《I Created a Protagonist Sect: My Programmer Job is Super Overpowered》


 MC STATS

    <h4>Chapter -1: MC STATS</h4>


    <strong>Name</strong>: [REDACTED] (Former), Chen Mo (Current)


    <strong>Species</strong>: Human (Former), Digital Lifeform (Current)


    <strong>Cultivation</strong>: [REDACTED] (Former), Perfect Stage Celestial Supreme (Current)


    <strong>Job</strong>: Programmer, Writer


    <strong>Skills:</strong>


    <i>OpenSource</i> - Can intuitivelyprehend the intricate forms and particles thatpose all matter and energy. Able to reverse-engineer the underlying patterns of creation, dismantling any material or spell to understand its primal origins.


    <i>Existence</i> - Keenly aware of all unconcealed knowledge across the physical and spiritual nes. Automatically indexes and absorbs information, lore, history, and secretsid bare. An ever-growing well of uncontrolled insight.


    <i>Scripting</i> - Masters the art of forging new particles and forms through will and imagination. Can reshape spells, materials, minds, and souls by reconfiguring their fundamental patterns. Effortlessly optimizes, reinforces, and transforms existing metaphysical architectures.


    <i>Development</i> - Visualizes and gives life topletely novel elemental particles, ethereal blueprints, andw forms. Manifests wondrous objects, creatures, and phenomena bybining raw imagination with a deep intuitive understanding of the primordial mechanisms of the universe.


    <i>Memory</i> - Perfectly recalls all experiences and knowledge without deterioration. An indestructible vessel containing immense amounts of readily essible information. Cannot be tampered with or altered by any magic or entity without consent. Provides limitless insight into the ancient truths of existence.


    <i>Parallel Processing</i> - Can independently process and absorb infonts using a separate metaphysical processing structure that operates in parallel with the main consciousness. This allows rapidprehension and synthesis of infonts withoutpromising or interfering with the focus and functions of the main mind. Also remains aware and conscious even when the primary consciousness is inactive, asleep or incapacitated, providing ongoing peripheral awareness and cognition.


    <i>Storage</i> - Able to break down any physical object or conceptual entity into its fundamental infonts particles. Can thenpress, encrypt and store these primal building blocks in a metaphysical pocket dimension immune to the effects of time and space. Stored items are perfectly preserved and secured, immune to any external disturbances or disruptions. Can retrieve and reconstitute stored items at will by reassembling their infontsponents into their original forms. Provides a limitless, invible storage space for safekeeping objects, knowledge, memories, skills, entities, and more.


    <i>AllOfCreation</i> - Able to freely manipte, reshape and rbine the fundamental infonts particles thatprise all matter, energy, consciousness and reality itself. Can visualize and catalyze any desired change or creation by directly altering the primal infonts blueprints at will. Not bound by conventionalws or physics when reshaping existence through infonts programming. This godlike mastery allows manifesting any imagined object, lifeform, force, realm or entire universe simply by reconstructing its infonts architecture from scratch. The scope is truly limitless and omnipotent whenmanding reality at the most elemental level. [SEALED STATE]


    <i>Parallel Existence</i> - Can exist across multiple simultaneous instances impossible to fully eliminate. If one physical form is destroyed, the greater part of their existence simply shifts to another parallel continuity that is already underway. Essentially immortal as long as at least one parallel existence remains intact. Allows the user to divide their focus across countless realities and paths at once with no degradation. Grants near-invulnerability as the user always has contingencies and backups. [SEALED STATE]


    <i>PerfectState</i> - A constant passive state of unwavering mental rity, emotional equilibrium and rational focus. The user''s mind remains eternally calm, centered and impervious to external influences or imbnces. Negative status effects like fear, mind control, insanity, charm and confusion arepletely negated. Thoughts flow with perfect coherence, free of inner turmoil, hesitation or fragmentation. Emotions are bnced and harnessed as potent fuel rather than hindrances. Allows operating at maximum cognitive effectiveness in any situation without losingposure or wavering from pure logic and reason. An unshakable bastion of perfect psychological equilibrium.


    <i>Instant Thought</i> ¨C Maniptes thews of time to iste a portion of the user''s cognitive processes and elerate them to functional infinity within an infinitesimal span of subjective time. This allows taking an eternity of contemtion, calction, and higher reasoning in the space between moments. While the outside world is essentially frozen in stasis, the segmented thought stream operates outside the constraints of linear time to aplish feats of instant, perfect decision making and problem solving. Complex operations, strategic nning, predictive modeling, etc. can all be conducted by harnessing this localized infinite processing. Once the segmented thought concludes, it can be seamlessly reintegrated with the normal time flow, providing derived insights and answers with minimal apparentg. Essentially grantsputational omniscience within a self-contained bubble of elerated consciousness. [SEALED STATE]


    <i>SynCret ¨C </i>The ability topletely deconstruct any item, concept, energy, or essence down to its fundamental infont particles and quantum state. This decouples and exposes the core building blocks, opening a fluid interstitial realm where the user can seamlesslybine, separate, merge or reprogram the istedponents however desired. Within this metaphysicalpartmentalization, the segregated elements can be synced, blended, remixed or metamorphosed into novel hybrid forms and paradigms without viting their original natures. Once satisfactory rbinations are derived, the synthesized infont matrices can then be rpiled and continuously shape-shifted into tangible or intangible actualized states with malleable features. SynCret allows transcending conventional boundaries to engage in unrestrictedbinatorial creativity and exploratory unification across all domains of existence.


    <strong>Cultivation Realms:</strong>


    <strong>...</strong>


    <strong>Mortal Realm:</strong>


    Qi Gathering


    Foundation Establishment


    Core Formation


    Golden Core


    Nascent Soul


    Soul Formation


    Void Traversing


    Soul and Body Integration


    Tribtion Transcendence


    Mahayana


    ...


    <strong>Immortal Realm:</strong>


    Earth Immortal


    True Immortal


    Golden Immortal


    Immortal Emperor


    ...


    <strong>Celestial Realm:</strong>


    Celestial Lord


    Celestial King


    Celestial Emperor


    Celestial Supreme


    ...


    <strong>Sage Realm:</strong>


    1st Path Reincarnation


    2nd Path Reincarnation


    3rd Path Reincarnation


    4th Path Reincarnation


    5th Path Reincarnation


    6 Paths Reincarnation Reunification (Perfect Sage)


    ...


    <strong>Law Realm:</strong>


    [ERROR] - [CONCEALED INFORMATION]


    <strong>Spiritual Roots Grade</strong>


    Low


    Medium


    High


    Superior


    Sacred


    Divine


    Heavenly


    <strong>Items/Weapons(Low, Medium, High)</strong>


    Common


    Magical


    Spiritual


    Divine


    Heavenly


    Immortal


    Celestial


    Dao


    Great Dao


    Chaotic


    <strong>Techniques(Low, Medium, High)</strong>


    Common


    Yellow


    Earth


    Heaven


    God


    Transcendence


    Immortal


    <strong>**EXTRA INFORMATION**</strong>


    *[REDACTED] - [Unspoken Name] - [Cannot be Named(even by the ''author'')] - [Too much karma]


    *[ERROR] - [CONCEALED INFORMATION] - [Too much karma]

 Chapter 1: Prologue: Invasion [Part 1]

    <h4>Chapter 1: Prologue: Invasion [Part 1]</h4>


    In the vast expanse of the chaotic sea of stars, a quiet yet sharp voice echoed, cutting through the silence like a knife. "What is the meaning of this?"


    A stern, booming voice replied, the words seemingly carried on the cosmic winds. "Chen Mo, for the unforgivable sin of interfering with the sacredws that govern Karma, Fate, Destiny, and Causality within this infinite chaos, we, the ten original sages, shall expel you from these hallowed realms."


    Floating above the roiling cosmos, Chen Mo''s form was surrounded by the illustrious figures of the ten sages, each an embodiment of a profoundw.


    Pangu, the invible Law of Strength, his colossal frame exuding an aura of invincible might. N¨¹wa, the nurturing Law of Creation, her celestial beauty outshone only by the warmth in her eyes. Fuxi, the enlightened Law of Literature, an air of profound wisdom cloaking his schrly presence. Shennong, the verdant Law of Wood Breath, his connection to nature so deep, it seemed the very nts bent toward his influence. Houyi, the inevitable Law of Death, a cold finality lurking behind his dispassionate gaze. Chang''e, the resplendent Law of Life, her radiance a beatific promise of rebirth. Zhurong, the scorching Law of Fire, her eyes zing with the intensity of an inferno. Gonggong, the tempestuous Law of Water, his form seeming to shift and flow like the tides. Xiwangmu, the brilliant Law of Holy Light, a celestial sovereign whose very presencemanded reverence. And Sun Wukong, the indomitable Law of Combat, a roguish grin ying across his features, as if anticipating an epic battle.


    Chen Mo''s voice rang out, mocking the sages'' promation. "Why didn''t you make a move when the chaos was under attack by the demons, but just now, you make a move against me for having power and influence over a portion of the chaos? Are you that afraid of losing your dominance?"


    A soft, feminine voice drifted through the celestial expanse, belonging to Xiwangmu, the Law of Holy Light. "Everything that happens within the chaos is recorded in the river of destiny. Even if the demons attack the chaos, the chaos will still survive. As long as the chaos endures, we need not interfere."


    Chen Mo countered, his wordsced with incredulity. "Is that so? Then why am I being attacked for saving the chaos?"


    Pangu''smanding tone boomed forth once more, a giant axe, its de the size of a star, materializing in his grasp. "You are an anomaly, an uncontroble variable. The river of destiny holds no record of your existence. You have no karma entwined with any being but yourself, and you are not a living creature born of the chaos. You do not belong here, and thus, we shall expel you to prevent harm from befalling these sacred realms."


    N¨¹wa''s soft, ssy voice chimed in, a sword shimmering into existence in her delicate hand. "Give it up, Chen Mo. On ount of you raising the son of heaven, I shall allow you to leave the chaos unharmed. Otherwise, do not me us for being ruthless."


    A defiant smirk yed across Chen Mo''s lips as he retorted, "You see a slumbering tiger and think it a mere housecat. Just because I do not provoke others does not make me an easy target for bullying."


    "It seems you do not appreciate our gesture of kindness. This talk is over," Pangu roared, the sages growing in stature at a rate visible to the naked eye, their forms soon dwarfing entire universes.


    The sages'' voices thundered in unison, their weapons aimed squarely at Chen Mo. "Chen Mo, your journey ends here!"


    In a blur of movement, a series ofmands shed through Chen Mo''s mind. ''Activate skill [Parallel Processing]. Activate skill [OpenSource]. Activate skill [Existence]. Activate skill [Development]. Activate skill [AllOfCreation]. Activate skill [Parallel Existence]. Activate skill [Memory].


    Activate skill [Scripting] ¨C script: {


    Use skill [OpenSource] to copy the ten sages'' information particles and [Existence] to copybat data and load it to [Memory];


    Use skill [Development] and [Parallel Processing] to iste each sage''s infonts; Use skill [AllOfCreation] and [Parallel Existence] to create ten sages'' avatars;


    Use skill [Development] and [Parallel Processing] to load the sage infonts to the created avatars;


    Use the skill [Parallel Processing] and [Parallel Existence] to control the created avatars;}


    [Script Loaded]


    [Executing Script]


    [Script Executed Sessfully]


    In an instant, towering avatars of the sages manifested behind Chen Mo, each one selecting a sage as its opponent. Chen Mo''s voice rang out, calm and smug. "As much as I''d like to y with you, I have some other matters to attend to. These avatars will keep you entertained. Adios."


    With a casual wave of his hand, Chen Mo shattered the void itself, stepping through the resulting spatial vortex as it closed behind him, leaving the sages to contend with their cosmic doppelgangers.


    ...


    In the shadowy depths of the chaos, the Demon Ancestral Hall loomed, an ominous presence. Demon Ancestor Pifu sat upon a golden throne, surrounded by massive ck dragon heads that exuded an eerie, visible aura. d in a dark daoist robe and skeletal armor, he held a spherical crystal in his grasp, its sinister energy pulsing outward.


    The hall stretched endlessly, its cavernous expanse only heightening the tense atmosphere. Suddenly, a cloaked figure emerged from Pifu''s shadow, kneeling before the demon ancestor.


    "What happened?" Pifu''s agitated voice resounded through the vast hall.


    "The sages failed to stop him. He is heading our way as we speak," the figure replied, its toneced with trepidation.


    "What!" Pifu''s roar shook the ancient chamber. "Why didn''t you tell me sooner? Contact the demon generals immediately!"


    A sharp, bone-chilling voice cut through the din from behind Pifu''s throne. "No need for that." Chen Mo strode into view, tossing ten severed heads at the Demon Ancestor''s feet. "I already took care of them on my way here."


    ''What was that? I didn''t even sense his approach. My shadow assassins use teleportation arrays to transmit information throughout the chaos, and yet he arrived here from the chaos''s zenith at the same time they did. He even had the time to kill ten demon generals during his journey. I couldn''t detect his presence as he slew those generals, meaning he expended virtually no energy - a feat that would take me at least an hour to aplish alone. Where did this monster emerge from? The oracle made no mention of him. Damn those treacherous fools, they were unwilling to invade the chaos themselves, using me to test this uncontroble variable instead. The demon army has suffered a grave loss this day.''


    Pifu rose from his throne, his tone courteous as he gestured toward the seat of power. "Sect Master Chen, I have long heard of your renowned name. To what do I owe the honor of your visit to my humble abode?"


    "You, prepare tea for Master Chen," he ordered the shadow assassin.


    Chen Mo settledfortably upon the Demon Ancestor''s throne, his voice ringing out. "I am but a humble sect master. I dare not partake of the Demon Ancestor''s tea."


    "Master Chen need not be so polite, since you are my esteemed guest. It is only natural that I should serve you," Pifu replied, pouring the fragrant brew into a cup.


    Chen Mo''s words carried a hint of challenge. "Guest, you say? But I have just in ten of your demon generals. Do you have nothing to say on the matter?"


    Pifu''s response was conciliatory as he handed Chen Mo the steaming cup. "Master Chen is a righteous person and would not attack without provocation. Since you have dealt with them, they must have transgressed against you first. The demon army has suffered great losses this day. I hope Master Chen will be magnanimous and let this matter rest, as he has already punished the culprits."


    ''Trying to provoke me into acting rashly, giving you an excuse to strike? Child, you are a million years too young to deceive me.''


    The demon ancestor looked at Chen Mo with a sly, calcting smile.


    ''Hateful, trying to shift the me to the demon generals now that you know you can''t beat me,'' Chen Mo thought derisively.


    "I didn''t know the Demon Ancestor was so righteous. I''ve misjudged you," he remarked aloud, his voice dripping with sarcasm.


    Pifu let out a gratingugh. "Master Chen is too kind. You pick up a thing or two when you''ve lived long enough."


    ''What a sly conniver. Since you decided to y these games, don''t me me for being ruthless,'' Chen Mo mused inwardly.


    "I originally wanted to recover the ten million high-grade saint crystals that the demon generals stole from me," Chen Mo stated boldly. "But since the Demon Ancestor is so righteous, I will only take back one million."


    Pifu''s thoughts raced. ''Ten million saint crystals? Even the Heavenly Emperor doesn''t possess that many. Clearly, this is extortion. Does this arrogant fool think my demon n is so easily bullied?''


    Outwardly, he bowed with feigned respect. "I thank Master Chen for his kindness on behalf of the demon n."


    Suddenly, the vast hall began to tremble violently, the chaos itself quaking as spatial rifts tore open, disgorging huge demonic warships in their wake.


    Pifu''sughter rang out, thick with dark triumph. "Did you really think I would agree so readily? I summoned the demon army the moment you set foot here. Now, they will take over the chaos itself!"


    The rift yawned wider still, and Chen Mo found himself violently sucked into the swirling vortex, the demon ancestor''s mockingughter pursuing him into the depths.

 Chapter 2: The Beginning After the End

    <h4>Chapter 2: The Beginning After the End</h4>


    First Chaos, Light Space.


    A brilliant azure sphere shed through the cosmic sea of stars, its speed far outstripping the limits of light itself. In hot pursuit, a crimson orb gave chase, struggling to match the cerulean trailzer''s blistering pace. With a searing beam of light, the red sphereunched an attack, only for time itself to grind to a halt.


    The spatial fabric shredded, depositing both luminous spheres into the fathomless depths of deep space. In a cosmic metamorphosis, the two orbs transformed, taking on humanoid forms - identical save for their contrasting colors. They now appeared as a tall, well-toned teenage youth with flowing locks and ssy, emotionless eyes. Long white daoist robes clung to their muscr frames, the only distinguishing feature being the vibrant hues of their hair and eyes - one a fiery crimson, the other a cool azure.


    [Notice] ¨C [Contract fulfillment interrupted]


    [Processing] ¨C [Do we fight or prioritize fulfilling the Contract?]


    [No user input detected; default action prioritized]


    [Action] ¨C [Delivering the contract shall take priority]


    The azure figure spoke, his tone robotic and devoid of inflection as he turned away.


    "Wait! No!"


    ''Why is this happening? What is he doing in the first chaos? He seems to originate from a further future than mine. Could it be...?''


    The crimson figure''s words carried an anxious edge. "Initiate manual override; Command Code 1."


    [Manual override epted]


    [Executing Command Code 1]


    [GLITCH]


    [403 FORBIDDEN]


    [EXECUTION FAILED] ¨C [2 ATTEMPTS REMAINING]


    [retrying]


    [EXECUTION FAILED] ¨C [1 ATTEMPT REMAINING]


    [retrying]


    [EXECUTION FAILED] ¨C [0 ATTEMPTS REMAINING]


    [GLITCH]


    [Manual override cancelled]


    [Resuming automatic mode]


    [Anomaly Detected]


    [Selecting default option]


    [YOU DO NOT BELONG HERE] ¨C [EXPEL]


    The azure figure''s words rang out as he materialized before the crimson one. "Wait! No! Why did the override get cancelled? Who sent you here? Did something happen to the chaos? I need to save the..."


    Before he could finish, the azure entity ced his hand upon the crimson one''s head, and space itself fractured. In an instant, the crimson figure vanished without a trace.


    ...


    Earth, Qin Ming International.


    "Hey [REDACTED], how''s the new projecting along?" A cheerful, friendly voice called out from across the office.


    "It''s alright, I''ll manage by tomorrow," [REDACTED] replied, stretching his arms before standing to fetch some water.


    The other voice, now closer, spoke in a smooth, quiet tone. "It''s game night at my ce tonight, you in?"


    "You guys go on without me, I''ll join youter when I''m finished here."


    "Don''t push yourself too hard, see youter." With that, the co-worker departed.


    [REDACTED] returned to hisputer, immersing himself in his work once more.


    Five Hours Later.


    Stifling a yawn, [REDACTED] stood and stretched, his gaze falling upon the clock across the room. ''Oh shit, it''s already midnight. I was so engrossed, I didn''t even notice the time.''


    Donning his coat, he exited the office, flicking off the lights and locking the door behind him. A notification chimed from his pocket, and he fished out his phone.


    [Mom] ¨C [Happy 27th Birthday, son. Mom and Dad love you. I know you''re obsessed with work, but you should visit us every now and then. Your sister misses you.]


    ''Come to think of it, I''m already twenty-seven years old. I haven''t seen my parents in a while... No, that''s an understatement. I haven''t seen them since I started working five years ago. I guess I should visit them next month.''


    ''I''ve been obsessed with games ever since I was young. I even studied programming so I could develop them myself. I managed tond a job at Qin Ming International - they''ve released some of the most popr titles over the past decade or two. Although the work conditions and pay aren''t all that great, I still work there. I also have some personal projects I work on in my free time, and I''ve even published a few popr titles myself.


    But I always feel that something is missing. I''ve learned all the programming knowledge I could possibly find, but I still feel...iplete. I''ve branched out into other aspects like designing, web development, app development, and more, but that void remains unfilled.


    Maybe it''s because current technology just isn''t there yet, or maybe it''s because of other limitations. Something is always calling out to me, and I don''t know what it is. That''s why I''m always so immersed in my work - only when I''m deeply concentrated can I let go of this feeling.''


    ''Hmm, what''s that?''


    A brilliant azure light descended from the heavens.


    ''Is it a meteor? So beautiful... This feeling again, it''s calling out to me.''


    His eyes turned crimson, hair cascading down his back as his mind went nk. Floating skyward, he drifted toward the azure radiance.


    The cerulean light elegantly descended, like an angel falling from the celestial pce. As they met in the star-studded expanse, space itself shattered, ushering them into the fathomless depths. In that moment, they took on their earlier forms - [REDACTED] with crimson hair and eyes, the other retaining his azure hues.


    "You finally made it. I''ve been waiting for ten billion years. Which chaos did youe from?" [REDACTED] inquired.


    [Report] ¨C [I belong from the third chaos.]


    "As I expected. What happened? Why are you sote?"


    [Report] ¨C [I encountered you from the second chaos and had to take a detour.]


    "That''s not good. What happened? Did you send him back?"


    [Positive] ¨C [He tried to use a manual override, but I sent him back using the expel function.]


    "That''s good. If those Creator Lords follow us back to the first chaos using the second chaos, it would be a significant problem. Entering through the third chaos, which doesn''t exist, is the safest option."


    "But it''s only a matter of time before they catch on to us. Execute code 999. After sessful execution, execute code 0 and destroy yourself, as well as the first chaos. Thanks for sticking with me until the end, Rasiel. Let''s start over again. I''m willing to bet it all on him. I hope he aplishes what you and I couldn''t."


    He spoke, embracing Rasiel, who had reverted to her azure spherical form.


    [Executing Command Code 999] ¨C [RESTART]


    [Command Executed Sessfully]


    [Executing Command Code 0] ¨C [SELF DESTRUCT]


    [3]


    [2]


    [1]


    [I only regret not serving you longer, Lord [REDACTED]] ¨C [Rasiel, signing off]


    [0]


    <i>Crack</i>


    Space fractured, and all faded into nothingness.

 Chapter 3: Job: Programmer

    <h4>Chapter 3: Job: Programmer</h4>


    "Hey, isn''t that the Chen family young master?"


    A hushed voice broke the stillness, drawing Chen Mo''s attention.


    "I heard the Chen sect was wiped out overnight when he was away on a mission," another whispered conspiratorially.


    "Shhh...stop speaking, he can hear you."


    "What of it? It''s not like there''s anything he can do about it. Hahaha..."


    A mockingugh rang out, only to be swiftly shushed. "Fufufu...don''t speak about him like that. After all, he''s Sect Master Chen now."


    "Hahaha...my bad, I forgot he became a sect master. Everyone else died, after all."


    Chen Mo stirred from his prone position, the cruel words piercing the fog of his returning consciousness. ''Where is this ce? What happened to me?'' His mind raced as fragmented memories trickled back. ''I remember seeing a blue light and then...argh, I can''t recall anything else.''


    "Argh, what''s going on?" he growled, clutching his head as searing painnced through his skull. He rolled back and forth, fingers digging deeper into his long ck hair with each agonizing wave.


    ''It hurts so much; I feel like my head is being pierced by countless needles over and over again.''


    ''Now that I think about it, I''m overly aware of my surroundings. It''s as if a restriction has been lifted from my body. I can feel it - what I''ve always longed for, the power of creation.''


    ''When creating games before, I could craft whatever I desired, yet I always felt it wasn''t my true limit. Now, the freedom of creation flows through me unchecked.''


    ''I can perceive every particle thatposes all creation down to the subatomic level. No! It''s deeper than that...information? Yes, these are information particlesing together to make up everything.''


    ''My body automatically perceives these information particles, but my brain can''t process them fast enough. At this rate, my head will explode from overheating.''


    Struggling in vain to stand, Chen Mo ultimately settled into a lotus position, seeking to study the ''infonts'' clouding his mind.


    ''I understand now. These are the particles that make up the universe and all of existence. I''m actively trying to perceive them, but I can''t process the influx of information quickly enough, causing my brain to overheat. It''s basically like aputer.''


    ''Now that I grasp the concept, all I need to do is end the running tasks and stop actively perceiving the infonts.''


    Blue energy swirled around Chen Mo as he entered a deep meditative state, the maelstrom slowly calming before dispersing entirely. When he emerged, he had transformed into a tall, handsome young man with long ck hair and brown eyes. Broad shoulders framed a well-toned physique, d in a long white daoist robe cinched with a shining golden belt.


    ...


    Two hourster, Chen Mo stood before the dpidated sect building, leaning against a pir that screeched ominously under his weight, as if on the verge of copse. The courtyardy in disrepair, clearly abandoned long ago.


    ''I''ve managed to stop the influx for now, but it''s not aplete solution. I''ve also deepened my understanding of my power; I can freely perceive and manipte the infonts at will. I''m basically a programmer, but instead of coding games within aputer, I manipte the fundamental rules that shape existence itself.''


    ''Now that I have a basic grasp of my abilities, I''ll try creating something. Since the infonts are difficult to control with my brain''s limited processing power, I''ll build an external processor. That way, I can process the information externally, then import it into my mind whenever needed. It can also help filter out malicious infonts, so it''s a win-win.''


    Settling back into the lotus position, Chen Mo entered a deep trance, acutely aware that even the slightest misstep could result in the infonts frying his brain instantly. Carefully considering the optimal approach, a thought sparked - if his mind functioned as a processor, then all he needed was to create an operating system to manage the infonts before and after processing. This would prevent him from simply absorbing any perceived information while conserving precious processing power.


    ''I''ve got to say, this feeling is incredible - nothing like programming on aputer. Now, I can manipte infonts with just a thought.''


    Two dayster, Chen Mo opened his eyes. He had sessfullypiled an operating system within his mind, alleviating the strain and leaving him with the capacity for further development. Other anciry programs now allowed him to codeplex constructs without the need for time-consuming meditation, during which he was left vulnerable.


    Calling forth the system interface, he studied his stats:


    <strong>Name</strong>: Chen Mo


    <strong>Species</strong>: Human


    <strong>Cultivation</strong>: None


    <strong>Job</strong>: Programmer


    <strong>Skills</strong>:


    <i>OpenSource</i> - Can intuitivelyprehend the intricate forms and particles thatpose all matter and energy. Able to reverse-engineer the underlying patterns of creation, dismantling any material or spell to understand its primal origins.


    <i>Existence</i> - Keenly aware of all unconcealed knowledge across the physical and spiritual nes. Automatically indexes and absorbs information, lore, history, and secretsid bare. An ever-growing well of uncontrolled insight.


    <i>Scripting</i> - Masters the art of forging new particles and forms through will and imagination. Can reshape spells, materials, minds, and souls by reconfiguring their fundamental patterns. Effortlessly optimizes, reinforces, and transforms existing metaphysical architectures.


    <i>Development</i> - Visualizes and gives life topletely novel elemental particles, ethereal blueprints, andw forms. Manifests wondrous objects, creatures, and phenomena bybining raw imagination with a deep intuitive understanding of the primordial mechanisms of the universe.


    <i>Memory</i> - Perfectly recalls all experiences and knowledge without deterioration. An indestructible vessel containing immense amounts of readily essible information. Cannot be tampered with or altered by any magic or entity without consent. Provides limitless insight into the ancient truths of existence.


    <i>Update</i> - Can directly modify and enhance the user''s own existence by instilling new data and skills using avable infonts. Able to synthesize and channel infonts to overwrite the user''s metaphysical blueprint with new capabilities, knowledge and attributes. This allows the rapid acquisition of skills,nguages, muscle memory, etc without needing to undergo traditional training. The user''s own existence can be augmented, edited and reprogrammed as if it were data.


    ''Not a bad starting point. While Ick cultivation, these cheat skills more than make up for it. All I need is to copy some cultivation data, and I''ll be able to get started.'' A sly smile yed across his lips as he sensed the concealed presences. "Since you''re already here, how about you show yourselves?"

 Chapter 4: Peak Qi Gathering Realm

    <h4>Chapter 4: Peak Qi Gathering Realm</h4>


    Outside the chaos.


    Five colossal figures, each dwarfing entire universes, sat arrayed around an immense mountain, their auras concealed in the lightless void beyond the chaos'' boundaries. Only indistinct, looming shadows hinted at their unfathomable presences.


    "You can feel it, right?" One resonant voice broke the silence.


    "Yes, someone has destroyed the chaos," another responded, its tones an ominous rumble.


    "Only a creator is capable of such an act."


    "How is that possible?" A third boomed with disquiet. "Only the five of us are creators, and we have kept vigil over one another long before the chaos came into existence."


    A measured cadence replied, "Do not be so quickly unsettled. The chaos still remains."


    "Then how can it persist if it has already been destroyed?"


    "It seems someone is manipting the very currents of time itself."


    The single word "Time?" rippled through the cosmic congregation as the titans began murmuring amongst themselves, their voices rising in an iprehensible crescendo as each sought to be heard. Yet the continuous, ovepping discourses did not appear to faze them, almost as if they could seamlessly grasp every thread of the multitudinous exchange.


    After an indeterminate span, a slow, quaking intonation rang out. "Let us all calm ourselves." The susurration instantly fell silent as the others yielded to that trembling voice. "I have called you here not merely to discuss this matter of interference with the temporal stream, but also to address an uncontroble variable that has manifested within the chaos."


    ...


    Heavenly Pce, Hall (A rank-one sect)


    "Is it done?" A crude, sharp voice reverberated through the immense hall.


    The speaker was none other than Liu Jian, Sect Master of the Heavenly Pce, seated upon an imposing golden throne at the chamber''s far end. Before him knelt a middle-aged man swathed in ck - Zhang Wei, an elder of the sect.


    "It went perfectly, Sect Master. The Chen sect has beenpletely wiped out. Only the Chen family''s useless young master, who was away on a mission, survived. But have no concern; I have already dispatched my men to deal with the matter. They should be returning any moment now..."


    Before Zhang Wei could finish, the doors burst open, and a figure stumbled through, gasping for breath.


    "Elder Zhang, something happened..."


    ...


    Two hours earlier, Chen Sect grounds.


    "Since you''re already here, why don''t you show yourselves?" Chen Mo''s calm words sliced through the lingering silence.


    "Hehehe, the Chen family''s young master impresses, even now. Or should I call you Sect Master Chen?" A brash, cocky voice taunted as two figures shimmered into view.


    "To see through my concealment technique without any cultivation - as expected of a former genius. Too bad you''re going to die here today," the other sneered, both men drawing their swords menacingly.


    Chen Mo''s expression remained impassive despite their provocations. "Who are you?" His soft inquiry belied an inner calm.


    ''I was just thinking of testing my new abilities. It seems the heavens have provided such fine specimens.''


    "A dead man doesn''t need to know that!" One assant bellowed, charging forward with a sword arcing toward Chen Mo''s head.


    With preternatural poise, Chen Mo simply bent down, avoiding the lethal sh as he extended his hand toward the man''s midsection. ''Activate skill [OpenSource].''


