Chapter 397 The Difficult Problem and the Development of the Inner Cave Heaven
Inside a high-intensity testing laboratory in the Purgatory Sulfur Plane, Jemin was frowning as he remotely controlled a newly created rune artifact to test its power.
With a slight thought, he controlled the disc-shaped magical artifact, about thirty centimeters in diameter, that was suspended in mid-air.
The surface of the artifact is densely covered with new composite patterns that combine cultivation talismans and wizard runes, with a fist-sized energy-focusing crystal at its center.
Buzz...
With a mental command issued, the focusing crystal at the center of the disc suddenly lit up with a dazzling white light.
An energy blast composed purely of elements was fired, leaving a long trail as it hurtled toward the "target area" in the distance of the test field, which had been expanded using spatial folding technology.
The entire test site underwent a special spatial folding process. From the outside, it appears to be just a room about 100 meters square, but its actual interior depth reaches an astonishing 500 kilometers.
The light projectile traveled through the air for about three seconds. This speed is not fast in real combat, but it was sufficient in the test environment.
Immediately afterwards, a huge, blinding light rose from the direction of the target area in the distance, so bright that even through the protective barrier, one had to squint.
There was no explosion; the energy shield prevented sound from propagating.
Instead, a more fundamental shock was felt: the multiple energy shields deployed throughout the test site, like a water curtain struck by an invisible giant hammer, rippled and deformed violently, emitting a hum that could not bear the weight.
Even with the "distance buffer" provided by spatial folding, the intense shockwaves continued to reverberate and overlap within the test field, causing the protective shield to fluctuate more and more violently, seemingly on the verge of collapse at any moment.
Jemin didn't care about the shaky protective shield. After all, it was designed to withstand extreme tests. It was just the innermost layer of protection in the entire testing ground. If it really collapsed, he could just repair it.
His attention was completely focused on the real-time data stream scrolling on a row of precision instruments next to him.
Peak energy readings, simulated damage range, elemental reaction intensity, spatial perturbation coefficients...
A few seconds later, the preliminary analysis results came out.
Jemin looked at the data on the screen, but his expression was not good.
"Strictly speaking, the absolute power of this attack was indeed quite impressive..." Jemin's finger swept across several key parameters on the screen, and he sighed inwardly.
"The 'leveraging factor' of a level four wizard on elemental power, combined with the 'mobilization factor' of a Nascent Soul cultivator on environmental energy, multiplies the effect soaringly in terms of total energy and range of influence of this energy blast, which is theoretically only level four..."
The data clearly shows that the total energy output and range of influence of this attack have exceeded the normal level of a level 5 wizard, and even reached the bottom line of level 6—that is, theoretically enough to cause a "devastating blow" to the ecosystem of a medium-sized continent.
“But…” Jemin’s brow furrowed even more, “the power is too dispersed!”
He pulled up a detailed energy distribution map.
It was a three-dimensional thermal map showing the energy density decay curve radiating outward from the explosion center.
Unlike witchcraft or immortality magic, which typically aim for "a relatively uniform killing effect at every point within the attack range" in group attacks, the energy distribution of this luminous projectile exhibits an extremely steep decay curve.
With the explosion center as the origin, the energy density drops sharply by an order of magnitude for every kilometer moved outward.
Upon reaching the edge of the attack range, the remaining energy intensity was less than one ten-millionth of that in the central area.
“This is exactly the same as the energy distribution pattern of nuclear bombs in my previous life.” Jemin couldn’t help but frown. “Although the attack range is very wide, and it is called ‘nation-destroying’ or even ‘continent-level’, the actual destructive power of the core area and the destructive power of the edge area are completely different concepts. A lot of energy is wasted on creating the ‘range’, and the actual ‘lethal radius’ is much smaller.”
This problem actually began to emerge when he was promoted to a second-level wizard.
At that time, he was simultaneously cultivating the immortal cultivation system, and the way the two power systems mobilized "environmental energy" began to have subtle conflicts and redundancies.
He had intended to address this issue when he was promoted to a third-level wizard.
