Chapter 41: The Second Origin

Chapter 41: The Second Origin

The more Jiang Zhe read, the more astonished he became. The adaptation was flawless, seamlessly integrating with this world’s cultivation system.

As long as one’s consciousness was strong enough, cultivation could begin as early as the stage where the soul core emerged.

In other words, theoretically, one could start cultivating at the minimum requirement of Stellar Rank—the current state of his soul core being a "Miniature Planet" at the center of his Nuclear Core Space.

Stellar Rank corresponded to the "Miniature Star" at the galactic core;
Cosmic Rank resided within the "Black Hole" at the spiral arm’s center;
Domain Lord Grade solidified the soul’s Crystal Core, plunging it into the nascent Life Core;
Realm Lord Rank fused soul and primordial force into a single Origin Pearl.

And beyond that—

Came the most unique stage in this devouring world system: Shattering the soul to fuse it with the body, forming the Divine Body.

Reaching this stage rendered one utterly incapable of cultivating a Secondary Divine Spirit.

The secret art contained vast knowledge, so profound that Jiang Zhe could only describe it as "cosmic" in scale.

Possessing a tangible, divisible soul entity was merely the first threshold of cultivation—
The first step toward "slicing" the soul.

But one’s soul foundation also needed immense strength to survive the self-inflicted fragmentation.

An analogy:
Like undergoing major surgery, the body had to be robust enough. Otherwise, reckless incisions could kill the patient or leave them bedridden for years, even if the operation succeeded.

Thus, the secret art had a second threshold—unyielding will, consciousness, and mental energy.

Finally, a third requirement: finding a suitable vessel.

According to the Golden Fragment’s feedback, there were four cultivation tiers:

The lowest—Stellar Rank, a "bankrupt-style" cultivation method;
The optimal—Stellar Class, where consciousness and mental energy met baseline requirements, making soul-core exposure and division easier;
The common—Cosmic Rank, where success was guaranteed with the right vessel;
The perilous—Domain Lord Grade and Realm Lord Rank, where success remained possible but slicing hardened souls carried a high mortality rate, a true life-or-death gamble.

"Vessel, vessel…"

Jiang Zhe scratched his head, staring at the Golden Fragment on the stone table. He muttered a prayer to the heavens.

"Mechanical Race Immortal brother, I gave you a proper burial. Shouldn’t be too hard to repay me with a Secondary Divine Spirit vessel as a funeral bonus, right?"

Forget Spatial Cores—right now, even a Supreme Treasure material was a luxury. He’d have to settle for a Celestial and Terrestrial Spirit Object at the Immortal level.

The Mechanical Race excelled at weapon-making, demanding strict material and energy standards…

Considering this, perhaps his Immortal ancestor’s stockpile held treasures.

Never mind space or time—first secure a spirit object tied to the eight lower laws as a fallback.

"I’ll fight for that World Bracelet once I get out…" Jiang Zhe plotted inwardly.

Another thought struck him: "If I really find a vessel at Stellar Rank, should I adopt the Golden Fragment’s 'bankrupt-style' method?"

This method involved boosting his Genetic Tier to 7–8 times its capacity, inflating consciousness and mental energy until his soul core retreated into the dark-purple energy sphere. Then, with will, consciousness, and mental energy fused, he’d cleave his soul in one decisive stroke.

Only someone with his Brain Domain Width—his Consciousness Ocean still holding remnants of the "Gift"—could attempt this.

Ordinary cultivators at Stellar Rank lacked the prerequisites for a Secondary Divine Spirit.

Jiang Zhe shook his head. "No, better to play it safe. Unlike Luo Feng, I’m not cornered. No need to gamble. The second plan is best."

"The priority is securing a spirit vessel at Stellar Rank."

"Reach a minimum of Genetic Tier 5, cultivate to the eighth stage of Stellar Rank as a Martial Artist, digest all 'Gifts,' and ascend to the first stage of Stellar Class as a Mentalist. That’ll be the perfect timing for forging a Secondary Divine Spirit."

As he pondered, Jiang Zhe suddenly recalled cultivation tips about the Secondary Divine Spirit—

Like the Nuwa Visualization Technique.

Or any visualization method, really.

"The one who mastered visualization early could split their soul ahead of time. Visualization also accelerates recovery from post-fragmentation weakness."

He grumbled, "Old Tree, you gave me a Secondary Divine Spirit secret art but no visualization method?"

"Come on, lend me one!"

