Become Overpowered CEO of Hero Clan

Become Overpowered CEO of Hero Clan – 112

– Flash. –
Isaac’s blue eyes opened. His blue irises were clear and deep, like those of a sage who had comprehended the truths of the world. He looked around the cave, taking in the ceiling, the rough walls, the sharp stalactites hanging down, and the stalagmites growing beneath them, as if he were a child visiting a museum for the first time.
However, the excitement in Isaac’s eyes soon faded into a dull indifference. Though he had initially enjoyed the natural spiritual energy, he quickly grew bored.
“It seems to have succeeded. Thank you, Senior.”
“……”
Gojeok, who had performed the grand technique, looked down at Isaac. His faintly glowing eyes seemed to be swirling with complex emotions.
“How do you feel?”
“I feel fine. I can sense things I couldn’t before. I didn’t realize this cave was so rich in spiritual energy.”
“Not just the cave, but anywhere on this ship is incomparable to the faint spiritual energy of your small world. Take this.”
– Whoosh. –
A worn ancient book emerged from Gojeok’s grasp. It was a manual for a cultivation technique.
“This is the Deep Pool Tranquility Technique. It is a water attribute technique suitable for quickly accumulating spiritual power for water cultivators in the lower realms. It is an unknown technique, so you must learn it with a grateful heart and practice diligently.”
“To receive such a precious technique… I will engrave your words in my bones and strive to enhance my spiritual power.”
“And take these as well.”
Gojeok handed over five pills, each representing one of the five main attributes: water, metal, earth, fire, and wood.
“Take the first pill and accumulate spiritual power. Within a few days, you should reach 2-star. Then take another pill and continue to accumulate spiritual power. Break through each stage in the same manner, and finally, take the water attribute pill to consolidate your spiritual power.”
Isaac, unable to hide his astonishment, carefully placed the five pills into his inventory. He knelt repeatedly, expressing his gratitude.
“This is a secret technique from the grand sect I belong to. It can elevate a dullard with only 1-star to the 5-star realm within a month or two. In the vast Eight Desolate World, only a few know of such miraculous cultivation methods. Your fortune truly touches the heavens.”
“To receive such a gift… I am overwhelmed and don’t know how to express my gratitude.”
“Do not rest for a moment and focus on your cultivation. You must reach 5-star to be able to use the key.”
“I will do my best to become the true master of the Karna Blade.”
“Rest for now. I will take a look around the sea.”
“Please be careful.”
Gojeok transformed into a gust of wind and exited the cave. Left alone, Isaac employed the Memory Retention Technique to memorize the entire Deep Pool Tranquility Technique.
As he recited the technique’s incantations in his mind, his distractions faded, and he felt the faint, irregular influx of the natural energy of the universe.
The Deep Pool Tranquility Technique was a cultivation method that sought true tranquility from the depths of the heart. The text was written in one of the common languages of Terraria, which Isaac had learned from Ifrit.
Isaac, now alone, began to delve into the principles contained within the Deep Pool Tranquility Technique, reciting the incantations word by word in his mind.
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***
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The trio of Theodren returned to the cave after a full day. Among them, the frog monster Gorgog looked particularly exhausted, his complexion pale.
The weary Gorgog sat on the cave floor and began to practice his magical cultivation technique. It took him half a day to regain his normal complexion.
“Gorgog, you will be adequately compensated for your hard work. Thanks to you, we secured three underwater magic machine soldiers. If we can sell them for their worth, the harvest will be substantial.”
“Hehehe, if you do that, I can help with even more arduous tasks. But more importantly…”
Gorgog, after checking Isaac’s condition post-spiritual root engraving, began conversing with the other two absolute beings through telepathy.
“Even if that boy takes the Declining Life Elixir to increase his spiritual power, it will take him a month or two to absorb it. How about we lock him in the cave and explore other areas first?”
