Chapter 5: A Deformed System, A Deformed Civilization
"It's done. As soon as I obtain spirit rings, I can borrow their power to condense the Golden Core in one go." Xia Tianling finished his cultivation and slowly withdrew his power. Just moments ago, he had completed the tempering of the final meridian, fulfilling the last preparatory requirement before condensing the Golden Core.
For three whole months, Xia Tianling had spent most of his time purely cultivating. Bibi Dong seemed busy with something, so she had Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo temporarily guide Xia Tianling's practice, aiming for him to reach level 20 as quickly as possible to obtain his spirit rings first.
Unlike the simple cultivation of spirit power on the Soul Land continent, the Great Dao Longevity Sutra, refined over countless generations by predecessors, represented the orthodox Immortal Dao, a path leading to the heavens. The entire scripture contained a vast amount of knowledge, including Foundation Establishment, Body Tempering, Spirit Refining, supporting magic formulas, meridians, analysis of human anatomy, and much more – it wasn't just a simple cultivation technique.
Taking levels 11 to 21 in Soul Land as an example, Spirit Masters merely cultivated spirit power. However, as a cultivator practicing the Dao Sutra, Xia Tianling needed to complete the tempering of his five organs, flesh and blood, bones, and meridians in preparation for forming the Golden Core (Jie Dan).
If he didn't condense the Golden Core, Xia Tianling could still break through by obtaining spirit rings, but it would somewhat affect the next stage of his cultivation. Conversely, if Xia Tianling could easily form the Golden Core, he could break through major rank limitations even without spirit rings. The Immortal Dao cultivation system of the Dao Sutra could be said to mutually restrain and yet also complement the rules of Soul Land.
"This Golden Core thing, comparing it to Soul Land, seems equivalent to the Spirit Nucleus condensed by Titled Douluo in later generations. Having cultivated in the Spirit Hall for these three months, I've gained some understanding of the world from the original story..."
During these three months, Xia Tianling received permission from Bibi Dong to freely browse the books in the Spirit Hall's library. So, besides his daily cultivation, he spent his time immersed in the library, absorbing vast amounts of knowledge. Recalling what he had seen and read in the library over the past three months, Xia Tianling shook his head helplessly.
The Soul Land cultivation system was simply too crude.
The scarcity of self-created spirit abilities, the rudimentary methods of spirit power cultivation, the complete lack of systematic body tempering methods, and the near-total neglect of spiritual power cultivation... Compared to the Dao Sutra's method of advancing Spirit Refining, Body Tempering, and Qi Refining as a trinity, the difference was appalling – like comparing high-quality goods to trash.
Faced with such a deformed situation, Xia Tianling had reason to suspect that Soul Land's Spirit Masters' dependence on their spirits and spirit rings had reached a horrifying level. So severe that this profession, with tens of thousands of years of history, had yet to develop proper cultivation methods or even inheritable so-called "self-created spirit abilities." Didn't you see how Yu Xiaogang's summarized method of circulating spirit power was treated like a treasure in the original story?
Even fire-attribute Spirit Masters, without their spirit ring skills, couldn't even cast a tiny, simplest, most basic fireball! Even the protagonist Tang San could only use extremely common skills like Bind and Parasite with the help of spirit abilities. Even from the perspective of an ordinary modern person who had never encountered cultivation before, this was terrifying.
Fire-types conjuring fireballs, water-types launching ice spikes, wood-types using binding, earth-types creating earth spikes, metal-types enhancing weapons with sharpness – is this hard? Is this some particularly difficult feat? Shouldn't this be something anyone with hands could do?
Even in the subsequent sequels, over thirty thousand years, humans had entered the interstellar age, yet their cultivation level remained stagnant! They could only achieve faster cultivation speeds purely through the advancements brought by life core evolution and by consuming heavenly treasures! It's just bloody absurd!
Moreover, the Spirit Master system is far too deformed. Never mind other worlds within the Douluo universe like Ice Fire Magic Chef, Heavenly Jewel Change, Death God, etc. Even thirty thousand years later, the Dragon Knights from the Dragon Horse Double Stars and cultivators from Yuanen Huihui's Elf Planet, as depicted in the original works, could advance through their own efforts. Just which "brilliantly talented" great power originally created such a deformed system based on spirits and spirit rings?
Since both the Mysterious Heaven Skill and the Dao Sutra allow ordinary people without innate spirit power to cultivate, it proves that even without relying on spirits, ordinary people lacking innate spirit power can grasp extraordinary power; it's just a matter of the magnitude of that power. The Spirit Master profession is like an old man on the verge of death, with rigid thinking and severe mental fixation. Spirits gave Spirit Masters a power they could inherently rely on, but simultaneously made them overly dependent, completely shackling the cultivator's mindset.
Not to mention auxiliary professions like alchemy, artifact refining, talisman crafting, and formation setting, which could carry or assist cultivators in exerting greater strength. Not even a rudimentary form exists! In a place like Soul Land, where cultivation civilization has existed for tens of thousands of years, the ones who can offer help to Spirit Masters are still ordinary blacksmiths?
