As for Core Formation, even in a medium-level plane with abundant spiritual energy, those who achieve Core Formation after sixty years of cultivation are extremely rare, and Hao Jiu dared not place such high hopes on it.
"Thank you, God of Wine!" Upon hearing that he could cultivate immortality, Xiaoyaozi's breathing became rapid. Wasn't what he had pursued all his life to achieve immortality?
Chapter 394 Second Awakening
Finally, there's hope of becoming an immortal!
Xiaoyaozi thought to himself that it was really wise of him to risk his reputation and follow Bawang back then!
"I'll pass on the cultivation technique to you for research first. After Li Canghai finishes recording the cards, I'll pass it on to her. You need to understand that cultivating immortality in such a low-level plane requires a lot of precious spirit stones. Don't let me down," Hao Jiu said solemnly.
"Don't worry, God of Wine, Xiaoyaozi will never let you down." Xiaoyaozi understood that the other party had invested so much in him and would definitely expect a return. However, this return could only be given after he had a certain level of ability. But if he invested a huge amount of money and ended up with a useless person, then he would lose a lot of money.
“Great! The scenery of Wuliang Mountain is quite nice. Let’s find a place here to carve out a cave for cultivation,” Hao Jiu suggested.
"Can't we just stay here in Langhuan Paradise?" Xiaoyaozi asked doubtfully.
“A lot will happen here in the future. If we take it, it will have a huge impact on the future. Besides, this blessed land is too small and not secluded enough. I have already chosen a place.” Hao Jiu smiled slightly.
Xiaoyaozi nodded thoughtfully, seemingly unsurprising that someone as skilled as the God of Wine could know what would happen in the future.
A moment later, Xiang Yu and the others arrived at a magnificent waterfall cliff, which was the forbidden area behind the Wuliang Sword Sect in the future, the Wuliang Jade Wall!
Then, to the astonishment of Xiaoyaozi and Li Canghai, Xiang Yu carved out a huge cave without moving a single finger!
Xiang Yu can now excavate caves much faster using his domineering energy than he did with the Overlord's Halberd. He can cut the stones into any shape he wants and store the excavated stones directly into his storage space, which is quite large now.
Because the cave dwellings they were building were intended for a long stay and housed many people, including women, Xiang Yu put a lot of thought and effort into them.
The 'cave dwelling' that Xiaoyaozi and Li Canghai first saw was actually just a foyer. It needed to be divided into several more rooms and properly planned, taking into account factors such as lighting and ventilation.
Although the alternate dimension is very safe and quiet, staying in that green space for too long can feel a bit oppressive. The real world is much more comfortable.
The entrance to the cave is located on a cliff high above the waterfall, and is blocked by huge rocks, so it is definitely not visible from below. Even if someone climbs up the cliff, they may not be able to find it.
After the entire cave was completely completed, Xiang Yu and Li Canghai went to buy some daily necessities, while Xiaoyaozi couldn't wait to stay in the empty cave and study the cultivation techniques.
The eight planes of Tianlong are still operating at a thousand times the speed of time. People in these planes have no other planes to refer to, so they cannot feel the rapid passage of time.
Unbeknownst to anyone, a new blessed land had appeared within the Boundless Jade Wall, where Xiang Yu, Xiaoyaozi, Li Canghai, along with their black horse and a crane, began a secluded life of cultivation.
It seems that in the near future, the Wuliang Sword Sect will likely have two more legends of guardian beasts.
After settling down, Xiang Yu wanted to talk to Yu Ji many times, but he gave up when he thought about the thousand times the speed of time flow. Not even a day had passed in the Chu-Han world. He thought that perhaps he should take Yu Ji with him wherever he went to war, just like before.
To achieve this goal, Xiang Yu must possess greater strength; otherwise, taking Yu Ji on the expedition would be to harm her. Although hiding in another dimension would be more reassuring, it is not without its risks.
So, while Xiaoyaozi was beginning his cultivation of immortality, Xiang Yu was also embarking on an even more arduous dual cultivation—cough cough, simultaneously cultivating both domineering aura and spiritual energy. His domineering aura was now at a bottleneck, and perhaps mastering the technique of multitasking would allow him to take it a step further.
Since that's the case, Xiang Yu might as well do two things at once: cultivate his domineering aura while also cultivating immortality. If he can use these sixty years to break through to the Foundation Establishment realm, he will also gain a significant boost, at least his lifespan will increase considerably. It's much better than relying on the Immortal Longevity Technique with the Xiaoyaozi card.
