Wizard: My skills can be upgraded indefinitely.

laboratory.

Ian looked at the six crystal test tubes neatly arranged; these were the potions he had just concocted.

The potion was a nearly transparent pale gold color, with countless tiny silver-white crystals suspended deep within it.

Silvery-white crystals slowly float, collide, shatter, and reform in the liquid...

"I'll call you... [Purifying Crystal Cluster Potion]."

Ian lightly touched the outer wall of the test tube with his fingertips; it felt warm to the touch.

This is a "targeted weapon" that he meticulously crafted over three days.

The core idea is simple: since the Shadow Centipede's "Shadow Swamp" is the boundary between distorted reality and shadows.

Then use the power of absolute order to purify and forcibly tear apart that distorted space.

However, ordinary purifying agents have limited effectiveness and will be constantly eroded and dissolved by shadow energy in the shadow world.

So Ian added something more radical.

"The 'seed' of order purification, plus the 'flesh and blood' of self-replicating energy."

He sealed a trace of the core imprint of the power of the stars of order within the medicinal liquid.

It's like embedding a "core" within the power of purification; once the potion explodes, the mark is activated.

It will frantically absorb the surrounding shadow energy and transform it into its own power of order and purification.

Like cancer cells, they proliferate and expand indefinitely, eventually forming a continuously spreading "purifying crystal flower".

"Giggle, are you ready?" Ian looked at the little guy on his shoulder.

Gaga nodded vigorously, his dark silver pupils gleaming with excitement.

"I can't wait any longer! This time, I absolutely have to get paid!"

"Then let's go."

A world of shadows, beneath a hazy, gray sky.

Ian stood at the edge of a twisted, black swamp, the rich, decaying scent mixed with nectar wafting towards him.

Beneath our feet was a thick, black swamp, with bubbles constantly rising from its surface.

"The swamp of the shadow world..."

Perception spreads, like an invisible net sweeping across the depths of a swamp.

He quickly identified his target for the trip.

In the center of the swamp, about five kilometers away, grows a peculiar patch of "plants".

It resembles an orchid, with slender stems, translucent leaves, and stamens that shimmer with a faint blue light.

"The Ghost Orchid...and there's more than one." Ian's eyes lit up.

Three ordinary ghost orchids, and one... seems to have mutated.

The mutated flower was larger and darker in color, and the concentration of the deep blue light in its stamen was more than three times higher.

"This should be Shadow Soul Orchid." Ian took a deep breath.

The main ingredient for the third-order neutralizing potion has been resolved.

He wasted no time, and his divine body of order unfolded.

The surrounding space suddenly distorted, and silver light burst forth from Ian's body.

This time, there was no compression of his body size; his hundred-foot-tall divine form was fully unfurled!

Like a silver mountain, it stands tall above the gray swamp.

Deep within the pupils, three star orbits spun rapidly, releasing the pressure of the three rules without reservation!

"Go!" Ian shouted, and his divine body surged forward!

Its hundred-foot-tall body raced through the air above the swamp, stirring up violent air currents.

The black mud below was stirred up by the airflow, churning up towering waves of mud.

In the muddy waves, countless shadowy creatures were awakened.

Twisted vines burst forth from the depths of the swamp, their surfaces covered in fine barbs, their tips splitting open to reveal sucker-like mouthparts.

A black, jellyfish-like creature floated in from mid-air, its tentacles drooping, the tips of which shimmered with a dangerous purple light.

Countless tiny flies, resembling mosquitoes and gnats, swarmed towards the divine body like a black cloud.

"court death."

Ian's eyes were icy cold as he activated the full force of the gravity rules!

An invisible force field spread out from him, and the shadowy creatures that rushed towards him suddenly froze.

The next second, gravity collapsed!

boom!

All shadow creatures within a kilometer radius simultaneously squeezed inward!

The vines snapped, the jellyfish burst, and the flying insects turned to dust, as if an invisible giant hand had crushed them all.

Black energy residue scattered and flew everywhere, only to be forcibly gathered back by the gravitational field.

They coalesced into fist-sized, dark purple crystals.

Ian made a grasping motion with his left hand, activating the gravitational pull, and crystals flew in like raindrops, all of which he stored in his dimensional ring.

