The Enemy in the Tripod X Spiritual Refinement

"You're watching again?"

On the grass by the stream in the courtyard.

Kevin sat there cross-legged, looking ahead.

And what lies before him is his Mental Image.

He then released his Mental Image.

The Medicine Tripod, still covered and firmly held in place, remained unchanged.

"Didn't you notice something's different? That guy inside, he's stopped struggling."

Melusina watched.

It's definitely different from before. Several months have passed; could it be that the Lord inside is no longer capable of resisting?

That's unlikely, isn't it?

Kevin previously said that it would take at least one or two decades to refine the opponent to the point where they couldn't struggle anymore.

Then it will take several more decades to completely refine the opponent before this skill can be freed up.

Kevin shook his head at Melusina's gaze.

"This thing is, after all, part of my ability, so I can still sense the situation inside. It's just a little weaker than when it was first installed."

Oh, so it was all an act.

Kevin discovered that if the enemy was in perfect condition from the start, sealing them directly with the Medicine Tripod would be equivalent to sealing an enemy at their peak inside.

It's as if the enemy is fighting him from the outside, and he has inflicted considerable damage on them.

In other words, if he has already weakened the enemy outside, and then Medicine Tripod to Blockade, the time required might be much shorter.

Inside the Medicine Tripod, the enemy has no way to recover, and their own condition will only worsen.

But after thinking about it, it seems pointless.

If we can severely injure the enemy, then we won't need to use this last trump card.

The fact that they can use this last trump card means the enemy's situation isn't too bad.

I've figured out a rather useless mechanism.

After all, once this ability is stored inside, it cannot Emission unless the target has been completely refined.

The forced detention that is being shown now is simply the price that needs to be paid; Kevin cannot actually change it.

It's impossible to say that when faced with danger and the need to use Mental Image will abandon imprisonment and choose to fight; that's not possible, because such imprisonment is necessary.

It's Restriction that requires spending.

Therefore, the other party's struggle is essentially futile.

"Just like Nen abilities, although you know the function of Nen ability from the moment it's created, the way and details of its use can be gradually learned and supplemented later."

"So what are you observing by Emission it?"

Melusina, sitting beside her, asked curiously.

After all, even if you do nothing, Emission your Mental Image still requires energy.

"Observation—well, I've had some free time lately, so I've been studying Mental Image in detail. It's very useful, and there are still many mysteries to be explored."

Simply put, the more you progress in the Lord Rank, the more you will understand.

Perhaps, for humans, the entire Lord stage, if nothing unexpected happens, should be the development of Mental Image.

After becoming Lord, Kevin felt that his physical strength hadn't actually changed much.

After all, breaking through to the Lord only makes the body more balanced and begins to be perfect, but it doesn't mean that one becomes powerful enough.

After all, to break through to the Lord, one's body must be able to withstand a greater amount of mental energy.

Ultimately, what brings about a qualitative change is something like Mental Image.

This is based on a mixture of mental will, Nen Aura, and the physical body.

It is a product of a body at peace and beginning to move towards perfection.

Kevin did indeed discover different uses for Mental Image during development.

For example, the initial requirement to synchronize with one's own body has been changed to the point where the Mental Image can now move on its own.

Mental Image to achieve mental defense and attack.

And acquire equipment through oneself, and replicate and map it onto the Mental Image.

These feel more like a kind of Nen ability or skill, which, as it develops and strengthens, is performed through Mental Image.

"Let me show you, I've made a small discovery."

As he spoke, Kevin closed his eyes and clapped his hands together.

The Mental Image opened its eyes, and a huge circle began to emanate from its body.

It instantly enveloped the entire Small Town and the surrounding area.

"Your circle?"

Melusina was somewhat puzzled. Was there anything special about it? If one could perform a circle through Mental Image...

"Didn't you notice? This isn't my kind of irregular circle. I didn't granulate or make it irregular; instead, I used the most orthodox circle that everyone can use."

Hearing this explanation, Melusina still didn't understand, tilting her head and pondering in her mind.

As I watched...

She understood, and her eyes lit up.

He quickly turned to look at Kevin.

At this moment, Kevin's aura remained very solid, steadily enveloping his body.

"You've discovered it, haven't you? This way, you can use circles in battle without worrying about giving the enemy an opening."

This is a very important skill.

The reason why circles are rarely used in combat is because a circle essentially involves spreading the surrounding energy outwards.

In this situation, the human body is only protected by very little energy, and if the enemy seizes this weakness, they can launch a fatal attack.

It's like a person facing danger without any protective measures; they could easily be killed by an enemy in one blow.

