Deep within the tranquil, glowing confines of a hidden grove in the Star Dou Great Forest, Zhang Tian's Blood Silver Mirage Clone sat in profound contemplation. The ambient spirit energy of the core region hummed around him, a vibrant symphony of life that provided the perfect backdrop for his complex, theoretical calculations.
He had spent the last several weeks heavily focused on a singular, groundbreaking concept: the Human Spirit Bone Condensation Method.
As the creator of this nascent technique, the clone was acutely aware that the method was far from perfect. It was currently little more than a brilliant, highly volatile framework that required extensive, rigorous refinement before it could ever be safely introduced to the world. He began to mentally list the glaring issues that plagued the process.
The first major hurdle was the sheer, raw power of the condensed Spirit Bone. In the natural order of the Douluo Continent, the efficacy and value of a Spirit Bone were entirely dictated by the cultivation age of the Spirit Beast it originated from. A hundred-year bone offered marginal benefits, while a ten-thousand-year bone could elevate a Spirit Master to new heights. Zhang Tian was quite sure that his internal condensation method would initially only be able to provide a physical enhancement comparable to that of a hundred-year or perhaps a thousand-year Spirit Bone.
Through dedicated, lifelong cultivation and the continuous injection of one's own compressed spirit power, that self-condensed bone could theoretically evolve, eventually reaching the structural density and power enhancement comparable to a ten-thousand-year Spirit Bone. However, this slow, grueling progression meant that the technique would only be truly appreciated by lower-ranked Spirit Masters who lacked the wealth or strength to hunt for traditional bones.
Furthermore, even those lower-ranked cultivators wouldn't be able to simply sit down and use this technique on a whim. The sheer physical trauma of forcefully altering one's own skeletal structure required immense external support. It would necessitate the use of incredibly rare, highly specific resources, such as deeply nourishing medicinal herbal baths, to prevent the Spirit Master's body from breaking down under the strain. The technique itself would initially require the direct, hands-on assistance of a much higher-ranked senior expert to safely guide the volatile spirit power and help the junior condense their Spirit Bone into one of the six particular, viable spots: the Head Spirit Bone, Left Arm Spirit Bone, Right Arm Spirit Bone, Left Leg Spirit Bone, Right Leg Spirit Bone, or the Torso Spirit Bone.
But the most glaring, fundamental flaw in Zhang Tian's current blueprint was the complete absence of a Spirit Ability.
A traditional, true Spirit Bone was a treasure beyond measure not just because it enhanced physical strength, but because it inherently provided a unique Spirit Ability derived directly from the specific bloodline of the fallen Spirit Beast. According to Zhang Tian's current idea, a self-condensed Human Spirit Bone would provide zero external abilities. It would merely offer a massive enhancement to raw physical body strength and, to some highly beneficial extent, a deep enhancement to the internal meridians and inner body, which would undoubtedly enhance the overall future potential of a Spirit Master.
While enhancing one's potential was incredible, a traditional Spirit Bone could accomplish this and do it even better by providing a lethal or supportive bloodline ability. Zhang Tian knew he had to think much deeper into this technique. He had to find a way to remove or deal with these shortcomings. His technique had to possess far more overwhelming advantages rather than just being a poor substitute for absorbing a standard, true Spirit Bone by hunting a Spirit Beast.
At the very least, he had a viable, nascent idea.
And he was remarkably sure that this method could eventually work. This confidence stemmed from his profound understanding that the cultivation system of this Douluo World was incredibly malleable. It was not a rigid, unbreakable set of divine laws. He knew of the distant future, of timelines where the bloody spirit ring system was fundamentally replaced by the concept of Spirit Souls. That future system worked through willing, symbiotic contracts with spirit beasts, allowing the beasts to sacrifice their physical bodies to merge their very essence with the Spiritual Sea of the Spirit Masters, providing spirit rings and abilities based on their cultivation age without true death.
Although the Human Spirit Bone Condensation Method was something that hadn't been created even in those distant, future eras, Zhang Tian was more than willing to push his intellect to the limit to make it a reality.
The clone let out a soft sigh, opening his icy blue eyes. He had laid the structural groundwork. The rest of the excruciating, microscopic research required to find a breakthrough point for the Spirit Ability dilemma would have to be left for his main body.
He stood up, brushing a stray leaf from his dark robes, and walked gracefully out of the grove toward Jin Xi's den.
The Emperor Auspicious Beast was currently lounging on a bed of incredibly soft, glowing moss, her golden hair spread out like a halo around her beautiful, innocent face. When she saw him approach, a brilliant, adoring smile illuminated her features. She immediately scrambled to her feet and rushed over, wrapping her arms securely around his waist and resting her cheek against his chest.
