New concept of the mysterious way to ascend to immortality

Chapter 338 Hidden Dangers in Another Dimension, and Threats to the Present World
Just as Yuan Zhu was about to further test the functionality of the [Absolute Zero Pollution. Enclosed Space] and try to develop more uses, his [Cave Heaven Space] suddenly began to shake violently.

It was like experiencing a magnitude 6 or 7 earthquake; the shaking was extremely violent, and the concentration of shadow energy fluctuated accordingly.

As the Lord of the Grotto-Heaven, he immediately noticed the anomaly. This was because the Grotto-Heaven was under continuous attack, causing the space to fluctuate violently.

He turned his gaze to the outside world, where the [Mountain Lord's Domain] was peaceful and serene. In the eerie and desolate [Cold Pool] valley, only a hundred or so 'Eggplant Spirits' with numb eyes were clearing weeds, vines, and trees from the ground with shovels. Then, above the [Insect Pillar Suppressing Stone], they planted a 'Reverse-Growth Mulberry Sapling'.

Further shrinking the 'map' and expanding the field of view, the entire 'Yin Sha Land' within the 'Law Domain' radiation range remains quiet, with no demons from the depths of the mist attacking.

The answer is obvious: the world behind the "door" has sensed the existence of the "Cave Heaven Space" and is trying to find it, launching a new attack on the "Cave Heaven" through unknown means.

Snake guessed, "Could it be that the commotion we made inside the [Cave Heaven] just now was too loud and alerted the 'outside world'?"

Yuan Zhu looked around. In the limited space of the [Cave Heaven], there was nothing but the 'possessed chicken brother' hanging high above. The 'chicken brother' had made a huge commotion in his own home; even if he shouted himself hoarse, it probably wouldn't be able to penetrate the spatial structure of the [Cave Heaven] and reach the outside world.

"A sound? What sound could there be? How come I didn't notice anything?"

Snake: "I mean, we used the [Cave Space] to simulate the [Inner Universe. Reactor] to refine the cougars, and we even ran it at full power. This driving force (energy/shadow pollution) didn't appear out of thin air, but was drawn from behind the [Door] through the [Law Domain + Cave Space]'s position, right?"

As a domain, the [Mountain Lord's Domain] naturally possesses the function of a 'Spirit Gathering Array'. It not only draws energy from the [Misty Mountains], but also suppresses the death energy of the [Yin Sha Land], as well as the shadow pollution from the [Shadow Layer] behind it.

As for the [Cave Heaven], it is a powerful water pump developed from the huge hardware of the [Law Domain], frantically drawing water from behind the [Door].

Such a commotion was like a small whirlpool appearing on a calm lake, causing the water level to drop rapidly, naturally alarming the world behind the [door]. Following the direction of the rapidly flowing 'shadow power,' it even locked onto the [cave space] and began frantically pounding on the door, trying to pry open this invisible 'turtle shell.'

They realized that this [Cave Heaven Space] was not a one-time solution or an indestructible 'Source Castle'.

Instead, it signifies that the [Mountain Lord's Domain] exceeds the human standard of endurance (ascension standard), forcing a forced semi-ascension, rejecting the real world, and advancing into the bridgehead of the [Shadow Dimension].

Yuan Zhu immediately reduced the power output of the [Cave Heaven] for refining the 'Chang Gui' to the minimum, no longer controlling the [Cave Heaven] to operate at full power. Instead, he gradually increased the [Cave Heaven]'s extraction of 'Shadow Power' to test the other side's reaction.

As the efficiency of energy extraction from the [Cave Heaven] plummeted, the 'attack' from the other dimension instantly lost its target. The attack that the [Cave Heaven] was enduring suddenly disappeared.

Subsequently, Yuan Zhu tentatively increased the refining power of the [One-Eyed Ghost] little by little, and the shadow power extracted from the cave space intensified accordingly, but the [cave space] was not locked or attacked.

So he decisively increased his bet, constantly accelerating. However, his good fortune didn't last long. Once the efficiency of the [Cave Heaven] in extracting shadow power exceeded a certain value, the 'thing' on the other side could use the direction of the 'shadow power' to lock onto the [Cave Heaven] again, launching attacks and destruction, eager to tear apart the [back door] and directly invade this 'space springboard'.

Yuan Zhu once again halved the extraction efficiency of [Cave Heaven], breaking free from the lock on the other end.

He discovered that the [Cave Space] and the [Garden of Disease] were very similar, both being independent 'enclosed small spaces'. They were detached from the real world, but had not fallen into another layer of spacetime (the spirit world/shadow layer), yet they were closely related.

The Garden of Diseases has a real-world haunted house as its entrance and cover; the Cave Heaven, though small, is based on the enormous Mountain Lord's Domain.

