The construction of the original Dreamspace was initially intended to utilize the flow of Abyssal energy.
If Xu Yuan wished, he could construct a new illusory space at any time.
Moreover, issues with the original Dreamspace wouldn't feed back onto Xu Yuan's body. After all, it was designed to interact with Abyssal energy, choosing this method to avoid the potential hazards of directly devouring Abyssal energy that might leave residual imprints. Since it was chosen as an alternative to prevent the possible threats Abyssal energy could bring, Xu Yuan naturally wouldn't leave any means for the original Dreamspace to counteract him.
Cao Dezhi mastered the Seven Forbidden Techniques, so he could control the dream space to a certain extent without Xu Yuan's interference. Though not as fully as Xu Yuan, it was sufficient to stabilize the space.
"Your illusory space is close to reality, which also means there's a possibility it could be discovered if carefully examined," Cao Dezhi said.
In mid-air, Cao Dezhi took the opportunity to confirm some details with Xu Yuan.
"Yes, which is why I need you, Senior, to help stabilize this illusory space. Especially during the upcoming Abyss Tide, whether the illusory space can be stabilized will determine if the new soul-guided weapons can function effectively over a long period."
Xu Yuan's words caused Cao Dezhi's expression to change continuously.
He had previously thought that the new soul-guided weapon Xu Yuan developed would be highly beneficial, providing the Blood God Legion with an incredibly powerful tool in various aspects.
However, now he realized that everything still required effort.
This cost was quite reasonable.
To maintain the advantages of the new soul-guided weapons, they needed to work harder to gain control over the entrance of the Abyss Passage.
"We're here."
Soon, Cao Dezhi brought Xu Yuan to the entrance of the Abyss Passage.
With Xu Yuan's prior notice, Cao Dezhi immediately covered the area with his spiritual power.
Even so, he didn't sense the existence of the original Dreamspace.
Cao Dezhi looked at Xu Yuan with a hint of suspicion.
Are you sure your illusory space still exists?
"Senior, as I said, although this illusory space is close to reality, it is ultimately still an illusion. Without any fluctuations, finding it isn't simple. My concern isn't about its exposure but the fluctuations generated when the new soul-guided weapon performs energy conversion."
As he spoke, Xu Yuan took out a soul-guided laser gun. Activating it with soul power, a storm formed at the muzzle. Instead of firing a laser, it absorbed the surrounding Abyssal energy into the gun.
As Abyssal energy was absorbed into the laser gun, the array inside began to take effect. The Abyssal energy disappeared from the soul-guided laser gun, and strands of stellar energy started to appear in the gun's energy storage area.
Carefully sensing all this, Cao Dezhi traced the Abyssal energy and finally noticed something.
"Here?" He sensed the vast illusory space enveloping the surroundings.
However, even after sensing it, he couldn't enter it.
Despite trying many methods, he only managed to sense it.
Cao Dezhi looked at Xu Yuan in surprise.
"Illusions are ultimately illusions. To further feel everything within my illusory space, one must be 'invited' in."
Of course, Xu Yuan didn't explicitly explain everything.
In fact, if one's willpower control was high enough, they could delve into the dream space unaided.
Unfortunately, even Cao Dezhi, who practiced the Seven Forbidden Techniques, clearly hadn't achieved that level of willpower.
The Seven Forbidden Techniques merely unified essence, energy, and spirit, enhancing willpower collectively, but mastering them didn't guarantee advancement in willpower. Strictly speaking, Cao Dezhi practiced the Seven Forbidden Techniques to control space, not for cultivation.
Conversely, Yun Ming initially developed the Seven Forbidden Techniques to control space, but as his understanding of essence, energy, and spirit deepened, after achieving the Limit Douluo level, this technique became a method of cultivation for him.
Xu Yuan, from the start, used the dream space to practice this technique, coincidentally gaining profound insights into the role of willpower within the Seven Forbidden Techniques. He was essentially using the Seven Forbidden Techniques for cultivation and incorporating this ultimate technique into his daily practices.
After speaking, Xu Yuan activated his soul skill, guiding Cao Dezhi's consciousness into the illusion.
The essence of the dream space was still an illusion, so only those influenced by it, besides the caster, could perceive this space.
Cao Dezhi's consciousness entered the primitive starry space, and as his spiritual power spread, he quickly understood seventy to eighty percent of the situation, consistent with what Xu Yuan had described.
His attention wasn't on the vast amount of stellar energy that Xu Yuan had deducted and left in the space; instead, he focused more on the space outside.
Another perspective of cosmic space.
"You're letting me control this place—aren't you afraid I'll use up all the stellar energy you've accumulated?" Although Cao Dezhi didn't focus much on it, he noticed and joked with Xu Yuan.
"Senior, you're already a Limit Douluo and don't need to increase your soul power further. If you really want to advance, you should study raw stellar energy. Even though my stellar energy is still in its raw form, it has been smoothed out, making it less useful for you."
Cao Dezhi looked at Xu Yuan in surprise.
"Your teacher truly taught you everything in advance."
