Chapter 732: Fusion (II)
"Congratulations, fellow friend. After spending so long in seclusion, you have finally achieved a breakthrough," Zhao Lang said with a smile, cupping his hands in greeting.
His eyes flickered as he studied Cao Hongchang, hoping to spot some flaw. However, he was disappointed. Cao Hongchang was in better condition than ever before, and it did not appear to be an act. His eyes were also clearer than Zhao Lang had ever seen them. The intense violence and bloodlust that had filled them during their previous meetings had faded until they were almost imperceptible.
"It was merely a fortunate coincidence. Please, have a seat. Have you come regarding the Sulfur Sands Archipelago?" Cao Hongchang asked calmly.
The Sulfur Sands Archipelago was rich in Golden-Eyed Spotted Fish, a precious kind of spirit fish. Not only could it be eaten regularly to replenish spirit power, but prolonged consumption could also sharpen a cultivator's eyesight. As a result, the fish was highly popular among cultivators throughout the Chaotic Star Sea.
"Haha, precisely. The Sulfur Sands Archipelago originally belonged to the Evilheart Sect. It was only because you were previously confined and the Evilheart Sect lacked the strength to manage it that this old man helped look after it for a while. Since you have now emerged from seclusion with greatly improved strength, I shall return the Sulfur Sands Archipelago to your esteemed sect," Zhao Lang said with a hearty laugh.
He had come primarily for two reasons. First, to ascertain Cao Hongchang's true condition; second, to decide his next move based on what he discovered. Although the Sulfur Sands Archipelago was important and Zhao Lang was reluctant to return it, he had been no match for Cao Hongchang at his peak, much less the Cao Hongchang before him now, whose strength appeared to have advanced even further.
"Haha, then I must thank you for looking after it all these years, fellow friend..." Cao Hongchang replied with a smile.
Just like that, the matter was settled. His first priority was to recover all the Evilheart Sect's former holdings and territories before gradually planning its expansion. Cao Hongchang had no intention of revealing excessive ambition immediately after emerging from seclusion and provoking the other Nascent Soul realm powerhouses into joining forces against him.
***
While Cao Hongchang began planning to recover the Evilheart Sect's holdings and expand it further, violent black winds howled through the node void deep within the Honggedis Trench. Ferocious yao continued streaming through the node void and invading this world. After more than a year, the battle between the yao and deep-sea exotic beasts within the Honggedis Trench had grown increasingly fierce.
Just as the battle reached its height, a piercing cry rang out, and the waters of the deep sea suddenly began surging. It was as though a massive rift had opened within the darkness. An immense suction force erupted from it, swallowing the seawater, deep-sea exotic beasts, and yao alike. In an instant, the fierce slaughter outside the space-time node came to an abrupt halt, and the dense scent of blood permeating the water vanished without a trace.
The seawater continued surging into that abyssal maw. Before the yao passing through the space-time node could even react upon entering this world, a terrifying suction force seized them. Their surroundings spun violently, and an unknown monstrous creature swallowed them into its belly.
Within the node void, Lin Zheyu had no idea what was happening outside. He did not even notice that fewer and fewer yao were passing through the node void until eventually none remained. By then, he was completely immersed in cultivation. Whenever he finished cultivating with Origin Force, he would enter the Primordial Chaos Pool and continue his seclusion, comprehending the profundities of the Yao Dao from the yao.
Lin Zheyu suddenly appeared amid the violent energy of the demonic lake. Narrowing his eyes, he enlarged his right hand and thrust it upward to seize something. The next moment, he froze slightly, a trace of surprise flashing through his eyes.
"What happened? Where did all the yao go?" Lin Zheyu appeared within the endless void and stared wide-eyed at the completely deserted space-time node. He distinctly remembered that he had only been cultivating in seclusion for a little over ten days...
"Did something happen in the Honggedis Trench?" Lin Zheyu's expression grew solemn.
He sped toward the exit of the node rift. If some unexpected change had occurred within the Honggedis Trench, he might be unable to leave this place. Standing at the edge of the rift, Lin Zheyu exhaled softly but did not recklessly venture outside. He narrowed his eyes as purplish-black scales instantly covered his entire body. His right hand rapidly expanded, then shot through the node rift.
The instant his right hand emerged, Lin Zheyu's expression changed drastically. A terrifying suction force seized his arm, causing his body to lurch forward. He was nearly dragged out of the node void entirely.