In fact, Xiang Yu was already capable of multitasking. While using his split soul, his main body could still function normally. However, this level of multitasking is also possible for ordinary people, such as listening to music while driving. But this is limited to relatively simple tasks. Slightly more difficult tasks, such as drawing a circle with the left hand and a square with the right, might stump a large number of people.
Xiang Yu is now trying to master multitasking, cultivating two different training systems simultaneously, which is much more difficult than drawing a circle with his left hand and a square with his right.
Hao Jiu wasn't idle either. The second awakening was finally completed with the final design. He spent 100,000 chivalry points. Hao Jiu wasn't sure if it would be successful. It was all up to fate.
However, Hao Jiu has done everything he could. If he doesn't succeed this time, he will definitely succeed next time.
As the days passed, in order to make better use of their time, Xiang Yu and the others would eat a Bigu Pill whenever they were hungry. Hao Jiu had found the recipe for this pill in a storage ring, and it was arguably the easiest pill to make. So he asked An Qisheng to make a batch of them.
An Qisheng naturally knew how to refine pills and had inherited a pill furnace from his master. However, the true pill formulas of the pre-Qin Qi cultivators had all been lost, and the pill formulas researched by later generations could kill the alchemists, so An Qisheng had never tried. It wasn't until the era of cultivation in the Chu-Han world arrived that An Qisheng was finally able to try opening the furnace to refine pills.
It is said that when Xiang Yu and Hao Jiu robbed Jiaoyou's dragon, they not only obtained many magical treasures, spirit stones, and cultivation techniques, but also a considerable amount of pills and pill formulas. Hao Jiu even suspected that Jiaoyou had once wiped out a human sect.
Unfortunately, many of the medicinal ingredients in the recipes were unavailable, and the refining conditions were quite demanding. Furthermore, An Qisheng followed a different path from ordinary cultivators, so he was unable to refine almost all of the pills.
The only thing worth trying was this lowest-grade fasting pill, and it was indeed successfully made. However, due to the lack of spiritual energy in the ingredients, the effect was far from what was described in the formula—that one pill would keep you full for a month. One pill of Anqisheng brand fasting pill could only keep you full for three days; it would be more appropriate to call it a soldier's ration pill. But it could win by sheer quantity.
The refining method is simple and easy to learn. Even Zhang Liang and others could refine it with just a little guidance, so it will gradually be promoted in the army.
When Xiang Yu went to war, he only brought a little over a hundred Bigu Pills. The three of them would not have used them for long if they shared one. However, since cultivating immortality and breathing in spiritual energy could be used as food, after Xiaoyaozi and Xiang Yu had cultivated for a while, the Bigu Pills would be useless. Absorbing spirit stones would be enough. Li Canghai, on the other hand, ate more.
Of course, Li Canghai also inherited the culinary skills of the Xiaoyao Sect, and would occasionally have the crane hunt some wild game to improve their meals.
The three of them ate happily, and on the surface they looked like a couple plus an old father, but in reality they were not like that at all. Xiaoyaozi was not even qualified to call Xiang Yu "father" because of the difference of more than a thousand years. Similarly, if Xiang Yu had married Li Canghai, he would probably have been called an old cow eating young grass.
In Xiang Yu's heart, he only regarded them as his subordinates and juniors. Perhaps over time, other bonds would develop. After living together for sixty years, they were more than family.
Finally, one afternoon, Hao Jiu suddenly burst into laughter, and his second awakening was successful!
Chapter 395 Supernatural Powers
"Congratulations on the successful awakening of the God of Wine!" Xiang Yu had always been curious about what Hao Jiu's second awakening supernatural power was, but Hao Jiu kept it a secret.
"Haha, Bawang, you need to work harder too! We're waiting for your good news," Hao Jiu said proudly.
"I will try my best, but I haven't disturbed Dionysus during his seclusion to research the second awakening for more than a year. Now that the second awakening is complete, the recording of Li Canghai's card should be done as soon as possible."
Xiang Yu was well aware of the significance of the second awakening for them, so even when Xiaoyaozi asked about recording the cards, Xiang Yu did not let Hao Jiu stop halfway.
"A year? Has it been that long? Since the Overlord has spoken, let's record it now." Hao Jiu thought Xiang Yu would definitely ask him about the supernatural powers he had after his second awakening, but instead, he brought up the matter of recording the cards.