Picking up the Golden Fragment, he flipped it over, noticing an unusual texture on its back.

"Huh?"

Turning it around, he found a new secret art inscribed in Hanxia script.

"You actually included this?"

"Dormant Dragon Technique? Fuyaozi? Isn’t that… Chen Tuan the Grandmaster?"

Well-versed in ancient texts, Jiang Zhe recognized the name instantly. "Fuyao" came from the Nan Hua Jing:

"Riding the whirlwind to soar nine thousand miles, riding the breath of June."

"This has nothing to do with the Second Origin Secret Art! It feels like a forced patchwork, scribbled on the fragment’s back."

Flipping Life Blueprint, he found no such addition on its reverse.

Reading the new technique, Jiang Zhe’s shock deepened until he broke into a grin.

The Dormant Dragon Technique was cultivable!

Not a physical art, but one refining the mind, consciousness, and will—a soul cultivation method.

"The dragon returns to the sea, yang hides in yin. Others call it the dormant dragon, but I call it the dormant heart. Silence its use, breathe deeply. Resting on white clouds, the world has no kindred spirit."

"Once, Zhuangzi dreamed he was a butterfly, flitting joyfully, unaware of being Zhou. He awoke, startled to be Zhou again. Was Zhou dreaming of being a butterfly, or the butterfly dreaming of being Zhou? This is the transformation of things."

Absorbing the text, Jiang Zhe instinctively recited the Nan Hua Jing.

He murmured, "In short—the cultivation method is… sleep! Imitate Zhuangzi’s butterfly dream, nourishing the soul’s metamorphosis through dreamlike illusions!"

"Brilliant! I’ll try it after I get out." He snapped the Golden Fragment shut, eager to test it.

The Dormant Dragon Technique’s essence was "sleeping"—specific postures, steps to connect with the ethereal essence of Zhuangzi’s dream.

Though it sounded complex, Jiang Zhe memorized it instantly, confident he’d master it after a few tries.

"Great! This fills the visualization gap. No more worries about post-fragmentation recovery."

Stacking the Golden Fragments neatly on the stone table, he mused:

Even a Cosmic Sovereign would treasure these. Jiang Zhe grew eager for whatever surprises "Old Tree" had left.

Counting on his fingers, he outlined his next steps:

"First, elevate my Martial Artist cultivation to Stellar Rank. Then, head to the Universe for nutrient solutions, accelerating to Stellar Rank’s eighth stage to fully unlock my Mentalist power."

"Money matters can wait."

"Finding a Secondary Divine Spirit vessel… can’t rush fate."

"My immediate priority is reshaping my soul structure using the Second Origin Secret Art’s methods."

Cutting an unmodified soul was asking for disaster.

Jiang Zhe couldn't help but marvel at the soul transformation techniques described in the secret arts. Just as Luo Feng's cultivation of the Soul Stamp required reshaping one's soul into the form of a Yunmo Star, or the Supreme Sound Arts demanded transforming one's soul into the shape of a Demon Sound General, altering one's soul structure significantly enhanced its adaptability and resilience. This prevented scenarios where a single slash could shatter one's soul and send it ascending prematurely.

Reflecting on the soul transformation methods recorded in the Second Origin Secret Art, Jiang Zhe felt a mix of awe and excitement. "This soul modification technique does more than prepare for soul division. Once successful, I can simulate the Yunmo Star's unique mental energy without needing its Soul Mark inheritance or painstaking self-modification. I'll be able to cultivate the Soul Stamp technique directly!"

"But honestly, the Soul Stamp method itself... doesn't interest me much. Its most notable feature—enslaving others—has a nasty side effect that could backfire on me."

"What truly excites me is the possibility of cultivating any mental energy techniques from other cosmic schools without needing to reshape my soul to match their requirements."

Rubbing his chin, Jiang Zhe inhaled sharply. "Hiss—Lesser Wu Xiang Gong? Then there's the 312 Core Fundamentals of Control Mastery, 186 Core Fundamentals of Illusion Mastery, Control Mastery Treatise, Illusion Mastery Treatise, Tower of Void..."

"Most of these are foundational techniques I can't skip. If I want to progress far, I'll need to work diligently."

"And absolutely can't ignore the Dormant Dragon Technique..."

...

Exiting his Internal World, Jiang Zhe reappeared in his bedroom.

"Anna, I'm about to breakthrough to Stellar-Level cultivation!"

"Master, your consciousness and mental strength already meet the requirements. Your physical body has also reached the peak of the Novice stage. The breakthrough will be effortless—just a matter of breaths."

