"Brother Mu is right," spoke Zhao Jingyan as he picked up the blueprint of the Execution Stake, his finger pointing on the paper, "Please look, Brother Mu."

Xiao Mu looked towards the blueprint of the Execution Stake and noticed that Zhao Jingyan was pointing at a cylindrical column on the paper.

On the body of the column, one could clearly see nine small holes arranged in the Nine Grid Positions; these Nine Palace Holes, even just on the paper, seem to emanate a formidable power.

Zhao Jingyan explained, "These are the Nine Palace Holes, designed to enhance the might of the Execution Stake. When used, God-catching Ropes would shoot out from these holes, capable of capturing even Divine Spirits."

"The God-catching Rope would bind an enemy's body and tie them to the Execution Stake, and then, the derived force from the Nine Palace Holes will constrain the enemy's abilities."

"Thus, even a mighty figure from the Life and Death Sect, when facing the Execution Stake, would have their rebirth ability restricted and can be killed."

"These Nine Palace Holes are quite impressive!" Xiao Mu seriously examined the holes on the blueprint Zhao Jingyan held, offering his praise.

Mutated Beings from the Life and Death Sect are difficult to kill, and even for someone like him, without special means to restrict rebirth, killing them is a challenge.

But this Execution Stake could suppress the abilities of the Life and Death Sect's strong, allowing even ordinary Mutated Beings to kill those from the sect.

"Impressive as it may be, crafting it is difficult."

Zhao Jingyan spoke while shaking his head, "The Nine Palace Holes are essentially an Array. Crafting them requires not only great strength but also a certain level of force suppression. After all, the Nine Grid itself is an Array, and if its force isn't contained, when the Array is set up on the cylindrical column of the Execution Stake, it could explode internally and destroy the stake."

Xiao Mu thought for a moment, "So, for Brother Zhao, to successfully craft the Execution Stake, what's required is an enhancement in strength and status?"

"You've guessed it once again, Brother Mu," Zhao Jingyan gave a bitter smile, looking a bit disheartened, "But advancing to a higher Realm is not something that can be achieved in a short time, and status is too scarce—unattainable for someone like me."

Joining the Great Tang Ruins, with your identity as an Artifact Refiner, it might be possible to obtain status rather quickly.

A thought flashed through Xiao Mu's mind but he didn't voice it; he had already mentioned the suggestion to join the Great Tang Ruins to Zhao Jingyan, who was clearly averse to the idea.

After some thought, "Brother Zhao, have you ever considered conjuring a false status to enhance your strength?"

"A false status?"

Zhao Jingyan was entirely taken aback, perplexed, "May I ask, Brother Mu, what do you mean by a false status? Is there even a true and a false status?"

Xiao Mu smiled confidently, "Brother Zhao, what is status comprised of?"

Zhao Jingyan paused, considering the question before asking unsurely, "Spiritual Consciousness?"

"Does Brother Zhao possess Spiritual Consciousness?" Xiao Mu continued to press.

"Everyone has it," Zhao Jingyan replied without hesitation.

"Yes, Brother Zhao already has Spiritual Consciousness within. Compared to Mutated Beings who have status, the only thing missing is the consolidated authority of status. Hence, Spiritual Consciousness is scattered and unable to form status."

Staring at Zhao Jingyan, Xiao Mu made a smiling suggestion, "Given that, why doesn't Brother Zhao try to concentrate your own Spiritual Consciousness in advance?"

"This..."

Zhao Jingyan was stunned once more, vaguely feeling that Xiao Mu's words held merit but also sensing something amiss. After a moment of doubt, he challenged, "But Brother Mu, without authority, it is impossible to solidify into a Divine Spirit image."

"Why must Brother Zhao aim to form a Divine Spirit image? Would not a Chaos Bead, a Taiji Ball, or any other simpler object suffice?"

Xiao Mu smiled as he asked again.

In fact, all these ideas stemmed from the "Three Elements Refining Appearance Technique" concept of the Lord of the White Mansion, with the only difference being replacing True Force with Spiritual Consciousness.

Such concentrated Spiritual Consciousness might lack authority and not compare to the power of real status, but it can still enhance strength.

"A Chaos Bead, a Taiji Ball, anything."

Zhao Jingyan murmured to himself, yet filled with concern, "Brother Mu, is it really okay to do this? Wouldn't it harm one's Spiritual Consciousness?"

"You'll know once you try," Xiao Mu replied with a mysterious smile, bowing slightly to Zhao Jingyan, "Brother Zhao, I have matters to attend to outside today, we'll meet again this evening."

"Mm! See you tonight, Brother Mu, take care!"

Zhao Jingyan waved to Xiao Mu, watching him leave through the doorway.

When Xiao Mu left, Zhao Jingyan was caught in internal struggle, muttering to himself, "This Brother Mu certainly has astonishing ideas—never have I heard of status being able to be consolidated ahead of time. Will his method work?"

"Carelessness with Spiritual Consciousness could result in injury; if mine gets harmed, blending with status later will be difficult..."

His expression wrestling with the decision, Zhao Jingyan glanced at the waste materials on the floor from the attempt at crafting the Execution Stake. He finally clenched his teeth, resolutely decided, "It's worth a try. What if it really can enhance my strength, creating a virtual, false status?"

Taking a few steps backward, he sat cross-legged on the ground, Zhao Jingyan concentrated his mind, and began to gather his Divine Sense. Inside him, his Spiritual Consciousness instantly stirred.

A mass of Spiritual Consciousness surged from the top of his head, about a foot above him, condensing into a grey cloud of Spiritual Consciousness.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.