NOVEL NEXT Chapter 339 Recruiting
"Refining Void."
Alkaid said softly.
The very process itself was one that could be broken through with continuous cultivation. Before a cultivator like Alkaid, whose "realm" had long surpassed the norm, breaking through this stage was just as natural and inevitable as water flowing into a channel.
It didn't even stir up much of a ripple.
The flight path of the warship wasn't affected in the slightest.
"Refining Void means extracting energy and mass from the Void, from nothingness. The Void is the foundation that carries all the Great Dao; even when it contains nothing, its essence is still influenced by the Great Dao. The Refining Void realm is about tapping into one's Dao seed to separate this kind of energy..."
Alkaid smiled and said, "If I were to put it in scientific terms, at this moment, I have mastered what is known as zero-point energy."
At this stage, the energy theory grasped by a cultivator was theoretically close to infinite.
Of course, that was just in theory.
The Refining Void Realm was still far from truly infinite energy.
"If the most important thing in the Hollow Void Realm is to condense out the Dao seed and use the Cave Heaven as a foundation to create a soil that can accommodate the survival of the Dao seed, then from Refining Void to Shattered Void, it's about constantly drawing on the Void Force... or rather, the Power of the Great Dao carried by the Void Force, to irrigate the Dao seed, making the Dao seed grow robustly. In the process of the Dao seed's growth, the Cave Heaven is also fortified, allowing it to hold a greater mass..."
Alkaid stood up.
With a thought, he appeared directly on the deck of the warship.
The entire process went unnoticed by everyone.
Even Qi Sha, the Hollow Void Elder, was no exception.
"Consolidating a Void Dao Seed with the Dao Technique 'Void Blink,' I've skipped the step of using the Cave Heaven's power to drive the Void Force... Now, unless I encounter a Shattered Void Realm powerhouse who can shatter the Void, even if I fall into a siege of ten or eight Refining Voids, I can safely retreat,"
Alkaid sensed the Dao seed that had condensed from "Void Blink."
He now had this confidence.
"Additionally, my Dao Technique realm can also see some advancement. Although it's somewhat difficult for my current Cave Heaven to drive Great Success Level Dao Techniques, it's not a problem with the right Dao Artifact to assist. Especially with the 'Supreme Human Emperor' Dao Technique, if I can master it, it could support the consumption of Great Success Level Dao Techniques. By then, on the battlefield, I may not be inferior to those in the Shattered Void, and at most, I just won't be able to match the endurance of a true Shattered Void."
Alkaid weighed his options.
And to improve Dao Technique mastery...
It was not about diligent practice but about advancing the progress of "Immortal Path: Shattering Void."
He estimated that once the progress of "Immortal Path: Shattering Void" reached 80%, it wasn't just about the six Dao Techniques he currently possessed; even if the other 1,082 Dao Techniques were all brought to the Great Achievement Realm, it wouldn't be an issue.
"Hall Master."
At that moment, a somewhat surprised voice came through.
Then, with excitement, the voice said, "Hall Master, you have left seclusion."
Alkaid glanced at him.
A cultivator from the Heavenly Casualty War Hall with a Deep Blue Golden Core, named Yang Feng, was one of the younger Deep Blue Golden Core cultivators at only around 500 years old.
"Mhm."
Alkaid acknowledged with a brief word.
He quickly calculated and realized that, without knowing it, he had been in closed-door cultivation for three years.
Right away, his Divine Sense found Qi Sha and, after getting his attention, the Hollow Void promptly appeared on the deck.
"Hall Master!"
As Qi Sha saluted, his gaze fell on Alkaid, and his eyes were full of conjecture and uncertainty.
Alkaid didn't bother to explain.
Although he had reached the Refining Void Realm, the cultivation at this stage required resource accumulation, which was bound to be progressive and not as drastic as the leap from Golden Core to Hollow Void, which immediately presented a significant difference.
