A Thousand Against Four Thousand? The Advantage Is Mine!

Damn it!

I'd fought tooth and nail to obtain just two Innate Arcane Techniques...

One was a common, run-of-the-mill technique;

The other was a refurbished hand-me-down.

A herd of alpacas thundered through Jiang Zhe's mind.

He knew it. Any life form daring to call itself a "Special Life Form" definitely had some serious tricks up its sleeve.

Oriana promptly transmitted the detailed information on the three Innate Arcane Techniques to him.

Jiang Zhe examined them one by one.

The first: Proxy!

--As the most thoroughly subordinate mechanical Special Life Form, Oriana was restricted by the Primal Universe Willpower and could not independently raise her Law Comprehension Level of the Universe Source!

--However, she could perfectly carry and apply all of her master's comprehensions, including but not limited to realm advancement experience, Law Comprehension Level, Body Amplification Secret Techniques, Attack Secret Techniques...

--When faced with certain death, her master could merge their soul into Oriana's body and gain new life, transforming from a subordinate mechanical Special Life Form into a true Cosmic Special Life Form.

--After master and servant merged, the Proxy talent would disappear, and the Law Comprehension Restriction would be lifted.

The four consecutive entries hit Jiang Zhe like a relentless bombardment. It took him a long while to recover.

"Terrifying!"

"The Primal Universe can actually give birth to such an utterly self-sacrificing talent?!"

"After making her acknowledge a master, it's like carrying a Revival Coin around at all times. As long as the soul isn't harmed, I can 'possess' her and be reborn, continuing the Martial Warrior Path with a new identity as a Special Life Form!"

Hm? Possession?

Jiang Zhe suddenly froze.

Mechanical and Metallic Lifeforms shouldn't have souls, right? They weren't affected by soul damage... so this didn't really count as possession, did it?

He did not dwell on it and attributed it to the special nature of the Proxy Innate Arcane Technique.

"A perfect backup body!"

"After possession, I wouldn't need to adapt to Law Comprehension, all kinds of combat methods, and so on. I could seamlessly take over."

Jiang Zhe suddenly realized something and vigorously shook his head.

"No, possession is the worst possible use of this Innate Arcane Technique. It completely overlooks the true meaning of 'Proxy.'"

"Proxy—walking the Heavenly Dao, proclaiming the Will of the Gods!"

"Oriana can borrow my 'Dao' to gain formidable combat power, slaughter enemies, spread my will, and display my majesty!"

"Other life forms would covet Oriana's racial talent and would probably possess her immediately after making her acknowledge them as master. Take Dou Kou, for example. A World Master life form with a Genetic Level a hundred times greater—even Cosmic Venerables would be tempted and capture it for their talented descendants to possess."

"But I'm different. I have a clear Ascension Path. Unlike Luo Feng, whose initial talent was poor and who needed the Golden Horn Beast to rise rapidly."

"Possessing Oriana would be a massive weakening for me!"

"But if Oriana remains as a Subordinate Life Form—when I grow stronger, she can use Proxy to copy my important methods. She would practically become a mirrored 'me'!"

"Two 'mes,' supporting each other as we ascend step by step to the pinnacle... uh, if I really become a Hunyuan Lord, then there would be two Hunyuan Lords with identical methods!"

"Just imagine it. Two Hunyuan Lord Luo Fengs skilled in the blade path would probably be a horror story for the Innate Primal Chaos Life Form faction."

Jiang Zhe shook his head and laughed. "Of course, that depends on the upper limit of the Proxy talent."

"If it's influenced by the Ancient Tree inside me, its upper limit naturally won't disappoint."

"If the Proxy talent was entirely created by the Primal Universe Willpower, then it's hard to say what level it can reach."

"But at the very least, it should reach the level of a Cosmic Lord or Cosmic Overlord."

"The absolute cream of the crop among Subordinate Life Forms!"

"Even Star-Devouring Grass was no longer very useful after Luo Feng Broke Through to Immortal."

"But Oriana can keep pace with me all the way. At the very least, she should reach the level of a Cosmic Lord or Cosmic Overlord."

Jiang Zhe took several deep breaths to calm his somewhat excited mood.

This was only the First Innate Arcane Technique. It was hard to imagine what surprises awaited him next.

He continued reading.

The second: Mechanical Pioneer!

--A sage proficient in mechanical creation can completely analyze the Technological Mysteries contained within a target before them, perfectly replicate them, and even use them as a foundation to deduce technologies of a higher level.

Jiang Zhe could not help scratching his head as he joked, "Should I send you to the Technology Department of the Virtual Universe Corporation so you can develop new technology for the benefit of the Human Race?"

"If that is Master's will, Oriana is willing to comply!" The puppet lady gave a light bow.

"Haha, I'm joking. If I want to benefit the race, I'll have to wait until I can advance to Cosmic Venerable or Cosmic Lord first. The weak are only fit to offer tribute upward, just like..."

