Three months later, in a small village twenty miles outside Lang City, Wang Linchi stared at the fleshy egg throbbing in his hand. It pulsed with vitality, much like a Longevity Fruit.

This was his accomplishment: a ghost of a kind never seen before, still in the midst of incubation.

He had initially thought one month would suffice, but it ended up taking three. The delay was primarily due to the overwhelming rejection. He had to use two Longevity Fruits to complete it.

Once hatched, its Potential would definitely not be inferior to that of ghosts like Wuchang, Judge, or other similar spectral divinities. He couldn't guarantee its strength, only its Potential. After all, he had no assurance it could even survive to actualize that Potential. He himself wasn't sure he could survive in a chaotic era teeming with powerful Transcendent beings, let alone an egg.

"All that's left is the final step: transforming it into a Ghost Pattern," Wang Linchi sighed. I really have no other choice. Otherwise, he would have preferred to wait for it to hatch naturally. However, according to his calculations, without external intervention, normal hatching would take at least ten years. He didn't have ten years to spare.

Therefore, he had to use the special Ghost Sigil Method he had invented to directly transform it into his own Ghost Pattern. Then, Wang Linchi could speed up the incubation process by nourishing it with his spiritual power. The specific rate of incubation would depend on how much spiritual power he invested.

Although called a Ghost Pattern, it was actually more like a living tattoo. The disadvantage was that it would slow his own cultivation progress. The advantage, however, was that the Guardian Spirit Ghost Pattern would be highly compatible with him, becoming an extension of himself that he could command as easily as his own limbs. Its growth rate would also be greatly enhanced, allowing it to grow stronger alongside Wang Linchi.

To a certain extent, it could even indirectly improve Wang Linchi's aptitude and Potential. While it couldn't increase the Potential positions on the Soul Shadow· Book of Records, it could boost his cultivation efficiency.

Fortunately, this thing hasn't fully grown yet; it's only the size of an ostrich egg now. If it were a complete ghost, I might not be able to tattoo it at all.

Wang Linchi completed all preparations. Then, using his Thought Field, he forcibly fused the Longevity Fruit-like fleshy egg into his chest via the special Ghost Sigil Method. Excruciating pain erupted continuously. Without hesitation, Wang Linchi shoved the last Longevity Fruit into his mouth. He did this for no other reason than that his lifespan had begun to wane, and he needed the Longevity Fruit to counteract the loss.

As the Longevity Fruit took effect, the pain, instead of lessening, intensified.

This amalgam of a six-in-one ghost and two Longevity Fruits... it seems a bit much to bear...

Wang Linchi felt his body constantly tearing and mending. Subsequently, his physique began to strengthen. The good news was that his physique had broken through the limits of the Black Iron Level, reaching the initial stage of the Mountain Copper Level. The bad news was that his physique was still improving, and he might not be able to withstand it.

He knew that acquiring a Ghost Pattern would gradually enhance a person's physique, Spirit, and other aspects of their strength. However, this enhancement typically occurred after the Ghost Pattern was fully formed, not during its creation. He began to suspect it was because he had used three Longevity Fruits, and that the Powerful Ghost King and the exceptionally strong zombie he'd incorporated into this ghost's creation were simply too potent. His spiritual power hadn't increased much, which was normal; since the ghost hadn't hatched yet, there was no corresponding power to enhance him. His physique could only strengthen because the Longevity Fruit-like fleshy egg itself was incredibly sturdy.

"Finally... it's done..." Wang Linchi wiped the sweat from his forehead.

He had successfully completed the Ghost Pattern just before reaching his breaking point. Now, a conspicuous tattoo adorned his chest: a chaotic face resembling a Longevity Fruit. Upon closer inspection, one could discern his own features in that face. It would be considered hatched when the chaotic facial features sharpened into his clear likeness.

Next, he opened his Thought Mirror, inputted the Guardian Spirit's status, and connected it to his Soul Kind. Simultaneously, a brand-new structure unfolded within the Soul Shadow· Book of Records. Wang Linchi hadn't just created a Guardian Spirit; he had also modified the Book of Records in conjunction with it, thereby completely binding the Guardian Spirit to himself.

[???? (Generating)]

[Blessing: Accumulate one wisp of Blessing daily, forming a protective ward. When you encounter a situation where misfortune can be turned into a blessing, or when you gain a fortuitous opportunity, a corresponding amount of Blessing will be consumed. Current Blessing: 100]

[Other abilities generating...]

