After adapting to the feeling of enhanced aptitude, Jie Ming manipulated the puppet body and slowly moved to the experimental area on the other side.
Compared to the hall with over six hundred cultivation pods, this space was much smaller. Only ten cultivation pods were neatly arranged, with pale blue nutrient fluid circulating slowly inside, emitting a regular, faint hum. Ten figures floated silently within.
They had faces identical to Jie Ming's—clearly also his clones. However, the life force they emitted was completely different from those Dao Integration Realm clones next door.
Jie Ming stood before the pods, casually manipulating a nearby light screen, and soon a stream of data appeared:
Life Level: Level 6. Spiritual Intensity: Level 6 standard. Physical Intensity: Level 6 standard.
Apart from that, there were no other noteworthy data. Jie Ming nodded in satisfaction.
Strictly speaking, these clones could not be called Level 6 wizards; they were merely Level 6 organisms. This was the greatest difference between Wizard Civilization and the cultivation system.
A cultivator's power largely stemmed from their realm. Even a rogue cultivator lacking inheritance could still gain considerable combat strength just by the natural control of spiritual energy that came with realm advancement. A wizard's power, however, mainly came from knowledge.
Although these clones had Level 6 spiritual power and a Level 6 physical body, without corresponding high-level knowledge in alchemy, runology, space studies, soul studies, and so on, they were at best beasts with immense energy. A true Level 6 wizard could, relying on knowledge, easily cut through an army of beasts of the same level.
Jie Ming looked at the ten bodies in the pods and slowly curled his lips. "Creating a real Level 6 wizard is expensive. But creating a Level 6 organism... is much cheaper."
Without considering combat power, cultivating a Level 6 organism only required continuously pouring in energy, strengthening the spirit, and raising the life level. The process didn't even need much technical skill. In fact, the resources consumed in cultivating Level 6 organism clones were far less than those for Dao Integration Realm clones.
If one Dao Integration clone required one hundred units of resources, a Level 6 clone like this would likely cost less than ten units. These fellows were merely a convenient use of leftover resources from cultivating Dao Integration clones, with extremely low cost. Because of this, Jie Ming grew increasingly confident in the commercial value of the Aptitude Enhancement Technique he was developing.
After all, low cost was itself a huge advantage.
Thinking this, Jie Ming waved his hand, and all ten pods opened simultaneously. The pale green nutrient fluid slowly drained, and the ten Level 6 clones opened their eyes and stepped out. Their eyes were hollow, looking no different from Jie Ming's puppets.
Without any hesitation, Jie Ming activated a massive blood-colored formation covering the entire experimental hall. Dark red lines spread like blood vessels, and streaks of blood-colored runes connected the eleven figures. Jie Ming stood at the center of the formation, while the other ten clones stood at the periphery. As he raised his right hand, the entire formation roared to life.
Buzz...
In the next instant, the ten clones began to disintegrate simultaneously. Their bodies, souls, bloodlines—everything rapidly transformed into countless crimson light streams that converged along the formation's lines and poured into Jie Ming.
Boom!
But during the unceasing influx, Jie Ming's expression suddenly changed slightly. He could sense that not long after the ritual began, that power abruptly turned and rushed directly into his body and soul. His flesh began to strengthen constantly, his spiritual sea expanded rapidly, and his spiritual power surged like a tide.
Jie Ming slowly closed his eyes, quietly sensing everything happening inside. After a moment, he reopened his eyes, a strange look appearing. "...I see."
According to his understanding of the Blood Sacrifice Method, this phenomenon occurred only in one situation: the beneficiary's aptitude had reached the limit that his current realm could accommodate. Offerings could no longer increase aptitude, so the remainder automatically turned into the purest life essence, used to enhance cultivation, physique, and spirit.
Jie Ming was silent for a while, then couldn't help rubbing his chin. "Is my wizard aptitude already this high?"
But thinking carefully, when he tested his aptitude at Noren 13th Academy, he had relied on Qi Refinement to expand his soul and spirit, raising his talent level considerably. At this thought, he mused, "That's right. The cultivation system itself continuously expands the soul. The stronger the soul, the higher the spiritual potential. That's equivalent to... simultaneously improving wizard aptitude."
He lightly tapped the experimental table. It seemed that his local adaptation of the Blood Sacrifice Method was indeed effective. But the situation just now made Jie Ming uneasy.
"Since my own case has too many variables, I'll find a proper wizard to experiment on."
With that, Jie Ming didn't hesitate and picked up the nearby Magic Net terminal. With a light touch of his spiritual power, a communication was quickly sent out. Before long, a familiar light screen unfolded in midair, and Viola's figure appeared. She wore a black-gold robe, and behind her was a plane continent undergoing constant transformation. In the distance, numerous alchemical floating platforms moved slowly. Clearly, she was still extremely busy.
Seeing Jie Ming, Viola smiled. "What? Could it be that you can't stand the loneliness, Junior Brother? Can't hold on? Want Senior Sister to go over early and guard the academy for you?" She winked. "No problem, I'm still very willing to help."
Jie Ming's mouth twitched, and he decisively ignored his senior sister's teasing. "I have an experiment here that needs Senior Sister's cooperation."
Hearing the word 'experiment', Viola's smile only grew brighter. She rested her chin on her hand, looking at Jie Ming on the other side of the screen. "Developed something new again? Dangerous?"
Jie Ming shook his head. "No, I've verified the experiment many times. There's basically no risk. I just need a high-level sample..." Before he could finish, Viola nodded without hesitation. "Sure. How do you need me to cooperate?"
Hearing this, Jie Ming felt a sudden warmth in his heart. Whether it was his mentor Clark or Viola, they both trusted him unconditionally. He let out a soft breath and said with a smile, "For now, I just need a few things."
"What?"
"A bit of your life genetic fragments and a bit of soul fragments."
Viola froze for a moment, then squinted. "Hmm? You want my soul?" She looked Jie Ming up and down, the corner of her mouth slowly lifting. "Little Junior Brother, you're not finally ready to study me, are you?"
Jie Ming helplessly pressed his forehead. "Just experiment samples. Rest assured, nothing dangerous is involved."
Viola let out a light laugh. "Got it. Wait." The communication ended.
Less than two minutes later, the small teleportation array beside the laboratory lit up with a silver-white light. Two transparent test tubes, already multiply sealed, quietly landed in the center of the teleportation platform. One tube held a wisp of pale golden blood. The other held a small, soft, bright cluster of soul light.
Jie Ming stepped forward and gently picked up the two tubes. Feeling the familiar life force within, he nodded.
"Then... let's begin verification."