Chapter 725: The Starting Point of Conquering the World

The Spirit-absorbing Monster brain looks like a fresh brain stripped of its skull, its surface covered with folds and ravines, and its base bears six long tendrils; when it drifts in water it resembles a mutated octopus, emitting a faint spiritual energy glow.

The glass jar imprisoning the brain is not an ordinary one.

Reslin noticed that the interior space of this transparent vessel is far larger than it appears, apparently employing some dimensional-space technique that shrinks the volume to only a few tenths without affecting visibility inside—truly marvelous.

The brain's actual size is huge, estimated to be nearly two meters in diameter!

The Soul Eye pierced through, and instantly eighteen elemental runes floated before Reslin's eyes; he immediately saw the most special ultra-rare element—the Brain Heart!

The information of this element became clear in an instant.

Indeed, as Augulevi Master said, the Brain Heart is a Physical element.

It can use its own brain tissue as material to create sub-brains that bear the "heart-soul" split from the main brain; each sub-brain contains only one heart-soul.

The number of sub-brains depends on the level of the Brain Heart.

The Spirit-absorbing Monster brain in the glass jar is Legendary High-rank, likely just transformed from a monster elder, far from advancing to Saint Rank; therefore its Brain Heart is only level one, able to create and control eight sub-brains.

Each time the Brain Heart rises a level, the number of sub-brains doubles.

At level two it can create and control sixteen sub-brains, level three thirty-two, and so on.

The familiar numeric pattern felt uncanny to Reslin.

"Is this a coincidence?"

The Spirit-absorbing Monster brain possesses several ultra-rare elements, notably "Psychic Super-sense" and "Thought Field", as well as an unfamiliar Physical element whose name he cannot recall. The Soul Eye senses its effect: it can devour the brains of intelligent beings, absorbing nutrients and energy to replenish consumption, sustain its own life, and boost spiritual energy.

The higher the intelligence of the consumed brain, the greater the boost.

Most importantly, devouring a Spirit-absorbing Monster brain can raise the level of the Brain Heart!

Reslin couldn't help but sigh; the Spirit-absorbing Monster is truly a cruel, evil race, enslaving other races and using the slaves' brains as food, while the monsters themselves are also food for the brain.

The scarcity of Spirit-absorbing Monsters in Yilaientu is obvious.

They were eaten by Augulevi Master!

If it were a normal brain, following its species' instinct, it would restrain its appetite, strive to proliferate Spirit-absorbing Monster larvae in the brain pool, satisfying its life‑maintenance needs by eating the larvae, and later consume their brains when the monsters die naturally or accidentally.

But Augulevi Master is not an ordinary brain; expanding the Spirit-absorbing Monster population is utterly meaningless to him.

To upgrade the Brain Heart, Augulevi Master will not hold back.

His brain pool contains not a single Spirit-absorbing Monster larva; if he lacks monster food, he can simply capture some in another city.

Thus, Augulevi Master can casually produce a brain.

Each Spirit-absorbing Monster community has only one brain; when the brain is captured, one can know without asking what fate befalls the monsters it once controlled.

They are either used as research subjects or eaten as food.

Or, studied first then devoured.

Most other elements in the brain are secret arts—Mind Blast, Mind Link, Mind Leap, Mind Freeze, spiritual energy storm, brainwashing technique, Fear Technique, and so on… Since Augulevi Master was right there, Reslin didn't stare further, lest his emotions reveal the Soul Eye's ability.

"Master, what is this?" Reslin's eyes showed a hint of anticipation.

Augulevi smiled, "I eradicated a small Spirit-absorbing Monster tribe last year; this is their brain, which I kept untouched..."

Reslin's expression shifted slightly.

Augulevi Master even eats brains!

The Brain Heart is a Physical element that can be stacked for reinforcement; although it cannot fuse with a magic soul, the brain's intelligence is extremely high, essentially making it a powerful Spirit-absorbing Monster. Consuming the brain likewise raises the Brain Heart's level, and the effect surpasses that of eating a regular monster's brain.

The thought of devouring a brain was momentarily hard for Reslin to accept.