However, due to the unexpected events in the "fair" plane, his promotion speed far exceeded expectations. He was subsequently busy with the construction of incense and divine paths and participating in the research of the Starfall Wizard, so this issue was put on hold.
Now, with his advancement to the Nascent Soul stage, the cultivation system's ability to mobilize environmental spiritual energy has undergone a qualitative change, and this problem has finally become fully apparent.
"It has an attack range and total energy comparable to a level six wizard, but the actual damage effect in the core area only reaches the average level of a level five wizard..." Jemin looked at the glaring comparison data on the screen.
"Moreover, the peak energy duration is extremely short. As long as you can withstand the initial impact, the subsequent damage will be greatly reduced. An experienced and well-prepared level four wizard, if he has excellent defensive measures, may even be able to withstand this attack without dying."
what does that mean?
This means that more than 90 percent of the energy was dissipated into the environment in an inefficient manner during the spread of the shock wave after the explosion, and was not fully converted into lethal damage to the target.
More intuitive data modeling shows that if this tactic were used to attack a real continent, the core of the explosion could create a zone of complete destruction with a diameter of hundreds of kilometers.
However, once outside the attack range—the edges of those theoretically marked "affected areas"—the remaining energy intensity might not even kill a level one wizard apprentice, at most causing some damage to buildings and casualties among ordinary people.
“The root of the problem…” Jemin closed his eyes and quickly deduced in his mind, “is that my current ‘precision of control’ cannot keep up with the growth rate of the ‘total amount of energy mobilized’.”
This is easy to understand.
If we compare attacking to archery, the wizarding system's path is "to shoot one arrow at a time, and then continuously increase the power of that arrow through various methods." The cultivation system's path is more like "to shoot more arrows at once."
At most, Jemin's current "control ability" allows him to precisely control "three arrows" at the same time.
However, his Nascent Soul stage cultivation was equivalent to having "dozens of arrows" piled on a bowstring.
Instead of enhancing the attack effect, the arrows interfered with each other and dispersed the power of the bowstring, resulting in a significant decrease in the power and accuracy of each arrow. The overall effect was even worse than focusing on shooting three arrows.
Of course, the simplest solution is to "selectively reduce output": when launching an attack, deliberately suppress the intensity of spiritual energy mobilization in the cultivation system, and only use the part of power that you can precisely control.
This restores the cohesion and killing efficiency of the attack, and theoretically, such an increase is enough for Jemin to be a top-tier fourth-level wizard.
but……
“That’s such a waste.” Jemin opened his eyes, a look of resentment flashing in them. “He clearly had the potential to mobilize a much greater power, but he limited himself because of a lack of control… What a waste!”
His goal is to integrate the advantages of both paths and create an effect greater than the sum of its parts, rather than being forced to choose between them.
“We must find a way to integrate and focus all the resources mobilized by the two systems more efficiently…” Jemin fell into deep thought.
His fingers tapped unconsciously on the control panel, and countless formulas, rune structures, and energy flow models flashed and disappeared rapidly in his mind.
Just then, the laboratory door slid open silently, and a black giant priest dressed in a simple priest's robe walked in.
Its movements were so light that they contrasted sharply with its muscular physique. Its voice entered Jemin's mind directly through mental fluctuations: "Master, the scheduled time has arrived. Energy needs to be replenished."
Jemin snapped out of his reverie, glanced at the time, and nodded: "Understood."
He temporarily put down his data analysis and followed the black giant priest out of the testing ground, through several brightly lit corridors, to a special training room.
This meditation room is completely different from other places.
The heavy doors and walls are made of an alloy of space-stabilizing metals, and their surfaces are covered with complex energy-guiding and isolation runes.
The black giant priest stopped outside the door, waiting for Jemin to enter on his own.
As Jemin pushed open the door, a surge of spiritual energy, so dense it was almost tangible, rushed towards him.
The training room was devoid of any unnecessary furnishings, except for a circular platform in the center that was slightly raised above the ground.
The walls, ceiling, and floor are all made of an alloy that can efficiently conduct and condense spiritual energy, and at this moment they are emitting a warm, milky-white halo.
Most striking are the four corners of the room, each containing a complex magic circle that is slowly operating.
