Chương 164: The Plan to Transform into Mortal!

After leaving Xuanhai Pavilion, Zhou Ding did not immediately ride his escape light into the sky. Instead, like an ordinary cultivator, he slowly merged into the bustling crowd on the first level of the Holy Mountain.

His powerful divine sense, like an invisible spiderweb, silently spread outwards, carefully sensing every aura and every possible spying intent.

After confirming that no one or any divine sense was secretly tracking or monitoring him, he meandered through several alleys, sat for a while in an inconspicuous teahouse, changed his clothes, slightly adjusted the lines of his facial muscles, and then left in another direction, transforming into an inconspicuous streak of azure light, merging into the flowing light of the sky, and flying towards the forty-seventh layer of the Flowing Cloud Zone.

Caution is a key principle that has kept him alive in the chaotic Star Sea.

Especially after just winning the bid for the treasure and accepting the invitation from the Xuanhai Alliance's guest elder, he was even less willing to cause any unnecessary trouble on his way home.

When the familiar entrance to the "Cloud and Mist Cave Heaven," shrouded in spiritual mist, reappeared before his eyes, Zhou Ding finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He took out the token, cast a spell, and the restriction rippled out like water, revealing a passage leading to his home.

Upon entering the cave, a warm and familiar spiritual light and atmosphere greet you.

Xin Ruyin seemed to have sensed his return. She emerged from her quiet room, filled with array diagrams and jade slips, her elegant moon-white dress making her appear even more ethereal and beautiful. Seeing Zhou Ding's calm expression and a hint of barely perceptible joy in his eyes, she knew he must have gained something from his trip. With a gentle smile, she stepped forward to greet him: "Zhou Lang, you're back? Judging from your expression, the auction must have gone quite smoothly today?"

"Well, it went fairly smoothly."

Zhou Ding grasped her slightly cool, soft hand and led her towards the front hall, smiling as he said, "Not only did we get some useful materials, but we also obtained something quite interesting that you might find interesting."

"Oh? What is it?" Xin Ruyin's beautiful eyes lit up, a hint of curiosity showing in them.

She knew that Zhou Ding had high standards, and anything that made him specifically mention it and say she would be interested in must be extraordinary.

Zhou Ding didn't keep them in suspense. He took out the jade box made of "Spirit Sealing Sandalwood" from his storage bag, gently placed it on the table, and then opened the lid.

A palm-sized, jet-black, ancient box, seemingly capable of absorbing all light, lay quietly inside. It was the "Forbidden Yuan Black Box."

The moment the black box was exposed to the air, that ancient, desolate, and forbidden aura emanated once again, causing Xin Ruyin's pupils to shrink slightly.

"This is—" Xin Ruyin's gaze was instantly drawn to the layers upon layers of mysterious dark gold runes on the surface of the black box.

Almost instinctively, she reached out and gently brushed her fingertips across the runes, her movements as delicate as if she were caressing a rare treasure.

Her breath even paused slightly for a moment, and her eyes flashed with a light that Zhou Ding had never seen before, a light that was a mixture of extreme shock, fascination, and a desire to study!

"What an ancient and exquisite restriction!"

Xin Ruyin's voice trembled with barely suppressed excitement: "This is not any sealing method currently in use! Its talismanic structure bears some resemblance to the ancient Chaos Locking Yuan Array recorded in the 'Qiankun Array Canon,' but it is far more complex and obscure, as if—as if it contains some kind of ultimate principle of heaven and earth! The person who set up this restriction has probably reached an inconceivable level of understanding of the Dao of Formations!"

She looked up at Zhou Ding, her eyes filled with unbelievable joy: "Young Master Zhou, where did you obtain this? The restrictions on it are like a treasure trove of array formations waiting to be discovered! If I can decipher it, my understanding of array formations will surely reach a new level!"

Seeing her excited expression, as if she had discovered a new continent, Zhou Ding felt very gratified.

He briefly recounted what happened at the auction, focusing on how this item had been so difficult to decipher even after ten years of work by Master Zhen Xuan, the "Number One Array Master of the Chaotic Star Sea."