Slash!
Lin Zheyu acted decisively. Gripping the Voidcleaver in his left hand, he slashed downward and severed his right arm, sending himself flying backward.
"What kind of monster appeared outside? I was completely powerless to resist it!" Lin Zheyu was deeply shaken.
If he had not immediately severed his right arm with the Voidcleaver the moment he sensed something was wrong, that terrifying suction force would have dragged him out of the node void.
"As expected of the Honggedis Trench. To think such a terrifying exotic beast was hiding here. It seems I won't be able to leave anytime soon..." Lin Zheyu's expression turned grave.
He finally understood why the previously endless stream of yao had disappeared. They had probably discovered the terrifying monster's presence and stopped pointlessly delivering themselves into its maw.
Should I infiltrate the demon realm? The thought suddenly occurred to Lin Zheyu.
Continuing to study these cannon-fodder yao was unlikely to yield any significant gains. Thanks to the insights he had obtained from Cao Hongchang's imitation Yao Demon Nest, Lin Zheyu had gained a deeper understanding of yao.
He discovered that these cannon-fodder yao possessed enormous flaws. The demonic patterns on yao spawned from Yao Demon Nests were incomplete, and the Yao Dao they embodied was likewise fragmentary. If Lin Zheyu wanted to progress any further, these cannon-fodder yao would be of no use. He needed to capture and study large numbers of intelligent yao instead.
"I wonder what things are like on the other side. This space-time node isn't particularly powerful, so there shouldn't be a large yao army guarding it. Once I finish optimizing the divine patterns and break free of the third shackle, I'll enter the demon realm if that terrifying exotic beast still hasn't left. I wonder how far the region of the demon realm connected to this space-time node is from the habitat of those Purple Flame Qilin yao..." Lin Zheyu murmured softly.
He was deeply interested in the mysterious formation he had discovered in the depths of the magma. Back then, his strength had been insufficient, and his spiritual Heavenly Eye had not been powerful enough to uncover the secrets hidden within it. Now that Lin Zheyu's strength had improved considerably and his spiritual Heavenly Eye had undergone a transformation, he might be able to discover something interesting.
After confirming that the yao had disappeared because a terrifying exotic beast had appeared outside the space-time node and not for some other reason, Lin Zheyu relaxed and continued optimizing his divine patterns. Optimizing them was painstaking work that could not be rushed. It required not only an immense accumulation of insights, but also constant experimentation and meticulous refinement of every minute detail.
Even the slightest error could have unimaginable consequences. Lin Zheyu had made several mistakes while optimizing his divine patterns, triggering chain reactions among the patterns within his body that resulted in severe backlash. Fortunately, he had been cultivating within his consciousness space, where even the gravest injuries could be restored. Only because of this had he avoided any serious consequences.
"Let's continue!" Lin Zheyu murmured before sending out a thought: Use 20 units of Origin Force to cultivate the Martial Divine Pattern Secret Manual.
In an instant, a vast surge of mysterious energy welled up from within his body. Lin Zheyu's spirit grew dazed for a moment before he entered his consciousness space and began another seemingly endless period of cultivation. As his divine patterns were continuously optimized and perfected, the once exceedingly crude patterns became increasingly intricate.
The scales covering Lin Zheyu's body grew sleeker and more magnificent as the divine patterns improved. They also became denser, and their texture rose several levels in quality.
At the same time, the fundamental lines composing the divine patterns merged into his blood and circulated throughout his body. As they flowed, these fundamental lines exerted their subtle effects and formed an increasingly intimate connection with Lin Zheyu's physical body. As a result, his physique also underwent a transformation alongside the optimization of his divine patterns.
A dense succession of crackling sounds erupted from within Lin Zheyu's body. Under the combined influence of the mysterious energy and his divine patterns, every bone in his body transformed at an astonishing rate. The structure, density, and composition of his tendons, muscles, skin, membranes, and bones all underwent unprecedented changes, becoming increasingly compatible with the divine patterns.
This transformation worked both ways. While the divine patterns were continuously optimized to better suit the human body, Lin Zheyu's physical body was also transforming to become more compatible with them. The two gradually began to merge, showing signs of becoming a single inseparable whole.
Once the divine patterns completely fused with Lin Zheyu's physical body, they would become a true part of him, just like his tendons, muscles, skin, membranes, and bones.