The inner layer of Niu Chang’s formation was purely for offensive purposes. Even Niu Chang himself needed another set of formations just to ensure his safety in case someone actually dared to step inside.
There were major facts that applied to every level and stage of cultivation. High compressed energy would always cause damage as long as the target was still within common sense.
As long as it was not some kind of eldritch god that was no longer bound by any laws governing this world, naturally, it wouldn't be effective against it.
But it was different from before, which was only an explosion to exterminate anything. The new inner layer formation was a targeted kind of attack. How it locks the target would depend on everyone’s imagination.
Niu Chang always sought the most effective ways to kill his enemies. So what if he is able to make the most powerful single-target skill? What is the use of it if it is unable to hit the enemy?
Thus, as much as he spent his time creating and improving more destructive skills, he also created and improved the method to lock onto his enemies.
The method to lock onto the enemy on the physics level would be easier to handle for those who no longer care about the rule of the world.
Then, it needed higher-ranking skills, something beyond the logical boundary but still within mortal reach.
Fate, luck, destiny, karma, causality, and providence. All those aspects were still within mortal reach to some extent but were also on a higher rank than the rest.
One of Niu Chang’s skills that had such an effect was the Plaguing Misfortune that affected the probability at the lowest level.
He was still improving it to increase its profundity.
As for other similar skills, it was hard to create since these things were more like ideology, beliefs, and theories.
So the creation of such a skill depends on chance and luck.
But Niu Chang always did what he was best at; that was to explore what he had and improve from there on.
All of this preparation was enough to buy him some time until Da Jiu finally made up his mind. "Boy, I will give you another chance. If you do not wish to become my disciple, then so be it, but I need you to accompany me for some time."
‘What a cute old man, now you want to make a new deal?’ Niu Chang was amused.
But his second brain gave the answer, “Old man, you and I do not have any karma between us, so why bother? Excessive greed wouldn’t bring you any fortune.”
“Hahaha,” the old man laughed. “Well said, well said.”
Then, within Niu Chang’s perception under various investigation skills, Da Jiu’s figure appeared.
He was not that old, but enough for everyone to respect him for his appearance. He wore a mix of yellow and gray robes with long sleeves like a Daoist priest. He tied his hair with a jade pin to appear elegant. On his hand was a horsetail whisk.
The air around him felt otherworldly, just like how immortals were beyond the mortal realm.
“How about now? If you agree, then I will help you reach a higher stage than what you know,” he casually said.
“A higher stage?” The second brain made a cooperative act.
“Yes,” but Da Jiu only cut the conversation on that topic short.
“It seems this old man’s kindness was unable to reach you,” Da Jiu mused without any anger in his tone. “I know you are young, but even so, there are still various things that are beyond your comprehension.”
The second brain showed a surprised expression sincerely and asked, “Is it also applied to what you can’t comprehend as well?”
Its meaning was clear: ‘Old man, don’t play big in front of me. What you know, I might not know, but what I know, you might not know. Just like my formation.’
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Da Jiu didn’t take it into his heart as he kept his casual expression on display. “You seem to have a lot of pride in your methods, but do you think this is enough to protect you?”
He narrowed his eyes.
“Of course not. Just like you just said, there will always be heaven above heaven. So it doesn’t matter.”
Once again, the second brain gave a perfect answer, neither submissive nor domineering.
He still treated the greedy old man with respect.
“Your words are becoming sharper than before.” Da Jiu began to show his true feelings.
Naturally, he knew from the beginning that Niu Chang didn’t respect him that much but enough as a courtesy.
The second brain shook his head in dismay. “No matter where I go, human nature will always be the same. With enough power, they would begin to crown themselves as kings and treat others as slaves.”
“If you remain humble after having enough strength, then why cultivate in the first place?” Da Jiu sneered, but only in his tone.
“That…” the second brain looked at Da Jiu with a strange look as if saying ‘Are you being serious right now?’
Seeing how Da Jiu didn’t respond, the second brain continued. “If you asked me that, then your cultivation is lacking, and your whole life is wasted.”
He didn’t sugarcoat his words as they were discussing the dao right now.
“Is that so…” Da Jiu’s eyes flashed with cold light.
“Then tell me, have you found your answer?”
The second brain only smiled and didn’t clarify Da Jiu’s question.
Inside the space of the mind, Niu Chang, who was sitting on a comfortable couch and holding a light snack bowl, suddenly dropped everything on his hand and slapped his knee.
“Emotional damage!”
He, who has already read so many stories, naturally has seen this kind of scene various times and couldn’t help but feel angry every time some powerful figure always acts mysterious in front of the main character.
Now his second brain was doing the same to someone who was supposedly on the highest food chain in this whole continent, someone who reached the cultivation level many were not even aware of its existence.
Da Jiu was stunned for a moment before he let out a short laugh.
But the tone of his laugh betrayed his amiable character.
“After I successfully reached my current cultivation, I never once met someone who acted like you, at least not to the point they ignore my strength. Do you know how strong I am?”
Since he lost the dao discussion, Da Jiu moved to the next talk about seniority and cultivation level.
Niu Chang sighed. He would enjoy the dao discussion instead of this shitty conversation about how my fist is bigger than yours, so you should prostrate yourself.
He shook his head and slumped back on the couch.
The second brain chose the most neutral answer. “I don’t know; you tell me.”
Hearing the same neutral answer with no dominating or submissive tone in it became more irritating for Da Jiu. He had never met someone who treated him like a complete stranger with respect but also intentionally asked him to treat the other party with the same respect.
“This is truly an eye-opening experience for me to talk with someone like you,” Da Jiu said openly about his thoughts.
“That only shows how your martial path is still incomplete,” The second brain gave very meaningful advice.
If Da Jiu is able to grasp half of it, he would be able to overcome his current limitations in mentality and move to the next level in his cultivation.
But alas.
Being obsessed with something, he was only able to see the ant on the other mountain while oblivious to the dragon in front of his eyes.
‘Tsk tsk, the lucky ones are always the ones that have the good encounters in their journey that they are no longer able to respect others who are weaker than them. At this point, he should just castrate himself from producing blind descendants.’
Niu Chang shifted his gaze towards the data and parameters shown virtually and kept his multitasking.
It was just a thought, but he couldn’t help but raise his head towards the sky. He frowned, thinking of a ridiculous possibility in his mind.
But just to make sure, it was only his imagination. He ran various checks on his body, on Da Jiu’s, and the surroundings to check if the fate lines, luck variables, and the destiny surface were stirred by something.
He waited and conducted the second and third tests, only to find nothing affecting the current development.
He let out a half-relieved sigh. ‘What am I thinking about? It is not entirely impossible for such an arrogant person to reach his current height. It actually makes more sense if someone at his level acts arrogant. Even the young masters are also logical in taking on how their family treats them since they were babies.’
Throwing away the distracting thoughts, Niu Chang saw that his space of mind slightly trembled.
He frowned and looked at the screen that connected to the outside world.
Da Jiu was still silent and unmoving from his position, but the data and parameters kept showing weird fluctuations.
Niu Chang could only sigh in defeat. ‘As I am afraid of, the next stage after golden core allows cultivators to affect the Law of the world, or in some sense already entering the dao.’