It has been three long months in the Eastern Tower of the Magec World, time seems to stretch like the shadows on the walls during the solstice.
In this sanctum of arcane knowledge, Joshua had devoted himself to his creation of his foundation: the creation of a cultivation art that would surpass all others.
The ancient tomes that surrounded him had help him with their knowledge, secrets of power and potential that he had woven into his new cultivation technique.
He named it [Manual Iluminación], a name that would spread enlightenment to the worlds he would conquer.
The [Manual Iluminación] is unlike any other cultivation technique. It's a meticulously crafted system that intertwines the cultivation of the body and soul into one singular, harmonious journey.
The concept is revolutionary—instead of the traditional, often arduous path of separately nurturing the two, it proposes a symbiosis that could potentially elevate the user to unprecedented heights.
Not only that, in theory, the [Manual Iluminación] had no limits to its power. It was a concept that could be seen in the Magec World—a cultivation method that could evolve alongside the user, growing infinitely stronger as they progressed.
The thought of it filled him with a thrill that was almost addictive.
The theory is that he made it possible through the ingenious design of the [Manual Iluminación]. The initial stages of training required one to absorb the elusive and volatile Void Essence. This Essence is the energy found in his [VOID] in great quantity, a substance that could amplify one's power to the point of touching the divine.
The key was in the adaptation and control.
The first stages of the [Manual Iluminación] focused solely on the assimilation of the elusive Void Essence. The Essence was drawn into the practitioner's body, coursing through their veins like liquid starlight, filling them with a strength that was not their own.
It was a power so vast and untamed that it could easily consume an unprepared mind. So they need to adapt and take control of this Void Essence, to bend it to their will.
In theory there is no limit to the power one can obtain with the [Manual Iluminación]. As the practitioner's control over the Void Essence grew in quantity, so too would their strength and power. The essence would become a part of them, an extension of their very soul, allowing them to perform feats that could only be described as miracles.
Joshua is proud of his work, the [Manual Iluminación], a cultivation technique that could redefine power of his forces could unleash.
"Hahaha! I alone enjoy this feeling" after laughing, he started to contemplate.
He is aware that the path ahead is fraught with challenges, and he knew his cultivation art had few disadvantages.
The dual cultivation of the soul and body is a delicate dance, requiring a finesse that even the most gifted practitioners would find daunting.
Cultivating the [Manual Iluminación] was a journey that could take decades, a stark contrast to the rapid advancement Joshua was used to.
Unlike traditional martial arts or immortal cultivation art, which often had a clear and linear progression, the [Manual Iluminación] was a labyrinth of interwoven paths that required a deep understanding of both the physical and the metaphysical.
The time it would take to cultivate the [Manual Iluminación] for other people to reach a higher realm is the same rate as that for the martial artist and immortal cultivator reaching higher realms.
The only difference is that the former is much stronger than the latter.
He also could not make high-level cultivators overnight, but he had a plan to circumvent this limitation. Using his clones the 'Noble Knights', he could boost their levels to higher realms because they are the closest to his core.
But there is a limit to even the boundless, as Joshua discovered through a grisly experiment with one of his 'Noble Knights'. He had hoped to push the boundaries of the [Manual Iluminación], to see if it could indeed quickly grant power and higher realms.
And the result was something that haunted him to this day. He had chosen a 'Noble Knight', a clone that had shown exceptional promise, and bombarded it with a concentration of Void Essence that no human should ever endure. The Knight's body began to twist and distort, its eyes glowing with a light that was not of this world.
"aaaAAAAHHH!"
The Knight's screams filled the [VOID], it's voice screeching to the ears. Its skin stretched tight over bulging muscles, and its bones cracked and popped as they reshaped themselves, trying to keep pace with the unnatural growth.
Until ultimately, the Knight's body could not withstand the excessive influx of power and it imploded, the [VOID] filling with the acrid stench of burnt flesh and the sound of shattering bone.
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"$#!+" Joshua curse as he watched in horror as his creation, his hope for a stronger army, was reduced to a pile of flesh. He had pushed too far, too fast. The price of his ambition was a stark reminder of the dangers of unbridled power.
For a moment, he stood there, the silence in the tower echoing the silence in his heart. Then, with a steely resolve, he cleaned away the grisly scene. The loss of the 'Noble Knight' was a setback, but not an end to his pursuit. He knew he had to proceed with caution.
Joshua returned to his experiments with caution for the Void Essence's volatile nature. He focused on refining the process, ensuring that the assimilation of the Void Essence was gradual and controlled. This time he use he remaining 'Noble Knights' and few willing 'Blood Knights' from different worlds to became the subjects of his new approach.
The results were astonishing. His 'Noble Knights' and 'Blood Knights', who had previously cultivated at the same pace as their peers, now progressed at a rate that could only be described as meteoric. In the span of a one month, they had advanced through realms that would take their colleagues a long time to achieve.
The 'Blood Knights', initially skeptical of this new cultivation method, watched as their own power grew exponentially. Of course they need to take a break from time to time to adapt to the sudden infuse of Void Essence, unlike the 'Noble Knights'.