Upon hearing this, Xin Ruyin was not discouraged at all; instead, the light in her eyes shone even brighter: "Even Master Zhen Xuan couldn't break it? That makes it even more interesting! This shows that this restriction is indeed extraordinary and cannot be broken by ordinary means!"

She lowered her head again, carefully examining the runes on the black box, her delicate brows furrowing as she fell into deep thought.

Seeing how engrossed she was, Zhou Ding asked softly, "Ruyin, are you confident you can crack it?"

Upon hearing this, Xin Ruyin snapped out of her reverie. She looked up at Zhou Ding, her eyes filled with a hint of seriousness, but even more so with confidence and determination: "Young Master Zhou, to be honest, with my current mastery of array formations, trying to forcibly break this restriction is like an ant trying to shake a tree—there's not even the slightest chance of success. This restriction is far too profound, involving many ancient array principles that I haven't fully grasped yet."

Zhou Ding's heart sank, but before he could feel despair, Xin Ruyin changed the subject, her tone filled with certainty: "However! If you give me some time to thoroughly understand and master the 'Qiankun Array Scripture,' I am absolutely confident that I can find a way to break this restriction!"

Her eyes gleamed with wisdom, as if she could already see the path to the future: "The Qiankun Array Codex is all-encompassing, containing many similar ancient sealing and restriction principles and solutions. Although the restrictions on this black box are profound, they all adhere to the same principle. As long as I can truly grasp the essence of the Qiankun Array Codex, using it as the key to open this box, it's only a matter of time!"

"How long will it take?" Zhou Ding asked immediately.

Xin Ruyin pondered for a moment, then held up two fingers: "Twenty years. If I have twenty years to devote myself to studying the 'Qiankun Array Classic,' I am confident that I can find a way to break this restriction."

"Twenty years?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Ding not only didn't find it long, but was overjoyed: "Twenty years is just a relatively long period of seclusion for us Core Formation cultivators. Good! Ruyin, this Forbidden Yuan Black Box is now yours! Focus on studying it and don't rush things. If you can crack it, that would be great; even if you can't crack it for now, if you can comprehend some of the essence of ancient formations from it, it will still be a great gain for you."

Without hesitation, he handed over the mysterious black box, worth 180, 000 spirit stones and coveted even by Nascent Soul stage monsters, directly to Xin Ruyin.

In his mind, no matter how precious the black box was, it was nothing more than an external object.

What he values most is Xin Ruyin's growth and happiness.

Moreover, he believed in Xin Ruyin's abilities.

Xin Ruyin took the heavy black box with both hands, feeling its cool and mysterious touch, and Zhou Ding's words filled her with unreserved trust and support. An indescribable warmth welled up in her heart.

She nodded vigorously, her beautiful eyes glistening with tears, but her voice was unusually firm: "Rest assured, Zhou Lang, I will do my best to break the restrictions on this!"

"Yes, I believe you."

Zhou Ding smiled gently and took out two more items from his storage bag.

A fist-sized, shimmering piece of "Star-Patterned Silver Essence," and a small bottle of "Gengjin Dust" sparkling with metallic luster, were handed to Xin Ruyin.

"By the way, I picked up these two materials at an auction. Take a look and see if they're useful for refining the Eight Gates Golden Light Mirror."

Xin Ruyin took the materials, carefully sensed them, and her face immediately lit up with surprise: "Star-patterned Silver Essence! Geng Metal Dust! These are precisely the two auxiliary materials needed to refine the Eight Gates Golden Light Mirror! Although the amount used is small, it can greatly enhance the spirituality and sharpness of the magic weapon! Zhou Lang, you are truly—" She looked up at Zhou Ding, her eyes filled with emotion and tenderness.

She knew that Zhou Ding's purchase at the auction was not just a casual one, but rather a deliberate act of keeping in mind her efforts to refine her natal magic weapon.

"As long as it works."

