Chapter 120: Shadow Dao Seed And The World Coming To Us
With Commander Zuo as this super white mouse testing the method firsthand, and after two hours of secluded cultivation in the Shadow Space without dying.
Yuan Zhu gradually grew bolder, bringing two white mice and two baskets of sealed magic worms, dragging the Shadow Dream Hole into his private room, and beginning further testing.
In the room, two ordinary death row prisoners were knocked unconscious and thrown in the corner. Yuan Zhu sat cross-legged on the ground, propping his chin with one hand, staring blankly at the black disc hovering in mid-air.
The Shadow Dream Hole, strictly speaking, has always been connected to his spirit and soul. There is no need to probe or fumble; one only needs to enter the Tiger Demon form to directly manipulate it with ease, as if it were an arm, following his every whim.
But because it came too easily, it made him wary, causing him to act cautiously.
Little Spicy Stick advised at this time: “Boss, how about trying to throw a person into the Nightmare Layer to see what brand new nesting effect there is?”
“You think this is the River God? Throw an iron axe into the Nightmare Layer, and it gives you a golden axe? I observed Commander Zuo’s cultivation and figured out the feedback mechanism of the Shadow Dream Hole and Nightmare Layer, which is between 10-20%. Throwing a living person in is not much different from pouring in dead magic worms. Population is an important resource. If you want to nest, you can wait for the next batch of Corpse Seed ‘second-hand zombie flower pots’.”
The entire process of Commander Zuo’s cultivation in the Shadow Space was monitored and recorded by the Shadow Dream Hole. This Shadow Dream Hole was created by the Tiger Demon, thus inheriting the Data Soul Program, and can be regarded as a positioning device for the Great Desolation Immortal Scripture.
At the same time, Zuo Fan did not remove the Shadow Eggplant, Brain Eggplant, and memory stick trio from his body. Therefore, his personal internal cultivation data, the transformation of Shadow True Qi, the operation of meridians and True Qi, were all recorded together.
Now, Yuan Zhu activates the Tiger Demon Stance, and without touching the Shadow Dream Hole, he can download this data to the Boss Template via the Bluetooth function. A high-end and complex Source Qi Breathing Method was thus copied and stolen by him.
Quickly reading this Breathing Method with his spirit, the Tiger Demon evaluated: “This Qi Refining System is interesting, perfectly matching the basic conditions I envisioned for the Ghost Companion Cultivation Method.”
Although the two siblings also cultivated the Breathing Method, producing True Qi and meridians, it was limited to the most basic parts, and they knew the what but not the why.
Zuo Fan is different; he is a senior commander in Cicada City, with strength touching the threshold of the Heavenly Realm, but held back by his status and position from qualifying to pass the Heaven and Earth Bridge; yet he knows all the intelligence he should.
…
The core of the Qi Refining System is to use the Dantian insect egg as the Dao Seed, refining the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, transforming the mortal into immortal, feathered ascension (escaping the Underground World).
The Dantian insect egg derives the Meridian Structure, spreading throughout the body. Using one’s own life Origin Qi to carry insect life information. Through the breathing method, the insect life template is written into one’s own True Qi, making the True Qi energy inherit insect characteristics (insect pollution), ultimately leading to feathered transformation (Armor Casting), optimizing the life level, which is feathered ascension to immortality.
Therefore, the essence of Qi Refining is a kind of Insect System pollution.
Stage 1 Human Rank, starting from the Dantian Dao Seed (insect egg), through the cultivated True Qi for stimulation and energy supply, splitting and proliferating twelve meridian structures. More advanced Breathing Methods will add more hidden meridians and Eight Extraordinary Meridians.
Each meridian can write Insect System pollution into the True Qi, refining a unique Qi Thread, allowing the human body to master the special attributes (spiritual essence) of insects, and capable of detached attacks.
Qi Threads internally can remove Immortal Zombie Tendrils, Iron Poison, and other pollution, nourishing and warming the growth of meridians to gain powerful power; externally, they can erode and assimilate same-species spirit insects, removing the polluting energy of spirit insects, accelerating maturation and transformation, and plundering the insects’ insect information (spiritual essence/spirituality essence).