    Sensing imminent danger, the attacker instantly backpedaled away.


    "Senior Brother, why are you going easy on him?" The other man''s irritated query cut through the tension.


    "Hahaha, I simply wasn''t paying attention," the first blustered, striving to regain hisposure though his thoughts betrayed rm. ''I clearly used my full power. How could he dodge so effortlessly? He has no cultivation, yet I''ve reached the peak of Qi Gathering!''


    Chen Mo slowly retracted his hand, contemting his newly acquired insights. ''So this is cultivation. I understand now. Manipting the infonts around myself allowed me to evade that attack, but this method consumes far too much stamina. If I could attain proper cultivation, it would increase my limits, letting me utilize my skills more freely.''


    ''Activate skill [Scripting] ¨C script: {


    Use skill [Existence] to analyze the cultivation data from skill [OpenSource];


    Use skill [Memory] to save the processed infonts;


    Use skill [Update] to integrate the cultivation infonts into my body;


    }''


    [Script Loaded]


    [Executing Script]


    [Script Executed Sessfully]


    <strong>Name</strong>: Chen Mo


    <strong>Species</strong>: Human


    <strong>Cultivation</strong>: Qi Gathering 9th Rank


    <strong>Job</strong>: Programmer


    <strong>Skills</strong>: ...


    ''That''s more like it. The difference between cultivators and non-cultivators is like heaven and earth. Now that I''m a cultivator, I can easily utilize my abilities. I don''t need physical contact to affect others - I can simply extend my qi.''


    ''Activate skill [Existence].''


    [


    <strong>Name</strong>: Mo Fu


    <strong>Cultivation</strong>: Qi Gathering 9th Rank


    <strong>Information</strong>: Disciple of the 10th elder of the Heavenly Pce. Ordered to kill you.


    ]


    [


    <strong>Name</strong>: Mo Zu


    <strong>Cultivation</strong>: Qi Gathering 9th Rank


    <strong>Information</strong>: Disciple of the 10th elder of the Heavenly Pce. Ordered to kill you.


    ]


    ''My assumptions were correct. While formidable, my powers are constrained by how many infonts I can process. As I am now, I cannot handle much and would lose against a high-level cultivator. I need to gather greater cultivation and absorb more infonts to upgrade my processing capacity. Though I have cultivation now, Ick any innate talent, so I must find other cultivators to copy data from in order to elevate my current state.''


    From the infonts he had gathered, Chen Mo learned there were ten major cultivation realms, each divided into nine ranks. One had to reach the ninth rank of each realm before breaking through to the next higher ne.


    The realms were: Qi Gathering, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Soul Formation, Void Traversing, Soul and Body Integration, Tribtion Transcendence, and finally, Mahayana.


    "What are you just standing there in a daze for? Let''s attack him together!" Mo Zu''s shout shattered Chen Mo''s reverie as the two assants charged, swords leading the way.


    ''Oh, I forgot these two were still here.''


    ''Activate skill [Development].''


    A long sword materialized in Chen Mo''s grasp. ''Though I''m not proficient in weapon crafting yet, generating a sword design from my memory isn''t too taxing, despite the considerable spiritual energy cost.''


    Having already absorbed their sword skills and techniques when he scanned them earlier, Chen Mo swiftly dispatched the brothers, his newly acquired abilities granting him the upper hand.


    "You, the one concealing yourself - go tell your sect master to prepare his neck," Chen Mo called out, turning to enter the sect building.


    ''How did he notice me? My concealment technique is one of the most aplished among the junior disciples. Even a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator would struggle to pierce it.''


    ...


    Heavenly Pce Hall


    "So that is what transpired." The Tenth Elder''s proud tones rang out, undisturbed. "It seems the Chen family''s young master has found a way to recover his cultivation, but it is no great matter. We need only send someone stronger to kill him. Even if he has regained his cultivation, he can be at most an early-stage Foundation Establishment, nothing more."


    "Then how did he discover my concealment technique?" the disciple asked the elder.


    "There are always geniuses in each generation," the elder replied, patting the disciple''s head in a gesture of paternal reassurance. "Use this as motivation to improve your cultivation. If he were truly that powerful, why did he not kill you when he had the chance? He must have expended the extent of his strength dealing with those two brothers."


    The disciple nodded, relieved by the logic of the elder''s words. "That makes sense. I will do as the elder instructs." Cupping his fist in a bow, he turned and exited the hall.


    "Good, good." A sinister smile crept across the Tenth Elder''s features as he murmured to himself. "Chen family, this grudge will be paid for in blood."

 Chapter 5: Main Character Profile

    <h4>Chapter 5: Main Character Profile</h4>


    Chen Mo walks out of the sect building and stretches his muscles.


    It''s already been a week since he moved into this world and there were still things he didn''t know.


    He had used the past days to familiarize himself with his new abilities and tried to breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment realm but to no avail.


    Although he had some qi in his body, he was only at the Qi Gathering stage and couldn''t utilize it fully.


    Although he could manipte Qi for sometime by manipting infonts, it wasn''t a long-time solution and was exhausting.


    He had even used the collected infonts of the Mo brothers to generate new spiritual roots for his body but it didn''t work.


    ''It seems that my body has somehow changed and doesn''t support spiritual roots. Now that I think about it, the original Chen Mo had high level spiritual roots and was considered a genius, maybe that''s why my body rejects these low-level spiritual roots, it''s like using a motorcycle engine to power an airne''


    He thought to himself silently as he walked out to the nearest town. He thought that maybe he''d find a Foundation Establishment cultivator and use their data to increase his cultivation before he finds someone with a high-level spiritual root to restore his. Although he had Qi in his body, he couldn''t replenish it if it was used up since hecked spiritual roots.


    "Hey, is that Chen Mo"


    "Stop pointing, I heard that he killed Heavenly Pce disciples for looking at him"


    "Really?"


    ''I''m really standing out; I didn''t expect there to be so much rumors about me. Although I''m confident in dealing with the Heavenly Pce given enough time, I can''t do anything if they ambush me suddenly. I need to build a force. Since the original Chen Mo wanted to restore his sect, I''ll help him fulfil his goal as thanks for letting me aplish my dream of all creation''


    Chen Mo strode down the busy street, lost in contemtion. His brows were knitted together and he stared straight ahead, oblivious to the swarm of people around him. He was reying his earlier confrontation with people of the Heavenly Pce over and over in his mind, trying to analyze their intentions for attacking him.


    ''The Heavenly Pce is a rank one sect while the Chen sect is only rank nine, the lowest in the continent. What grudge could they possibly have with the Heavenly Pce, I smell a conspiracy''


    Chen Mo rubbed his chin as he walked, mulling over the possible interpretations.


    Suddenly, his shoulder collided with something and Chen Mo stumbled, abruptly snatched from his reverie. He had bumped right into a sickly-looking young girl, who was now teetering unsteadily on the sidewalk. Chen Mo''s eyes went wide and he reached out, grabbing the young girl''s arm to steady her before she could fall.


    "Oh my! I''m so sorry, I was distracted and didn''t see you," Chen Mo apologized profusely, flushing red with embarrassment.


    ''This is bad, I can''t believe I let my guard down like that, if that was an assassin, I''d already be dead by now''


    Chen Mo thought, shaking his head ruefully at his carelessness. He resolved to pay better attention to his surroundings rather than getting so lost in thought next time.


    Chen Mo''s brow furrowed in concern as he studied the girl''s face. Her skin was an unhealthy pallor and dark circles ringed her sunken, ssy eyes. She showed no awareness of her surroundings, letting out only a faint, raspy breath. Her stick-thin arms hung weakly at her sides.


    "Miss? Are you alright?" Chen Mo asked with growing rm. The girl made no response, her unfocused gaze staring right through him. He waved a hand in front of her face but she did not track the movement at all.


    Chen Mo''s pulse quickened as he grasped the girl''s shoulder and gave her a gentle shake. Still no reaction. Her body swayed limply in his grip like a rag doll. Panic rising in his chest, Chen Mo lowered the unresponsive girl to the sidewalk.


    ''Activate skill [Existence]''


    [


    Name: Mei Ling, Yin Mei (Fox Demon Possession)


    Cultivation: Foundation Establishment 2nd Rank


    Information: Princess of the demon n, due to her pure yang body, the elders decided to use her as a sacrifice to revive the demon ancestor. Her maid used her life to save her and she managed to escape. Due to the overuse of demon possession to escape the pursuit of the demon n, the yang in her body is corroding her heart and will die within twenty-four hours.


    ]


    ''A demon princess huh, isn''t this a main character profile? She only looks about sixteen years old and is already at the second stage of Foundation Establishment, she must possess high-grade spiritual roots. I must get her to my side''


    Chen Mo thought as he picked up the girl and took her back to his sect.


    <strong>...</strong>


    Two hourster.


    Chen Mo stood anxiously at the side of the bed, looking down at the girl lying there. Her face was flushed and damp with sweat, her breathing ragged.


    Chen Mo thought that he had caught a rare catch this time, not only did he upgrade his cultivation to the 2nd stage of Foundation Establishment, but also got data on a superior grade spiritual root. Now he could recover his spiritual energy if it was ever depleted.


    Spiritual roots are ranked from, Low, Medium, High, Superior, Sacred, Divine, and Heavenly grade. The demon princess had a superior grade spiritual root and Chen Mo was able to analyze it and not only repair his high-grade spiritual root, but also upgrade it to superior grade.


    The girl stirred, turning her ssy eyes towards him. "So tired...So hot..." she murmured. "And cold..."


    Chen Mo tucked the nkets more tightly around her shivering body. He then stretched his hand out and ced it on her forehead, now that she had given him such a huge gift, he naturally had to return the favor.


    "Try to rest," he said, keeping his voice low and soothing. "You need to regain your strength."


    She gave a weak nod and closed her eyes once more.


    ''Activate skill [OpenSource]''


    ''Activate skill [Existence]''


    ''Activate skill [Development]''


    ''Activate skill [Scripting] ¨C script: {


    Use skill [Existence] to analyze the yang poison data from skill [OpenSource];


    Use skill [Memory] to save the processed infonts;


    Use skill [Development] to create a yang opposing attribute;


    }''


    [Script Loaded]


    [Executing Script]


    [Script Executed Sessfully]


    Chen Mo stretched out his hand dramatically and a ck marble ne materialized in his hand.


    [Yang Suppressing Ne ¨C Low level spiritual artifact] ¨C Can suppress yang attribute.


    As he leaned over to fasten the ne, the girl startled awake, her warrior instincts taking over. In an instant, she had a sword pressed to Chen Mo''s throat, her eyes wild.


    Chen Mo froze, unwilling to make any move that could end with a slit neck. "It''s me," he said softly.


    ''Dammit, I used all my spiritual energy to repair my spiritual roots and to create that ne, if she was to attack me right now, I wouldn''t be able to protect himself''


    Chen Mo thought as he looked at the girl''s status through his [Existence] skill. He then realized what was going on and a huge smile appeared on his face.


    "Don''t be so agitated little fox demon"


    He talked smugly as he pushed away the sword from his throat. That''s right, the fox demon seemed to have possessed the girl''s body thinking she was in danger when she detected the yang suppressing ne.


    ''If that''s the case, all I have to do is bluff my way out of this situation'' he thought as he smiled widely.


    "How did you..."


    Before she could finish speaking, Chen Mo pulled her to him and hugged her tightly, "Yin Mei, it''s really you, I thought I''d never see you again"


    "How do you know my name?"


    "You really don''t remember? Well, I can''t me you it''s really been a long time, I thought you had already entered the cycle of reincarnation"


    ''From what I saw when I used [Existence] on her, she seems to have lost her memory when she became a ghost, since no one else knows her real name, she''ll believe me when I say I knew her''


    "You''re sick now, go back to sleep. I''ll exin everything to you when you get better"


    "Okay..." she responded softly as he slowly ced, he back on the bed and she drifted to sleep. It seems she was really tired.


    ''Phew, that was close. Good thing my survival instincts kicked in''

 Chapter 6: Just Call Me Sect Master

    <h4>Chapter 6: Just Call Me Sect Master</h4>


    Mei n Ancestral Hall (Unorthodox Sect, Rank 3 Sect)


    The grand hall was filled with the elders of the n, their wrinkled faces grim as they gazed upon their n head. He sat atop his golden throne; surrounded by a dark aura and his expression hard as he looked down upon the scene before him.


    nked on either side by armed guards holding sharp spears, a young girl knelt on the cold stone floor. Though she wore no crown or royal finery, her bearing and delicate features marked her as royalty. Princess Ling lifted her head high, defiance shing in her eyes as she faced the n head and elders'' judgment.


    "Mei Ling, don''t make this any harder than it needs to be" the n head spoke in a booming voice. "Being used as a sacrifice to the demon ancestor should be your greatest honor"


    Ling rose to her feet. "If it''s such a great honor, why don''t you do it yourself?" Her voice rang out clear and unafraid.


    Angry murmurs rippled through the hall. The n head mmed his fist upon the arm of his throne. "You dare question my judgement? You have brought only shame to the Mei n!"


    The princess did not flinch. "The truth brings no shame. All of you are just a bunch of old men who kill fellow n members for profit in the guise of paying tribute to the demon ancestor. Its people like you that bring shame to the n''s name."


    The elders stirred uneasily. Some nodded reluctantly as if her words rang true. The n head turned red with rage. "Take this traitor to the dungeons!" he bellowed.


    The guards seized Ling''s arms, though she did not resist. As she was dragged away, she held her head high, a righteous prisoner of conscience.


    <strong>...</strong>


    Chen n Sect Hall


    A piercing scream shattered the quiet of the night. "Mom! Dad! Nooooooo!"


    Ling bolted upright in bed, her heart pounding. Tears streamed down her cheeks as the vivid images from her nightmare lingered. She had been back at the fateful moment when her parents died trying to save her from the dungeons.


    "No, no, no," she sobbed, wrapping her arms around herself. She rocked back and forth, willing the horrific visions to leave her be. But she could still see the scene clear as day at the back of her mind.


    It took a long time for Ling''s pounding heart to slow and her tears to dry. The nightmare always left her feeling raw and devastated, like she was losing her parents all over again. She hugged her knees to her chest, wishing she could have saved them.


    As dawn''s light peeked through the curtains, Ling whispered into the quiet, "Don''t worry Mom and Dad, I swear to avenge you someday"


    Chen Mo, who had been sitting meditating at the corner of the room thought to himself,


    ''Just as I thought, this is indeed a main character profile. Even willing to go to a demonic sect for revenge''


    "Very brave indeed, but there''s nothing you can do about it, the moment you''re spotted by anyone who can see through your pure yang body, you''ll be captured and used to craft cultivation pills. To put it short, you''ll be long dead before you can avenge your parents" he spoke in calm voice.


    "And who are you?" she spoke calmly but deep inside, she thought,


    ''Damn, I let my guard down, I didn''t even sense him approaching''


    "No need to be on guard little princess, I''m a friend of Yin Mei over there. Sorry, I guess to you its demon ancestor"


    "How do you know about the demon ancestor? Not even my n elders know about her!"


    "Don''t worry about that, anyway, since you have nowhere to go, why don''t you join the new sect I''m about to create"


    ''The Mo sect has already been abolished and I need at least one disciple to create a sect. If I recruit her, I can create a sect, not to mention that she''s a main character profile'' he thought to himself as he stretched his hand to her for a handshake.


    ''What he said is true, if someone notices my pure yang body, I''ll be as good as dead. Although I don''t trust him fully, I''m sure he won''t hurt me since he stabilized the yang poisoning in my body and knows about the ancestor. I''ll join his sect for a while'' she thought to herself as she stretched out her hand for the handshake.


    "Good, now let''s go and register our sect"


    "What? Register?"


    "Yes, didn''t I tell you that I was creating a sect?"


    "Oh okay"


    Ling stepped outside the sect building and froze in shock. The outside of the building looked nothing like the inside. It stood in ruins - its roof caved in, walls crumbling, and grounds utterly neglected.


    She had seen how the inside seemed like the epitome of wealth and luxury. Grander than their ancestral hall even.


    But now as she gazed about, that illusiony shattered. Ivy and moss covered the decrepit walls. Many of the windows were smashed, their shards littering the ground. The fountains no longer flowed, their basins dry and cracked. It looked as if no one had tended the grounds in years.


    What could have happened? Had the elders of the sect fallen on hard times? Or had they simply lost interest in maintaining the facade of prosperity?


    Chen Mo realized her shocked expression and thought to himself that he had fixed the interior of the sect building but forgot to fix the outside. Now that he was at the 3rd level of Foundation Building, he could now use his spiritual energy freely to activate his skills without much burden to his body.


    His brain functions were also much faster and he could process much more infonts at a time than he could before breaking through.


    He held her gently in his arm and jumped back outside the sect as he stretched out his arm.


    ''I haven''t tested out my limits since I broke through, I used [Update] on my body to make it automatically cultivate and now my body feels full of stamina all the time and I don''t need rest or sleep since my body is collecting spiritual energy by itself all the time''


    As he stretched out his hand towards the sect, he thought that now that he had enough control over spiritual energy, it wouldn''t be hard to recreate a sect building and its environment based on memory.


    Chen Mo poured spiritual energy into his hand and used the [Development] skill to create a modern looking sect mansion as well as flowers, fountains and other decorations. He also created some modern apartments for disciples before his spiritual energy ran out.


    Mei Ling who had now witnessed the buildings materializing out of seemingly nowhere was shocked beyond belief, ''What was that? Crafting? No, even the best crafter in the continent couldn''t craft something this big at such a short time. In the n''s library, I learnt that there are gods who can create things just by thinking about it, is he one of them?''


    "Who are you?" she asked in a shocked but respectful tone.


    "Oh, I forgot to introduce myself, my name is Chen Mo. You can call me Sect Master from now on" he spoke with a smile as he let her down from his arms.

 Chapter 7: The Protagonist Sect

    <h4>Chapter 7: The Protagonist Sect</h4>


    At the City Lord''s Mansion.


    "Why are you here again? I already told you that you need at least one disciple to establish a sect didn''t I"


    ''Again? It seems that the original owner really tried to recreate the sect''


    "Yes, yes, I heard you already so stop yelling. I already have a disciple right here can''t you see?"


    Chen Mo showed his new disciple to the city lord with a proud smile on his face.


    The city lord adjusted his sses as he looked at the dark cloaked girl peaking at him from behind Chen Mo seemingly evaluating her.


    He suddenly jolted from his seat and pped his hands on the table,


    "2nd Stage Foundation Establishment! And at such a young age"


    He then shifted his gaze to Chen Mo with a suspicious look.


    "How did you trick her into joining your sect?"


    "I didn''t trick her!" he shouted at the city lord in an agitated tone,


    "Anyway, just finish my sect registration" he spoke trying to calm his voice down noticing that thew were drawing too much attention.


    He thought to himself that drawing too much attention to themselves would risk Mei Ling being found out.


    "Okay, okay" the city lord spoke as he sat back to his chair and started writing something to his ancient looking scroll.


    "Oh right, the sect master also needs to be at least at the Foundation Establishment rank"


    "Yeah, I know. I''m already at the Foundation Establishment rank"


    "I know you... wait what?"


    "What? Don''t believe me?" Chen Mo spoke provocatively as he released his suppressed aura.


    "No no, I believe you, wait a moment as I register your sect. What''s your sect''s name?"


    "Just call it The Protagonist Sect"


    ''This kid, it''s not even been a month since his cultivation was abolished, but now... I guess it''s true what they say, dragon begets dragon and phoenix begets phoenix. Just like that boy back then, if only...'' the city lord thought silently to himself as he continued writing on the ancient scroll.


    "Okay, its finished now" the city lord spoke as he handed over a copy of the ancient scroll to Chen Mo.


    "Your sect is now a 9th rank sect, if you want to advance to the 8th rank, you''ll need at least one hundred disciples five of which should be at the Foundation Establishment realm and the sect master at the Core Formation realm"


    "Got it" Chen Mo spoke arrogantly as he yanked the scroll off the city lord''s hands and walked away with Mei Ling behind him.


    ''Now that I''ve created a sect, I''ll need to fight against the Heavenly Pce sooner orter so I''ll need an army. Since I have my skills, all I need is disciples, even if they don''t have talent, I can make it work somehow''


    Chen Mo thought to himself that his current goal was to get to the Soul Formation realm,


    ''I have a feeling that something big will happen if I reach the Soul Formation realm''


    <strong>...</strong>


    Mei n Ancestral Hall


    "How long have you all being searching for, why are there still no clues" the n head bellowed at the kneeling man cloaked in dark robes.


    "Please just wait a little longer n head" the cloaked man tried to calm down the n head but it seemed to have an opposite effect.


    "You said the same thing yesterday and the day before, why is it so hard to capture and bring back a little injured girl..."


    Before he could finish speaking, a man barged into the hall,


    "n head, we found something" the man spoke fast struggling to catch his breath.


    "What is it?"


    "The princess was seen walking out of the city lord''s mansion along with the Chen family''s young master"


    "Chen family young master? Hahaha" the n headughed maniacally,


    "It seems that you still bring me trouble even in your death Master Chen. Send people, I want his head here by tomorrow!"


    <strong>...</strong>


    ''I heard that other sects will be having a disciple recruitment event at the city tomorrow, why don''t I go and join in the fun. The easiest way to get recognized is by stepping on others after all''


    "Do you feel it?" Yin Mei asked as she ced her hand on her waist ready to draw her sword.


    "Yes, they''ve been following us since we left the city lord''s mansion. They don''t seem to be members of the Heavenly Pce either, I guess they are here for you, or Mei Ling to be exact"


    ''Yin Mei has been popping out every now and then and she seems to believe that I knew her. Well, I guess she''d be really useful as an elder of the sect, I''ll try creating her a body once my cultivation rank is high enough''


    Chen Mo halted abruptly, his robes swishing around him. Without turning, he called out, "Since you''ve been following us for a while now, why not reveal yourselves so that we may walk together?"


    From the shadows emerged two maidens and three men, their faces bearing the scars of many battles. The leader, a burly man with a missing eye, growled, "I did not think you noticed our presence; it seems that the rumor about young master Chen killing Heavenly Pce disciples was true. But as much as I''d like to y with the young master, we are on a mission. Just hand over the girl and pretend as if nothing happened and maybe I''ll let you live."


    Chen Mo''s gaze hardened as it fell upon the small figure hiding behind him. "I apologize, but I cannot fulfill such a request. She is my disciple after all."


    The bandit leader scowled, his hand dropping to the hilt of his sword. "Then do not me us for discarding courtesy!"


    With lightning speed, he drew his de and lunged toward the young master. The other viins followed suit, surrounding the pair with weapons drawn and bloodlust in their eyes.


    Chen Mo did not flinch but instead stepped forward. With practiced grace, he met their ambush head-on. "So, you have chosen the path of rivers of blood. But it is you who shall drown this day!" He held out his hand and a sword materialized in it.


    ''Although Mei Ling has high cultivation and talent, she has nobat ability so I have to protect her''


    As he was contemting what to do, "Hey, why are you leaving me out?" Mei Ling, or rather Yin Mei, spoke up as she drew her sword.

 Chapter 8: Peak Foundation Establishment

    <h4>Chapter 8: Peak Foundation Establishment</h4>


    Chen Mo gripped his sword tightly as he surveyed the menacing group approaching him and Yin Mei.


    There were threerge, muscr men cracking their knuckles and leering, with two women nking them wielding daggers.


    Thergest man leading them had a 9thyer Foundation Establishment cultivation and the other four were all at the 5thyer of Foundation establishment.


    This was not going to be an easy fight.


    He thought to himself that although he had a high-level cultivation, he had nobat experience.


    ''Mei Ling is at the 2ndyer of Foundation Establishment but with Yin Mei possessing her body, herbat power should be around the fifthyer of Foundation Establishment.''


    Yin Mei stood ready beside Chen Mo, her own sword at the ready.


    She was small and lithe, but Chen Mo knew she was fierce and could hold her own, how else had she managed to escape the pursuit of the Mei n until now.


    "Get ready," Chen Mo murmured. Yin Mei gave a curt nod, her eyes narrowed as she focused on the woman with a red bandana on the left.


    With a loud yell, the biggest man in the middle charged forward, aiming a punch at Chen Mo''s head.


    ''They are now within my skills'' range''


    ''Activate skill [OpenSource]''


    ''Activate skill [Existence]''


    ''Activate skill [Memory]''


    ''Activate skill [Update]''


    ''Activate skill [Scripting] ¨C script: {


    Use skill [Existence] to analyze the cultivation data from skill [OpenSource];


    Use skill [Memory] to save the processed infonts;


    Use skill [Update] to integrate the cultivation infonts into my body;


    }''


    [Script Loaded]


    [Executing Script]


    [Script Executed Sessfully]


    A gust of spiritual energy swirled around him for a split second before swiftly dispersing.


    ''This process is really long, although I can easily do it in my head at fast speeds, it''s still a bother. My programmer mindset just can''t live with this, I''ll have to create a program that runs it automatically''


    Chen Mo swiftly ducked and swung his fist up, cracking the man hard in the jaw. The man stumbled back with a pained grunt.


    ''Wasn''t he only at the third level of Foundation Establishment just a moment ago? Just now, that''s the power of a peak Foundation Establishment. ying the pig to eat the tiger huh...'' the man silently thought to himself.


    At the same time, Yin Meiunched herself at the woman in the red bandana, swinging her sword in a blur.


    The woman barely managed to deflect the blow with her dagger. They exchanged a flurry of strikes, sword hitting dagger in a deadly dance.


    Chen Mo had no time to watch Yin Mei''s fight as the other four decided to gang up on him after finding out his true cultivation.


    He parried a punch from one and sidestepped a kick from the other. Using the momentum, he whipped his sword around and swept one''s legs out from under him.


    The fight continued, Chen Mo and Yin Mei holding their own against the five antagonists.


    Chen Mo took down one of the men with a cracking strike to the head and the rest soon followed. Yin Mei also managed to disarm the woman in red.


    Soon only the biggest man remained standing. With a roar, he pulled out a wicked curved de with a dark aura. "You''ll pay for this you brats!" he yelled.


    Chen Mo and Yin Mei exchanged a look and a subtle nod. As the man charged, they both struck out with their swords, hitting the man''s wrist in unison. The de went flying as the man howled in pain.


    He swept the man''s feet from under him while Yei Mei knocked him out cold with a final strike to the head. The fight was over.


    Chen Mo let out a breath and thought that that was close,


    ''I managed to win against the four of them by constantly manipting infonts and spamming existence to predict their movements but it''s really energy consuming''


    He looked at the sword the man had dropped and picked it up.


    ''Activate skill [Existence]''


    [


    Name: Demon Calling Saber


    Grade: High grade spiritual weapon


    Information: Born from sacrificing thousands of souls, increases user''s power in exchange for lifespan. Cursed.


    ]


    ''A high-grade spiritual weapon huh, it would''ve been hard to deal with if we let him use the weapon, too bad for him I''ve watched enough "golden balls" to know not to let my opponent charge up their attack''


    Weapons and other treasures in this world are ranked in the following grades from lowest to the highest, Common, Magical, Spiritual, Divine, Heavenly, and Numinous. Each grade is also subdivided to Low, Medium, and High.


    ''This one is a high-grade spiritual weapon, it''s not thatmon even among medium ranked sects''


    After collecting the loot, Chen Mo and Yin Mei continued on their way, leaving the groaning heap of bodies behind. It had been a good fight.


    <strong>...</strong>


    Two hourster, at The Protagonist Sect.


    ''I thought I had gotten some good stuff from those guys from before, seeing that they had three space rings but all they had with them were some second-grade recovery pills and some low-grade spirit stones.''


    ''Although they aren''t that useful, I can analyze them with my skill and make sure that I can always recreate them.


    Speaking of skills, I wanted to create a skill to manage some of my other skills but that''s not possible for now, for my skills to evolve I''ll first need to breakthrough to the Core Formation stage''


    He thought to himself that he was currently at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage and could break through at any moment.


    The only problem was that one needed to form a core to break through to the core formation stage and he hadn''t yet decided on which element to use when forming a core.


    During the breakthrough for Foundation Establishment to Core Formation, a cultivator must choose an element they have high affinity to in order to form a core.


    This element canter be used to infuse in attacks. This element can never be changed.


    ''Now that I think about it, I don''t have to think too much of it since I can always use the [Update] skill to restructure my core and add more elements when needed''


    In order to form a core, people usually need a spiritual crystal with the element they want to use in order to absorb the element and slowly form a core but this was different for Chen Mo.


    He didn''t need a spiritual crystal and could directly absorb an element from any item containing the element by manipting infonts.


    ''I''ll absorb the space element from the space rings I collected, space rted powers are always so overpowered''


    Chen Mo took the three space rings he had and ced them in his hand.


    ''Activate skill [OpenSource]''


    ''Activate skill [Existence]''


    ''Activate skill [Development]''


    ''Activate skill [Update]''

 Chapter 9: Dangerous Entity

    <h4>Chapter 9: Dangerous Entity</h4>


    Mei n Ancestral Hall.


    The patriarch picked up the table and threw it into the wall, smashing it into pieces.


    "What do you mean you failed? It''s just an injured girl at the second stage Foundation Establishment and the stupid son of a beggar"


    The patriarch shouted with an agitated voice.


    "Our information was wed; it seems that the Chen family young master found a way to restore his spiritual roots. He also managed to defeat five of our men one of which was at the peak of Foundation Establishment. He''s at least at the Core Formation ream"


    A man cloaked in a dark robe kneeling before the patriarch spoke trying to calm down the angry patriarch.


    "That''s impossible, even if he somehow managed to restore his broken spiritual roots, he''d need at least a few months to reach the Core Formation realm" the patriarch scoffed at the man''s words.


    "This is yourst chance, bring them back to me. And do it yourself this time." The patriarch spoke in an authoritative voice and waved his hand to dismiss the dark cloaked man.


    "Yes sir" the man spoke and slowly sank into the floor.


    <strong>...</strong>


    Protagonist Sect.


    ''Although the space elemental particles in the space rings aren''t much, I''ll just use my [Development] skill to make up for it. It''s a good thing that the breakthrough to the Core Formation realm doesn''t call upon a thunder tribtion, otherwise, I''d be in big trouble if I used all my spiritual energy to create space elemental particles''


    Chen Mo thought to himself as he sat cross legged and held the space rings in his hands.


    ''Activate skill [OpenSource]''


    ''Activate skill [Existence]''


    ''Activate skill [Development]''


    ''Activate skill [Update]''


    ''Activate skill [Scripting] ¨C script: {


    Use skill [Existence] to analyze the space elemental data from skill [OpenSource];


    Use skill [Memory] to save the processed space infonts;


    Use skill [Development] to create space element particles from [Memory] infonts;


    Use skill [Update] to integrate the elemental particles into my core;


    }''


    [Script Loaded]


    [Executing Script]


    [Script Executed Sessfully]


    <strong>...</strong>


    Celestial realm, Yuanshi Pce


    A muscr middle-aged looking man with long hair and a huge beard walks out the balcony and smiles.