However, no matter how much he wreaked havoc and acted recklessly in the [Garden of Disease], it didn't elicit any reaction from the outside world. On the contrary, the [Cave Space] only slightly extracted a bit too much 'Shadow Contamination', which triggered an unknown and out-of-control frenzied attack.

"Tsk! The other side of the world is quite vibrant."

With the completion of the [Law Domain], the pressure I was under actually increased exponentially.

Firstly, the appearance of the [Mountain Lord's Domain] within the [Misty Mountains] and the formation of the [Land Deed] signifies the birth of a 'Land God' and the acquisition of a place (identity certificate) on [Duling Star], while also asserting sovereignty over all the demons in the entire [Misty Mountains].

Fortunately, Yinshan is close to Running City and is considered part of Running's sphere of influence. The powerful monsters in the vicinity are regularly purged, so no 'local gods or great monsters' rashly accept the provocation and come to attack the Law Domain to exchange martial arts skills.

Besides the threats from the Misty Mountains and the potential 'Running Threat', the cave-like space with its own 'backdoor' is also facing threats from the world behind the 'door'.

If the [Law Domain] extracts too much shadow pollution, or if the [Cave Heaven] pumps too fast, it will be considered as issuing a 'reciprocal invitation' to the other side, and the area will begin to be attacked.

If the Mountain Lord's Domain wants to develop, it must exploit the 'Misty Mountains and Shadow Dimension' and withstand the backlash from both sides. If it chooses to stagnate out of fear of danger, then the [Land Domain], as a piece of meat, will also attract more 'wild monsters' to compete for the [Land Deeds and Landlord God Positions].

The daily consumption of the 108-level [Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiend Array] has already triggered daily attacks, probing, and locking on the other side (Shadow Layer); if it is further upgraded to 360, or if the 'Reverse Growth Mulberry Tree' is planted and grown, the extraction of 'Shadow Power (Nutrients)' by the reverse growth roots will also force the [Law Domain] and the [Shadow Layer] to clash.

...

After lowering the power of the managed task, Yuan Zhu had no more interest in training 'Hanging Chicken Bro'. He directly opened the [Front Door] and returned to the empty and desolate [Yinshan Cave].

The cave, originally carved out by the White Bone Scholar and laid out by Yuan Zhu with the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams, with its walls, floors, and ceilings covered in 'stone blood vessel channels,' has now disappeared, collapsing into a 'cave-heaven space,' stuck in an alternate dimension.

The current [Cave Abode] is now just an ordinary stone chamber, but it is also the closest place to the [Cave Heaven Space].

"Snake, notify [Eggplant Ghost] to bring a construction team to renovate this place and set up a 'Haunted House Barrier. Spirit Gathering Array' to increase the concentration of spiritual energy."

Snake: "Can we plant another [Reverse-Growth Mulberry Tree]? Dig the interior of the 'cave' higher and higher. Then plant the 'mulberry tree' upside down, so it grows downwards, and use the [Haunted House Barrier] to seal off the spiritual energy, creating a sacred place for secluded cultivation."

Yuan Zhu nodded: "Okay! It's up to you."

Snake connected with [Eggplant Ghost No. 1] and instructed it to lead the construction team to deliver the mature 'Shadow Eggplant Vines' into the cave for renovation.

On the other side, Yuan Zhu checked the time; it was already around 10:40 AM. Calculating the time, he opened the [door] again, pushed it open, and arrived at the very edge of the [Mountain Lord's Domain]. Then, switching to his Tiger Demon form, he used Shadow Escape to blend into the shadows of the dense forest, using full-power Shadow Escape within the [Domain WiFi] range, heading straight for the [Frog Factory].

...

Fifteen minutes later, Yuan Zhu appeared on the outskirts of the Frog Factory, where construction was in full swing. A cacophony of muffled mechanical roars emanated from the bottom of the massive pit of the 'underground experiment'.

Yuan Zhu didn't approach, but instead used his senses to discover that Nie Yin and the little girl were slowly moving inside Workshop 3. Meanwhile, the younger brother was engaged in a physical combat battle with the Holy Knight in Workshop 2.

He first went to Workshop No. 3 and pushed open the door. He saw Sister Yuan Tang directing a 'Holy Knight Spirit' to stir frog feed. The latter's movements were very clumsy and somewhat nervous. Nie Yin stood aside, staring intently at every step of the process, constantly recording the other's movements.

After a bumpy but manageable 'feed mixing' was finally completed, Nie Yin called out to Yuan Tang, asking the little girl to lead the 'Holy Knight Spirit' to feed the frogs.

He then walked towards Yuan Zhu and said, “These goblins are too clumsy. They have poor comprehension and don’t know how to be flexible. They can only rigidly execute orders. I plan to select one first and help it mechanically and rigidly complete the entire process. I will turn this ‘operational experience’ into a ‘standard work template’ and implant it into the ‘brain eggplant CPU’ of all employees. I need more ‘brain eggplants’ to install one in each goblin.”