Zhou Ding smiled and then asked, "How's the material collection going? What's still missing?"

Xin Ruyin carefully put away the two materials, did a quick calculation, and replied, "Originally, there were thirty-six main and auxiliary materials needed to refine the Eight Gates Golden Light Mirror. We have already collected more than twenty of them through various means. Adding the Star Pattern Silver Essence and Geng Metal Dust you brought back today, as well as the Star Vortex Gold Iron obtained from our last trip to the Outer Star Sea, we now only need the last three main materials."

"Which three?" Zhou Ding immediately pressed.

Xin Ruyin said, "The first type is the chalcedony of 'Millennial Warm Jade,' which requires ten thousand years of nurturing in a place rich in spiritual energy to form. It is key to harmonizing the yin and yang of a magical artifact and stabilizing its core restrictions. The second type is 'Wind Trace Crystal,' which can only be nurtured in the 'Nine Heavens Gale.'

This substance is incredibly light yet exceptionally tough, and is the core material for carrying the flow of light and shadow on the mirror surface and realizing the spatial folding supernatural power. The third type, and the most difficult to find, is 'Eighth-Level Flood Dragon Essence Blood.' Even a single drop is used to activate the spirituality of a magical artifact, giving it a sliver of potential for growth and evolution."

Zhou Ding silently memorized these three materials. Each one was a rare and precious treasure, one that could be found by chance.

Especially the "eighth-level demon beast essence blood", which is even more difficult to obtain.

However, he was not discouraged.

Now that he is a guest elder of the Xuanhai Alliance, he can fully utilize the alliance's vast network of channels throughout the Chaotic Star Sea to issue bounties and search for the whereabouts of these materials. This is far more efficient than him wandering around aimlessly like a headless fly.

"I'll try to keep an eye out for these three materials."

Zhou Ding said to Xin Ruyin, "You just focus on comprehending the array manual, studying the black box's restrictions, and improving your cultivation. Leave the materials to me."

"Mmm." Xin Ruyin responded obediently, snuggling close to Zhou Ding, her heart filled with an unprecedented sense of peace and security.

With him around, it seems that even the biggest problems have a chance of being solved.

After spending a tender moment with Xin Ruyin and giving Xiaomei some pointers on her cultivation, Zhou Ding returned to his main meditation room.

After activating all the protective barriers, he released Little Gold from his spirit beast pouch with a thought.

A colossal, dark golden beast appeared in the quiet room, immediately taking up a significant portion of the spacious space.

Zhou Ding took out the brocade box containing the demon core of the "Netherworld Poisonous Dragon" from his storage bag and gently opened it.

"Buzz—!"

"" A wave of cold, domineering demonic energy, carrying the oppressive aura of a dragon and the spirit of the underworld, instantly spread out!

The dark blue demon core, covered with dragon scale patterns, lay quietly in the box, like a sleeping venomous dragon, emanating a chilling aura.

Zhou Ding patted Xiao Jin's huge head, and without further hesitation, wrapped the dark blue dragon demon core in his magic power and gently brought it to Xiao Jin's mouth.

"roar--!"

Little Jin couldn't wait to open its huge mouth and swallow the dragon demon core into its belly in one gulp!

The moment the demon core entered its belly, Xiao Jin's enormous body shuddered violently!

An even more violent and sinister dragon demonic power, mixed with pure bloodline essence, erupted in Xiao Jin's body like a volcano!

The dark gold scales on Xiao Jin's body instantly shone with a dazzling light, and wisps of dark blue energy even escaped from the gaps in the scales!

Its aura began to fluctuate and rise violently, sometimes as raging as a raging sea, sometimes as calm and still as a mountain.

It let out a low roar that was a mixture of pain and pleasure, its massive body curled up, and the light in its dark golden vertical pupils flickered.

It is fully utilizing its primordial bloodline and demonic power to suppress, refine, and absorb the immense energy and bloodline essence contained in this level seven dragon demon core.

This process was clearly not easy.

Zhou Ding stood quietly to the side, closely monitoring Xiao Jin's condition through their soul connection.