"Hubby," Jin Xi greeted him, her voice a sweet, melodious purr. "You look like you were thinking very hard again. Did you figure out the secrets of the Spirit Bones?"
Zhang Tian's clone smiled warmly, reaching down to gently stroke her golden hair. He didn't treat her like a subordinate or a pet; he treated her with the profound, genuine affection of a partner.
"I have made significant progress, my dear," Zhang Tian replied, his tone smooth and comforting. "But I have come to tell you something else. It is time for me to dispel this form. I will be dispersing myself and letting my main body fully integrate all the memories, the research, and everything else that has happened here in the forest over these past months."
Jin Xi's bright smile faltered instantly. Her golden eyes widened, and she clutched his robes a little tighter, her lower lip trembling slightly. She knew that he was only a clone, a temporary projection of her true husband, and she knew that his main body did sometimes connect randomly through the hive mind to check up on things. But having his physical presence here, someone she could touch and speak with every day, had been a tremendous source of comfort.
"You have to leave right now?" Jin Xi asked, her voice dropping to a sad, reluctant whisper. "Cannot you stay just a little longer? Bi Ji was going to show us the blooming of the Emerald Lotus tonight."
"My purpose here is fulfilled, Jin Xi," Zhang Tian told her gently, lifting her chin with his index finger so she was forced to look into his eyes. "The mental load of sustaining this highly complex projection while my main body conducts his own dangerous experiments is taxing. It is time for this fragment to return to the source."
Jin Xi nodded her head slowly. She was clearly somewhat sad, her shoulders slumping, but she didn't want to act spoiled or make things difficult for Zhang Tian. She knew he carried the weight of the entire continent on his shoulders.
"I understand, Hubby," she murmured, leaning up to press a soft, lingering kiss against his jawline. "I will be waiting for your real body to come visit me."
"Before I go, you must listen to me very carefully," Zhang Tian instructed, his expression turning remarkably serious. "I want you to promise me that you will not leave the Core Region under any circumstances until I personally come to meet you again. Do not wander into the outer rings, and do not attempt to visit the human cities."
Jin Xi tilted her head, confused by the sudden gravity in his tone. "Why? With my strength and my status, no spirit beast would ever dare to harm me. And the humans wouldn't even know who I am."
"It is not the beasts or the ordinary humans I am worried about," Zhang Tian explained, his icy blue eyes narrowing. "The political landscape of the world is shifting rapidly. There are hidden, highly dangerous factions, and even some bad, deeply evil gods observing this realm who might attempt to target you. They know you are the Auspicious Beast. They might try to capture you or use your profound destiny to take action against me. You are a beacon of fate, Jin Xi. You must stay here, heavily guarded by Di Tian and the others. Continue to grow stronger, refine your new spirit ring, and diligently bless your Spirit Beasts with your Auspicious Qi."
Jin Xi felt a shiver run down her spine at the mention of evil gods. She knew her husband did not issue warnings lightly. She nodded firmly, her expression turning resolute.
"I promise, Hubby," Jin Xi swore, her hands gripping his arms. "I will stay right here in the core. I will practice the energy circulation techniques you taught me every single day."
Zhang Tian smiled, the harshness leaving his face. "Good girl. And to give you something to look forward to... the next time I come to this forest in person, I will bring a truly great gift. A gift not just for you, but for Di Tian and the other Fierce Spirit Beasts as well. It will change everything."
Jin Xi's sadness was momentarily eclipsed by a surge of intense, bubbly curiosity. Her golden eyes sparkled as she looked up at him.
"A great gift?" Jin Xi asked, bouncing slightly on her toes. "What is it, Hubby? Is it something related to those Spirit Bones you have been analyzing all this time in the vaults? Are you going to give Uncle Xiong Jun a new set of claws?"
Zhang Tian chuckled a low, deep sound, highly amused by her innocence.
"I haven't just analyzed those Spirit Bones during these months, my little lion," Zhang Tian told her, his tone dropping to a secretive, playful whisper. "I did analyze a couple of other, far more profound things. But I am keeping it a strict secret from you for now. You will just have to trust me when I say it can be of monumental, unimaginable help for the ruling beasts."
Jin Xi pouted adorably, lightly punching his chest. "You are so mean, keeping secrets from your wife! Give me a hint, at least!"
"Patience is a virtue, Jin Xi," Zhang Tian teased, leaning down to capture her pouting lips in a deep, highly passionate kiss that left her breathless and flushed.
