Help me buy a new computer :D https://ko-fi.com/DavidLord
...
"Are you all here so early?"
Lin Yuan also extended his consciousness, arriving outside the Azure World and merging with the several incoming consciousnesses.
Lin Yuan's consciousness projection appeared as a black ancient tree, while the other three projections were a giant snake, a light green lake, and a huge eyeball.
The vast expanse of the outer domain's void certainly did not contain just one outer domain evil god like the Ancient Demon Tree. These three consciousness projections were from other three outer domain evil gods.
Among outer domain evil gods, it wasn't always about fighting upon meeting. Cooperation was also possible.
For instance, Lin Yuan had maintained good relations with these three outer domain evil gods, occasionally exchanging information, goods, or even conducting trades.
Over the past three hundred years, Lin Yuan had attempted to befriend these outer domain evil gods while focusing on his cultivation.
According to the information he had gathered, there existed a gathering place deep within the outer domain void where many outer domain evil gods resided.
The ruler there was also an outer domain evil god who had reportedly reached the ninth stage.
The growth stages of outer domain evil gods were distinct. Lin Yuan was currently at the seventh stage.
The previous Ancient Demon Tree, strictly speaking, was also at the seventh stage. As for the ninth stage, even with Lin Yuan's Unrivaled Insight, he couldn't obtain any useful information.
According to Lin Yuan's speculation, outer domain evil gods at the ninth stage might not be as powerful as the strongest beings in the main world, but they wouldn't be far off.
"Brother Demon, we envy you for being able to occupy such a world as a place for cultivation," said the snake projection, emitting a sense of desire.
While Lin Yuan was contemplating, the snake projection sent out mental fluctuations, indicating that they were eager as well. However, they could only envy. With Lin Yuan's Ancient Demon Tree guarding the Azure World, its defense was almost unbeatable.
Even if several dozen outer domain evil gods came, they wouldn't necessarily be able to break through the world barrier.
Moreover, it was extremely difficult for a dozen outer domain evil gods to cooperate. Most importantly, even if they breached the Azure World, the resources of a single world would not satisfy a dozen or more outer domain evil gods.
"Alright, let's cut the chatter and start the trade," reminded the eyeball projection.
These three outer domain evil gods had sent their consciousnesses here to conduct trades with Lin Yuan.
"Same as usual. I want Sinful Water and any secret techniques related to the world consciousness," Lin Yuan nodded, and with a thought, several pure blue Demon Seeds appeared before him.
These Demon Seeds, condensed by the Ancient Demon Tree, were not only used as offensive tools but were also greatly beneficial treasures to other evil gods after reclaiming their life imprints.
Over the years, Lin Yuan had earned a considerable fortune by trading these Demon Seeds. Of course, these Demon Seeds referred to the ones refined by Lin Yuan after perfecting the "Parasitism" technique.
Each time he created one of these Demon Seeds, Lin Yuan had to expend some time and energy.
However, the Demon Seeds reclaimed after retrieving his life imprint did not count towards Lin Yuan's "Parasitism" limit.
Therefore, Lin Yuan was willing to trade them.
"No problem. Here are ten portions of Sinful Water," the lake consciousness projection presented the collected Sinful Water.
Lin Yuan exchanged it for twenty Demon Seeds. Sinful Water was a treasure found in certain secret areas of the outer domain void. It contained endless sin and was most suitable as a supplement for some outer domain evil gods.
After multiple attempts, Lin Yuan discovered that Sinful Water had a considerable beneficial effect on the Ancient Demon Tree's body.
It was precisely because of this that Lin Yuan actively sought to trade for Sinful Water.
Although the strength of the Ancient Demon Tree in this world had little impact on Lin Yuan's true self in the main world, it would be beneficial if it could enhance the Ancient Demon Tree's underlying strength.
However, this was based on the premise that he needed the Azure World's source to support the path of martial evolution. If it was possible to enhance the underlying strength of the Ancient Demon Tree, then naturally, it was better.
"I have two secret techniques related to the world consciousness. Please have a look, Brother Demon," the snake consciousness projection sent out mental fluctuations and transmitted the beginning of two secret techniques related to the world consciousness to Lin Yuan.
"Good, not bad," Lin Yuan nodded approvingly. "These two secret techniques have their merits." He then handed over ten Demon Seeds to the other party.
The secret techniques related to the world consciousness were connected to a certain plan or goal of Lin Yuan's. The world consciousness was elusive, barely accessible to beings within the world. However, among outer domain evil gods, knowledge of the world consciousness was not a secret. Many outer domain evil gods who sought to invade a world were hindered by the world consciousness.
The previous Ancient Demon Tree's attempt to descend into the Azure World had been met with the emergence of the World Sword, followed by the formation of the Azure Alliance to resist the invasion.
Therefore, over countless millennia, outer domain evil gods had developed a deep understanding of the world consciousness, even forming specialized techniques to counter it.
"I have also collected a few secret techniques," the giant eyeball projection finally spoke.
With this, the four outer domain evil gods completed their trades, each satisfied with the exchange.
"Brother Demon, you've already taken control of this world, so why collect so many secret techniques related to the world consciousness?" the snake consciousness projection curiously asked.
The other two evil god consciousness projections also turned to Lin Yuan, waiting for his response.
Indeed, with the methods of outer domain evil gods, once they descended into a world, victory was almost assured. Merging with the world's source, the world consciousness became inconsequential.
"I'm just curious," Lin Yuan casually replied, brushing off the question.
"Curious?" the three evil god consciousness projections glanced at each other. Since Lin Yuan didn't want to elaborate, they didn't press further. Outer domain evil gods seldom delved deeply into each other's affairs.
"By the way," the giant eyeball projection suddenly spoke, "do you have any plans right now?"
