You, a living person, are telling me I've served in the underworld for ten years?

Hearing this explanation, the wariness in Jiang He's eyes eased slightly, and he nodded slowly.

"I see.

In that sense, we're kindred spirits.

"Miss Liu, do you know anything else specific about this core area? For example, roughly where are the important relics located? And what form will the final trial take?"

Liu Piaopiao shook her head apologetically.

"Unfortunately, this is all I know in general terms. The specific location and trial content are vague in the family records, and I'm afraid we'll only know the details once we actually trigger it or find the entrance."

Moreover, my compass is malfunctioning here and can't provide any further guidance.

Uncle Li stroked his beard and said in a deep voice.

It's alright.

Since we're here, let's make the best of it. There's strength in numbers; let's explore carefully.

"For now, everyone should rest well and conserve their energy. It's getting late, so let's camp on this cliff tonight. It has a wide view, is easy to defend, and relatively safe."

Chen Yang agreed.

"Uncle Li is right."

Everyone, take this time to rest and recharge, and get back to your best condition. Tomorrow morning, we'll set off again to explore this new area.

Whether what lies ahead is opportunity or challenge, we will face it together.

Qiu Niu, Xing San, Su Meng, and others echoed their agreement.

After going through a series of life-or-death trials and arduous journeys, everyone has finally reunited and found a temporary safe haven. Everyone feels a rare sense of relaxation and peace of mind.

The group quickly found a suitable sheltered spot on the cliff, set up a simple perimeter, and then sat down cross-legged, took some pills, and began to circulate their internal energy to recover the physical and mental strength they had expended on the journey.

As night deepened, the cliff was utterly silent except for the faint sounds of breathing and the distant, indistinct whisper of the wind.

The chilling roars of monsters and chaotic sounds from the other side seemed to belong to another world.

Chen Yang also closed his eyes to regulate his breathing, but his mind was not fully immersed in the practice.

Just then, from the depths of her consciousness, Li Rou's clear voice, carrying a hint of relief after completing a major mission, rang out.

"Owner."

Chen Yang's heart stirred, and he immediately withdrew his divine sense and responded in his sea of ​​consciousness.

"Li Rou? What happened? Is it the refining of the soul blood...?"

"We will live up to your expectations."

Li Rou's voice carried a faint hint of a smile.

“All the restrictive runes in that drop of ‘soul blood’ have been completely permeated, disintegrated, and refined by my soul power. Now, it is completely pure and has established the most stable connection with my soul power, as well as with your soul indirectly through me.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Yang felt an overwhelming surge of excitement! He had succeeded! He had finally succeeded!
He suppressed the turmoil in his heart and asked urgently in his mind.

"Li Rou, does that mean... that blessed land now... theoretically belongs to me?"

"Theoretically, yes."

Li Rou answered affirmatively.

"By refining this drop of 'soul blood,' which serves as the core hub and proof of inheritance, you will obtain the 'key' to the highest authority of that blessed land."

However, to truly and completely control it and make it your 'ownership', one final step is required—the rite of atonement.

This requires you to personally enter the core hub of that space and use the refined soul blood as a guide to complete the final binding.

"Do you need me to come in?"

Chen Yang immediately replied.

"Then let's..."

There's no rush.

Leaving Judo.

"The process of recognizing the Lord requires absolute silence and cannot be disturbed in any way, and may cause some spatial fluctuations."

It would be best to wait until late at night, when your companions are in deep meditation or asleep. Also, I need some time to organize the latest information about that space that I obtained after refining the soul blood.”

After calming down, Chen Yang realized that Li Rou's considerations were thorough.

"Okay, then let's wait until the middle of the night."

Time slowly passed as we waited.

On the cliff, Qiuniu was already snoring softly, and Xing San and Su Meng were also breathing steadily and deeply, having entered a deep state of meditation.

Liu Piaopiao, Jiang He, and Uncle Li were also silent, clearly focused on their recovery.

Judging that it was about time, Chen Yang quietly opened his eyes.

He glanced at his sleeping or meditating companions around him, then carefully stood up from his meditation spot without making a sound. Like a shadow in the dark, he silently left the camp and came to a more secluded corner on the other side of the cliff, hidden by several boulders.