In reality, the 'gift' Zhang Tian was referencing had absolutely nothing to do with Spirit Bones. It was something far more deeply ingrained in the natural laws of the world.
During his time in the forest, Zhang Tian had been meticulously researching the brutal, highly restrictive laws regarding the transformation of Spirit Beasts into that of their Human Form. For a Hundred Thousand Year Old Spirit Beast to transform into a true human form, the current laws dictated a harrowing path. They had to completely seal their immense power, start over from the fragile, vulnerable age of a six-year-old child, and cultivate all the way to the peak slowly. Only after reaching the Level 60 Spirit Emperor realm were they considered proper, true humans without their pure energy as Spirit Beasts constantly leaking out and attracting greedy Titled Douluos.
Furthermore, there was the issue of the Fierce Spirit Beasts. Ancient terrors such as Chi Wang, Yao Ling, Zi Ji, Di Tian, and Bi Ji possessed cultivations spanning hundreds of thousands of years. They could temporarily, seamlessly take on humanoid forms to communicate, but they could not be considered to have truly transformed into humans. This was because of their total lack of human Spirit Rings, and the fact that their internal cultivation pathways still rigidly followed that of the Spirit Beasts rather than that of the human meridian cultivation method. They were permanently locked out of the human path to true Godhood.
Zhang Tian was actively researching a profound, world-altering method to help the Spirit Beasts truly, seamlessly transform themselves into true humans—to the point that even the overarching laws of heaven and earth of this Douluo Star could not recognize their origin as Spirit Beasts.
If he succeeded, it meant that a Fierce Beast could adopt a human form and cultivate like a human without losing their massive, accumulated foundation, and without the terrifying risk of being hunted for their rings. Thus, a myriad of things would become infinitely more convenient for the Spirit Beasts to do. They could walk the human cities, trade, learn, and grow. Well, naturally, Zhang Tian intended for it not to be a one-way, permanent trap; it had to be a back-and-forth transformation, allowing them to freely shift back into their true, monstrous forms for combat.
This was the monumental project Zhang Tian had to research thoroughly.
But he couldn't possibly tell or even vaguely hint at such a thing to the Spirit Beasts right now, or even to Jin Xi. This was because it was an incredibly delicate political matter. Proud, ancient apex predators like Xiong Jun, Zi Ji, or Chi Wang might not appreciate the gesture. They were fiercely, violently proud of their noble lineage as Spirit Beasts. The mere suggestion of wanting them to undergo a transformation to become 'True Humans' was something they might view as a grave insult, or worse, they might paranoidly think he was plotting a convoluted scheme against them to strip them of their beastly might. The gift had to be presented perfectly, as an optional, highly advantageous tool, rather than a forced assimilation.
"I will be going now, my dear," Zhang Tian whispered, pulling back from the kiss.
"I will miss you, Hubby," Jin Xi replied softly, stepping back to give him space.
Zhang Tian offered her a final, warm smile. His physical form began to shimmer, the edges of his dark robes dissolving into a flurry of brilliant crimson and silver light. The clone gracefully dispelled, the vast energy retracting inward until it became the exact same, pristine Blood Silver Grass flower that he originally was.
The flower drifted gently through the air, landing softly back onto Jin Xi's golden hair, returning to its dormant, sealed state.
Thousands of miles away, deep within the lush, vibrant valley of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, the mental consciousness of the clone surged across the continent like a bolt of lightning, striking directly into Zhang Tian's main body.
Zhang Tian, who had been sitting in quiet meditation near the boiling red spring, gasped softly, his eyes snapping open.
He was immediately hit by a staggering, massive surge of condensed memories. Months of highly detailed interactions with many different Spirit Beasts and obscure races of the forest flooded his mind. He absorbed the profound, esoteric training of Life Spirit Energy under the masterful guidance of Bi Ji, instantly elevating his own microscopic control over his Life Spirit Core. He reviewed the shocking, brilliant theoretical thinking of his clone, perfectly assimilating the intricate research results regarding the Human Spirit Bone Condensation Method. And finally, he processed the highly ambitious, shocking idea of his clone about the complex process of creating a flawless method for the transformation of the spirit beasts into true humans.
It was a phenomenal haul of data.
Zhang Tian remained motionless for several minutes, his Limit Douluo-level mental capacity organizing and filing the new information flawlessly. When the minor headache subsided, a deep, satisfied smile spread across his handsome face.