Hao Jiu thought that Yu Ji was not in a hurry to use Li Canghai's cards in the short term, so he didn't take it too seriously. But Hao Jiu really didn't expect that after he was fully invested, a year would have passed in the blink of an eye.
It's important to know that Hao Jiu didn't allow Li Canghai to cultivate immortality before recording the card, in order to lower the price of Li Canghai's card.
"Indeed, time flies so fast, I find it a bit unbelievable too." Xiang Yu recalled his year, how his domineering aura and martial arts skills had become more and more proficient, and how he had completed the Six Meridians Divine Sword improved by Xiaoyaozi. It was extremely powerful, but he didn't need to use the strange posture of the Kamehameha that Hao Jiu had struck; one palm was enough.
However, Xiang Yu's efforts to cultivate immortality while focusing on two things were not particularly effective. He barely broke through the second level of Qi Refining and got stuck at the third level. Xiang Yu was considering whether to use a mid-grade spirit stone to try and break through.
While Xiaoyaozi was completing the seventh sword of the Six Meridians Divine Sword and teaching his disciples, he was able to break through to the third level of Qi Refining early on and had already begun practicing simple spells. A few days ago, his fireball spell went out of control and almost burned off his beard.
Seeing his pitiful state, neither Xiang Yu nor Li Canghai could hold back their laughter.
"Li Canghai, go to the hall to record the cards now. I'm out of seclusion. Sorry to keep you waiting." Hao Jiu had already given the Shadow System to Li Canghai.
"How could I, a mere woman, dare to make the God of Wine apologize? Besides, I haven't been waiting for long at all, and I've only just started preparing for the recording. God of Wine, I've arrived." Li Canghai was overjoyed, and as she spoke, she used her Free and Easy Wind Riding technique to arrive at the spacious hall of the cave.
In fact, Li Canghai had long since mastered the Free and Easy Wind Technique and met the requirements for recording cards, but he was delayed because Hao Jiu was focused on his second awakening and didn't have time to record.
So Li Canghai used this time to practice all the martial arts of the Xiaoyao Sect that she didn't know before. Although she was far from reaching the level of Xiaoyaozi, she did learn every martial art except for the Longevity and Immortality Skill.
As Xiaoyaozi once said, all the various martial arts of the Xiaoyao Sect were originally one martial art. Because it was too difficult to learn, it was broken down into different parts. Xiaoyao Yufeng is the core part. Once you learn it, it will be much easier to learn other martial arts.
Preparations for recording the cards were quickly completed. Under everyone's watchful eyes, Li Canghai demonstrated what he had learned, and Xiaoyaozi remained smiling, very pleased.
"God of Wine, what is your second awakening divine power?" Xiang Yu asked.
Hao Jiu raised an eyebrow. "I thought the Overlord didn't want to know anymore, hehe. I mainly wanted to play it safe during the second awakening, so I didn't use any overpowered abilities."
"Oh." Xiang Yu didn't get the answer he wanted, but he didn't want to ask any further.
Hao Jiu wasn't in a hurry to say anything. It was true that he had created the second awakening supernatural power, but whether it was different from what he had designed and how effective it would be, he would have to try it out before drawing any conclusions.
According to the awakening rules, the closer the connection between the second awakening and the system's own abilities as well as the first awakening's supernatural powers, the higher the success rate; the lower the degree of defying the heavens, the higher the success rate.
However, system awakening is generally more difficult with each iteration, so every awakening should be used wisely to maximize its benefits.
Hao Jiu had been preparing for his second awakening for a long time. The reason he was taking so long was that he didn't want to waste this opportunity. Slow and steady wins the race, and even if it took one or two years to complete, it would be worth it.
A second awakening can add new supernatural powers or improve upon the first awakening supernatural powers. Hao Jiu chose the latter, as the former was too difficult, and the shadow system of the first awakening supernatural powers did indeed expose many problems during use.
First, with the plane blocked, it's impossible to buy anything, rendering the entire Shadow System Shop practically defunct, and communication could also be disrupted.
Secondly, the Shadow System has too few functions. It's not that we didn't want to add more initially, but we were afraid of failing the awakening, so it's safer to add more during the second awakening.
Hao Jiu's solution was simple: use the fact that the main body can be compatible with all modules to upgrade the shadow system and enable two new functions: recycling and WeChat.
WeChat's features were designed to address the issue of phone calls being easily interrupted, allowing for communication via text, images, voice messages, and short videos.