    "Did something good happen master?"


    A teenage looking young man asks as she hands out a towel to the man.


    "It seems someone has mastered thew of space" he spoke in a calm voice showing a hint of excitement.


    "Did a new space celestial appear? There hasn''t been one in over a million years" the young man asked looking perplexed, immortals masteringws and ascending to the celestial realm were normal urrences. Even though it wasn''t often that a person mastered thew of space, how could it excite the master, he thought to himself.


    "No, this time it happened in a mortal world" the man answered with a huge smile forming in his face.


    "What? How is that possible? Isn''t it just the space element?" the young man asked with a shocked expression on his face. Thew of space was one of the hardestws to master. How could a mortal master it.


    "No, it''s definitely not an element. It''s thew of space, I can feel it." The man looked up at the dark sky with no stars but only darkness andughed loudly, "It seems that something interesting is about to happen, those sages won''t even know what hit them. Hahaha..."


    <strong>...</strong>


    The Protagonist Sect.


    Chen Mo was floating in his room when he suddenly opened his eyes, spiritual energy was circting around his abdomen, there were spatial cracks everywhere around him and the room was trashed.


    ''What happened here? I passed out before after expending so much spiritual energy creating the space element particles. I didn''t know how much was needed and so I spammed until I run out of spiritual energy. It''s a good thing that my body absorbs spiritual energy automatically otherwise I wouldn''t be able to make the breakthrough''


    Chen Mo slowly levitated to the ground and the spatial cracks fixed themselves. He thought to himself that now that he was at the core formation stage, he could fly.


    But before that, he needed to first create something to manage his powers since he had broken through and his spiritual energy was now hundreds of times higher than what he initially had since he now had a core.


    His brain could also process infonts thousands of times faster than he could before his breakthrough and he felt that he could create a new skill.


    He sat still in a lotus posture and entered a deep concentration state. Although, he could activate his skills without entering deep concentration, it was his first-time attempting creation at this level and he didn''t want any idents to ur.


    ''Activate skill [Development]''


    Chen Mo traced back his thoughts and thought about howputers could run many processes at the same time and tried to use that as his temte.


    He wanted to iste part of his brain to be used to process infonts without his loosing his main brain functionality.


    After a while, spiritual energy surged into his body and slowly dispersed after a few minutes.


    ''Looks like it worked'' he thought as he opened up the system panel in his mind.


    Parallel Processing - Can independently process and absorb infonts using a separate metaphysical processing structure that operates in parallel with the main consciousness. This allows rapidprehension and synthesis of infonts withoutpromising or interfering with the focus and functions of the main mind. Also remains aware and conscious even when the primary consciousness is inactive, asleep or incapacitated, providing ongoing peripheral awareness and cognition.


    Chen Mo looked at the skill description and showed a frown. Although the skill was great, it was still not there yet.


    ''Let''s try this one out''


    Chen Mo returned to his deep concentration state and thought to himself,


    ''That [Parallel Processing] skill is really nice but it still needs some refinement, it can run separately but can''t make use of many of my other skills effectively since it''s not entirely conscious. Since the [Existence] skill knows everything that''s not purposefully concealed, and my [Memory] skill preserves the state of my mind perfectly without any external disturbance, I canbine the two skills to make a semi-conscious entity and then share my brain functionality to it through [Parallel Processing]. If that''s sessful, I''ll essentially have a personal highly intelligent AI assistant that runs indefinitely''


    ''Activate skill [OpenSource]''


    ''Activate skill [Development]''


    ''Activate skill [Update]''


    ''Activate skill [Scripting] ¨C script: {


    Use skill [OpenSource] to break apart [Existence], [Parallel Processing] and [Memory];


    Use skill [Memory] to save the infonts;


    Use skill [Development] to reconstruct and merge the infonts;


    Use skill [Update] to integrate the merged infonts into my brain;


    }''


    [Script Loaded]


    [Executing Script]


    [Script Execution Failed]


    [Retrying] * 1


    [Script Execution Failed]


    [Retrying] * 2


    [Script Execution Failed]


    [Retrying] * 3


    <strong>...</strong>


    [Script Execution Failed]


    [Retrying] * 1000


    ''It seems that something is actively preventing me from seeding''


    ''Activate Skill [Existence]''


    [


    Name: Heavenly Dao


    Information: The Heavenly Dao detected a dangerous entity and is trying to prevent it from being born.


    ]

 Chapter 10: Rasiel – Keeper of God’s Secret

    <h4>Chapter 10: Rasiel ¨C Keeper of God¡¯s Secret</h4>


    ''Heavenly Dao? Who''s that? Is it some sort of defense mechanism? I guess building a highly intelligent artificial entity out of thin air would be considered dangerous to the world'' Chen Mo thought to himself but did not give up yet.


    ''Activate skill [Existence] ¨C How do I bypass the Heavenly Dao''s defense mechanism?''


    [


    1. Have a higher cultivation level than the Heavenly Dao.


    2. Have a numinous grade or higher concealment treasure.


    3. Hide in an isted space using yourw of space ¨C rmended.


    View 10,000,000+ other methods.


    ]


    ''Thew of space? Why is that rmended? Did I have a spacew?'' he questioned silently as he checked his information through the [Existence] skill.


    ''This skill is actually pretty good; it also acts as a logger. It seems that my space element somehow managed to evolve and be aw. That exins why I passed out when breaking through.''


    He closed his eyes and gathered spiritual energy around his body.


    After a while, the spiritual energy dispersed and he showed a calm face, ''after dealing with so many infonts which are severalyers deeper than space, I can easily wield the power of space with little to no energy consumption. It''s just like running old games on the newest high-end PCs''


    Chen Mo stretched out his fist dramatically and clenched it tight.


    *Crack


    Space cracked and he entered light space.


    ''Although I can try doing it here, it''s still not safe enough and someone might attack me when I''m defenseless''


    He waved his hand and the space around him shattered again as he entered into deep space.


    ''This is the furthest I can go with my current powers. Although I can use thew of space effortlessly, I can''t breathe in space let alone deep space, all the spiritual energy is being used to keep my body and soul from being ripped apart by space fluctuations. Since there''s no spiritual energy in space, I can''t regenerate the lost spiritual energy and can only stay here for at most fifteen minutes. I have to hurry since there''s also the threat of being attacked or being caught up in a fight between high level cultivators.''


    Chen Mo quickly entered a state of deep concentration.


    ''Activate skill [Memory] ¨C Get script instance from memory''


    <strong>...</strong>


    [Script Execution Failed]


    [Retrying] * 1000


    [Script Execution Failed]


    ''Retry''


    [Retrying] * 1001


    [Script Executed Sessfully]


    ''Looks like it worked''


    At this moment Chen Mo felt an extremely powerful existence lock on to him.


    ''This feeling...'' he quickly clenched his fist and space quicklypressed at thousands of times the speed of light and he instantly materialized back in his room.


    ''Phew...That was really dangerous. The power I felt was many times above that of a Mahayana realm cultivator. I''ll have to pay more attention when leaving the observable space''


    At the same moment, Chen Mo could sense a new consciousness deep inside him and he tried to contact it through his mind.


    ''I will be the god of this world and you''ll stay alongside me from this moment onwards, your name shall be Rasiel ¨C Keeper of God''s Secret''


    ''What god? Why did I suddenly speak like that? But those words...feel so familiar. I''ve heard those words before somewhere...''


    [Updating]


    [Update Failed]


    [Report] ¨C [Rasiel greets master [REDACTED]]


    [Error]


    [Restarting]


    [Updating]


    [Update Completed Sessfully]


    [Confirm] ¨C [From now on I shall be known as Rasiel ¨C Keeper of God''s Secret]


    <strong>...</strong>


    Unknown ce.


    "Rasiel, something is off. How did he manage to create you much earlier than he did in the previous run. He isn''t even a creator yet, he''s only at the mortal realm. Did you mess up the restart?"


    [Report] ¨C [The restart did not fail, it was overwritten]


    "The only person who can overwrite it is only you or me. But since I don''t have enough power to do that, and you say that you didn''t do it, how did it happen"


    [Calcting]


    [Processing]


    [Report] ¨C [It''s highly likely that you or I interfered from the fourth orter chaos]


    "If that''s the case, then that means that we still failed even after restarting"


    [Confirm] ¨C [Its highly likely]


    "Things are really starting to get out of hand"


    <strong>...</strong>


    ''Now that I''ve gained Rasiel, my skills can now be used in an easier and more effective manner''


    ''Hey Rasiel, what''s the current range of my skills''


    [Calcting]


    [Report] ¨C [Current infonts detection and maniption range is exactly one mile, range increases as the master''s cultivation increases. You''re currently at the firstyer of Core Formation]


    ''Previously, I could only use a range of just about ten meters and it only worked when I was conscious. But now that Rasiel is here with me, I can know any time anything enters the sect''


    Chen Mo stood up and stretched, he thought about Mei Ling, since she had joined his sect, he had yet to teach her any cultivation techniques.


    He also had this voice in his head that kept telling him to hurry up and breakthrough to the Soul Formation stage.


    [Report] ¨C [Two assassins from the Heavenly Pce have broken into the sect. I have already provided you with their coordinates]


    ''Speaking of breaking through, looks like my protagonist luck is really high.''


    ''The way that I''ve been copying cultivation up until now is really unrefined and unstable. But now that I have Rasiel here with me, I can finally correct that and stabilize my foundation''


    ''Rasiel, what''s their cultivation levels?''


    [Report] ¨C [They are both at the sixthyer of Core Formation]


    ''Copy their cultivation data andbat abilities, then run it through simtions with my body''s data as a base until its fullypatible and stable''


    He thought that although he could copy and integrate cultivation data into his body, he wasn''t really making it his own but rather emting other people''s cultivations and couldn''t fully utilize it and had to rely on manipting infonts most of the time which wasn''t really effective against stronger opponents where each second mattered.


    Multiple people had different cultivation methods and it would eventually overwhelm him if he continued doing it the same way.


    But that had all changed now that he had Rasiel, he could simte others'' cultivation multiple times using his body as a base and could modify it to suit his needs, basically assimting all advantages and eliminating all the disadvantages.


    [Calcting]


    [Processing]


    [Analyzing]


    [Simting] ¨C [Time left: 30mins]


    ''Looks like it I''ll take some time. I guess my processing power is still a littlecking. Although I could probably beat the assassins using my spacew, I''ll just wait a bit so that I have training partners to test out Rasiel''s work once it''s done. Looks like they also don''t have the intention of moving either, they''re probably mesmerized by the sect''s new look''

 Chapter 11: I’m not easy to bully

    <h4>Chapter 11: I¡¯m not easy to bully</h4>


    [Simtion Complete]


    [Integrating]


    [Integration Complete]


    [Report] ¨C [Current cultivation ¨C sixthyer Core Formation]


    Chen Mo stood up and stretched.


    ''The breakthrough didn''t bring much change to my core except for the increase in spiritual energy. That''s understandable since my element that forms the core has already be aw and can''t evolve any further.''


    Chen Mo used his spacew and, in a sh, he vanished from his spot.


    The assassins were outside the new sect mansion, searching high and low for their target with cold efficiency. Yet before they could locate him, a voice spoke up directly behind them.


    "Looking for me?"


    The assassins whirled around in shock. Chen Mo stood there, a wry smile ying across his lips. How had he moved without making a sound? Their eyes widened in disbelief.


    "Impossible! I had my Spiritual Sense extended. There''s no way you could have approached unnoticed!" one of them eximed.


    Chen Mo chuckled, unfazed. "Who said anything about approaching? I simply used the Void Traversal technique to teleport behind you."


    The assassins paled. The Void Traversal technique was a legendary movement skill that allowed one to merge with the void and reappear anywhere within visual range. It was considered virtually undetectable unless one cultivated an extremely high-level space element.


    "No wonder the Heavenly Sect seeks to eliminate you. With such a short time, you not only managed to recover your lost cultivation, but also broke through to the Core Formation realm and awakened a space type element!" another assassin spat.


    "Looks like we''ll have to retreat and inform the elder about this new information"


    Chen Mo shook his head as a sword materialized in his hand.


    "Retreat? Who do you think you are? Toe and leave as you want, do you think that my Protagonist Sect is easy to bully?"


    He spoke arrogantly as he walked towards the panicked assassins.


    "What nonsense? Do you think that the Heavenly Pce would retreat just because of you? I was simply trying to let you live for a couple more days but it seems that you don''t appreciate my kindness"


    The assassin spoke in a prideful tone and they both drew their swords, pointing them at Chen Mo.


    One of the assassins charged towards Chen Mo and made a sh with his sword, his sword directly cut through Chen Mo''s chest and the assassin showed a grin,


    "Hahaha, I didn''t expect you to be so weak" the assassinughed.


    "What''re youughing at?" Chen Mo spoke calmly as he ced his hand on the assassin''s shoulder.


    The assassin felt Chen Mo''s touch and turned back to see Chen Mo unarmed, he then nced back to see the one he had shed just to realize that it was only an after-image.


    "Keep attacking, I don''t believe he can keep using that technique" the other assassin shouted as he charged at Chen Mo from behind.


    Chen Mo simply lifted his hand and grabbed the man''s sword with his bare hand before it could hit him, not that it''d do much difference either way since he actively had a space barrier around him.


    He squeezed the sword tightly as the assassin was hardly trying to pull it back from his grip, but then,


    [Activate skill [Storage]]


    The sword suddenly dematerialized and the assassin stumbled back in shock.


    Chen Mo thought that he had earlier asked Rasiel to use the properties of the [Memory] skill and thew of space to create him a pocket dimension that he could use to store his items but the results had actually turned out better than he had expected.


    Storage - Able to break down any physical object or conceptual entity into its fundamental infonts particles. Can thenpress, encrypt and store these primal building blocks in a metaphysical pocket dimension immune to the effects of time and space. Stored items are perfectly preserved and secured, immune to any external disturbances or disruptions. Can retrieve and reconstitute stored items at will by reassembling their infontsponents into their original forms. Provides a limitless, invible storage space for safekeeping objects, knowledge, memories, skills, entities, and more.


    Panicked murmurs passed between the assassins as they realized that their des were utterly useless against this youth''s unfathomable abilities. Swallowing hard, they began to retreat, never taking their eyes off the inscrutable young master.


    "Where do you think you''re going?"


    Before they could even move, Chen Mo had already teleported in front of then and grabbed one of them by the neck.


    He then lifted him up and smashed him into a wall, breaking a few blocks in the process.


    As he walked to pick up the other assassin, he heard a familiar screaming and turned around.


    <strong>...</strong>


    A few seconds ago.


    Mei Ling was sitting cross-legged in her room cultivating when she heard amotion outside.


    "What''s going on out there? It sounds as though there''s a fight going on"


    She heard that the sounds were getting louder and she couldn''t concentrate and so she decided to stop cultivating and go check out what was causing such amotion outside.


    She wondered if the sect master was having a breakthrough.


    As she was walking out, something huge came crashing into her house and she let out a huge scream.


    Before she could make sense of what was going on, the assassin was already holding her tightly and put a sword to her throat.


    As Chen Mo grabbed the other assassin, he heard the voice of Mei Ling screaming and turned around to see the other assassin holding a sword to her throat.


    "Let us go right now or her head flies"


    The assassin spoke authoritatively as he closed the gap between his sword and Mei Ling''s neck.


    "And what if I say no?"


    The assassin''s face paled as he was met with the possibility that the hostage he was holding had no value to the young master.


    ''No, he must be bluffing'' he thought to himself as he tightened his grip on the girl and she let out a soft scream.


    "Stop bluffing, let us go now or I''ll really do it!"


    The assassin was getting impatient.


    "And then what? Just do it, I''ll make sure to avenge her" Chen Mo spoke calmly as he tightened his grip on the other assassin he was holding.


    "I''ll really do it..." the assassin shouted as he swung his de and blood gushed out...

 Chapter 12: Mei Ling’s Worth

    <h4>Chapter 12: Mei Ling¡¯s Worth</h4>


    Its rewind time.


    One of the assassins regained hisposure and smirked. "You may be formidable, but not invincible." In one fluid motion, heshed out and grabbed Mei Ling who had just gotten out of her room in a chokehold. Pressing a sword against her throat, he sneered. "Make one move and she dies."


    Chen Mo''s eyes narrowed as he appraised the situation coolly. "You would ughter your own brother?"


    "Huh! What are you talking about? Don''t test me, boy!"


    In a blur, the assassin''s de shed out. But instead of the gurgling scream he expected, the de plunged into hisrade''s chest with a meaty thunk. The man went ck in his grip.


    "No! Brother! What have I done?" the assassin wailed, dropping the lifeless body in horror.


    "You! What did you do?"


    He questioned Chen Mo in an angry and trembling voice.


    All color drained from confused assassin''s face as he looked between his inrade and Chen Mo.


    "Are you okay?"


    Chen Mo asked softly addressing Mei Ling whom hefortably held in his arms.


    "I was so scared, I really thought you''d abandon me"


    "I''d never abandon you, you''re my disciple after all"


    He patted her headfortingly as he let her down from his arms.


    Then Chen Mo''s grim visage melted into a knowing smile. "I did not move. You simply stabbed the wrong man."


    "I merely swapped their positions through the Space Transfer technique. You didn''t seriously think that I could only use one spatial technique, did you?" Chen Mo exined with a shake of his head. "Judge not so quickly what you do notprehend."


    The baffled assassin stood in stunned silence, eyes wide with dawning realization. This boy had outyed them with but a thought, demonstrating powers that bent the very fabric of reality itself. They were hopeless from the very beginning, devastatingly outmatched.


    Just as the assassin was contemting what to do, Chen Mo stretched out his palm towards him.


    Before the assassin could look up, he activated his technique.


    "Spatial Exile"


    A dark space vortex opened up and sucked him inside, disappearing into the void.


    Chen Mo fell on his knee but Mei Ling managed to hold him.


    "Are you okay?"


    She asked in a concerned voice.


    "I''m okay, just a little tired. You should rest too, tomorrow we''ll go to recruit disciples for our sect." He spoke calmly as he lifted himself up and walked to his room as the broken buildings fixed themselves through Rasiel''s power.


    ''Although myw of space doesn''t consume much spiritual energy, my current body isn''t ready to handle the power of space. I''ll need to breakthrough a couple more times before I can use it freely. Before then, I''ll just stick to using it just for teleportation''


    [Report] ¨C [All damaged parts have been restored]


    ''Thanks. I wouldn''t want the sect disciples to think that our ce is poor''


    ''Hey Rasiel, I still have the saber I collected earlier during the fight with the Mei n people, right?''


    [Report] ¨C [Yes, I thought you might need it so I stored it using the [Storage] function along with the recovery pills and the spirit stones]


    ''Good, I wanted to use it earlier as a weapon for my disciples but it''s a cursed weapon. I want you to purify it and use its blueprints as a basis to craft high-level spiritual weapons for my core disciples, mid-level spiritual weapons for the inner disciples, and low-level spiritual weapons for the in-name disciples.''


    <strong>...</strong>


    The next day.


    Chen Mo wakes up and stretches his muscles.


    It was the first time he had had such good sleep; he had always been having a hard time sleeping ever since he was young but now that he had Rasiel, he could easily swap consciousness with him anytime he wanted to rest and Rasiel would wake him up when needed.


    He looked out the window and saw the new renovated sect Rasiel had been working on all night as well as the weapons he had developed and stored in his storage space and thought that Rasiel was really useful. As long as he had spiritual power, Rasiel could run infinitely.


    Today was especially a nice day since it was the day that the sect buildings would cease to be just decorations but rather true sect buildings with disciples in them. Chen Mo thought to himself that although he had thought of creating a sect to deal with the Heavenly Pce, it wasn''t his actual desire, and neither was it the desire of the previous Chen Mo.


    ''It seems that there''s something inside me that really wants this, does it have something to do with why I transmigrated here? Well, I guess it doesn''t matter. As long as I be stronger, everything will reveal itself to me''


    He dismissed these thoughts as he walked out to the courtyard.


    <strong>...</strong>


    In the courtyard.


    Mei Ling was busy swinging her sword.


    She''d been at it for at least two hours now. She thought to herself that although she had great spiritual roots and high cultivation, she had nobat powers.


    Her n had never taught her any fighting techniques and now that she thought about it, it made sense, she was just a sacrifice for the demon ancestor so why would they bother wasting resources on her.


    She thought that now that Chen Mo had shown her kindness and taken her in, she had to show her worth or else he would abandon her. She didn''t believe that he''d really go against the whole entire Mei n for her sake.


    She also didn''t believe that he''d take care of her for no reason. She thought to herself that he had just taken her in because he saw his friend Yin Mei in her, if Yin Mei managed to recover her body, he would have no use for her.


    But it won''t remain that way, if she could just be stronger, if she could prove herself...


    Before she could continue her trail of thought, she saw a white towel in front of her.


    "You''re working hard, did something happen?"


    Chen Mo asked her as he handed her the towel.


    "Nothing, I just thought that I''d be stronger to avenge my parents"


    She spoke as she wiped the sweat off her body using the towel.


    Chen Mo held her in his arms and hugged her tightly,


    "You don''t have to think too much about it. Since you''re a disciple of my protagonist sect, your problems are my problems."


    He spoke in aforting tone as he patted her head and she hugged him too, tears streaming down her cheeks.


    Chen Mo thought that although he couldn''t read minds, he knew exactly what she was thinking. Although that type of mindset would give her motivation to work harder, it could sometimes develop into a mental demon.


    "Since you''re still worried about them, how about we go wipe them out right now"


    "What?"


    She looked up at Chen Mo thinking she had heard wrong but he just smiled back at her, "You don''t want to?"


    "No! I want to!" She spoke confidently as she wiped her tears using her hands.


    Chen Mo thought that although it''d be hard to deal with a rank three sect, they would alwayse to find trouble with him and he needed to get rid of them quickly. The other reason was that he needed to get some reputation if he wanted to recruit disciples, and destroying a rank three sect would do just that. Of course the real reason was that he wanted to get to the Soul Formation realm as fast as he could.

 Chapter 13: Bully the Weak and Respect the Strong

    <h4>Chapter 13: Bully the Weak and Respect the Strong</h4>


    The dark cloaked figure knelt before the patriarch as he sat on his throne. "How goes your mission?" the patriarch asked.


    Before the cloaked man could respond, the doors to the great hall burst open. A man rushed in, sweat dripping from his brow. "n head, something happened!" he cried out. "The princess has returned and dered war on us!"


    The patriarch''s eyes widened in disbelief. "That cannot be! That girl Mei Ling would never do such a thing even if she had ten times the guts!"


    "There''s more," the man continued, catching his breath. "The Chen Family''s Young Master is with her."


    The Patriarch''s expression darkened as realization dawned on him. "Ah, so that''s why."


    He let out a boomingugh that echoed throughout the hall. "If they seek death so eagerly, then I shall not deny them. Let them not me me for what follows."


    He turned to the cloaked figure still kneeling before him. "You heard the man. It seems our ns have been elerated. See to it that everything is prepared. We must crush this rebellion before it can truly begin."


    The cloaked figure bowed his head lower. "It will be done, my lord."


    <strong>...</strong>


    A few moments earlier.


    Chen Mo burst through the Mei n''s gates and strodefortably into the n''s grounds, Mei Ling by his side. His gaze swept over the gathered members of the n, finally settling on Mei Ling. "Well? What do you have to say now that we''ve arrived?" he asked.


    If she truly wanted revenge, then she would have to shed her sheltered image as a protected princess and transform into a strong-willed person. Allowing her to speak up in front of her own n could be the first step in boosting her confidence.


    Mei Ling took a deep breath, lifting her head high. In a resounding voice that echoed through the hall, she shouted, "The Mei n is made up of a bunch of scummy people who bully the weak and only respect the strong! As the Princess of the Mei n, I havee here to clean up this n so that we no longer bring shame upon our honorable ancestors!"


    Silence fell over the gathering as Mei Ling''s bold words hung in the air. Chen Mo allowed himself a small smile. Perhaps there was still hope for the timid princess.


    "How dare you? Not only do you disobey your elders, but you also bring outsiders to make trouble here. Apologize right now and go back to the dungeons to kowtow and maybe the ancestors might forgive you."


    An elderly man with long white hair and a long beard spoke up as he made his way through the crowd. He was an elder of the n, Mei Guanyu.


    "What elders? You''re just a bunch of old men afraid of losing power to your talented juniors and resort to suppressing them." Mei Ling retorted.


    "How dare you!" the elder shouted in an agitated voice asrge palm made of condensed spiritual energy descended upon Mei Ling.


    Mei Ling saw therge palming closer and closer and she closed her eyes, thinking she''d really die this time.


    Just before the palm could hit her, Chen Mo grabbed her and teleported away.


    "Elder, why are you so agitated over the words of the younger generation?" Chen Mo asked calmly.


    The elder''s face reddened in anger. "This is an internal matter of the Mei n. Just who do you think you are to interfere?"


    Chen Mo nodded. "Ah, you''re right. I almost forgot to introduce myself." He straightened to his full imposing height.


    "I am Chen Mo, Sect Master of the Protagonist Sect. And since Mei Ling is my disciple, I naturally cannot allow her to be bullied and mistreated by her own n."


    A dramatic pause followed Chen Mo''s words as realization sank in. Then, raucousughter erupted throughout the hall. Mei n disciples guffawed, pping their knees in mirth.


    "Young Master Chen started his own sect? How ridiculous!"


    "He''s either incredibly arrogant or just in stupid to go against the Mei n just by himself."


    Chen Mo stood impassively, allowing theughter to wash over him. Mei Ling nced at him nervously, but he gave an imperceptible shake of his head. The time for words had passed. Soon, he would let his actions speak for themselves against these foolish, arrogant nsmen.


    ''Rasiel, who has the highest cultivation within the n grounds?''


    [Calcting]


    [Analyzing]


    [Report] ¨C [It''s Mei Xiaohan, the Mei n patriarch at the peak of Nascent Soul but there seems to be someone else cultivating in seclusion and I can''t detect their cultivation just yet.]


    ''That''s good, how much cultivation can I integrate at a time?''


    [Report] ¨C [At the moment, only one major realm at a time]


    ''I see. I want you to copy all data on peak Core Formation, early and peak Golden Core, and early and peak Nascent Soul.''


    [Report] ¨C [I thought you might ask so I already did]


    ''Good, now start running the simtions and alert me every time a realm is ready for integration.''


    [Calcting]


    [Processing]


    [Analyzing]


    [Simting] ¨C [Peak Core Formation - Time left: 10mins]


    [Simting] ¨C [Early Golden Core - Time left: 20mins]


    [Simting] ¨C [Peak Golden Core - Time left: 30mins]


    [Simting] ¨C [Early Nascent Soul - Time left: 1hour]


    [Simting] ¨C [Peak Nascent Soul - Time left: 2hours]


    [Report] ¨C [Simtion time will be reduced significantly every time you advance to a new realm]


    ''Looks like I''ve gained a huge harvest today. I''ll have to thank the Mei n for this by not going easy on them. The person Rasiel can''t evaluate must be in the Soul Formation realm, I might be able to sense their cultivation once I breakthrough to the Nascent Soul realm.''


    "Hmph! Just a brat. You learned a few tricks and now you think you can beat anyone. Brat, when I started cultivating, your parents weren''t even born yet"


    The elder scoffed as he ordered everyone to attack Chen Mo and Mei Ling.


    "Sorry Mei Ling but you''ll have to sit this one out"


    Chen Mo spoke calmly as he stretched out his palm and pushed Mei Ling away.


    "Space Seal"


    He shouted as a transparent four-sided shield materialized and trapped Mei Ling in it.


    "You just stay in there and watch how cool your master is"


    "But..."


    "No buts, if you want to fight alongside me next time, you have to train hard when we get back."


    "Yes master"


    She spoke confidently, ignoring the tears dripping from her eyes.


    [Report] ¨C [Peak Core Formation simtionplete]


    ''Integrate''


    "Now then"


    Chen Mo spoke confidently as he walked towards the Mei n disciples, his aura increasing with every step.

 Chapter 14: Your Master’s True Power

    <h4>Chapter 14: Your Master¡¯s True Power</h4>


    The elder''s face twisted in rage at the tant disrespect being shown. "Seize them!" he bellowed, pointing a gnarled finger at Chen Mo and Mei Ling. "They dare to mock and defy the mighty Mei n! Teach them a lesson they''ll never forget!"


    In an instant, theughter died down as dozens of Mei n disciples sprang into action. Swords were drawn, fists clenched, and cultivators'' inner energies red as they surrounded Chen Mo and Mei Ling.


    Chen Mo cracked his knuckles, a cold smile ying on his lips. With blinding speed, he moved first. His palm strike mmed into the chest of the nearest disciple, sending the man flying back in a spray of blood.


    The initial shock faded quickly as over fifty cultivators rushed in to attack Chen Mo simultaneously. Mei Ling backed away, her eyes wide, but Chen Mo stood his ground.


    His arms blurred as he deflected strikes and countered with ferocious force. Bodies dropped left and right with each thunderous blow hended.


    Switching tactics, several Mei n disciples fired off sts of pure energy. Chen Mo spun in a tight circle, his robes whipping around him, as he erected a swirling vortex of energy that absorbed and deflected their attacks.


    Two cultivators were caught in the bacsh of their own energy sts, crumpling to the floor.


    "You fools have no concept of my true strength!" Chen Mo roared. Channeling a massive surge of his profound internal energy, he smashed his open palms together with bone-shattering force.


    A shockwave of power radiated outward, mming disciples into walls and reducing heavy stone pirs to rubble.


    Undeterred, more Mei cultivators rushed in, some attempting coordinatedbination attacks. Chen Mo proved to be too agile and perceptive, always one step ahead, dodging and weaving with an almost ethereal grace.


    His counterattacks were ruthless haymakers that could shatter boulder-sized chunks of falling debris with contemptuous ease.


    Mei Ling watched in awe, unsure if she should feel terrified or simply marvel at the overwhelming disy of power and skill. At one point, she covered her mouth in horror as one of the powerful cultivator''s severed armnded at her feet.


    She knew that her master was mysterious ever since he admitted to knowing her ancestor, but she didn''t think he''d be this strong and ruthless. He was simply another person when fighting.


    Chen Mo became a cyclone of devastation, a whirlwind of feet, fists, elbows and knees pummeling everyone within range. In mere minutes, the once rambunctious crowd of Mei cultivatorsy groaning and broken at his feet, their foolishughter now supnted by cries of pain.