Therefore, the act of raising insects is both a means of livelihood and a basic cultivation.
Plundering the spiritual essence of fattened same-species insects not only enhances the insect spiritual essence proportion in the Qi Threads, but also accelerates the growth and maturation of the Dao Seed and meridians, while strengthening the cultivator’s spirit and soul.
The mark of great completion is the Twelve Main Meridians running through the whole body, fully developed and mature. The physical body faintly shows silver thread patterns, like innate tattoos.
…
Stage 2 Earth Rank, Insect System True Qi further stimulates the twelve meridians, continuously consuming True Qi to provide nutrients, delivering insect spiritual essence, alienating and proliferating new Acupoint structures. Each acupoint opened can nurture a new Qi Thread, and the soul strengthens accordingly.
Each meridian theoretically can open 30 acupoints, ultimately forming the number of the heavenly cycle, nurturing 360 Qi Threads.
At this time, the cultivator is still pure human, but has accumulated massive Insect System spiritual essence in the body, with the spirit sublimating and mutating, more easily and deeply controlling the Dao Seed System, and able to weave a three-zhang insect nest barrier with a hundred Qi Threads.
In addition, deriving wondrous methods like True Qi condensation, Qi Thread insect control, etc., from Insect System spiritual essence. If advancing further, combining with the increasingly popular Magic Arrays and Ritual Implements in Insect City, it steps directly from wuxia into xianxia.
The insect nest barrier evolves into a small portable Magic Array in minutes, multiple Qi Threads refining a Ritual Implement enables flying sword at a hundred paces, activating various wondrous functions.
…
The final Stage 3 Heavenly Realm, Yuan Zhu only knows it requires the True Qi to absorb a kind of Power of Pollution from beyond the heavens, with attributes further qualitatively changing (Innate Primordial Qi).
Simultaneously casting Insect Armor, using it as an outer cocoon for the physical body’s feathered transformation.
Finally, combining the newly born Polluting True Qi, during the feathering process, completely eliminating the possibility of the Dao Seed (insect egg) backlash on the human body (turning into a human cocoon).
Taking complete possession of this supernatural pollution system shared by human and insect: Dao Seed, Meridians, Acupoints, True Qi. During the feathering transformation, completing the optimization and integration of a brand new life level, and perfectly repairing all defects like severed limbs.
At this point, the human cultivator completely refines the Insect System pollution for their own use. And creates their exclusive Primal Dao Seed, which can split more Dao Seeds to enlighten ordinary natives, creating their own tribe, family, or Insect City.
……
Now, the Tiger Demon has obtained the complete Human Rank and Earth Rank Qi Refining data from the cultivation records in the Shadow Dream Hole.
His Ghost Companion is only one Dao Seed short of a foundation to enter the Qi Refining System, then using Shadow Pollution to replace spiritual energy, embarking on the path of cultivation and transformation.
The Tiger Demon flicked his jade skeleton snake tail, eagerly saying: “Really good, this is what I wanted! We can try starting the Ghost Companion’s Youth Cultivation Manual plan!”
The snake tail swam along the spine to the Tiger Demon’s ear, curiously asking: “Boss, aren’t you going to experience it personally?”
“No interest, I don’t want to stuff a parasite into my body. This Dao Seed and Meridians still need some modifications.”
Spicy Strip: “I don’t think it’s necessary. Just swallow a few ready-made cultivators, refine them into Ghost Companions, then strip out Shadow Meridians? Or nurture our own Shadow Dao Seed as the entry spiritual root for the Shadow System? Add it to the future Anti-Law menu?”
The Tiger Demon nodded in approval: “Right, speaking of Spiritual Roots. I remember you said the Great Desolation Immortal Scripture stores 7 Demonic Monster Spiritual Roots in total. Now I exclusively possess 1.5 shares, with 5 shares unpolluted and uncompressed. Does this thing have similarities with Insect Meridians?”
