Chapter 172: Concept for a Self-Created Cultivation Method

Chapter 172: Concept for a Self-Created Cultivation Method

"Who made me your disciple? My mastery reflects well on you too," Du Qianjue said with a smirk. "When I ascend to godhood in the future, I will help you restore your fragmented divine consciousness and bring you back to life."

"Resurrection, huh..." Ilex's spectral form appeared next to Du Qianjue, his gaze melancholic as he looked into the dim night sky. Being alive... that word felt so distant to him—a lifetime of sorrow, a lifetime of revenge, six thousand years of slumber, and the final burst of brilliance he had shown.

Ilex never imagined he'd have a remnant of consciousness left, let alone that it would be fortunate enough to find Du Qianjue, a genius who would take him as a master. "Very well, I await the day you become a god," Ilex responded with a gentle smile.

Du Qianjue also smiled. Everything was left unspoken.

"As for modifying cultivation methods, I do have some experience, but I can't help you much," Ilex pondered, stroking his beard. "After all, my expertise is in magic. The fundamentals of all my power are rooted in magic, not cultivation methods."

Hearing Ilex's words, Xue Linglong couldn't help but feel worried. "Modifying a cultivation method by yourself, are you sure there won't be any accidents?"

"I really can't guarantee that," Du Qianjue admitted with a wry smile. How could creating a cultivation method not have risks? At its core, a cultivation method is about channeling the body's power in different ways to unleash greater potential.

Imagine the body as a crossbow and the power as the arrow; the cultivation method is the bowstring. Only by pulling the string can the arrow be launched. The string can be made of various materials, each representing a different cultivation method. The better the string, the stronger the kinetic energy it can generate, enhancing the arrow's force.

Of course, the precision of the crossbow and the quality of the arrow are not considered here. The body (hardware) and the skills (software) can be improved through years of training—enhancing the crossbow's strength or replacing weak skills with stronger ones. But the string can only be improved by using superior materials to handle stronger kinetic energy, shooting the arrow farther and with greater force.

A powerful bow requires all three elements to be present. Similarly, a powerful individual needs a strong body, an effective cultivation method, and powerful skills. The complexity of a cultivation method is exponentially more intricate than the simple mechanics of a crossbow. It involves not only ensuring the smooth flow of countless meridians in the body during practice but also considering the compatibility of the world's power systems and the fit between the soul master's own soul power and the cultivation method.

Du Qianjue's greatest headache is the myriad powerful attributes within his body. A cultivation method that needs to operate within him could cause irreversible damage if anything goes wrong. Previous attempts to connect the meridians to integrate with Xuan Tian Gong involved risks, but the inherently balanced nature of Xuan Tian Gong meant there were no fatal dangers.

However, creating a completely new method with potential unknown risks was a different matter altogether. Just because Xuan Tian Gong didn't interfere with the two soul cores inside him didn't mean other self-created methods would behave the same.

A mishap during creation could lead to the soul cores going out of control. Du Qianjue could end up as nothing more than a spectacular firework, leaving no trace behind.

The fact that Du Qianjue and Xuan Tian Gong coexist peacefully owes much to his earlier ingenious separation of soul power and attribute powers. Soul power flows through his meridians under the influence of Xuan Tian Gong, while all attribute powers are consolidated in a second soul core.

Though switching between attributes requires activating the second soul core, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks: even if more attributes emerge, even inherently conflicting ones, they won't cause issues since the attribute soul core maintains balance, preventing conflicts.

This balance and amplification of attributes from soul rings by the attribute soul core ensures stability and growth. These benefits make the complexities of soul core transformation worthwhile, even if it involves some hassle each time.

Given the critical role of the attribute soul core, any loss of control could be catastrophic for Du Qianjue. Hence, venturing into the Star Dou Forest seemed a prudent choice—to seek guidance from Di Tian, who couldn't help him directly but resided near the Lake of Life.

Di Tian's residence provided a crucial safety net, having saved Du Qianjue from potential destruction during his previous ordeals with the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger soul ring and attribute soul core formation. This time, facing the challenge of creating his own cultivation method, Di Tian's assistance was once again sought—not to mention the invaluable aid of his [future] wife.

With a sinister laugh that sent nearby weak soul beasts fleeing, Du Qianjue seemed more ominous than ever.

Deep in his sleep at the bottom of the Lake of Life, Di Tian suddenly felt a tickle in his nose, nearly sneezing. "What's going on?" Transformed into human form, his majestic features were clouded with confusion. He had sensed a profound malice—a sensation all too accurate for beings of his caliber, indicating impending events.

"Why is he here again?!" Di Tian looked towards the distance, his expression darkening.

(End of Chapter)