Chapter 153 - Deep Symbiosis!
"We need to talk about your innate secret technique — [Clone]," Jiang Zhe said bluntly, hiding nothing of his intentions.
Hearing this, Chi Ying's eyes lit up. Recalling her teacher's origin as an outsider from beyond the realm, she asked eagerly, "Teacher, do you have any flesh or tissue suitable for me to cultivate a clone?"
"I do know of some powerful special lifeforms, perfect as candidates for a clone body. But to get their tissue, I'd have to leave the Abyss World," Jiang Zhe shrugged. "Can you leave the Abyss World right now? I don't think so."
Chi Ying's expression darkened. "No. Unless I reach a perfect state with a life gene multiplier of 1,260 times, leaving the Abyss World would cause irreversible, catastrophic harm to me."
"Haha, don't worry. Even though we can't get tissue from outside secret realms, you have an even better option," Jiang Zhe said with a laugh. "Otherwise, why do you think I'd have come to the Abyss World in the first place? You should still remember my primary goal, right?"
Primary goal… clone materials… source blood?
Chi Ying didn't look excited, only skeptical. But she held her tongue.
After all, unless she saw it with her own eyes, she still found it hard to believe her "cheap" teacher could kill a duke as a mere viscount.
Especially a "Great Demon Duke" with a life gene level over a hundred times that of normal!
That was the reasonable, normal way to think.
In the known universe, even the weakest immortals after ascending possess power 100 times that of a domain lord.
For pure-blood demons of the demon lineage, that was 100 × 140 = 14,000 times domain lord power.
That was solid king-level immortal strength!
A mere universe-level trying to hunt down a king-level immortal?
Absurd! A total fantasy.
Nowhere in the original universe, or even the nearby universe ocean, had such a ludicrous thing ever happened.
Jiang Zhe didn't bother explaining further. He couldn't very well demonstrate Orianna's [Symbiont] secret technique on the spot for his little disciple.
When they really clashed with an immortal/duke later, she would naturally come to revere him as if he were a god.
Right now, the focus was still on the [Clone] innate secret technique.
Jiang Zhe asked, "Chi Ying, how many clone slots does your secret technique give you? Any restrictions?"
"Only one slot, usable at the marquis level."
"And the restrictions?"
"The original owner of the tissue used must be at least marquis level, and their life gene level cannot exceed 10 times mine — so capped at 1,400 times."
Jiang Zhe clicked his tongue inwardly.
Outside, something like the World Tree or the Nine Nether Sea would be the best choices.
But in the Abyss World…
He frowned. "Chi Ying, what level does 'source blood' count as? Domain lord/marquis tier?"
"Teacher, source blood is very high-level, but when used to cultivate a clone, it isn't limited by power level.
As long as there's an available clone slot and the secret technique can nurture a clone with over a thousand times life gene level, it can work regardless of the user's current strength."
Jiang Zhe rubbed his chin. "So theoretically, even a baron/star level or a viscount/universe level could use source blood to cultivate a clone?"
"In theory, yes," Chi Ying nodded. "But the prerequisite remains: their innate secret technique must be capable of nurturing a clone at that thousand-times life gene level."
Jiang Zhe understood.
For example, Luo Feng wouldn't qualify.
The Golden Horned Beast's [Clone] innate secret technique couldn't produce clones at such a level.
'I'll need to kill a duke/immortal right in front of my little disciple so she'll trust I can seize a drop of source blood — only then will she cooperate in my experiment,' Jiang Zhe thought.
Orianna cautioned in his mind,
"Master, please reconsider. There are reportedly only 72 drops of source blood. Using one is one less forever."
Jiang Zhe sighed.
"Anna, if nothing changes, we'll never gather all 72 drops anyway. Perfection is already out of reach, so why care about such tiny losses?"
Orianna fell silent.
He was right.
Already, two drops of "Golden Source Blood" were likely taken by the Virtual Universe Company, and one drop of "Fire Source Blood" was with the Flame Demon Lord up above… They could never complete the set.
Jiang Zhe turned back to Chi Ying.
"Any other questions for me?"
Chi Ying thought for a moment, then shook her head.
"Alright, then eat this marquis heart first. You should be able to absorb it, right?"
"I can handle one. Any more, I'd have to wait until I reach peak count levels," Chi Ying said quickly, cradling the crystal heart with a chunk missing.