The whole process took less than three seconds.

The swamp returned to silence.

Only the surging black waves below still tell the story of the terror that had just occurred.

"continue."

Ian did not stop; his divine body continued to rush forward, covering the distance of five thousand meters in the blink of an eye.

He stopped above the Ghost Orchid, his divine body shrinking to ten meters in size.

A hand emerged, its fingertips gleaming with a pale golden light.

The purification rules transformed into the finest energy tendrils, seeping into the swamp and enveloping the roots of the four ghost orchids.

With a gentle pull, the whole thing was removed, roots and all.

The moment the ghost orchid emerged from the swamp, its petals trembled violently.

"what!"

The deep blue light within the flower's heart flickered wildly, as if screaming and hissing.

Ian was prepared; he purified the energy to form a thin protective shield, completely sealing the four flowers.

It isolates it from the outside world and prevents energy loss.

He carefully placed the Ghost Orchid into a specially made jade box and put it deep inside his dimensional ring.

"Alright." Ian turned to look at Gaga.

"Next...we'll go find that centipede."

The little guy nodded excitedly, "The nest is deep in the vein; I left a mark when I explored it last time!"

"Set off."

The Shadow Crystal Vein remains a distorted, black forest landscape.

"Set off."

The Shadow Crystal Vein remains a distorted, black forest landscape.

Upon returning to this place, Ian did not immediately begin gathering resources; his sole objective was the Shadow Centipede.

Gaa led the way, its wings flapping, leaving faint black trails in the gray mist.

Ian followed behind, his divine body maintaining a size of ten meters.

Gravity sensing spread out like mercury, scanning every corner deep within the ore vein.

Soon, he caught that familiar, cold, and ancient aura.

At the deepest part of the vein.

"Found it..." A cold glint flashed in Ian's eyes.

He stopped and took out a purification crystal cluster test tube from his dimensional ring.

Pulling out the stopper and flicking it with my fingertip, a drop of pale golden liquid flew out, tracing an arc in the air before falling deep into the ore vein.

The instant the liquid hits the ground.

"boom!!!"

A burst of brilliant pale golden light erupted!

Wherever the light passed, the surrounding shadow crystals melted away like ice and snow encountering the blazing sun!

The hissing sound of purification echoed throughout the mine.

But what's even more terrifying is that... the light didn't dissipate; instead, it began to "grow."

It started as a ball of light the size of a fist and expanded rapidly.

Fine crystalline branches grow from the edges, like coral, like quartz, like a... blooming crystal flower.

Crystal branches continuously fork, extend, and multiply.

It absorbs the surrounding shadow energy and transforms it into its own power of order and purification.

With each unit of absorption, the crystal grows stronger.

In just three seconds, it expanded from the size of a fist to a diameter of ten meters!

Inside the crystal flower, one can vaguely see silvery-white markings of order slowly rotating.

"hiss!!!"

From the depths of the mine came a piercing screech, a sound of anger, pain, and... a hint of bewilderment.

The giant centipede was awakened.

A three-hundred-meter-long body burst forth from the depths of the crystal forest, its dark purple compound eyes fixed intently on the crystal flower.

For the first time, fear appeared in his eyes.

It opened its mouth, and a dark vortex aimed at the crystal flower, unleashing a terrifying suction force in an attempt to devour and annihilate it.

But this time it didn't work.

This is a purification potion carefully concocted by Ian, representing the culmination of his potion-making skills.

The moment the suction touched the crystal flower, it was like water being poured onto a red-hot iron block, instantly evaporating.

Instead, it drew in even more purifying power, and following the suction, it slid along the dark vortex into the mouth of the Shadow Centipede!

"hiss!!!"

The Shadow Centipede let out a painful shriek and abruptly shut its mouth.

On its dark gold shell, natural runes flickered wildly, attempting to resist the erosion of the purifying power.

But Ian won't give it time.

"Now!"

Full control!

The divine body expanded to a hundred feet in length once more, its silver light illuminating the entire mine.

Deep within the pupil, the rules of time were activated, and the flow of time within a kilometer radius suddenly accelerated tenfold!

