Starry Sky Professional

“I have failed!”

“Spiritual roots are innate and natural, and in such a short time, I was ultimately unable to comprehend a method to change them...”

“As my life approaches its end, I have no choice but to rely on a secret method from ghost cultivation that I completed earlier and a 'Netherworld Spinal Vein' I discovered in a secret realm, transforming into a ghost cultivator...”

“Although ghost cultivation comes with many limitations—unable to leave the netherworld for too long and prone to memory loss, becoming dull—I use a soul secret technique, splitting my soul into two, allowing them to merge back and maintain my obsession..."

"I've cultivated a 'Soul Lantern,' successfully transitioning to ghost cultivation, enduring endless pain and loneliness, finally gaining the extended time to devise a secret technique to enhance spiritual roots, which I named 'Blood Sacrifice Method'... As long as there are relatives with the same bloodline who also have spiritual roots, after the blood sacrifice, their spiritual root aptitude can be improved…”

“But almost all of my relatives are dead, and even if they aren't, the probability of a mortal having spiritual roots is too low... Even if I establish a family of cultivators and strive to nurture descendants, it's too late, let alone I have transformed into a ghost cultivator and can never have offspring.”

“I abandoned this path and instead began to explore another method, which is 'Possession'!”

“Possession: swapping onto a new body. If I can switch to a body with superior spiritual roots, I can solve my predicament...”

“But only a Nascent Soul True Lord can perform possession, occupying another cultivator’s body with a Nascent Soul... If I were a Nascent Soul True Lord, I wouldn't need to change spiritual roots in the first place... For me, this is a dead end.”

“After bitter contemplation for centuries, I finally circumvented this dead cycle and understood the 'Ghost Infant Technique,' which temporarily transforms the ghost body into a 'Ghost Infant' form akin to a Nascent Soul, allowing possession...”

“Because of the difficulty of leaving, I patiently waited for the secret realm to open, releasing legacies, treasures... attracting outsiders and gifting them abundant resources after several trials... all to find the cultivator with the most superior spiritual root aptitude, most suited for my possession!”

“Finally, I found one with Celestial Spiritual Roots... Heaven itself is favoring me; I shall live out a second life!!”

"But just as I was making the final preparations for the ghost infant possession, three Core Formation cultivators intruded into the secret realm..."

……

A flood of memories surged into Fang Xing's mind, leaving him feeling dizzy and overwhelmed.

Thankfully, these memories were not his but like a fleeting glance, similar to watching a movie.

Otherwise, he might have gone crazy, or at the very least, developed a second personality.

Taking such a huge risk came with significant advantages.

At the very least, various secret techniques automatically surfaced in his heart.

From the 'Blood Sacrifice Method' that enhances spiritual roots to the 'Ghost Infant Technique' that simulates Nascent Soul possession...

Of course, it also included the myriad techniques created by the Master of Myriad Laws!

This person was truly endowed with heavenly talent and startling comprehension, and the techniques he understood were powerful yet consumed little energy.

Each of these could potentially revolutionalize the landscape of the cultivation world!

“But...”

“The prerequisite for the Blood Sacrifice Method is having mana and a relative with spiritual roots!”

“As for the Ghost Infant Technique, it requires a Core Formation ghost cultivator to perform... Once executed, if possession is not accomplished quickly, it will rapidly dissipate!”

"No wonder that old rascal of the Master of Myriad Laws was so eager to take over my body... But he didn't expect that my sea of consciousness is not a haven but a purgatorial furnace!"

A ghost cultivator at the peak of Core Formation, how much experience is that worth?

Fang Xing didn't know. He only knew that his proficiency in the Great Sun Tathagata Mantra was still increasing!

Though the progress was slow, it was unwavering.

Finally!

The Great Sun Tathagata Mantra crossed a critical threshold, reaching the 'Proficient' tier!

"A proficient level Great Sun Tathagata Mantra... The Great Sun Furnace has been upgraded. It can now fuse, modify, or upgrade martial arts or secret techniques?"

Fang Xing pondered for a moment and understood the purpose of this new function.

For instance, if he threw the Ghost Blade and the Extreme Emotion Sword into it, they could evolve into a new martial art—the ‘Dual Sword Supreme’. Adding the Twelve Form Military Boxing might turn it into the ‘Three-Star Martial Supreme’... The martial skills could even be enhanced; with enough input, they might become S-class, or even surpass S-class!

"Of course, such fusion and enhancement require energy. This special 'energy' could either be proficiency levels or external 'fuel’..."