"Good. Begin. Then we'll discuss the cultivation plan I've prepared for you."
Cultivation plan? Power up!
Chi Ying's eyes brimmed with anticipation.
She quickly composed herself, pulled out a pine-cone-like fruit, dug out the seeds, and cracked one open.
Popping a seed into her mouth, she broke off a piece of the crystal heart and swallowed it.
It melted instantly.
Two special energies diverged — a black chaotic will surged into her mind, while a red demon power spread throughout her body.
The pine seed, actually from a demon-blood plant, activated, helping her resist the chaos will's erosion and keep her mind clear.
The demon power began reshaping her body.
Her delicate form swelled like a balloon, skin sprouting dense golden scales, joints and ribs bursting out with bone spikes that extended into bony armor… horrifying transformations that cycled one after another.
Just like integrating a blood crystal, it was a trial for both body and mind. Survive it, and she would undergo a powerful metamorphosis.
A long time later, the changes subsided.
Chi Ying opened her eyes — her bright pupils were now darker, full of sinister malice and savagery.
Suddenly, she looked up and fixed her eyes on Jiang Zhe, a predatory gleam flashing.
But there was also a flicker of struggle.
This wasn't truly her will.
"Hmph!"
Jiang Zhe just snorted coldly. A wave of mental pressure radiated out, and Chi Ying's eyes quickly cleared.
Like a silly husky who picked a fight with a tiger, only to get a roar in the face and instantly realize it had chosen the wrong target — this was no golden retriever.
Chi Ying hurriedly bowed. "Teacher, forgive me, I—"
Jiang Zhe cut her off with a raised hand. "Your will still needs honing. Otherwise, that 'Mad World Lord' might be your future."
Chi Ying looked worried.
She knew this wasn't alarmist talk; her inherited memories had records of pure-blood demons who ended up mindless fools, consumed by chaos will.
"Teacher… do you have a way to prevent that?"
"Relax. It's all in my plan. While I'm here in the Abyss World, I'll systematically teach you to comprehend laws, cultivate secret techniques, and temper your mind…"
Nearly two days later, the first round of lessons ended.
Chi Ying had gained a complete cultivation system and was deeply grateful. When she looked at Jiang Zhe again, her gaze was far more respectful.
No wonder he dared offer to teach a count-level as just a viscount — he truly had the goods.
Her inherited memories said any outsider descending here was an elite among humanity in the universe.
And her teacher was clearly an elite among elites, a genius standing above countless others over hundreds of thousands of eras.
This was an opportunity she had to seize.
Chi Ying set aside all petty thoughts, showing her utmost sincerity, never again mentioning their previous "partnership."
Jiang Zhe, sharp as ever, noticed her change in attitude and smiled inwardly.
Then he asked, "Before you met me, what plans did you have? Tell me."
"Teacher, I was going to steal a piece of [Blood Gold] to forge the embryo of my life-bound weapon. Who knew I'd hit a spatial turbulence while teleporting and end up right in front of you… forget it.
After that, I planned to hunt more count hearts to build up energy and reach peak count level.
Then I'd try to cross tiers to hunt a marquis, raising my life gene level.
That's all I had in mind for now."
Mentioning life gene level, Jiang Zhe asked curiously,
"Chi Ying, after absorbing that marquis heart, did your life gene level increase?"
"It's 141 times now, teacher."
Jiang Zhe raised his brows, surprised. "Just one marquis heart gave you another full multiplier?"
"This isn't fixed, teacher. As the gene level rises, the effect diminishes — later it might take two hearts for 1x, then ten for 1x, a hundred for 1x… eventually marquis hearts stop working, and I'll need duke hearts."
Chi Ying recalled how tough later stages were from her inherited memories, smiling bitterly.
Jiang Zhe nodded lightly — that was still acceptable.
Then he asked, "[Blood Gold]? What is that? Can't you use the precious metals I gave you to forge your life weapon embryo?"
"No, teacher," Chi Ying shook her head. "Anyone from the ghost tribe with the [Edge] innate secret technique can only use Blood Gold for the embryo. Other metals, no matter how rare, can only serve as later enhancements."
Jiang Zhe frowned at this.
Even innate secret techniques had such restrictions? That seemed unreasonable.
Orianna spoke up in his mind.
"Master, can we see this Blood Gold? I'm very interested."
