Inside Pangu Hall, Zhou Ming sat cross-legged, gazing at the twelve enormous blood cocoons.
Directly absorbing and refining the fiendish energy with the Dao Origin Divine Pearl was far too inefficient. It could not possibly satisfy the needs of the twelve future Ancestral Witches.
He had to find another way!
If he could create a cultivation art that allowed the Twelve Ancestor Witches to refine the fiendish energy eroding their minds through their own instincts, wouldn't that solve the problem at its root?
The idea was bold, even somewhat fanciful.
After all, the Twelve Ancestor Witches had not even developed complete consciousness yet. How could they cultivate an art?
But Zhou Ming had no other choice. This was the only path he could think of that might change the fate of the Witch Clan.
"Pangu's bloodline, the Law of Strength, the Dao Origin Divine Pearl..." he murmured. His gaze was deep, and countless thoughts collided and evolved within it.
Pangu's bloodline was the foundation, containing the most primal power and a natural affinity for the Law of Strength.
The Law of Strength could guide the circulation of energy and naturally suppress fiendish energy.
The Dao Origin Divine Pearl could protect the Primordial Spirit and also serve as a medium for assistance and imprinting.
Perhaps the combination of the three really could create a miracle!
Zhou Ming closed his eyes, his mind sinking completely into the Dao Origin Divine Pearl.
He poured into it everything he understood about Pangu's bloodline, everything he had comprehended of the Law of Strength, and everything he knew about the Heaven-Opening Fiendish Energy, then began attempting to construct an entirely new method.
He had to account for the fiendish energy's violent nature and consider how to guide it rather than oppose it.
He had to account for the Ancestor Witches' unborn consciousness and consider how to make the cultivation art operate like an instinct.
He had to account for the limits of Pangu's bloodline and consider how to transform the fiendish energy into nourishment for the physical body and the nascent mind.
It was a vast and complicated process.
Countless deductions, countless failures, countless attempts to start over.
Time quietly passed amid the monotonous deductions. Before he knew it, ten thousand years had gone by.
Buzz—!
The Dao Origin Divine Pearl suddenly trembled, erupting with unprecedented light!
A profound and intricate cultivation art fully took shape in Zhou Ming's sea of consciousness!
"Using Pangu's bloodline as the furnace, the Law of Strength as the fire, tempering through nine revolutions, transforming fiendish energy into origin..."
"Then I'll call it... the Nine Revolutions Sha Quenching Art."
The Nine Revolutions Sha Quenching Art was far from perfect. It could even be called rather crude, and it had one enormous limitation—it required his comprehension of the Law of Strength as the catalyst.
It also required the Dao Origin Divine Pearl to provide continuous assistance for it to operate smoothly, especially during the early stages after the Ancestor Witches' consciousnesses were born.
But this was already the utmost he could accomplish under the present conditions.
However, successfully deducing the cultivation art was only the first step.
How to safely and effectively transmit it to his twelve "younger siblings" and make them begin operating it instinctively was the true challenge.
Next, he had to imprint the cultivation art into the origins of the Twelve Ancestor Witches.
"We share the same origin and bloodline. That is our greatest opportunity."
Zhou Ming activated the Dao Origin Divine Pearl, using it as a bridge for communication and transmission.
At the same time, he carefully drew out that trace of comprehension of the Law of Strength and merged it into the light of the Dao Origin Divine Pearl.
Buzz!
The Dao Origin Divine Pearl radiated a gentle glow as it slowly approached one of the blood cocoons.
With the guidance of the Dao Origin Divine Pearl and the Law of Strength, Zhou Ming's Primordial Spirit power cautiously probed into the blood cocoon.
This time, he was no longer simply sensing it. Instead, he attempted to establish a deeper connection.
Using the resonance of their shared Pangu bloodline, he imprinted the operating route of the Nine Revolutions Sha Quenching Art, along with that trace of guidance from the Law of Strength.
Like inherited memories, it slowly seeped into the sleeping life origin deep within the blood cocoon.
The process consumed an immense amount of mental energy and was fraught with danger.
