A large group of people approached from the distance. Their clothing was similar to the disciple who had received Chen Xu earlier, all of them wearing thick fur coats.
Logically speaking, cultivators—especially those who entered the Dao through ice—should prefer the cold and dislike the heat. Yet, these Shuanghua Sect cultivators looked as if they were afraid of the cold.
Before Chen Xu could think further, the youth beside him took the initiative to introduce them.
"Exalted One, this is the Sect Leader of our Shuanghua Sect, Daoist Master Tianshuang."
"Hahaha, in the presence of the Exalted One, how could I dare call myself a Daoist Master?"
Tianshuang laughed heartily, displaying a posture of utter humility.
Judging by the aura he radiated, he was likely at the legendary-tier, which was a Void Refinement cultivator.
As for 'Daoist Master', it was a title of respect for Void Refinement cultivators.
"The Exalted One's majestic figure in the south, plucking stars and moons, has truly left Tianshuang in deep admiration. Seeing the Exalted One heading straight north with interest in our Shuanghua Sect, I took the liberty of sending my disciples to invite you."
Chen Xu nodded. Indeed, as Daoist Master Tianshuang said, his goal was the Shuanghua Sect—or rather, the Shuanghua Sect's cultivation techniques.
"Daoist Master Tianshuang is correct. I have come this time seeking something from the Shuanghua Sect."
"Hahaha, to think that our Shuanghua Sect actually has something the Exalted One desires. I wonder what it is? I shall send someone to fetch it immediately."
Seeing Daoist Master Tianshuang being so straightforward, Chen Xu felt a bit sheepish.
"I have heard that the incarnation methods of the Shuanghua Sect are famous throughout the world. I wonder if I might have a look?"
Upon hearing that Chen Xu's goal was the Shuanghua Sect's incarnation cultivation method, the expressions of everyone present froze, and their smiles faltered.
Fortunately, Daoist Master Tianshuang reacted quickly. Within a single breath, he made a decision.
"Hahaha, that is merely the world's overestimation, giving the Ice Heart Incarnation Method of our Shuanghua Sect a bit of hollow fame. Since the Exalted One is interested, why not follow me inside? I have already prepared hot tea. You can enjoy the tea while reading the technique."
"Sect Leader, that is..."
Seeing that Daoist Master Tianshuang was about to agree to Chen Xu's request to view the technique, an elder behind him immediately sent a mental transmission to explain the risks, only to be rebuffed by a sharp look from the Sect Leader.
Chen Xu saw everything, but he didn't care. After all, not everyone's subordinates were undead. Except for undead creatures who possessed infinite loyalty, other beings would more or less have some rebellious tendencies. Even the pure angels serving God had fallen ones who descended into Hell.
"Exalted One, please!"
Chen Xu followed Daoist Master Tianshuang into the inner sanctum of the Shuanghua Sect.
After the two sat down, Daoist Master Tianshuang personally poured tea for Chen Xu while ordering a disciple to go to the Daoist Law Pavilion to fetch a copy of the Ice Heart Incarnation Method.
Before long, a disciple entered respectfully, holding a manual with both hands.
"Sect Leader, the copy of the Ice Heart Incarnation Method has been brought."
Daoist Master Tianshuang pointed toward Chen Xu. "Present it to the Exalted One."
"Yes."
Chen Xu reached out to take the manual and began flipping through it.
The Ice Heart Incarnation Method of the Shuanghua Sect actually used a secret technique to simulate a portion of the soul origin into an ice root, then nurtured this pseudo-ice root within the body. Once the time was ripe, one could proceed to the next step.
One would take a specialty of Shuanghua Island, a natural treasure known as Unmelting Ice.
Unmelting Ice looked no different from an ordinary flower, completely transparent and resembling ice crystals. When mature, the protruding part at the top would bloom into the shape of a lotus.
By operating the Ice Heart Incarnation Method, one would strip the ice root from their body and plant it into the Unmelting Ice. Since roots were innate things carrying a portion of the soul origin, one could cultivate a split soul within the Unmelting Ice.
The original ice root would be replaced by the previously nurtured pseudo-ice root.
The pseudo-ice root nurtured later would naturally have lower cultivation talent than the innate ice root, but this method allowed one to obtain a second body with the Unmelting Ice as its shell.
Unmelting Ice, this innate treasure, was not as rare as a Heaven-Earth Spiritual Root, but it was still a spiritual object born of heaven and earth with limitless potential.
Simply put, the Ice Heart Incarnation Method gave you a high-aptitude alt account. The talent of this alt account could even rival those naturally sacred individuals like the Tianxin successors.
After reading it, Chen Xu understood why the people of the Shuanghua Sect wore thick fur coats. It turned out they had given their ice roots to their second bodies, leaving themselves to cultivate only other roots. No wonder they dressed so warmly.
The technique was indeed good, but there was one problem. This Ice Heart Incarnation Method was strictly tied to ice roots and Unmelting Ice, which was useless to Chen Xu.
What he wanted was a simple and crude soul-splitting external incarnation method. After all, his purpose was to put that nearly perfect Experimental Subject to use rather than letting it go to waste.
Daoist Master Tianshuang noticed the change in Chen Xu's expression and took the initiative to ask.
"Exalted One, is there something inappropriate about this Ice Heart Incarnation Method? Please, speak freely."
Chen Xu shook his head. "There is nothing inappropriate. The Ice Heart Incarnation Method of the Shuanghua Sect lives up to its reputation. No wonder it is one of the Five Great Sects of the Immortal Island. However, what I need is not this type."