The snake tail shook its head: “Not at all! It’s just a naming overlap. Like how Kunlun System’s root tendril plants are also called Spiritual Roots; Rogue Immortals’ Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown is also called Spiritual Root.”
“I see.”
Little Spicy Stick excitedly asked: “Now, are we going to swallow these two mortals? Refine them into Ghost Companions, then extract the Dao Seed and Meridians?”
“No! Today’s theme is still the Shadow Dream Hole.”
The Tiger Demon shook his head; he had just imported the cultivation data stored in the Dream Hole into the Boss Template. Now, he planned to further study this thing.
“Because of its appearance, my Mountain Lord’s Domain can already be used now. I studied this supernatural ability yesterday; unlike other supernatural abilities that are used directly, it’s similar to the Ghost Companion, requiring preheating, refining enough Human Pillars to set up and open the Domain.”
Ghost Companions require devouring and refining demonic creatures to have individuals for the Tiger Demon to control.
The Mountain Lord’s Domain is the same; it’s not just casually claiming a mountain as king. It requires marking territory, setting up primitive arrays to form a Domain, then further connecting the Yin-Yang Realms.
The current Shadow Tiger Demon no longer connects the Yin-Yang Realms, but communicates between the Present World and Shadow Realm. The appearance of the Shadow Dream Hole has already helped it take the core step. Now, it only needs to refine matching Human Pillars to immediately open a Shadow Domain in the Underground World.
The traditional normal steps are for the Tiger Demon to first select a site, then laboriously refine Human Pillars, set up the Domain. Then toil day and night to connect the realms, constantly expending effort to consolidate, maintain, and strengthen the connection, ultimately solidifying the Domain.
The existence of the Shadow Dream Hole skips the most core link directly, and without needing to consider maintenance and consolidation. It’s like getting a free plot of land at the start; this bargain is so huge that it made it suspicious all day.
…
As for the specific refining method of Human Pillars, they are alternative Ghost Companions. Requiring powerful sacrifices or heavenly materials and earthly treasures for Ghost Companion/Ritual Implement refining.
The minimum combination is 12, which can then continuously increase to 36 pillars, 72 pillars, 108 pillars… similar to Beijing’s Second Ring, Third Ring, Fourth Ring… further expanding the Mountain Lord’s Domain scale.
As for the Magic Array content?
Sorry, the previous Tiger Demon didn’t understand at all. The mutated Shadow Tiger Demon understands even less.
The Boss Template only tells it to casually drive 12 Human Pillars into the ground to form a ‘circle’, completing the enclosure.
The snake tail tilted its head: “Tch, still have to rely on me to refine Ghost Companions? Should we swallow those two?”
The skeleton snake tail glanced at the unconscious death row prisoners in the corner, preparing to dive into the shadow and swallow the two into the Universe Within The Belly.
But the Tiger Demon quickly stopped his tail: “Hold off! I have a new plan.”
Spicy Strip puzzled: “Huh? Without relying on my Universe Within The Belly, how are you going to refine Human Pillars?”
“Rely on it!” The Tiger Demon pointed at the Shadow Dream Hole nearby and said, “From the moment I opened this Dream Hole, it has been constantly calling to me, urging me to use it to get stronger quickly. Facts prove that as long as you pour garbage into the Dream Hole, you really can get stronger rapidly. Moreover, its functions not only help cultivation, but can also guest as a Universe Within The Belly, using the Dream Hole’s built-in power to accelerate Ghost Companion Refinement, provided there is enough fuel.”
The Tiger Demon patted the two baskets of magic worms with his claw: “This is the fuel, and they are the materials! All I have to do is throw myself in…”
The reason Yuan Zhu enthusiastically helped Commander Zuo cultivate was first to monitor and steal the other’s cultivation data (plan complete), and second to have the other scout for him, to see if long-term stay in Shadow Space cultivation would attract attacks from the outside world (Nightmare Layer) (plan complete).
Facts prove Commander Zuo walked out alive; the Shadow Dream Hole’s concealment and protection functions are not bad. Now, it, the Tiger Demon, also planned to go in and try.