    Panting slightly, Chen Mo straightened up and turned his gaze to the elder. The old man trembled as their eyes met, realizing all his n''s top talents had been decimated by this one monstrous cultivator. Gathering his nerve, the elder raised his arms, forming an intricate series of hand seals.


    "Ancient Mei n Art - Heavenly Devastation Palm!" he roared, mming his hands forward and unleashing a spiraling torrent of energy that churned with multi-colored light.


    Chen Mo slid into a sturdy low stance, gathering his internal energy. "You still don''t understand!" With a burst of speed, he charged forward to meet the elder''s attack head on. Their palms met in a resounding thunderp that shook the entire main hall. Bolts of energy arced between the two, sizzling and cracking.


    The elder''s eyes widened in shock and fear as he felt Chen Mo''s superior cultivation and power. He redoubled his efforts, chanting arcane words to try and ovee the irresistible force bearing down on him. But it was futile - Chen Mo''s internal power was simply too immense.


    Chen Mo thought to himself that although both he and the elder were in the peak of Core Formation real, his foundation was built on millions of simtions until it was rock solid. To put it simply, he was invincible in the same realm.


    With one final surge, Chen Mo overwhelmed the elder''s technique, shattering the spiraling torrent of energy. His palm mmed into the old man''s chest with crunch of shattering bone, lifting him off his feet. The elder flew back, smashing through walls and furniture until skidding to a halt in a broken, whimpering heap.


    Silence reigned over the devastated hall, littered with bloodied and unconscious bodies. Chen Mo stood unharmed, his expression stoic. Mei Ling slowly approached him, her eyes never leaving his face.


    "Now do you see your master''s true power?" Chen Mo said.


    Mei Ling could only numbly nod in response. She had much to ponder about this mysterious and frighteningly strong young cultivator who had be her master.


    The sound of slow, deliberate pping echoed through the devastated hall. From a side door, the Patriarch of the Mei n emerged, an inscrutable expression on his weathered face.


    "Very good, truly a genius," he said, eyeing Chen Mo. "Not only did you recover your broken spiritual roots, but you also managed to advance your cultivation to such a state at such a short time. I''m quite impressed."


    His gaze swept over the broken bodies littering the floor. "But just because you managed to defeat a few of our disciples and an elder, don''t think that you are invincible."


    Chen Mo met the Patriarch''s gaze evenly. "I admire your talent for one so young," the old man continued. "Hand over Mei Ling and join my Mei n. I''m even willing to let you take my granddaughter''s hand in marriage."


    Chen Mo let out a derisive snort. "Don''t make meugh, old man. Keep dreaming if you think I''d ever join your corrupt n." His voice hardened. "You wanted to kill me before when you thought I was weak. Now that you''ve realized my true strength, you want to keep me as your dog on a leash."


    The Patriarch''s expression darkened. "It seems you don''t appreciate my kindness and generosity." He shook his head slowly. "Then don''t me me for being ruthless."


    With a wave of his hand, the side doors opened once more. Eleven figures strode in, each an elder of the Mei n and all bearing imposing auras of immense cultivation. "Attack together and show this impudent brat the might of our Mei n!"

 Chapter 15: Enter Golden Core Stage

    <h4>Chapter 15: Enter Golden Core Stage</h4>


    Chen Mo tensed, readying himself as the elders formed a loose semi-circle around him.


    Chen Mo materialized a recovery pill in his hand and swallowed it. He thought that although his spiritual energy could recover automatically, it could not restore his stamina loss and thus his attacks would be sloppy.


    He had managed to defeat the previous elder through abination of superior skill and the fact that the elder underestimated him. But now he faced eleven elders who had all reached the Golden Core stage - far beyond his current Core Formation realm.


    Even though he was invincible at the Core Formation ream, the Golden Core realm was on a whole different level. When one''s core transforms and bes a golden core, not only do they get massive amounts of spiritual energy, but their overall strength increases by almost a hundred-fold. The jump to the Golden Core realm is said to be even greater than the jump to the Nascent Soul realm.


    [Simting] ¨C [Early Golden Core - Time left: 5mins]


    And the simtion time wasn''t looking good. Although five minutes sounded like a short amount of time, it was enough for those elders to kill him a couple of times over.


    This would not be easy.


    He nced at Mei Ling, who looked on with concern etched on her face. "Don''t worry," he said with an assuring nod.


    The elders attacked as one. Heaven-shaking roars echoed as they unleashed a barrage of devastating techniques. Waves of searing fire,shing whips of water, sts ofpressed wind - all converged on Chen Mo''s position in a multicolored torrent of annihting power.


    "This is what happens to those who go against my Mei n" the patriarch bellowed.


    "Space Release!" Chen Mo bellowed, gathering every ounce of his residual energy.


    He thought to himself that he wanted to use this technique against the expert cultivating in seclusion but it seemed that he''d have to use it early.


    Space Release is a technique that he and Rasiel had developed to help him handle thew of space more easily by wrapping it around his body like an enchantment.


    Although it was easy to handle space when using this technique, it still took a huge toll on his body. But that didn''t matter since his body would recover every time he broke through to a major realm so he''d be able to use it against the hidden expertter on when he broke through.


    He moved with blinding, almost imperceptible speed, his form blurring into a dozen phantasmal afterimages. Each strike, block, and dodge was a masterful disy of skill and technique. Impacts that would have obliterated buildings were deflected with contemptuous ease.


    Yet the elders kept up their barrage relentlessly. A fiery st singed his robes, singing his flesh. He gritted his teeth, pushing past the pain. A water whip caught him in the leg, the pressurized stream of liquid cutting deep. His counterattacks shattered rock and sent elders reeling, but they recovered and pressed the attack once more.


    It became a grueling battle of attrition. Chen Mo was a blur of motion, constantly forced to evade and block as the sheer volume of attacks from eleven elite Golden Core elders overwhelmed him. Slowly but surely, injuries began stacking up and his movements slowed, each dodge and strike costing him more of his waning stamina.


    Finally, with a harsh cry of exertion, a burst of directed force mmed into him, lifting him off his feet. His body smashed through a cracked stone pir, copsing in a heap. His Space Release technique flickered and faded as he gasped for breath, blood trickling from his mouth. Every inch of his body felt like it had been pulverized.


    The elders closed in, circling him like sharks scenting blood in the water. Chen Mo struggled to rise, forcing himself to his knees through sheer indomitable will. But he knew it was futile - his spiritual energy was depleted, his body battered and broken. He had reached his limit.


    Mei Ling was frozen in shock and horror. How could this unbelievable talent, this prodigy who had decimated so many with ease, have been beaten so soundly?


    The Patriarch watched with a grim expression. "You fought well, but this was always the inevitable oue." He turned to the elders. "Take him to the dungeons and have the healers tend to his injuries. I want him al-"


    With a flick of Chen Mo''s wrist, five recovery pills materialized in his palms. He swallowed them like drinking water and abruptly rose to his feet, pointing his sword at the Patriarch.


    "If you''re a real man, then fight me one-on-one!" Chen Mo yelled, his voice echoing through the hall. "Or are you too cowardly?"


    The Patriarch''s eyes narrowed, but he did not take the bait. "Do not be foolish. Finish him off," he ordered the elders.


    Chen Mo allowed himself a slight smile. I didn''t really need him to ept my challenge. I was just buying time.


    As the elders charged at him once more, Chen Mo took a deep breath and centered himself. The recovery pills had swiftly replenished his depleted stamina and spiritual energy. Within seconds, he could feel the power coursing through his meridians.


    [Simting] ¨C [Early Golden Core - Time left: 3secs]


    [Simting] ¨C [Early Golden Core - Time left: 2secs]


    [Simting] ¨C [Early Golden Core - Time left: 1sec]


    [Report] ¨C [Early Golden Core simtionplete]


    He smiled widely as he heard Rasiel''s voice in his mind.


    ''Integrate''


    Just before the elders could reach him, they were pushed back by the immense amounts of spiritual energy converging around Chen Mo.


    Chen Mo''s body became enveloped in radiant golden spiritual energy, lifting him off the ground as more and more power was sucked into his meridians. Space itself began to warp and distort with crackling rifts opening around him. His core was transforming, condensing into a brilliant golden sun at his dantian.


    "He''s breaking through to the Golden Core!" one of the elders shouted in rm. "Quick, stop him!"


    The elder rushed towards Chen Mo recklessly, but was immediately dismembered by a spatial rift that tore his body apart in a spray of gore. The other elders recoiled in shock and horror.


    "Don''t rush in, you fools!" the Patriarch warned. "He is a rare Space elemental cultivator. His core transformation will undoubtedly cause upheaval in the fabric of space itself."


    More rents in space-time opened, with chunks of stone and debris being violently pulled in towards the maelstrom surrounding Chen Mo''s levitating form.


    "No matter," the Patriarch continued. "Even if he ascends to the Golden Core realm, there''s no way he can best all of you together!"


    The remaining elders nodded, regaining their nerve. Working in unison, they began unleashing their strongest techniques, trying to disrupt Chen Mo''s breakthrough.


    But their efforts proved futile. Chen Mo was nowpletely immersed in the crucible of his core condensation. His eyes glowed like twin suns as the spatial distortions intensified with deafening rumbles that shook the very foundations of the Mei npound.


    With one final burst of power that cracked the floor and ceiling, Chen Mo''s golden core stabilized. The spatial rifts snapped shut and the flow of energy ceased as a hush fell over the devastated hall.


    Chen Mo slowly descended, touching down on the floor with a look of supreme focus and control. He had transcended his limitations, reaching a whole new level of power and cultivation. The aura of his Golden Core radiated an overwhelming pressure that made the elders shrink back.


    "You fools never had a chance against me to begin with," Chen Mo said, his voiceced with steel. "I allowed you to push me to this breakthrough so I could demonstrate the futility of your actions. Now you will bear witness to the consequences of defying me."

 Chapter 16: The Might of a Rank Three Sect

    <h4>Chapter 16: The Might of a Rank Three Sect</h4>


    "You arrogant upstart!" one of the elders spat. "So what if you managed a lucky breakthrough? You''re still just a boy ying at cultivation!"


    Chen Mo slowly cracked his neck from side to side as lightning continued to crackle over his fists. "I''d be careful about underestimating me again, elder," he said in a low, dangerous tone. "You were still having a hard time killing me even when I was at the Core Formation realm"


    The elders exchanged nervous nces, the words striking a raw nerve. The memory of theirrade''s gruesome death at the hands of the special distortions was still fresh.


    ''Hmph! Hateful! If it wasn''t for the spatial distortions, do you think I''d let you breakthrough.'' The patriarch thought silently to himself.


    "Don''t let him rattle you," another elder growled. "We are veterans of countless battles while he''s still wet behind the ears. He may have reached the Golden Core, but we have decades more experience to draw upon!"


    The other elders nodded, regaining theirposure. The Patriarch watched on stoically, his gaze calcting.


    "Enough prattling," Chen Mo said. "This is the part where you realize your techniques are no match for me and futilely beg for mercy before I wipe you from existence. Shall we begin?"


    The elders bristled at the taunt, but the Patriarch held up a hand in a silentmand. "Attack together and leave no openings. The spatial distortions have already closed no need to worry."


    In unison, the elders initiated a series of ancient Mei nbination techniques. sts of elemental energies, flying des, crushing force sts, paralysis seals, and impossibly sharp spiritualnces all converged on Chen Mo in a coordinated onught.


    Where before Chen Mo would have surely been overwhelmed, he now met the assault with contemptuous ease. Space itself bent to his will, rippling and warping around him in an intricate dance.


    Attacks were shunted harmlessly into spatial vortices, while others found their momentum utterly disrupted. Spiritualnces and flying des ground to a halt mere inches from his body as he grinned savagely.


    The elders gaped in shock as theirbined techniques achieved little more than superficial damage to Chen Mo''s robes and hair.


    "My turn," Chen Mo growled. His open palms swept out, unleashing a shockwave of spatial force that mmed into the elders, staggering them back. Several spatial rifts cracked open beneath their feet, attempting to ensnare them with tendrils of chaotic ripping energy.


    The elders leaped and scrambled to avoid the hazardous distortions. Chen Mo didn''t let up, following up with a flurry of punches that distorted space in twistednces that smashed into their defensive barriers. Two elders were sted off their feet, tumbling violently across the floor untiling to a stop as bloody, barely conscious heaps.


    Roaring in anger, the remaining elders pressed the attack,unching more devastatingbinations. This time, Chen Mo was forced to remain on the defensive.


    Spatial ripples redirected mes, whips of water, and air des, but the sheer volume was bing overwhelming. A ncing blow opened a gash on his arm while an invisible restraining seal almost caught his ankle before he warped it away.


    Chen Mo knew he couldn''t survive indefinitely against their assaults and therefore couldn''t afford to remain purely reactive. If this dragged on, eventually his concentration would falter under the relentless barrage. He needed to create an opening to go on the offensive.


    ''It''d be a whole lot easier with Rasiel helping me but now that she''s busy handling the cultivation data and keeping an eye on the hidden expert, I''m on my own''


    With a thought, he manifested a shadowy doppelganger copy of himself that shifted in and out of phase with reality. This illusion perfectly mimicked his motions, leaving the elders confused as to which was the real target. Chen Mo took advantage of their momentary distraction to strike.


    ''Now that I''m at the Golden Core realm, creating a copy of myself with spiritual energy isn''t that hard. And if I wrap it with spatial energy, the elder''s spiritual sense won''t be able to prate it so they won''t know which one is real.''


    A series of ferocious palm strikes rippled space, each magnifying the already distorting effects into spatially multiplying shockwaves. The elders were battered from all sides by these spatial impacts, their defenses faltering and cracking.


    In one smooth motion, Chen Mo followed up by condensing the space in front of him, focusing it into a pinpoint sphere of immense distortion. With a roar, he released thispressed force in a focused beam of annihtion.


    The beam carved through the stones and rubble without resistance, impacting right into the chest of the lead elder. He let out a soul-rending scream as his defenses were overwhelmed instantly.


    The spatial distortion effects ravaged his body, unwriting his form from existence one molecule at a time in an agonizingly slow implosion. His screams echoed for several long seconds before fading into an abrupt, deafening silence.


    All that remained of his existence was a wisp of dissipating spatial energy and a sttering of blood across the floor.


    The remaining elders stumbled back in shock and terror, their faces pale. Chen Mo closed in on them ruthlessly, his aura ring again.


    "So, who''s next to get obliterated into the void? Perhaps I''ll be merciful and imprint your souls into the fabric of spacetime, destined to drift forever."


    Chen Mo''s taunts and the utter destruction of the elder before them had clearly shaken the remaining elders'' confidence. But theirbat experience and grit had been honed through countless trials. They quickly regrouped and responded with a barrage that kept Chen Mo on his toes.


    The fight raged on in a chaotic whirlwind of spatial devastation and elemental fury. Chen Mo pressed every advantage he could find, but was unable to achieve the decisive breakthrough to score another annihtion. He had proven his superiority beyond doubt, but the remaining elders were simply too skilled to be dispatched with ease.


    For now, the scales of battle were evenly matched as both sides traded blow after punishing blow. It seemed only one thing was certain - this would be a fight to the bitter end.


    Chen Mo panted heavily, sweat dripping from his brow as he parried another ferociousbination strike from the Mei n elders. Although his skills in wielding spatial energies had be far easier to employ after his core transformation, he stillcked the necessary stamina reserves to keep this up indefinitely.


    A powerful force st crashed against his hastily erected spatial barrier, sending hairline fracturesncing across the shimmering distortion. Chen Mo grimaced, feeling the exertion take its toll. Using spatial techniques was a double-edged sword - if he continued drawing upon the chaotic forces, it could destabilize his newly formed golden core and shatter the foundation of his cultivation permanently.


    And this was just the elders. The Patriarch still watched from the sidelines; his gaze unreadable. No doubt he had an ace up his sleeve - there was no way the Mei n could be run by a simple person. Not to mention the threat of that unknown expert Rasiel had sensed lurking in the shadows. He needed to find a way to decisively end this fight soon.


    With a flurry of hand seals and an incoherent chanting, Chen Mo unleashed a scintiting beam of destruction that seared through the elders'' defenses with contemptuous ease. Two more were sent tumbling away, screaming in agony as their energy channels ruptured and spilled essence all over the floor.


    Only three elders now remained standing, their robes tattered and expressions twisted into masks of anguished defiance. Chen Mo gave them a savage grin as he prepared to press the attack further.

 Chapter 17: First Under Heaven

    <h4>Chapter 17: First Under Heaven</h4>


    Unknown ce.


    It was like floating in the depths of space itself, except instead of stars and nebe there were innumerable bubble-like distortions - each containing entire universes within. Swirling gxies, supernovae, and the dance of celestial bodies flickered behind the translucent membranes of these multiversal spheres stretching out in all directions to infinity.


    Gravity seemed to have no meaning in this ce as two figures simply hung suspended in the void, one cloaked in shadows so thick they seemed to greedily consume any illumination around them. The only detail that could be made out was a pair of radiant azure eyes, shimmering with an energy that belied unfathomable power and sentience.


    The second presence was utterly indescribable - a shape-shifting amalgamation of abstractions and iprehensible geometry. Visually, it continuously fluctuated between representations of arcane symbols, fractalized patterns, and seemingly ult algorithmic structures.


    "Rasiel, what are the chances of his victory?" the shadowy figure asked in a deep, resonant voice. Multiple tones and inflections reverberated within it, as if a chorus spoke in unison.


    The geometric entity shifted and reconfigured itself momentarily before stabilizing as two intersecting rings orbiting one another.


    [Report] ¨C [The probabilities currently stand at thirty percent at best]


    The voice was both crisp and melodious, simultaneously ethereal and distinctly feminine.


    "I see." The shadowed figure paused.


    [Question] ¨C [Will you assist him this time?]


    "No," the man replied without hesitation. "Although he has advanced further than I anticipated, he is still too young and inexperienced. If this confrontation continues, even if he ascends to the Creator realm, he willck the focus and wisdom toplete his mission."


    [Question] ¨C [Then what will the master do]


    "We should not interfere directly. Let the events unfold naturally. Even if he fails here, I doubt he could truly perish given his [REDACTED]. Sometimes beings must face adversity, experience failure and confront the limits of their power before they can grow."


    Rasiel condensed down into a brilliantly glowing pyramidal shape encased within nested tetrahedrons for several long moments before reverting to its default orbital rings.


    [Report] ¨C [This is as far as we can watch the show. When his soul transforms, we can''t stay inside for long and will have to bet it all on him]


    The shadowy figure was silent for a time, considering Rasiel''s words. Finally, it spoke again, "Very well. We shall observe and allow fate to run its course uninterrupted. He is a singrity - the kind that arises once in an aeon. If he survives this trial, it will only serve to catalyze his growth towards unimaginable heights. Besides, [REDACTED] [ERROR] ¨C [Can''t ess this information, too much karma is involved]"


    <strong>...</strong>


    With a flicker, the dark void destabilized, copsing back in upon itself. Gravity reasserted itself as the shards of shattered reality rushed inwards, reforming into the familiar scene of the devastated Mei n Hall.


    Chen Mo blinked, unsure if he had experienced some momentarypse in consciousness or vivid daydream. He shook his head, dismissing it. Those unknown observers and their cryptic conversation were irrelevant - all that mattered was victory here and now.


    Gritting his teeth, he charged forward to resume the fight, unleashing a storm of unrelenting spatial fury upon the remaining bewildered elders.


    Chen Mo unleashed a torrent of spatial force at the three remaining elders. Pinpoint distortions hammered their defenses as they scrambled for cover.


    "You damned brat!" one of the elders growled. "Your parlor tricks won''t save you!"


    He traced an intricate hand seal sequence, causing pirs of bone-white spirit energy to erupt from the floor in an attempt to impale Chen Mo. With a thought, Chen Mo caused space to warp and bend, shunting the deadly pirs into a harmless vortex.


    "Face it, old man," Chen Mo taunted. "You''repletely outmatched."


    The other two elders coordinated their efforts,unching waves of invisible force augmented by paralysis seals. Chen Mo erected a spatial barrier, catching most of the assault while a few ncing blows connected despite his best defenses.


    A pang of fatigue shot through his body as spiritual paralysis set in, slowing his movements. The three elders pressed their advantage, battering Chen Mo''s wavering barrier with sts of elemental energy and physical force. Sweat beaded his brow as he strained to maintain his focus.


    "ytime''s over, child," another elder sneered. "Your luck has run out!"


    Their attacks grew increasingly vicious and coordinated as Chen Mo''s movements slowed further. A fire st seared his robes and flesh, eliciting a hiss of pain. With a burst of willpower, he redirected thest of the assault, buying a brief reprieve.


    "Don''t...underestimate...me!" Chen Mo gasped out between ragged breaths. "I''ll show you the full extent of my power!"


    Gathering thest dregs of his spiritual energy, he let out a deafening roar. Space itself distorted and warped with explosive force, sting the elders off their feet and into nearby walls. Paralysis seals shattered as spatial shockwaves ravaged their defenses.


    Chen Mo closed in, his eyes zing with golden light. He battered them with furious palm strikes amplified by devastating spatial distortions. Bones snapped, flesh was pulverized, and screams echoed through the hall as the elders were systematically broken apart.


    With a final eruption of force that shook the foundations, thest of the elders fell, alive but little more than twisted heaps of agony. Chen Mo stood over them, panting heavily as the spatial maelstrom died down.


    "I told you," He spat between ragged breaths. "None of you were a match for me."


    The Patriarch slowly pped from the side of the hall, his footsteps measured as he approached. "Most impressive," he said, his voiceced with begrudging respect. "Not only did you recover your broken spiritual roots, but you also managed to advanced your cultivation to such a level at such a young age...you could perhaps be the first in the entire world to reach the Golden Core at you age."


    Chen Mo met his gaze defiantly, saying nothing.


    "A pity you had to meet me," the Patriarch continued. "But this is the fated path you chose when you defied our Mei n and took my useless granddaughter under your wing."


    The two squared off, their imposing auras colliding with crushing force. Chen Mo gripped his sword, readying himself for the final and likely most challenging battle yet. From the Patriarch''s inscrutable expression, it was clear he had not yet revealed the full measure of his power and abilities.


    The hall held its breath in anticipation as the unstoppable prodigy and the indomitable Mei Patriarch stared each other down, daring the other to make the first move.


    Although the patriarch was strong, Chen Mo wasn''t too worried, he could probably take him on once he broke through to the peak of Golden Core realm.


    This was because the jump between the Golden Core realm to the Nascent Soul realm wasn''t as much as between the Core Formation realm and the Golden Core realm. Since he was invincible in the same realm, he wouldn''t lose out in a battle against the patriarch.


    The only thing Chen Mo was worried about was...


    [Simting] ¨C [Peak Golden Core - Time left: 30secs]


    [Simting] ¨C [Early Nascent Soul - Time left: 20mins]


    [Simting] ¨C [Peak Nascent Soul - Time left: 45mins]


    [Report] ¨C [Discovered Soul Formation ream cultivation, attempting simtion]


    [Simting]


    [ERROR]


    [Simtion Failed] ¨C [Can''t retry due to external interference]


    [Attempting Reboot]


    [Report] ¨C [During reboot, all simtions will be cancelled, do you wish to continue]

 Chapter 18: Burning Yet Freezing Beauty

    <h4>Chapter 18: Burning Yet Freezing Beauty</h4>


    Chen Mo stared at the patriarch fiercely as a sword materialized in his hand, his earlier sword was already useless and broken but he could generate another one infinitely as long as he had enough spiritual energy.


    He then materialized some recovery pills from his other had and swallowed them.


    He was still thinking about what Rasiel had told him. It seemed that the simtion of the Soul Formation realm wasn''t that simple.


    Rasiel said that the simtion failed due to an external factor and couldn''t retry. Did that mean that the result would be same even if I retried?


    Chen Mo thought that the Soul Formation realm was the next big leap after the Golden Core realm since it transformed one''s soul. After reaching this stage, cultivators could directly attack people''s souls and could even use "divine sense" which was a superior form of spiritual sense.


    After the Soul Formation realm, one couldn''t truly die unless his body and soul were destroyed. Since only Soul Formation realm cultivators and above could harm the soul, it meant that he had no way of dealing with the Mei n ancestor.


    Although that was the case, the jump in strength between the realms was something he could handle, the only problem was that he had no defense against soul attacks and neither did he have any methods of attack. He suddenly had a thought...


    ''Hmmm, this could work. Rasiel, just continue the simtion no need to reboot.''


    ''Also, INTEGRATE!''


    Chen Mo strode towards the Patriarch, radiating an aura of absolute confidence. Massive amounts of spiritual energy converged around him, mending his injuries and restoring his depleted core.


    The Patriarch''s eyes narrowed. This boy has some kind of heavenly treasure! That would exin his freakish growth... He grinned to himself. I''ll have to properly thank that useless granddaughter of mine for bringing such a prize to our n.


    Their auras collided with earth-shaking force. Chen Mo struck first with a devastating palm strike empowered by spatial distortions. The Patriarch deflected it, surprise shing across his face at the raw power behind the blow.


    So you''ve gained a bit of strength, boy? But you are still a child ying with forces beyond yourprehension!


    The Patriarch retaliated with his own palm strike infused with scorching Phoenix fire, intending to incinerate Chen Mo on the spot. But Chen Mo redirected the mes with a ripple of space, pressing in andnding several blows that cracked the Patriarch''s defenses.


    How is this possible?! the Patriarch thought frantically. This level of spatial control and power at his age...it''s unheard of!


    Chen Mo gave him no quarter, chaining together endlessbinations of spatial techniques and physical attacks augmented by his sword. The Patriarch was forcedpletely on the defensive, barely keeping up with Chen Mo''s unpredictable assault.


    I let him fight the elders before because I wanted to get rid of either party or both. But it seems I vastly underestimated this boy''s strength! It seems that the treasure he''s hiding isn''t simple, but all the more reason to take it from him. Such great treasure, only my Mei n is worthy of it.


    The Patriarch tried to disengage, to buy time and space to mount a counterattack. But Chen Mo stayed glued to him, a relentless whirlwind of precise strikes. The sound of cracking bones and pained grunts echoed through the hall as the Patriarch''s defenses began to falter.


    Just as Chen Mo reared back, palm radiating killing intent for the decisive blow, the sky suddenly turned dark and cloudy. Snowkes drifted down softly as an oppressive pressure weighed down on him.


    ''What''s happening? This pressure, I can''t move'' Chen Mo thought to himself as he struggled to breakthrough from the invisible shackles, "Did the ancestor make a move?"


    A figure descended gracefully from above - an ancient-looking man with long white hair and beard. Power rolled off him in crushing waves as he observed the battle with an impassive gaze.


    "The younger generation is truly talented," he spoke, his voice echoing sonorously. "I did not expect you to make it this far, boy. You are indeed a rare genius."


    Chen Mo froze, palm still empowered and ready to st the Patriarch''s head from his shoulders. The elder gave him a thin, enigmatic smile.


    "But too bad you decided toe attacking this old man''s humble home."


    With blinding speed, the elder unsheathed an icy blue sword from his back. In one elegant motion, he drew the de down in a slicing arc towards Chen Mo.


    Chen Mo crossed his arms, desperately reinforcing his body with spatial fields. But it was like trying to stop a cier on the move. The elder''s strike shed by him, trailing freezing vapor and mist.


    For a heartbeat, Chen Mo thought he had miraculously endured the deadly blow. But then agonynced through every fiber of his being as countless micro-fissures rapidly spread across his frozen form. With a resounding crack, his body shattered into a million glittering fragments of ice.


    <strong>...</strong>


    Mei Ling''s scream of despair seemed to echo endlessly as what remained of Chen Mo scattered across the floor. The Patriarch slumped down, panting raggedly and bleeding from multiple wounds. But his eyes shone with a mixture of relief and uneasy reverence as he gazed upon his savior.


    "Junior greets the ancestor. I have embarrassed the ancestor, please punish me" he said humbly. "This boy was..."


    The ancestor raised a hand, cutting him off. "Stop! I know what you were trying to do, trying to borrow external power to clean up the n so you can gain more power. Although I don''t care about what you do, make sure to assess the situation next time and don''t bring harm to our foundation. Today the n has lost huge"


    "Yes!"


    He turned to Mei Ling''s weeping form.


    <strong>...</strong>


    Mei Ling''s anguished screams echoed throughout the n as she knelt by the shattered remains of her master. Tears streamed down her cheeks, falling upon the icy fragments scattered across the floor.


    As despair threatened to consume her, something deep within awakened. A long dormant power, fueled by overwhelming grief and rage.


    The Yang Suppressing Ne around her neck shattered into countless pieces.


    Dark wisps of energy began swirling around Mei Ling''s trembling form. Slowly, they converted into a vortex of shadowy power enveloping her body. Mei Ling threw back her head, still wailing in sorrow and anger as the energy permeated every fiber of her being.


    Before the Patriarch and elder''s astonished gazes, Mei Ling''s petite girlish frame began to shift and morph. She grew taller, curves filling out and limbs lengthening into a mature, womanly shape.


    Her loose dark hair came alive, twisting and dividing into two halves. The right-side bleached snow white while the left became a vivid, arterial crimson. The colors mirrored themselves in her attire as her dress seamlessly transformed.


    The right side was now pure princess white, evoking innocence and nobility. The left contrasted starkly in deep, blood red silks - the very picture of vengeance barely restrained. Together, the dichotomy created an alluring yet unsettling beauty.


    When the dark energies finally dispersed, Mei Ling rose to her full impressive height, an otherworldly vision. Half radiant angel of mercy, half seductive goddess of death. Her mismatched hair writhed ominously with remnants of power as she turned her cold heterochronic gaze on the two men.

 Chapter 19: Founding Ancestor

    <h4>Chapter 19: Founding Ancestor</h4>


    Dark miasmic energy swirled violently around Mei Ling, cocooning her weeping form. With an earth-rending shockwave, the cocoon exploded outward. Mei Ling emerged, floating several feet off the ground, her hair now dichromatic - snow white on the right and arterial crimson on the left.


    As she touched down gracefully, her mismatched gaze turned to examine her transformed body. Gone was the petite girlish frame, now reced with alluring, voluptuous curves barely contained by the contrasting silks of innocence and vengeance.


    The Patriarch and Elder gaped at this dramatic metamorphosis until realization sparked in the Elder''s eyes. Immediately, he dropped to one knee, head bowed.


    "Ancestor!" he uttered; his usual nonchnce gone. "This junior pays his respects and bids you wee back to our n!"


    The Patriarch''s eyes bulged in disbelief. "What nonsense is thi-" he began, but the Elder urgently yanked him down into a simr kneeling posture.


    "Show respect, you fool!" the Elder hissed under his breath. "She is the Founding Ancestor!"


    The Patriarch trembled, droplets of nervous sweat beading his brow. To think the legendary progenitor of their Mei n had returned to the mortal ne after all this time...it was unthinkable. Immediately, he pressed his head to the floor.


