Metallic lifeforms, the most extraordinary and powerful species in the universe. The Dominant Realm represents the pinnacle of genetic evolution in the cosmos. Yet, here they were, on a primitive planet with a technology level close to zero, inhabited by carbon-based lifeforms that didn't even understand cultivation.

These beings had never heard of metallic life, let alone comprehend the power of the Dominant Realm, or the natural release of the "Higgs-Boson Resonance Field" from a Dominant Level life core due to the loss of soul will.

To the uninitiated, such phenomena were often attributed to either the benevolence of "natural deities" or labeled as "evil."

The scene before them indeed appeared quite "evil."

A Dominant-level metallic core plummeted from the sky, crashing into the marshlands beside the Jin River, creating a massive crater. The river water surged backward, forming a lake. Under the continuous effect of the resonance field, the lake water turned black, with a metallic sheen shimmering on the surface, rippling in concentric circles.

Within a large radius around the lake, everything was enveloped in a field, transforming grass, trees, rocks, and soil into metallic black textures.

This planet was saturated with thick primal forces. Under the influence of the Higgs-Boson resonance field, primal forces were converted into basic particles, then into the simplest hydrogen atoms, and finally into a special form of metallic hydrogen. This abundance formed eerie black mists that swirled and billowed, perpetually stirred by the gentle breeze.

From a distance, it seemed shrouded in "evil." The principles behind it were unclear, but it appeared eerie and terrifying.

The previous Mountain Lord and their warriors, unfortunate as they were, were caught in the shockwave when the metallic core struck the ground, collectively meeting their end.

"Fán Cù Bān Máo," Mayu cautioned, "this is an evil forbidden zone. Stay away."

Pútáo added, "The evil force from beyond the sky possesses terrifying corrosive capabilities. Even ordinary beasts perish upon contact."

To prove Pútáo's point and to warn Bambu, Fán Cù Bān Máo decided to take action. Swinging its forelimbs, it cut a branch from a nearby banyan tree and dragged it into the range of the black mist. Frantically, it flew out.

Under the influence of the resonance field, the green branch visibly darkened, taking on a metallic sheen at a speed visible to the naked eye. Once out of the field, the fragile leaves disintegrated immediately, turning into grayish-white dust, while the wooden branch's surface crumbled.

"Fán Cù Bān Máo, see that?" it exclaimed. "It's draining vitality!"

Bambu was somewhat incredulous. Draining vitality? It sounded like something out of a child's nightmare. Clearly, it was merely the resonance field altering the material structure on a fundamental level, creating a quasi-metallic state that couldn't be sustained once outside the field, hence the collapse.

Nevertheless, considering the significant loss of their fellow warriors, particularly the fall of a powerful Mountain Lord, it was understandable that other Red Cockroach warriors were shrouded in shadow.

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"Despite the act, it's quite fearsome," Bambu thought to himself, understanding their plight.

"Yet, does it have any other use?" Bambu pondered. The core was indeed invaluable, a priceless treasure in human civilization, primarily used for making storage devices for supercomputers.

The core, shaped like a sphere, varied in diameter based on strength. Typically, a Dominant Realm core was around 28 centimeters, slightly larger than a basketball. When turned into a storage device, it could contain all of human civilization's knowledge.

To achieve the same storage capacity using other materials often required the construction of information towers, which, when converted into spherical shapes, would have diameters exceeding 50 kilometers. Moreover, storage devices made from a Dominant Realm core allowed for ultra-fast writing and reading speeds.

Such supercomputers, crafted from Dominant Realm cores, were used in administrative management, serving as central brains overseeing a river system's affairs. They were also utilized in the military sector as command center mainframes, capable of orchestrating wars on a river system-wide scale. Luxuriously, they could be used in scientific research, rapidly processing various complex research data.

All of these were the most essential applications in the highest echelons of society.

Yet, the planet beneath Bambu's feet had no technological civilization, and none of the known races were suited for technological development. Moreover, having previously been human, Bambu had followed the path of cultivation, with his knowledge of technology barely reaching a Level 4 civilization, and mostly confined to theoretical understanding without practical application.

Did this mean that the Dominant Realm core had lost its greatest utility here?

"This thing's potential value is going to waste," Bambu grumbled.

Fán Cù Bān Máo interrupted Bambu's thoughts, "It's getting late, let's go. We're heading to Lijian Peak."

Bambu sighed, "Okay, let's go."

Fán Cù Bān Máo exclaimed, "Bambu, your telepathic communication has improved significantly!"

Bambu chuckled, "It's still quite strenuous."

Indeed, as a Level 5 junior warrior, exerting mental energy to convey messages longer than five words was particularly taxing.

"Could this priceless treasure become worthless?" Bambu pondered. "Telepathic communication!"

During their flight, a brilliant idea struck Bambu.

What was the principle behind the resonance field? It was the unintentional diffusion phenomenon of the remaining spiritual energy and energy within a Dominant Realm core after being extinguished by human powerhouses.

"If I could absorb these ownerless spiritual energies..."

Absorbing a small amount of ownerless spiritual energy to strengthen oneself theoretically had a high feasibility. However, as it wasn't derived from one's own soul, it would inevitably lead to uncontrollable mutations.

The general principle was that the mismatch between spiritual energy and the soul would result in soul mutation, which, in turn, would trigger genetic mutations. The specific consequences were unpredictable.

The advantage was that after absorbing advanced spiritual energy, one's soul would strengthen, enhancing combat prowess and reducing the risk of future breakthrough bottlenecks.

"Being reborn as a cockroach is already a terrible thing," Bambu thought, "but if mutation occurs, it could get even worse, couldn't it?"

"Once I develop a tailored meditation technique, I'll come back to try it after reaching intermediate warrior level."

Considering the pros and cons, Bambu made up his mind.

"Bambu, look, that's Lijian Peak. The bamboo there is almost dead."

Fán Cù Bān Máo, still somewhat obstinate, remained dissatisfied with Bambu being assigned to survive alone in the Jinping Mountains.

Without needing to be reminded, Bambu had already noticed the towering mountain range in the distance.

Snow capped its peak, and vast swathes of yellow covered its slopes and foothills, with bamboo forests around its base withering.

Explaining the scene, Pútáo said, "Bambu, don't worry. It's mainly due to

the deaths of the Mountain Lord and many tribal warriors. Their life essence withered the bamboos. Additionally, there was a drought in summer, with over twenty consecutive days of intense sunlight, leading to water shortages in the mountain peaks and ranges, causing widespread bamboo death."

Ma Yu added, "Yes, bamboo plants are not drought-resistant and are unsuitable for growing on mountains. Also, choosing bamboo as the life essence wasn't a rational decision."

Bambu wasn't concerned about whether bamboo was suitable for mountain growth or its suitability as life essence. His mind wasn't focused on whether bamboo was a suitable choice for life essence. Instead, he asked, "When warriors die, does it cause the life essence to wither?"

Fán Cù Bān Máo answered, "Yes, indeed."

Ma Yu explained further, "During the life essence's gestation process, a symbiotic relationship is established with the warriors. Conversely, if the life essence dies, it will also cause certain damage to the warriors, both in terms of spiritual and soul injuries. This was the main reason why I couldn't continue to advance after my life essence was destroyed. Not only could I not continue to advance, but my lifespan also shortened."

Bambu sighed.

Gestating life essence had many benefits, but it also restricted warriors. It was a fatal weakness!

Ma Yu elaborated, "Losing one life essence causes minor injuries, losing two is moderate, losing three is severe, and losing more than five..."

He shook his antennae, not continuing the sentence, as the consequences were evident.