His words stopped there, and Jiang Zhe buried the rest in his heart.

"Just like Earth in the future. Its ownership may be in Luo Feng's hands, but who would actually take Luo Feng seriously?"

"Just like the descendants of certain Cosmic Lord clans from the Great Axe Arena, who even planned to kill Luo Feng and seize Earth for themselves."

"Who knows whether the universe has some Unconventional Secret Technique capable of forcibly severing the connection between a Subordinate Life Form and its master?"

With that in mind, Jiang Zhe instructed her through their mental link, "Anna, you can analyze and replicate technology from now on, but do not reveal your ability to deduce higher-level technology."

"I obey your will!"

Jiang Zhe was very satisfied.

Compared to an Intelligent Life Form like Barabata, who was both teacher and friend, he felt much more at ease with Oriana.

He looked at the final Innate Arcane Technique.

The third: Master of Matter!

--This is a Growth Secret Technique that can devour natural matter one rank above itself to strengthen itself.

--It can analyze the Particle Structure of devoured matter and, at the cost of energy, create natural matter it has previously devoured that is of the same rank as itself.

"Alchemy? Turning Stone into Gold?"

That was the thought that popped into Jiang Zhe's mind after reading the technique.

At first, he found it shocking. It was the ability of Creation from Nothing!

But after thinking it over carefully, it did not seem quite so unimaginable.

Lord of the Nine Nether could use a secret technique to create life. Oriana could use a secret technique to replicate matter that already existed in the universe. They seemed evenly matched.

Master of Matter and Mechanical Pioneer complemented each other. They were foundational core abilities, allowing her to sprint down the path of Mechanical Ascension.

For example.

--While her left hand analyzed a spacecraft's structure, her right hand could expend energy to conjure a brand-new spacecraft from nothing.

"This can be devoured, right?" Jiang Zhe took out an SS-rank Flying Blade and handed it to Oriana.

"It can."

Oriana accepted the flying blade with both hands and held it before her chest. A red beam shot from the gemstone embedded in her Brass Core, shone onto the blade, and drew it into the fist-sized brass sphere.

Jiang Zhe asked in surprise, "Anna, you have an Inner World too?"

"Yes, Master. The Master of Matter talent requires the support of an Inner World to take in large quantities of natural matter for decomposition and digestion."

It was very similar to the Golden Horn Beast's Devour Matter technique... Jiang Zhe pondered.

Oriana continued, "My Inner World is inside this Main Core. Of the three cores I just separated, two are Sub-cores. Even if they are destroyed, they can be repaired."

Jiang Zhe nodded. That was easy enough to understand.

Any life form in the universe had only one Inner World, located within its Original Core, life core, or crystal core.

Even those with clones, such as Luo Feng. His Human True Body, Mosh Tribe, and Nine Nether Blood Sea had no Inner Worlds in their life cores or Life Cores.

Only the Golden Horn Beast possessed an Inner World in its Original Core.

Oriana naturally followed this rule. Aside from the main body carrying the Main Core, all the other puppets she had split off counted as her clones.

It was very similar to the Clone Secret Technique of Kandri, the Chaos Monument Guardian, but vastly more sophisticated.

"Master, analysis complete. The flying blade is forged from the body tissue of a Planetary Level Monster, A3 Gold, A6 Azure Gold... It requires—"

Jiang Zhe raised a hand and stopped her. "No need. This is enough!"

At the same time, he warned her, "Anna, on Earth, you may only display your ability to devour matter. Do not display the ability to create matter from nothing."

Oriana had just intended to create a piece of A6 Azure Gold for him from nothing.

There were several things worth being thankful for.

No matter how powerful a Cosmic Overlord was, they could not hear the private conversations in the hearts of Jiang Zhe and his servant; they could not determine a new species' Genetic Level at a glance, only make a rough estimate; nor could they tell what Innate Arcane Techniques it possessed.

This allowed Jiang Zhe and Oriana to retain a great deal of privacy during any possible Time and Space Reversal in the future.

That said, Great Axe Founder's reversal had also included Luo Feng's process of cultivating the Nine Tribulations Secret Art.

"Anna, come back."

With a thought from Jiang Zhe, Oriana turned from solid to insubstantial. Her figure scattered apart, leaving only a fist-sized Brass Core behind.

It flew over, pressed against his skin, and merged into his body.

It felt as though his skin had gained an extra layer of cool clothing. It was very comfortable.

He could also clearly sense Oriana's blazing will: absolute obedience inwardly, cold, forceful, and domineering outwardly!

It suited the identity of a "Proxy" perfectly.

"Master, do you need me to take over your communications watch and monitor the Earth Network?"

"Also, I can sense a vast Virtual World shrouding the space above us. Do you need me to take you in?"

Having entered her role, Oriana began shouldering the duties of an "Intelligent Life Form."

Jiang Zhe hurriedly said, "The first is fine; don't try the second. Ignore it!"

"I obey your will."

Oriana did not ask why. After agreeing, she began invading Earth's network world.