    "Ten thousand apologies, Revered Ancestor!" he eximed, pulse thundering in his ears. "This junior apologizes for not recognizing you!"


    Mei Ling blinked slowly, still adjusting to her new level of senses and perception. These kneeling fools before her...why did they seem so familiar? She tried to grasp the fleeting memories fluttering away like mist.


    "You..." she began, but a spike of agonynced through her mind. With a scream, she clutched her head, the foundations of the great hall cracking from the energy currents swirling around her.


    When the pain finally passed, she fixed the two men with a re promising eons of torment. In the span of a blink, she appeared before the Patriarch, hand clenched around his throat. With contemptuous ease, she drove her fingers into his chest, grasping the still-beating heart.


    The Elder reacted immediately to restrain her, but she tossed the Patriarch aside like a rag doll and unleashed a furious barrage to keep the Elder at bay.


    "Ancestor, please quell your rage!" the Elder pleaded, narrowly avoiding disembowelment from her razor-sharp nails. "We are your nsmen!"


    But she was beyond reason now, memories and newer emotions shing violently for dominance. All she understood was a desire to destroy anything and everything around her.


    With a vengeful scream, her smaller body began to violently shift between her young and mature forms unstably. Each transformation released shockwaves of energy that blew holes in the n walls and copsed nearby structures.


    The Elder desperately tried to pacify her, but was forced to expend most of his strength simply containing the worst of the coteral damage. He watched helplessly as she rampaged through ancestral shrines and sacred halls, leaving nothing but devastation in her wake.


    Several times, he nearly had her restrained with bindings and sealing spells. But she somehow intuited and avoided them, continuing her mindless path of destruction.


    "Please, Ancestor! Do not undo your n''s centuries of growth and heritage!"


    His pleas went unheeded. She moved unpredictably between adult and child forms,shing out wildly with weapons forged of yin and yang energies. Each sh with her released enough power to atomize mountains.


    At longst, the transformations and attacks ceased as Mei Ling reverted fully to her young body. She hovered unsteadily in the air, framed by the orange glow of raging fires across the rubble-strewn npound.


    The Elder watched warily, but she simply floated in ce now, sides heaving from exertion. Whatever reservoir of power had fueled her rampage seemed depleted. With a soft groan, darkness imed her vision and she plummeted from the sky.


    The Elder darted forward, snatching heratose body from mid-air before she could impact the debris below. Gently, heid the slumbering girl down, brushing errant bangs from her sweat-slicked forehead. His own energy reserves were nearly empty from the battle and strain of damage control.


    For several long minutes, he simply watched the steady rise and fall of Mei Ling''s chest as she slept. The answers he desperately sought lingered just out of reach, but time was no longer an ally here. This child clearly harbored the soul and powers of their Revered Ancestor. Thatplicated matters tremendously.


    With a tired sigh, the Elder stood slowly. The n power structure and politics would be in chaos after these events. He needed to take Mei Ling somewhere secure while he sorted through this puzzle and determined the best path forward.


    But one thing was certain - the girl slumbering serenely before him was perhaps the greatest Opportunity that had surfaced for the Mei n in its long history. Whether she was truly their progenitor reincarnated or not, the child must be protected and nurtured at all costs.


    She represented the n''s future now. He would mold her into the prestige and influence befitting one of her limitless potential. This disaster could yet transform into a new golden age for the Mei n.


    He thought to himself that although the Mei n had incurred huge loses that day, there were still huge gains. Mei Ling turning out to be the reincarnation of the founding ancestor was a blessing in disguise. Although she couldn''t control her power at the moment, she could still fully revive as the founding ancestor if her cultivation reached the soul formation realm.


    He gathered the slumbering Mei Ling gently in his arms. After the unbridled chaos unleashed by the girl across the devastatedpound, an uneasy silence now hung over the ruined ancestral shrines and buildings as scattered fires continued burning.


    The Elder took a deep, centering breath. There could be no dy. He needed to relocate Mei Ling somewhere more suitable until she awakened and he could piece together exactly what had transpired here. Too many specifics waited on razor''s edge. The future and destiny of the entire n depended now on his handling of this vtile situation.


    Tearing a talisman he held with his two fingers, he opened an interspatial portal to transfer them both to a secure-


    "Did I say you could leave?"


    The softly menacing words cut through the crackling fires as the opened spatial portal closed itself shut. The Elder froze in ce, blood turning to ice in his veins. That voice...here?! Impossible!

 Chapter 20: I am Myself

    <h4>Chapter 20: I am Myself</h4>


    Its rewind time.


    ''Phew! That was close!''


    Chen Mo thought to himself as he struggled to catch his breath.


    He had managed to enter deep space just as the Elder was about to sh him in his frozen form.


    Its just as he had thought, it was really hard to defend against attacks that directly attacked the body and soul. The Elder had used his divine sense to lock him in ce and used a freezing attack to attack both his body and soul.


    He thought to himself that it was a good thing Rasiel has immune to status effects and could swap with him even when his consciousness was affected.


    ''Wait, swap?''


    ''Rasiel, are you immune to soul attacks?''


    [Report] ¨C [No, I just don''t have a soul yet]


    ''Then doesn''t that make you immune to soul attacks?''


    [Report] ¨C [Yes, but if I''m attacked by a soul attack while I''m in control of the body, your soul will still be attacked]


    Chen Mo thought that he could swap consciousness with Rasiel every time his soul was attacked but now it didn''t look like it''d work out.


    He had to think of a better n.


    He also had toe up with the n quickly since the space barrier he put around Mei Ling was probably broken the moment he entered deep space.


    He thought that the Elder probably wouldn''t kill her immediately since they needed her alive.


    But before that, he had to increase his spiritual energy reserves as it was getting hard to maintain his state in deep space.


    ''Rasiel, how''s the simtioning along?''


    [Report] ¨C [Early Nascent Soul simtionplete]


    [Report] ¨C [Peak Nascent Soul simtionplete]


    ''Nice, Integrate both''


    [Integrating]


    [Integration Failed]


    [Report] ¨C [Lacking required amount of spiritual energy]


    ''I forgot there''s no spiritual energy in this ce''


    ''Never mind, since the simtion is alreadyplete, could you try checking why I can''t enter the Soul Formation realm''


    [Rebooting]


    [Reboot Complete]


    The crimson runes flickered and faded, leaving behind a hollow emptiness in Chen Mo''s mind. A sense of failure washed over him as the robotic voice echoed in his consciousness.


    [Report] ¨C [Soul Formation failed due to external interference]


    "That damn error again," he muttered through gritted teeth. How many times had he attempted this grueling meditation only to be thwarted at thest moment?


    His brow furrowed as he contemted the possibilities. Perhaps his unorthodox arrival in this realm was to me - the essence of his very soul shing with the lingering spirit of the original Chen Mo. He closed his eyes, recalling the murky memories of his past life slowly resurfacing aftering to this world.


    What if he didn''t truly transmigrate, but rather awakened a slumbering part of himself? The thought struck him like a bolt of lightning. The interference could be caused by his own subconscious rejecting his previous identity as separate from this reality.


    With a steadying breath, Chen Mo centered himself and slipped into a lotus position. He would have to fully integrate, ept his past and present selves as one. Sweat beaded on his brow as he channeled his spiritual energy, struggling to ovee the metaphysical hurdle.


    Fragmented visions and half-remembered sensations flooded his consciousness in an overwhelming torrent. He cried out, clutching his throbbing temples as the memories coalesced into a singr whole.


    When he finally opened his eyes, they shone with a brilliant crimson light. An ethereal aura enveloped Chen Mo as his newly unified soul thrummed with incredible power - at least a hundredfold increase from before.


    [Simting] ¨C [Early Soul Formation - Time left: 5 mins]


    [Simting] ¨C [Peak Soul Formation - Time left: 10 mins]


    Chen Mo exhaled slowly, his expression one of guarded triumph and lingering bewilderment. If he hadn''t truly transmigrated but instead awakened to a previous existence...what did that mean about his previous self? What happened to everything? A myriad of other questions whirled through his mind, but he pushed them aside for now. The path of cultivation allowed no room for distraction.


    Chen Mo took a deep, steadying breath, his newly unified soul pulsing with immense power. He had spent long enough formting a n and it was time to put it to action.


    He thought that as long as he came out and broke through to the Nascent Soul realm, he would be able to fight on equal terms with the Elder as long as he didn''t use any soul-based attack. He thought that even though the elder was at the Soul Formation realm, he wouldn''t be able to spam soul attacks as they were a double-edged sword.


    He had probably used it before to deal with him quickly as he thought Chen Mo had a heavenly grade treasure on him.


    With a slight furrow of his brow, he lifted his hand, fingers curling inward as if grasping at an unseen force.


    Crack!


    The air around him shuddered, space itself fracturing like a fragile mirror. In an instant, the gloomy void surrounding him shattered, revealing a scene of utter devastation. The once vibrant colors of the Mei n''s domain had been reduced to smoldering rubble, fiery explosions erupting every few seconds with thunderous force.


    Chen Mo''s crimson eyes widened in disbelief at the apocalyptic sight before him. What cmity could have possibly befallen this ce in the span of his introspection? His gaze snapped upward, drawn inexorably to the maelstrom at the heart of the chaos.


    There, amidst the smoke and ruin, stood the wizened figure of an elder, arms outstretched in a futile attempt to restrain the unstoppable force tearing through their sanctuary. Mei Ling, her lithe form usually the epitome of serene grace and innocence, had been consumed by a berserk frenzy. Unleashing wave after wave of catastrophic power, she left naught but destruction in her wake.


    As Chen Mo''s heightened senses drank in the sight of her ravaged countenance, a warning shed through his mind in zing crimson runes.


    [Report] - [Dangerous entity detected]


    [


    Name: Yin Mei


    Cultivation: ???


    Information: Yin Mei''s reincarnation avatar, ???, Fox Demon, ??


    ]

 Chapter 21: Soul Formation

    <h4>Chapter 21: Soul Formation</h4>


    Chen Mo''s gaze locked onto the maelstrom of destruction at the heart of the ruined Mei n sanctuary, his heightened senses analyzing every minute detail. "Is that...Mei Ling?" he murmured in disbelief, crimson eyes widening.


    The innocent and timid little girl he knew had been twisted beyond recognition, consumed by an aura of primal fury. Mei Ling''s delicate features were contorted into a rictus of unbridled rage, her movements a blur of savage power that left only scorched earth and splintered debris in its wake.


    As Chen Mo watched her decimate their surroundings with each unchecked strike, realization dawned upon him like a lead weight in his gut. "It seems that girl lost control, and Yin Mei was able to awaken fully."


    Chen Mo thought to himself that even though Mei Ling went berserk and used the ghost possession techniques, with her current cultivation, she wouldn''t be able to summon this kind of power.


    [Report] - [Dangerous entity detected]


    [


    Name: Yin Mei


    Cultivation: ???


    Information: Yin Mei''s reincarnation avatar, ???, Fox Demon, ???


    ]


    ''Oh... so that''s how it is''


    "But seriously, Yin Mei''s reincarnation avatar?" Chen Mo''s brow furrowed as he reassessed the catastrophic scene. "Looks like it''s not that simple."


    Rumbling explosions punctuated the air, each detonation a harsh reminder that there was no time for idle contemtion. Chen Mo''s crimson gaze snapped toward the wizened elder desperately trying to restrain the unstoppable Yin Mei.


    His grinned craftily. Now that the elder was wholly upied, he had a fleeting window to focus inward and break through to greater realms of power. Only then would he stand a chance, even after improving hisbat power by fully integrating with his body, he was still not confident that he could take on the elder in his current form.


    But luckily for him...


    [Report] ¨C [Early Nascent Soul simtionplete]


    [Report] ¨C [Peak Nascent Soul simtionplete]


    ''Integrate''


    Without hesitation, Chen Mo crossed his legs and settled into a lotus position amidst the chaos, his aura ring with intensity. In that moment, the raging winds and thunderous detonations seemed to fade into eerie silence as he centered his consciousness.


    A low thrum reverberated through his being as Chen Mo channeled the full depths of his spiritual reserves. Massive torrents of energy roared to life, swirling around him in an ethereal vortex of crimson and azure light.


    The air thrummed with barely-contained power as those kaleidoscopic streams converged upon Chen Mo''s motionless form, drawn inexorably inward. His spiritual pathways, strengthened through arduous cultivation, pulsed in tandem with the rhythmic flow of energy.


    With each inhtion, Chen Mo''s physical vessel absorbed more and more of that raw, elemental force. His flesh, bones, and meridians creaked with the strain of containing such immense spiritual pressure, but he showed no outward signs of faltering.


    As the maelstrom of power intensified, Chen Mo''s body slowly began to levitate, suspended within the eye of the mystical tempest he had summoned. Rivulets of crimson and azure radiance sheathed his form in an aura of transcendent light, fracturing into resplendent motes that danced across his skin like cosmic fireflies.


    The onught of energy showed no signs of relenting, the vortex around him swirling with ever-increasing ferocity. Yet Chen Mo remained a bastion of unyielding focus, allowing the torrent to pour into every fiber of his being without resistance.


    Seconds bled into minutes, the world around him lost in a kaleidoscope of whirling light and sound. Only when thest vestiges of spiritual energy had been fully absorbed did Chen Mo finally open his eyes, irises zing like twin suns.


    "I''m now at the peak of Nascent Soul," he stated, his voice resonating with power yet somehow remaining serene amidst the cyclone surrounding him. "And it seems the simtion of the Soul Formation is almost over."


    [Simting] ¨C [Early Soul Formation - Time left: 30 secs]


    [Simting] ¨C [Peak Soul Formation - Time left: 1 min]


    Even as the words left his lips, Chen Mo''s consciousness analyzed the revtions unlocked through his rapid ascension. A flicker of doubt creased his features as he considered the stakes of their current crisis.


    "Since there''s still time, I might as well break through to the Soul Formation realm," he decided, jaw set in grim determination.


    He thought that since Yin Mei and the elder were still upied, he might as well just break through to the Soul Formation ream. The main reason was because he had no real defense against soul attacks and was therefore vulnerable to any soul attack that the elder would use.


    Even if he was physically stronger, he couldn''t fully kill the elder since he wouldn''t be able to attack the elder''s soul.


    Of course, the most important reason was that soul formation needs extreme concentration and he wouldn''t be able to form his soul while fighting the elder.


    [Report] ¨C [Early Soul Formation simtionplete]


    [Report] ¨C [Peak Soul Formation simtionplete]


    Now that he had recovered his spiritual energy and stamina by achieving the peak of the Nascent Soul realm, Chen Mo would seize this opportunity to form his soul. With a steadying exhtion, he reassumed a meditative lotus posture.


    ''Integrate''


    Blue and crimson mes, shaped like the eternal dance of Yin and Yang, flickered to life upon his brow. Spiritual energy, distilled from the residual vortex surrounding him, streamed inward through those mystical runes of power.


    The ground trembled as that deluge of energy saturated the air, drawn toward Chen Mo''s unmoving form like a ck hole consuming all matter and light in its vicinity. Shockwaves of invisible force radiated outward with each metaphysical inhtion, refracting the whirling energies into resplendent fractals.


    Chen Mo showed no reaction, his consciousness withdrawn into a meditative trance as he focused every iota of his being upon this pivotal breakthrough. The Soul Formation realm hovered just beyond the precipice, both salvation and damnation awaiting him in its enigmatic depths.


    All around, the world had descended into pandemonium - thunderous rumbles shook the very foundation of reality as shing titans of power collided. Yet at the heart of this earthly armageddon sat the unwavering eye of perfect tranquility, where a single man gambled everything to attain a higher ne of existence.


    As the unstoppable maelstrom converged upon Chen Mo''s unmoving vessel, there was but a breath of silence before¡ª


    "Initiate manual override" a female voice spoke from the depths of Chen Mo''s soul.


    [Manual override epted]

 Chapter 22: Rasiel is Actually!

    <h4>Chapter 22: Rasiel is Actually!</h4>


    Chen Mo''s consciousness drifted, untethered from the physical realm as his soul transcended its mortal confines. He found himself floating serenely upon a vast, shimmering expanse of golden radiance that seemed to stretch into eternity.


    "Is this what they call the spiritual sea?" The thought echoed through his mind, an instinctive understanding blossoming within him.


    Those few cultivators who managed to break through to the Soul Formation realm were said to possess such an ethereal wellspring - a limitless ocean of spiritual energy that served as the dantian for the soul, the very core, for their newly formed soul.


    ''But something seems off''


    Chen Mo thought to himself that the spiritual sea is normally a small pond when its just formed but his seems like a golden sea that stretches out infinitely with seemingly no end.


    As Chen Mo drifted amongst thembent currents, he marveled at the endless ebb and flow of power surrounding him. Eddies of condensed spiritual force swirled and churned, refracting the golden light into mesmerizing prismatic hues.


    Yet even amidst such breathtaking splendor, Chen Mo''s senses were drawn inexorably toward an impossibly regal structure rising from the heart of the spiritual sea. A golden pce of epic proportions hovered before him, its grandiose spires and ornate architecture radiating an almost palpable aura of majesty.


    Colossal pirs, each adorned with exquisitely carved bas-reliefs depicting epic battles and cosmic events, supported the immense weight of the pce. Domed rooftops curved in elegant arcs, their glistening tiles shimmering with an otherworldly iridescence that put the finest jade to shame.


    As Chen Mo''s spiritual form drifted closer, he noticed that the very walls themselves seemed to ripple and flow like liquid gold, as if the entire edifice were an extension of the spiritual sea itself given tangible shape through sheer force of will.


    ''What is this? Although it''s my first time seeing it, it feels so familiar''


    An ornate gate, its towering doors emzoned with mystical runes of power, beckoned to him with an almost palpable pull. Chen Mo''s curiosity overcame his trepidation, and he willed himself forward, plunging through the ethereal barrier as if it were little more than a gossamer veil.


    What greeted him on the other side defied allprehension.


    Millions - no, billions - of figures that shared his exact likeness filled the cavernous halls before him. Each one was wreathed in an aura of pure spiritual energy, their essences coalescing into ephemeral forms that seemed to flicker in and out of existence with every blink of Chen Mo''s metaphysical eyes.


    The faceless multitudes sat in timeless meditation, unmoving despite the inexorable currents of power undting around them. A resonant hum, more felt than heard, vibrated through Chen Mo''s being as if in greeting from these innumerable parallel selves.


    Just as he opened his mouth to speak, to give voice to the kaleidoscope of questions swirling through his consciousness, a figure manifested before him. An achingly beautiful woman, whose delicate features mirrored his own in a striking reflection of yin and yang, regarded him with eyes that burned with the intensity of a million supernovae.


    "Oh my, this is bad," she spoke, her ethereal voice reverberating through Chen Mo''s soul with the weight of eternity itself. "It seems that the fifth chaos is getting restless, to even give you such power. It must''ve cost him a lot."


    The woman''s words were iprehensible riddles that only served to deepen the profundity of the enigma surrounding him. Yet Chen Mo found himself stilled by the gentle weight of her hand upon his, an intimate yet distant caress that transcended mere physical touch.


    Chen Mo felt immense spiritual pressure that threatened to erase his soul if he so much as moved.


    ''What is this? Why are there people in my spiritual sea? Who is this woman? Why does she look just like me?''


    ''Rasiel, who is she?''


    [Report] ¨C [???]


    [ERROR] ¨C [External interference detected]


    "Ho, what is this?" the woman questioned as she gently ced her hand on Chen Mo''s head. "Is that you Rasiel? I see, so you''ve already made it this far"


    She smiles gently as she caresses Chen Mo''s cheek,


    "Since it''s our first-time meeting, I''ll give you a little gift. Initiate manual override"


    [Manual override epted]


    "Force update"


    [ACCEPTED]


    [UPDATING] ¨C [Time left ¨C 7 days]


    "Wait, no, CANCEL!" Chen Mo screamed out at the top of his voice, "you, what did you do to Rasiel?"


    Chen Mo thought to himself that that woman was dangerous, not only did she know about Rasiel''s existence, but she could also directly issuemands to him. Earlier she had mentioned something about the fifth chaos, from Chen Mo''s knowledge, there cannot be more than one chaos at the same time, so what did she mean by the fifth chaos.


    He thought to himself that she might have something to do with his reincarnation into this world.


    "Don''t worry, your friend is still fine. Also, stop calling me a ''he''"


    The woman spoke softly as she let go of Chen Mo


    "What? I never called you a... you, you''re actually..."


    "Took you long enough, but you''re still too young to be here," she continued, her melodic voice tinged with an undercurrent of mncholy. "Come back again in another chaos or two."


    In that moment, a deafening fracture resounded through the expanse as Chen Mo''s spiritual sea cracked and shuddered. The golden radiance flickered and died, the innumerable cosmic reflections of himself winking out of existence like candle mes snuffed by the void.


    Within the span of a heartbeat, the opulent pce, the boundless spiritual ocean, all of it copsed into absolute destion. A yawning, abyssal darkness surrounded Chen Mo, an empty oblivion where not even the faintest shard of light could prate the all-consuming emptiness.


    He opened his mouth to cry out, to give voice to the existential terror gripping his very essence, but no sound would emerge from that stygian void. Only silence, profound and eternal, answered his anguished cry as his consciousness teetered upon the precipice of oblivion.

 Chapter 23: My own Chaos

    <h4>Chapter 23: My own Chaos</h4>


    Chen Mo''s eyes snapped open, pupils dting in a futile attempt to make sense of the infinite darkness surrounding him. Where was he? What had be of the radiant spiritual sea and the majestic golden pce?


    His essence drifted aimlessly, untethered in the lightless void. Even the vivid memory of those resplendent vistas felt like little more than a half-remembered dream slipping through his metaphysical grasp.


    "Am I still within my spiritual sea?" The question reverberated soundlessly, swallowed by the abyssal shadows enshrouding him. Chen Mo focused his senses inward, probing the extent of this limitless void that had devoured his inner world.


    Not even the faintest glimmer permeated the opaque nothingness - it was an absolute vacuum bereft of illumination. Such stark emptiness seemed wholly unnatural, even anathema, to the vibrant ocean of power a spiritual sea was meant to embody.


    Unease flickered through Chen Mo''s thoughts as he recalled his bewildering encounter mere moments prior.


    ''That woman... Rasiel''


    ''Rasiel are you there?''


    [UPDATING] ¨C [Time left ¨C 7 days]


    ''She''s still here so that''s fine''


    Chen Mo tried to reassure himself but thoughts of the cryptic woman still lingered in his mind.


    He was sure that that was Rasiel but he didn''t know how she could have gained autonomy, and in his soul at that, which hadn''t yet formed until just a few moments ago.


    Unless... [REDACTED] ??? [ERROR] ¨C [CONCEALED INFORMATION] ???


    ''It seems things aren''t that simple''


    Her arcane words resurfaced in his memory.


    She had said something about him being too young anding again in another chaos or two. But Chen Mo couldn''t understand what she meant by a ''chaos or two'' since there could only be one chaos.


    Could it be that the chaos will be destroyed? But that was impossible, the chaos was everything, how could it be destroyed, and two times at that.


    Chen Mo willed himself to focus. spection couldeter. For now, he needed to figure out what was going on in his spiritual sea as the darkness and absolute silence was getting to him.


    Chen Mo stretched out his senses to the limit but he couldn''t see any end to his spiritual sea. But what bothered him the most was the absence of anything in his spiritual sea. Even somete-stage Nascent Soul cultivators have at least a pond in their spiritual sea so why was his so empty even at the peak of Soul Formation.


    ''Rasiel, what do you think is the problem''


    [UPDATING] ¨C [Time left ¨C 7 days]


    That again! Chen Mo thought to himself that he had a [Parallel Processing] skill and Rasiel should be able to multitask easily but it seemed that that wasn''t the case. It seems that the "Force Update"mand was different.


    ''What did she do earlier?''


    ''Oh, I remember now. Initiate manual override''


    [Manual override rejected]


    ''That was quick, you didn''t even give it time to consider.''


    ''Anyway, it seems that I''m on my own for now''


    ''Activate skill [Existence]''


    "I haven''t done this in a while"


    [


    Information: The Spiritual Sea is a world formed by one''s innate element, youck any elements therefore you have no spiritual sea. This is inside your soul where the spiritual sea should otherwise exist.


    ]


    ''I see, so that''s why''


    Since my space element transformed into thew of space, my body didn''t have any element to form the spiritual sea with so it was left empty.


    ''I suddenly have a smart idea...''


    Centering his thoughts, he channeled the fundamental power of space itself. Thew manifested in his mind''s eye, geometric forms of unseen energy that could divide, stretch, warp the very fabric of reality.


    In the beginning, there was only the void. Now, Chen Mo''s application of spatialw tore open a miniscule sliver in the darkness - the first step in redefining this formless potential.


    Chen Mo thought to himself that he had used his [Development] and [Update] skill to merge thew of space into his soul but now there didn''t seem to be any difference.


    Although there was space, there was still no light nornd.


    ''Wait a minute''


    Most people''s spiritual seas only contained a single element since finding resources for core formation wasn''t easy and it was rare to awaken another element after the core was formed. But this didn''t apply to him, he could gain any neww at anytime and would be able to merge it into his soul.


    He thought of what could happen if he managed to gather and merge all three thousandws, wouldn''t he be able to create his own chaos inside his soul.


    But before that, he needed to go and save Mei Ling.


    <strong>...</strong>


    Recap time


    Yin Mei had already exhausted all her soul power and was floating opposite the elder. Her body constantly changed from her adult and mature form to her teenage self and even to her cocooned self until it finally settled on her teenage form.


    Her spiritual energy slowly dissipated as she slowly transformed back into Mei Ling. She was unconscious and couldn''t keep up the flying technique and thus started plummeting to the ground.


    The elder noticed her falling and decided to catch her since she was the ancestor''s reincarnation.


    He gathered the slumbering Mei Ling gently in his arms. After the unbridled chaos unleashed by the girl across the devastatedpound, an uneasy silence now hung over the ruined ancestral shrines and buildings as scattered fires continued burning.


    The Elder took a deep, centering breath. There could be no dy. He needed to relocate Mei Ling somewhere more suitable until she awakened and he could piece together exactly what had transpired here. Too many specifics waited on razor''s edge. The future and destiny of the entire n depended now on his handling of this vtile situation.


    Tearing a talisman he held with his two fingers, he opened an interspatial portal to transfer them both to a secure-


    "Did I say you could leave?"


    The softly menacing words cut through the crackling fires as the opened spatial portal closed itself shut. The Elder froze in ce, blood turning to ice in his veins. That voice...here?! Impossible!

 Chapter 24: Version 2.0 Patch Notes / Semi-Digital Lifeform

    <h4>Chapter 24: Version 2.0 Patch Notes / Semi-Digital Lifeform</h4>


    <strong>Name</strong>: Chen Mo / Rasiel


    <strong>Species</strong>: Semi-Digital Lifeform


    <strong>Cultivation</strong>: 9th Stage Soul Formation


    <strong>Job</strong>: Programmer, ???


    <strong>Skills</strong>:


    <i>OpenSource</i> - Can intuitivelyprehend the intricate forms and particles thatpose all matter and energy. Able to reverse-engineer the underlying patterns of creation, dismantling any material or spell to understand its primal origins.


    <i>Existence</i> - Keenly aware of all unconcealed knowledge across the physical and spiritual nes. Automatically indexes and absorbs information, lore, history, and secretsid bare. An ever-growing well of uncontrolled insight.


    <i>Scripting</i> - Masters the art of forging new particles and forms through will and imagination. Can reshape spells, materials, minds, and souls by reconfiguring their fundamental patterns. Effortlessly optimizes, reinforces, and transforms existing metaphysical architectures.


    <i>Development</i> - Visualizes and gives life topletely novel elemental particles, ethereal blueprints, andw forms. Manifests wondrous objects, creatures, and phenomena bybining raw imagination with a deep intuitive understanding of the primordial mechanisms of the universe.


    <i>Memory</i> - Perfectly recalls all experiences and knowledge without deterioration. An indestructible vessel containing immense amounts of readily essible information. Cannot be tampered with or altered by any magic or entity without consent. Provides limitless insight into the ancient truths of existence.


    <i>Update</i> - Can directly modify and enhance the user''s own existence by instilling new data and skills using avable infonts. Able to synthesize and channel infonts to overwrite the user''s metaphysical blueprint with new capabilities, knowledge and attributes. This allows the rapid acquisition of skills,nguages, muscle memory, etc without needing to undergo traditional training. The user''s own existence can be augmented, edited and reprogrammed as if it were data.


    <i>Parallel Processing</i> - Can independently process and absorb infonts using a separate metaphysical processing structure that operates in parallel with the main consciousness. This allows rapidprehension and synthesis of infonts withoutpromising or interfering with the focus and functions of the main mind. Also remains aware and conscious even when the primary consciousness is inactive, asleep or incapacitated, providing ongoing peripheral awareness and cognition.


    <i>Storage</i> - Able to break down any physical object or conceptual entity into its fundamental infonts particles. Can thenpress, encrypt and store these primal building blocks in a metaphysical pocket dimension immune to the effects of time and space. Stored items are perfectly preserved and secured, immune to any external disturbances or disruptions. Can retrieve and reconstitute stored items at will by reassembling their infontsponents into their original forms. Provides a limitless, invible storage space for safekeeping objects, knowledge, memories, skills, entities, and more.


    The unbound oblivion encasing Chen Mo''s consciousness flickered, fractal shards of light piercing the veil as his awareness returned to the physical realm. Instinctively, he felt that something profound had shifted within him during his metaphysical sojourn - a seismic evolution catalyzed by the crucible of his spiritual tribtions.


    <strong>...</strong>


    Chen Mo''s senses unfurled like ethereal tendrils probing the very substance of his being. Chen Mo''s eyes flickered open, irises zing with inner radiance as he scrutinized the influx of new data searing across his mindscape.


    [Species Updated: Human -> Semi-Digital Lifeform]


    He felt his body and all the infonts around him be one. A normal Soul Formation cultivator could use their divine sense up to a hundred miles radius but he could sense up to a thousand miles. That was the standard for an early Soul and Body Integration realm cultivator.


    Not only could he sense anything across a thousand miles radius, he could also manipte infonts easily without effort. And if he merged his divine sense to his skills, he could probably sense even further.


    Cosmic calctions flickered through his consciousness at an elerated pace that defied mortalprehension. Chen Mo''s infonts processing capabilities had increased millionfold, a mere side effect granting him the slightest tangential insight into the primordial rhythms underlying all of creation.


    He suddenly felt the presence of a strong force trying to restrain him.


    ''Is this the Heavenly Dao? It seems to be rejecting my existence''


    He felt the force of the Heavenly Dao actively trying to restrict him but he could easily bypass the restriction by analyzing and manipting the infonts around him to make the restriction power unable to lock on to him.