Augulevi noticed his shift in thought and said lightly, "As long as one can achieve eternal life and endless time to pursue the magical path, what does eating a few brains matter? The weak become food for the strong—that is the fundamental law of the world."

"Having come this far, you should understand this principle," Augulevi remarked, finding Reslin's reaction somewhat odd.

"Thank you, Master, for the teaching," Reslin nodded.

He, of course, knew that in any world the law of the strong preying on the weak is immutable. If he himself could not use a MutatedPhone to strengthen the Brain Heart, he would have to eat brains—would he make the same choice as Augulevi Master?

Reslin knew he would also eat.

Devouring brains is merely a representative microcosm.

The law manifests more in harming the weak's rights or even lives to gain one's own benefit; Reslin wondered whether he could hold his bottom line.

His emotional shift could not escape the all‑encompassing mind power.

Augulevi saw this, his mouth twitched slightly but he did not delve deeper, seeming disinclined to discuss the matter. He pointed at the glass jar floating mid‑air, "Its magic soul contains the Brain Heart you desire; I can give it to you."

Even guessing that Augulevi Master might give it to him, Reslin was overjoyed.

But he was not blinded by the surprise.

There is no such thing as a free lunch; the brain is of immense value to Augulevi Master, so why would he give it to him?

Augulevi disclosed so many secrets to him—his many clones, Duke Hong Shi's background, the stolen Lich transmutation ritual, the effects of the Brain Heart, and so on—any one of which could cause a massive uproar in the Empire, yet he blurted them all out at once.

Reslin knew Augulevi Master surely had another motive.

If the Soul Eye had not confirmed the other had no malice, he would have fled in terror; as a joke from his past life goes, his cause of death would be "you know too much!"

"Master, what must I give?"

Reslin asked cautiously.

Unexpectedly, Augulevi did not answer but produced a thick book; its cover bore no inscription, and magical fluctuations showed it was made of precious material resistant to fire and strong acid, and hard to wear.

"This is one of my magic notebooks,"

Augulevi gently ran his fingers over the cover, "It records the Arcane I used to create the replicas, from the initial concepts, research direction, spell principles, to later refinements and modifications, as well as specific casting techniques and practical insights."

"Everything about that Arcane is contained in this magic notebook."

Reslin's eyes lit up.

His goal in entering the Dark Realm this time was the Spirit-absorbing Monster brain; he had never expected to encounter Augulevi Master.

Everything he learned today left him deeply shocked.

The Brain Heart alone is already enough to solve the Titan Engine problem.

However, from what Augulevi just said, the Core of the Main Brain must combine with the Arcane that can create clones to achieve the strongest effect!

The Augulevi Master's current power stems from this.

He himself, plus four Saint Rank duplicates and the Black Robe Duke, can match half of the Supreme Council alone; such power is truly terrifying!

For such crucial Arcane, Reslin never expected the Augulevi Master would teach it to him.

The other even concealed the Arcane's name.

Now the Augulevi Master suddenly reverses his attitude, pulls out the magic notebook, apparently intending to impart the Arcane, which makes Reslin uneasy.

The value of the Core of the Main Brain and the clone‑creating Arcane is beyond measure by Gold Shield; it represents Augulevi Master's lifelong research, and even two or three Fu Kong Cheng could not buy it!

Reslin believes he cannot produce an equivalent offering.

No, perhaps there is one…

His thoughts wavering, he quickly restrains his emotional swings and also suppresses the urge to use the MutatedPhone to copy the magic notebook.

"What do you want?" Augulevi asks with a half‑smile.

"Yes."

Reslin nods heavily, openly admitting, "Master, what price must I pay to exchange the Main Brain's demon soul for this magic notebook?"

With a whoosh.

The floating glass jar trembles; the Spirit‑absorbing Monster's brain inside vanishes instantly and appears in the room. It regains its original shape, a two‑meter‑diameter brain hovering, six tentacle‑like feelers waving, its liquid‑soaked brain radiating spiritual energy.

It attempts a psychic leap to flee.

The surrounding void ripples, and space freezes immediately.

The Spirit‑absorbing Monster's brain, immobilized mid‑air, emits a terrified psychic scream; at that moment Augulevi Master has completed a second spell and points at it casually.

