Chapter 74: Lin Fanyun Hears Major News

He chopped the wood while she kindled the fire. He butchered the chicken, and she plucked its feathers. He prepared the herbs, she brewed the concoctions. Together, they managed all their daily necessities.

Though Zhang Shen sometimes indulged in delicious food, he didn’t covet the meals made by the two youngsters. If their cooking was nearly inedible, he certainly wouldn’t bother tasting it.

“Excellent. Even if it’s only the blood of livestock, it’s subtly building their resistance. This way, they won’t be defenseless in the future, unable to even wield a knife against an enemy,” Zhang Shen thought, his gaze penetrating.

Among the two, Zhang Huiling displayed superior talent and understanding. But Zhang Xuenian had his strengths. His earnestness, honesty, and resilience made him an ideal candidate for the martial path of physical cultivation.

Zhang Shen had access to the physical cultivation lineage of the Vanishing Mountain Sect, ideal for imparting to Zhang Xuenian.

“If he impresses me, I might consider passing down some of my personal teachings in physical cultivation to him in the future.”

Zhang Shen’s methods of physical cultivation were as comprehensive as the entire martial arts system, far surpassing regular physical cultivation techniques.

Though his progress was facilitated by a system, once he reached a certain level, he inherently grasped the necessary knowledge. If he chose to, he could effortlessly create a manual leading directly to his current level of physical prowess.

However, his unique approach to physical cultivation was significantly different from traditional martial arts and too conspicuous.

Even if Zhang Xuenian proved himself worthy in the future, Zhang Shen would only teach him a version adapted to align with conventional martial arts techniques, unless the timing was appropriate.

As the years passed, Zhang Shen made a trip to Lin Yuan City to meet Li Xiao and others, and along the way, he collected his points for the upcoming hundred years.

Zhang Shen didn’t hesitate to convert all his points into resources and deposited them in the Ancient Covenant’s treasury, making them available for everyone in the Covenant for cultivation purposes.

One day, Zhang Shen entered his private meditation room and activated the formation that sealed off the entire space. His presence then faded entirely. He had reached a minor mastery of the Divine Concealing Technique, a top-grade True Core martial skill, and was close to mastering it fully. His talent for such stealth techniques was indeed exceptional.

Moving silently and unnoticed, Zhang Shen descended into the cavern ten thousand meters below. 

The area was still distinctly divided into separate parts.

Beside the blood pool, a meatball-like entity was half-floating in the blood, its other half submerged. From the submerged half, thin tendrils extended throughout the pool, absorbing energy from the blood.

“It finally matured,” Zhang Shen observed, standing next to the blood pool. 

After years of patiently waiting and regularly contributing his own blood, his clone was at last taking form. The meatball split open down the middle, and a pale, viscous-fluid-covered arm reached out. 

A naked man climbed out of it.

Seemingly dissatisfied with his bodily condition, the clone’s body quivered, flinging off the viscous fluid. Zhang Shen tossed a set of clothes to the clone, who caught them and quickly dressed.

A man, identical to Zhang Shen, now stood before him.

“It’s a strange feeling, looking at oneself,” Zhang Shen said, elevating his perspective. 

Suddenly, he had two fields of vision, experiencing all sensations in duplicate.

“Let’s stop this feeling, original self. It’s rather odd,” the clone said.

“Fine,” Zhang Shen agreed, retaining only the shared memories.

He then thoroughly examined the changes that came with the addition of the flesh and blood clone.

Firstly, the clone could only use physical strength and lacked any martial cultivation. It was also incapable of practicing martial arts.

Secondly, the clone’s body was virtually identical to Zhang Shen’s, both at the Law Manifestation stage, but the clone’s physical strength was only about a fifth of Zhang Shen’s. Practically, this meant that while Zhang Shen could fight relentlessly for ten days and nights, the clone could manage only two. Aside from this difference in stamina, there was little to distinguish them.

Zhang Shen also realized he could transfer his strength to the clone, effectively acting like a power bank to charge it, albeit with some energy loss in the process.

Moreover, the Strongest Physical Body System underwent some changes:

The Strongest Physical Body System

Host: Zhang Shen (Lifespan: 3000 years)

Physical Level: Law Manifestation Stage, First Layer

Progress: 30% (In Blood Flesh Clone state, physical level experience progress bar reaches 120% for completion)

Martial Cultivation: True Core Stage, Third Layer

Progress: 47%

Cultivation Technique Progress: Mountain of a Thousand Layers True Core Third Layer (Completed)

Martial Skill Progress: True Core Mid-Grade Inferno Blade Technique: 89%, True Core Top-Grade Divine Concealing Technique: 65%, True Core Mid-Grade Sky Splitting Finger: 57%, Expandable

Remaining Techniques and Skills: Expandable

“One hundred and twenty percent for completion, huh?” Zhang Shen mused to himself. 