"There seems to be potential here; some martial arts don't benefit much from fusion, but when others merge, it's enough to drive all martial artists crazy, like the Dragon-Tiger Domain!"

"If, in the future, when I break through to Martial Golden Core, I fuse the Great Dragon Stance and Subdue Tiger Stance, wouldn't that guarantee I overcome that hurdle... Wait, this is self-destructive behavior, as these are unorthodox arts granted by the evil god. Who knows if there's a catch? Martial will is a warrior's sole reliance!"

"There's a bright pathway of proficiency, yet I insist on taking this tortuous path, not knowing how I'll perish!"

"Once the martial will's skills are tainted by the Great Sun Tathagata Mantra, will the resulting martial will truly be mine?"

"So, what can I enhance now?"

Lost in thought, Fang Xing suddenly acted on impulse, pouring all the secret techniques and memories he obtained from the Master of Myriad Laws into it.

"This is taken from you, used by you..."

In an instant, he felt the burning rate of the ghost infant from the Master of Myriad Laws accelerate a thousandfold!

On the attribute panel, imprints of methods like 'Blood Sacrifice Technique', 'Possession Technique', 'Ghost Infant Art' surfaced, quickly solidifying from a blurry state before being completely thrown into the Great Sun Furnace...

Thanks to this, the rapid growth of the Great Sun Tathagata Mantra's proficiency finally slowed, even gradually halted.

Eventually.

With a spiteful and venomous roar, the ghost infant from the Master of Myriad Laws in Fang Xing's sea of consciousness turned into a wisp of black smoke, swiftly devoured by the scarlet Great Sun...

And on the attribute panel, a line of brand-new information appeared simultaneously:

【Great Sun Tathagata Mantra: 13/200】

【Heavenly Mother’s Twin Lotus Guardian Sutra: 1/100】

"'Heavenly Mother Vajra Dual Progeny Guardian' technique?"

Fang Xing set aside his mastery of the 'Great Buddha's Mantra' and started to delve into this new technique.

A flood of information surged into his mind.

This technique involves envisioning oneself as the 'Great Vajra Bullhead King of Wrath' and conjuring a 'Heavenly Mother Consort'. The goal is to transform this 'Heavenly Mother Consort' into a protective guardian.

In simple terms, it's akin to a shadow clone technique!

Though, compared to ordinary cloning methods, this one offers several advantages.

Firstly, the technique only requires visualizing and refining a guardian without needing to sever any part of one's own soul essence.

To be precise, the process merely creates a projection of one's will.

Moreover, the greatest benefit is bypassing the typical barriers of magical cultivation, enabling martial artists to practice this technique!

"The 'Great Vajra Dual Progeny Guardian' can perform a possession once, gaining a true flesh-and-blood form!"

"Of course, while it can possess, its power is far inferior to that of a Nascent Soul, making it just a mere possession technique that circumvents the usual limitations."

"This also presents a method for gaining a spiritual root – by using the technique to possess a body with innate spiritual roots, one could embark on the path of cultivation."

"Unfortunately, the guardian can only possess once, but that single time is more than sufficient. After all, in this world, only a true Nascent Soul can perform such possessions! What more could I ask for?"

Fang Xing reflected on the iron laws of the cultivation world, such as the prohibition against cultivators possessing those without spiritual roots.

But what about those without spiritual roots taking over the bodies of cultivators?

"Considering it is linked to unorthodox and violent factions, it's not surprising if it's a bit sinister..."

Naturally, Fang Xing was somewhat intrigued by the possibility of cultivation.

Especially, having a cultivation clone could better support and enhance his main body, paving the way for progress in both martial and mystical arts.

"Wait... a body with innate spiritual roots?"

Fang Xing approached the white jade coffin swiftly, laying eyes on the young corpse within: "No wonder his cultivation level was so low, he was merely a possession target chosen by the Master of Myriad Laws for his heavenly spiritual roots – an extraordinary talent... alas."

Regardless, the ideal possession target needs to be alive!

Even the Master of Myriad Laws, originally selecting him through a secretive process, had only frozen him as a backup plan.

Who would have known Fang Xing's decisive action would result in the boy's swift demise!

Possessing the dead, however, just leaves them dead!

Yet Fang Xing had no regrets; those actions were instinctive reactions.

Back then, he had no choices. Throughout his life, he refused to succumb to threats, abiding by the principle of preferring an honourable end over a life of regret.

