Chapter 122: The Nether Blood Egg!
As more and more secret runes branded themselves onto the core of Jiang Zhe's soul, the amplitude of his mental power began to rise.
3521 times!
2548 times!
...
Even though this was the complete version of Ancient God's Blood, Jiang Zhe had experienced it once before. With his extraordinary willpower, he could easily withstand this transformation.
Year 37 in the Ancient God World.
The bliss coursing through his body and soul abruptly stopped. Jiang Zhe awoke from his cultivation, rising from the bottom of the pool.
Feeling the surging power within his sea of consciousness, a faint smile appeared on his face—but it quickly turned into a frown.
5000-fold mental power amplitude?
Not more, not less—exactly 5000 times, equivalent to a 50-fold soul amplitude.
This was already beyond ordinary sovereigns.
Yet Jiang Zhe was dissatisfied. With a look of disbelief, he muttered, "I couldn't maximize the effect? My willpower…"
Even with the willpower of a King Limit level at the Universe Rank, he couldn't fully unleash the complete Ancient God's Blood's power to achieve a 30-fold soul amplitude increase?
"No, you've already reached the limit. This solution can only boost someone to a 50-fold soul amplitude."
A graceful blood-shadow drifted to the edge of the pool, coming very close to Jiang Zhe, as if studying him carefully.
"Tell me, what level is your willpower at?"
Though the blood shadow had no facial features, Jiang Zhe could clearly feel her burning gaze.
"King Limit, close to Sovereign," Jiang Zhe answered honestly.
"Good! Very good! Excellent!"
The woman's voice, no longer cold, brimmed with joy like a blazing flame.
"No need to wait until the World Lord level. You can attempt the ownership bond right now. If you can endure it—try."
"Endure it? And if I fail?"
"Then you die. Your soul will collapse, though a Universe Lord could reverse time and revive you."
Jiang Zhe frowned.
"Did the Lord of All Saints undergo such a trial too?"
"No. He didn't have your potential. We were merely collaborators—he only needed slightly stronger willpower to establish a bond. But you're different. I can lower my thresholds and help you complete ownership."
Jiang Zhe looked puzzled.
"I really can't see how I surpass Universe Lords or the strongest beings of the universe. Why would you choose a mere ant as your master?"
"They're different. Those Universe Lords and strongest beings have their limits set in stone. They can't live beyond three reincarnation eras."
"But you… your potential is immense. I want to cultivate you into a True God—your so-called strongest in the universe. Then I'll guide you to the Upper Realm. After that, we'll part ways."
"…That's all I desire."
"I'll help you stand atop the Original Universe, show you broader worlds. You'll return me to my homeland. Do you agree to this partnership?"
Jiang Zhe nodded slightly. Her words were logical, without obvious flaws.
"Of course I'm willing to cooperate, but…"
He paused.
"I want to know your true identity."
The blood shadow gave a mocking laugh.
"Ha! With your vision, even if I told you, could you understand?"
"Whether I understand isn't important. I want to see your sincerity."
She was silent for a few breaths, then raised her hand. A streak of flowing light shot toward Jiang Zhe's forehead.
He allowed it to embed into his brow, drilling into his sea of consciousness, and received information—about the true nature of the blood shadow.
"Master, she pairs so well with me!"
Oriana exclaimed, unable to hide her surprise.
Jiang Zhe was stunned too, not expecting such similar functions.
While master and servant were momentarily dazed, the blood shadow began to explain her origins.
"My name is Nether Blood Egg. I was originally a Jemu Egg, refined by a great being skilled in the Laws of Life, aided by countless treasures, into a life primal embryo."
"I was born with a secret rune pattern, much like the innate secret arts of special life forms. You just received its function—endless potential."
"If someone can fully awaken my potential, they can establish a top lineage in the 'Upper Realm.' Even if the lineage's master dies unexpectedly, as long as I exist, the lineage endures."
Her proud, cool voice echoed in Jiang Zhe's mind.
Jemu Egg? Primal embryo? Upper Realm top lineage?
He really had stumbled into a field he knew.
Jiang Zhe's eyes widened in astonishment.