The additional twenty percent was clearly due to the blood flesh clone.

Unlike other clones, the blood flesh clone shared a deeper connection with the original body, capable of operating independently yet always mirroring the original’s stage.

This implied that future enhancements in Zhang Shen’s physical level would demand more resources. Nevertheless, this drawback was minor compared to the benefits offered by the blood flesh clone.

Zhang Shen reflected, “The clone can also devour heavenly materials and earthly treasures, gaining experience at the same rate as the original body.”

It was akin to two interconnected pools. No matter into which one the water was poured, both would eventually level out at the same height.

“Having this clone means I can consume heavenly materials and earthly treasures twice as fast. The only drawback is that it requires one-fifth more experience points to level up. But that’s a small price to pay for such an advantage. Unfortunately, as incredible as my blood flesh clone is, I’m currently limited to only one. I’m curious if I can overcome this limitation when I reach the Demigod or True God stages.”

The blood flesh clone, after all, offered several extraordinary benefits and was extraordinarily powerful.

“For now, I’ll remain with the Ancient Covenant, focusing on my cultivation and the faction’s development. You, however, should go out and seek your own fortunes. The resources I currently possess are only enough for cultivation up to the ninth layer of the Law Manifestation stage, so it’s essential to plan for the future.”

Zhang Shen gestured toward himself and then toward the clone.

The clone nodded in understanding, “Certainly. Fulfilling this purpose is why I was created. From now on, I will be known as Lin Fanyun.”

Upon saying this, the clone’s form vibrated as he utilized his divine power of physical control to change his appearance. A rugged, mature man with a face etched with life’s stories emerged. While lacking Zhang Shen’s handsome features, his weathered look and profound gaze carried a captivating, unique charm.

After Lin Fanyun took a portion of resources sufficient for reaching the ninth layer of the Law Manifestation stage, along with various essential treasures, he discreetly departed the boundaries of the Ancient Covenant.

“Is this the right place?” pondered Lin Fanyun, having traveled for three days since leaving the Ancient Covenant. 

His incredible speed had taken him well beyond the vast reaches of the Endless Wilderness.

Lin Fanyun had done his homework before coming here. He knew this place hosted a large underground trading market, a hub for many banned and regulation-defying items.

This market’s bold existence, aside from its unfathomable backing, also catered to the needs of powerful individuals among the human race. In essence, the rules established by these powerful beings seemed more like tools to control their subordinates rather than guidelines they adhered to themselves.

Such underground marketplaces primarily served these influential human characters. Without any significant background, it was only after attaining Law Manifestation strength that Lin Fanyun gained access to this exclusive realm.

A quick scan with his Law Manifestation vision, and he pinpointed the exact location of the trading area. His formidable physical body and heightened senses made it impossible for any ordinary formation or concealed martial art to escape his detection.

Releasing his Law Manifestation aura, a gap opened up in what appeared to be an empty space, revealing several guards holding tokens and standing respectfully on either side. These guards, mere Innate cultivators with the most powerful among them barely reaching the early to mid-stages of the True Core, dared not challenge Lin Fanyun.

No one dared to glimpse beneath his black cloak and hood to see his true face.

Tossing a top-grade spirit stone, Lin Fanyun commanded coolly, “Find someone who knows their way around to guide me.”

A True Core guard eagerly caught the spirit stone and beckoned an Innate cultivator. 

“This person is Xu Liu, well-versed with the Hidden Market. He’s your best bet for finding what you need.”

The guard’s enthusiasm was understandable,  after deducting the entrance fee, the spirit stone represented a significant extra earning for him.

“Xu Liu,” Lin Fanyun motioned, and a surge of his law power lifted Xu Liu off the ground. 

Xu Liu, just an Innate warrior, offered no resistance but shivered helplessly under Lin Fanyun’s command.

“Let’s go. Show me to a shop that sells unregistered terminal leaves,” Lin Fanyun directed, seeking a fully functional and more powerful terminal leaf after experiencing the limited version. 