At the very least, the injuries will be far more severe than normal.

Just like in human society.

Without Nen Aura protection, ordinary knives are enough to cause considerable damage to Nen users.

"Absolute" is fatal.

While a circle isn't quite that exaggerated, it's roughly in this form.

It can only be used in combat when the circle can be freely expanded and contracted, and only a short surrounding area is preserved.

This allows for very rapid deployment and retraction, sufficient to be withdrawn in the event of an enemy attack.

Only experts would use it this way.

They arrived at the Dark Continent.

With sufficient Nen energy, the spread of the circle can be at least 100 meters. At this point, it won't be able to be withdrawn as quickly, and the enemy's speed is also incredibly fast.

Kevin dared to use it, mainly because of his irregular circle.

Furthermore, after using the protective potion, the circle can be turned into dust; all that's needed is to reduce one's own Nen level.

But clearly this ability cannot be widely adopted.

However, Mental Image can now avoid this risk.

Even if the Mental Image itself uses the circle, and then Mental Image to fight, it doesn't weaken the Mental Image itself much.

This is extremely useful in the Dark Continent.

Enemies on the Dark Continent who possess swift abilities or various stealth and concealment skills are easily detected in this situation.

This will prevent them from falling into a completely disadvantageous position in the battle.

"Doesn't that mean other techniques can also be demonstrated?"

This immediately led Melusina to other possibilities.

Kevin nodded.

"You see, the characteristics brought by the six elements being 100% will also be displayed in the Mental Image."

As he spoke, Kevin raised his hand and shook hands with him, empty-handed.

The Mental Image frees one hand and conjures a sword from afar.

It is entirely composed of Nen Aura.

There are no special effects; it's just a simple, concrete application.

"Then like this."

Soon, a metallic texture appeared on the sword. When the sword was tapped on the ground, a distinct metallic sound could be heard.

The Transmutation Type plus the Materialization Type.

"I should have noticed this when I experienced similar changes in my Mental Image while wielding the sword before. Now, after becoming more familiar with it, I feel more at ease with it."

Don't underestimate this point; under normal circumstances, the combat effectiveness of armed combat is definitely far superior to that of unarmed combat.

The Medicine Tripod immediately began to shake.

Kevin canceled the Mental Image's movement and put his free hand back on its binding.

The essence remains unchanged.

The tremor just now was probably because the other party realized that Kevin had been observing them for a long time and that their Mental Image had changed. They thought they had found an opportunity and began to struggle frantically.

"It seems he's still struggling."

"If your will to survive isn't strong enough, you can't become Lord."

Taking advantage of that brief moment of struggle.

"Let me go!"

The information conveyed by the being refined within.

"He can even speak through space."

This was something Kevin hadn't expected.

He didn't sense any sign of the other person trying to escape; for a moment just now, they had only been struggling and swaying.

But in that instant, the other party at least expressed their meaning.

Kevin stood up and walked over to the Medicine Tripod.

Before he could speak, the other person seemed to have mastered some kind of technique through the struggle just now.

Begin to convey your meaning.

"Why did you suddenly attack me and lock me up? We didn't have any conflict, did we?"

"Although I haven't received the Overlord's approval, I am still a Lord, far stronger than you. I have my own companions, and once they learn about me, you won't be able to escape."

"Perhaps we've misunderstood? Or did I do something to offend you? You don't need to be so impulsive."

Kevin laughed when he heard these words.

"I've already locked you up, so I understand your behavior and thoughts. Stop pretending in front of me."

Being confined inside the Medicine Tripod is equivalent to being bound by one's own Mental Image.

Kevin has more than one Nen ability.

The two Nen abilities are combined.

Synchronization was mapped onto the Mental Image.

Therefore, the information about the person imprisoned in the Medicine Tripod had already been thoroughly analyzed.

This includes the reasons why they inexplicably attacked other Lords.

It can be said that no other creature on the Dark Continent is understood by Kevin as clearly as he does now.

"You are undoubtedly one of the most disgusting creatures, parasitizing others, born from the corpses of other lives, and devouring everything of other lives to strengthen yourself."

All Lords are your natural enemies; you are a born treacherous pest.

Simply put, for this parasitic pest to grow and become powerful, it must parasitize and devour other Lords.

The reason the Great Wild Hunt hates this thing is because after ambushing and killing the Great Wild Hunt's leader, the other party also stole the body.

Furthermore, this guy must have been observing and planning in the shadows for a long time; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to ambush and kill a Lord in an instant.

If Kevin hadn't discovered it at the time, the other party would have used this method to insidiously hide among humans, slowly looking for opportunities to make arrangements, gradually influencing Kevin, and eventually discovering Kevin's most fatal weakness.