Yuan Zhu nodded: "No problem. Is today's feeding work finished?"

"Not yet, what's wrong?"

Yuan Zhu: "I plan to take you to visit our lord's 'base' and assign you corresponding positions and authority."

Having already encountered the [Haunted House, Garden of Disease], Nie Yin's eyes suddenly lit up, and he inquired with some curiosity: "Is this the [Realm of Gods] that Xiao Tang mentioned?"

Yuan Zhu nodded: "Yes, it is closely related to the [Anti-Law. Shadow] on you."

Nie Yin sneered arrogantly: "Finally couldn't hold back any longer and is about to reveal your secrets?"

Yuan Zhu: "Can you spare some time? I plan to take the three of you to the [Law Domain]. If there isn't enough time, I'll take the siblings first, and then I'll take you there separately later."

Nie Yin: "A mere feeding won't affect the development of these experimental frogs at all. Now, we can set off. Xiao Tang, come here!"

In the distance, the little girl who was instructing the 'Holy Knight Spirit' on how to scatter food looked up, her eyes filled with confusion: "Huh?"

Yuan Zhu waved to her: "Xiao Tang, come here!"

She glanced at the iron bucket she was carrying, hesitated for a long time, then handed it to the foolish-looking paladin spirit. She pointed to the remaining breeding tanks and then left.

The 'Holy Knight Spirit' was incredibly excited to receive the feed bucket. He immediately grabbed a handful of food and, using a hidden weapon technique from combat, hurled it at the frogs. The frogs jumped around wildly, and one, unable to react in time, was knocked to the ground, injuring its eye.

The Paladin was greatly encouraged and continued to launch a variety of projectiles at the frog.

On the other side, Yuan Tang approached his elder brother: "Brother, what do you want to see me about?"

"Go tell your brother that we're going on a long trip. We'll show you the location of the [Law Domain]."

Yuan Tang was overjoyed upon hearing this: "The Dharma Realm?! I'll go and inform my brother right away!"

...

At 11:20, after greeting his senior, Yuan Zhu, under the pretext of a 'family outing, sketching trip, and collecting raw materials for the Corpse Species,' led three designated key members deep into the swamp surrounding the 'Frog Factory,' heading towards the 'Misty Mountains,' gradually disappearing into the depths of the dense forest.

After confirming that there were no followers nearby, he decisively switched to his 'Tiger Demon Form', transforming into a 2-meter-high and 4-meter-long black 'Tiger Demon', which looked exactly like a minibus.

With just its two claws bracing against the ground, it created two deep craters. Then, the tiger demon relaxed by pressing down its shoulders, stretching its body, and yawning... The skeletal snake tail behind it broke free from the brain's control, swimming and standing upright on its own, looking at the dumbfounded siblings, and opening its mouth to greet them.

Then, she tilted her head and glanced at Nie Yin, whose gaze was somewhat fanatical.

When Frog Girl saw the evil, fierce, and majestic Tiger Demon again, she found it to be even larger and more imposing than the one she had seen in the warehouse before! That skull tail was so evil! Is this the correct interpretation of the idiom "tiger's head and snake's tail"?
She was still powerless to resist; her limbs were weak, and she was somewhat captivated. She longed to lean in, touch it, and feel a touch of that 'wicked energy'!
The Tiger Demon then spoke: "Activate your uniforms, then mount me. I will take you into the mountains."

Nie Yin, who had long wanted to ride the big cat, couldn't help but ask, "Is it okay?"

"Stop talking nonsense and get in the car!"

With true qi surrounding her and all twelve meridians having been tempered, the little girl leaped onto the tiger demon's back, shoulder, and neck. When she sat down on the tiger demon's broad back, she found that its black fur was rough and slightly stiff, not as smooth as she had imagined, but it provided excellent shock absorption, making it very comfortable to ride.

So she dug her small hands deep into the thick tiger fur, then clenched them tightly. Countless shadowy threads also emerged from her uniform, binding together with the tiger demon's black fur to secure her body.

At this moment, Nie Yin also jogged over to the Tiger Demon's side. Lacking the athletic abilities of her two siblings, she could only rely on the enhancements provided by her [uniform] to clumsily climb onto the Tiger Demon's back, then began to grope it with fascination. It was the first time in her life she had been so close to such a large tiger, and she was extremely excited, wishing she could pluck out a handful of tiger fur and stuff it in her pocket.

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't pluck a single hair from the tiger demon. The reason was simple: the tiger demon's physique was too resilient; its true form as a [Gate] level Earth God was far beyond the reach of a mere mortal.

Finally, after the younger brother successfully boarded the vehicle, the Tiger Demon suddenly took off, riding the gusts of cold wind, half running and half flying, speeding through the dense forest. Wherever it passed, trees were broken and beasts fled in terror…

(End of this chapter)