31: Chapter 31 Origin Star Metamorphosis

"System, give me a status report," he said in his mind.

[Command received.]

[Host: Lin Muchen]

[Cultivation Realm: Mortal Realm, Qi Refining Stage 6 (1/9)]

[Omitted]

[star iron Refinement Progress: 70% → 75% (Maintained at a high natural refinement speed due to the effects of the Spirit Gathering Array and overall increase in spiritual energy density).]

[Marine Ecology Feedback Efficiency Ratio: ~1.6% (Receives additional bonus from Spirit Gathering Array).]

"75% already, almost there." Lin Muchen was quite satisfied. "That Spirit Gathering Array wasn't a waste. That extra 0.2% bonus from the sea is pretty solid."

He suddenly remembered something.

"Oh right, System, when my ecological completeness broke through 20% before, you mentioned a reward. What was it again?"

[Milestone reward for Ecological Completeness is ready.]

[As the Host's Origin Star ecological completeness has broken through 20% for the first time,]

[New exchange item unlocked: 'miniature volcano prototype'.]

[Reward points: 500 points.]

[Current points Balance: 687 points.]

"Whoa, five hundred points!" Lin Muchen was delighted. "This reward is generous! What's this Volcano Embryo?"

A new exchange item popped up.

[miniature volcano prototype: 400 points. Can be used to shape a small active volcano at a designated area on the Origin Star, which will continuously erupt trace amounts of magma and volcanic ash, improving local geological structure and accelerating crustal material circulation.]

[Effects: 1. Provides continuous geothermal heat, promoting biological activity and mineral formation in surrounding areas.]

[2. volcanic ash is rich in minerals and can significantly improve soil fertility.]

[3. Triggers weak crustal movements, promoting ocean and atmospheric circulation.]

[4. May foster special fire-attribute environments and species in the long term.]

[Warning: Volcanic activity is an uncontrollable natural force. Please choose the deployment location carefully to avoid causing catastrophic damage to existing ecosystems.]

Lin Muchen's eyes lit up as he read the description.

"Improves geological circulation? Accelerates spiritual energy flow? This thing... is like adding an 'engine' to the planet?"

[That is an acceptable analogy.]

[Although the current Origin Star ecology is relatively complete, its geological activity is nearly stagnant. Material circulation mainly relies on biological processes and water flow.]

[Introducing volcanic activity can activate the planet's internal energy, significantly boosting ecological vitality and material renewal speed.]

[Expected effect: Ecological completeness will see a notable increase. Feedback Efficiency is expected to break through the 3% threshold.]

"3%?" Lin Muchen's heart stirred. "Exchange! Must exchange!"

[Exchange confirmed.]

[miniature volcano prototype: -400 points.]

[Current points Balance: 287 points.]

[Item has been delivered to the System space.]

[Host, please designate the volcano deployment area. Warning: Keep away from major ecological zones and the ocean.]

Lin Muchen focused his consciousness on the Origin Star.

On the planet's surface, forests, rivers, and oceans occupied the prime locations.

He looked towards a barren mountainous area far from the forests and the ocean.

"Right there. That rocky mountain looks solid enough, should be able to withstand it."

[Deployment commencing.]

In the center of that barren mountainous area on the Origin Star, the ground began to swell.

Rocks shattered, the earth trembled.

A dark, sooty volcanic vent emerged, bulging higher and higher.

Boom!

A stream of magma erupted from the vent, flowing down the mountainside.

volcanic ash spewed into the sky.

The entire Origin Star trembled slightly.

[Deployment complete.]

[New landform added: Active Volcano (Micro).]

[Volcanic activity status: Continuous eruption (low intensity).]

[Area of influence: Approximately 30 kilometers in diameter.]

[Origin Star data undergoing intense update...]

Lin Muchen stared at the erupting small volcano.

Magma flowed slowly, cooled, and turned into black Basalt.

volcanic ash drifted slowly, settling on the soil in the distance.

The crustal movement caused subtle cracks and uplifts in the nearby terrain.

[Geological cycle activated: Volcanic activity provides continuous geothermal heat and new minerals.]

[Soil fertility improved: Mineral content in soil significantly increased in areas covered by volcanic ash.]

[Atmospheric circulation intensified: Volcanic eruption materials enter the atmosphere, promoting gas flow.]

[Ocean convection enhanced: Crustal movements and heat transfer trigger more vigorous ocean convection.]

[Ecological chain complexity: Greatly increased.]

[Ecological completeness: 28.3% → 35.7%!]

