Chapter 119: 【corpse Seed】 And 【cocoon Moon】
After reviewing the farming progress of [Mao Shi Worm Farming], Yuan Zhu did not plan to interfere, still leaving professional matters to professionals.
He was an outsider in bug farming, only needing to direct Little Girl to complete it with a few words.
So he asked: “Little Tang. Can the ‘Mao Shi Worm’ food seeds I gave you be cultivated in the Underground World?”
[Mao Mao King]’s insect eggs have hatched, and they can even gnaw on Purple Leaves produced by ‘Reverse Life Garden’ to grow robustly. This is of course good. But before departure, Captain provided a batch of caterpillar-specific food seeds, which he planned to replicate as well.
At that time, he would have two major categories: [True Qi Mao Shi Worm, Shadow Mao Shi Worm]. Then feeding them local plants and special food respectively would produce at least four different raw materials.
Differentiation in raw materials will inevitably lead to differentiation in fabrics. What is this? This is technological innovation, industrial revolution, enhancing competitiveness!
I open up market for the company, I add new product categories for the company, I establish upstream enterprises for the company and continue material innovation, I lay the foundation for the company to monopolize raw materials with stable pricing and supply… I will force [Mao Mao King] to gradually swallow company shares, and I will ultimately take control of the loyal [Cat King Happy Home]!
All this starts with showcasing talent. So he valued the task assigned by Captain highly and was determined to refine it meticulously.
Little Girl replied upon hearing this: “I tried urging a small batch of seeds. But plant seeds have very poor affinity with ‘True Qi’, all lost activity, so I was afraid of waste and didn’t try again. I plan to attempt after learning basic planting techniques, or Commander Zuo can hire technicians with ‘Spirit Plant Cultivation’ ability, I can assist. As long as given a chance, I can quickly learn by stealing the master’s skills.”
In the Underground World, planting ‘Spirit Grass, Spirit Medicine’ is an important skill, originally held by [Alchemy Families]. But with Insect Cultivators continuously deciphering and optimizing Kunlun System’s and pill formulas, plus Qi Refiners’ massive demand for pills, [Insect System. Alchemy] has spread widely, matured, and leaked on a large scale.
Nowadays [Alchemy] is divided into low-level ‘bug farming, Insect Medicine preparation, Corpse Seed, Spirit Plant Cultivation, Medicinal Herbs preparation’; and high-level [Insect Furnace making, Pill Fire control, True Alchemy].
Talents with alchemy ability are rare and precious, often strictly controlled and protected.
‘Technical workers’ proficient in planting Spirit Grass are not uncommon, even have freedom, similar to senior white-collar workers, accepting hires from different faction groups and different Insect Cities.
Little Girl’s alchemy dream starts from [three years bug farming, five years grass planting].
Yuan Zhu also understood that the ‘normal seeds’ provided by Captain require photosynthesis to survive and grow.
But the Underground World’s Spirit Grass planting industry has all mutated. Mainly relying on ‘plant-attribute zombies’ filled with Immortal Zombie Tendrils inside to provide nutrients, similar to mushroom farming, cultivating Spirit Plants in the way of winter worm (corpse) summer grass, academically named [Corpse Seed], utterly bizarre anyway.
After all, in the barren Underground World, no culture medium is more nutritious than corpses filled with [Immortal Zombie Tendrils (Immortal Realm Tree pollution root tendrils)]!
Flesh is already full of nutrients, cultivator’s body even more so, then polluted and processed into zombies by ‘Immortal Zombie Tendrils’, preserved long-term by preservation process, while internally having large amounts rich in Spiritual Energy ‘Immortal Zombie Tendrils’ providing trace Immortal Realm Tree substances.
Such heaven-defying culture medium naturally grows good things.
The stronger the cultivation before death, the higher the nutrients after becoming flesh field. Those Spirit Insects that died violently from ‘Immortal Zombie Tendrils’ are also top-grade small cauldrons (flower pots).