They saw the 'Noble Knights', who were cultivating them at the same time, surpass them with a speed that was almost blinding. The jealousy in their eyes was palpable, but it was quickly replaced with determination.
The overall results of increasing the amount of Void Essence absorbed by the 'Noble Knights' and 'Blood Knights' were indeed remarkable.
If normal people's cultivation speed is 1, then when they are boosted they could increase the speed to 4-5. While his clones' normal cultivation speed is 4-5, then when boosted it increases to 10.
He also tried this method hoping to speed up his cultivation. But when he tried boosting himself, something strange happened. Instead of reaching the expected 10, his speed shot up to an astonishing 20.
Joshua believe that the reason for his astonishing increase in cultivation speed is because his true consciousness, the [VOID], is inhabiting his body. This connection to the boundless energy of the [VOID] allowed him to tap into its power in ways that surpassed his own expectations.
Intrigued by this discovery, he decided to conduct an experiment. He transferred his consciousness into one of the 'Noble Knights', curious to see if it would experience the same acceleration in power. The process was quick, a mental connection that felt like playing VR game character, and the result was astonishing.
The 'Noble Knight' he had chosen, now infused with the Void Essence, began to cultivate at a speed of 20.
He is satisfied with the results, but not complacent. The failure with the first 'Noble Knight' was a stark reminder of the risks involved. He knew that pushing the boundaries of cultivation was fraught with danger, and he wasn't ready to lose more lives in the pursuit of power.
This revelation was a double-edged sword for Joshua.
On one hand, the exponential growth in his 'Noble Knights' and 'Blood Knights' was a testament to the [Manual Iluminación] and the enhanced cultivation was a good sign.
On the other, it highlighted the vast gap between his own power and that of his creations. This disparity weighed heavily on his mind as he observed the changes in his subjects.
He had seen the way his 'Blood Knights' looked at the 'Noble Knights' with jealousy, and he knew it was a natural emotion. But as their power grew, so did their desire for more. It was a hunger that could not be satiated, a flame that could not be easily controlled.
In the back of his mind, a nagging concern grew like a weed in a garden of ambition—what would happen when that jealousy turned to resentment?
He know in the future, some of this people would have emotion that would lead to them betraying him.
Joshua knew that true loyalty could not be forced. Since the emotional capacity of his 'Blood Knights' and his people couldn't be fully eliminated, he had to find a way to ensure their loyalty remained unshakable.
He turned his attention to the [Bio Chip] and [Bloodline Seed], technologies that were as much a part of them as their own flesh and blood.
He could subconsciously mold their loyalties and bonds, a task he approached with the precision of a master gardener. Through the [Bio Chip] and [Bloodline Seed], he began to subtly plant the seeds of camaraderie and loyalty to him, using the same techniques [Hypnosis] and others to a low dosage to avoid detection.
Not only had he programmed the [Bio Chip] and [Bloodline Seed] to monitor their behavior, but he had also created a complex web of fail-safes to prevent any potential betrayal from taking root.
These [Bio Chip] and [Bloodline Seed], embedded in the very fabric of their beings, were like invisible sentinels, vigilant and unforgiving.
They watched, analyzed, and reported back to him, ensuring that the line between loyalty and rebellion remained as clear as the distinction between the light and the dark.
"Perfect! With this set up, he can relax." Joshua mused to himself as he watched the 'Noble Knights' and 'Blood Knights' train under the new cultivation regimen.
He also noted that the [Manual Iluminación] could only be practiced by those who had integrated the [Bio Chip] and [Bloodline Seed] into their bodies. It was a limitation he had anticipated but had not fully appreciated until he saw the stark contrast in results.
Those who did not bear these technologies struggled to absorb even a fraction of the Void Essence that the individuals who are implanted could handle with ease.
You could also train this cultivation art using the UE1, UE2, and UE3 but would have much worse results.
He could also temporary close the connection to the [VOID] so that they could not cultivate the Void Essence when they have reach a limit on their body, they would only able to cultivate after their body have adapted or they are no shows mutation.
He also implemented a boosting service as a reward to boost their levels. But only available when they have achievements and after they are full body scan and found no mutations.
Joshua knew that his personal power was the linchpin to this entire operation. Without a formidable leader, the whole structure could crumble.
He set to work on refining the [Manual Iluminación] for himself, pushing his body and soul to unprecedented levels. Each tier of cultivation brought with it a new set of challenges, a new understanding of the power that lay within the fabric of the universe.
He had created new ranking systems to categorize the power of his subjects, a tiered hierarchy that mirrored the layers of the cultivation levels of cultivators of each world.
The first two tiers, Tier 1-2 , were reserved for those who had merely dipped their toes into the Qi cultivation level and apprentice.
Tier 3-4 is equal to Foundation level and Mage.
Tier 5-6 are those at Earth Immortal/Refining Land Body and Elder Mage.
Every two tiers represents new level of power that is equivalent to other worlds cultivation levels.