Orianna transmitted the prepared breakthrough technique to him.

Following nine movements similar to the Guiding Art, Jiang Zhe's body burned as if every cell were boiling. Residual Spirit of Flora nutrients previously unabsorbed now ignited within his cells. Stray Genetic Primordial Energy droplets coalesced into streams, then rivers, surging from his entire body toward his abdomen's Dantian region like countless tributaries flowing into the cosmic abyss.

Boom!

...

A previously nonexistent Dantian suddenly erupted into existence!

Just like his Mental Energy breakthrough eight days prior—gathering, compressing, collapsing...

His consciousness trembled, his body shuddering involuntarily. The overwhelming pleasure almost made him moan aloud.

Ah, so much better!

Within the vast Dantian, a miniature planet materialized. Not transparent, but dark purple—composed of countless dark purple hexagonal crystals fused together. As the "Miniature Planet" rotated, it emitted strange waves. Jiang Zhe willed it, and dark purple Primal Energy surged through his body.

Just like last time, his marrow, bones, organs, muscles, fascia, meridians, and skin underwent rapid metamorphosis—this time even more intense!

"Argh! What's this pain?!"

Eyes wide, Jiang Zhe tore off his robe, staring at his chest. It felt like someone was carving stone with hammer and chisel, creating something...

A dark purple vertical mark gradually emerged on his chest, lengthening and widening until about seven centimeters long—reminiscent of the Third Eye between the brows of the mythical Erlang Shen.

Like an eye opening on his chest... and damn it, even with dark purple eyeliner!

He clearly felt something being carved open in his chest, expanding as the pain intensified. Simultaneously, strange energy threads spread like blood vessels, connecting to his entire body—marrow, bones, organs, fascia, skin—in mere heartbeats. The chest transformation sought to replace his Dantian and Consciousness Ocean as his body's core.

Most strikingly, this mutation occurred precisely where his Cinnabar Palace should be—the location where his Primordial Core normally hovered. Now it had burrowed inside.

A space within space?

Who taught you to play this way?

When the transformation finally slowed, the chest expansion abruptly contracted—like a heartbeat tugging all connected "threads" simultaneously.

Jiang Zhe felt as if his very bones were being pulled out!

Fortunately, this was the final wave. The Stellar-Level physical metamorphosis concluded.

Inside his Nuclear Core Space, the dark purple sphere mechanically spewed massive amounts of Mental Energy as his physical quality leaped. Gathering, swirling, collapsing...

Two smaller transparent "Miniature Planets" formed beside the central one, orbiting it. His Mentalist cultivation had reached Stellar-Level Third Stage!

This was the terrifying power of a 40-fold Brain Domain Width!

Typically, only Stellar-Class Ninth Stage Mentalists could achieve 40x Psychic Amplification. But Jiang Zhe lay sprawled on the floor, panting, his sweat pooling like he'd just wet himself.

Orianna circled him like observing a rare species.

Rolling his eyes, Jiang Zhe asked, "Anna, can you tell what special ability I've awakened?"

Babata had identified Luo Feng's "Adamantine Body" by the cracking sounds during his transformation.

Orianna, having accessed Babata's memories and reviewed all Yunmo Star inheritances, certainly could identify a Stellar-Level ability—especially one this obvious.

Jiang Zhe stared at the seven-centimeter-long, two-finger-wide diamond-shaped mark on his chest.

"Master, this ability isn't recorded in Yunmo Star's archives."

Orianna paused. "You seem to have created another Internal World?"

Internal World?

Yes, it felt similar!

Frowning, Jiang Zhe sat up, examining the ability's function.

"It's like one—except a 10-meter cube entirely composed of lightning energy."

"...I need to fill it with Thunder Artifacts? The space will decompose them, storing special energy?"

"This energy could enhance my body, erupt in crises, or be expelled as an energy attack..."

Jiang Zhe's eyes gleamed with interest. In the vast universe, human physicality was mediocre. Some races could traverse the Dark Abyss at Realm Lord Rank, while humans needed tenfold Genetic Tier even as Domain Lords. Even Immortal Divine Bodies couldn't match other races' advantages—metallic lifeforms' near-indestructible bodies, energy beings' condensed forms...

【Note: These racial traits aren't fan-made. All observed by Luo Feng on the Exo-Warfield.】

Brothers, don't panic! The Eternal Serpent is a Secondary Divine Spirit—I'll get it for you soon!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end