According to Commander Zuo, Cicada City Lower Urban Area has a super morgue. Inside, Spiritual Energy is exceptionally dense, each floor filled with shelves of meat flower pots (zombies) that actively induced Immortal Zombie Tendrils to die violently, with various exotic flowers and herbs growing from their seven orifices and pores, air filled with exotic fragrances, cultivation speed several times faster than practice rooms.
Besides this [Immortal Grass Building], there are several [Spirit Grass Buildings], filled with layers of large Spirit Insects died from ‘Immortal Zombie Tendrils’. Average basketball-sized, turned into neat flower pots, growing slightly lower quality Spirit Grass.
Just thinking about it makes one’s scalp tingle, this scene is more heaven-defying than zombie uncles.
But he thought again, in the Underground World besides [Corpse Seed], there is no better grass planting method. So he rummaged from Shop Owner’s property a ‘planting type. Insect Scroll’, handed it to Little Girl.
The other party read it completely with Qi Threads, brain infused with a bunch of incomplete basic planting knowledge, then eager to try, used ‘Spirit Insect Corpse Seed’ to cultivate normal plant seeds, and predictably failed.
After figuring out the reason, Yuan Zhu encouraged: “Don’t be discouraged, I decide to tackle both ways. Continue acquiring more [Corpse Seed. Insect Scrolls] for you, while hiring professional planting workers, you follow as assistant to steal skills. Even if can’t grow these seeds, can learn to plant some local Insect City ‘Spirit Grass’. This bit of small money, I can afford to lose.”
“Mm mm mm!”
Hearing this, Little Girl immediately felt reassured. Nodding repeatedly with full energy, eyes full of expectation and desire.
After inquiring about experiment progress, Yuan Zhu asked about ‘Little White Mouse”s cultivation insights: “Any abnormalities in the [Breathing Method] you siblings practice? Do you have any special feelings about [Holy Light]?”
“[Breathing Method] after Younger Brother’s modification runs very smoothly. [Holy Light] feels very warm and comfortable to me. Especially after Boss you gave up control over [Holy Cough], I successfully refined and controlled this ‘blessing’, the burning pain from breathing also disappeared, True Qi carries a faint warmth.”
“Additionally, I can clearly feel body temperature rising, somewhat like past illness and fever, but not uncomfortable, instead more vital and healthier. I used ‘Qi Threads’ to introspect the whole body, felt the ‘new morning worship efficiency acceleration’ Boss you mentioned, invisibly accelerating lifespan a bit, but this price is acceptable, because new True Qi is easier to capture, rejects and absorbs corrupt Spiritual Energy, iron poison in food, Immortal Zombie Tendrils.”
“I have an idea, Boss you brand me with [Holy Cough] once more, my body resistance might withstand ‘Holy Light erosion’. I no longer fully refine this ‘blessing’, but continuously feed it with lifespan to keep it alive, then continuously refine the scattered ‘Power of Holy Light’, further enhancing [Holy Cough True Qi]’s properties, ultimately birthing ability to burn ‘Immortal Zombie Tendrils’.”
Yuan Zhu found it more and more familiar the more he heard, isn’t this [low-spec Holy Mark]? Continuously burning life to fuel [Holy Cough], generating Holy Cough Power absorbed by ‘True Qi’, further intensifying Holy Light pollution part, ultimately making ‘True Qi’ possess incineration pollution (Immortal Zombie Tendrils) ability.
He thought and rejected: “Your idea is bold, but not recommended to try. I can give you another shot of [Holy Cough], but refine it away as soon as possible, don’t try long-term feeding in body. Once [Holy Light] proportion exceeds [True Qi], I worry you’ll play with fire and self-immolate. Your foundation is in [Dao Seed] not [Holy Mark]. Can use small amounts of Holy Light pollution, but excess will inevitably lose control.”
“Is that so? Then what proportion should I control ‘Holy Cough’ at?” Little Girl has strong exploratory spirit, planning to maximize True Qi properties.
Yuan Zhu didn’t know either, so replied: “Don’t rush, first dictate the you’ve summarized to me. I’ll go to the dungeon to pull an experimental subject, scout the way for you siblings.”
“Great!”
Younger Brother has cultivation talent but poor expression, can only pass dharma to sister via ‘Qi Threads demonstration’. Once Little Girl learns, she can describe precisely.
