Sneak Evolution Without Me?

Lu Changsheng dumped all the treasures his Merit Avatar had picked up into the Mysterious Yellow Pearl in one go, but when it came to a black box, he paused.

He blinked, crushed the black box in his hand, and took out the item inside.

"Longevity Art?" Lu Changsheng scanned it once and immediately understood its contents.

The concept behind this cultivation method was quite good, but unfortunately, its creator's realm had been too low, leaving behind many flaws. If one forcefully continued cultivating it, they would suffer cultivation deviation.

Lu Changsheng performed a brief deduction and improved the technique.

With Lu Changsheng's methods, improving a cultivation technique was naturally effortless.

In the time it took him to chat with the system, Lu Changsheng had elevated this technique, originally meant for those below the immortal realm, to a level suitable for Grand Unity Golden Immortals.

"I'll call it the Immortal Undying Samsara Art." Lu Changsheng gave the improved technique a name.

But soon after, he discovered something interesting that had emerged during the improvement process. Following the original creator's line of thought, Grand Unity Golden Immortal was the utmost limit.

Yet he had now suddenly realized that, with a different approach, this technique still had room for improvement.

"Interesting. The technique my Merit Avatar picked up has quite a lot of potential." Lu Changsheng planned to enter seclusion and modify this technique. It was perfect timing—he had comprehended the Strong Being Identification Technique during his last seclusion, so perhaps he could comprehend something else this time.

However, before that, he needed to make some preparations.

Lu Changsheng laid down layer upon layer of formations upon his Merit Avatar, lest it encounter an accident outside. Then he set up all sorts of formations around his true body as well. Unless a Saint came in person, no one could hope to harm him in the slightest.

Furthermore, the avatar could borrow the true body's power to raise its strength. Lu Changsheng tested it and found that it could reach the level of a Grand Luo Golden Immortal at most. On the surface, it was only at the Heavenly Immortal level, but it could rise to Grand Luo Golden Immortal at any time. Mm... this damned sense of security.

After doing all that, Lu Changsheng felt as though something was still missing. He looked at his Merit Avatar, had a flash of inspiration, and reached up to remove his eyeballs before installing them on the Merit Avatar.

Now, the Merit Avatar could use the Strong Being Identification Technique at its strongest state.

[Are you going into seclusion for a long time?]

"No. How long could this take? At most, a few tens of thousands of years. Besides, I have the Mysterious Yellow Pearl. I can just adjust the Time Flow Rate. Converted outside, it'll only be a few days."

[Then you made so many preparations.]

"Is it a lot? I think it's still a little lacking. Besides, this time I'm not just sealing myself away in some fixed place. My true body is entering seclusion to comprehend the Dao, while my alt account can still move around."

[That does seem to be the case.]

The system recalled how Lu Changsheng would arrange a huge number of formations inside and out every time he entered seclusion.

This time indeed seemed rather minimal by comparison.

With all preparations complete, Lu Changsheng entered the Mysterious Yellow Pearl and began his seclusion.

Outside, Lu Changsheng's avatar twisted his neck. It would probably be done in three or four days. What should he do now?

The system seemed connected to him in mind and body, knowing what Lu Changsheng was thinking as it spoke up to remind him.

[Since your main account is in seclusion, why not let your alt account chat in the group?~]

"Did you read my mind?"

[No, your expression gave it all away.]

"Nonsense. Keeping a blank expression is what I'm best at."

[...]

Inside the Chat Group—

Yatogami Tohka: wowowow

Shinobu Kocho: Everyone, I tried cultivating the cultivation method True Lord gave us, but I haven't made much progress. How are the rest of you doing?

Iron Man: I can't sense anything at all. Maybe I'm not suited for cultivation?

Batman: You need perseverance. Keep it up. I haven't made much progress either.

Takanashi Rikka: I think I've gotten a little stronger.

Deep Sea Otaku: I feel like I've gotten stronger by more than just a little, roar.

Daigo: That's pretty good. I just don't understand some things about the realms. Also, after I cultivated, my combat power noticeably increased when I transformed into Tiga.

Passerby Kamen Rider: To be honest, I haven't even looked at the group file True Lord uploaded yet. After True Lord upgraded me, it feels like inserting cards and transforming has become incredibly smooth.JPG

Mumen Rider: I'm working hard at cultivating, though I don't have any clue how to begin yet.

Iron Man: Daigo, since you can cultivate with your human body, why not try it after transforming into Ultraman? Maybe the results will be even better.

Daigo: I never thought of that at all ヽ(°∀°)ﾉ

True Lord of Future Expectations: Take it slowly. This depends on talent, as well as whether the world you're in is suitable for cultivation.

Yatogami Tohka: True Lord has appeared again and again and again!

Takanashi Rikka: True Lord, please explain it to me, wah wah wah.

True Lord of Future Expectations: Ask away. You can ask anything. I happen to have some free time.

And so, a string of questions began appearing in the group, and Lu Changsheng answered every one of them in detail.

True Lord of Future Expectations: From the looks of it, quite a few people in the group have made no progress at all. Next is Takanashi Rikka, who has barely sensed a trace of qi, followed by Deep Sea Otaku and Daigo.

Mumen Rider: There are also those who haven't cultivated at all.

Passerby Kamen Rider: Who are you implying?

Takanashi Rikka: It practically counts as stating it outright~

Lu Changsheng was quite curious about how some people in the group cultivated. Daigo, for instance, was one of them. Was it because Daigo's world was suited for cultivation, because of the Ultra-Ancient Genetic Code within him, or because Daigo, as light, had some special-effect bonus?

True Lord of Future Expectations: @Daigo, how about I guide your cultivation, and you let me study your body? (Before and after transforming.)

True Lord of Future Expectations: Don't worry, it won't hurt. It'll be over quickly, and it won't have any effect on your body.

Daigo: ∑(✘Д✘๑)

Iron Man: Trading your body for strength is quite a good deal. Daigo, you can agree to this. True Lord has already offered to help your cultivation. (laugh)

Batman: This has the distinct vibe of female politicians trading their bodies for wealthy backers' financial support. @Iron Man, I'm talking about you.

Takanashi Rikka: So weird.

Daigo: I trust True Lord's character, so I can agree to it, but I don't have any Gathering Tickets left. I already sold them to the system for Points. True Lord, you can't come over, can you?

True Lord of Future Expectations: It's fine. Based on your messages, I can locate the coordinates of your world and go there directly.

Iron Man: ? So that means True Lord, you never needed the Chat Group to teleport from the start? You could do it yourself?

True Lord of Future Expectations: Yep.

Batman: ? I never knew that?

True Lord of Future Expectations: You never asked.

Takanashi Rikka: ???

Deep Sea Otaku: ???

Mumen Rider: ???

Shinobu Kocho: ???

They had all assumed everyone was the same and needed to rely on the Chat Group for location and teleportation. Yet True Lord could directly locate and teleport himself. Had he been secretly evolving?

I really, really wish all my readers could be like the domineering CEOs in novels—pinning me against the wall, watching my flustered expression as I tried to run and resist, flashing an evil smile, then hooking my chin with one finger, leaning close, and saying to me as I looked on in despair—

"Dog author, here are today's recommendation votes. Take them and spend them until you can't spend any more. You're not allowed to go home."