After confirming that the surroundings were safe and no one was paying attention, Chen Yang had a thought and communicated with the Sumeru pendant on his chest.

The next moment, he felt that the barrier between himself and the Sumeru space seemed to become clearer and more active than ever before? He concentrated and tried to probe the Sumeru space with his divine sense as usual.

However, this time it felt completely different!

It was as if he had pushed open a door that had been sealed for a long time, yet fit perfectly. His consciousness entered it without any hindrance and instantly felt an unprecedented sense of vastness and vitality!
Is this... is this still his Sumeru space, which is only a few dozen cubic meters in size and is mainly used to store miscellaneous items?
Suppressing his shock, Chen Yang no longer hesitated. His figure flickered slightly on the spot, then vanished silently like water merging into the ocean, entering the "Sumeru Space" that had undergone earth-shattering changes.

The moment his consciousness entered, Chen Yang felt an unprecedented shock and unfamiliarity!

Where was this the familiar, simple Sumeru space that was only a few dozen cubic meters in size, filled with miscellaneous items and a small amount of resources?
What lay before me was a small world that was beginning to take shape!
Although it is far from being vast and boundless, it is dozens of times larger than before! As far as the eye can see, there are low mountain outlines undulating in the distance, and silvery streams flowing between the mountains, converging into a small lake.

The ground was no longer an empty "ground," but covered with soft soil and lush green grass, and even scattered with some short, strange plant seedlings that emitted a faint spiritual light.

The air was no longer filled with stagnant, inert spiritual energy used only for storing items, but rather with a vibrant energy flow carrying a faint sense of life and freshness.

Occasionally, one or two ethereal figures resembling butterflies or small birds, made of pure spiritual energy, can be seen fluttering by. Although they lack agility, they add a touch of vitality to this newly born world.

"This...this is..."

Chen Yang's spiritual body stood in the center of this space, looking around, almost unable to believe his "eyes".

Li Rou's illusory figure quietly condensed beside him. Looking at this brand-new space, a smile of satisfaction and relief appeared on her usually cold face.

"Master, welcome to the 'Sumeru Space' after you initially refined the 'Soul Blood,' which resonated deeply with the origin of that blessed land, resulting in feedback, expansion, and reshaping." "The effects of refining are this significant?"

Chen Yang still found it unbelievable.

"Could my Sumeru Space... grow into a truly new blessed land in the future?"

"Theoretically, it is entirely possible."

Li Rou nodded affirmatively.

"That drop of 'soul blood' contains not only the access key to an ancient blessed land, but also the 'seeds' of some of its original rules and spatial structure."

When you successfully refine it and guide its power to merge with your Sumeru space, it's as if you've infused your originally simple storage space with the 'potential' and 'blueprint' to grow into a small world. In the future, as your cultivation improves, you continuously invest resources, refine the rules, and condense your essence, it may indeed gradually evolve into a truly independent blessed land that belongs entirely to you.

Chen Yang was deeply moved, but then a question came to mind.

"Wait, Li Rou. You're talking about the 'future'."

"And what about this ancient, blessed land we've just acquired? Does it also need me to refine it step by step like this? How much time and effort would that take?"

Li Rou explained.

"Now, this complete blessed land, its 'ownership' has been transferred to you after refining the soul blood."

However, to fully 'digest' it and perfectly and without rejection integrate it into your growing 'seed space,' making it a part of your own blessed land rather than a simple 'subsidiary secret realm,' does require a process.

The speed of this process... depends on how far the next 'conferring of God' ceremony can go.

"A ritual of recognizing a master?"

Chen Yang grasped the key point.

"right.

Right here, at the core of this space, reborn from the influence of soul blood.

Li Rou pointed to a spot not far ahead, where a more solid miniature teleportation array with more complex runes had appeared out of nowhere. At the array's core, a sphere of chaotic light was slowly rotating, emanating an aura that shared the same origin as this newly formed world, yet was even more ancient and profound.

"I will guide and manifest it here. Next, you need to use the soul blood you have refined as a guide to actively communicate with and draw upon the core source power of the complete blessed land, and attempt a deep 'fusion and recognition'."