…
After getting the firsthand [Holy Cough Breathing Technique] manual, Yuan Zhu gave Little Girl another shot of [Holy Cough], helping consolidate her foundation. Then headed straight to the dungeon, where sixteen ordinary death row inmates and five Earth Rank prisoners were held, all gifts from Commander Zuo, each deserving death.
Either deeply polluted beyond saving, or long-term Miasma pollution causing mental derangement and innocent killing. Some actively fed large amounts of ‘Immortal Zombie Tendrils’, prepared to sell to Immortal Sects for refining into Dao soldiers; some severely demonized, about to become ‘human cocoons’.
Plus Little Spicy Stick vowed solemnly to take the blame for Boss, shoulder all sins, no need for guilt. So Yuan Zhu practiced on them with peace of mind, no guilt.
Among them, 16 ordinary prisoners had all Twelve Main Meridians mature, at ‘Human Realm peak Great Perfection’. While the two siblings still at starting stage, meridians underdeveloped.
The other 5 Earth Rank, strength much inferior. Not to mention compared to soon max-level Commander Zuo, even inferior to Shop Owner. Even so, Yuan Zhu roughly gestured with [Tiger Demon Stance], foresaw extreme difficulty in refining Earth Rank cultivators into Ghost Companions, so paused this project.
Earth Rank, converted to Holy Light System, already exceeds ‘one seal (Soul Crystal)’, reaching [Seed] level. Tiger Demon can’t refine in short time, also occupies [Universe Within The Belly] memory, delaying other attempts.
“Then… start with ordinary Insect Cultivators!”
Just as he prepared to act, the [Shadow Dream Hole] connected to his spirit suddenly trembled, Commander Zuo inside the internal space began calling the Dream Hole owner: cultivation ended, wants out.
As best partner, Yuan Zhu immediately dropped work at hand, rushed first to open the door. He wanted in every detail of action to let the other feel his ‘sincerity’.
Before Zuo Fan could worry, [Shadow Dream Hole] opened at lightspeed, then he walked out with a satisfied face.
Yuan Zhu first concerned: “How was cultivation? Smooth?”
“Good! Very good! Feels amazing!” Zuo Fan praised three times in a row, expression excited, not feigned, “Borrowing your [Dream Hole], I first touched and perceived ‘Nightmare’ beyond the world, and absorbed a portion of [Power from Beyond the Heavens] fitting with ‘Shadow’, refined it into True Qi.”
Gradually calming Commander Zuo said with some doubt: “During cultivation, I found a strange thing. Your [Dream Hole] differs greatly from Insect City’s [Dream Hole], the ‘Power from Beyond the Heavens’ communicated and absorbed are all filtered and restricted by [Shadow]. Luckily I refined ‘Shadow Eggplant threads’ in body, selected [Shadow] as [Power from Beyond the Heavens], this time perfectly combined with Dream Hole’s absorbed ‘foreign power’, no conflict.”
In Zuo Fan’s explanation, Yuan Zhu learned Insect City’s ‘Dream Hole’ connects to [Nightmare Layer], can randomly contact and absorb pollution power of any attribute.
While Zuo Fan secluded cultivation in [Shadow Dream Hole], Yuan Zhu similarly intercepted large amounts of his so-called ‘extraterrestrial foreign power’, however this energy not [Shadow Power], yet perfectly fuses with [Shadow], granting derivative attribute [Nightmare].
Same as [Shadow Power] products, Tiger Demon’s [Ghost Companion] has ‘plant attribute’, after devouring Disease Goblin plugin, gained ‘disease attribute’. If he successfully refines death row into Ghost Companions, will inevitably inherit ‘Insect System (Dao Seed) attribute’… but all belong to Tiger Demon’s shadow Ghost Companions.
Similarly, [Shadow Dream Hole] by discharging pollution to Nightmare Layer, absorbed attribute-fitting [Nightmare Power]. After absorbed by [Shadow Dream Hole], becomes [(Shadow) Nightmare], refined by Zuo Fan into Innate Primordial Qi, extremely satisfied.