He could sense that the demonic power within Xiao Jin's body was growing and condensing at an astonishing rate, and deep within his bloodline, something that had been dormant was being slowly awakened by the power of this dragon bloodline.

This dragon demon core was undoubtedly a tremendous stroke of luck for Xiao Jin.

"Get a good night's sleep. When you wake up, you'll definitely be stronger," Zhou Ding said softly, setting up a simple spirit-gathering array around Xiao Jin to help it absorb energy better.

He then stopped disturbing Xiao Jin and let it sleep peacefully to refine itself.

After doing all this, Zhou Ding sat cross-legged on the jade tablet in the center of the quiet room, but did not immediately begin cultivating.

Cha closed his eyes, sank his mind into his sea of consciousness, and began to examine himself.

Cultivation level: Late stage of Core Formation, only one step away from the stage of no false infant, but this step requires painstaking effort and the right opportunity.

Divine sense: 360 li, comparable to the limit of the late stage of Nascent Soul, and it is difficult to have a significant increase in the short term.

Physical body: Strong enough to withstand a fake Nascent Soul cultivator, but still not strong enough to withstand a Nascent Soul cultivator with physical strength.

Spirit Pet: Little Gold is refining the dragon demon core. Once successful, its strength will surely increase dramatically.

Cultivation Technique: The Great Evolution Technique is stuck at the peak of the third level. I need to break through to the fourth level by making a pact.

"The peak of the third level of the Great Evolution Technique — bottleneck —" Zhou Ding's brows furrowed slightly.

The Great Evolution Technique, a divine sense cultivation method, is one of his greatest trump cards, enabling him to fight beyond his level, crush his peers, and even injure Nascent Soul cultivators with his divine sense.

Its importance is self-evident.

However, the bottleneck between the third and fourth levels is like an insurmountable chasm, standing in front of the fork.

No matter how hard he practiced and tried, the bottleneck remained unmoved, as if it needed a special opportunity to break through.

Cha recalled the scattered information in his mind about the later stages of the "Great Evolution Technique," as well as Han Paopao's breakthrough experience from his past memories.

"Transform into the mundane—enter into the realm of affairs—" Zhou Ding slowly opened his eyes, a hint of understanding and determination flashing in them.

The key to breaking through the fourth level of the Great Evolution Technique lies in the sublimation of one's state of mind and the purification of one's soul.

The arduous, closed-door approach to self-study has already been exhausted.

Cha needs to go out, experience, feel, and understand. He needs to seal away all his vast magical power and powerful divine consciousness, and integrate himself into the most ordinary and real human world as a mortal.

Experience the common occurrences of blindness, old age, sickness, and death; feel the myriad aspects of joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness; witness the joys and sorrows of human affairs; hone your Dao heart and refine your spirit amidst the dust of the world; only then can you see through illusions, break through bottlenecks, achieve a state of perfect mind, and thus naturally break through to the fourth level of the "Great Evolution Technique"!

This is—"Transformation into Mortal Realm"!

In fact, Cha had planned this for a long time.

However, due to being busy with various matters and having many opportunities, my cultivation schedule has been packed, and I have never been able to make up my mind to take this long time to implement it.

Currently, the auction is underway, Xiao Jin is in a deep sleep refining the dragon pill, Xin Ruyin also has the "Milk Kun Array Manual" and the Forbidden Yuan Black Box to explore, and Xiao Mei is also making steady progress.

Everything seemed to be on track, and it was the perfect time for Cha to step back and complete this crucial journey of "transformation into the mortal realm."

"Twenty years — entering the mortal world and experiencing all aspects of life."

Zhou Ding's gaze was profound, as if he could already see the ordinary yet real human world: "When I return, it will be the day I break through to the fourth level of the Great Evolution Technique!"

Cha had already made up his mind.

After arranging everything in his cave and settling into a stable state, Cha sealed his cultivation and divine sense, and as an ordinary person, he found a mortal town and began Cha's path of "transformation into a mortal".