"Moreover... while this corpse may be useless to others, it's certainly not to me."

Fang Xing quickly took out a test tube, collecting the boy's blood and bone marrow...

"At Dawn Hawk Star, the cultivation industry is the most advanced!"

"In the interstellar era, cloning an identical person is definitely not difficult! There's not even a problem with causality or memory, making possession an ideal process!"

"The only issue is the incubation chamber... Is there any on the black market? Its level of prohibition seems to be higher than firearms."

Fang Xing stroked his chin.

However, he had already decided to pursue this endeavor.

Furthermore, since one clone was feasible, creating a few more wouldn't be a problem.

This way, the 'Blood Sacrifice Method' deduced by the Master of Myriad Laws also becomes applicable.

Could any familial bond be closer than one that is 100% identical?

Scientifically speaking, this removes any potential rejection, leaving no future problems.

Of course, the premise of this approach is the success of the guardian entity's possession!

Otherwise, without spiritual roots and power, even more clones would be useless for practicing the secret technique.

"What comes after Heavenly Root as a qualification? In the world of cultivation... This should be unprecedented, right?"

"With such qualifications, breaking through realms would be as simple as eating and drinking, barely keeping pace with my main body's growth..."

Fang Xing pondered, his expression suddenly turning grave: "The Master of Myriad Laws might not be completely dead... When he turned to ghost cultivation, he divided his own soul to preserve his memory... Right now only one part is dead, so where is the other? The Myriad Laws Secret Realm?"

"But with my current power, going to a secret realm where even a Core Formation Expert died would be suicidal!"

...

Time returned to when the ghost infant was melted by the great sun.

Inside the Myriad Laws Secret Realm.

Deep underground.

The original coffin had vanished, leaving only one person sitting cross-legged, his figure gaunt, with a goatee, dressed in a black Taoist robe—none other than Old Daoist Wu from Black Heaven Temple!

Fang Xing only saw two Core Formation disciples fleeing and assumed a Core Formation ancestor died in the secret realm, not considering that they might have been trapped.

At this moment, Old Daoist Wu's expression fluctuated between ferocity and calm, holding a bronze lamp in his hands.

The surface of this bronze lamp was engraved with lotus patterns; the wick burned slowly, emitting a seven-colored halo.

Under the halo's glow, the ferocious look on Wu's face was swiftly fading away.

"Have I... died?"

Suddenly, Old Daoist Wu opened his eyes, a fleeting hint of murder flickering on his face: "Those two Core Formation experts, once I fully master this body and emerge, I will be sure to grind them to dust!"

"Soul division... who's in charge, who's the subordinate?"

"From today, there will be only one Master of Myriad Laws in this world…"

...

Young Eagle Star.

Happy Home Community.

Fang Xing donned a mask and fished out his long-unused black market communicator, dialing Zhang Jiarui, the one he affectionately nicknamed 'Meat Bun.'

It didn’t take long for the call to connect.

"Hmm? What a rare guest…”

Zhang Jiarui sounded slightly reproachful: "It’s been a long time since you've reached out to me…"

Fang Xing quickly addressed the issue: "The black market in Maple Leaf City was under strict scrutiny before, not the best time… Can you get your hands on an incubation pod?"

Although incubation pods are originally meant for breeding bio-genetic beings, unlike clones, tweaking the program should suffice.

"Ahem... Did you know I got transferred to the black market in Yuanyu City? Also... only a certain group would be interested in incubation pods. Are you perhaps with the Resistance? Which faction?"

Zhang Jiarui seemed startled.

"You're in the black market of Yuanyu City?"

Fang Xing felt as though struck by a sudden fortune, quickly denying: "I'm not with the Resistance; I just need an incubation pod for some scientific research… Can you get it? I'll pay high prices!"

"No way!"

Zhang Jiarui refused bluntly: "The Federation is keeping a tight grip on that... only those crazy Resistance folks who dare raid the breeding bases can get them…"

"Alright, I'll reach out again later."

Fang Xing nodded and hung up directly.

"If the black market can't procure it, then... the Resistance?"

He rubbed his chin: "Thinking this over... I do have a broad network, unknowingly getting to this point?"

Within the Resistance, he indeed had a friend, Liu Wei!

Of course, contacting him now posed its own set of troubles, requiring utmost secrecy!

"If only... if I could get this incubation pod through normal channels, why would I go to such lengths?"

Fang Xing shook his head and sighed helplessly.

]

(End of Chapter)