number of True Gods in Huyang City, many lack such talent."
"Which one do you admire more?" Luo Feng asked with a smile.
"If I were younger, I'd admire Suo Yun more. But now?" Shang Tianyan finished his drink. "I admire Suo Zi more."
Luo Feng nodded, his gaze sweeping over the envious servants in the Fire Realm Restaurant.
"The path of cultivation avoids greed! Compared to the ordinary servants in the Fire Realm Restaurant, Suo Zi is already very fortunate," Luo Feng said as he stood up.
"Yes, avoiding greed!" Shang Tianyan nodded. "It's easy to say, but how many powerful beings can actually do it? I made the mistake of greed once. Some mistakes can be corrected, but some can't be undone once they're made!"
Luo Feng nodded and said, "Brother Shuang, I'll be entering seclusion after I return. If anything urgent comes up, you can contact
When one goes into seclusion, one must fully immerse oneself, so Luo Feng would naturally turn off his communication devices. Otherwise, messages from the Dark Hall of the Yan Feng Pavilion or familiar friends would disturb his focus.
If any messages were sent to Luo Sha, Luo Sha could use mental communication to contact Luo Feng.
"Alright," Shang Tianyan nodded with a smile. "I'll contact you if anything urgent comes up."
The two of them walked out together, and the Black Butcher, the restaurant's owner, personally came to see them off, bidding farewell to the two Eternal True Gods.
…
After leaving the Fire Realm Restaurant, Luo Feng took Morosa and Mo Yu Qingyan with him to the Yan Feng Pavilion, where he purchased the vast amount of materials needed for the second stage of body refinement.
"The first stage of refinement cost me about 100,000 Universe Sand in materials. Based on my understanding of the second stage, I estimate that it will require materials worth 650,000 Universe Sand," Luo Feng thought. "Considering potential losses, I'll prepare more and buy materials worth 700,000 Universe Sand."
The Yan Feng Pavilion, renowned across the Origin Continent, quickly gathered the required materials. In just the time it took to drink a few cups of wine and chat, the pavilion had collected everything.
"Some materials aren't commonly used, so we had to coordinate with our partner pavilions," explained the vice head of the Yan Feng Pavilion. "If you plan to purchase more, it's best to place an order with the Dark Hall first. We can prepare in advance."
After all, they were just a branch in a large city, with limited storage.
"Understood." Luo Feng took the jade bottle, which contained an enormous amount of materials worth 700,000 Universe Sand, many of which were piled up like mountains.
The "Chaotic Force Diagram" doesn't consume much in resources, but Luo Feng's godly body is simply too massive!
"The next stage is the third stage of body refinement, and the required materials will multiply several times over, so I should definitely place an order in advance," Luo Feng thought. "But for now, I can't afford that many materials—I'm still too poor!"
After purchasing the materials, Luo Feng quickly left with his two servants.
Whoosh!
Flying all the way back to his residence, Luo Feng put away his flying boat, and Morosa and Mo Yu Qingyan naturally landed nearby as well.
"Qingyan," Luo Feng instructed, "I'm going into long-term seclusion, so you don't need to stay in the residence all the time. You can visit home whenever you like."
"Thank you, Master," Mo Yu Qingyan said with joy. Since following Luo Feng, he hadn't returned home even once.
"What about me? Can I go out?" Morosa quickly asked. The last time his master went into seclusion, it lasted for over an era.
"As long as you don't cause trouble, you can roam freely in Huyang City," Luo Feng replied before flying directly into the underground hall. Once inside, the massive door of the underground hall closed with a rumble, and the formations activated, isolating the interior from the outside world.
Luo Feng had already begun his seclusion.
"Lord Rosa, I'm heading home now," Mo Yu Qingyan said respectfully.
"Go ahead, go ahead. I'm off to explore the city," Morosa said cheerfully, shooting out of the residence. "Master only goes to the same places over and over—how boring! Huyang City has so many fun spots to explore!"
The two servants left one after the other.
The entire residence fell into silence, with only Luo Feng remaining in seclusion.