“I had the same thought. His constitution is unique, and he absorbed the Five Primordial Spirit Engraving Technique in less than half a day, which usually takes at least three days. There should be no worry of mishaps during his cultivation.”
Gojeok agreed with Gorgog’s proactive suggestion. The leader of the group, Theodren, confirmed a few points.
“You gave him the Deep Pool Tranquility Technique as a cultivation method? Are you sure that’s alright? It was discovered in the East by the Celestial Sage, and it’s not a common technique.”
“The Deep Pool Tranquility Technique, said to be left by the Celestial Sage, was a formula I acquired at great expense during the last Hybrid Magic Tournament. But it turned out to be a scam. While it is useful for building strong mental fortitude, it is otherwise an ordinary technique. In fact, its simplicity makes it suitable for low-level cultivators. Ahem, I ended up revealing an embarrassing secret.”
“That’s unfortunate. For someone as astute as you to be scammed… We must turn that boy into a key to recover our losses from the last Spirit Communication War. That’s why you gave him the Deep Pool Tranquility Technique.”
“Indeed. We must ensure he becomes the key to make up for our losses.
“Yes. And giving him a common technique might make him suspicious. He seems to have picked up a lot of information here and there, so it’s better to give him an unknown technique to make him feel indebted.”
“Well done. And you’re sure the Declining Life Elixir won’t show any symptoms until it triggers?”
“Absolutely. That boy will happily consume the pills, unaware that his lifespan is being shortened. The rate at which his spiritual power will increase will be beyond his imagination. There’s no such thing as a pill that can elevate a 1-star dullard to 5-star in a month or two without side effects. Heh heh.”
“Those who consume the Declining Life Elixir experience a significant temporary increase in their cultivation level, but after six months, they suffer a seizure and die within a month. I’ve heard that the Five Primordial Spirit Engraving Technique and the Declining Life Elixir are perfect for turning mortals into expendable soldiers. I trust your expertise in this matter, Gojeok.”
“Leave it to me. No low-level cultivator who has taken the Declining Life Elixir has ever noticed the side effects in advance.”
After a long discussion, they agreed to leave Isaac in the cave and return in two months. During their telepathic conversation, Theodren occasionally glanced at Isaac with a benevolent smile.
“Boy, we plan to return for you in two months. In the meantime, focus on your cultivation. As Gojeok instructed, take the pills and reach 5-star before we come back.”
“I will do my best.”
“Gojeok, set up a barrier. Make sure the cave’s existence is completely concealed.”
“Yes.”
Following Theodren’s command, Gojeok threw red flags around the area and then exited the cave. The entrance to the cave distorted bizarrely and merged with the cliff, making it appear as if nothing existed beneath the cliff from the outside.
The three absolute beings discussed their next destination and soon left the coastline with quick steps.
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Even after the three absolute beings left, Isaac remained seated in a meditative posture with his eyes closed. As he recited the incantations, the faint spiritual energy around him flowed steadily into his body.
For a couple of hours, he absorbed and accumulated the natural energy, but the amount of spiritual power he gathered was so minimal that there was hardly any difference from before he started the technique.
Realizing the disappointing results, Isaac finally broke his meditation and stretched his stiff back.
“Those bastards. Finally, they’re gone.”
He had to hold back his curses several times. Despite the rising stress and the urge to lie down out of sheer annoyance, he endured it all for the sake of survival.
‘The technique seems fine.’
The Deep Pool Tranquility Technique they gave him appeared to be a safe cultivation method. It was straightforward and suitable for beginners. While there might be hidden traps if he continued to practice it, for now, it seemed like a safe technique.
‘Of course, I knew this was a trick.’
Isaac had already vowed a hundred times not to consume the five pills meant for accumulating spiritual power. The moment he received them, he had to struggle to keep a straight face after reading their descriptions in the information window.
The stress was already high enough to drive him crazy, and pretending to be grateful and polite only made it worse.
– Poof. –
“Master, what do you plan to do?”