The divine body moved ten times faster.

One moment they were still in the same spot, and the next they were in front of the Shadow Centipede!

Ian clenched his right fist, and the gravity-collapsed sphere instantly condensed.

Twelve black spheres, each the size of a sesame seed, rotate around the fist.

He threw a punch at the gap in the shell!

"Die!"

The Shadow Centipede's pupils contracted, and hundreds of its limbs frantically pounded the ground, attempting to unleash the Shadow Swamp.

But Ian was too fast.

boom!!!

The moment the fist collided with the shell, space twisted violently.

The gravitational collapse sphere spun wildly, tearing apart and devouring the shadow energy in the gaps!

The carapace cracked, and dark purple fluid gushed out from the crack, emitting a pungent, fishy odor.

Hiss! ! !

The shadow centipede let out a mournful hiss and its body writhed wildly.

Ian's fist, like a leech, was pressed firmly against the crack.

The purification rules are being fully implemented!

Pale golden energy of order poured into the wound like lava, frantically scorching the flesh, bones, and energy nodes inside.

The hissing sound of corrosion was incessant.

The dark gold patterns on the surface of the Shadow Centipede began to fade over a large area.

"Ugh!!!"

A painful scream rang out, and it went completely mad.

Its 300-meter-long body swept wildly, crushing all the surrounding shadow crystals.

At the same time, it opened its mouth, and an invisible spiritual fluctuation spread out.

Deep within the mine, countless dark red eyes lit up.

Shadow Wolf Pack!

Hundreds, thousands... densely packed, stretching as far as the eye can see.

Instead of attacking Ian, they... pounced on the purifying crystal flower!

They attempted to overwhelm and devour the crystal flowers with sheer numbers.

With a flap of its wings, the shadow realm opened in full!

A dark silver light spread out from it, covering an area of ​​100 meters in radius.

Within the domain, shadow energy writhes and twists like living things, transforming into countless black tentacles, blades, and spikes...

Tentacles entangled the shadow wolf's limbs, blades slashed its throat, and spikes pierced its heart.

Gaga frantically weaved through the wolf pack, each shadow leap taking down more than a dozen shadow wolves.

The strength of a late-stage second-tier cultivator increases by 50% in the Shadow World, further enhanced by the Shadow Domain...

It's like a highly efficient killing machine; the numerical advantage of the Shadow Wolves is meaningless in its presence.

In just one minute, Gaga killed over a thousand Shadow Wolves.

The shadow wolves began to feel fear, their bodies froze, and some began to quietly retreat.

But the Shadow Centipede wouldn't allow it, hissing again, its mental fluctuations becoming even more intense.

The wolves' eyes instantly turned blood red, and they completely lost their minds.

They rushed towards Jinghua, towards Gaga, towards...Ian!

"sucker Punch."

Ian's eyes were cold, and a pale golden light shone from the tip of his left finger.

Clean up the rules, drive with full force!

Centered on him, a pale golden halo of purification suddenly spread out!

Wherever the halo swept, the shadow energy on the Shadow Wolf's body dissolved wildly.

The hundreds of shadow wolves at the forefront instantly turned into gray-black energy residue.

The wolves behind them suddenly froze, the crimson in their eyes began to fade, and fear returned.

"Gaga, clear the area!"

"clear!"

The little guy once again unleashed his shadow domain, sweeping through the wolf pack like a black storm.

Ian, on the other hand, focused all his attention on the Shadow Centipede.

The power of purification was fully injected.

The Shadow Centipede's aura began to weaken rapidly, its recovery unable to keep up with the purification speed.

The 300-meter-long body moved slower and slower, and the light in its eyes gradually dimmed.

Just when Ian thought it was all over.

A resolute glint flashed deep within the Shadow Centipede's pupils.

Its three-hundred-meter-long body began to expand, the dark gold patterns on its surface flashed wildly, and the internal energy surged rapidly.

It's going to self-destruct, taking Ian with it!

"A futile struggle."

Ian's eyes sharpened, and the gravitational collapse sphere began operating at full power.

The twelve black spheres spun wildly, tearing the cracks in the shell even wider.

At the same time, all the purifying power gathered in his palm, transforming into a long spear.

