Chapter 277: Occupying The Mountain As King, Returning To The Human World
After the foundational phase of the Mountain Lord’s Domain ended, the Tiger Demon had nothing to do, so it decided to stop.
And with an appreciative attitude, it re-examined the Cave Dwelling that had been defiled by its Worm Pillar magic array + petrified vascular network; the beautiful and mysterious patterns gave the Tiger Demon a sense of intimacy and relaxation like returning to the womb; and there was that dominating feeling as if connected to the Mountain Peak’s bloodline…
Even the Lich Remains suppressed in the center of the Magic Array looked so pleasing, like a high-grade ingredient waiting for the Tiger Demon to taste, currently undergoing processing.
Unfortunately, the number of Worm Pillars it carried (in the Universe Within The Belly) was limited. On this trip out, it only stored 12 in the Universe Within The Belly for emergencies.
It wasn’t that the Tiger Demon lacked the ability to carry more. Rather, the Worm Pillars and Shadow Magic Worms stockpiled in the Universe Within The Belly would be counted toward the Shadow Pollution contained within the Tiger Demon itself.
Once overloaded, the Tiger Demon would trigger Ascension Impulse, begin to be rejected by Du Ling Star, and collapse toward the Shadow Layer. At this stage, once it collapsed (ascended), it couldn’t come back.
If the ascension direction locked onto the Spirit Layer, it would be somewhat better. It was said that the Spirit Layer was flooded with ability users, even more prosperous, and had gathering points for many enterprises, institutions, Rain Courtyard, and Security Bureau in Running City, with a certain probability of borrowing a path to return.
But falling into the Shadow Layer would truly be pitch black, equivalent to crossing into an Otherworld.
So before going out, the Tiger Demon precisely calculated its own safe load range. Now with 8 of the 12 Worm Pillars used, the remaining 4 wouldn’t be of much use, so it simply gave up the work.
Just waiting for next time to gather the quantity for Phase 1 project, then come again for something big!
…
After stopping the work at hand, the Tiger Demon didn’t rush to leave immediately.
It first checked the time, already 6:45 PM. For the depths of the Misty Mountains, perpetually shrouded in fog and unchanging gloomy clouds, it had already entered night early. Outside the Cave Dwelling, the rhythmic chanting of the undead wild beasts had stopped at some point.
It guessed that the Demon Hour had probably ended, and those Yin Fiend Land undead had disappeared again.
To figure out the essential principle of this supernatural phenomenon, it needed to further expand the Mountain Lord’s Domain until it covered the core area of this land and water, then intervene to explore.
From the bloodline inheritance perspective, these animal undead actually had quite a bit of Ghost Companion potential, truly its own Blessed Land!
The Tiger Demon now came to the Cave Dwelling entrance, looking at the already pitch-black sky. Under the darkness perspective, the lush yet deathly silent forest. Apart from the waterfall and stream, there were no insect chirps or bird calls, complete silence, the atmosphere especially eerie, perfect for filming a supernatural horror movie.
At this time, the Tiger Demon pacing back and forth at the Cave Dwelling entrance directly switched back to human stance, sat on the back of the dung beetle Worm Pillar near the Cave Dwelling entrance, and complained: “This kind of Yin Qi Immortal Realm is great everywhere, with mountains and water and splendid scenery, only lacking vitality, a bit like the Underworld! Once I become the Mountain God here, the top priority is to migrate a batch of animals, add some life force, set up the food chain!”
Snake Snake read his thoughts and complained: “You’re seeing the water here and want to be a fishing guy, right? But this environment is too suppressive to living things. The pervasive Death Qi will continuously erode animals’ vitality, gradually turning them into living corpses and undead… How do you plan to overcome it?”
Yuan Zhu raised two fingers: “Two steps! First, mass-refine Ghost Companions shaped like animals to enrich the species, create fake ecological prosperity, and liven up the valley first. Plus, batch-refining Ghost Companions in the Domain doesn’t occupy the Ghost Companion Divine Ability’s memory. On the contrary, the more Ghost Companions in the valley, the stronger the Domain will become.”
Treat the Mountain Lord’s Domain as the Tiger Demon’s private kingdom, a large enterprise, an Industrial Park; then Ghost Companions are employees under the Mountain Lord, precious human resources, future yin soldiers invading the Underworld Yellow Springs.
With Ghost Companions injected with souls, the Mountain Lord’s Domain can come alive and operate better.
“Second step, combine the unique Death Qi pollution in these mountains, purposefully cultivate pollution dependants adapted to the Domain environment. For example, fine-tune the frog farming industry, twist pure pollution-free Experimental Grade frogs into Shadow Magic Frogs suitable for surviving in the Cold Pond. With a large breeding population of Magic Frogs, it can support higher-level predators; similarly, Frog needs food rations, can hatch the insect eggs brought from the Eclosion World.”
“Not only introduce quality animals, but also transplant all the Pollution Mulberry Seedlings and Eggplant Seedlings. And the Immortal Realm Tree’s Pollution Root Tendrils, those dormant Shadow Eggplant Essences, transplant them all into this land and water, cultivate them into local natives! I can even beat Frog Factory to it, establish a 007 Eggplant Essence sweatshop in this Yin Mountain + Cold Pond! Brilliant.”