A newly advanced Refining Void compared to the peak of Hollow Void was only stronger in terms of the Dao Technique realm and the faster conversion of Cave Heaven's power.
Take combat power as an example.
The combat power of Hollow Void often ranged from 10 million to 20 million.
And for Refining Void...
It was 20 million to 50 million.
Alkaid estimated that without bolstering other aspects and without increasing the mass of the Cave Heaven, the breakthrough of the realm had only granted him a combat power boost of around 5 million.
After all...
His lifebound Daoist Art was not well-suited for combat.
"Has anything major happened in these three years?"
Alkaid asked.
"The Heavenly Casualty War Hall has been peaceful. Everyone's cultivation has improved a lot in the past three years. We also occasionally find some members of the Demon Race to spar with, getting used to the increased power; it's been quite fulfilling,"
Qi Sha promptly replied.
"What about the Heavenly Dao Sect?"
Alkaid asked.
"We have only been out for four years. In such a short time, the Heavenly Dao Sect has not interfered. However, Elder Shu Chunqiu sent a message through someone, saying that recently, the border between the Outer Sea and the Deep Sea of the Deep Blue Sea has been chaotic. He cautioned us to be careful in our actions,"
Qi Sha replied.
Alkaid nodded.
Four years.
For a Hollow Void with a lifespan of ten thousand years, that's roughly equivalent to just over a dozen days in the concept of an ordinary person.
The information transmitted by Elder Shu Chunqiu at that time... is somewhat interesting.
Alkaid smiled and said, "Is the chaos at the border between the Outer Sea and the Deep Sea caused by that Heaven-Devouring Demon King? The cold Deputy Sect Master still hasn't captured that Demon King?"
"Correct!"
Qi Sha was invigorated when he spoke of this matter: "The Penglai Immortal Sect has offered a reward almost equivalent to a Dao Artifact for these few Demon Kings, which indeed attracted many Hollow Void, and even Void Refinement powerhouses to devise strategies. However, within the ranks of the Heaven-Devouring Demon King, there is a Demon King that is a Dao-kind Cicada, naturally extremely sensitive to the melodies of the Dao and the power of Dao seeds. Even with three Void Refinement and more than a dozen Hollow Void cultivators reaching the Outer Sea, they still couldn't drag out the Heaven-Devouring Demon King and his group. Instead, this Demon King-led group seized the opportunity to trap three Hollow Void cultivators who were alone, and once again flexed their ferocity!"
"Another three Hollow Voids were lost?"
Alkaid was somewhat surprised.
"Two were lost, who were Hollow Void Cultivators from the Immortal Martial Sect and Dashang; the Hollow Void from the Three Pure Sanctuaries managed to endure until Void Refinement came to aid, preserving their life, but their Cave Heaven nearly collapsed. It's uncertain whether it can be restored."
As Qi Sha spoke, he chuckled: "It's also because of the news he brought that the world learned there is a Dao-kind Cicada among the Demon Race led by the Heaven-Devouring Demon King."
"Dao-kind Cicada."
Alkaid was somewhat reflective.
The Demon Race is diverse with many strange forms of life easily born. Although most of these beings have low intelligence and find cultivation difficult, from time to time, there are those with exceptional natural gifts.
The Dao-kind Cicada is one of them.
They are naturally exceedingly perceptive to the melodies of the Dao, the Great Dao, and Dao seeds.
If they wish, even Hollow Void and Void Refinement cultivators, including those at the Shattered Void stage, simply cannot get close to them.
The moment an enemy approaches, they have already sensed it and stealthily slip away.
"Unless a Dao Lord takes action and directly erases a region, there's really no solution for cultivators against such creatures," Alkaid said.
"Isn't it?" said Qi Sha, nodding his head, "The Dao-kind Cicada's perception of the Great Dao involves the Soul Dao, which is one of the core Daos just below the four Supreme Daos and also a very prominent one, the profundity of which is extraordinary."
