Familiar function?
Cheng Mo was stunned, his consciousness sinking into his mind.
The myriad realms compass, which had been dormant and only provided basic services, was now faintly glowing, projecting a clear stream of information.
Familiar Function: This function is not a pet-rearing system; it is based on the core space-time energy of the myriad realms compass to establish a deep soul link with specific compatible creatures, making them a "growable auxiliary computing unit" extended from the compass.
Function One: Energy Symbiosis.
The familiar and the host build a stable energy channel through the compass. If the host is powerful, it can provide pure energy to promote the familiar's evolution to a higher life level. If the familiar possesses special talents or energy characteristics, it can also feed back to the host, optimizing energy utilization efficiency.
Function Two: Soul Contract.
Requires the contracted creature's loyalty to reach over ninety percent to activate. The compass will scan its unique soul wavelength to complete the final binding. This process is irreversible; once bound, the familiar will maintain absolute loyalty to the host, with highly synchronized will, until one party dies.
Function Three: Familiar Empowerment.
The familiar's ability enhancement, selection of targeted evolution routes, and even cross-world survival adaptability modifications all require the consumption of space-time coins.
Cheng Mo "read" each word, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.
He had long sensed that the myriad realms compass was not an inanimate object.
It was more like a severely damaged, silently operating high-dimensional construct.
Many functions required specific conditions to trigger, or for him to actively "excavate" them.
Just like his last return to reality, during the settlement, by changing the fate of an important person, he unlocked the myriad realms treasure vault lottery and received the subsequent space-time interference questline.
He seemingly selflessly provided the Demon Slayer Corps with medicine, knowledge, and even the precious Qi Refining Technique.
Exchanging for gold and medicinal herbs was merely the surface; the deeper layer was an investment.
The overall strength leap of the Demon Slayer Corps and the accelerated process of confronting Muzan—the space-time coins income brought by this "worldline change" was likely the main source.
At this moment, the compass sent a clear prompt:
Detected compatible creature 'Silent Shadow Crow - Blackwing', loyalty conditions met. Bind as official familiar?
"Agree." Cheng Mo did not hesitate.
The moment his thought landed, he felt the physical compass in his mind slightly heat up.
A profound, indescribable dark light, seemingly composed of countless subtle space-time ripples, emanated from his body, enveloping Blackwing, who was still twitching slightly on the ground from the electric shock.
"Caw—!"
Blackwing let out a shriek far more piercing and painful than when it was punished by lightning before.
Its entire body suddenly stiffened, feathers bristling, as if it was undergoing a violent transformation and cleansing from the deepest part of its soul.
Its eyes lost focus, and countless intricate, complex, alien runes, not belonging to this world, flickered within them.
The process lasted about five minutes.
Only then did the dim divine light recede like a tide, retracting back into the compass.
Blackwing lay sprawled on the ground, its chest heaving violently.
But the pain in its crow eyes had vanished, replaced by a clarity and… understanding born from extreme shock.
It struggled to stand up, its posture far more humble than any time before, its head bowed deeply.
Blackwing, with its somewhat recovered resonant voice, said with unprecedented emotion, "So that's it… I never imagined master's origin would be so… beyond imagination."
"Blackwing was foolish, failing to fully comprehend its allegiance before. From now on, Blackwing shall be master's most loyal eyes and claws. Where your will points, there Blackwing's wings shall fly."
Cheng Mo clearly felt that the spiritual link that already existed between him and Blackwing had suddenly deepened several times over.
It became incredibly stable and transparent.
The faint traces of the Ubuyashiki Family's cultivation mark that originally remained in the link had been completely erased, leaving no trace.
An indescribable sense of peace swept through his heart.
Since his transmigration, he had carried the secrets of two worlds: the existence of the compass, modern knowledge, foresight of the plot… everything he couldn't share with anyone.
Now, he finally had an absolutely trustworthy subordinate whose will was completely synchronized with his own.
Cheng Mo's thoughts stirred, and he looked at Blackwing.
The compass immediately provided feedback.
Familiar Interface:
Name: Blackwing
Species: Silent Shadow Crow (Mutated · Lightning Evolution in progress)
Level: Juvenile
Loyalty: 100% (Absolute Contract)
Attributes: Wind, Lightning (Germinating), Dark
Abilities:
High-Altitude Detection (White), Mind Link (White), Shadow Stealth (White), Junior Lightning Resistance (White), Shared Vision (White)
Spiritual Wisdom (Green), Energy Fluctuation Perception (Green)
Cheng Mo's gaze swept over the color annotations after those abilities—white, green… consistent with the grading system of the myriad realms treasure vault he had seen during previous lotteries.
White for common, green for excellent.
Blackwing's two green talents were precisely where its uniqueness and value lay.
"It seems abilities and talents also share this grading system. Above green, there are blue, purple, and even higher…"
He understood in his heart and was extremely satisfied with accidentally activating the familiar function this time.
This was undoubtedly a huge help at the current stage.
At the same time, he noticed that in the far distance of the compass's five-cubic-meter storage space, the gray mist at the edge receded inward, opening up a new area of about two square meters.
The ground there was covered with soft humus, and in the center was a small section of withered but vibrant tree branch.
Beside it, several strange plants with glowing, dark blue leaves grew, exuding a serene and peaceful aura.
Immediately, the compass's information stream naturally appeared.
Familiar Space: The environment can simulate the familiar's native world or the state most suitable for its growth, used for recovery, cultivation, and evolution. When carrying familiars through worlds, they must remain in this space to resist space-time pressure.
"A dedicated space… and it can simulate environments to aid growth? It even solves the problem of cross-world travel with them…"
Cheng Mo was very pleased with this.
This function was practical and thoughtful.
He once again turned his gaze to Blackwing, who was quietly awaiting commands.
With this absolutely loyal familiar, many reconnaissance and experiments that were previously inconvenient for him to do personally now seemed to have a better executor.
"How do you feel?" Cheng Mo asked, his voice a little softer than before.
Blackwing gently flapped its wings, flying back to Cheng Mo's shoulder, its posture much more natural and intimate: "Never better, master. The restraints in my soul are gone, my vision is clearer, and my perception of energy flow seems a touch more acute. And…"
It paused, seemingly savoring its newfound strength.
"There also seems to be a faint trace of lightning affinity within me, slowly nourishing my body."
Cheng Mo nodded; this should be the energy symbiosis beginning to take effect.
A small amount of his Lightning Release Chakra's aura was feeding back to it.
"Then…" Cheng Mo's gaze turned westward, towards the valley where he had previously sensed abnormal energy fluctuations, his eyes sharpening, "Now, take me there."
"As you command, master."
Blackwing's voice carried a hint of killing intent.
"It is hidden behind the waterfall in the western valley; its energy fluctuations are subtle yet of extremely high quality."
"Let's go."
Lightning Release once again flared around Cheng Mo, no longer concealing his aura.
The man and the crow transformed into a brilliant blue meteor, tearing through the night, heading straight for the western valley.