Being currently present in the highly energetic environment of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Zhang Tian stood up and stared at his dear wife, Ah Yin, who was tending to a patch of newly sprouted, elemental Blood Silver Grass. He then shifted his gaze toward Ah Ba, the towering Blood Silver King whose massive canopy shaded a portion of the valley.
An idea immediately sparked in his mind. He felt that he could actively try and experiment on Ah Ba, or perhaps some of the other highly intelligent, Ten Thousand Year Old Blood Silver Grass planted in the vicinity, regarding this theoretical transformation into that of a human.
'If it succeeded,' Zhang Tian thought, his icy blue eyes gleaming with visionary light, 'it would be greatly, immeasurably helpful to me. And not just for my own faction's strength, but it would provide the ultimate, irrefutable proof of concept. I could then officially, safely begin to slowly integrate the Spirit Beasts more deeply into human society, and vice versa.'
This was the core of his grand, overarching philosophy for the world.
After all, the indisputable fact that the Spirit Beasts completely refused to integrate among human society, stubbornly choosing to remain isolated in their own shrinking forests while continuing to live a static, unchanging life without interaction, was a fatal flaw. They made no effort to try and keep themselves up to date with the rapidly evolving society of humans, which was constantly, aggressively becoming better, creating new technologies, and advancing forward in each successive generation.
This profound, stubborn stagnation was the primary, inescapable reason for the eventual, inevitable extinction of the Spirit Beasts in the distant future.
Zhang Tian understood the bloody mathematics of the continent perfectly. After all, as long as the Spirit Beasts inherently considered humans as a vile threat to their existence, and the humans inherently considered Spirit Beasts as nothing more than terrifying threats or walking resource nodes to be harvested for rings and bones, the friction would never end. Each side would never really rest easy until it had completely destroyed the other entirely, or entirely enslaved it.
But this was decidedly not a choice that Zhang Tian wanted to make. He didn't want either the proud Spirit Beast race or the innovative human race to be destroyed or enslaved by the other. He wanted to rule a prosperous, unified world, not an empty graveyard.
Thus, the absolute best, most sustainable method was to fundamentally integrate the Spirit Beasts among the humans.
'It is a matter of perception,' Zhang Tian reasoned internally, pacing slowly along the edge of the milky-white spring. 'Once the humans have truly accepted the Spirit Beasts, and recognized them not as monsters, but as intelligent, sentient living beings who must be treated normally like any other human citizen—rather than being constantly considered a deadly threat or a valuable resource to be mercilessly harvested—then, and only then, would the deep, generational friction between the two races truly begin to be destroyed.'
However, his brilliant mind acknowledged that this monumental problem would not be simple to solve. Wanting to completely wear down the bitter, deeply ingrained hatred and blood feuds between the two races was something he would have to deal with very slowly, implementing sweeping cultural and political changes over decades.
The best, most immediate bridge between the two races would have undoubtedly been if there was something currently existing similar to that of the future 'Spirit Soul' system.
A Spirit Soul could be considered a remarkably great, undeniable advantage to any Spirit Master. It provided a massive, highly tangible incentive for wanting to maintain a genuinely good, cooperative relationship with intelligent Spirit Beasts, because forming a willing contract could lead to incredibly great benefits. It allowed those ambitious Spirit Masters who wanted to obtain more powerful, multiple spirit rings to do so safely from a single, extremely rare and powerful Spirit Beast without killing it.
But unfortunately, Zhang Tian faced a severe chronological hurdle. The legendary creator of this profound Spirit Soul method, the Necromancer Yi Lai Ke Se, was currently nowhere to be found in this world.
A few months ago, Zhang Tian's clone had even casually, carefully asked Di Tian to utilize his supreme Spatial Mastery to conduct a sweeping, highly detailed search for a specific, dormant remnant soul hidden anywhere near or within the entire Star Dou Great Forest. But unfortunately, despite Di Tian rigorously searching the spatial folds for a full month out of respect for Zhang Tian, the Beast God didn't find any trace of an otherworldly soul harboring a hint of divine light within it.
Zhang Tian could only sigh and temporarily give up on this specific, easy route. Yi Lai Ke Se had either not yet arrived on the Douluo Continent, or his dormant slumber was hidden too deeply beneath the laws of the world for even a Limit Douluo-level dragon to detect.
'I must forge my own path,' Zhang Tian decided, stopping his pacing.
Anyway, from what he broadly recalled of the future lore, the fundamental method to create a Spirit Soul was essentially somewhat of a deep, metaphysical contract forged between the soul of the Spirit Beast and the spiritual sea of the Spirit Master. It also heavily involved intertwining with the foundational rules of the world to some extent, and incorporated some other highly esoteric, necromantic things which he simply didn't fully understand yet.