Then he would reappear in his true form and engage in so-called normal conversations and exchanges. By this time, he would have already figured out the other party's race, information, and fatal weaknesses.

A sneak attack would naturally be much easier to succeed.

An extremely treacherous and disgusting race; all their actions are preparations for hunting down the next Lord.

They are completely irreconcilable enemies.

Friends? He doesn't have a single friend.

He had already eaten some of his friends.

Once his underwear was pulled off, the other person immediately began to hurl insults at him.

It can only be said that the host he previously instigated wasn't very good at swearing; his insults didn't even manage to provoke anger.

"Okay, shut up."

Kevin increased the flow of his Nen Aura as he spoke.

Illusory flames ignited beneath the Medicine Tripod, an outward manifestation of accelerated refining.

The other person immediately began to struggle even more vigorously.

But it's meaningless.

Essentially, Kevin couldn't release the other person even if he wanted to.

"Judging from this, he won't be quiet anytime soon."

Melusina watched as Kevin dissipated the Mental Image and said from the side.

"There's nothing I can do; after all, he's an enemy far stronger than me."

Kevin said with a smile.

"Why are you suddenly so happy?" Melusina sensing something was amiss.

Kevin smiled and opened his hand, revealing a mist bead in his palm.

"I just discovered something a little interesting; I subconsciously equated Spiritual Lifeform with physical life forms."

However, within the Medicine Tripod, they exhibit completely contradictory Specialization, resulting in entirely different products during the refining process.

If the other party hadn't struggled, he might not have noticed. Kevin might only have discovered it after the other party was completely refined and Kevin saw the final product.

There's nothing we can do about it.

Kevin has only used this ability twice in total, and this is the second time.

The first application was still experimental.

They capture flesh and blood beings, and the things they refine are a mixture of flesh, blood, spirit, and everything else. Apart from being rich in mixed life elements, normal life forms simply cannot possess it.

Giving back directly to the earth is the simplest way.

The main problem is that everything is mixed together, and you can't separate the useful from the useless parts; you can only accept it all.

It can be used on the earth.

The same applies to Spiritual Lifeform, but that's where the problem lies.

Spiritual Lifeform are, in a sense, pure, at least much purer than flesh and blood.

Or perhaps it's due to the refining process.

The Medicine Tripod cannot directly and completely transform a corpse into the purest life essence, but it can easily refine a wisp of spirit into a pure spiritual essence.

"So this is the part that has already been trained? And it can be acquired directly midway through the process?"

"Well, you can think of this as the steam from boiling water; it's not a tangible byproduct."

Kevin said, holding the mist bead in his hand.

Compared to the opponent's immense power, this tiny speck of mist in my hand is like a large basin of boiling water and a tiny bit of steam.

"So what's the use?"

"This little bit is already B-Rank?"

Kevin held the bead and shook it back and forth, saying, "And it's pure spiritual material."

There is no purer spiritual material than this; it is itself a part peeled off from the spiritual body.

Upon hearing this, Melusina immediately understood.

After all, she was Kevin's assistant in selecting and arranging the ingredients.

In many cases, materials possess multiple properties.

Therefore, some materials are needed as the main axis to bring out the similar properties of other materials.

The mist bead in my hand, composed of pure spiritual energy, possesses this guiding property.

It makes it easier to create mental-type potions, which can then be used as a catalyst.

"It's just that our level doesn't match the enemy's."

Melusina felt it was a bit of a pity.

"Being content with what you have is better than getting nothing at all. I'm prepared to waste decades of my life just to eliminate the enemy."

The extra gain is already something to be happy about.

Kevin said with a smile.

And think about it, it's just water vapor that's being released.

Ultimately, the relics that are truly obtained are pure.

The spiritual constructs of everything a powerful Lord embodies.

That's the real guarantee.

This is something even purer than S-Rank materials.

It is not a lump of blood and flesh, but a filthy mess.

Speaking of which, over the years, if I were stronger and had greater control over my Mental Image, would I be able to refine flesh and blood creatures in a more refined way?

In any case, this experience will definitely give him enough valuable lessons.

At that time, the Mental Image of the cauldron will be able to be controlled more precisely.

For example, by clearing away the mixed filth, even the most formidable enemies of flesh and blood can be obtained in the end.

Rather than simply returning everything to nature.

It's not that giving back to nature is bad, but there should always be some benefit to be gained.

Humans are inherently greedy.

Of course, giving back to nature can't be considered a bad thing, as it aligns with the core concept of controlling the territory of Overlord power.

Be a good lackey of the Overlord.