Inside the secluded cultivation chamber, Xu Bai sat cross-legged on the floor paved with top-grade spirit stones.
He first placed the red string in front of him, then took a deep breath to calm his slightly excited emotions.
After all, ever since he had fortuitously obtained the Canghai Pearl years ago, it had been a long time since he had casually picked up another treasure.
Xu Bai narrowed his eyes and carefully recalled the entire sequence of events and details from his journey to the Empire, reviewing them several times.
“It shouldn’t be a scheme by Xiao Qing and the others. This time, I was the one who actively sought them out, and it was also my own idea to request to see Xu Ke’s relics.”
“Moreover, they genuinely seemed unaware of the peculiar properties of the red string…”
After pondering for a long time and finding no flaws in the situation, Xu Bai did not immediately touch the red string. Instead, he first took out the Bookworm.
Like a living creature, the book flipped its pages on its own, projecting numerous texts and images above it.
“Holy Blood turns into fetus…”
“As expected of the one highly regarded by Mr. Bai, the very person who established the entire Exotic Beast Empire. The profundity of this Holy Blood Embryo Transformation technique is nearly on par with any top-tier clone technique.”
The Mysterious True Spirit Transformation technique creates clones by directly refining flesh and blood using rare natural treasures. It then infuses them with divine consciousness while severing the connection between the clone and the original body, forming an entirely independent entity.
However, the Holy Blood Embryo Transformation technique could create an identical fleshly body purely by cultivating one’s own blood essence and flesh—without relying on spiritual energy or divine consciousness.
The entire process resembled limb regeneration. But instead of regrowing a severed limb, it regenerated an entirely new self.
Until the clone completely detached from the original body, it remained connected by flesh and blood, much like the process of human reproduction. Because of this resemblance, Xu Ke named the technique Holy Blood Embryo.
Xu Bai then retrieved three key materials from his storage ring, which were necessary for catalyzing the Holy Blood Embryo Transformation technique:
Eternal Dragon Blood
Brahma Consciousness Divine Worm
Core of Pure Light
The original Holy Blood Embryo Transformation technique, as passed down by Xu Ke, was designed for mortals with no cultivation. Consequently, the gestation process for the Holy Embryo, or next generation, was quite slow—typically taking over half a year to fully mature.
During this period, the host had to consume large amounts of highly nourishing medicinal herbs and meat to sustain the normal growth of the Holy Embryo.
However, after thousands of years of imperial research, successive emperors discovered ways to accelerate the process by utilizing the extraordinary traits of various exotic beasts.
Eternal Dragon Blood greatly enhances the circulation of blood and energy, shortening the incubation period from over half a year to just a month—or even a few days.
Brahma Consciousness Divine Worm replenishes spiritual exhaustion.
Core of Pure Light, when implanted within the Holy Embryo, ensures that it remains free from disease or calamity during gestation.
“Every method has its pros and cons. While external assistance significantly reduces the time needed to cultivate the Holy Embryo, it also introduces numerous drawbacks. Due to the rapid growth process, these fast-incubated Holy Embryos are nearly identical to the original body, essentially making them indistinguishable from clones—just as Xiao Qing mentioned.”
“On the other hand, the original Holy Blood Embryo Transformation technique allowed the Holy Embryo to develop its own consciousness over the years, making it more like a separate individual rather than an exact replica of the original body.”
“Which of these two approaches is superior? It’s hard to say.”
Xu Bai swept his gaze over the three materials, contemplating silently.
“Regardless, the accelerated method is precisely what I need right now.”
He swallowed the Eternal Dragon Blood and silently activated the Holy Blood Embryo technique.
A scorching sensation surged through his abdomen, spreading like a blazing current to every part of his body in an instant.
Squelch…
A massive lump of flesh suddenly protruded from Xu Bai’s back.
The flesh wriggled incessantly within the swelling tumor, which rapidly expanded from the size of a fist to that of an infant in the blink of an eye.
Fortunately, the clothes Xu Bai wore were the Pure Glaze Garment, refined by Fang Zaiji, which could withstand attacks at the Dao Integration level. This spared him the embarrassment of his clothes being destroyed.
The Holy Blood Embryo Transformation technique allowed any part of the body to serve as the growth point for the Holy Embryo, depending on one’s intention.
Throughout the history of the empire, different emperors had their own preferences. Xu Bai chose his back.
Perhaps it was influenced by the scene he had witnessed when he was still a Foundation Establishment cultivator, being hunted by a red-haired Nascent Soul cultivator—where the shadow of a baby, hunched like a parasite, clung to the back of a volcanic cave.
“There is no vitality from the mutual reinforcement of the Five Elements, only a state of extreme hyperactivation of the flesh and blood, breaking past the normal limits of cell division.”
“The so-called Eternal Dragon is merely a long flood dragon that has atavistically awakened the Azure Divine Dragon bloodline. Yet, even so, it still has such a significant effect on Nascent Soul cultivators.”
Xu Bai felt a crawling itch spreading across his back, like countless ants scurrying over his skin, which made him inwardly startled.
The scorching Eternal Dragon Blood surged ceaselessly through his body.
In the blink of an eye, seven days had passed.
The tumor-like mass on Xu Bai’s back had begun to take on a vaguely human shape.
In his perception, the Holy Embryo now felt entirely like an extension of his own body, something he could manipulate at will.
With just a thought, the Holy Embryo moved accordingly, performing various actions as he intended. However, since it had not yet fully developed, it resembled a veiled figure with indistinct facial features, carrying an eerie, unsettling aura.
“It’s time.”
Having completely familiarized himself with the Holy Embryo, Xu Bai guided the Core of Pure Light with his divine sense, moving it slowly toward the fleshy growth.
The raised mass of flesh seemed to offer no resistance.
Without any obstruction, the Core of Pure Light burrowed directly into it.
Xu Bai could clearly sense that the chaotic, uncontrolled proliferation of flesh within the Holy Embryo was gradually calming down.
The Core of Pure Light began dissolving into the flesh, causing the bulging growth on Xu Bai’s back to faintly radiate a white glow.
Limbs and facial features started forming from within the Holy Embryo.
Thus, after more than half a day, a smooth, humanoid figure appeared on Xu Bai’s back.
It was described as “smooth” because, at that moment, it lacked even a single strand of hair.
Not even the natural folds of skin were present.
It was like a flawless sculpture carved from white jade, emitting a soft, pale glow.
“Now, for the final step.”
“My spiritual sense far surpasses that of ordinary people, so there is no need for the Brahma Consciousness Divine Worm to supplement my mental energy.”
Xu Bai focused part of his consciousness on the Holy Embryo growing on his back.
Activating the Holy Blood Embryo Transformation technique, he visualized its transformation. In an instant, the Holy Embryo underwent a drastic metamorphosis.
Bones formed within its soft flesh, and its once-limp body swelled and straightened as if inflated like a balloon.
Hair, nails, and the distinctive textures of human skin began appearing in sequence across different parts of its body.
It was as though an expert sculptor was carefully chiseling away at the once-featureless body.
The Holy Embryo took on an increasingly human-like appearance.
Before long…
The face on Xu Bai’s back, like a mirror reflection of his own, suddenly opened its eyes.
At the same time, the layers of flesh that had connected the Holy Embryo to Xu Bai’s body peeled away on their own.
The Holy Embryo—another Xu Bai—gently patted the shoulder of his original body and landed lightly on the ground.