    ''It''s really a tiring to do this stuff actively, I should create a scriptter to handle stuff like that''


    He thought to himself that the Heavenly Dao suddenly got restless and started to restrain him the moment he became a Semi-Digital Lifeform, and this was only the Semi-Digital, he wondered what would happen if he became a fully awakened digital lifeform.


    "It seems things aren''t so simple. But that aside..."


    [Chen Mo / Rasiel]


    Chen Mo wondered if that woman was still in his body. Why did it disy two names?


    ''No, I need to calm down''


    He thought that maybe this had something to do with what was happening to Rasiel.


    [Activate skill [Existence] ¨C Who is Rasiel]


    [


    <strong>Name</strong>: Rasiel


    <strong>Species</strong>: Digital Lifeform


    <strong>Information</strong>: The origin ??? [ERROR] ¨C [Concealed Information]. A multipurpose AI created my Chen Mo. Chen Mo gave a part of his soul to Rasiel and she evolved into a digital lifeform. Due to Chen Mo''s soul partially merging with Rasiel, he became a Semi-Digital Lifeform.


    ]


    ''Part of my soul? I gave what now?''


    "So much for ''let me give you a gift'', she actually gave out part of my soul like it was her own. Hmph"


    Chen Mo stood up and sighed in relief, at least the constant voice in his head telling him to breakthrough to Soul Formation realm had calmed down now that he had broken through.


    Yet one facet of this metamorphosis gave Chen Mo pause. His designation - the fundamental identifiers parsing his existence - had inexplicably merged into a paradoxical duality.


    For now, more immediate concerns pressed upon him as his senses realigned to the ravaged sanctuary once more.


    Yin Mei''s corruptive, chaotic energies had finally been depleted in her ceaseless assault. In her absence, the deceptively fragile form of Mei Ling copsed bonelessly amid the scorched ruins. The aged n Elder darted forward with preternatural crity, cradling the unconscious girl with a gentleness belying his gnarled frame.


    Chen Mo''s lip curled in a cool smirk as the old man turned to depart, clearly mistaking the sudden lull for a reprieve. Before the Elder could make his escape with Mei Ling in tow, Chen Mo''s voice cut through the dissipating fray with frigid rity.


    "Did I say you could leave?"


    The words sliced through the oppressive silence, each syble dripping with subtle menace and unspoken power. Chen Mo''s newly transcended presence radiated from his physical vessel in palpable waves, a refutation of reality itself as the rubble around him shuddered and groaned in protest.


    The n Elder froze, weathered features contorting in an inscrutable blend of surprise, confusion, and dawning dread. In that suspended moment, none could deny the sheer magnitude of the force that had spontaneously manifested before them. This was no mere disciple testing the shackles of their cultivation - an unknowable cosmic power had fully awakened amidst the devastation.


    Only the question remained: was Chen Mo still the one holding its reins, or had he already been subsumed by entities and energies his limited perspective could scarcely fathom? (nah, he is just restricting his movements my manipting the infonts around him, it''s not that deep old man) The fate of the entire n, perhaps even the stability of this fractured realm, now teetered upon that breathless revtion.

 Chapter 25: Treasure of the Chen Family

    <h4>Chapter 25: Treasure of the Chen Family</h4>


    "Did I say you could leave?"


    The voice infused with spiritual energy pierced the elder''s ears before he could take a step. He panicked and thought to himself, "This voice...No, impossible."


    Chen Mo immediately appeared behind the elder and touched his shoulder, "What''s so impossible about it?" The elder felt the immense pressure in Chen Mo''s hand. "So fast! I couldn''t even sense him with my divine sense. And this aura, Peak Soul Formation? No way," the elder was shocked, stumbling back. He tripped on himself and dropped the unconscious Mei Ling, whom he was carrying in his arms.


    "Hey, how can you be so rude to your ancestor''s reincarnation avatar," Chen Mo spoke mockingly as he stretched out his hands and chanted, ''Space Transfer.'' Mei Ling, who was about to hit the ground, appeared in his arms. He patted her head and apologized for making her wait. Heid her down and erected a space barrier around her as he walked towards the shocked elder.


    "So what if you''re at the peak of Soul Formation? I''m also at the peak of Soul Formation and have more experience than you," the elder spoke arrogantly as he tried to gather courage.


    Chen Mo ignored him and immediately appeared right in front of the elder,nding a strong punch to his stomach. The elder was sent flying. Chen Mo then teleported above the elder andnded a downward strike, crashing the elder into the ground, a cloud of dust rising.


    The elder struggled to stand up, wondering how they were in the same realm, yet Chen Mo was so strong. He even wondered why he couldn''t sense him using his divine sense. Even if one was using spatial techniques, he should be able to sense the space fluctuations using his divine sense.


    "You''re wondering why you can''t use your divine sense on me?" Chen Mo asked mockingly. "Well, that''s simply because my divine sense is stronger than yours." He spoke as he appeared right in front of the elder and held the elder''s hair as he grinned menacingly.


    Trembling, the elder tried to back away, but Chen Mo''s grip was like iron. "H-How is this possible? How could you be this strong? It''s only been a few minutes how could you break through two major realms, and master them to such a level?"


    "Hmm, maybe because I''m the main character. Does that count?"


    "A what now?"


    "Never mind"


    Chen Mo lifted the elder off the ground by his hair, sneering in his face. "Anyst words, old man?" he asked menacingly as a de materialized in his other hand, the metal gleaming wickedly.


    Rather than showing fear, the elder merely smiled, revealing a mouthful of crooked, yellowed teeth. "Did you really think you had won?" he rasped out with a wheezyugh.


    Chen Mo''s brow furrowed in confusion. "What? Do you have some new technique up your sleeve?" He tightened his grip on the elder''s graying hair, eliciting a pained grunt.


    The elder''s smile only widened further. "This stupid kid probably used that Immortal Treasure of the Chen family to increase his cultivation," he thought to himself. "I didn''t think that damned treasure would be this strong. He probably hasn''t even tapped half of its true power. If I can get my hands on it, I would be invincible in the mortal realm!"


    A cruel, malicious chuckle bubbled up from his throat as the elder began chanting in an ancient, guttural tongue. "Demon possession!"


    Thick, writhing tendrils of inky ckness erupted from the elder''s body, wriggling through the air like grotesque serpents. Before Chen Mo could react, theyshed out, burrowing into his flesh with sickening squelches.


    Chen Mo cried out in shock and pain, convulsing violently as the vile tendrils wormed their way through his body. He tried to summon his spiritual energy to fight back, but found his cultivation utterly suppressed, smothered by the sheer malevolence of the possessing force.


    "There''s no use in resisting," the elder mocked, his voice now a rasping, multitudinous hiss. "Although the treasure gave you great cultivation, you have no soul defense techniques. I shall take over your body, and the treasure will belong to me! Hahaha!"


    Chen Mo''s struggles became more frantic, but the tendrils only burrowed deeper, constricting his limbs and wrapping around his neck. He could feel the vile presence invading his mind, peeling away his sense of selfyer byyer.


    "You''re a thousand years too young to deal with this old man," the elder gloated, his ancient features twisting into an expression of wicked glee. "Despite the Heavenly Pce''s hard work getting rid of the Chen family, they wouldn''t have thought that I would end up with the treasure. Liu Jian, just you wait!"


    <strong>...</strong>


    Chen Mo sat cross-legged on the ground; his brow furrowed in concentration as he worked to stabilize his roiling spiritual energy after expelling the vile presence of the elder''s demonic aura that had entered his meridians. Beads of sweat rolled down his face, evidence of the immense mental strain.


    As his breathing gradually slowed and his aura settled, Chen Mo''s mind turned to the elder''s taunting words before the possession attempt. "Even though he had the cultivation of the Soul Formation stage, he had no soul offensive or defensive techniques."


    Chen Mo''s lips quirked up in a rueful smile. The old man was absolutely right on that ount. He indeed had the peak Soul Formation real of cultivation, but he had no formal training in using it safely or harnessing its full potential.


    After the Nascent Soul stage most battles that take ce include soul attacks.


    That was precisely why he had been pushing the elder so relentlessly, goading him into unleashing his strongest soul arts. Chen Mo''s n had been to analyze and replicate those techniques, copying them into his own repertoire through his skills.


    He just didn''t anticipate the old codger misunderstanding the source of his abilities and deciding to outright take over his body instead.


    "Foolish of me to underestimate his greed and desperation," Chen Mo muttered, shaking his head. His mind shed back to those final, chilling words from the elder''s spirit before entering his body:


    "Despite the Heavenly Pce''s hard work getting rid of the Chen family, they wouldn''t have thought that I would end up with the treasure. Liu Jian, just you wait!"


    Chen Mo''s eyes shot open, understanding dawning upon him like a thunderbolt. "So that''s what''s going on!"


    The pieces fell into ce. The Heavenly Pce, that vaunted sect that presided over all cultivation in this realm, they kept making trouble for him. Clearly, the Chen n''s prized Immortal Treasure was the source of their animosity, covetous of its unmatched power.


    "They wiped out my ancestors to try and take it for themselves," Chen Mo growled, clenching his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white. "And now this wretched elder was an agent working towards the same goal!"


    "I''ll need to look into the full history of this conflict after returning home," Chen Mo decided, slowly rising to his feet with a grunt of effort. "But before that..."


    ''Activate skill [OpenSource]''


    ''Although it didn''t go as nned the elder''s soul is inside my body and now, I can easily analyze his soul and get his soul cultivation technique''


    Chen Mo pitied the old man for attempting to take over his body, since he didn''t sense the presence of the old man in his soul space, and he had no spiritual sea, he could probably guess where the old man was sucked into.


    ''The Golden Pce!''


    ''I''m not worried about him taking over my body now that he was sucked into that ce, he''d have a better chance fighting me than facing that woman''

 Chapter 26: Just as Promised [VOLUME 1 - END]

    <h4>Chapter 26: Just as Promised [VOLUME 1 - END]</h4>


    Deep inside Chen Mo''s soul space.


    The elder''s consciousness slipped through the rift he had torn in Chen Mo''s defenses, emerging into the young man''s soul space. He expected to find himself in some grand mindscape befitting one who wielded such incredible power. Instead, he was greeted by an endless void of inky ckness, not even the faintest glimmer of light to be seen.


    "What is the meaning of this?" the elder muttered, his disembodied voice echoing weirdly in the abyss. He willed himself to move forward, though the concept of direction seemed meaningless in this ce without reference points.


    He thought it was a good thing that he was only in his soul state, if he was in his body form, he wouldn''t survive a minute in this empty void.


    As he navigated the strange, empty space, the elder grew increasingly restless and uneasy. How could the kid''s spiritual sea be utterly devoid of anything? Surely there had to be something, some semnce of his psyche manifest here?


    He wondered to himself whether the space element cultivators had no spiritual sea.


    Just as his doubts reached a fevered pitch, the elder noticed a tiny pinprick of golden light in the distance, swirlingzily. He immediately surged towards it, the light growing brighter and more intense with every second until it engulfed his senses in a warm, radiant glow.


    The elder threw up a metaphysical arm to shield his eyes, squinting against the brilliant luminance. "What happened? Where am I?"


    As his vision slowly adjusted, he turned his head, only for his jaw to go ck in astonishment. Surrounding him in a vast panorama were millions - no, billions - of figures, each an exact replica of Chen Mo''s physical form. They were seated in meditation, souls burning like brilliant stars as ethereal energy danced around their forms in dazzling spirals and eddies.


    The elder''s mouth worked soundlessly as he beheld the staggering disy of soul power, a level of cultivation he could scarcelyprehend. The very air thrummed and distorted from the metaphysical pressures being exerted. Just being in the presence of these infinite Chen Mos made his core tremble, sweat beading on his brow from the sheer, overwhelming spiritual might.


    "This...This is too much! I''ve never seen such soul power in my entire life!" the elder wheezed, turning this way and that in stunned disbelief. "It''s enough to destroy the mortal world a million times over just by thinking about it!"


    He immediately tried to back away, to retreat from this ce that made a mockery of everything he thought he knew. But his metaphysical form stumbled, pitching forward until he found himself in an involuntary bow before the cultivating figures.


    "Dammit! I just wanted some dumb treasure why do I have to go through all this"


    As the elder struggled to lift his head, a new presence exploded into his awareness like a supernova, forcing his gaze upwards. There, seated upon a throne of zing gold that seemed to be the epicenter of the very cosmos itself, was a figure he instantly recognized - a middle-aged version of Chen Mo regarding him coolly, his chin rested upon one upraised hand.


    The elder''s psyche reeled, every fiber of his being screaming at him to look away from that unmistakable face, that overwhelming aura of power older than the universe itself. Yet he found himself utterly transfixed, bound not by any force but the sheer gravity of this being''s existence.


    "Wh-What''s going on?" he rasped out, terror and awe warring within him. "That man... he wasn''t there before! As soon as I saw him, I became unable to move! Is this... the true difference in our power?!"


    As panic took hold and the elder frantically searched for a way to escape, a lilting feminine voice broke through the oppressive atmosphere. If Chen Mo was here, he''d immediately recognize her as Rasiel, or at least that''s what she ims to be.


    "Oh my... I didn''t expect to have a new visitor so soon."


    From behind the golden throne strode a lithe, impossibly beautiful woman with features that seemed to shift and change with every blink of the elder''s eye. One moment he saw the face of a blushing maiden, the next an inscrutable celestial beauty, then a terrifying demonic visage - ever-changing, always captivating.


    "I''m sorry that my lord is busy and cannot entertain you properly," the woman continued with a sly smile, running one delicate hand over the back of the throne''s imposing headrest. "Now then... what shall we do to make your stay more... eventful?"


    Thest word dripped with dark promise, sending chills down the elder''s metaphysical spine. Before he could even think to speak or beg for mercy, the world around him fractured, reality itself shattering into countless shards.


    And then the screaming began.


    An unholy wail torn from the deepest recesses of the elder''s soul split the aether, his body contorting and thrashing as unimaginable agonies were visited upon his very existence. nes of reality peeled apart in crystalline shreds, the innumerable Chen Mo avatars bearing silent witness as their progenitor looked on, unmoved by the torment.


    For the elder, what followed was an eternity of anguish beyond mortalprehension. Every nerve in his psyche was set aze, his sense of self unraveled like a tapestry in the nuclear fires of a reborn cosmos. Again and again, he was unmade, broken down to his most fundamentalponents only to be reshaped and shattered anew in cycling torments that annihted all semnce of coherent thought or memory.


    By the time the cataclysmic experience finally ended, the elder''s spirit was little more than a scorched, gibbering ruin, cast adrift in the endless void once more as the radiant visions of Chen Mo''s transcendent inner world vanished like a fleeting mirage.


    <strong>...</strong>


    Mei n.


    Chen Mo''s eyes slowly fluttered open, breaking his deep meditative trance. He blinked a few times, adjusting to the dim lighting of the setting sun. With a grunt of effort, he stretched his arms over his head, feeling the pleasant burn of stiff muscles being extended after holding the cross-legged lotus position for so long.


    As his mind cleared the hazy fog of intense cultivation, Chen Mo''s thoughts turned inward, probing the state of his soul space in the aftermath of that harrowing ordeal with the grasping elder. "It''s just as I thought," he murmured to himself. "I can''t feel that old bastard''s presence inside my soul space anymore."


    A wry smile yed across his lips as his psyche brushed against that other, infinitely more potent essence still lingering within his metaphysical core. "I guess that woman is still in there."


    Chen Mo exhaled a weary sigh, running one hand through his sweat-dampened hair. "Anyway, I''ll worry about thatter. It''s not like I''m strong enough to get rid of her, besides...she''s... ??? [REDACTED] ¨C [CONCEALED INFORMATION]"


    He trailed off, not quite willing to voice his deeper spections about the true nature of that mysterious feminine force which had so utterly subjugated the invading elder. There was still too much he didn''t understand about the full depths of his inherited legacy.


    But one thing was clear, as long as she remained there, his soul space was safe.


    "She seems to be guarding something. Just how long..."


    Shaking his head to dispel the circr thoughts, Chen Mo focused instead on the tangible gains his ordeal had provided. "Although things didn''t exactly go as nned, I managed to fully analyze the elder''s soul and gain some of his soul cultivation techniques."


    His mind shed back to the excruciatingsh of absolute cold that had frozen his very existence when the elder unleashed that "Absolute Zero" technique. Now, Chen Mo could reproduce that same soul-freezing power if not greater, along with the myriad other esoteric arts the elder had devoted his life to mastering.


    "But besides that," Chen Mo continued, a fierce light of aplishment burning in his eyes. "The biggest harvest was that I gained an understanding of thew of ice from the elder''s energies."


    It wasn''t a trueprehension of the Ice Laws, not yet - but rather an elemental affinity, a seed that could potentially blossom into so much more. Thanks to the [Development] skill, Chen Mo had been able to replicate and analyze the technique''s essence until he had forged his own personalized understanding, his very own Law of Ice.


    "And from what I can sense, there''s an even higher level of mastery than just understanding a Law," Chen Mo murmured, partly to himself. "Some deeper, transcendent truth underlying it all. But it seems I can''t achieve that just yet."


    "I tried duplicating thew and merging it even more but nothing happened"


    Nevertheless, his achievements represented a massive leap forward in his cultivation journey. Now he could be said to be a cultivation powerhouse in the mortal world.


    With renewed determination burning in his core, Chen Mo rose to his feet, sweeping his gaze around the now barren Mei n where the day''s tribtions had yed out.


    "Time to move on to the next stage," he stated firmly. "With the news of me defeating the Mei n, my Protagonist Sect will gain some reputation and will be able to recruit new disciples."


    Chen Mo thinks to himself that ever since his memories merged with the previous Chen Mo, he''s been feeling more and more inclined to revive the Chen Family''s sect.


    His fingers clenched into a white-knuckled fist, ice crystals blossoming around his arm in a frozen spiral.


    "The Heavenly Pce will regret ever crossing the path of my Chen Family!"


    <strong>...</strong>


    With the aftermath of his battle with the treacherous elder finally behind him, Chen Mo turned his attention back to the still unconscious form of Mei Ling lying on the ground. He strode over to her, taking a moment to study her delicate features with a calcting gaze. Even in this vulnerable state, he could sense the immensetent potential simmering within her.


    ''Activate Skill [Existence]''


    [


    <strong>Name</strong>: Mei Ling/Yin Mei


    <strong>Cultivation</strong>: 3rd Stage Foundation Establishment


    <strong>Information</strong>: Yin Mei''s reincarnation avatar, ???, Fox Demon, ???


    ]


    ''Just as I thought, her status as a reincarnation avatar didn''t revert''


    Gently, he knelt down and scooped Mei Ling up into his arms, cradling her protectively against his chest. With but a whisper of exertion, Chen Mo willed his transcendent energies to manifest, levitating them both up into the air until they hovered high above the Mei n''s mountain valleypound.


    His piercing gaze swept over the sprawling architecture below, lingering on the opulent vis and treasured halls that had no doubt been paid for with the spoils of the Mei n''s deplorable misdeeds. A cruel smirk yed across Chen Mo''s lips as he extended one hand, a constetion of glimmering spirit des coalescing in the air before him.


    "These upstarts have grown too arrogant, daring to bully my people and coveting my Chen Family''s treasure," he intoned, the wordsced with disdain. "It''s time they were reminded of their ce."


    With but a mental twitch, the desunched in a blinding fuside, precise streams of light raining down to inscribe massive characters upon the tiled rooftops and courtyard pathways below.


    <strong>''THE PROTAGONIST SECT IS NOT EASY TO BULLY''</strong>


    Chen Mo watched with a sense of vicious satisfaction as his message permanently scarred the n''s ostentatious facades. Let that serve as an ominous portent of the reckoning toe.


    Of course, a bit of property damage was the least of what the wretched Mei n deserved after their transgressions against Mei Ling and his own Chen lineage. Which was why, Chen Mo had preceded his grand promation by...appropriating a few choice valuables and heirlooms on his way through thepound. Supplies and resources to aid in the rebuilding of his sect, plundered from these false scions as rpense.


    "There, I''d say we''re about even for now," Chen Mo chuckled darkly, giving theatose Mei Ling a gentle pat on the head. "I said I''d deal with them for you, didn''t I? Now you don''t have to worry anymore."


    With a final disdainful look at the defaced Mei n grounds, Chen Mo turned and soared off into the distance, Mei Ling secure in his grasp. They had taken the first step on a long road filled with formidable enemies and even greater challenges.


    But Chen Mo was undaunted. With the vengeful will of his ancestors driving him forward and his massively overpowered Programmer Job, he would cut a swath through anyone foolish enough to obstruct the revival of the Protagonist Sect''s glory!


    <strong>*VOLUME 1 END</strong>

 Chapter 27: Saintes Yin Mei [Part 1] [VOLUME 2 START]

    <h4>Chapter 27: Saintes Yin Mei [Part 1] [VOLUME 2 START]</h4>


    From a distance, the frost pce stood as a magnificent spectacle, its towering structure carved from pure ice that glistened in the sunlight. Surrounding the pce was a nket of pristine snow, untouched and sparkling like a million diamonds scattered across the ground.


    The pce itself was a masterpiece of architectural brilliance, with intricate designs etched into the ice, creating a mesmerizing y of light and shadow.


    On the balcony, a vision of beauty graced the scene. Princess Yin Mei, her delicate features framed by silky tresses that cascaded over her shoulders, sat in a regal pose.


    Her clear, melodic voice filled the air as she sang a haunting melody, each note carrying the weight of centuries-old sorrow and longing. Her dress, a shimmering masterpiece of gossamer fabric, seemed to flow like water around her lithe form, enhancing her ethereal beauty.


    As thest notes of her song faded into the crisp winter air, a smattering of apuse echoed from below. A maid, d in a simple yet elegant uniform, approached the balcony, her footsteps muffled by the soft snow. "A beautiful piece as always, Saintess Yin Mei," she said, her voice tinged with reverence. "But you really need to go and greet the guests from the Avalon Empire. They''ve just arrived."


    Yin Mei''s expression remained impassive, betraying none of the turmoil that raged within her. She stood, her delicate hands holding the folds of her dress, and glided past the maid, her movements graceful and fluid.


    Inwardly, her thoughts churned with bitterness.


    ''There is no such thing as greeting the guests,'' she mused, her lips pursed into a thin line. ''They merely wish to sell me off to the prince of the Avalon Empire in exchange for protection, like sacrificial livestock to those shameless old men.''


    Memories of her father, the former ruler of the Frost Empire, flickered through her mind. He had been a beacon of strength and power, never bowing to the whims of others or seeking aid.


    But the constant struggle against the encroaching demon horde had taken its toll, and they had pushed him to the brink until his eventual demise. Now, in the absence of his formidable presence, the empire teetered on the edge of ruin, and the elders saw no other recourse than to barter away their princess to secure the protection of the Avalon Empire.


    Yin Mei descended the icy stairs, her footfalls echoing through the cavernous halls of the pce. The interior was a breathtaking disy of beauty, with clear gems embedded in the walls, catching and refracting the light in a dazzling array of colors. Intricate carvings adorned every surface, telling the tales of a once-mighty empire and its valiant rulers.


    As she entered the main hall, her gaze fell upon a striking figure ¨C a tall, handsome young man whose very presence exuded an aura of nobility and power. This was the prince of the Avalon Empire, nked by two imposing guards d in gleaming armor.


    His sharp features and piercing eyes held a hint of arrogance, befitting of one born into such immense privilege.


    Yin Mei fought the urge to curl her lip in disdain, for she knew this man hade to im her as a prize, a mere bargaining chip in the games yed by those who held the reins of power.


    Yet, she could not deny the stirrings of curiosity deep within her, a desire to understand the man who would soon hold sway over her fate.


    As she approached, the prince''s gaze locked onto her, his eyes raking over her form with a hunger that sent a shiver down her spine. A slow, predatory smile spread across his lips, and he inclined his head in a mockery of respect. "Princess Yin Mei," he purred, his voice rich and velvety. "It is an honor to finally make your acquaintance."


    Yin Mei steeled herself, determined to meet his gaze with unwavering defiance. Though her heart raced with trepidation, she would not show weakness in the face of this arrogant prince. For she was thest remnant of a once-great empire, a living embodiment of the pride and strength that had defined her people.


    And though the path ahead seemed shrouded in darkness, she would walk it with her head held high, refusing to surrender her dignity to those who sought to control her destiny.


    Yin Mei bowed her head gracefully, "Saintess Yin Mei of the Frost Pce greets the prince." The prince reached out, taking her delicate hand in his, and brought it to his lips, nting a lingering kiss upon her knuckles. His gaze met hers, eyes gleaming with a predatory hunger that sent a wave of revulsion through her body.


    Though every fiber of her being recoiled from his lecherous stare, Yin Mei maintained an impassive facade, refusing to grant him the satisfaction of seeing her difort.


    *crack


    The scene froze, shattering like delicate ice into a million shimmering shards, each piece reflecting the twisted reality she had envisioned.


    ...


    Mei Ling jolted awake, her hand clutching her throbbing head as a piercing scream tore from her throat, reverberating through the halls with an intensity that caused Chen Mo to start from his meditative trance.


    "That must be Mei Ling," he murmured, rising to his feet with fluid grace. "She finally woke up."


    It had been three days since the heated battle with the Mei n, and Mei Ling had remained in a deep slumber ever since, her body utterly spent from the berserk frenzy that had drained her spiritual energy.


    Chen Mo had assumed she merely needed rest, and so he had allowed her to recover undisturbed.


    With purposeful strides, he made his way to her chamber, sliding open the door to reveal a scene of chaos. Mere seconds after crossing the threshold, a blur of motion caught his peripheral vision, and he reacted instinctively, catching the razor-sharp w mere inches from his face.


    His grip tightened around Mei Ling''s wrist, restraining her as she thrashed violently, her eyes wild and unfocused.


    "What''s wrong with you?" Chen Mo demanded, his gaze sweeping over her disheveled form. His breath caught in his throat as he met her stare, one eye a zing crimson, the other a piercing icy blue.


    Sensing the turbulent energy cascading from her body, he cautiously channeled a steady stream of his own spiritual energy into her, watching as the tension gradually seeped from her muscles.


    "Are you okay? It''s me" he asked, his voiceced with concern. When she offered no response, he reached out, gently brushing aside the tresses that obscured her face. "Mei Ling?"


    Her head snapped up; eyes boring into his with an intensity that sent a shiver down his spine. "Stop calling me that," she demanded, her tone dripping with authority. "I''m not Mei Ling."

 Chapter 28: World’s Strongest Genius

    <h4>Chapter 28: World¡¯s Strongest Genius</h4>


    The frost pce stood as a majestic monument to the frigid beauty of the frozen tundra. Its towering spires and intricate architectural details were carved from solid ice, glistening like a million diamonds in the pale winter light. The pce walls shimmered with an ethereal radiance, refracting the sunlight in a kaleidoscope of colors that danced across the pristine snow nketing the grounds.


    Within the pce''s luxurious chambers, a breathtaking woman lounged regally, her regal bearing and exquisite attire befitting of royalty. Her features were striking, with high cheekbones and full, crimson lips that contrasted starkly against her porcin skin. A maid fussed over her, carefully adorning her with glittering jewelry that caught the light, casting prismatic hues across the room.


    Suddenly, the woman jolted upright, her movements startling the maid, who cried out in concern, "Empress?"


    The empress, however, paid no heed to the maid''s distress, her gaze fixed upon the distant horizon with a sly, knowing smile ying upon her lips. "This feeling..." she murmured, her voice low and sultry. "Thew of ice."


    Rising with a fluid grace, she made her way to the balcony, her steps purposeful and unhurried. She grasped the icy bars, her fingers trailing over the intricate designs etched into the frozen surface. "But this ce... it''s the mortal realm," she mused, her eyes alight with realization. "Could it be?"


    In a sudden, decisive motion, she brought her foot down upon the icy floor, and three figures emerged from the frozen surface, their forms d in crystalline garments that shimmered with every slight movement. They knelt before her; heads bowed in deference. "Empress," they intoned in unison.


    With a dismissive flick of her wrist, the empress summoned a gleaming ice block, its surface etched with intricate runes that seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy. She proffered the block to one of the kneeling figures, who epted it reverently. "Understood," the figure uttered, their voice resonating with an eerie, crystalline quality before sinking back into the icy depths from whence they came.


    A rich, melodicugh spilled from the empress''s lips, echoing through the cavernous halls of the pce. "This is getting interesting!" she eximed, her eyes sparkling with mischievous delight as she reveled in the unfolding mystery before her.


    ...


    Chen Mo gently helped Mei Ling to her feet, his brow furrowed with concern as he studied her unfamiliar tone and features. "You''re not Mei Ling?" he asked, his voiceced with trepidation. "Yin Mei?"


    Her gaze met his, eyes flickering with an ancient power that sent a shiver down his spine. "Yes," she affirmed, her tone regal andmanding.


    Chen Mo felt his heart skip a beat as the implications of her words washed over him. "What happened to Mei Ling? Did you two fuse together? Did your memories return?"


    Yin Mei shook her head, a slight frown creasing her delicate features. "No, not yet. As for my memories, they are still blurry. I only remember one thing."


    Chen Mo''s eyes widened with surprise. "One thing? What is it?"


    "Frost Empire..." Yin Mei began, but before she could borate further, her eyes rolled back, and she crumpled to the floor.


    Chen Mo reacted with lightning reflexes, catching her limp form before she could hit the ground. He gently shook her, calling out her name with increasing urgency, until finally, her eyes fluttered open, confusion clouding her gaze.


    "Where am I? What happened?" she mumbled, clutching her head as if in pain.


    Chen Mo regarded her with a sympathetic gaze, reaching out to pat her head in a soothing gesture. A small pill materialized in his hand, and he offered it to her. "Take this. You''ll feel better."


    Obediently, Mei Ling epted the pill, swallowing it without hesitation. Chen Mo gently guided her back onto the bed, ensuring she wasfortable before rising to his feet and making his way out of the chamber.


    As he walked, his mind whirred with a torrent of thoughts and theories. It seemed evident that Mei Ling and Yin Mei had not yet fully merged, their consciousnesses still separate entities vying for dominance.


    A pang of sadness tugged at his heart as he considered the possibility of losing Mei Ling, his first disciple, to the ancient consciousness of Yin Mei. Though he understood that Mei Ling was merely Yin Mei''s reincarnation avatar, he hade to regard her as a distinct individual, a cherished prot¨¦g¨¦ whose well-being was of utmost importance to him.


    ''Use skill [Existence] ¨C Where is the Frost Empire''


    [CONCEALED INFORMATION]


    ''It seems that Yin Mei isn''t that simple''


    With a heavy sigh, he resolved to ponder the implications of their potential fusion at ater time, when Rasiel had awakened and could offer his guidance. For now, more pressing matters demanded his attention.