These magic arrays are connected to the main network of incense and deity paths in the Purgatory Sulfur Plane, continuously drawing in and transporting massive amounts of purified spiritual energy.
The concentration of spiritual energy was so high that it even formed a visible pale white mist in the air, slowly flowing and swirling.
Jemin walked to the central platform, sat down cross-legged, closed his eyes, and began to circulate his energy.
In an instant, the direction of the spiritual energy flow in the entire room changed.
The originally evenly distributed spiritual mist was now being pulled by an invisible vortex, rushing wildly towards Jemin.
His body seemed to transform into a black hole, greedily devouring all the energy around him.
However, this devouring was not for its own cultivation.
If a skilled observer were to observe closely at this moment, they would discover that most of the spiritual energy flowing into Jemin's body was not refined and absorbed by his meridians, but instead flowed into a "void" through some deeper connection.
It was an "existence" located deep within his dantian, yet transcending the conventional concept of space.
That was his internal space.
No, perhaps it would be more accurate to call it an "internal grotto-heaven" nowadays.
The changes brought about by advancing to the Nascent Soul stage are comprehensive, and what surprised and delighted Jieming the most was the transformation of the space opened up by this "internal circulation" method.
In previous advancements, from Foundation Establishment to Golden Core, and from Golden Core to Nascent Soul, each time the internal space would frantically absorb spiritual energy like a thirsty sponge at the moment of breakthrough, rapidly expanding its volume.
However, this time, after advancing to the Nascent Soul stage, the internal space did not initially show any obvious desire to expand.
Jemin once thought that the growth of this space had reached a certain bottleneck.
However, in the months following the breakthrough, he gradually noticed something was amiss.
This space is growing "autonomously".
It wasn't through absorbing the spiritual energy he provided, but rather as if it had its own "breath" and "pulse," beginning to draw nourishment from a deeper and more vast source.
Ultimately, Jemin confirmed that his inner sanctum was drawing energy and matter directly from the "Endless Chaotic Void" of the wizarding world.
The most conclusive evidence appeared in the third month after the promotion.
That day, while cultivating, Jieming internally observed the cave and was shocked to discover that this space, which originally only had a constant and soft light source, had actually developed a regular "day and night alternation"!
A warm but not scorching "sun" rises and sets regularly in the sky, while familiar stars appear at night—they are not real stars, but rather "projections" of the fire element plane and certain stable element planes under the rules of the newly formed plane.
This is a characteristic that only a true "plane" can possess!
With the continuous nourishment of the plane's origin by Jieming, and catalyzed by his advancement to the Divine Transformation stage, the inner cave has begun to evolve into a plane capable of self-circulation!
This discovery both excited and alarmed Jemin.
In theory, as long as this plane continues to grow, it may even evolve into a complete ecosystem, intelligent races, and even a unique system of laws in the future.
What is alarming is that the "independence" of different dimensions is increasing.
Drawing elemental power directly from the endless void allows the growth rate of the inner world to exceed expectations.
If the "connection" between Jemin and this new plane is not strong enough, then as the plane's own rules continue to improve and its size continues to increase, one day it may "close" its own passage to the outside world and become a truly independent plane.
Then it detached from Jemin's body and drifted into the endless void.
Therefore, Jemin now needs to perform this special "energy infusion" practice every day.
His main purpose in absorbing massive amounts of spiritual energy was not to enhance his own cultivation, but to use this pure spiritual energy as a "glue" and "reinforcer" to continuously strengthen the original connection between himself and the plane within his body.
He wanted to ensure that he would always be the "master" of this plane, its "creator" and "core law," and not just a "landlord" or "passage."
At this moment, with the continuous infusion of spiritual energy, Jemin could clearly perceive the "world" that was growing vigorously within his body.
Its boundaries are expanding outwards very slowly but steadily, the internal elemental balance is becoming more stable, and some of the potions and minerals that he originally transplanted seem to be adapting to this new environment, showing signs of mutation and evolution.
"At this rate of growth, it should take another few decades to establish a stable elemental cycle..." Jemin assessed, diverting a wisp of his mind from his cultivation.
(End of this chapter)
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