It didn’t want to directly connect with the Shadow Dream Hole to quickly get stronger via Nightmare backlash. But it also didn’t want to miss this opportunity, wasting the backlash energy on Zuo Fan for nothing.
Thus, the Tiger Demon decided to use the Shadow Dream Hole to quickly refine Human Pillars and Ghost Companions, indirectly boosting Tiger Demon strength and founding a force.
As long as the Mountain Lord’s Domain is built, it can continuously extract profit from the Shadow Dream Hole, reinvesting into itself to get stronger rapidly. If the Shadow Dream Hole has hidden dangers, it can remain untainted by karma.
Understanding his boss’s operation, Little Spicy Stick sighed: “Boss, you’re so smart. Let’s start quickly.”
The snake tail bit one death row prisoner, waiting for the Tiger Demon to open the Dream Hole. Then, the Tiger Demon manipulated shadows to form two tentacles, dragging the two baskets of magic worms in as well, before leaping in, turning into a planar shadow and drilling inside.
…
The first time entering his own Shadow Dream Hole in Tiger Demon Stance, a massive amount of information flooded into its brain, stunning it in place for a few seconds.
This time, without needing to guess blindly, it already understood the true origin of this Shadow Dream Hole: “So that’s how it is?”
The snake tail, waiting for the boss to make trouble, urged: “What do you mean ‘so that’s how it is’? Boss, what did you enlighten to this time?”
“I know exactly what’s going on with this Shadow Dream Hole. It came so easily because the Bubble World is unilaterally throwing itself at me; this world is groveling to me!” The Tiger Demon said proudly.
“Throwing itself? Boss, you truly have heavenly talent; even this Bubble World sees your extraordinary nature.”
The Shadow Dream Hole can be discussed from three angles: Dream Hole, Gate, Shadow Dimension and Bubble World.
Dream Hole is a spatial weak point in the Underground World, which can be a naturally existing World Rift connected to the Nightmare; or a hole forcibly shattered in space by a Heavenly Realm cultivator for external pollution discharge.
The Tiger Demon’s strength is unknown, but it possesses partial Gods and Demons characteristics and can communicate with the Shadow Dimension. The Shadow Dimension is very close to the Nightmare Layer, so theoretically, it has the possibility of shattering the void to punch through a Dream Hole.
Therefore, the Shadow Dream Hole is indeed a spatial rift punched through by the Tiger Demon; it is a standard Dream Hole.
As for Gate, it is a unique realm to the Du Ling World, which the Tiger Demon learned from the Bubble World. Gate is a passage entrance created by strength reaching a certain level, breaking through the Present World to connect to another special dimension.
Its Shadow Dream Hole has such a unique structure because the Tiger Demon, in this low-level Bubble World, with Gods and Demons characteristics, met the standard for opening a Gate. And created his own Shadow Gate; the Shadow Dream Hole, besides the basic Dream Hole attribute, simultaneously overlays the Tiger Demon’s Gate template.
Different systems and different practitioners have different Gates. This kind of switchable Gate with a built-in rest space, the Shadow Dream Hole, is the exclusive Gate template belonging to the Tiger Demon. If Yuan Zhu were stronger, he could similarly open a Gate with Holy Light in the Bubble World, and that Gate (Holy Light) would be another scene.
Finally, the relationship between Shadow Dimension and Bubble World.
This Bubble World is severely damaged, with space cracked everywhere; the dying world is seeking self-rescue. The arriving squad caught the World Will’s interest, thus focusing care on the one with the greatest potential and Gods and Demons aptitude, the Tiger Demon.
After it infiltrated the Shadow Layer, the Bubble World constantly called to it to quickly punch through the Shadow Dimension, and proactively lowered the difficulty of Open Heaven’s Gate. Treating the Shadow Dream Hole as a welfare giveaway to help the Tiger Demon easily open a Shadow Dream Hole.
Originally, it only intended to help the Tiger Demon open a Dream Hole, introducing a new variable. As for being able to switch, with built-in space and filter membrane, it was entirely due to the Boss Template’s own special nature, endowing the Dream Hole with Gate characteristics.