In fact, Hao Jiu's original real-time dialogue communication, which was similar to a telephone, was definitely cutting-edge technology. The distance between the two planes was so great that it could not even be measured in light-years. Even if there were a telephone line connecting them, there would be an extremely long delay, making real-time communication like face-to-face communication almost impossible.
Even within the Enforcer System, the Elf King's clone and headquarters cannot communicate in this way; instead, they use text messages.
Hao Jiu has already undergone a second awakening and can even post short videos. He'll probably be able to start livestreaming after his third awakening...
However, in order to reduce the difficulty of awakening and increase the success rate, Hao Jiu also set restrictions on the WeChat function. First, sending a WeChat message consumes energy, 100 points per message across dimensions, and free within the same dimension.
Given this setting, Hao Jiu decided to keep this supernatural ability a secret for the time being. What if Xiang Yu and Yu Ji were to exchange pictures or post short videos? How much energy would that consume!
The second limitation of WeChat's functions is that it requires a corresponding module upgrade for the shadow system to function, which can be considered a system hardware requirement.
This involves the core supernatural power of the second awakening, namely the ability of the Shadow System to fuse with modules for upgrades. This does not mean that the Shadow System can kill other systems and seize modules to fuse directly like Hao Jiu did, but rather that it can only fuse with modules that Hao Jiu sells in the Shadow System Shop.
Although the WeChat function's supporting modules are self-produced and self-sold using chivalry points, they still need to be installed on the shadow system through the system store. In addition to sending, receiving, and storing data, this supporting module also has a camera. This thing was developed by Hao Jiu after dissecting, uh, analyzing a snail. It is also a small snail, and it is used for taking photos and recording videos.
The so-called recycling function means that the shadow system can sell some items to Hao Jiu's main body. Although it is just a reverse application of the mall, it is a very practical function.
For example, one could acquire a large number of spirit stones from friends or Wu Ning, which would greatly improve one's cultivation resources. Or, if Hao Jiu's plane is blocked by the enemy, the shadow system outside can provide emergency support to Hao Jiu.
Furthermore, if the Shadow System manages to capture a system module, it can transfer it to Hao Jiu through the recycling function, and then Hao Jiu can list it in the system store. This is equivalent to the Shadow System being able to directly integrate the captured module.
Without a doubt, if this module is excellent, Hao Jiu will definitely keep it himself. The other party probably won't have any objections, and even if they do, they'll be angry but dare not speak out. Hao Jiu is the one who will set the buyback price, just like a shady pawnshop.
Of course, the shadow system is also part of Hao Jiu. It's a matter of sharing resources among family members, and Hao Jiu will definitely ensure 'fairness and impartiality'.
In short, Hao Jiu's second awakening of supernatural powers mainly enhances the strength of the Shadow System, which is equivalent to enhancing the strength of the fierce generals and experts under Xiang Yu, making them true powerhouses of all realms.
With the assistance of these people, I believe that in the not-too-distant future, the Overlord will surely become the overlord who rules over all the heavens and myriad worlds!
Hao Jiu will become the strongest system in the true sense, and he has even thought of a title for it: the Overlord of Systems!
Chapter 396 Two-Faced
Xiaoyaozi had already passed on his experience in recording cards to Li Canghai, and with Hao Jiu's guidance, the card recording process went very smoothly.
Moreover, the cards are relatively inexpensive, costing 5,000 energy points each, which means that the card system determines Li Canghai's strength to be comparable to Bruno, the user of the Door-Door Fruit.
Of course, Bruno's development of the Door-Door Fruit was terrible, so he was underestimated. But there's no such thing as underestimating Li Canghai. In fact, his Youth Preservation Technique and Free and Easy Wind Control are significant advantages, otherwise he would never have such a high price.
If Xiang Zhuang and Li Canghai were to fight, they would most likely end in a draw due to Xiang Zhuang's domineering aura and Lingbo Weibu (a martial arts technique). However, the price of Xiang Zhuang's card is simply outrageous, which shows the importance of immortality and flight.
For Xiang Yu, it was already quite remarkable that Yu Ji could protect herself against a master like Xiang Zhuang. The key point was that Li Canghai's character and personality were quite similar to Yu Ji's, so there would be virtually no negative side effects.
Since Li Canghai hasn't started cultivating immortality yet, he should be a relatively cheap card. He can preserve his youth, fly for a short time, and has practical martial arts skills like Lingbo Weibu. This card is worth making more of.