"Sifanglin, descend!"
Muria's outstretched hand touched the head of the young Black-Scaled Hound inside the cage. In that instant, a ball of light, released by Muria's true self, flowed from his palm into the head of the sleeping pup.
From deep within the heart of his reincarnated body, his true self managed to release this energy without triggering any resistance from this world's rules. Satisfied with the result, his true self then slowly closed his eyes and returned to slumber.
"That should have worked!" Muria stood up and examined the black pup, which remained asleep under the effects of the strong sedative. Stroking his chin, he looked forward to the outcome. If this experiment succeeded, he would no longer have to worry about building a loyal following.
While waiting for the sedative to wear off, Muria sat down at his desk to study. Though he possessed knowledge equivalent to a walking library, it didn't mean he was exempt from acquiring new knowledge.
As an immortal being, his strength could ensure eternal life, but knowledge enriched his foundation, enabling him to gain even more power. In Muria's eyes, the knowledge of the Star-Armor world was incredibly beneficial. The advances in metal refining and energy conduction here were unique, owing to the existence of Star Armor.
This was the crystallized wisdom of a civilization, a precious fruit of intellectual evolution, second only to the source power bestowed by the world itself.
If a being could achieve omniscience, they could achieve omnipotence. For such a being, acquiring power would be as simple as lifting a finger. However, such beings exist only in theory.
"My own cultivation method needs a second revision," Muria thought to himself as he skimmed a theoretical text on energy.
Having learned from past experiences, Muria had refrained from cultivating too rigorously, even though he had awakened his consciousness while still in the womb and had designed a breathing method to channel his energy. Overdoing it could have endangered his mother by causing complications or depleting her nutrients.
So he had waited until he was born to begin cultivating. However, he soon realized that while this world's rules did not restrict physical strengthening, enhancing his physique would require additional resources.
Simply supplementing his nutrition and moving his blood energy yielded limited results. Though he had been in this world for seven years, his body had only reached the upper limits of what a normal person could achieve.
"The limits of an ordinary person are nothing compared to a Star-Armor Warrior!" Muria sighed inwardly. He had observed Star-Armor Warriors' physiques through his mother, Susanna.
Annoyed by being used as her "cuddle pillow," Muria had attempted to request his own room, claiming he was old enough. His mother, however, firmly rejected his plea, insisting he would remain her cuddle pillow. And she enforced this with her superior strength, effortlessly suppressing Muria's attempts to escape.
In fact, Muria found that even when she was asleep, he couldn't pry himself free of her grip. Susanna's physical strength was overwhelming, even unconsciously, revealing the extraordinary nature of a Star-Armor Warrior's body.
Yet, Star-Armor Warriors did not primarily focus on physical conditioning. Their combat power came from their armor, and their enhanced physiques were merely a side effect, sustained by the energy their Star Armor radiated over time.
As Muria pondered, a low whimpering sound broke the silence. He looked over and saw the black pup slowly opening its eyes, struggling to stand on its unsteady legs.
"Sifanglin!" Muria approached the pup and called out the name of his weakest legendary kin.
"Arf!" The pup raised its head, looking up in confusion at the young boy. After a moment, it obediently lowered its head in submission.
"Good dog!" Muria smiled, knowing his experiment had succeeded. "Sifanglin, don't be alarmed. I've extracted your consciousness and transferred it into this body."
Muria crouched down, explaining to the bewildered Black-Scaled Hound. "Your true body is still safe in my demi-plane. This is only a temporary transfer."
With that, he opened the cage, letting Sifanglin step out. The loyal companion that had once aided him through an entire world cautiously navigated its weak, unfamiliar body.
"I'll provide you with a training method and enough resources to help you grow quickly. Make sure to get stronger as soon as possible!"
Unlike humans, pets like dogs and cats drew little attention, and carrying one was never inconvenient.
"Woof!" Sifanglin barked in response, signaling his understanding.
"Train hard. This is my promise to you: the opportunity to grow stronger once again. By the time we leave this world, you'll gain unimaginable rewards and may even resolve your main body's issues."
"Woof!" Sifanglin barked again, wagging his tail excitedly.
"Foolish dog!" Muria chuckled. "Now go outside and keep guard. Don't disturb me while I study! From now on, protecting me is your only purpose here!"
Obeying Muria's command, Sifanglin scrambled on his short legs and ran out of the room, taking a position by the door. He sat vigilantly, watching anyone who approached.
"Just one dog isn't enough; I need a few more animals," Muria murmured, stroking his chin. His demi-plane held many other legendary beings lying dormant.
With Sifanglin's success as a proof of concept, he certainly wouldn't let the others continue to sleep. They, too, could have their consciousness transferred into local creatures.
"My guess was correct. This world has no defense mechanisms against consciousness itself!"
Muria had long understood that every world instinctively repelled high-powered entities from other realms. For any powerful foreign creature that tried to enter, the world's rules would impose severe restrictions.
Even a grand world like Erathia was highly resistant to foreign powers, only accommodating its own native strong beings.
However, Muria had deduced through a certain demon technique that the world's rejection was targeted solely at the power held by foreign high-energy entities, not consciousness alone. If only the consciousness descended, the world would have little reaction. And when Muria used part of that technique to detach his kin's consciousness and merge it with a native creature, he confirmed he was correct.
Of course, this consciousness transfer, while effective, was hardly on par with the full technique. That method, which allowed one to construct a body and soul entirely attuned to Muria, was far superior.
Sifanglin's consciousness transfer, on the other hand, was more akin to "possession" and operated purely on a mental level. Sifanglin had forcibly fused with the puppy's soul, erasing its original consciousness. The difference between the two approaches was clear.
But even so, for Sifanglin, whose potential had been capped at the third level of legend, this opportunity to descend into a creature from a different world was a priceless chance.
…
Three years later.
"Jeros, your tenth birthday is coming up soon. What would you like as a gift?" At the dining table, Susanna smiled at her increasingly handsome son, a trace of reluctance in her eyes.
Soon, he would be leaving to continue his studies in another city, meaning they might be separated for a while.
"I'd like an eagle from the Pamir Plateau as a birthday gift," Muria replied after some thought.
"Don't you already have enough pets?" Susanna asked, a bit helplessly. She glanced at the side of the dining table.
Beside them, three large dogs and four equally impressive cats were eating. These seven animals were all pets Muria had raised over the years. They were extraordinarily large, yet obedient and docile, following commands with impressive precision.
Of course, they weren't Muria's only pets. These were merely the ones allowed inside to eat with him. Other large beasts he owned weren't suitable for indoor dining with their owner.
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