"When I understand and have doubts, my teacher naturally clarifies them for me," Xu Yuan smiled.
Cao Dezhi nodded, his gaze shifting to the boundary of the dream space, extending his spiritual power.
"This is indeed an unusual opportunity for me. Direct contact with cosmic space is very important."
Xu Yuan wasn't surprised.
Bringing Cao Dezhi here was delivering this opportunity to him.
Xu Yuan wanted to win over Cao Dezhi's strength because, in many ways, Cao Dezhi had the potential to develop a rebellious mindset against the Sea God.
Of course, recruitment couldn't be directly stated, especially not by telling a Hall Master of the Tang Sect about the Sea God's ten-thousand-year plan and the disasters it brought to Douluo Star.
This would only inform Cao Dezhi of the truth and hope simultaneously.
If the Sea God had a millennium plan, there must be concluding measures.
Cao Dezhi might become dissatisfied with the Sea God due to the disasters brought by the Abyss to Douluo Star, but he might also suppress his emotions to solve the Abyss crisis.
As long as someone could solve the Abyss issue, regardless of their nature, he would willingly assist.
This was something Xu Yuan wanted to avoid.
Therefore, he needed Cao Dezhi to explore everything himself, gradually unraveling the truth.
Prolonging this process, allowing dissatisfaction to accumulate to its peak, was Xu Yuan's prepared method.
As for how to let Cao Dezhi discover all these truths, it is naturally related to the original Dreamspace.
The original Dreamspace itself didn't contain the truth, but the opportunities it provided to Cao Dezhi contained this chance.
"I never expected such a nearly real, complete space could be created by a Soul Emperor like you. I've tried stabilizing this space externally with essence, energy, and spirit, and it's manageable. Facing the Abyss's impact, my strength alone might not be enough, especially if the Abyssal Sage King personally intervenes—your space will inevitably collapse."
After all, this was a space created by Xu Yuan, a Soul Emperor. Even though it was illusory and could avoid many interfering factors, it still exposed internal weaknesses by introducing Abyssal energy to function.
The Abyssal Sage King, the Plane Master, had the ability to directly control Abyssal energy, remotely manipulating the Abyssal energy within the original Dreamspace to destroy it from within.
"The large array you mentioned still needs to be established, and it must be completed before the Abyss Tide arrives. Only with the array do I have a chance to stabilize the operation of this space under the Abyssal Sage King's impact."
Xu Yuan showed a surprised expression.
You have confidence in stabilizing the original Dreamspace even under the Abyssal Sage King's intervention?
"In fact, if it becomes impossible, abandoning this space is fine. Even if it's destroyed, I can rebuild it quickly—it just needs to be paired with the new soul-guided weapons," Xu Yuan said.
Cao Dezhi laughed, "But wouldn't the stellar energy you stored here go to waste?"
Xu Yuan's face turned awkward.
He had deducted a significant proportion.
Basically, ten units of cost yielded twenty to thirty units of return, leaving him with seven to fifteen units.
As technology improved, profits would rise. Since the true driving force came from the Abyss, perhaps a ten-unit cost in the future could yield fifty units of return.
At that point, Xu Yuan's deduction might reach thirty units.
The calculation of the so-called input cost was abstract. Quantifying it to such a low value was because the fundamental input was hunting Abyss creatures.
Hunting Abyss creatures only considered mortality rates.
Death meant investment.
Alive meant profit. Because the Blood God Legion soldiers hunted Abyss creatures using Abyss energy, in addition to infinitely recoverable physical strength, mental strength, and the initial charging required for soul-guided weapons.
"Your development of the new soul-guided weapon has already greatly helped the Blood God Legion. It's only right for you to seek personal benefits. As far as I know, you've already surpassed your corresponding soul power level in terms of mastering ultimate techniques and other aspects. The most urgent thing for you to improve now is your soul power. These stellar energies should be prepared for your own cultivation, right?"
Xu Yuan nodded without denying it.
"Hmm, although I haven't specifically calculated the conversion ratio of your space, after a successful Abyss Tide, provided the array is built smoothly, the stellar energy you can leave here will be enough to create a Title Douluo."
One Abyss Tide, one Title Douluo.
It wasn't exaggerated, considering the immense threat of the Abyss Tide. The Blood God Legion would lose many hands, possibly even sacrificing Title Douluo-level experts.
Sacrificing Title Douluo-level experts to withstand the disaster, converting the disaster's power into energy capable of creating a Title Douluo wasn't strange.
Of course, the breakthroughs achieved during resistance through extreme bursts were another matter.
Combined, the two paths might exceed the losses.
Only by achieving greater gains than losses could solving the Abyss crisis truly have hope.
However, the energy capable of creating a regular Title Douluo might not be enough for Xu Yuan.
And all this depended on generating such substantial returns.
"This technology of mine is just starting. Even with the establishment of the array linked to my illusory space, it's hard to fully convert the power of the Abyss Tide into results," Xu Yuan shook his head.
He remained realistic.
The establishment of the array seemed like a huge opportunity with substantial gains, but Xu Yuan knew such gains were minor.