A Jemu Egg—labeled "extremely terrifying"—was initially very weak after hatching but had limitless growth potential. It could be raised in swarm tactics or as elite strains, much like Zerg.
But its upper limit far exceeded a Zerg Queen, only slightly inferior to a Beast King of the Boundary.
Its value rivaled a God King-level primal embryo.
Yet this one before him wasn't a pure Jemu Egg—it had been reforged. Judging by the description, its final tier would surely stabilize at God King level, maybe even comparable to a God King's main weapon like the Star Tower.
After all, ten God King-level primal embryos would only barely equal a single Star Tower.
Jiang Zhe admitted he'd underestimated her. Perhaps she truly deserved to be called the Number One Treasure in the Cosmic Sea.
"Alright. Let's cooperate. How do we establish the ownership bond?"
"You must first send your original core here."
"Alright, it's coming."
Soon, a swirling portal opened above the blood sea. Oriana flew out, hovered above the pool, and absorbed Jiang Zhe into her inner world.
The blood shadow observed Oriana and sighed.
"Actually, you're more suitable than him. But you aren't an independent life form."
Oriana simply gave her a cold glance without replying.
Moments later, Jiang Zhe emerged from Oriana's inner world, the original core hidden in the "Thunder Prison Realm" within his chest.
The blood shadow lifted her hand, a crimson droplet appearing on her palm.
"Your body will sink to the bottom of the blood sea. This drop will merge with your original core and fuse with your soul."
"Once ownership starts, your soul will shatter, dispersing through your body like when breaking through immortality. Then the fragments will exit your body and merge with the entire blood sea, treating it as part of your body."
"Once you can fully control the blood sea and recondense your soul with your consciousness and will, the ownership bond will be complete."
Jiang Zhe's face grew solemn.
"If I can't reform my soul, I'll truly die!"
"Correct. Do you dare try?"
"Send Oriana away first."
The blood shadow waved her hand, opening a vortex portal. Oriana stepped through and swiftly flew far beyond the Ancient God Hall.
"Interesting. Your original core stays here, she's your subsidiary life form—if you die, wouldn't she die too? How pointless."
Jiang Zhe ignored her.
"No need to be so guarded. I sincerely seek a partner. Besides, what malice could a treasure possibly harbor?"
Not until Oriana was over 10,000 kilometers away did Jiang Zhe ask,
"Roughly how long will this ownership take?"
"The stronger your will, the faster it goes."
"I have only 220 eras of lifespan—around 2.2 million years. Don't tell me you intend to outwait me."
"Rest assured. If you die, it will only be from soul collapse, not old age."
"Let's begin."
"Lie back down in the pool."
Jiang Zhe did as told. Instantly, the island sank, submerging him in the blood sea. The blood quickly replaced the pool's previous solution, enveloping him completely.
It reminded Jiang Zhe of the feeling before birth—being nurtured in his mother's womb.
Above the blood sea, a seemingly ordinary crimson droplet, devoid of pressure or special aura, slid from the blood shadow's palm.
It passed through layers of blood, entering Jiang Zhe's chest.
The droplet infiltrated the Thunder Prison Realm, aiming directly for the ancient original core.
Then, something wholly unexpected happened.
Influenced by the realm's formless power, the crimson droplet evaporated, merging into the entire Thunder Prison Realm.
Both Jiang Zhe and the blood shadow were stunned.
Yet—the ownership process still continued!
The graceful blood shadow hesitated slightly.
But after considering, she realized she couldn't reverse it anyway, so she let it unfold.
As for Jiang Zhe—he'd had a hand in this. When the droplet arrived, he sensed the Thunder Prison Realm hungering for it. So he thought, Why not try? He activated its devouring power—and it instantly absorbed it.
Jiang Zhe then realized he had underestimated the Life Blueprint cultivation method.
His transformation at the planetary stage wasn't simple at all.
It had World Lord traits, was key to the "Ascending God" transformation, and now even showed growth by devouring external forces—extremely high rank.
There was no time to dwell on it, though, because the ownership began.
The original core shuddered.
Jiang Zhe felt pain rising in his soul—kneading, tearing, grinding—it was going to completely dismantle him.
At first, while the pain was mild, he could think.