Jiang Zhe explained to her inwardly, "Anna, I'm a native. My consciousness is an unregistered account in the 'Virtual Universe Network.' I haven't received authorization. Even if you take me in, I'll just get kicked back out."

Oriana said in confusion, "Master, I have strong Suppressive Force over those Intelligent Life Forms. It is only a Virtual World. I should be able to bring you in undetected."

"No, no, Anna. That isn't a Virtual World. It's called the Virtual Universe, and it was created by a secret technique wielded by a supreme expert of the Human Race."

"The one responsible for operating the Virtual Universe is a Mechanical Race expert I mentioned before. Its strength is only one Major Level below that creator's. Both stand at heights we can only look up to. Our little abilities can't contend with it."

Jiang Zhe sighed earnestly. "You and I still have only a superficial understanding of this universe. We need to watch our words and actions!"

Oriana fell silent for several breaths before saying, "Master, you are right about everything. I just tracked down two 'visitors from the universe' within the Earth Network and learned of the universe's vastness through them!"

Jiang Zhe frowned. "Two? Where?"

"One is deep within the Amazon rainforest, in the place your kind calls Site Number 9."

"The other is in a blood-red spacecraft 37 degrees west by north of your position, at a horizontal distance of 926.8 kilometers and then 10.6 kilometers vertically underground."

The detailed data made Jiang Zhe's mouth twitch.

Well, damn!

You caught both the bald crystal man at Site Number 9 and Barabata.

"Anna, did you communicate with them?"

"Without your permission, I would not reveal my existence to them without authorization," Oriana explained. "Master, I have extremely strong Suppressive Force over Intelligent Life Forms. I directly invaded their consciousnesses and viewed their shallow memories. They cannot detect it. However, some important memories are hidden deep within, and I cannot guarantee I can view them without alerting them."

"Enough. That's already incredibly powerful!" Jiang Zhe exclaimed sincerely.

He gained a new understanding of Oriana's level—she could fully compare to the Mechanical Race, perhaps even qualify as a higher life form among them.

For an Innate Arcane Technique to dare use such a name, it apparently was not mere boasting.

Mechanical Pioneer, worthy of the name!

Oriana suggested, "Master, both of them come from a faction called Yunmo Star, which has already been destroyed. They are desperately seeking an outstanding Psychic Master Inheritor. You can give it a try."

Jiang Zhe was silent for a moment before suddenly asking, "Anna, can you keep them firmly under control?"

"No problem, but I need to meet them face to face." Oriana did not hesitate, sounding extremely confident.

A smile appeared on Jiang Zhe's lips. "Good. Let's go visit the closer one now and see the cosmic legacy it holds."

Jiang Zhe did not reject joining the Yunmo Star Lineage. It did not matter if he inherited its karmic ties of the past and future. He simply did not want Barabata, nor did he want that Legacy Soul Imprint.

The secrets on him were not suitable to share with Barabata;

The Legacy Soul Imprint was crucial to possessing the Golden Horn Beast, so it should not be wasted on him.

Jiang Zhe used his Psychic Power to move the flying blade and prepared to tunnel back to the surface, following Oriana's directions to find Wudao.

"Wait, Master. There is another unexpected situation."

"What?" Jiang Zhe stopped.

"A councilor close to Planetary Level First-Rank Peak Cultivation is looking for you 140 kilometers away, three hundred meters in the air. He wants to take the Eight Treasures Alligator Dragon Spear from you."

"Who is it?"

"Li NanSheng." Oriana added, "The Strongest on Earth, Hong, is following behind him to protect you."

Li NanSheng?

Jiang Zhe's sealed memories were awakened, and his mouth twitched.

The whole "mantis stalks the cicada while the oriole waits behind" routine—this unlucky kid still could not break free or escape the fate of the Original Timeline.

"Master, do you need me to act later?"

"No rush. Help me measure the strength of my Psychic Power first. You should be able to do that, right?"

Jiang Zhe remembered that the Auxiliary Optical Computer Luo Feng brought back from Site Number 9 could do it. Oriana should have no problem as well, right?

"Master, your current Psychic Power can control a single flying blade with a maximum impact force of 1,062 tons!"

"More than 1,000 tons?" A brilliant smile appeared on Jiang Zhe's face.

"You said he's close to Planetary Level First-Rank Peak Cultivation? That means his Physical Strength alone is close to 2,000 tons, and his Gene Primordial Energy burst is close to another 2,000 tons, for a total of around 4,000 tons?"

"Haha, one thousand against four thousand—the advantage is mine!"

To be honest, these past two days have left me nervous and on edge. I watched the bookmarks jump by five hundred, then another five hundred, and it completely stunned me.

You have to know, my completed pet beast novel only had 2,500 bookmarks when it went premium, and it eventually reached an average of one thousand subscriptions.

Thank you all for letting me experience what it feels like to have over 7,000 bookmarks during the New Book Period. Thank you, everyone!!!