Eggplant Goblins root in the mountains’ earth by parasitizing Shadow Eggplants, absorb Shadow Pollution + swill food rations to sustain life, perform labor, create production value. When Eggplant Goblins work to death, directly use local materials, intensify Death Qi infusion, directly reanimate as corpse into Undead, continue 007 overtime.
Life-death cycle, endless… Truly ideal! A perfect Underworld Industrial Park.
He didn’t dare massively develop the Disease Garden back then, doing big ‘Eggplant Goblin 007’. Because he knew it was the territory of some unknown evil force. Sneakily digging the corner for some benefits was fine, if something happened, he could still flee.
Once establishing his undertaking (Domain) inside the Disease Garden, not to mention whether it would be counter-phaged and covered by powerful Disease Pollution? If the rightful owner came knocking, he couldn’t run away as the monk, let alone the temple.
But this Underworld Domain in the Misty Mountains was completely different. Ownerless land, no threats around, shielded by layers of fog, unprecedentedly rich natural resources, vast territory. Plus Frog Factory as cover, could reasonably come and go from Running City, frequently sneak into the mountains.
This place was too suitable for entrepreneurship! This king’s place of dragon rising!
What is dragon returning to the sea, tiger entering the deep mountain? This is it.
…
Just as Candle was excited inside, planning which industry to start from to maximize the potential of the Mountain Lord’s Domain.
Suddenly from outside the mountain came a distant deer cry, signaling to its master.
The visitor was precisely the Auspicious White Deer far thrown behind by the Tiger Demon.
At this time, the White Deer had trekked mountains and waters, using flying sword to split rocks and chop trees to clear the path, finally entering the outer area of the Yin Fiend Land.
The deeper it went into the Death Qi fiend land, approaching the Cold Pond area surrounded by mountains on all sides, the stronger the death threat it felt, a strong rejection and hostility toward all life.
So the White Deer stopped far outside a ring of mountains around the Cold Pond, and in the empty valley, let out a deer cry echoing through the mountains, calling its newly recognized Boss.
Afraid that this master had provoked some formidable great demonic creature deep in the fiend land. Not only dying miserably, but also implicating itself.
On the other side, Yuan Zhu sitting in the Cave Dwelling, holding paper and pen constantly writing and drawing, designing and planning this land and water, directly connected to the White Deer via Anti-Law.
And granted a usage permission for Ghost Companion Power (Shadow Death Qi) to the other party in the form of Anti-Law Blessing. Giving the White Deer temporary aptitude to adapt to the Blessed Land environment and breathe and utilize Death Qi.
As for whether it wanted to delve deep into this power and incorporate it into its own Pollution System? That was another matter.
The most typical case being Nie Yin.
Frog Killer Girl still remained very vigilant toward her employer Yuan Zhu, instilling all Shadow Pollution-related powers into the uniform for indirect research and use. Her main body did not overly taint Shadow Pollution.
Just so that one day if she resolved herself, she could immediately cut off contact with Anti-Law. From then on no longer using a shred of Yuan Zhu’s Shadow Power, and earn Wealth through other channels to repay the debt (Anti-Law Gratitude Loan).
But obviously, neither the orc five brothers nor the wild animal White Deer had such vigilance awareness, nor the ability to game with the Anti-Law Master. (Education too low, or lacking higher intelligence)
…
When Yuan Zhu met the White Deer, it had already swum across the Cold Pond, and excitedly bounced around in this pollution fiend land transformed from fear to intimacy, trotting up the stone steps all the way to the Cave Dwelling entrance.
Upon perceiving the Nine Palaces-1 Shadow Magic Array, the White Deer even more happily let out continuous cries. Instead, the pair of fawn heads on its neck were listless, drooping down, dejected.
Yuan Zhu used Anti-Law + Immortal Scripture to conduct a detailed check on this mount, confirming that this pair of toddlers + Deer Head Swords had no major issues.
Whether as independent pollution lifeforms or Sword Contamination’s living sword embryos, they were not adapted to the Yin Fiend Land environment.
Normally, they should fly away from the White Deer and choose to flee. Otherwise, prolonged stay here would gradually erode their vitality, leading to chronic death.
But the turning point lay in the White Deer.
This parasitic mother body + milk dad had obtained qualification to settle in the mountains, and via Anti-Law Blessing could absorb Shadow Death Qi.
Although strictly speaking, the Tiger Demon’s Shadow System and Yuan Zhu’s Anti-Law Shadow were two independent systems. But both anchored to Tiger Demon (Shadow Root), producing massive intersections, thus having close associations.
Yuan Zhu granting the White Deer aptitude to breathe Shadow Death Qi via Anti-Law was essentially sneak-digging the Tiger Demon’s corner, forcibly opening a back door vulnerability on the Mountain Lord’s Domain.
And all this was under the Tiger Demon’s control and surveillance, and it chose to ignore and allow. Play a long line to catch a big fish.