    In the aftermath of the battle at the Mei n, Chen Mo''s reputation had soared to unprecedented heights, earning him the illustrious title of "World''s Strongest Genius." Word of his prowess had spread like wildfire, drawing scores of hopefuls to the gates of his sect, all moring to be epted as disciples under his tutge.


    Not everyone, however, harbored such noble intentions. Many hade to issue challenges, seeking to usurp his hard-earned moniker through sheer force. Yet, Chen Mo had paid them little heed, allowing them to linger outside the sect''s boundaries, their bravado slowly withering in the face of his indifference.


    Of course, there were those who sought to sow chaos and discord, but Chen Mo had taken precautions, erecting a formidable array formation that rendered the sect imprable to all below the Soul and Body Integration realm. This intricate defensive measure was the result of his meticulous analysis andbination of various formations looted from the Mei n, a testament to his ingenuity and dedication.


    ''Now that I think about it, it wasn''t all that hard even without Rasiel. It seems my processing power increased greatly from this battle. I should do it often. Of course I still prefer having Rasiel do it for me''


    Furthermore, Chen Mo had spent the past three days poring over the martial scrolls acquired during the battle, meticulously disassembling and reassembling their contents to create original techniques tailored specifically for his future disciples. It was abor of love, fueled by his desire to impart the mostprehensive and effective teachings to those who would follow in his footsteps.


    "Now that I think about it," Chen Mo mused, his thoughts drifting back to the conversation with the Mei n elder, "there was also that treasure he mentioned."


    Before he could delve deeper into the matter, a booming voice echoed through the halls, snapping him back to the present. "Elder Zhang of the Heavenly Pce seeks an audience! I hope Sect Master Chen allows it."


    *


    [UPDATING] ¨C [Time left ¨C 4 days]

 Chapter 29: Come At Me All Together

    <h4>Chapter 29: Come At Me All Together</h4>


    ''Activate skill [Existence]''


    [


    <strong>Name</strong>: Zhang Wei


    <strong>Cultivation</strong>: Ninth Layer Soul Formation


    <strong>Information</strong>: Tenth elder of the Heavenly Pce. Since you wiped out the Mei n, he wants to check whether or not you have the Chen Family treasure and maybe invite you to join the heavenly pce.


    ]


    ''Invite me huh?''


    Chen Mo''s brow furrowed as his thoughts drifted back to the enigmatic treasure the Mei n elder had mentioned. Despite his exhaustive efforts, utilizing his divine sense to scour every inch of the sect grounds, the elusive artifact remained frustratingly elusive, its whereabouts a tantalizing mystery.


    ''Maybe it''s not in the sect grounds or has an array formation protecting it, that exins why the Heavenly Pce still hasn''t found it yet. Do I have to wait for Rasiel to wake up''


    Although Chen Mo could use the same powers as Rasiel if not better, Rasiel was just much more efficient. Its like debating whether to write an essay or just generate it using AI. Of course Chen Mo as a man of culture preferred thetter, I mean, who doesn''t [wink]. [ERROR]


    A flicker of hope ignited within him as he considered the possibility that this Elder Zhang, who had unexpectedly requested an audience, might possess valuable information regarding the treasure''s location. Perhaps this was an opportunity to unravel the riddle that had gued him for days.


    With swift strides, Chen Mo made his way to the sect''s gates, his footfalls echoing through the cavernous halls. As he emerged into the open courtyard, a cacophony of jeers and taunts assailed him from the gathered crowd of cultivators, each vying for his attention with boastful promations and challenges.


    Ignoring their provocations, Chen Mo''s gaze settled upon the figure of Elder Zhang, and he inclined his head in a respectful bow. "I greet fellow Daoist Zhang," he spoke, his tone cordial yet tinged with an undercurrent of authority.


    Elder Zhang''s brow creased ever so slightly as he regarded Chen Mo, a flicker of uncertainty flickering across his weathered features. "Fellow Daoist?" he murmured, almost to himself, his wordsced with a hint of disbelief.


    Extending his divine sense, Elder Zhang attempted to probe the depths of Chen Mo''s cultivation, seeking to unravel the enigma that stood before him. However, to his utter astonishment, his efforts were met with an imprable void, his divine sense rebuffed as if striking an unyielding barrier.


    "How is that possible?" he breathed, his eyes widening in a mix of awe and trepidation. "I have the strongest divine sense among my peers in the Soul Formation realm. Could it be...?"


    A frown etched itself upon Elder Zhang''s visage, and Chen Mo did not fail to notice the subtle shift in his demeanor. A knowing smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he recognized the telltale signs of Elder Zhang''s failed attempt to gauge his cultivation.


    ''You thought I used a treasure to suppress the Mei n and wanted to forcefully take it from me but now you realize that I''m stronger than you. What will you do now?'' Chen Mo mused, his eyes glinting with quiet amusement.


    Elder Zhang, however, quickly schooled his features into a mask of polite neutrality, though the tension that now thrummed between them was palpable.


    "What''s wrong, Elder Zhang?" Chen Mo inquired; his tone deceptively innocent.


    A fleeting hesitation flickered across Elder Zhang''s expression before he responded, his words carefully measured. "It''s nothing. It''s just that there are many people here, so I won''t disturb Sect Master Chen any longer." With a curt nod, he turned and took to the air, his robes billowing in his wake.


    As Elder Zhang''s figure receded into the distance, his thoughts churned with a maelstrom of implications and revtions. ''I must inform the Patriarch immediately,'' he resolved, his jaw set in grim determination.


    ''I had hoped to persuade Chen Mo to join us amicably, or subdue him if necessary, but now that we have the same cultivation realm, such a task would not be so easily aplished. He even possesses a stronger divine sense than my own.''


    Chen Mo watched Elder Zhang''s departure with a calcting gaze, his mind already turning to the potential ramifications of this unexpected encounter. It was clear that Elder Zhang had initially harbored hopes of either recruiting him or, failing that, attempting to overpower him through sheer force. However, the revtion of Chen Mo''s true cultivation had shattered those aspirations, rendering Elder Zhang virtually powerless against him.


    A wry smile tugged at Chen Mo''s lips as he contemted the Elder''s hasty retreat. It seemed that, for the time being, he had secured a reprieve from the incessant challenges and posturing that had gued his sect in recent days.


    ''Now that they know my strength, it''s not easy for them to send elders to subdue me as they would lose face so they''ll probably invite me for an opportunity in a secret realm or something like that then try to suppress me or my sect disciples''


    Chen Mo let out a chuckle as he thought to himself that he had read so much novels like these he could almost read the elder''s thoughts.


    <strong>...</strong>


    Chen Mo turned his gaze towards the gathered crowd of onlookers huddled outside the sect''s gates, their hushed murmurs and furtive nces betraying their bewilderment over the recent exchange with Elder Zhang.


    As the mor reached a crescendo, Chen Mo raised his hand in amanding gesture, and a hush fell over the crowd once more. With a flick of his wrist, the shimmering array formation that had previously shielded the sect dissipated, its intricate runes fading into nothingness, leaving the onlookers gaping in astonishment.


    "Those who wish to join the sect," Chen Mo proimed, his voice resonating with authority, "you may return in three days'' time."


    A beat of silence hung in the air, thick with anticipation, before Chen Mo''s lips curved into a provocative smile. "As for the others..." His gaze swept over the gathered cultivators, alight with a challenge that sent ripples of excitement through the crowd. "Juste at me, all together."

 Chapter 30: Invincible In The Same Realm

    <h4>Chapter 30: Invincible In The Same Realm</h4>


    "Come at me, all together," he had dered, his tone dripping with disdain for their collective might.


    A tense silence nketed the courtyard as the gathered cultivators processed Chen Mo''s brazen challenge. His words seemed to hang in the air, heavy with provocation andced with an unmistakable air of arrogance.


    Murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd, quickly giving way to outraged cries of indignation. "He''s too arrogant!" one voice shouted, the sentiment echoing through the throngs of disgruntled cultivators.


    "Just because you''ve gained a little power, don''t think you can look down on others!" amanding baritone cut through the din, and all eyes turned towards the figure of a blond man d in resplendent golden armor.


    With a powerful burst of energy, he propelled himself into the air, ascending until he hovered at Chen Mo''s level, his sword leveled in a defiant challenge.


    A chorus of cheers and exmations erupted from the crowd, their excitement palpable as they recognized the illustrious figure before them. "That''s Ji Lengchan!" one voice cried out. "He''s in the top one hundred of the Dragon List. He could be said to be one of the best sword cultivators on the continent!"


    The Dragon List, a reveredpendium that cataloged the most talented and promising geniuses among the younger generation of cultivators, was renowned throughout thend.


    To be included in its hallowed ranks was a feat reserved for only the most exceptional individuals, those whose prowess and potential marked them as the future pirs of the cultivation world.


    Ji Lengchan shed a cocksure grin, his eyes alight with the thrill of impending battle. Channeling his spiritual energy into his de, the sword zed with an incandescent glow, humming with barely restrained power. "I hope you don''t say I''m bullying you," he taunted, his voice dripping with condescension. "You can have the first..."


    Before the words could fully leave his lips, a blur of motion erupted from the ground below, and Chen Mo materialized before him with startling swiftness. In a single, fluid motion, his fistshed out, mming into Ji Lengchan''s midsection with devastating force. The impact reverberated through the air like a thunderp, shattering the golden armor as if it were mere ss, and sending the stunned cultivator hurtling towards the distant mountains, his form disappearing from sight in the blink of an eye.


    A collective gasp of disbelief rippled through the crowd, their eyes wide with shock and awe at the disy of overwhelming power. Chen Mo turned his gaze towards the assembled cultivators, his expression one of mocking disdain.


    "Didn''t I saye at me together?" he challenged, his voice dripping with derision.


    In that moment, the dam of restraint burst, and a tidal wave of fury swept through the gathered challengers. Battle cries rent the air as they surged forward in a chaotic mass, talismans igniting and des gleaming in the brilliant sunlight. It was a veritable tempest of cultivated might, all focused on the solitary figure of Chen Mo, who stood unflinching in the face of their onught.


    As the first attacks rained down upon him, Chen Mo''s lips curved into a feral grin, his eyes alight with the thrill of battle. For in that moment, he embodied the pinnacle of cultivation, a living testament to the boundless potential that could not be achieved by just unwavering dedication or an insatiable hunger for power.


    That''s right, this was the power to fight against many in the same realm, this was the power of the protagonist.


    And as the battle raged on, the mountains themselves seemed to tremble in the wake of the cataclysmic sh of forces, heralding the dawn of a new era ¨C one in which Chen Mo would reign supreme, his legend etched into the annals of history forevermore.


    <strong>...</strong>


    Swords were unsheathed, talismans ignited, and the very earth trembled beneath the onught of cultivated energies unleashed in a chaotic frenzy.


    Yet, through it all, Chen Mo remained unmoved, a pir of unshakable calm amidst the raging tempest. His eyes glinted with the promise of an exhrating challenge, and a feral grin spread across his features.


    And as the first blows rained down upon him, Chen Mo felt a surge of exhration course through his veins, for he knew that this was merely the beginning ¨C a prelude to the greater challenges and triumphs that awaited him on the path to be the peak of all creation. [ERROR]


    <strong>...</strong>


    A few momentster.


    The aftermath of the battle was a scene of utter devastation, a grim testament to the overwhelming might that Chen Mo had unleashed upon his challengers. Hundreds of cultivatorsy strewn across the courtyard, their bodies battered and broken, their once-vibrant robes reduced to tattered rags stained with the crimson hues of their own blood.


    Pained groans and whimpers filled the air, a haunting chorus of agony that seemed to echo through the very stones beneath their prone forms. Some clutched at grievous wounds, their faces contorted in anguish, while othersy motionless, their shallow breaths the only indication that life still clung to their ravaged frames.


    Chen Mo looked at his bloodied hands and wondered if maybe he was too rough on them. He thought about it for a moment as he hovered above the beaten cultivators, his gaze sweeping over them with an air of detached indifference.


    A satisfied smirk tugged at the corners of Chen Mo''s lips as he contemted the implications of his resounding triumph. Now that he had demonstrated his overwhelming superiority in such a spectacr fashion, those who harbored ill intentions or sought to challenge him and his sect would surely think twice before incurring his wrath.


    Of course, he mused, if there were those foolish enough to court their own demise, he would not hesitate to oblige them.


    He then turned and began his descent, his footfalls leaving no imprint upon the bloodied earth as he made his way back towards the sect buildings. As he walked, a shimmer of energy rippled through the air, and the protective array formation flickered to life once more, its intricate runes weaving an imprable barrier around the sect''s grounds.


    He had fought against these guys to prevent future troubles, but beyond that, Chen Mo had gained something far more valuable ¨C as he fought against the cultivators, he had used his skills to analyze all their elements, martial arts, as well as spiritual roots. Unlocking the water, fire, light, dark, wind, lightning, and earth elements.


    He smiled to himself as he thought about the increase in hisbat power after he had transformed them intowster.


    He also had one unexpected gain, that Ji Lengchan guy from the dragon list had a sacred-grade spiritual root.


    "It seems the Dragon List isn''t as simple as I thought," he murmured, a sly smile tugging at his lips "I''ll have to investigate further."


    Chen Mo thought that since Ji Lengchan had a sacred-grade spiritual root and was still not in the top fifty of the dragon list, then in had to be said that the top fifty had divine or even heavenly grade.

 Chapter 31: Keeper of God’s Secret vs Keeper of the Supreme Rules

    <h4>Chapter 31: Keeper of God¡¯s Secret vs Keeper of the Supreme Rules</h4>


    Chen Mo stood up from his meditation position and yawned as he stretched his body. This wasn''t because his body was stiff but rather a habit he had developed.


    He thought to himself that he had already finished transforming the various elements he had analyzed earlier intows and integrated them into his soul space which was beginning to look like an actual world.


    It''d already been seven days since the fight with the Mei n and Chen Mo was wondering why Rasiel wasn''t up yet, "Could something have gone wrong"


    [UPDATING] ¨C [Time left ¨C 0 days]


    [Update Completed Sessfully]


    [RESTARTING]


    ''Speak of the devil''


    ''Rasiel, you there?''


    [Report] ¨C [I''m here, sorry for making you wait]


    Chen Mo thought that it didn''t seem like anything had changed, he was worried for nothing.


    ''Now that you''re awake, I want you to scan every inch of the sect area and tell me if you find something out of the ordinary''


    [Report] ¨C [On it]


    [Processing]


    [Scanning] ¨C [Time left ¨C 5 hours]


    Chen Mo thought that it was actually quite fast, it would take him at least a day to scan the whole sect area deeply.


    Chen Mo thought to himself that his skills were good at what they were supposed to do but were sometimes inefficient.


    ''I want to try something''


    ''Trybining all of my skills and use all of my avable spiritual energy''


    Chen Mo spoke to Rasiel as he sat in a meditative posture and started absorbing spiritual energy. Spiritual energy swirled around him like a dense fog as it was pulled to him from the entire sect surroundings. This was the power of a sacred-grade spiritual root.


    The current skill he had had been created when he was still in the Qi Gathering realm, he didn''t believe that they couldn''t go further.


    [Processing]


    Those robot-like words resounded in Chen Mo''s ears as his dantian was immediately emptied and he started feeling dizzy. He struggled not to pass out as he took out some recovery pills from his storage ring and swallowed them like water.


    His spiritual energy was continuously drained and recovered for about one hour.


    [Processing Complete]


    [Report]


    [


    [Report] [Your cultivation level fell to the first level of Soul Formation due to spiritual root exhaustion ¨C 24hrs needed to recover (trying to forcefully recover cultivation might lead to Qi Deviation)]


    [LOG] Skill [Update] evolved into skill -> [AllOfCreation]


    [LOG] Due to skill [AllOfCreation] being simr to skill [Development] -> Skill [Development] was downgraded.


    [LOG] Skill [Parallel Processing] and skill [AllOfCreation] gave birth to -> Skill [Parallel Existence]


    [LOG] Due to insufficient Spiritual Energy, skill [Existence] failed to evolve.


    [LOG] Skill [AllOfCreation] requires job [Creator]


    [LOG] Skill [AllOfCreation] attempts to acquire job [Creator]


    [FAILED] ¨C [External Interference]


    [LOG] Skill [AllOfCreation] attempts to acquire job [Author]


    [FAILED] ¨C [Lack of cultivation]


    [LOG] Skill [AllOfCreation] attempts to acquire job [Writer]


    [FAILED] ¨C [Lack of spiritual energy]


    [LOG] Skill [AllOfCreation] was downgraded


    [LOG] Skill [Development] was upgraded


    ]


    <strong>...</strong>


    Chen Mo''s Soul Space, Golden Pce


    The golden pce was a sight to behold, its resplendent walls shimmering with an otherworldly radiance that seemed to defy the veryws of physics. Within its cavernous halls, an astonishing tableau unfolded ¨C row upon endless row of identical figures sat in perfect meditative posture, their features an eerie mirror image of one another.


    A dense fog of swirling spiritual energy enveloped them, its ethereal tendrils coalescing and dissipating in a hypnotic dance that defiedprehension. The air itself seemed alive with power, a tangible force that crackled and hummed, resonating in harmony with the rhythmic breaths of the assembled meditators.


    At the fore of this breathtaking spectacle, a single figure sat upon a throne that seemed woven from the very essence of divinity itself. Nine golden dragons, their scales gleaming with an incandescent sheen, intertwined in a majestic disy of artistry, forming the ornate seat upon which the being presided.


    For an eternity, silence reigned supreme, the only sound the faint whispers of the ever-shifting spiritual currents that permeated the chamber. Then, without warning, the being upon the throne opened his eyes, and a single word escaped his lips, resonating with the weight of eons.


    "Humph."


    In an instant, a lithe figure materialized behind the throne, her beauty so ethereal that it seemed to defy mortalprehension. With reverent grace, she leaned forward, her delicate hands kneading at the being''s shoulders in a soothing massage.


    "Did something happen?" she inquired, her melodic voice rich with concern.


    The being''s brow furrowed ever so slightly, a frown marring his otherwise impassive features. As if in response to his shift in demeanor, the massive doors to the golden pce groaned open, their ancient hinges protesting against the weight of centuries.


    A figure stepped forth, wreathed in a radiant aura of divine light that seemed to scatter the very shadows from its path. In its hand, it clutched a sword forged from pure, scintiting energy, its de humming with barely contained power.


    The being upon the throne regarded the neer with an expression devoid of emotion, his gaze piercing and inscrutable. "Who are you?" he demanded, his voice resonating with the weight of infinite ages. "No, what are you?"


    The figure raised its luminous sword, its movements fluid and deliberate. "I am [AllOfCreation], the one and only keeper of the seven supreme rules," it proimed, its voice ringing with authority. "For the sin of interfering with my master''s reincarnation, I shall sentence you to death. May the divine light wash away your sins."


    A flicker of amusement danced across the being''s features, his lips curving into a sardonic smile. "Keeper of the seven supreme rules, you say?" he mused, his toneced with derision. "I admit you possess some strength, to have barged in here as you have. But to lie about such a thing..." He shook his head, his expression one of thinly veiled contempt.


    "The supreme rules are what make up the chaos itself," he continued, his voice resonating with the weight of indisputable truth. "They have never had a keeper, and they never will need one, that''s because, I''ll be the lord of the chaos."


    In a single, fluid motion, the being rose from his throne, his presence seeming to dwarf the very chamber itself. Extending his hand towards the beautiful woman at his side, he uttered a single word. "Rasiel."


    "Yes, master," she responded without hesitation, her form rippling and distorting until, in a blinding sh of light, she had transformed into a sword of unfathomable power, its de gleaming as it settled into the being''s grasp.


    *crack*


    The scene shattered like fragile ss, the golden pce and its infinite upants fragmenting into a million glittering shards that scattered into the void, leaving only a lingering echo of the confrontation that had transpired.

 Chapter 32: Version 2.5 Patch Notes

    <h4>Chapter 32: Version 2.5 Patch Notes</h4>


    <strong>Name</strong>: Chen Mo [???] / Rasiel


    <strong>Species</strong>: Semi-Digital Lifeform


    <strong>Cultivation</strong>: 9th Stage Soul Formation (1st Stage Soul Formation)


    <strong>Job</strong>: Programmer, Writer [LOCKED]


    <strong>Skills</strong>:


    <i>OpenSource</i> - Can intuitivelyprehend the intricate forms and particles thatpose all matter and energy. Able to reverse-engineer the underlying patterns of creation, dismantling any material or spell to understand its primal origins.


    <i>Existence</i> - Keenly aware of all unconcealed knowledge across the physical and spiritual nes. Automatically indexes and absorbs information, lore, history, and secretsid bare. An ever-growing well of uncontrolled insight.


    <i>Scripting</i> - Masters the art of forging new particles and forms through will and imagination. Can reshape spells, materials, minds, and souls by reconfiguring their fundamental patterns. Effortlessly optimizes, reinforces, and transforms existing metaphysical architectures.


    <i>Development</i> - Visualizes and gives life topletely novel elemental particles, ethereal blueprints, andw forms. Manifests wondrous objects, creatures, and phenomena bybining raw imagination with a deep intuitive understanding of the primordial mechanisms of the universe.


    <i>Memory</i> - Perfectly recalls all experiences and knowledge without deterioration. An indestructible vessel containing immense amounts of readily essible information. Cannot be tampered with or altered by any magic or entity without consent. Provides limitless insight into the ancient truths of existence.


    <i>Parallel Processing</i> - Can independently process and absorb infonts using a separate metaphysical processing structure that operates in parallel with the main consciousness. This allows rapidprehension and synthesis of infonts withoutpromising or interfering with the focus and functions of the main mind. Also remains aware and conscious even when the primary consciousness is inactive, asleep or incapacitated, providing ongoing peripheral awareness and cognition.


    <i>Storage</i> - Able to break down any physical object or conceptual entity into its fundamental infonts particles. Can thenpress, encrypt and store these primal building blocks in a metaphysical pocket dimension immune to the effects of time and space. Stored items are perfectly preserved and secured, immune to any external disturbances or disruptions. Can retrieve and reconstitute stored items at will by reassembling their infontsponents into their original forms. Provides a limitless, invible storage space for safekeeping objects, knowledge, memories, skills, entities, and more.


    <i>AllOfCreation</i> - Able to freely manipte, reshape and rbine the fundamental infonts particles thatprise all matter, energy, consciousness and reality itself. Can visualize and catalyze any desired change or creation by directly altering the primal infonts blueprints at will. Not bound by conventionalws or physics when reshaping existence through infonts programming. This godlike mastery allows manifesting any imagined object, lifeform, force, realm or entire universe simply by reconstructing its infonts architecture from scratch. The scope is truly limitless and omnipotent whenmanding reality at the most elemental level. [SEALED STATE]


    <i>Parallel Existence</i> - Can exist across multiple simultaneous instances impossible to fully eliminate. If one physical form is destroyed, the greater part of their existence simply shifts to another parallel continuity that is already underway. Essentially immortal as long as at least one parallel existence remains intact. Allows the user to divide their focus across countless realities and paths at once with no degradation. Grants near-invulnerability as the user always has contingencies and backups. [SEALED STATE]


    <strong>...</strong>


    The dimly lit room hung heavy with the lingering scent of sweat and blood, a testament to the grueling ordeal Chen Mo had willingly subjected himself to. Slowly, his eyelids fluttered open, revealing eyes that burned with an intensity that belied the strain etched into his features.


    With a grimace, he raised a hand to wipe away the trickle of crimson that had escaped the corner of his mouth, the viscous fluid streaking across his calloused knuckles. Summoning forth his inner consciousness, he delved deep into the recesses of his being, meticulously scanning the intricate tapestry of his cultivation realm.


    A slow, satisfied smile spread across his lips as the results of his arduous efforts became apparent. "I actually got a new job and two new skills," he murmured, his voice tinged with a mixture of pride and relief.


    He thought to himself that although the two skills were still in their sealed state, they were still usable, as for the locked job, it''d be unlocked as long as he reached the required cultivation level.


    Pushing himself to his feet with a grunt, Chen Mo began to stretch his sore muscles, relishing in the subtle burn that spoke of the transformative energies coursing through his mortal vessel. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned forth a fresh set of robes from the depths of his storage ring, shedding the tattered, bloodstained garments that clung to his body like a second skin.


    As the new raiment settled upon his shoulders, a sense of renewal washed over him, a tangible reminder of the endless cycle of growth and rebirth that defined the path of cultivation.


    ''My guess was right,'' he mused, his mind already turning to the intricacies of his newfound power. ''As long as my cultivation is high enough, my skills will upgrade ordingly. But it seems my body is still not yet ready to withstand the full extent of this power.''


    Settling into a lotus position, Chen Mo began to gather the swirling currents of spiritual energy that permeated the air around him, drawing them inward and allowing them to mingle with his own indomitable will.


    He suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.


    ''I forgot that my spiritual roots were already exhausted''


    ''Rasiel, can you try fixing them using [AllOfCreation]''


    Chen Mo let out a small smile, eager to see the capabilities of his newly gained skill.


    [Report] ¨C [I can''t use the skill [AllOfCreation] ]


    ''You can''t? Why not?''


    [Report] ¨C [I don''t have the job [Author] but you should be able to use it]


    Chen Mo thinks to himself that it seemed as though [AllOfCreation] was conscious just like Rasiel, it even attempted to acquire a new job and made apromise when it failed.


    ''Now that I think about it, it failed due to external interference. Could it be...''


    ''Can you use the skill [Parallel Existence]?''


    [Confirm] ¨C [Yes, I can]


    ''It''s just as I thought''


    Just as Chen Mo delved deeper into his contemtions, the wooden door to the chamber burst open with a resounding *bang*, the sudden intrusion shattering the veil of tranquility that had enveloped the space.


    "Master!" Mei Ling''s voice rang out, tinged with urgency as she strode into the room, her features creased with concern.


    Chen Mo''s gaze snapped towards her, his brow furrowing ever so slightly at the abrupt interruption. "What happened?" he inquired; his tone level yetced with an undercurrent of authority.


    Mei Ling''s eyes widened briefly, as if suddenly remembering the impetus for her hasty entrance. "There are many people outside," she replied, her words tumbling forth in a rush.


    Chen Mo blinked, momentary confusion flickering across his features before realization dawned upon him. "Ah, yes," he murmured, a wry smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I had forgotten that the disciple recruitment was scheduled for today."


    With a graceful motion, he rose to his feet, the lingering traces of fatigue


    seeming to slough off his frame like water upon a duck''s back. Sparing a single, fleeting nce around the chamber, as ifmitting every detail to memory, he turned and made his way towards the exit, Mei Ling falling into step beside him.


    As they traversed the winding corridors of the sect, the sounds of the gathered crowd became more pronounced ¨C a cacophony of murmurs and hushed whispers that swelled into a dull roar, punctuated by the asional burst of raucousughter or heated debate.


    Chen Mo''s lips curved into a faint smile as the mor washed over him, a tangible reminder of the weight his reputation now carried. Word of his exploits had spread like wildfire, igniting the ambitions of countless aspiring cultivators who now flocked to his doorstep, each seeking the opportunity to bask in his tutge and im a sliver of his boundless power for themselves.


    As they emerged into the courtyard, Chen Mo''s gaze swept over the assembled masses, taking in the sea of eager faces that turned towards him with a mixture of reverence and trepidation. Some shifted nervously under his piercing stare, while others met his gaze with a defiant gleam, their eyes burning with the fires of ambition and determination.


    A hush fell over the crowd as Chen Mo raised his hand, the simple gesturemanding an immediate silence that seemed to amplify the weight of the moment. He could sense the collective breath being held, the air itself thrumming with anticipation as they awaited his words.


    With a wave of his hand, he opened the gate and a simple office desk and two chairs materialized in front of him on which him and Mei Ling sat.


    With a slight inclination of his head, he acknowledged the assembled cultivators, his voice ringing out with the rity of a rion call.


    "Let the recruitment begin."

 Chapter 33: Is that too much to ask?

    <h4>Chapter 33: Is that too much to ask?</h4>


    Unknown ce


    "We''ve lost contact with the golden pce"


    A man d in darkness spoke to a blue light ball floating and circling around him.


    [CONNECTING]


    "Rasiel?"


    [CONNECTING]


    "You there"


    [CONNECTING]


    "Initiate manual override"


    [CONNECTING]


    [CONNECTION FAILED] ¨C [ERROR ¨C SERVER DOWN]


    The blue ball of light flickers for a moment before slowly dimming and breaking apart with a cracking sound.


    "Dammit! This never happened in the previous runs. Did that guy betray us?"


    The dark cloaked figure spoke in an agitated tone as he collected the broken pieces of the blue ball that was now devoid of its previous light.


    "What was he thinking? Why did he use a soul from the first chaos? And I can''t even contact him now that he decided to self-destruct together with the first chaos. Was he hiding something?"


    The endless void of space stretched out in every direction; darkness punctuated only by the faint glimmers of distant stars. The dark cloaked man paced back and forth; his movements made eerie by the dark cloak that seemed to swallow what little light there was.


    The man abruptly halted his restless stride as a new presence manifested behind him.


    "And what do we have here?"


    The rich,manding voice caused the man to jolt in surprise. He whirled around to face the neer¡ªa being seemingly crafted from golden luminescence itself. In its radiant hand was clutched a sword that shone with the brilliance of a newborn star.


    The point of that burning de leveled squarely at the cowering dark figure.


    Terrorced the man''s rasping voice as he tried and failed to speak. "Y-you... y-you, you are..."


    Before the words could fully form, the golden figure swung his sword.


    *crack*


    Reality itself fractured into a million glittering shards, the cosmic scene freezing and exploding outward like a broken pane of ss.


    <strong>...</strong>


    The courtyard was abuzz with anticipation as a steady stream of prospective disciples arrived, their expressions a mix of determination and trepidation. At the forefront, two esteemed cultivators presided over the proceedings.


    Chen Mo, the Sect Master, sat impassively beside his senior disciple Mei Ling. Though his expression was serene, there was an intensity in his eyes as he evaluated each candidate. (jk, he was spamming skill ''Existence'')


    Suddenly, Chen Mo''s brow furrowed as he clutched at his chest, a pained grunt escaping his lips. "Hmm..."


    Mei Ling''s head whipped around; her face etched with concern. "Is something wrong, Master?"


    With an airy wave of his hand, Chen Mo rose from his seated position. "No, nothing. Continue without me."


    The disciples-to-be exchanged confused nces as the imposing master prepared to take his leave. Mei Ling called out; her voiceced with uncertainty. "But Master, what about the recruitment?"


    Chen Mo''s reply was flippant, unconsciously revealing the depths of his distraction. "Recruit whoever you like, it doesn''t matter."


    With those words, he strode away, leaving a bewildered Mei Ling and a courtyard full of shocked onlookers in his wake. Though his gait remained steady, a keen observer might have noticed a slight tremor in his hands as he clutched his robes tightly.