The slightest mistake could not only injure the unborn Ancestor Witch but might even trigger a backlash from the fiendish energy.
Zhou Ming concentrated completely, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.
One cocoon, two cocoons, three...
When the final blood cocoon had also been successfully imprinted with the Nine Revolutions Sha Quenching Art, Zhou Ming let out a long breath. A wave of exhaustion came from his Primordial Spirit.
But he had no time to rest. He immediately divided off a wisp of his mind and carefully observed the changes in the twelve blood cocoons.
Although the Ancestor Witches had not yet developed consciousness and could not cultivate on their own, the cultivation art had already begun operating extremely slowly with the assistance of the Dao Origin Divine Pearl.
Strands of fiendish energy were gradually tempered and transformed as they circulated.
Although the efficiency was still low, compared with their previous state of being completely passively eroded, it was already a great improvement.
"It worked!" A trace of joy flashed through Zhou Ming's eyes.
As long as the cultivation art could operate on its own, then with enough time, small gains would accumulate into great ones, and the fiendish energy could eventually be refined bit by bit.
Next came a long wait and continued observation.
While continuing to comprehend the Law of Strength, Zhou Ming kept a close watch on the Twelve Ancestor Witches, ready to deal with any changes that might occur.
The years flowed on. Ten thousand years passed in the blink of an eye.
Inside Pangu Hall, the fiendish energy on the surfaces of the twelve blood cocoons had visibly thinned, while the life force within them had grown increasingly vigorous.
The Nine Revolutions Sha Quenching Art was imperceptibly and continuously improving their innate foundations.
One day, Zhou Ming was in the midst of cultivation.
Suddenly, one of the blood cocoons shook violently!
A fluctuation of consciousness completely different from those of the other blood cocoons, though faint, was clearly transmitted outward!
That consciousness was filled with confusion, curiosity, and a trace of bewilderment at facing an unfamiliar environment.
Consciousness has finally been born! Zhou Ming's heart stirred, and he immediately focused his attention on that blood cocoon.
That was... Dijiang!
However, the birth of Dijiang's consciousness also meant that he had begun absorbing energy from the outside world more actively.
The circulation of fiendish energy within the blood cocoon suddenly accelerated, like an uncontrolled torrent, unleashing a tremendous impact against his fragile newborn consciousness!
That confused consciousness instantly descended into chaos, as if it might be torn apart by the violent fiendish energy at any moment!
"Not good!" Zhou Ming's expression changed.
Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately activated the Dao Origin Divine Pearl with all his strength!
Buzz!
The Dao Origin Divine Pearl instantly appeared above the blood cocoon where Dijiang was, sending down waves of radiance that formed an indestructible barrier and firmly protected Dijiang's consciousness.
A vague and confused thought was transmitted from within the blood cocoon, carrying the bewilderment of a newborn and a trace of fear toward the outside world.
"Don't be afraid. I'm your elder brother, Zhou Ming."
Zhou Ming immediately separated out a gentle thought and transmitted it to Dijiang through the bridge of the Dao Origin Divine Pearl and their connection through the same bloodline.
At the same time, he activated the Nine Revolutions Sha Quenching Art that had long since been imprinted within Dijiang and guided it with his own comprehension of the Law of Strength.
"Feel the power within you. Follow that guidance and circulate it, refining the things that are causing you pain..."
Zhou Ming guided him patiently, like teaching a babbling infant.
Although Dijiang's consciousness was confused, the connection originating from their bloodline and the instinct of the cultivation art made him subconsciously begin to try.
Under Zhou Ming's guidance and the assistance of the Dao Origin Divine Pearl, the circulation of the Nine Revolutions Sha Quenching Art within Dijiang suddenly accelerated!
Strands of fiendish energy were actively drawn in, refined, and transformed into pure energy, nourishing his physical body and nurturing his newborn consciousness.
His pain lessened, and his strength grew. A trace of dependence and affection came from within Dijiang's consciousness.
Zhou Ming breathed a sigh of relief. The first one had succeeded!
This was a good beginning.
Next, he needed to protect Dijiang's consciousness and assist him in cultivating while waiting for the other Ancestor Witches to awaken.