He had only one thought: So in the end, I couldn't avoid the torment Luo Feng suffered either.
The pain quickly intensified.
But it still didn't surpass what he endured when bonding with the Blood God Blade.
With his willpower, he bore it silently.
Under external force, his soul began to shatter. His strong consciousness and will tried to forcibly hold it together but was obstructed by the strange power within the blood sea.
Eventually, the fragmented soul was guided to fuse into his body, which then radiated out soul shards like a source, merging them into the blood sea.
The blood sea nourished the fragments, allowing them to exist even after leaving Jiang Zhe's body.
In that instant, Jiang Zhe felt incredibly strange, as though thousands of versions of himself observed the entire blood sea from countless angles.
"This feels familiar. When I was an apprentice cultivating 'Infinite Maha', I also felt like I'd split into many parts, each with independent perception."
"The next step is to merge with the blood sea, master it, until it no longer obstructs my soul's reformation. That's ownership completed."
With his willpower, he endured extreme agony, maintaining crystal-clear thoughts.
"My mindset is perfect to assist with this step."
—Heaven and earth grow alongside me; all things and I are one.
Come, merge with it!
Above the blood sea, as the "spirit" born within the Nether Blood Egg, the blood shadow was intimately aware of her body's state.
Jiang Zhe's ownership speed shocked her.
Those soul fragments spread through the blood sea like viruses, rapidly assimilating its alien power, bringing it under his control.
Even more incredible—amid this, Jiang Zhe ran dual threads, enduring soul-shattering pain while pushing his consciousness to transform.
The last time he activated 'Dormant Dragon Art', the remnants of his thousands of years as a demon in dream realms were fully ignited.
His King Limit will was now stepping toward the Sovereign level!
Willpower—it doesn't necessarily correlate with life experience.
Hong's mindset and will were strong, but did his couple hundred years before reaching Universe Rank have dramatic ups and downs?
Grab any Universe-level native slave at the Giant Axe Arena—their lives were probably rougher.
So why did Hong reach the 20th illusion island, when others of his tier were geniuses if they managed the 5th?
Thus, judging willpower by life experience is the dumbest argument.
Like cultivation, it also depends on talent.
Whether cultivating or forging the heart, Jiang Zhe's talent was top-tier.
With the Dormant Dragon Art, as long as he slept enough, strengthening his will was as natural as eating or drinking.
On the 11th month of ownership, Jiang Zhe's consciousness broke through to the Sovereign level.
From that moment, progress skyrocketed.
The blood shadow was numb with shock. She had never seen such an absurd genius—and hope blazed in her heart.
Maybe this time, I can truly see that world from my memories again.
If his growth stays this monstrous, keeping this bumpkin as master isn't so bad.
But if he stagnates, I'll just find a way to kill him and seek a new master—at minimum an Eternal True God with potential to ascend to Saint…
She was delighted yet secretly scheming.
1 year, 2 years, 3 years…
By the 6th year and 10th month—2495 days total— Jiang Zhe's soul fully merged with the blood sea, completely integrating its alien forces. No more obstacles.
His invisible consciousness and will guided the shattered soul to recondense, forming an incredibly solid soul crystal within a black hole of the spiral galaxy.
The blood sea churned, currents lifting Jiang Zhe from its depths, raising him up.
Waves surged around him, as if cheering for their newly enthroned Lord of the Blood Sea.
"It's done."
Jiang Zhe opened his eyes, utterly exhausted, so heavy it seemed contagious.
He wanted nothing more than to collapse asleep.
But seeing the blood shadow float close, he forcibly stifled the fatigue.
The inheritance information from ownership and the signals from the Thunder Prison Realm gave him a troubling suspicion—a treasure might not be entirely loyal to its master.
"Take me out first. I want to see your true form."
"As you wish, Master."
She waved her hand, opening a vortex portal. Jiang Zhe calmly stepped through, arriving inside a grand temple.
"Master, this is the interior of Mustard Seed God Mountain—itself a treasure,"
the cool voice sounded in his mind, seemingly faithful.
Jemu Egg—of the Duandong River line, one of 322 rare treasures, value equal to a primal embryo.
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