If successful, the essence of the two spaces will rapidly merge. The vast majority of the essence of that complete blessed land, including its many resources and even some sealed treasures, could be directly attracted and transferred to your growing world, greatly accelerating its evolution. It might even allow you to possess a fairly mature "prototype of a blessed land" all at once!

"That sounds amazing!"

A glint of light flashed in Chen Yang's eyes.

"What if...it fails? Will the recognition of the Lord completely fail?"

Li Rou shook her head.

"Assuming you have already refined the soul blood, the recognition of the master itself will not 'fail'."

Because you already have the permissions.

The so-called 'failure' refers to the fact that the depth and speed of integration do not meet expectations. It may be that only a stable master-slave connection has been established, and that complete blessed land has become a stable 'subsidiary secret realm' or 'resource area' for your world, but its core essence and evolutionary potential have not been fully transferred.

Like a gardener tending to seedlings, you need to continuously refine, guide, and transport the nutrients from that blessed land little by little over the long years to promote the growth of your own space.

This process will be much slower and will require your continued focus and attention.

"A few years..."

Chen Yang pondered.

On the path of cultivation, a few years may not seem like a long time, but right now they are in a trial ground fraught with danger. The sooner they can acquire more powerful trump cards, the greater their chances of survival and obtaining opportunities will be.

"Therefore, you need to give it your all in the upcoming ceremony to achieve the best possible outcome."

Li Rou looked at him, her tone solemn.

"I will assist you from the sidelines, stabilize the space, and guide the source."

But the core communication and integration must be led by you.

"I understand."

Chen Yang took a deep breath, his eyes hardening.

"Let's begin!"

Li Rou said no more and led Chen Yang's consciousness to the miniature teleportation array and the chaotic light sphere.

As instructed, Chen Yang sat cross-legged in front of the formation, clearing his mind of all distractions and sinking his consciousness into the depths of his sea of ​​consciousness to establish a connection with the drop of pure "soul blood" that had been completely refined and was like an extension of his own soul.

At the same time, Li Rou's illusory figure floated down beside Chen Yang, her hands forming mysterious hand seals, and her mouth chanting ancient and obscure syllables.

A pure and vast soul power, carrying the mysterious meaning of star trails, emanated from her body, like the softest yet most resilient net, slowly enveloping the entire miniature teleportation array and the chaotic sphere of light, and also subtly protecting Chen Yang within it.

"Master, channel your divine sense into that 'source core' ahead through your soul blood."

Do not resist; try to perceive, embrace, and guide the ancient, primordial power it contains, regarding it as part of your own space, and invite it 'home.'

Li Rou's voice rang out directly in Chen Yang's mind, clear and steady.

Chen Yang did as instructed.

He carefully separated a wisp of his purest divine consciousness, carrying the unique aura and authority fluctuations of the soul blood, and like the gentlest tentacle, slowly reached out towards the chaotic, misty ball of light.

The instant divine sense touched the sphere of light—

"Buzz—!!!"

It was as if a huge rock had been thrown into a calm lake!

The chaotic sphere of light suddenly burst forth with a dazzling yet not blinding radiance!

Countless intricate and complex illusory runes, seemingly containing the ultimate truths of heaven and earth, surged forth from it and spun wildly around Chen Yang!

A vast, ancient, and pure primordial power, yet carrying a hint of resistance and confusion, was like a sleeping dragon being awakened. It surged into Chen Yang's sea of ​​consciousness through his divine connection, and then swept over every corner of his newly created world!
Chen Yang trembled violently! His consciousness instantly became blurred and unstable!

He felt as if he had become a bridge connecting two worlds: one was a newborn, tender, yet full of potential "seed," and the other was an ancient, massive, yet ownerless "body."

Ancient primordial power surged forth, carrying its inherent rules, memories, and strength, attempting to assimilate and even overwhelm the newly born space.

The newly created space, supported by Chen Yang's will and soul blood, strives to absorb, adapt to, and transform these external forces, turning them into nutrients for its own growth!
This process was incredibly difficult!

Chen Yang's mental energy was being consumed like a floodgate opening! (End of Chapter)