However Yuan Zhu didn’t rashly contact and absorb this [Nightmare Power], but stored excess energy in [Shadow Dream Hole], continuing to observe Commander Zuo’s changes.
The other didn’t mind being treated as Little White Mouse at all, instead eagerly analyzed and exchanged with [Shadow Dream Hole] owner.
This freebie energy named [Nightmare Power] by Yuan Zhu has no nightmare-inducing effect on people, merely granting Zuo Fan basic survival and movement ability in [Nightmare Layer].
Commander Zuo excitedly said: “I have premonition, once I refine all body [True Qi] into Innate Primordial Qi (Nightmare), I can wrap physical body with ‘True Qi’, formally step into [Nightmare World] for exploration. This is also the transcendence opportunity all Heavenly Rank Experts possess.”
To escape this world, must cultivate to Heavenly Realm, control a ‘Dream Hole’, then transform into post-heaven Nightmare creature, escape into [Nightmare Layer] to find paths to other ‘Bubble Worlds’.
This exploration method, in Du Ling called [Nightmare School]. But Du Ling’s [Nightmare School] doesn’t play physical body dream entry, but projects with ‘spirituality’ into Nightmare World for exploration, or pulls special items from [Nightmare Layer] into reality, uses home ground strong suppression to eliminate ‘Nightmare species’, obtain spoils.
Underground World lacks cultivation knowledge, so absorbs pollution power from [Nightmare Layer], uses limited ‘Innate Primordial Qi’ for brief survival exploration in Nightmare Layer. Extremely high risk, but has a slim transcendence chance.
Just like land animals practicing a body-protecting water bubble, able to briefly survive underwater.
“Besides most basic ‘Nightmare Walking’, any other abilities?”
Zuo Fan confidently said: “Definitely! But I just entered door, can’t discover yet. Though my True Qi deeply linked with [Shadow], must be a type of Shadow.”
“Then how long until you breakthrough?”
“This [Dream Hole] absorbs too little Power from Beyond the Heavens, my refinement efficiency also limited. To fully breakthrough, needs 1 year. When I absorbed first foreign power from [Nightmare Layer], brain gained some knowledge. Innate transformation requires Twelve Main Meridians corresponding to Twelve Moon Phases, and complete final transformation in [Cocoon Moon]. Do you know what [Cocoon Moon] is?” Commander Zuo asked with puzzled face.
He knew a year has 12 months, even Insect City always has [Moon Worship] custom. Every full moon, arrange batch of civilians to surface (to die), use Moon Worship Ceremony to sacrifice ‘bugs’, let them enter mature transformation period.
But what are Twelve Moon Phases? What is [Cocoon Moon]? Completely unknown. This is cultivation knowledge sealed by Insect City upper level.
Yuan Zhu: “You sure? [Cocoon Moon] is July, Rebirth Moon, most suitable for revival rituals, or limb severance surgery. Uh… [Great Moth] is No.7 in Twelve Mandates. Thus in Moth Year’s July, rebirth effect strongest, very easy to revive. My hometown holds large-scale revival ceremonies concentrated every July.”
Commander Zuo had no reaction to [Great Moth] name, expressed never heard of ‘Revival Festival’: “Now only April, even if spend one year fully refining all ‘Innate Primordial Qi’, still need wait three more months to breakthrough Heavenly Realm.”
But he quickly accepted this reality. After all stuck at current rank for many years, now seeing hope, one year three months not long, still needs step-by-step serious cultivation to arrive.
Yuan Zhu on the other side also confirmed local ‘Insect Cultivators’ have deep connection with [Great Moth]. Go back ask [Mao Mao King], see if she responds?
“Right, the special ‘Magic Array’ you mentioned, when to start arranging? You said once ‘Magic Array’ built, [Shadow Dream Hole]’s effect will further enhance. I’ve already sent the ‘human pillars’ to you, hurry and start.”
Zuo Fan who tasted Dream Hole sweetness, impatiently wanted Yuan Zhu to further expand [Dream Hole] effect. Get his PPT-promoted [Mountain Lord’s Domain] made.
Yuan Zhu repeatedly brushed off: “Soon, very soon!”