As he heard Qi Sha's words, Alkaid had a thought. His progress in "Immortal Path: Shattering Void" was only at 4%, and within this 4% of information, there were not many Dao Techniques that reached the Great Success level, but True Spirit's Light, which pointed directly to the Soul Dao, was among them.
No matter how talented the Demon King who cultivated from the Dao-kind Cicada is, at the Hollow Void Stage, the maximum enhancement of its Lifebound Daoist Art to a minor success level is the limit.
With his True Spirit's Light that reflects the soul's fluctuations and his keen Perception of good and evil intentions...
Perhaps he could give it a try?
Currently, this group led by the Heaven-Devouring Demon King is even affecting the Penglai Immortal Sect's expansion strategies. If he could kill this Demon King, not only would he repay the Penglai Dao Lord for his assistance, but he would also earn nearly 4.8 billion Contribution Value, equivalent to a Dao Artifact. Why not?
"Let's go, set out, we should join in the fun."
Alkaid immediately ordered.
"Us?"
Qi Sha was slightly startled.
He glanced at Alkaid: "You've already planted your Dao seed, so you might not be able to lure out the Heaven-Devouring Demon King successfully."
"Why lure it out? Maybe I can find that Demon King," Alkaid waved his hand dismissively, "Alright, start up the warship, and head to the Outer Sea."
After speaking, he glanced over the warship: "The standard issue warship from the Thirty-six Battle Halls of Heavenly Dao Sect is ultimately lacking. It lacks speed, defense, firepower, and the living space and comfort are also subpar. Compared to my Dragon Steed Flying Boat, it is far behind. Although the Dragon Steed Flying Boat isn't great in defense and firepower either, it's unbeatable in speed and comfort. If we can successfully lure out the Heaven-Devouring Demon King this time and kill him in one fell swoop, the Contribution Values we get will enable us to acquire materials to rebuild this warship from the Heavenly Casualty War Hall."
He smiled and said: "The Heavenly Casualty War Hall belongs to my first force, how can it not be equipped with a Dao Artifact-level Warship? How else can it match my status?"
"A Dao Artifact-level Warship? Status!?" Qi Sha's pupils dilated sharply.
A Dao Artifact-level Warship to match his status?
What exactly is his status?
A Vice Sect Leader who has broken through to the Void Refinement Realm?
Or...
An Artifact Sage capable of refining Dao Artifacts?
These speculations became incessant in Qi Sha's mind.
For a moment, knowing it might be presumptuous, he still couldn't hold back and asked, "Junior Sect Leader... you... you couldn't have... broken through?"
Alkaid looked at him and, intending to recruit him for the Heavenly Casualty War Hall, did not hide the truth, slightly nodding, "Correct."
Even with some prior inkling, Qi Sha still widened his eyes in disbelief, his face showing the incredulity: "Refined... Refinement Void! This... you've broken through to Refinement Void?"
Alkaid smiled: "Considering the time, it has been ten years since my breakthrough to Hollow Void. Ten years, from Hollow Void to Void Refinement Realm... that's reasonable, isn't it?"
Reas... Reasonable?
Breaking through to Hollow Void and from Hollow Void to Void Refinement in ten years, that's reasonable?
Reasonable my foot!
"How is this possible..."
"Qi Sha." Experience more content on My Virtual Library Empire
At this moment, Alkaid suddenly spoke: "During our time together, I've seen that you conduct yourself differently from the other cultivators of the Northern Sea Star. You have your own principles, and it's precisely because of this, despite your exceptional talent, your life hasn't proceeded as hoped for. But... it's exactly this kind of integrity that I value."
He became slightly more serious: "I have achieved Void Refinement and will soon ascend to Deputy Sect Master, and I will likely head to the Southern Region to take command. I am in need of capable individuals by my side. Therefore, I wish to take you with me. What do you think?"