[Feedback Efficiency: 2.5% → 3.2%!]

[Note: The Origin Star has produced the first faint sprout of a 'world will' (a planet-level consciousness embryo generated after high ecological completeness, currently only manifesting as a slight enhancement in the ecosystem's self-regulating ability).]

"3.2%!" Lin Muchen almost jumped off his bed. "world will? What's that?"

[Explanation: When a planet's ecology reaches a certain level of completeness, the complex internal material cycles, energy flows, and life activities spontaneously form an extremely primitive, non-autonomous coordinating tendency.]

[You can understand it as the planet beginning to have an extremely faint 'instinct,' subconsciously maintaining its own balance and optimizing internal cycles.]

[Current manifestation: The self-regulating ability of the Origin Star's ecosystem (e.g., minor climate adjustments, optimized species distribution) will be approximately 5% higher than before.]

[Warning: This 'world will' is only an embryo and is completely under the Host's absolute control. It will not develop independent consciousness.]

[However, this matter must absolutely not be leaked, or it may attract the covetous attention of unimaginable entities.]

Lin Muchen listened, stunned.

"I've... nurtured a planet's 'instinct' inside me?"

"If I told anyone this, wouldn't they think I'm crazy? Or have me captured for dissection and research?"

[Correct.]

[The Host must remember: The Dantian Universe is your greatest secret. You must never reveal even a sliver of it to anyone.]

[This includes its ecology, species, and even the world will embryo that has just been born.]

[If leaked, you will face pursuit and plunder from the entire Cultivation World, and even entities from higher dimensions.]

[Possessing a treasure invites disaster. Remember this.]

Lin Muchen took a deep breath.

"Understood," he said seriously. "I'll keep this buried. If anyone asks, it's just good luck, decent talent, and hard work in cultivation."

"Having mines, seas, volcanoes, and a planetary instinct at home... saying that out loud wouldn't make me a Genius, it'd make me a monster."

[Correct understanding.]

[Now, experience the new Feedback Efficiency.]

Lin Muchen immediately began circulating his Cultivation Technique.

Boom!

An unprecedented warm current erupted from his Dantian!

This power was significantly stronger than before, and more refined, more substantial.

It now contained not only the vitality of the forest, the gentleness of the ocean, and the coolness of the stars, but also an added... scorching heat and solidity from deep within the earth.

The geothermal power brought by the volcano had mixed in.

The four forces intertwined, scouring his Meridians and nourishing his body.

The speed of his spiritual energy circulation took off!

Previously it was like a floodgate opening, now it was like riding a rocket, whooshing through his Meridians.

His muscles tightened further, his bones creaked, his internal organs felt warm.

"This feeling..." Lin Muchen clenched his fist. "My strength has increased another notch."

"Just relying on my Physical Body now, I probably have a shot at beating someone at Qi Refining Stage 8, right?"

[Theoretically, yes.]

[But it is recommended the Host maintain a low profile and continue to conceal his true strength.]

"Absolutely," Lin Muchen nodded. "Develop discreetly, don't get cocky."

He glanced at his points balance.

287 points.

"points are low again, but it was worth it," he pondered. "Ecological completeness has surged to 35%, Feedback Efficiency broke 3%. At this cultivation speed, even the geniuses in the inner sect can't catch up, right?"

[Calculating...]

[Using ordinary elite Disciples of the Qinglan Sect's inner sect as reference.]

[Host's current cultivation speed (including 3.2% ecological feedback): Approximately one Breakthrough per layer every one and a half to two months (mid to late Qi Refining Stage).]

[Approximately three to four times the cultivation speed of an ordinary elite inner sect Disciple.]

[Note: This speed will continue to increase as the Host's Realm improves and the ecology further develops.]

"Three to four times..." Lin Muchen smiled. "What do you call this? Others Cultivate relying on talent, I Cultivate by... doing infrastructure projects at home?"

"Finish greening, then work on the ocean, finish the ocean, then build a volcano. Build the planet well, and experience points come naturally."

"The absolute pinnacle of the Farming Genre."

He withdrew his internal vision, feeling the powerful strength within.

Qi Refining Stage 6, stable as an old dog.

Physical Body strength, probably able to withstand a direct confrontation with Qi Refining Stage 8 or 9.

Feedback Efficiency, 3.2%, and increasing.

Inside his Dantian, that world with forests, oceans, a volcano, and a faint planetary instinct was quietly giving him a crazy experience boost.

And he, this 'Creator God,' still had to act like an ordinary Outer Sect Disciple.

"Very stable."