"Taste my purifying spear..."

Ian gave a low growl, pulled his arm back, and then thrust it out violently.

The spear pierced through the crack in the carapace and, along the wound, penetrated into the Shadow Centipede's body.

puff!

The spearhead pierced through flesh, bones, and energy nodes... finally penetrating the heart.

The power of purification erupts!

A pale golden light burst forth from within the heart, traveling along the blood vessels, meridians, and energy channels...

The Shadow Centipede froze completely, its massive body beginning to disintegrate.

Starting from the heart, pieces of dark gold carapace peeled off.

The internal shadow energy went out of control, turning into a violent torrent that gushed out of the wound.

"hiss……"

The shadow lord let out a final screech, its dark purple compound eyes going completely dim.

The massive body slowly collapsed, crashing to the ground and kicking up clouds of dust.

All around was quiet, and there was no longer a shadowy creature.

"Finally solved."

Ian withdrew the Spear of Purification, and his divine body slowly landed on the ground.

His chest rose and fell slightly, and his breathing became a little rapid.

Although the battle with the giant centipede was short, it was extremely taxing on mental energy.

"Hehe, come and see what good stuff we have."

The little guy flew back and landed on his shoulder.

Its feathers were covered with grayish-black energy residue, but its small eyes were frighteningly bright.

"Ian! We won! We killed a lord!"

"Um."

Ian rubbed its head, his gaze falling on the corpse of the Shadow Centipede.

The 300-meter-long body has begun to dissipate, transforming into dense shadow energy that permeates the mineral vein.

The laws of gravity are activated, and an invisible force field gathers and compresses that energy.

Ultimately, they coalesced into twelve fist-sized, third-tier shadow crystals.

It feels cool to the touch, and has a deep, dark luster inside, indicating extremely high quality.

In addition, there are two dark purple venom glands and five perfectly intact carapaces.

Especially the carapace, each piece is the size of a door panel, with clear dark gold patterns on the surface.

"It is possible to forge third-tier defensive magical artifacts."

Finally, there was a black crystal the size of a walnut, with some kind of regular pattern faintly outlined inside.

"A materialized fragment of the Shadow Rule..." Ian's eyes flashed with joy.

This is a crystal that only Shadow Lords can obtain, and it greatly helps Gaga advance to the third tier.

He stored all the spoils in his dimensional ring, then looked into the depths of the mine.

"Time is of the essence; we need to start mining quickly."

Ian didn't stand on ceremony, unleashing the full power of gravity, creating an invisible force field like countless hands.

Each crystal was pulled from the ground and stored in the dimensional ring.

In just one minute, the space of the dimensional ring was filled to 80%.

Ian estimated that with a little refining and cutting, there would be at least a thousand second-tier crystals and nearly a hundred third-tier shadow crystals.

"That's about enough. We can't fit any more rings in it."

Ian stopped what he was doing, turned around to leave, and caught a glimpse of the purifying crystal flower out of the corner of his eye.

After the battle, the crystal flower has expanded to a diameter of thirty meters, resembling a small crystal mountain.

The internal order imprint slowly rotates, continuously absorbing shadow energy and transforming it into purifying power.

The crystal branches are still slowly growing, branching, and multiplying...

At this rate, without external interference, the surrounding area of ​​hundreds of miles will be covered by crystal flowers within a month at most.

It has become a "Land of Order," a Land of Order in the Shadow World.

Ian was secretly astonished, and a sense of unease began to creep into his heart.

"Was that a bit too loud? Hehe, let's go back."

The little guy unleashed a shadow domain, and a dark vortex appeared.

The man and the bird vanished from the spot in a flash.

The mine fell silent once more.

Only that ever-growing crystal flower emitted a pale golden light in the hazy world.

In the deepest part of the shadow world, at the moment of the Shadow Centipede's death.

An indescribable being... slowly opened its eyes.

Deep within the pupils, countless distorted reflections of the world are mirrored.

His gaze pierced through the endless gray fog and landed on the mine, his invisible pressure sweeping in all directions.

Finally, it landed on the crystal flower, lingered for a moment, and then slowly disappeared.

That crystal flower continues to grow...