Jiang Zhe asked,
"Anna, did you find any record of it in the Virtual Universe database?"
"None, Master. It must be unique to the Abyss World."
"Interesting. Let's check it out."
Then he looked at Chi Ying.
"Alright, stick to your plan. Take us to find this Blood Gold."
Us?
Chi Ying was momentarily confused, glancing around. Seeing no third person, she kept her doubts to herself.
She reported softly, "Teacher, the nearest large Blood Gold mine is about 17 billion kilometers away, outside the main city of Nex Marquis Ridge.
It's said a duke often cultivates there in seclusion, with other dukes sometimes visiting for blood feasts.
We'll have to keep a low profile."
Jiang Zhe found this funny.
You're teaching me how to keep a low profile?
With their life gene levels, they exuded a "sweet aroma" that couldn't be hidden.
Even a small count/domain lord could sniff it out. In a marquis territory, they'd be like a torch in the dark.
"Anna, she doesn't seem to sense your presence, even though you're at a 3,000 times life gene level."
"Master, I'm hiding inside the Thunder Prison Realm — we're not even in the same space. If she could smell me through that, it'd be absurd."
Chi Ying didn't know any of this.
She asked, "Teacher, when should we leave?"
"Chi Ying, are you sure we'll find a demon duke at Nex Marquis Ridge?"
"Absolutely!"
Chi Ying was very certain.
"Blood Gold is critical. Nearly every Blood Gold mine is occupied by a duke. Most of the time, they cultivate deep in the mine, leaving daily affairs to their marquis retainers."
"I see," Jiang Zhe nodded. "Clean things up here first, then we'll depart."
"Yes, Teacher."
Chi Ying flew up happily, uprooting a bronze tree and stashing it in her world storage.
As members of the ghost tribe each had the [Edge] secret technique, metal was precious in the First Abyss.
She'd had her eye on this bronze tree for a long time — perfect upgrade material for her life weapon after the embryo was forged.
She sniffed the air and turned, startled.
In the hollowed mountain cavity behind her, a towering silver pyramid had suddenly appeared — over a kilometer tall.
Its alluring metallic aura was at marquis (E-level)!
Chi Ying licked her lips unconsciously.
So tempting…
"Teacher, this is…?"
"A gift for you," Jiang Zhe said with a snap of his fingers.
With a clang, the hatch opened.
"Come on in. Outside, we call this a spaceship — it's for traveling."
He flew in first, and Chi Ying hurried after.
Inside, they walked down a corridor into the control room.
Chi Ying looked around the spacious cabin, a bit uneasy.
"Teacher, do I need to learn… um, how to operate the ship?"
"No need.
Little master, piloting is my duty."
The voice came from a fuzzy figure appearing in the center of the room.
Light from a crystal sphere overhead formed the image of a mechanical woman.
The demon lineage had never touched technology. Chi Ying jumped in fright.
"Teacher, this, this is…?"
AI Unit 1 replied,
"Little master, I am this ship's intelligence core. I'll introduce my functions and help plan our route."
"Chi Ying, this is an AI, currently named 'Unit 1.' It's a program that can communicate like any sentient being.
You can treat her just like you would any intelligent life.
If you have questions, she'll answer them all.
Talk to her for now. I'll be in the meditation chamber."
Jiang Zhe gave her an encouraging look and stepped into the special cultivation room.
"Um… hello, Miss Unit 1.
Mind if I give you a better name?"
Meanwhile, inside the meditation chamber:
Jiang Zhe left a world ring on the cushion, then entered it himself.
At the highest peak inside, he sat on a stone platform.
"Anna, begin."
Innate secret technique: [Symbiont]!
— Because of the symbiotic bond, the symbiont's base power perfectly merges with the host's!
A golden-red translucent core flew from his chest's Thunder Prison Realm, merging with his own core — an ancient stone bead.
The former softened into a gel-like mass, enveloping the latter.
Deep symbiosis began — far more thorough than the shallow attempt back in the Ancient God World.
Once complete, his power and Orianna's would merge flawlessly.
In the Abyss World, every duke conservatively had king-level strength. Jiang Zhe didn't dare hold back — he would face it in his most perfect state.
Blood-red patterns spread from the dark purple diamond mark on his chest, forming complex arrays all across his body.
Sticky crimson liquid oozed from that mark, flowing along the patterns.
Where it passed, spines grew…
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