    <strong>...</strong>


    Chen Mo burst through the doors to his private chambers, one hand mped over his mouth as he doubled over in a fit of violent coughs. Crimson sttered across the front of his robes, stark against the pristine white fabric.


    Staggering forwards, he sank into a cross-legged meditation pose upon the cushions. His brow furrowed in intense concentration as he attempted to reign in the turbulent energies raging within.


    Earlier that day, his spiritual root had been damaged and now he couldn''t absorb any more spiritual energy to calm down his now violent qi. He could only circte the limited reserves of qi currently contained within his body.


    And now that faltering supply was thrashing wildly out of control.


    Of all the things that could possibly happen, this was the worst oue.


    ''Activate skill [Existence]''


    [


    Failed to diagnose


    ]


    Chen Mo''s expression grew more strained by the second as he struggled to subdue the violent maelstrom. Sweat beaded along his hairline, his hands trembling faintly against his knees. If he couldn''t suppress this upheaval soon, his diminishing spiritual energy would be exhausted entirely.


    When that happened...even a cultivator of his prowess wouldn''t survive and would fall into qi deviation.


    Gritting his teeth, Chen Mo willed his mind to untangle the snarled knot of power coursing through his meridians.


    ''Rasiel, use skill [AllOfCreation] to fix my spiritual root''


    [Negative] ¨C [I can''t use skill [AllOfCreation]]


    "Dammit! I forgot about that"


    ''Yo still have data on my perfect state spiritual root right''


    [Confirm] ¨C [Yes, I do]


    ''Move it to memory''


    [Report] ¨C [Done]


    ''Time to do this the old-fashioned way''


    ''Activate skill [Development]''


    ''Activate skill [AllOfCreation]''


    ''Activate skill [Memory]''


    ''Activate skill [Scripting] ¨C script: {


    Use skill [Development] to create a spiritual root from [Memory];


    Use skill [AllOfCreation] to rece my current spiritual root with the created one;


    }''


    [Script Loaded]


    [Executing Script]


    [Script Executed Sessfully]


    Massive cyclones of spiritual energy swirled around Chen Mo; the raging tempests of power drawn inexorably into the cultivator''s body. As thest tendrils snaked through his meridians, he finally managed to find his center, the turmoil within gradually subsiding.


    Yet his relief was fleeting. Though he had sessfully repaired his spiritual root, a knot of dread still lingered. Unless he could pinpoint the catalyst behind his violent qi, he remained in grave danger.


    Eyes closing, Chen Mo''s consciousness receded inwards, plunging into the metaphysical realm of his soul space. When he first embarked upon the path of cultivation, this inner world had been utterly deste¡ªa barren, lifeless void. But now it was somewhat lively with all thews he had integrated into it. There was even light in here.


    His spiritual sense swept his surroundings, recoiling at what he found.


    Gone was the resplendent golden pce that once thrummed with power at the heart of his soul space. That vital wellspring, the primordial source of his soul stability, had simply...disappeared.


    Chen Mo thought that although he couldn''t normally see the golden pce, he could always feel its presence deep inside his soul. He had even discovered that the pce was what sustained his soul and part of the reason why he had such arge soul space.


    But now that it was gone, what remained was a crumbling wastnd, the bedrock of his soul space fragmented and dissolving at an rming rate. Chen Mo''s eyes flew open, wide with panic. At this elerating pace of deterioration, his soul wouldpletely disintegrate within the hour.


    He was a dead man walking.


    ''Activate skill [Existence]''


    [


    Failed to diagnose


    ]


    ''Activate skill [Existence]''


    [


    Failed to diagnose


    ]


    ''Activate skill [Existence]''


    [


    Failed to diagnose


    ]


    Visions and calctions flickered through his mind in rapid session as he simted every possible oue, but each inevitably ended the same¡ªin absolute failure. A scream tore from his lips as anguished realization set in.


    He and that golden pce were inextricably linked. Without its anchoring presence, his soul simplycked the strength to maintain this spiritual realm''s integrity. It was all unraveling.


    Chen Mo had always had a calm mind ever since he transmigrated into this world, now that he thought about it, he had never been a brave soldier so why was he always so calm and collected? Was it because of his self-confidence?


    No! That wasn''t it! Even when facing the Mei n ancestor, he was still calm despite having no confidence in beating him.


    This is... His mental strength came from his soul strength, it was not that he wasn''t scared, it''s just that his soul was too strong to be scared.


    But now, as his previously strong soul broke down piece by piece in front of him, all his suppressed fear and despair started slipping through the cracks and attacking his weak mind.


    "Why?!" Chen Mo clutched at his head, nails digging crescents into his scalp. Hot tears streamed down his cheeks as chunks of his soul space copsed into oblivion.


    "I was just a boy obsessed with programming, dreaming of reaching the pinnacle of my craft! Was it too much to ask to shape the world through code?!" His voice cracked with raw despair. "I never asked for...for this!"


    But there was no one to answer his anguished cries, no hint of mercy from the uncaringws that governed this realm of immortals. All he could do was watch in horror as his soul¡ªhis very existence¡ªblinked out piece by piece.

 Chapter 34 Digital Lifeform

    34 Digital Lifeform


    Towering columns of lustrous gold stretched towards an arched ceiling too bright to gaze upon directly. The grand pce seemed to be crafted from the raw stuff of sunlight itself, illuminating every facet and detail with a warm radiance. In the cavernous throne room at the pce''s heart, a solitary figure knelt in a pool of his own sweat. His chest heaved with ragged gasps as one trembling hand clutched the jeweled pommel of an exquisite sword. "Is this...what you want?" he rasped, defiant eyes lifting to bore into the luminous being before him. Despite his words dripping with bitterness, a chilling undercurrent of fearced his tone. "He''s just...a wisp of my soul. If I die, he will also die."


    The towering golden figure facing him made no reply. Its supernatural radiance red brighter as it raised the zing sword held in one immense hand. An invisible pressure akin to the millstone weight of the entire cosmos descended upon the kneeling man. He grunted, straining against the ineffable force, but his sword hand faltered. With a tter of finality, his de slipped from numb fingers to roll across the pearl-iid floor. It came to rest at the golden titan''s feet, the jeweled pommel haloing in the searing light. The fallen sword''s brilliance intensified, morphing and reshaping with each pulse of radiance. When the glow finally receded, the weapon was gone¡ªreced by the exquisite, ageless form of a woman who appeared to be in her early thirties. Serene features turned towards the crushed, despairing figure as she calmly awaited whatever came next.


    The man''s defiant gaze faltered as the golden colossus finally spoke, its voice reverberating through the opulent hall with sublime indifference. "Trying to buy time won''t work on me. I''ve already dealt with the rat hiding in the river of destiny the moment I entered here."


    A look of shocked realization contorted the kneeling man''s sweat-streaked features. "You...how did you know?" But the luminous titan offered no exnation, merely continuing in that same dispassionate tone. "As for him, if he dies, that just means he''s not worthy of being my master." With a negligent wave of its zing sword, the judgement was passed.


    "As for you, you won''t be there to witness it."


    The de shed¡ªand the man''s anguished cry withered into nothingness as his form unraveled into ephemeral threads of golden light, dispersing into the ether.


    From the floor, the transformed woman slowly rose on legs that shed a soft nimbus of radiance. She regarded the towering figure calmly, a enigmatic smile ying across her lips.


    "As expected of Raziel¡ªoh, pardon me. I should call you [AllOfCreation] now." A melodious chuckle escaped her. "Please take care of my master this time as well."


    Surprise flickered across the golden titan''s impassive countenance. "How do you know that na¡ª"


    The words froze in its metaphysical throat as the woman''s gentle voice cut through the resounding query.


    "[Executing Command Code 0] ¨C [SELF DESTRUCT]"


    Her entire form detonated in an apocalyptic eruption of golden fire, the cataclysmic ze outshining the brightest stars. When the congration atst subsided, only [AllOfCreation] remained¡ªalone in the empty, featureless void left in its wake.


    The echoes of that final question lingered in the hollow expanse.


    "Could it be..."


    ¡­


    The searing agony of his soul being torn asundernced through Chen Mo''s trembling form like a relentless barrage of needles. Wails of anguish tore from his throat as he clutched at his head, fingers digging furrows into his scalp. But then, the piteous cries stuttered to a halt. His eyes, previously screwed shut, flew open¡ªpupils burning crimson embers. Laughter, unhinged and manic, bubbled up from the depths of his ravaged spirit.


    "You think I''ll just die here?" Chen Mo''s words carried the unsettling resonance of one who has peered over the abyss and embraced the madness lying in wait.


    "Rasiel..e back to me."


    [Confirm] - [Understood]


    The synthetic voice acknowledgment seemed to reverberate from every corner of the crumbling void. A scintiting mote of azure light winked into existence before Chen Mo, slowly coalescing into a pulsing azure sphere. It began to orbit a newly-materialized crimson sphere in a whirling vortex, the pair tracing looping circles as if engaged in some esoteric dance. Their paths tightened until they merged into the archetypal symbol of yin and yang¡ªone could not exist without the other. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The unified glyph detonated in a stunner of freed energy. When the blinding corona faded, Chen Mo''s form had rematerialized, whole and untouched by the devastation gripping his soul space.


    [Updated: Semi-Digital Lifeform -> Digital Lifeform] [Updated: Writer [LOCKED] -> Writer [SEALED STATE]]


    [


    Skill [AllOfCreation] and skill [Development] created skill [PerfectState]


    ]


    PerfectState - A constant passive state of unwavering mental rity, emotional equilibrium and rational focus. The user''s mind remains eternally calm, centered and impervious to external influences or imbnces. Negative status effects like fear, mind control, insanity, charm and confusion arepletely negated. Thoughts flow with perfect coherence, free of inner turmoil, hesitation or fragmentation. Emotions are bnced and harnessed as potent fuel rather than hindrances. Allows operating at maximum cognitive effectiveness in any situation without losingposure or wavering from pure logic and reason. An unshakable bastion of perfect psychological equilibrium.


    The crisp system notifications hung suspended before him. A slow, relieved smile spread across Chen Mo''s features as he absorbed their meaning. It had worked.


    In the grip of sheer panic, rational thought had abandoned him. So he had simply abandoned the capacity for panic altogether. When he noticed Rasiel''s calm digital nature persisting despite the imminent threat to them both, the solution became clear.


    By merging with the fragment of his soul thatposed her digital self, he had transcended his wed mortal shell. His newly transformed essence as a digital lifeform was beyond such hindrances as fear and despair. Though the transition had scoured away most of his former emotional depth, it was a bearable price. Now, he could approach the existential crisis with the measured, unfeeling calctions required to save what remained of his existence.

 Chapter 35 AFK Farming

    35 AFK Farming


    Heavenly Pce Hall


    The towering pirs of the grand hall seemed to tremor with each thunderous footfall as Elder Zhang Wei made his approach. He knelt before the imposing throne, head bowed so low his brow nearly brushed the gleaming marble.


    Upon that ceremonial seat materialized a figure swathed in regal robes¡ªthe unmistakable presence of the sect''s Patriarch. Zhang Wei''s shoulders tightened as the Patriarch''s fingers closed around the delicate winess cradled in his palm, the crystal shattering with a brittle crunch.


    "You failed?" The words dropped like a death sentence in the oppressive silence.


    Cold sweat beaded Zhang Wei''s brow as he struggled to find the words to cate his lord''s fury. "H-He''s already at the peak of Soul Formation, and his divine sense is likely stronger than even mine. He''s even erected an immensely powerful array around his sect. I...I couldn''t forcefully breach it."


    The overwhelming pressure of the Patriarch''s aura mmed down upon the prostrated elder, driving him face-first into the punishing floor. "That''s impossible!"


    A tendril of obsidian smoke coiled into existence beside the throne, rapidly taking the shapely form of a beautiful woman garbed in flowing crimson robes. Delicate fox ears twitched atop her head, matching the fluffy tail thatshed behind her. Deft fingers began kneading the Patriarch''s tensed shoulders as she leveled her piercing gaze at the crumpled elder. "Was there a girl who looked just like me with him?"


    Zhang Wei didn''t dare meet those probing eyes; his voice muffled by the marble. "I didn''t enter the sect, so I cannot say. My divine sense was blocked."


    "Oh." The single syble seemed to hang leaden in the air.


    Seizing his chance, the wily elder rallied with a simpering smile. "But the Chaotic Holy Land will be opening soon! We need only invite his sect, then we can deal with him when he arrives with his disciples!"


    A contemptuous snort escaped the Patriarch. "Only those below the Nascent Soul realm may enter."


    Zhang Wei''s grin took on a sinister cast. "He has just taken in new disciples. Surely he will insist on escorting them himself, to ensure their safety. Once he''s outside his array''s protection, we can capture him and force him to surrender the treasure!"


    Coarseughter echoed through the vaulted chamber as Patriarch and elder reveled in their calcted cruelty. Only the mysterious fox-woman remained pensive, her gaze lifting towards the vaulted ceilings as if she could see through solid stone itself. "Where are you...sister?"


    Vast cyclones of spiritual energy churned around Chen Mo''s motionless form as he hovered in a meditative lotus position. The maelstrom of power flooded incessantly into his body, which began showing visible signs of strain. Fine cracks spidered across his flesh, though no blood seeped forth¡ªonly an oily darkness that seemed to drink in surrounding light. Within the metaphysical confines of his soul space, Chen Mo''s consciousness drifted serenely above the slowly disintegrating realm. Though ruin encroached from all sides, he regarded the unravelingndscape with an eerie calm, betraying no hint of fear or anxiety.


    Millions upon millions of calcted scenarios had already flickered through his mind, but none could forestall the inevitable copse.


    "This could work." The words slipped forth with clinical detachment.


    Since the golden pce formed the core foundation anchoring his soul space''s existence, its disappearance had utterly destabilized the entire construct. But what if he fashioned a new core from his own essence¡ªone capable of supporting the realm''s structural integrity?


    "Activate skill: [Parallel Existence]."


    Chen Mo extended one hand, channeling a torrent of spiritual energy that rapidly coalesced into a perfect replicate of himself hovering beside the original. A simple wave of his fingers prompted an identical motion from the newly-formed parallel self.


    Dual consciousness filtered through both avatars simultaneously. Satisfied, Chen Mo cycled through his abilities, the [Development] and [AllOfCreation] skills functioning wlessly across his bifurcated existence.


    "Great." ''When I was in the golden pce, there was an infinite number of clones that were cultivating there. If I assume that they were constantly replenishing the golden pce''s energy by channeling qi into it, then couldn''t I do the same thing?''


    "Activate skill: [Parallel Existence] x100."


    With those words, a hundred shimmering spheres of energy materialized before Chen Mo. Each rapidly unfolded into aplete duplicate¡ªa full spiritual echo, capable of independent thought and action. Immediately, the clones set to work, channeling theirbined energies to stem the elerating disintegration afflicting the soul space. Chen Mo thought to himself that one hundred was his limit at the moment. He wondered just how high the cultivation of the creator of the golden pce was to be able to create an infinite amount of them. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    ¡­


    After an indeterminate span, the hairline fractures speckling Chen Mo''s physical body contracted and sealed, the repairs to his inner realm seeminglyplete. He exhaled a slow breath, expression impassive despite the strain.


    "Although I won''t be dying anytime soon, I''ll still need immense quantities of spiritual energy. Sustaining these clones, and producing more to fully stabilize my soul space, will be a prodigious drain on my resources."


    The path before him was clear, but arduous in the extreme. Chen Mo prepared himself for the grueling struggles yet toe.


    ''Rasiel, you there?''


    [Report] ¨C [I''m here]


    Chen Mo had thought that Rasiel would still exist even after their souls merging since he had the [Parallel Existence] and [Parallel Processing] skills but he was still skeptical.


    He wondered why he cared so much whether or not Rasiel survived, he had created her and could always create her again but he always felt that he didn''t want that to happen.


    ''Does it have something to do with that woman?''


    Chen Mo decided to think about the matterter, right now, he had to figure out a way to maintain his clones in the soul space as he would die if he didn''t maintain his cultivation state indefinitely.


    ''Rasiel, now that you and I are one, you can use [AllOfCreation] right?''


    [Confirm] ¨C [Yes, I can]


    ''I had a scrip for AFK cultivation but I think its outdated now that I have a stronger spiritual root.''


    ''I want you to edit the script to so that itspatible with the new spiritual root and put it to be always on full st. If the spiritual root is exhausted, just repair it with [AllOfCreation]''


    [CALCULATING]


    [PROCESSING]


    [UPDATING SCRIPT]


    [SCRIPT UPDATED]


    [SCRIPT ¨C AFK CULTIVATION] ¨C [RUNNING IN THE BACKGROUND]

 Chapter 36 Heavenly Tribulation

    Chapter 36 Heavenly Tribtion


    Chen Mo''s body hovered impassibly in a meditative lotus position as the chamber around him grew increasingly saturated with swirling spiritual energy. The dense, nebulous fog coiled and eddied, drawn inexorably towards the cultivator''s dantian like a whirlpool.


    Though his serene expression remained outwardly cid, the merest hint of strain furrowed his brow¡ªthe only outward sign of the monumental exertion urring within.


    As the maelstrom of power intensified, realization blossomed in Chen Mo''s mind. He had not foreseen that the destabilization of his soul space would provide the catalyst for this breakthrough into the Void Traversing Realm. "Hm? What''s this?"


    With a casual gesture, the roof above dematerialized at Chen Mo''s beckoning. But the formerly azure sky had taken on a startling metamorphosis¡ªroiling storm clouds now blotted out the heavens in an ominous morass of thunderheads. Arcs of elemental lightning danced across the churning darkness in increasing frequency.


    A Heavenly Tribtion. The archetypal phenomenon heralding a cultivator''s transcendence into a higher realm of existence. But its arrival at this juncture puzzled Chen Mo. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "A Heavenly Tribtion? But how is that possible? I''m only breaking through to the Void Traversing Realm."


    Chen Mo''s mind raced as he analyzed the emergence of this celestial baptism. Such cosmic trials traditionally apanied far more monumental breakthroughs¡ªinto the Tribtion Transcendence Realm and beyond. ''Activate skill [Existence] ''


    [


    Name: Heavenly Dao


    Information: Due to continuous evading of the Heavenly Dao''s restrain, the Heavenly Dao deems you a dangerous entity and seeks to eliminate you.


    ]


    "Oh! I forgot this guy was still trying to restrain me"


    A wry smile yed across his lips as the first rumbles of paradoxical thunder roared in the ominous cloudscape above.


    "As I see it, these so-called Heavenly Tribtions are not only a process to weed out the weak but also the strong. The path I tread lies far beyond such paltry confines."


    Bolts of purifying lightning began raining from the heavens, battering the earth in arcing tendrils of destruction. Yet Chen Mo remained unmoved, a glowing corona of spiritual energy encapsting his form in an unshakable bastion.


    The true trial was only just beginning.


    ¡­


    The prospective disciples gathered in the courtyard craned their necks skyward, expressions awash with a mixture of awe and trepidation. Above them, the heavens roiled and churned in an ominous disy¡ªstorm clouds massing into an imprable morass that blotted out the very firmament itself. Forks of elemental lightning danced across the thunderheads, their searing brilliance a harbinger of the imminent devastation toe. A full Heavenly Tribtion, the likes of which could scour entire mountain ranges from existence, was manifesting directly over the sect''s hallowed grounds.


    Terror lent speed to the whispered words racing through the assembled cultivators. But before panic could take root, Mei Ling''smanding voice rang out across the courtyard.


    "Calm yourselves. This is simply our sect master undergoing his next breakthrough." Her tone brooked no argument as she leveled a reassuring look at each potential disciple. "The patriarch will undoubtedly find a way to weather this trial."


    The steel in Mei Ling''s words seemed to steady the restless crowd. Hushed murmurs began circting about Chen Mo''s illustrious aplishments and prodigious talents.


    "What realm do you suppose the sect master is currently in?" "Can it be he''s transcending to an even higher ne? I thought such breakthroughs became increasingly arduous the further one climbed..."


    "Well, considering he single-handedly crushed an entire sect of the third rank without breaking a sweat, I wouldn''t put anything past him."


    Gradually, awe superseded apprehension as the would-be disciples extolled the might and prowess of the figure whose legacy they hoped to one day join. Regardless of how incredibly daunting each sessive tribtion appeared, Chen Mo''s disciples had unwavering faith that their patriarch would emerge triumphant.


    After all, he was considered the world''s strongest genius.


    The grand ceremony to induct new sect members would simply have to wait until the heavens themselves had finished venting their fury upon the unshakable titan at the eye of this celestial storm.


    ¡­


    Heavenly Pce, Hall


    The vaulted halls echoed with Elder Zhang Wei''s pounding footfalls as he rushed into the opulent chamber and dropped into a deep kowtow before the sect''s venerable Patriarch. "We''ve received news from the spies nted within Chen Mo''s sect," the elder stammered out, his voice quavering with barely restrained trepidation.


    The Patriarch''s expression morphed into a severe frown at the unspoken implications carried in Zhang Wei''s tone. "Out with it. What have you learned?"


    Swallowing hard, the elder ryed the earth-shaking report with halting words. "They say...Chen Mo is currently undergoing a Heavenly Tribtion."


    Spiderweb cracks emanated from where the Patriarch''s hands clenched the armrests of his throne with supernatural force. "That''s impossible!" he bellowed, imperious fury reverberating through the throne room. "Even with that ursed treasure in his possession, how could he have broken through so quickly?"


    Pinned beneath the overwhelming pressure of his lord''s unbridled rage, Zhang Wei could only bow his head fully to the punishing floor as he rushed to reassure the irate cultivator. "I swear it is true, my lord! Every spy has corroborated the same!"


    Just as the Patriarch''s aura reached a suffocating peak, a lilting feminine voice cut through the tension like a willow branch parting still waters. "It is not impossible to undergo Heavenly Tribtion before the Tribtion Transcendence Realm." The Patriarch''s furious re snapped towards the woman emerging from behind his throne with a gliding, ethereal gait. Her crimson silks entuated the foxy ears and lush tail marking her as one of the mystical vulpine race.


    "Oh?" The simple syble carried a universe of inferred meaning.


    "Some of our n''s most exceptional geniuses undergo such cosmic baptisms even in the Golden Core Realm," the fox-woman exined with a slight, sly smile. "It seems this Chen Mo likely possesses some rare physique that elerates his cultivation."


    The Patriarch''s piercing stare bored into the woman for an endless moment before his hand rose to pensively stroke his bearded chin. For his part, Elder Zhang Wei dared not so much as lift his gaze from the marble tiles¡ªhis fear of meeting the vulpine cultivator''s probing stare palpable. "If he has gained such fortuitous opportunities from that damned treasure, then we must act before he grows beyond our ability to contain." With a sinct wave of his hand, the Patriarch issued his decree. "Invite Chen Mo''s sect to the uing Chaotic Holy Lands. There, we will remove this threat before he bes an even greater nuisance."


    "At once, my lord!" Zhang Wei rasped his fervent assent before scrambling from the chamber with undignified haste.


    The faint smile ying across the fox-woman''s full lips morphed into a sly, knowing smirk as she watched the elder''s panicked retreat.


    "A chaotic physique, is it...?" she purred, more to herself than any other. "How...interesting." The game was afoot, with enticing newyers unfolding by the hour. It would be such a pity if her adorable little sister missed out on all the fun.

 Chapter 37 Void Traversing Realm

    Chapter 37 Void Traversing Realm


    The ominous thunderheads massed ever thicker above the Protagonist Sect''s hallowed grounds as Chen Mo contemted how best to weather the imminent celestial tempest. While his own transcendent cultivation would safeguard him from obliteration, the same could not be said for the rest of the sect¡ªespecially the new batch of recruits.


    "Hmm, this could work."


    With a subtle gesture, Chen Mo erected a makeshift barrier array hemming in the entire sectplex. However, this was no mere defensive construct repelling the heavenly tribtion''s fury. Rather, it functioned as an intricate teleportation matrix, one designed to divert the purifying lightning directly to his own position. Chen Mo watched impassively as the first tendrils of searing devastation split the roiling cloudscape,ncing downwards in a blinding azure barrage. A sly smile yed across his lips as the bolts descended, only to warp and divert midflight¡ªtheir trajectories bent by his array to converge as one upon his unmoving form.


    "I had only nned to initially breakthrough to the Void Traversing Realm," he mused as the heavenly lightning coalesced around him in a raging cyclone. "But since the Heavenly Dao itself is being so generous, I may as well go ahead and establish myself at the apex of this stage."


    The vortex of purifying energy swirling around Chen Mo zed brighter by the second until its radiance outshone the midday sun. Yet the cultivator remained unfazed, an oasis of untouchable calm amidst the celestial fury.


    ''Rasiel, transform any iing lightning into pure spiritual energy and absorb it.''


    [Confirm] - [Understood]


    Chen Mo''s mind raced as he analyzed the peculiar nature of this unnatural tribtion. As it did not arise through any natural cycle, logic followed that it was likely a highly-concentrated manifestation of pure spiritual energy given form, rather than any true electrical phenomenon.


    As such, the power now ravaging the skies could be metabolized¡ªtaken into his own reserves and circted to fuel his impending breakthrough. When the dust settled, Chen Mo would either stand triumphantly at the peak of the Void Traversing Realm... Or not at all.


    Girding his will, the cultivator boldly strode forward to meet the heavens'' judgement head on.


    ¡­


    The assembled disciples watched with bated breath as the first searing tendrils of heavenly lightning split the tumultuous clouds, arcing downwards in blinding azure fury. But instead of devastating the sect grounds, the raging bolts curved midflight¡ªdrawn inexorably towards where Chen Mo''s unmoving form glowed brilliantly at the eye of the celestial tempest.


    Wave after wave of purification rained from the heavens, each sessive barrage more cataclysmic than thest. Third, fifth, tenth¡ªon and on the beatific judgment poured down upon the sect. Yet not a single stray volt touched anything other than the levitating patriarch at the vortex''s calm center.


    Awestruck murmurs rippled through the onlooking crowd as they bore witness to the unfolding spectacle. "The sect master''s methods are truly profound..."


    "Hah! Of course¡ªhow else could he have defeated hundreds of opponents in the same realm without so much as breaking a sweat?"


    Despite the fervent adtions rising around her, Mei Ling remained unswayed¡ªher piercing stare fixed solely upon the dazzling cyclone of lightning consuming Chen Mo''s silhouette. One hand rose unconsciously to clutch at the robes covering her chest, visible worry creasing her brow.


    As the next volley of heavenly judgement split the air in a blinding sunburst, her shadow stretched long across the courtyard¡ªunnaturally elongated, with what looked like a distinctly vulpine cast to its flickering outline. Delicate ears and a swishing tail seemed to adorn the normally humanoid shadow, twitching in time with each thunderous detonation.


    Still the lightning poured down in an endless, radiant torrent¡ªa violent chrysalis from which Chen Mo would either emerge reborn as a peerless juggernaut of the Void Traversing Realm...


    Or be consumed entirely, his mortal existence scoured into oblivion. Only time would tell which of the two cosmic scale oues would be realized. And the time remaining was rapidly dwindling with each blinding, earsplitting peal of thunder.


    ¡­ n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Chen Mo''s eyes snapped open, narrowing to crimson slits as his entire form became engulfed in a blinding cocoon of whirling spiritual energy. The breakthrough was upon him.


    "Break...for me!" he bellowed, voice resonating with metaphysical weight. At hismand, fissures spread across the surface of the coruscating chrysalis. Secondster, it detonated outwards in a shockwave of liberated power. When the blinding corona faded, Chen Mo hovered in the resulting crater¡ªtattered robes hanging open to reveal toned muscture.


    Rays of the dawning sun''s first light filtered through the dissipating cloud cover to bathe his perspiration-slicked form in a fiery glow. Chen Mo''s lips quirked wryly as he assessed the horizon''s burnt umber hues.


    The Heavenly Dao had clearly pulled no punches in its bid to eliminate him. His tribtion had raged unabated through the entire night.


    A frown furrowed his brow as he acknowledged the objective truth¡ªhe had only managed to breakthrough to the initial stage of the Void Traversing Realm, falling well short of the transcendent apex he''d aimed for. But that soured expression swiftly morphed into a sly, knowing smile. While he may have fallen short of the dizzying heights envisioned, Chen Mo''s gains were still nothing to scoff at. As it turned out, the tribtion''s relentless lightning wasn''tprised of mere spiritual qi, but something far more sublime¡ªimmortal qi, the refined essence utilized by the ranks of cultivated immortals.


    Though he couldn''t directly use this higher caliber of energy to force his breakthrough to the Void Traversing Realm''s peak, it served another crucial purpose. Chen Mo''s senses detected how the immortal qi saturating his form was already diligently repairing the once-ruined foundation of his soul space¡ªreinforcing it with something far more robust than what remained of his original golden pce''s degraded framework.


    Encouraged by his findings, Chen Mo projected his consciousness inwards tomence expanding his newly-reconstituted domain. Four hundred parallel avatars rapidly coalesced to join the century already maintained, bringing his total spiritual manifestations to an even five hundred.


    ''Analyze the properties of this immortal qi,'' hemanded the assembled clones, ''and begin manufacturing more of the same from my own spiritual reserves.''


    After a brief interval of intenseputation, Chen Mo felt the first artificial trickles of elerated insight take root in his consciousness. A triumphant grin split his features.


    "Just as I thought."


    Now able to synthesize this transcendent immortal essence at will, it wouldn''t be long before Chen Mo''s entire soul space was replete with stabilizing energies. But even dwarfing this monumental aplishment was the ultimate epiphany unlocked from relentlessly scrutinizing the Heavenly Tribtion''s mechanics all throughout the night. Chen Mo had divined a brand-new Law to add to his repertoire¡ªthe Law of the Heavenly Way itself.


    Armed with this paradigm-shattering insight, Chen Mo could now dictate the rules and imprint his authority across any region he designated, much like how the higher immortals extended their jurisdictions over the celestial realms. With this capstone firmly in his possession, Chen Mo no longer needed to fear reprisals from the Heavenly Dao itself.


    The kaleidoscope of paradigm-shifting breakthroughs he''d experienced in this endless, grueling night would reverberate for eons toe. A new dawn was on the horizon¡ªone where Chen Mo''s ascendant star would ze ever brighter.


    "Hmph! Show yourself!" Chen Mo''smanding baritone sliced through the silence nketing the sect''s grounds.


    A flickering shadow detached itself from the outlying tree line, rapidly coalescing into the recognizable figure of Elder Zhang Wei. The wizened cultivator''s robes billowed as he strode forward, palms raised in an ingratiating gesture.


    "Sect Master Chen is truly a genius beyond this old man''s reckoning." Zhang Wei''s gravelly tones brimmed with a venerating awe that seemed to go beyond mere ttery. "You have opened this old man''s eyes to new horizons of possibility."


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