Ifrit, who had been hiding deep within Isaac’s body, suddenly appeared. Thankfully, he had Ifrit for company. Even though he now had a body capable of accumulating spiritual power similar to mana, sitting alone for two months accumulating power without a companion would drive him to emotional instability.
“I need to strengthen my cultivation level first.”
“Are you saying you’ll follow their instructions?”
“No. I can’t consume the pills the old man gave me. I have plenty of ingredients in my magical space. If I hit a wall in my cultivation, I want you to share a recipe for an elixir I can make with those ingredients.”
“So, you knew about the side effects of the Declining Life Elixir. The ingredients you obtained from the Screaming Land are familiar to me as well. I will write a simple recipe on the ground and share it with you.”
“Thanks. And what do you think about that barrier? Do you think it will hold if I do what we did in the Abyss of Guilt?”
“When you unleash your power, I will deploy a fire barrier. The double barrier will ensure that your energy does not leak out.”
“Then I’ll count on you for that too.”
– Snap. –
Isaac gripped the Karna Blade in his right hand, took a deep breath, and activated his captain skill.
[Used ‘Final Finish.’]
[The next attack will be enhanced with the power of a one-hit kill.]
– Buzzzzzzzzz. –
An unprecedented, unimaginable force surged through his entire body. He felt as if he could do anything and defeat anyone, even Theodren, the leader of the kidnappers.
‘Focus.’
He didn’t need to worry about the natural energy outside. He just had to concentrate on converting the mysterious power surging within him into ‘spiritual power’ that he could use semi-permanently.
Ultimately, what filled him was himself—Isaac’s body. He didn’t need to concern himself with the metaphysical principles of nature. He just needed to relax and calmly recite the incantations…
– Buzzzzzzz. –
“……!”
He could feel it. He had just accumulated a large amount of spiritual power. He didn’t know how he did it, but it was similar to when he clumsily used ‘Harvest Fist—Field Step’ to dodge an attack or when he purified the Aqua Shaper with ‘Harvest Fist—Melon Crusher’ in one strike.
his body was instinctively pushing the ‘Deep Pool Tranquility Technique’ to its extreme.
‘Is this really okay?’
He was scared. It felt like a new ocean path was opening within his body.
– Rumble. –
It sounded as if tectonic shifts were happening inside him. The walls of the cave seemed to crumble under the immense force, and a massive crater began to form around him.
– Whoosh! –
Ifrit transformed into a giant bird of blue flames, deploying a curtain of fire. It swirled around him, flickering violently as if it might extinguish, yet it maintained its intensity precariously.
– Roarrrrrr. –
He could feel it.
The sensation of infinite mana being converted into spiritual power according to the technique’s incantations. This must be akin to the speed at which a late-stage 6-star cultivator accumulates spiritual power at full force.
‘This seems like too much.’
A surge of fear welled up. If the Final Finish ended like this, his body might explode and kill me.
– Buzzzzz. –
At the same time, the Deep Pool Tranquility Technique stopped accepting mana and began to regulate the spiritual power within his body.
Buzzzzz…
Finally, after a long 1 minute and 13 seconds had passed.
“Ugh!”
A terrible pain swept over him. It felt like his organs were twisting and his muscles were tearing. Clinging desperately to consciousness, he continuously operated the Deep Pool Tranquility Technique.
The wildly rampaging spiritual power slowly began to subside. With his eyes tightly shut, stinging from the sweat, Isaac gently soothed and patted his body as if handling a precious newborn.
“Phew…!”
Who knows how much time had passed.
With a final deep breath, the long operation of the technique came to an end.
Isaac could feel it. The energy filled within his body. It was spiritual power that he had created on his own, without borrowing from the Karna Blade.
The amount of this energy was not much different from the total mana he had previously received through the sword.
“It seems to have worked.”
“More than worked. Master, you are now a 3-star Ethereal.”
3-star.
That was the result of the first cultivation session using the Final Finish.