Just like wanting to develop the economy well in a barren kingdom awaiting development, while lacking strong strength oneself, one can only allow some outsiders to exploit loopholes, while also accelerating economic construction.
The White Deer that could suddenly adapt to the Yin Fiend Land environment had long been accustomed to being cut and tormented by the Deer Head Swords, and long-term providing them nutrients, using its own flesh to nurse them to grow.
So, just maintain this state for a period of time. The Deer Head Sword x2 could then borrow the milk dad host to adapt to the local environment, breathe and exhale Shadow Death Qi together with the milk dad, gradually becoming elite monsters + dependants under the Tiger Demon.
…
Yuan Zhu now reached out to stroke the White Deer’s fluffy head: “Good, from today on, you garrison here. No animals in these mountains, no worries about life, you can graze freely. Want meat? Leave this Yin Fiend Land to hunt outside. For rest, return to this Cave Dwelling, use the magic array to accelerate cultivation.”
“Yo!”
With a Brain Eggplant CPU stuck on its head, forcibly enlightened to intelligence, the White Deer happily responded.
It understood that this Cave Dwelling’s grade was far beyond its previous lair.
Although the Shadow Death Qi here made it uncomfortable everywhere, it wasn’t insurmountable. If residing long-term, it could even gain benefits far exceeding its previous lair (Sword Edge Mountain).
Unfortunately, the new home had no Sword Contamination presence, no benefit to its passive growth and evolution. Could only undergo secondary mutation…
But from another angle, it wasn’t a proper Sword Cultivator. Merely modified and forced to sacrifice sword (fawns), half a wild Sword Box. No Cultivation Technique, no Pollution System established, no future in walking the Sword Dao path.
Now with a master, fully qualified to borrow Anti-Law Power to switch to cultivating Shadow Great Dao.
Snake Snake: “In my view, this White Deer’s Path of Anti-Law has two choices: First, imitate Lu Rang, grant it a complete Sword Cultivation Technique, achieve Anti-Law Shadow Sword Immortal! Second path, completely abandon this half-baked passive Sword Dao, switch to other Shadow Paths, but must excise that pair of parasitic sword fetuses early.”
The White Deer’s wild Animal Sword Cultivator identity owed most to this pair of Deer Head Swords.
They tormented the host, perfectly matching Sword Cultivator’s self-mutilation cultivation foundation, stabilizing the White Deer’s rationality, preventing loss of control and distortion, instead stumbling into being able to wield flying swords. Simultaneously, greatly and passively enhancing the White Deer’s Sword Dao cultivation.
Without Yuan Zhu’s intervention, letting it continue growing. The White Deer would become an Animal Sword Cultivator without Cultivation Technique, ignorant of systematically building Sword Dao System, but able to freely wield a pair of innate dual swords. And with continuous getting stronger, forcibly develop intelligence, become smarter.
Its way of breaking through species would inevitably borrow this pair of Innate Flying Swords converted from fawns into itself.
The mark of Sword Cultivator breaking through species grade is condensing Sword Heart and forging it into the selected Innate Flying Sword.
The White Deer obviously lacked Sword Heart. But Deer Head Swords were living things, self-bearing souls (sword souls), life-connected, could also through symbiotic fusion cultivate an alternative Innate Flying Sword, reaching Sword Immortal realm.
By then, White Deer would be a living Sword Box, fawns living Flying Swords. Completely matching Sword Dao’s Non-Sword and Life Sword standards.
Yuan Zhu thought and replied: “I choose the second route! Removing the parasitic flying swords is good too, this pair of Deer Head Swords is unsightly, greatly lowers the White Deer’s appearance, and the fur color doesn’t match, looks like a stitched monster. Taking it out is too low-class, loses my face!”
Merely for aesthetic, cool, showing off factors, Yuan Zhu decided to cut off the White Deer’s Sword Immortal path! Even walking this path well, at best a living Sword Box, no prospects.
He no longer had energy to open another Sword Immortal branch for research.
He himself had Holy Light, Anti-Law, Shadow. Anti-Law + Shadow could open Frog-Type, Insect System, Knight System, Plant System (Kunlun True Immortal / Rogue Immortal)… and many other routes. Both enriching the Immortal Scripture’s Database; and perfecting the Shadow System framework, custom-tailoring a Pollution System fitting Du Ling characteristics for the Tiger Demon.
…
After instructing the White Deer to guard the Yin Mountain Cave Dwelling in his place, Yuan Zhu was still unsatisfied. So he switched to Tiger Demon stance again, spat out eight Ghost Companion Shadow Magic Worms from the Universe Within The Belly.
Respectively binding each one to the corresponding Worm Pillar. Just like fully automatic smart new energy vehicles signing a magic contract with charging piles.
Then, the Tiger Demon appointed the eight Shadow Magic Worms with little intelligence as mountain patrol envoys, patrolling Yin Mountain within the Worm Pillars’ maximum WiFi signal range, annihilating any intruders.
Only then did it show a satisfied expression, deciding to go home.
