Chapter 845 - 830: Soul Cloak

"Ah ah ah ah ah!" Norris's cheerful laughter intermittently echoed from the sky.

As Xiao Hai grasped his rapidly spiraling figure, he would occasionally disappear, only to reappear at another location some distance away.

Now Xiao Hai clearly knows how to use the Void Realm, able to twist small bits of space to achieve effects similar to teleportation during high-speed movement.

Theoretically, this spatial barrier can block any attack, making one nearly invincible.

Of course, in practice, if encountering energy fluctuations beyond its strength, this spatial barrier would still break.

What Lin Jun was particularly concerned about was how Xiao Hai could use such high-difficulty operations with such proficiency.

And prior to this, Lin Jun had already tried; Xiao Hai's calculation ability is now considered phenomenal. Even if Lin Jun posed complicated questions, she could calculate them in an extremely brief time, akin to an arithmetic prodigy.

But...

Finally, Xiao Hai, worn out from play, brought down a frothing-at-the-mouth Norris.

Not rushing to rest, she seemed to think of something and landed near that pile of Bright Crystals.

With a single-handed swipe, she opened a spatial rift next to her leading to who knows where, and then began transferring the Bright Crystals into this unknown space, handful by handful.

After doing this, she even considered putting Norris inside, and Lin Jun had to intervene to stop her.

"Outside, not safe for Norris!"

"I'm watching over it."

Only then did Xiao Hai pout and lay Norris down.

After completing her evolution, although Xiao Hai still preferred separate words to express herself, she no longer stuttered.

But she didn't appear particularly intelligent.

Her condition seemed more like the Ancient Dragon Soul-stitched Soul Cloak completed all calculation-related thinking for her, including spatial manipulation.

Though Xiao Hai's own soul and intelligence haven't significantly changed, she only needs to consider what to do, and the Soul Cloak automatically organises the answers for her.

That's probably why, despite Xiao Hai's surge in power, she hadn't inadvertently crushed Norris's bones due to poor control of her strength.

It feels like the Soul Cloak acts as some kind of external brain assisting with calculations?

In this regard, even though both have fused souls, the Soul Cloak is quite different from Lin Jun's situation.

Lin Jun's soul sea vastly surpasses the Soul Cloak in capacity, yet lacks such extreme calculation capabilities. Instead, all those millions of Puki possess basic intelligence, which still isn't Lin Jun's limit.

Speaking of which, although not closely observed, Link apparently also has a similar Soul Cloak, so he probably possesses these abilities too.

Anyhow, the emergence from the shell went relatively well within Lin Jun's expectations; no berserk, no amnesia, no chaotic accidents.

The only issue is,

Glu-glu──

Xiao Hai rubbed her belly, eagerly eyeing the nearby Puki: "Boss, hungry."

Her appetite has increased; previously, one No. 7 would tide her over for at least half a day, now she is hungry again right after eating.

Though she still remembers not to eat indiscriminately, she seeks Lin Jun's approval first.

With a thought from Lin Jun, the Magic Power-filled Puki approached her.

Xiao Hai licked her lips but didn't immediately move, instead glancing at Norris who was still standing by, catching his breath.

In a flash, she was behind Norris, grabbing him, then with another flash, transported Norris far away.

After completing this, Xiao Hai suddenly expanded her body, black scales quickly sprouted from her skin, and soon, she transformed into a black Giant Dragon, swallowing that pile of Puki in one go, and let out a contented belch.

As for Norris, he merely noticed the surroundings change, and when he turned around, there was a dark mountain behind him, apparently moving?

He stared for a long time before recognizing it as Xiao Hai's tail.

"This is way too big..."

In comparison, the previously encountered Giant Dragons seemed petite, and the only one possibly bigger than her was the former Chis.

...

Based on Lin Jun's observations, whether Xiao Hai is in humanoid form or Ancient Dragon form, any movement consumes significant Magic Power, and relying on the Soul Cloak while using the Void Realm incurs even greater consumption.

Another Leviathan-level Magic Power consumer, fortunately, Lin Jun can now sustain her.

