Chapter 3: The Hunger of the Void and the First Refinement
The mountain air grew increasingly heavy as Li Ming descended into the "Veridian Abyss," a sprawling valley hidden within the folds of the Hidden Dragon Mountain. This place was a world unto itself—a dark, humid jungle where the sunlight struggled to penetrate the thick canopy of ancient, bioluminescent trees. Every shadow here felt alive, and the air was thick with the scent of damp earth and spiritual energy that had turned wild and predatory.
Li Ming walked with a newfound confidence. His Grey Core pulsed steadily, absorbing the faint traces of chaotic energy in the atmosphere and converting them into "Creation Essence." To any other cultivator, this raw energy would be toxic, requiring hours of meditation to refine. But for Li Ming, it was merely unformatted data waiting to be processed.
[System Notification: Energy Levels at 25%.]
[Warning: System efficiency will drop if energy falls below 10%.]
[Primary Objective: Acquire a Rank 1 Spirit Beast Core to unlock the 'Materialization' Module.]
"I need more than just essence," Li Ming whispered, his eyes scanning the golden lattice overlaying his vision. "I need a catalyst. A heart of power to serve as the foundation for my path."
As he pushed through a curtain of glowing vines, he felt a sudden ripple in the local "source code." The trees ahead were not just trees; they were marked with deep, jagged claw marks that oozed a black, corrosive sap. The silence of the jungle was absolute—a sign that a top predator was nearby.
Suddenly, a low, guttural vibration shook the ground. From the darkness of a hollowed-out gargantuan trunk, a pair of crimson eyes ignited. Slowly, the creature emerged: a Shadow-Stalker Panther. It was a Rank 1 Spirit Beast, nearly four meters long, its fur as black as an inkwell, moving with a supernatural grace that made it appear like a shifting shadow.
[Threat Detected: Shadow-Stalker Panther (Rank 1).]
[Combat Analysis: High-velocity movement detected. Defensive rating: Medium. Offensive rating: High (Corrosive Claws).]
The panther lunged. It didn't run; it seemed to vanish and reappear in mid-air, its claws extended like obsidian daggers.
In the past, Li Ming would have been torn to shreds before his brain could register the attack. But now, the Dragon Blueprint acted like a super-processor. In his mind, the panther's movement was broken down into a series of predictable vectors. He saw the "Bug" in its lunging stance—a slight imbalance in its rear left haunch.
Li Ming stepped to the side, his movements precise and economical. The panther's claws missed his chest by mere millimeters, the heat of its dark Qi singeing his coarse tunic. Before the beast could land, Li Ming reached out and grabbed its thick, muscular tail.
"Dismantle: Kinetic Momentum," Li Ming commanded.
A pulse of grey energy travelled from his hand into the panther. The beast didn't fall; it was as if its weight had suddenly tripled. It crashed into the dirt with a thunderous thud, its momentum completely neutralized.
The panther roared in confusion and rage. It scrambled to its feet, snapping its jaws at Li Ming's throat. But Li Ming was already inside its guard. He didn't use a fist; he used his palm, pressing it against the beast's chest, right over its spiritual heart.
"You are just a collection of poorly optimized energy," Li Ming said, his voice cold and devoid of fear. "Allow me to recycle you."
The [Law Devouring System] activated with a violent roar. A vortex of grey light erupted from Li Ming's palm, wrapping around the panther like a cocoon of void. The beast screamed—a sound of pure terror as its very existence began to unravel. Its dark fur turned to ash, its muscles were deconstructed into raw vitality, and its dark Qi was stripped of its wild nature.
[Processing... Shadow Essence acquired.]
[Processing... Rank 1 Beast Heart detected. Commencing Core Extraction.]
In seconds, the four-meter predator was gone. In its place, a pile of fine, grey dust settled on the forest floor. Floating above the dust was a brilliant, pulsating orb of violet energy: the Spirit Beast Core.
Li Ming didn't hesitate. He grabbed the core and pressed it into his chest, right over the Blue Dragon tattoo. The heat was immense. He felt like his blood was turning into liquid fire as the core was integrated into his Grey Core.
[System Evolution Initiated...]
[Loading Module: 'Weapon Forge'...]
[10%... 50%... 100%.]
[Success! The 'Materialization' Module is now online.]
A massive holographic library of weapon designs appeared in Li Ming's mind, but he swiped them all away. He didn't want a sword or a saber—those were the tools of the old Dao. He wanted something that could pierce the very fabric of reality.
"I will design my own," he declared.
He began to "write" the weapon's properties into the system. *Length: Two meters. Material: Deconstructed Shadow Essence and Earth Essence. Property: Void Nullification.*
Grey particles began to coalesce in his right hand. They swirled and hardened, taking the form of a long, obsidian-black spear. Its shaft was etched with glowing blue circuits that pulsed like a heartbeat, and the tip was not a blade of metal, but a flickering point of Absolute Zero energy—a hole in the world that swallowed light.
"I shall call this... The Nullifier," Li Ming whispered, feeling the spear's weight. It was an extension of his own soul.
He swung the spear in a wide arc. The air itself seemed to groan as the vacuum edge cut through the atmosphere, leaving a trail of grey mist in its wake. He felt he could cut through the strongest Qi shields with ease.
Suddenly, a sharp ping echoed in his mind.
[Alert: Spatial Disturbance detected at the mountain entrance.]
[Thermal Scan: Five human signatures. Power levels: High. Identifying...]
[Targets: Li Clan Elders (Second and Third Stage of Qi Condensation).]
Li Ming's eyes narrowed. The Li Han incident had finally reached the ears of the high-ranking officials. They weren't sending disciples anymore; they were sending the enforcers—the men who had spent decades following the old Dao.
"Two Elders," Li Ming mused, gripping The Nullifier tighter. "They think they are coming to hunt a rogue servant. They don't realize they are walking into a lab... and they are the specimens."
He didn't hide. He didn't run. Li Ming walked back toward the mountain's edge, his spear glowing with a sinister blue light. The hunt had reversed. The Architect was ready to dismantle the foundations of the Li Clan.
[Energy Level: 85%. All systems optimal.]
[Current Rank: Rank 2 Creator (Ascension Phase).]
"Let them come," Li M
ing said to the darkening forest. "I need more data for my next upgrade."