"Then what kind of technique does the Exalted One require?"
Daoist Master Tianshuang asked cautiously.
Generally speaking, cultivation techniques involved a cultivator's foundation and were private matters that were difficult to inquire about. However, seeing that Chen Xu did not put on the airs of a high-level expert, Daoist Master Tianshuang blurted it out.
"A technique to cultivate an external incarnation, preferably one that involves cutting the soul and has no specific physical requirements for the body."
Upon hearing Chen Xu's requirement, Daoist Master Tianshuang was somewhat incredulous.
"You mean you want the kind of method that directly splits the soul and places it into any object to be nurtured as an external incarnation?"
"Yes. Does the Shuanghua Sect have such a collection?"
Chen Xu nodded.
"We do, but..."
"But what?"
"Uh, it's nothing. I'll have someone fetch it for the Exalted One first."
Daoist Master Tianshuang called over the previous disciple and sent him to the Daoist Law Pavilion to fetch a scripture.
Chen Xu took the scripture and looked at it.
《Universal Laws of Immortal Cultivation: External Incarnation》?
Chen Xu opened the scripture and began to flip through it.
Beside him, Daoist Master Tianshuang provided an explanation.
"The Universal Laws of Immortal Cultivation are the laws taught to the world by the founder of the Path of Heaven's Heart, Daoist Tianxin, in ancient times. They are the foundation of cultivation in the Immortal Island world, and all subsequent techniques originate from them. One could say they are the source of all laws.
However, preaching laws to everyone meant that anyone could cultivate them. When everyone can cultivate them, there is no uniqueness. Whether you have a fire root or a water root, what you cultivate ends up looking exactly the same.
Consequently, later generations created their own adapted methods based on the foundation of the Universal Laws of Immortal Cultivation.
The chapter regarding the external incarnation in the book in the Exalted One's hand is the source of all incarnation techniques in this world and the one that most fits your requirements."
By the time Daoist Master Tianshuang finished his explanation, Chen Xu had also finished reading the scripture. It was indeed exactly what he was looking for.
The Great Dao is simple. That founding ancestor of the Path of Heaven's Heart, the shared teacher of the Immortal Island cultivators, truly had some skill. He was worthy of being the pioneer of the transcendent system.
Having achieved his goal, Chen Xu couldn't wait to start practicing. After taking out a large handful of ice-attribute treasures, Chen Xu opened a spatial gate and returned to the Undead Kingdom.
He left behind only Daoist Master Tianshuang, whose hair stood on end from the terrifying aura of the Undead Kingdom, standing there unsure of what to do.
Chen Xu arrived at the Overlord's City. Inside his castle, he rummaged through his things and found that perfect creation.
【Skeleton Hero: Bone Guard Ten (Level 1) (Experimental Subject)】
【Skills: Supreme Bone, Kirin Arm, Vajra Legs, Glazed Body, Exquisite Heart】
This physical body, which could be described as defying heaven, was so extraordinary that it could not spontaneously give birth to a soul.
Chen Xu followed the instructions in the scripture and wrapped it with his mental strength, first letting the body familiarize itself with his mental strength fluctuations to reduce subsequent rejection.
As for the time required for this step, it was determined by both the cultivator's soul strength and the physical strength of the external incarnation's body.
The stronger the soul, the shorter the time required. Similarly, the stronger the physical body, the longer the time required.
Chen Xu's soul strength went without saying. With the blessing of the Lord of the Undead's authority and the nourishment of numerous dungeon space fragments, he was simply a heaven-defying existence.
However, this perfect creation was also a heaven-defying existence. Thus, Chen Xu found it difficult to estimate the time.
Fortunately, he had nothing else to attend to recently, so he could settle down and focus on his cultivation.
....
Fifteen days later, Xuan Chu and the others returned to the Undead Kingdom. The teaching at the Linglong Academy was complete, and the final two military arrays had been learned.
At this time, Chen Xu had also successfully completed his cultivation, refining Bone Guard Ten into his external incarnation.
However, Chen Xu could not bring himself to be happy. He wore a troubled expression.
Hunger!
Chen Xu was overwhelmed by an endless sense of hunger. If he hadn't checked repeatedly and found no traces of a curse in his soul...
He would have thought it was some malicious curse placed by that ghoul, Old Insight, before his death.
After gulping down necrotic energy in the Undead Kingdom for a full three days, the hunger had only barely decreased by one point, leaving 999 points still to be resolved.
This physical body had been idle for too long. It had to ingest a massive amount of energy to recover.
Swallowing like this was not a long-term solution. The devouring behavior of Bone Guard Ten had already caught the attention of Zhenyuan. This fellow was also a massive energy consumer. Regarding Bone Guard Ten's food-snatching behavior, Zhenyuan revealed a hint of protective possessiveness over its food.
If Chen Xu hadn't been standing right next to Bone Guard Ten, Zhenyuan would likely have held a Yin Stone and suppressed Bone Guard Ten on the spot.
"Forget it."
Chen Xu let out a sigh. Relying solely on absorbing necrotic energy, it would take forever to eliminate the hunger.
It was better to return to Daxia and see if Xia Qiming and the others had any good ideas. Or perhaps ask Big Boss and the others; buying a bunch of high-energy food would also work.
Just as Chen Xu opened a spatial gate to return to Daxia, Xuan Chu sent a soul message.
"My Lord, the enemy is attacking."
Rate on N.U.
