Chapter 40: The Second Origin Secret Art!

Chapter 40: The Second Origin Secret Art!

Consciousness serves as the general, commanding the soldiers of Mental Energy!

Yet above consciousness exists an even higher authority...

—Willpower!

The analogy holds true:

Willpower becomes the general, commanding the soldiers of consciousness!

Speaking of willpower, one cannot separate it from heart cultivation. Souls born from Earth excel particularly in this art.

Sixteen years ago, a wandering soul drifted here from another world.

Jiang Zhe watched helplessly as Earth’s power reshaped and transformed his soul, cramming his mind with countless mysteries. Though he couldn’t comprehend them at the time—remembering only vague impressions—the innate talent forged through this anomaly rivaled even the Earth Triarchs themselves.

Coincidentally, he’d recently made progress in heart cultivation, glimpsing the profound essence of a state akin to "Heaven and Man United."

But his version was—【Heaven and Earth are born with me; All things unite as one with me】!

When it came to "integration", Jiang Zhe was unmatched. His scattered consciousness blended seamlessly into the Mental Energy like water merging with milk.

He effortlessly surpassed the most challenging phase of the Mahā Infinite secret art.

The river of psychic force surged like untamed stallions, carrying fragmented consciousnesses in wild torrents.

Yet as the technique activated, the hierarchy shifted.

The wild stallions were tamed, bridled—now guided by the recovering autonomy of the fragmented consciousnesses, which directed the psychic rivers along pre-set "programs" established before the main consciousness dispersed.

The ocean of Mental Energy within the Nuclear Core Space split into 81 roaring rivers, resembling ferocious dragons thrashing within the void.

They competed to devour the diffusing psychic mist, growing stronger while encircling the central purple-golden sphere.

It resembled a "dragon pearl"—devour it, and one would become a true dragon.

Cultivation through conflict?

Jiang Zhe sensed this layer of meaning within the secret art.

As Mahā Infinite activated, the fragmented consciousnesses nourished by Mental Energy sharpened his mind. Sensation gradually returned to his body, though limited to the Nuclear Core Space.

He felt as if sliced into 81 pieces—divided, unfocused, deeply uncomfortable.

If not for the discomfort... this would be an 81-fold Psychic Amplification!

Observing the fragmented consciousnesses guiding the rivers of thought-force,

this "autopilot" function had been pre-set before consciousness scattered. Now awake, he needed to switch to manual control.

But he couldn’t intervene recklessly.

If imbalance caused two psychic rivers to collide prematurely, disrupting the technique’s flow, he’d have to start over.

The situation mirrored controlling a Mental Strength Weapon.

Jiang Zhe possessed 15-fold Psychic Amplification—after waiting briefly, he seized control of 15 fragmented consciousnesses at full power.

The remaining 66 simultaneously fell under divided attention.

Without full control, the surging psychic rivers felt sluggish, as if choked with silt.

Yet compared to before, the 81 "dragons" seemed to receive the "finishing touch", coming alive.

Following the technique’s steps, he guided them to weave and spiral around the purple-golden sphere, gradually generating a vast, resonant aura.

Continuing.

At a sudden moment of inspiration, he recognized the timing.

The "cultivation conflict" had reached its climax. He commanded all 81 psychic rivers to collide violently!

The radiant, nourished fragments of consciousness began devouring one another.

The shattered rivers of psychic force rained down like storms, reconvening below into a boundless ocean.

Gradually, only 17 rivers remained.

These represented Jiang Zhe’s complete mastery—his Psychic Amplification had risen to 17-fold!

Again, he commanded them to collide!

Finally, a single river remained, its core a brilliant, moon-like main consciousness forged from unification.

The discomfort from fragmented consciousness vanished. Jiang Zhe returned to peak condition.

Executing the final step of Mahā Infinite, he directed the solitary psychic river to plunge into the Mental Energy ocean below!

Calm returned to the Nuclear Core Space.

Only the tranquil Mental Energy ocean and the suspended purple-golden sphere remained.

Yet compared to before, the ocean felt abyssal, deeply concealing and nurturing something.

Until—the moon rises over the sea!

The unified main consciousness, born from the 99-into-1 fusion, surged from the ocean, rocketing toward the purple-golden sphere to merge within.

Moon moves, tides rise!

The Mental Energy ocean erupted in waves... no, a total upheaval! The waters surged from all directions, engulfing the purple-golden sphere.

"Buzz~"

The entire Nuclear Core Space trembled.

Abyssal suction erupted from the core—the location of the purple-golden sphere.

Collapse!

The Mental Energy sea vanished into a Black Hole-like vortex, spiraling into the singular core.

"Buzz~"

"Buzz~"

...

The Nuclear Core Space quaked repeatedly. The surging psychic waves disappeared entirely, leaving emptiness—a void like infinite Universe.