After twenty thousand years, they developed Doukai. Couldn't you think in other directions? Can rare metals only be used to build armor and mechs? Create some natal weapons! Give support-type Spirit Masters some offensive capabilities! Think about your own cultivation system, my brothers! Technology did develop, but this time it completely skewed towards technological civilization, leaving the core system undeveloped. Spirit Cultivation ❌ Douluo Technology ✔️
Powerful as the Body Sect was, the old sect master beat heroes across the land with his iron fists. They had already found a glorious path to developing human potential, but after twenty thousand years of development, it bafflingly just fizzled out. Developed, but not fully developed. Too small, the scope is truly too small! If only they had developed themselves more, they wouldn't have been jokingly called the "Xuanhuan Floor Tile" by numerous readers in his previous life. (Low EQ: Xuanhuan Basement; High EQ: Low Martial Arts Ceiling.)
And who could imagine that the only cultivation-side technological creation unique to Soul Land – Spirit Tools – could actually be lost to time! Xia Tianling truly couldn't comprehend it! It's like electrical appliances in his previous life. Suddenly one day, all technological data worldwide disappears, leaving behind heaps of technological creations. But everyone only knows how to use them, not how to build or repair them. People know adding fuel makes cars run, flipping switches turns lights on. But as for why they run or light up – sorry, no idea! What kind of situation could possibly cause such a severe technological gap? If something like that truly happened, it would practically be a complete reset of civilization!
The most absurd part is that no one even tried to deconstruct and recreate them. Current Spirit Masters are like a bunch of primitive people who know how to flip switches but understand nothing about the underlying principles. Even when Spirit Tools reappeared ten thousand years later, they still had to learn from the Sun Moon Empire people – it's ridiculous! What on earth were the Tang Sect and Shrek Academy, the two major powers, doing for ten thousand years? Couldn't they contribute something to advancing the era? Are the current people of Soul Land dumber than the ancients, or what? How come you can't replicate things the ancients could create?
The more Xia Tianling thought, the more his head hurt. His plan to transform the continent seemed arduous and long. No, I must continue to properly educate this kid Tang San in the future. How can he keep using all his skills for crooked ways!
Suddenly, inspiration struck. He had a wicked idea.
"System, I want to wish for the
["Ding! Received Host's wish. Searching Fate Power."]
["Ding! Wish successful. You have obtained the
Feeling the continuous stream of knowledge pouring into his mind, a mischievous smile appeared on Xia Tianling's lips. Mysterious Heaven Skill, Mysterious Jade Hand, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, Purple Demon Eye, Hidden Weapon Hundred Separation – all obtained. However, he only needed a basic understanding of these; possessing the Dao Sutra, he didn't need these things to enrich himself.
The Guanyin Tear and mechanism-type hidden weapons, however, were worth studying. The former was enough for a Spirit Master at the Titled Douluo level to slay a god, while the latter could rapidly advance technological progress.
"Yo, Little Tianling, what are you thinking about that's making you so happy?" Chrysanthemum Douluo approached, apparently having just come from Ghost Douluo's place.
Unknowingly, Xia Tianling had walked quite far while lost in thought. Unlike Ghost Douluo's slightly aged appearance, Chrysanthemum Douluo lived quite exquisitely. His appearance was fixed by his spirit power to look like he was in his twenties or thirties – wickedly charming, yet possessing a soft, yin aura.
"Hello, Grandpa Chrysanthemum. I just broke through to level 20 and was thinking of finding Grandpa Ghost to take me to get my spirit rings."
As everyone knew, Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo had been partners, close buddies, for decades, their bond incredibly deep. Naturally, Chrysanthemum Douluo followed suit and had Xia Tianling call him Grandpa as well.
"Hoh, our Little Tianling cultivates really fast! Why look for that old ghost? Grandpa Chrysanthemum can just take you!" Chrysanthemum Douluo looked at Xia Tianling with a kindly expression. After spending three months together, for Chrysanthemum Douluo, who like Ghost Douluo had no descendants or partner, it was a novel experience. From the "well-behaved" Xia Tianling, Chrysanthemum Douluo seemed to feel the so-called joys of family life.
"That works too. I'll have to trouble you then," Xia Tianling replied politely with a smile. But inwardly, he was thinking 'WDNMD' (Translator's note: a coarse Chinese internet slang expression of exasperation/disbelief); Chrysanthemum Douluo making such a benevolent expression with such a young face was just too dissonant.
"Trivial matter, trivial matter. No need for politeness among family," Chrysanthemum Douluo waved dismissively, picked up Xia Tianling, and set off immediately. This is how willful Titled Douluo are when taking someone out – they just fly directly.
"By the way, Grandpa Chrysanthemum, can we make a trip to Nuoding City? I haven't seen my grandfather for several months, I miss him a bit, and I also want to tell him I'm doing well now."
"Of course, no problem."
(End of Chapter)