"I have a friend who wants to meet you," the giant eyeball evil god projection immediately said enthusiastically upon arrival.
"A friend? What does your friend want to see me for?" Lin Yuan frowned.
"It's good news, very good news," the giant eyeball projection quickly replied.
Soon, another consciousness descended. This consciousness projection resembled a humanoid figure but with sixteen arms.
"Brother Demon," the sixteen-armed evil god projection greeted Lin Yuan warmly.
"This outer domain evil god is quite powerful," Lin Yuan's expression slightly solemn. At least, it was stronger than the other three outer domain evil gods. However, it still couldn't compare to Lin Yuan now.
"We've found a void secret realm and want to invite Brother Demon to join us. Rest assured, Brother Demon will receive twenty percent of the final harvest from that void secret realm," the sixteen-armed evil god projection smiled. "Your strength, Brother Demon, is very commendable. In fact, capturing that void secret realm shouldn't be difficult."
"Void secret realm," Lin Yuan pondered. These secret realms were hazardous areas randomly born within the boundless outer domain void. They might contain treasures, opportunities, and dangers.
Generally, when outer domain evil gods encountered void secret realms, they gained considerable benefits. The previous Ancient Demon Tree had encountered many void secret realms. In fact, in some cases where the entrance was inaccessible for a short time, it dispatched some of its subordinate Demon Trees to guard nearby.
"Where is this void secret realm?" Lin Yuan asked.
"Fly in this direction. It'll take about five hundred years," the sixteen-armed evil god promptly answered.
"I'm not interested," Lin Yuan shook his head slightly. The five hundred years of travel time was unrealistic for him now. With less than two hundred years left in the world, Lin Yuan had no need to explore any void secret realms.
"Alright," Lin Yuan said, "When you've collected more relevant secret techniques or Sinful Water, come find me again."
Lin Yuan withdrew his extended consciousness and returned to the Azure World.
Immediately, the void was left with only the four lonely evil god consciousnesses.
"What should we do now?"
"Continue inviting?"
"Or should we give up? Brother Demon seems to be very cautious. Let's find other evil gods."
The four evil god consciousnesses discussed among themselves before retracing their steps.
In the Azure World, atop the Ancient Demon Tree, Lin Yuan gazed into the distance at the departing evil god consciousnesses.
"It seems I've been targeted," Lin Yuan pondered, although he didn't perceive any ill intentions from the sixteen-armed evil god consciousness.
However, the sudden invitation had sparked many thoughts in Lin Yuan's mind.
Over the past three hundred years, Lin Yuan had often traded with other evil gods, and the Demon Seeds, as a "commodity," were highly sought after by many evil gods. It was only natural that some evil gods would take an interest in him.
"Whether I'm being targeted or not, as long as I hide within the Azure World and don't come out, who can harm me?" Lin Yuan thought to himself.
Lin Yuan's attention shifted to the new secret techniques he had acquired. "World Consciousness," Lin Yuan repeated as he studied it repeatedly.
Lin Yuan's reason for delving into such secret techniques was to attempt to replace the world consciousness of the Azure World with his own consciousness, or more accurately, with the instinctual consciousness of the Ancient Demon Tree.
In theory, such an idea was undoubtedly absurd. The world consciousness was immense, and even for outer domain evil gods, it was impossible to directly confront the vast and mighty world consciousness, let alone replace it.
Most methods used by outer domain evil gods to deal with the world consciousness were akin to parasites, slowly eroding the world's source.
However, in the current situation, the world consciousness of the Azure World had fallen into a slumber, coupled with Lin Yuan's control of the World Sword, he could influence the world consciousness to some extent.
If, with his extraordinary insight, and with many secret techniques related to the world consciousness as a foundation, Lin Yuan could create a suitable method to replace the world consciousness, it might not be impossible.
The reason Lin Yuan wanted to replace the world consciousness of the Azure World was for a certain speculation he held.
The Gate of the Myriad Realms's transmigration function, the lowest-level random transmigration, required the consumption of a strand of Breaking Boundary Source Power each time.
But if precise transmigration using world coordinates were possible, it would require ten strands of Breaking Boundary Source Power.
Where exactly did these Breaking Boundary Source Powers go? If Lin Yuan's consciousness faced no resistance or rejection from this world, would the consumption of Breaking Boundary Source Power decrease significantly?
If that were the case, and if Lin Yuan could replace the world consciousness of the Azure World with the instinctual consciousness of the Ancient Demon Tree, and then open his consciousness fully to the Azure World, the amount of Breaking Boundary Source Power consumed when he descended into the Azure World might be greatly reduced.
At that time, the entire Azure World would become Lin Yuan's backyard. He could descend whenever he wanted.
"There are still one hundred and ninety years of residency time left," Lin Yuan reminded himself.
"During this time, most of my energy will be focused on creating the method to replace the world consciousness."
As for comprehending the core models of spatial rules, after fully understanding more than a thousand core spatial models, the difficulty of comprehending each subsequent spatial model would greatly increase.
In one hundred and ninety years, he could comprehend at most a little over a hundred core spatial rule models. It wouldn't make much difference.
And continuing to explore the subsequent ranks of martial evolution? Lin Yuan had already completed the Seventh Rank of Martial Evolution. He had yet to step into the Eighth Rank, and choosing to explore the Eighth Rank might be a bit too demanding without much benefit.
Instead, it would be better to focus all remaining energy on developing the method to replace the consciousness. After all, such opportunities might not come even after dozens of transmigrations.
Trying to put the world consciousness to sleep? The difficulty was too great, and world weapons like the World Sword weren't available in every world.
Time passed silently, and before he knew it, another one hundred and eighty years had gone by.
...
20 chapters ahead on patreon: patreon.com/David_Lord
Discord Server: https://discord.gg/hPxxHTeyFy
83