In the darkness and silence, two "planets" floated.

Above hung a massive planet, dull purple, devoid of former brilliance, like a lifeless corpse.

This wasn’t metaphor—it was fact.

The once-living Mental Energy sphere had solidified, its soul departed.

Where had the soul gone?

Below!

A smaller "planet" below, cloaked in radiant aura—a glowing orb.

Jiang Zhe’s soul core!

This crystalline sphere, dazzling and pure, consisted of countless pyramid-shaped transparent crystals fused into a planetary form.

A formless, peculiar wave radiated outward from the orb.

Penetrating the Primordial Core, spreading through Jiang Zhe’s body, then outward—pure Mental Energy dispersed throughout his form.

His body, once still, erupted into rapid Evolution.

Bone marrow, bones, organs, blood, muscles, fascia, skin—every Body Tissue underwent miraculous transformation. Genetic codes rapidly deconstructed and recombined.

A Metamorphosis of life!

A leap in life’s hierarchy!

No longer needing breath, flight through air... even within the cruel Universe, he could claim citizenship—barely surviving, scraping by.

"Congratulations, Master, on reaching Stellar-Level!"

Orianna bowed respectfully as Jiang Zhe rose.

"Haha, nothing special", he said, though his smile betrayed his joy.

"Anna, what time is it now?" Jiang Zhe asked, glancing out the window where the crimson sun climbed.

"October 19th, 9:32 AM." Orianna reported precisely, "Your breakthrough to Stellar-Level took 37 hours and 22 minutes."

Jiang Zhe nodded, stepping into the shower. Midway, he asked, "Did anything happen at home these past two days?"

Orianna recounted the events.

"Your grandfather and eldest uncle took turns monitoring the Jiang Clan’s perimeter from the Traditional Martial Arts Hall’s summit to protect your cultivation. Your uncle is on watch now."

Jiang Zhe said, "Send a group message—announce my breakthrough complete. Stand down the alert."

Orianna complied, continuing, "Your father and second uncle each consumed a Spirit of Flora. Their physical strength has risen to Higher Warrior peak. They await the right moment to breakthrough to Stellar-Level. Shall we assist?"

"Father and second uncle both grasp Artistic Conception—decent talent. Let them refine their consciousness gradually. Breakthroughs come naturally with time."

"The female clan members have consumed the Spirit of Flora elixir—strength improving steadily."

"Your Second Brother Jiang has withdrawn from the Elite Training Camp. Recently contacting the Ye family frequently—likely finalizing an engagement."

At this, Jiang Zhe laughed, "Haha, so the 'Black Bear Spirit' has entered spring, ready to make cubs? I’ll need to prepare a gift."

...

Shortly after sending the message, Elder Jiang and his eldest uncle visited the courtyard. Jiang Zhe informed them of his successful Stellar-Level breakthrough.

As he levitated into the air, even though the two had mentally prepared themselves beforehand, their faces still contorted with shock.

After all, this was a 16-year-old Stellar cultivator who’d trained for less than three months!

But there was more.

Jiang Zhe hadn’t even dared to tell them the truth—that he could’ve skipped straight to Stellar Class.

This was the power of a Mentalist, the unrivaled "overlords" of early stages. As long as the blessings within the Consciousness Ocean remained, their cultivation speed would never slow down.

Take Katlan for example. After reaching the Initial War God Rank as a Mentalist, his progress slowed to a crawl.

Luo Feng, after breaking through to Stellar-Level, surpassed his Mentalist cultivation in just one year as a Martial Artist, advancing three stages early.

That was the normal pace once a Mentalist’s "blessings" were exhausted.

Jiang Zhe left the courtyard to visit his parents, paid respects at his second uncle’s home, then got dragged by Second Brother Jiang to complete a War God Rank certification mission.

Two months ago, it was Grandfather Jiang safeguarding him through Wilderness Zones. Now, he was the family’s protector.

When the five reunited, they stared at each other in disbelief, as if living a dream.

The Jiang Clan’s third generation—four strong—plus little Auntie Jiang formed a hunting squad to complete their semiannual trials and title certifications.

Along the way, Jiang Zhe tested his post-advancement strength.

—A single Annihilation Throwing Dagger unleashed a shocking 5,749 tons of force!

Remember, this was triple Genetic Tier, placing his theoretical realm at peak Stellar-Level First Stage. The day he’d solidify his second miniature mental planet was near.

—Flight speed purely on Mental Energy exceeded 2,000 meters per second!

—With Magnetic Field and Mental Energy combined, he hit 2,462 meters per second!

—Stomping the Skyfaring Needle with all three forces rocketed him to 5,048 meters per second!

Truly, the fastest speed on Earth!