His raw power was immense, but his current perception of the metaphysical, soul-binding laws of the world simply could not be compared to that of Yi Lai Ke Se. That man was undoubtedly at the supreme divine level regarding soul manipulation, possessing comprehension that could even have allowed him to become a true god of his original realm. Even just a tiny, fractured remnant of Yi Lai Ke Se's Divine Soul was already more or less comparable in pure spiritual quality to that of a peak Limit Douluo, or even a God Official standing at level 100.
Zhang Tian crossed his arms, his icy blue eyes narrowing in deep thought. He needed a substitute for that divine, soul-binding authority.
Well, it made him wonder if his most dangerous, hidden ally could provide the solution. Could the Rakshasa Goddess help him with creating a complex contract like this?
'She is a Dark God of Slaughter and Malice,' Zhang Tian analyzed, his mind piecing together her divine portfolio. 'But she is also a deity deeply, intimately connected with the manipulation of souls, resentment, and binding curses. She should definitely have some ancient, highly advanced soul contract methods or something similar hidden within her divine repertoire, shouldn't she?'
For a deity like her, who was a prestigious First Class God in the God Realm—a realm which was inherently connected to many different, sprawling lower realms like this Douluo Star and countless other dimensions—the Rakshasa Goddess should absolutely be able to easily create a viable, stable way for some deep contract method between the soul of a Spirit Beast and a human Spirit Master. She could provide the necessary divine framework to artificially create something exactly like a Spirit Soul.
With this brilliant, highly promising idea burning in his mind, Zhang Tian turned his attention back to his wife and the ancient tree.
"Ah Ba," Zhang Tian called out, his voice clear and commanding.
The massive, holographic face of the Blood Silver King materialized on the trunk, its expression respectful. "I am here, My Emperor."
"Continue to nurture the new, elemental seedlings we have birthed. Ensure their growth is stable. Ah Yin and I must depart the valley for a time. I have a highly critical, divine consultation I must attend to in the north."
"Your will shall be done, My Emperor. The sanctuary shall flourish in your absence," Ah Ba replied, his massive branches bowing deeply in a gesture of profound farewell.
Zhang Tian walked over to Ah Yin, gently taking her soft, pale hand in his. He planned to return directly back to his northern territory to immediately meet with Bibi Dong. It had been quite some months since he had last seen the Supreme Pontiff in person, and he needed to utilize her connection to the Rakshasa Goddess to propose this groundbreaking Spirit Soul contract.
"Are you ready to return home, my Empress?" Zhang Tian asked softly, bringing her hand up to press a warm kiss against her knuckles.
"I am always ready to follow you, Husband," Ah Yin smiled lovingly, her crimson eyes shining with deep devotion. "Though, you seem to have a sudden, urgent fire in your eyes. Have you solved another impossible problem?"
"I believe I have found the key to the next era," Zhang Tian smirked confidently.
Well, before that grand, world-altering meeting with the Supreme Pontiff occurred, Zhang Tian felt a familiar, dark heat pooling low in his stomach. The intense, highly focused mental strain of assimilating the clone's memories and plotting the future of two races had left him incredibly tense. He decided he needed to blow off some steam and have some highly physical, uninhibited fun before returning to the political center of his empire.
He knew exactly where to go. He would make a slight detour and head straight towards the Saint Dragon Academy to meet with Liu Erlong, fully intending to violently, ruthlessly enjoy her lovely, incredibly voluptuous body. After all, Liu Erlong was his dedicated, highly trained, slutty whore, and she existed solely to drain his tension.
Ah Yin, possessing the serene, ultimate grace of a true Empress, didn't mind this small, carnal interlude in the slightest. She understood her husband's immense appetites and fully accepted his need for diverse outlets. She simply smiled a knowing, elegant smile and willingly accompanied him, stepping onto the conjured platform of wind as they soared out of the Sunset Forest.
Their trajectory shifted, heading smoothly toward the sprawling, heavily fortified campus of the Saint Dragon Academy, which was the grandly renovated, former Blue Tyrant Academy located just outside the bustling walls of Heaven Dou City.
The massive wrought-iron gates of the academy loomed before them, adorned with the fierce, imposing emblem of a roaring dragon.
~~
A/N: Check out my other novels [Villain: Manipulating The Heroines Into Hating The Protagonist] and [Harem Master: Seduction System].
Also, check out 20 Chapters Ahead for this fanfic on my P.atreon. [Check Out Art Of Characters On My Patreon. It's Free To View btw.]
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