A turquoise greatsword materializes instantly and flashes forward.

The brain is pierced by the sword; fine sword marks on the brain bleed gray marrow, and its psychic fluctuations immediately dissipate.

Augulevi throws a soul stone to capture the brain's demon soul; it darts back into his hand, and the brain's corpse and the glass jar vanish together.

The whole process ends in less than a second.

The Legendary High‑rank Spirit‑absorbing Monster brain under Augulevi is crushed as easily as an ant, utterly defenseless. Reslin, overwhelmed, recognizes the turquoise greatsword as the "Tim Kainan Demon Sword Technique", and is surprised that Augulevi Master also knows this spell.

Augulevi glances at the soul stone in his hand, and together with the magic notebook it flies up, landing in Reslin's hand.

"They are now yours."

Reslin feels as if a pie fell from the sky and hit him; his mind reels, and for a moment he cannot react.

It isn't until half a minute later that he regains his senses.

He takes a deep breath to suppress his shock and says earnestly again, "Master, I have nothing to trade for them."

"You can."

Augulevi gives a mysterious laugh, seeing Reslin bewildered, and explains, "You will pay the price for this transaction in the future."

Future payment…

Reslin feels a slight chill and suddenly recalls a saying from a past life: "All gifts of destiny have already been secretly priced."

He does not know what Augulevi saw in his prophecy, but feels the magic notebook and soul stone in his hand are like hot potatoes, likely to demand a heavy future price, yet he cannot discard them; they are too important to him!

Whether it's the Core of the Main Brain or the clone‑creating Arcane, obtaining either will cause his power to surge dramatically.

And it will be exponential!

As long as he has enough time, no one in this world can stop his advance; he will surely reach the world's summit!

Obviously, Augulevi Master has no idea what consequences will arise from giving him these two items.

In his view, the Core of the Main Brain is hard to upgrade.

That clone‑creating Arcane consumes massive soul energy.

Even if Ryan Augustus obtained them, combining them to create duplicates would yield few, each not very strong. After all, his main body has not reached Holy Soul; no matter how many duplicates, they could not threaten the historically strongest wizard.

Reslin cannot guess what Augulevi Master saw in his prophecy.

But he knows that when Augulevi Master asks for today's payment in the future, whether he agrees will be out of the other's hands.

Of course, that is only one possibility.

Reslin still has a bottom line: when the time truly comes to pay, as long as it isn't too outrageous, he won't refuse.

"Thank you, Master!" Reslin says solemnly.

Augulevi, as if already knowing Reslin would accept, calmly waves his hand, "Just a fair trade; I hope you won't renege in the future."

"Master, haven't you already seen me paying in the future?" Reslin retorts.

"Indeed."

Augulevi pauses, then reminds, "Everything you learned from me today must not be disclosed outward. Do not go to Yilaientu without necessity; if I need anything, I will naturally send someone to contact you."

"Yes, I've noted that."

Reslin rises to take his leave, bowing meticulously.

The surroundings shift, and when he looks up, he finds himself teleported into a cave, with his true Mirror Image and teammates beside him. Four Saint Rank casters encircling everyone in the cave fade away and teleport out.

The spatial seal and the aura of terror vanish.

The group looks at each other, both startled and relieved; though they don't know why the four terrifying foes withdrew, they sigh, realizing cold sweat has soaked their backs.

"Reslin!"

Axina, seeing Reslin return, hurriedly asks, "What's going on?"

"We'll leave immediately and discuss on the road," Reslin says, shaking his head, placing the magic notebook and soul stone into the Nebula Ring, summoning a phantom horse to mount.

The teammates dare not delay and quickly follow.

They sprint all the way.

The party quickly exits the cave, pressing onward at top speed away from Yilaientu. Only after confirming no enemies pursue do they fully relax, realizing they have survived; the post‑calamity joy nearly brings them to tears.

Only Reslin clearly knew that the danger had actually already passed.

In his field of vision a book opened; it was exactly the magic notes that Augulevi Master had given him, already copied into the phone library, he turned the page, displaying a line of enlarged Orion text:

Augulevi Creation Technique.

(End of chapter)