...

After seven days training in the Wilderness Zone, they returned on the evening of October 27th.

Autumn winds howled in the cold air. Servants wore sweaters, but Jiang Zhe remained in his dark-blue cultivation robe, gazing at the stars in the courtyard.

His eyes locked onto the Hercules Constellation.

A faint call echoed, like a newborn’s cry—fragile yet brimming with vitality.

"Did you come into being because of me?"

Jiang Zhe murmured, staring a moment longer before turning inside.

In his bedroom, he sealed the curtains shut and ordered Orianna on alert.

His figure abruptly vanished. A closer look would reveal a nearly invisible tiny stone bead left behind.

Internal World.

It had expanded to over 90 meters across.

Once his Primordial Force cultivation broke through to Stellar-Level, his Internal World would start at a hundred meters... Before Cosmic Level, major breakthroughs didn’t multiply tenfold anymore.

"Future expansions should follow this world’s rules", Jiang Zhe mused, stroking his chin.

Stellar-Level: First to Fifth Stage, 100–900 meters; Sixth to Ninth Stage, 1–9 kilometers.

Stellar Class: First to Ninth Stage, 10–90 kilometers.

Reaching Cosmic Level would trigger a terrifying leap—jumping tenfold from 99.99 kilometers at Ninth Stage Peak to 1,000 kilometers.

He theatrically prayed, "Brother Tree, Big Brother Primordial Universe, please keep this pace. If you go too hard, I’ll get stuck at Realm Lord Rank."

He grabbed the Woodcutter’s Axe from the stone table, approached the nine-meter-wide Ancient Tree trunk near three scar-like growths, and swung!

His earlier guess proved right. The chance to chop the tree appeared only when breaking through a realm, symbolizing both beginning and end.

Was it calculated by soul cultivation level?

No, probably by the higher of soul or physical cultivation.

Either way, it only counted once per breakthrough.

Breaking through to Stellar-Level as a Mentalist granted this chopping chance.

He’d waited eight days, spent seven as a full-time babysitter in the Wilderness Zone, before finally entering to fell the tree.

"Brother Tree, better give me a golden legendary drop!"

He roared, bringing the axe down.

Thud!

Golden light erupted, ejecting the embedded axe blade while a golden orb burst from the wound, rolling to the ground.

The Woodcutter’s Axe’s weight skyrocketed. As usual, he released it, letting it fly back to the stone table.

Jiang Zhe bent down. As his fingers touched the orb, the golden light faded, revealing a golden scroll identical to the Life Blueprint.

Unfolding it, vertical characters marked the first left page.

Though he didn’t recognize the script, their meaning was clear.

Second Origin Secret Art!

His eyes widened in shock and delight.

—Not the Doppelgänger Method, yet surpassing even that!

Wait, calm down. Was it what he hoped?

The signature art of the Manhuang World, usable far longer than this world’s Doppelgänger Method, potentially yielding unexpected effects.

Like how Maelstrom Chronicles’ true protagonist didn’t appear until Chapter Eleven. (Just kidding.)

Granted, its survival capabilities couldn’t match this world’s Doppelgänger Method.

If the Secondary Divine Spirit or main body perished, it was truly death—no revival through another body.

But there was an upside: when breaking through to Universe’s Peak, the Secondary Divine Spirit wouldn’t dissipate like a Doppelgänger during Primordial Reversion.

As for law-attunement bonuses? Find corresponding law-bearing artifacts.

The Primordial Water Pearl, used as a Secondary Divine Spirit vessel, enhanced attunement to water-type Celestial Dao.

Finding a vessel here, one mentioned in the original world would work.

—Spatial Core!

A high-grade primordial treasure material containing space laws, nearly identical to the Primordial Water Pearl.

But this one was likely superior.

Jiang Zhe guessed that seeking a vessel required Immortal-tier or Supreme Treasure materials—naturally formed law treasures meeting the requirements.

As he pondered, the Golden Fragment suddenly changed!

"Wait, I haven’t finished reading yet!" he cried.

The engraved characters rapidly faded, leaving the fragment blank within breaths.

But soon, it was as if an engraving knife began carving anew, the familiar Hanxia-style script emerging line by line.

"Dammit! Just translating? You nearly scared the life out of me!"

Fearing more surprises, Jiang Zhe focused, memorizing the content. Gradually, realization dawned on his face.

It wasn’t just translation.

It was refinement—perfectly adapting the Second Origin Secret Art to this world’s rules.

�Shuyou 20221130124045785, Zang Qianxue, Huanmei Qianli Xia, Ancient Heavenly Court Ruler Dizun, Meng Daizhai, Manyue Qiqi, Sheng Yuyouhuan & Siyuan Anle, Black Dew!!! Thank you all for your generous donations!!!

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