Although the Guardian Spirit had not yet been born, its first ability had already manifested. This was an ability originating from the Fox Ghost, now integrated as 'Blessing'. Originally, the Fox Ghost's ability wasn't so simple. It required the tribute of an entire clan, and its effects were multifaceted. More importantly, this ability was somewhat ephemeral, slowly fading as the Guardian Spirit's incubation progressed. It seemed to be a temporary power, only manifesting during the incubation period.

This ability was likely meant for the Longevity Fruit-like egg itself, not Wang Linchi, intended to sustain it through the incubation process via this Blessing. Unfortunately, before the Blessing could fully activate for the egg, Wang Linchi had transformed it into his Ghost Pattern Guardian Spirit. The one hundred points of Blessing must have been a remnant from the Fox Ghost.

"What a pity for it to be a temporary power," Wang Linchi mused with some regret. If I had this ability permanently, I could just lie low, accumulate enough Blessing, and completely change my destiny.

However, he wasn't overly bothered. He accepted fortunes and misfortunes as they came. The primary duty of the Ghost Pattern Guardian Spirit was to ensure his safety, not to boost his luck. That was, after all, a secondary concern. Moreover, if it possessed such a formidable ability even in its egg state, then even if this specific power wasn't inherited post-hatching, it was possible it could gain similar, or perhaps even enhanced, abilities.

"Another gold-swallowing beast..." Wang Linchi muttered, attempting to feed the Ghost Pattern Guardian Spirit's egg. He infused 9,000 points of spiritual power from his Golden Core, and the hatching progress bar increased by a mere 0.9%. This meant he would need to invest a total of one million points of spiritual power.

Fortunately, he was using spiritual power from his Golden Core. He could replenish this through cultivation, and even if the Golden Core's spiritual power was completely exhausted, it wouldn't directly affect Wang Linchi himself.

I need to plan this carefully. I can't pour all my spiritual power into the Ghost Pattern Guardian Spirit egg, he thought.

Wang Linchi could also choose not to invest spiritual power directly. His daily cultivation would still contribute to the Ghost Pattern Guardian Spirit egg's incubation, accelerating the process significantly compared to natural hatching—reducing the original ten years to five.

If this process weren't also about absorption and assimilation, I'd be truly reluctant to invest a million points of spiritual power, he mused. This feeding process was also one of further absorption and assimilation, making the Spectre Guardian an integral part of him. The initial tattooing was the foundation; the current feeding was deepening the bond. The final fusion upon hatching would mark its true completion. The entire process was one of investment and, in a way, appropriation.

I'll reserve 3,000 points of spiritual power each time. Based on my natural recovery rate without active cultivation, I can probably feed it about 20,000 points of spiritual power per day, Wang Linchi calculated.

Wang Linchi possessed an Epic Level Soul Kind. Coupled with the Nine Revolutions Golden Core Soul Forging Skill and the Taoist Embryo and Original Infant Spirit Aspect Secret Technique, his spiritual power recovery rate was extraordinarily fast. Even if 10,000 points of spiritual power were drained from his Golden Core, he could fully recover it within thirty minutes through active cultivation and absorption.

However, he couldn't maintain such a rapid cycle of depletion and recovery indefinitely, as it would harm him. Such behavior was akin to taking painkillers for constant pain; it didn't make the pain disappear, merely masked it. Moreover, this was far more harmful than relying on painkillers, as it would severely damage his Spirit and physique. Therefore, even if Wang Linchi wanted to speed things up, he couldn't rush it; he had to consider his own well-being.

Natural recovery, on the other hand, was better. It was an automatic regulation by his body's functions and didn't carry the same side effects as accelerating recovery through active cultivation. He wasn't sure if this was the case for others, but it certainly was for him. This conclusion was derived from data he had collected using his Thought Mirror, combined with the control exerted by his Thought Field over his own body, and further refined through his own deductions.

I can wait fifty days. Wang Linchi wasn't in a hurry. He had already spent nearly seven months on this, so waiting another two wasn't a major issue.

But just like that, nearly half the allotted time was gone. Wang Linchi checked the time: only two hundred and forty-three days remained, roughly eight months. The initial three months he had, plus the year gained from sacrificing a Longevity Fruit, totaled only fifteen months. And no more time could be added.

Finally, I can set aside some time to study Soul Kind Energy Diversion. I wonder if the remaining eight months will be enough.

And after the Ghost Pattern Guardian Spirit is born, I still need to scavenge resources in this Secret Realm. Time feels a bit tight... Wang Linchi looked somewhat troubled as he considered the time required for his upcoming plans.

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