Purchasing such items in Lin Yuan City required real-name registration and came with the risk of being tracked. Buying an unregistered one here, though still potentially traceable, offered the advantage of anonymity, making it highly coveted.

However, these materials were under strict human race control. Smuggling them out was a challenge, making their prices substantially higher than normal.

Xu Liu obediently led the way, knowing better than to attempt any tricks in front of a Law Manifestation powerhouse. As they passed Four Seas Miscellaneous Goods, Lin Fanyun’s attention was briefly caught. He was well aware that behind this store stood the powerful Four Seas Trading Company, with influence extending across various races in the Endless Wilderness, a force far surpassing the human race in might.

This strength pertained to the entire Four Seas Trading Company and its headquarters. The branches within human territories didn’t possess such formidable power.

Due to Four Seas Miscellaneous Goods’ deep connections, as long as they avoided taboo activities, the human race wouldn’t dare touch them.

Lin Fanyun did not stop at Four Seas Miscellaneous Goods. Instead, Xu Liu led him to an inconspicuous, run-down two-story wooden hut. 

“Sir, you’ll find what you need inside,” Xu Liu said with a hint of flattery.

To the average person, this shop might appear even less appealing than mundane ones. However, to Lin Fanyun, equipped with his Law eyes, the small, dilapidated hut was covered in intricate and terrifying array patterns, enough to send a shiver down one’s spine.

“Stay here, I have more items to purchase,” instructed Lin Fanyun, feeling a sense of expectation. 

He casually handed Xu Liu a top-grade spirit stone, sufficient compensation for about ten days of guidance.

Xu Liu, delighted yet wary, quickly stored the stone in his storage bag. He knew all too well that the underground market, despite its name, wasn’t truly safe. The very term underground implied its dubious nature. If others thought he regularly received such valuable stones, he could very well end up eliminated in secret.

The shop was sparsely populated, with only the shopkeeper and an assistant present. The shopkeeper, an unkempt old man with wine stains in his beard, seemed unbothered by appearances.

“What can I get for you?” the old man asked casually.

“I need anonymous terminal leaves of Law Manifestation level or higher, from all three mainframe trees in the Northern Region,” Lin Fanyun declared at the counter, confident that the seemingly disheveled man had such valuable items.

The scruffy old man seemed extraordinarily harmonious with the world around him, a Law Manifestation powerhouse stronger than Lin Fanyun himself.

The shopkeeper gave Lin Fanyun a piercing look, sending a cold shiver through him, as if his inner thoughts were laid bare.

“The era of the three mainframe trees is over,” the shopkeeper revealed, sharing the latest explosive news. “Just a few days ago, a Divine Lord subdued all the major god-level forces and interconnected their mainframe trees. Now, within human territories, there’s no longer a need to buy separate terminal leaves from different trees, one will suffice.”

This revelation caught Lin Fanyun off guard. His original self had not seen any information about this on Lin Yuan City’s mainframe network, nor had he heard any whispers. If this was true, it was likely a secret that hadn’t been publicly disclosed yet.

The elder before Lin Fanyun clearly had substantial connections to know such inside information.

“In that case, one will suffice,” Lin Fanyun said, relieved. 

Previously, individual mainframe trees operated separately, requiring multiple terminal leaves to access different regional information, an inconvenient process. Now, a single leaf could suffice, simplifying and enhancing the experience.

The old man brought out a jade box, which held several Law Manifestation-level terminal leaves, and placed one on the counter.

“That will be 12,000 top-grade spirit stones,” the old man said calmly.

Lin Fanyun’s eyes narrowed in surprise at the price. 

12,000?

“Don’t give me that look. The unification of the mainframe trees, although making one leaf as effective as dozens, also led to tighter control over the number of available terminal leaves,” the old man explained with ease, taking another sip of his drink.

Lin Fanyun inwardly winced, realizing that the old man had cleverly set him up. While a single leaf was indeed more cost-effective than dozens, he had initially intended to buy only three, resulting in an unexpected expense.

Without much choice, Lin Fanyun grudgingly bought the single terminal leaf, which was roughly of a mid-grade Law Manifestation level.

He immediately verified the old man’s information on the spot. Indeed, apart from some areas requiring identity verification, he could now access the mainframe networks of all the god-level powers across the human domain’s four territories.

“So they really managed to pull it off,” Lin Fanyun mused, understanding the full implications of this change. 

While the networks were still operating independently for now, they would eventually merge into one unified system, with the mainframe trees simply acting as servers. This development meant the end of network paralysis due to a mainframe tree’s failure.