But this also piqued Lin Jun's curiosity; considering Ancient Dragons' high Magic Power consumption with normal activities, what solutions did previous Ancient Dragons have for this issue?

Is it possible there are Magic Power sources unknown to Lin Jun, or did they spend days lying about like pieces of scrap, motionless?

"There must be some Magic Power source, or else it's too pitiful..."

...

Now that Xiao Hai has emerged from her shell, one thing can finally be done — exploring the Dragon Cliff Dungeon!

Shortly after the Giant Dragon emerged, the Dragon Cliff Dungeon entrance became twisted and inaccessible.

The Dragon's Roar Valley entrance was the same.

Now, Xiao Hai can proficiently use the Void Realm via the Soul Cloak, presumably able to reopen the Dragon Cliff Dungeon entrance as well.

Exploring the Dragon Cliff Dungeon serves two purposes: finding any good items, potentially the Ancient Dragon Magic Power source Lin Jun speculates about, and searching for the Demon King's traces to see if he is hiding inside the Dragon Cliff.

At present, except for a few regions still stubbornly resisting, most of the Empire's territory has already surrendered.

Thanks to the absolute control exerted through mycelium parasitism, otherwise, such a snake-swallowing-elephant act would likely have led to Fungal Castle's implosion.

In areas conquered, monitored by the Fungal Mat, no sign of the Demon King is found.

A resistance in remaining territories, analyzed by Lin Jun and the Xing Huo-led think tank, also doesn't suggest the presence of the Demon King.

Considering this, suspicion rises significantly towards the Dragon Cliff Dungeon.

Who knows what the Demon King is hiding from and doing, perhaps brainwashing the amnesiac Link?

Regardless, locating that malevolent Slime sooner rather than later is beneficial.

Lin Jun entrusted the Dragon Cliff exploration to Norris, having him take the fungal group and Xiao Hai along.

With Xiao Hai's current strength combined with continuous space traversal capability, even encountering the Demon King and Link, as long as she doesn't lose control, she should possess escape ability.

Regarding potential loss of control, isn't Norris still there!

Meanwhile, Lin Jun plans to focus on another matter.

...

Pujie Dungeon, in a cavern further off than the D Level personnel activity area.

Inside the cavern, sporadic Glowing Mushrooms provided meager illumination, reflecting off a large glass jar in the center.

The jar was filled with Water of Life, with a hairless Foxman soaking within, half of his bare body now sprouting mushrooms.

[Title: Virtue of Restraint (Simulated Foreknowledge)]

Honestly, Lin Jun was startled to find this near-death Foxman in Muling Castle, given that it's such a powerful foreseeing ability!

Who knows how much trouble this guy stirred for Lin Jun without her knowing?

However, Lin Jun quickly realized, if this ability were indeed so useful, he wouldn't be discovered in such a critical condition.

Lin Jun roughly guessed why the Demon King didn't take him away.

When Lin Jun discovered the Foxman, he was already near death, left unattended for two or three more days would result in his demise, let alone using [Restraint] again.

The ability to absorb the virtues of the deadly sins solely belongs to Lin Jun.

And possessing [Greed], Lin Jun cannot activate [Restraint], eventually acquiring the ability like [Lust], which proved useless, only serving as a key for the ultimate victor, stored with disregard until then.

However, regarding this, Lin Jun has her own nifty ideas.

Although Life Essence cannot replenish the depletion caused by the Foxman using [Restraint], it can sustain his last breath, enabling Lin Jun to convert him into a semi-Puppet with ease like this.

Simultaneously, Lin Jun utilizes the [Spiritual Guidance] skill to attempt synchronizing his spirit, ensuring even if he dies in the next moment, Lin Jun will know the information he acquired in that second.

All this is for that final chance to use [Restraint]!

The profound cavern knows not the passage of time nor the distinction between day and night.

A long time later.

In the glass jar, the Foxman finally opened those devoid eyes once more, using mushroom-laden and mycelium-coated hands, and amidst the encasing Water of Life, slapped one final slap.

Pah──