Chapter 305: Foundations
Hui reached out with his mental energy as he ran through the forest. First clone!
There was a pause. After a moment, familiar mental energy met his, the first clone only giving him his attention, but no more.
Five other clones are awake, besides us. If you circulate Mount Mus inheritance, you can meet them. And you probably should. We would all benefit from the storage ring being on the tree-net. New novel chapters are published on
Acknowledgement. Distantly, he felt first clone allocate a little of his mental energy outside of studying the array.
If I had to guess, first clone has the most mental energy of all of us. Ah thats not a complaint. Thats good. After all, we need to allocate the majority of our mental energy to figuring out the arrays. Though... I also feel like he has a larger portion of all the resources.
Hmm he is first clone, after all! Hes probably the closest to true Hui of all of us. In fact, thats the majority of true Huis soul, right? I and all the other clones are the remaining portion of true Huis soul, divided evenly along with the rest of his remaining resources.
I dont think first clone was aware of us other clones. After all, neither was I. But surely he would notice his resources diminishing?
At that, a node in the back of his head activated, and he felt first clones signature again. I noticed my resources diminishing significantly several timeswhenever one of you woke up, I now realize. I didnt have the time to investigate, so I didnt know the cause until now. Ill alert you and all the clones, every time I feel it diminishing from here on out.
Hui tensed slightly. First clones resources are diminishing significantly? What happens if he runs out? After all, rather than a true clone like myself, hes basically a second body for true Hui. Its a silly demarcation to make, perhaps, since we all have some of true Huis soul, qi, and other resources, making us all essentially true Hui, but he has the largest portion, and should maintain his position as the largest portion, since he has the most important job. Hmm we have to make sure to allocate resources back to first clone! We cant afford to give up on studying the array!
This time, the node buzzed with acknowledgments from all the clones. Hui felt a pulse of life qi pass through the node, then a few ducks worth of death qi. First clone replied with a polite thanks, but they all understood: he needed more. If the other six clones wake up simultaneously, hehe might even vanish!
Speaking of, wont we all get weaker if too many clones awaken? Theres probably an absolute limit for how many clones can exist unless we all gather external resources and independently grow stronger. Ill put resource-gathering on my to-do list. Both for myself, and first clone!
Thats definitely an urgent sidequest, topping up first clone. I cant let my future clones waste away, nor allow first clone to vanish!
Mmm, and if the clones back on Unrivaled Peak wake up anyways, urgently top up first clone! High priority, no deadline!
It would be nice to get an update on main bodys revival, though. I need to fetch my heart from Gui Delun at some point well, if one of the clones manages to infiltrate All-Heavens Sect, thats halfway there. Although I could regrow a new heart, or even continue without a heart, supporting my body with cultivation alone, II strongly feel as if Id lose something. Some essential part of myself. At the very least, Id be weaker without my original heart, and Gui Delun might be able to implicate my karma with something as vital as my heart lying around. Anywayswe need that heart!
But Im not one of the clones on the heart-route. My job is to figure out Fu Liyus soul array and apply that comprehension to the first clones. And the crucial element to that is the banquet for Bai Xue in three days.
Pushing his thoughts to the back of his mind, Hui hurried through the forest. The further he went, the thicker the qi around him became. Subconsciously, he circulated the void technique and absorbed the qi. Compared to Unrivaled Peak, or even the outer sect, the qi was incredibly thin, but after wandering through an area with little qi for so long, it felt like water on a parched throat, or his first bite of ramen after starving for days, waiting for payday.
Hmm. I understand that. Itll be hard to see Zhubi as the same silly snake if hes also human, after all. I know its a silly thing to get hung up on, since hes already intelligent enough to manifest, but theres some parts of my psychology that happen subconsciously that I cant really control. If I see human Zhubi, can I still happily let him slither over my body? Even if he had a human form, hed still be a snake at the core, but There shouldnt be a difference, and yet, I cant deny the possibility that things will change.
But at the same time, in some novels er, worlds, spirit beasts struggle to cultivate if they dont manifest. I dont want to be the force that holds Zhubi back. Hui gave Zhubi a concerned look and gently stroked the snakes head. If you dont manifest, will it slow your cultivation? Cause any troubles or blockages for you?
Zhubi shook his head.
Hui shrugged. In that case, do what you want. Whether you manifest or not, youre Zhubi. My snake.
Zhubi hissed. His look turned reproachful.
Ha! Its harder than being told what to do? I understand. But Zhubi, youre a cultivator, too. You, too, need to find your own path to trod er, slither down.
Zhubi tilted his head. He thought for a moment, then nodded. Uncurling from Huis arm, he dropped to the ground and went back to wiggling around, putting the matter away for now.
Hui snorted gently. If only my problems were so simple.
Time passed. The sun sunk below the horizon. As it sunk, Ying Lins meditation reached a crucial point. The qi around her boiled, rushing toward her in a whirlpool. Hui turned his attention to her, watching closely, ready to step in if things became too dangerous.
Ying Lins brows furrowed. The qi rushed into her dantian, circulating faster and faster. Her breathing turned heavy, and her body began to tremble. Hui quickly cast his senses over her and understood. Shes taking in too much qi. Her body is overcapacity.
Ying Lin, cut back. Refuse some of the qi, Hui cautioned her.
Ying Lin continued to tremble. She grit her teeth. Steam rose off her skin as the qi overheated and her passages began to break down.
Dammit, she cant hear me! Hui stepped forward and rested a hand on her head. He gently pushed a bit of life qi into her, circulating it around her qi passages rather than through them. Her body rapidly absorbed the life qi and instantly used it to reinforce her qi passages and dantian. Ying Lins brows unfurrowed. She relaxed. The flow continued, but she could handle it now.
A brilliant flash of light burst around her, then faded. When it left, the whirlpool of qi vanished, too, but in its place, Ying Lin had formed qi passages and solidified her dantian. Qi circulated within them, already moving at its own pace.
She opened her eyes and looked up at Hui. Calm confidence glowed in the depths of her gaze, and she smiled a small, exhausted smile. I did it.
Hui beamed back at her. You did.