True gains depended on how many Abyss creatures the legion could kill.
After a period of controlling the original Dreamspace, Cao Dezhi no longer needed Xu Yuan's help to sense this space, allowing Xu Yuan to leave.
Returning to the camp, Xu Yuan went back to his dormitory.
"For Cao Dezhi, there's no need to hold too much hope. If he can be won over, great. If not, it's not a loss. From his position, even if he can't join my side, in the final battle, as long as he can contribute, he will definitely fight against the Abyss."
Because of this, Xu Yuan didn't hesitate much before deciding to help Cao Dezhi first.
Although Cao Dezhi didn't attempt anything on the spot, only trying to control the primitive starry space as Xu Yuan suggested, Xu Yuan could still sense his emotions.
It could be said that Cao Dezhi's attention wasn't on controlling or stabilizing the original Dreamspace but more on the area where the original Dreamspace crossed the spatial passage at an illusory level to directly contact cosmic space.
At the Limit Douluo level, advancing further in soul power was impossible. This was the limit of the soul master system and could be considered the maximum capacity Douluo Star could bear.
To break through, according to the directions explored by generations of Limit Douluo, the stars offered the greatest opportunity and broadest applicability.
But it was also the hardest.
So far, there hadn't been a single soul master who fully cultivated using raw stellar energy and completed a breakthrough in cosmic space.
However, contacting and perceiving raw stellar energy undoubtedly offered immense benefits to Limit Douluo. While perceiving raw stellar energy, directly experiencing the cosmic environment and constantly verifying one's insights would only amplify the benefits.
Cao Dezhi had been a near-deity for decades, even potentially breaking through to level hundred in a few years during the decisive battle, accumulating immense strength. The environment Xu Yuan provided was like a stepping stone.
Though it couldn't guarantee a direct breakthrough on Douluo Star,
it could significantly boost his confidence in breaking through, even allowing him to explore divine-level cultivation methods and insights before breaking through.
"All planning is futile; only strengthening myself is fundamental."
Reining in numerous distracting thoughts, Xu Yuan sat cross-legged on the bed and began meditating.
The Great Devouring Heaven and Earth Technique circulated, drawing in massive amounts of stellar energy, integrating it into his body.
This stellar energy came from the dream space, transferred from the primitive starry space before he left the Abyss Passage.
The Five Elements forces rotated, strengthening the five internal organs, devouring and digesting the vast stellar energy.
Blood essence, soul power, and even spiritual power rapidly increased.
The next day.
Xu Yuan opened his eyes, feeling the changes in his body, summarizing last night's cultivation results, and revealed a satisfied smile.
"Soul power advanced one level, blood essence further enhanced, and spiritual power significantly strengthened."
For Xu Yuan, stellar energy permeated his essence, energy, and spirit cultivation, providing nourishment for his three systems simultaneously.
The stellar energy he devoured last night was the harvest from hunting Abyss creatures during development and verification phases, equivalent to around fifteen adolescent Ba An.
Adolescent Ba An weren't at their peak; they didn't reach leader-level strength, at most being small leaders, equivalent to Soul Emperors in the soul master system. However, their powerful physical advantages allowed them to burst forth with Soul Sage-level strength.
Ultimately, the life tier of adolescent Ba An was only at the Soul Emperor level.
Devouring the stellar energy produced by the life energy reflux of approximately fifteen Ba An, Xu Yuan only advanced one level of soul power.
Before today, Xu Yuan had been training at level sixty-five for two months, and with this additional force, broke through to level sixty-six.
Previously, Xu Yuan had taken three months to advance from level sixty-four to sixty-five.
Calculating this way, the stellar energy generated by the life energy reflux of fifteen Abyss creatures of the same level equaled one month's worth of Xu Yuan's cultivation results.
It could also be seen as equivalent to a third of a level increase for a soul master.
"Strictly speaking, I also used this portion of energy for cultivating blood essence and spiritual power. Based on normal soul master conditions, we'd get triple the effect, meaning the stellar energy produced by the life energy reflux of fifteen Abyss creatures of the same level is enough to increase a soul master's soul power by one level."
"This is calculated based on the stellar energy I harvested. Considering my deduction rate, the ratio of stellar energy normal soldiers obtain isn't this high, so it's approximately fifty."
Killing fifty Abyss creatures of the same level in exchange for a one-level increase in soul power.
Would anyone be willing?
Yes!
A large number of soul masters would be willing.
After all, the hunting didn't need to be completed in a single day.
It was simply collected during regular combat against Abyss creatures.
Actively engaging in hunting Abyss creatures, each soldier could achieve roughly ten kills of creatures of the same level per month.
Thus, calculating this way, it would take five months to accumulate enough for a one-level increase in soul power.
Don't forget, there's also regular cultivation.
This one-level increase in soul power was essentially free, resulting in over two additional levels of soul power per year.
If normal cultivation could achieve three levels per year, adding these two extra levels would result in five levels, catapulting one from a small genius to an extraordinary genius.
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