Chapter 261: Will Rune
On the twenty-eighth day after entering Tamu World, inside the Meditation Room on the Tenth Floor of the Secret Realm Tower, Zhou Ming was constructing a rune that belonged exclusively to him, using his own will.
When an extremely special spiritual fluctuation rippled outward within the Meditation Room, a remarkably peculiar rune appeared at Zhou Ming’s fingertips.
It resembled a twisting serpent, yet its head and tail were connected. On its surface were snake scales invisible to the naked eye.
The rune was predominantly black, yet under the illumination of the crystal lamp, faint iridescent colors shimmered within it. Describing it as a deep obsidian hue would have been more appropriate.
“After spending several days, I’ve finally symbolized my will into a rune.”
Looking at the rune condensed between his fingers, Zhou Ming marveled at how extraordinary the runes of Tamu World were—they could actually materialize something as intangible as will.
To put it more plainly, if genes were the informational blueprint of the physical body, then the rune before him was the reflection of consciousness and soul—like a true name bestowed by heaven and earth at birth.
Even an ordinary contract, if signed with this rune, might possess a certain degree of binding force.
After examining it for a moment, a thought suddenly surfaced in Zhou Ming’s mind.
He plucked a strand of his own hair, fused it with his Will Rune, and activated the Blood Descendant Secret Technique · Snake Shadow Clones.
In the next instant, as the strand of hair began to wriggle, a tangible figure of light emerged.
“So this is what it feels like to have an external incarnation?”
The one who spoke was not Zhou Ming himself, but the clone formed from his own strand of hair. Yet its expression and tone were indistinguishable from his.
“How does it feel? How long can you maintain it?”
The original Zhou Ming revealed a trace of curiosity in his eyes. At that moment, it felt as though a single host machine was servicing two display screens.
Even though he clearly understood the changes brought about by Snake Shadow Clones, he still wanted to hear the answer from the other side.
“Relying solely on the bloodline power contained within the strand of hair, simply maintaining this current state would last about one hour.”
“If used in combat, at most I could activate Phantom Snake Hands once, and the number of summoned Serpent Shadow Projections would not exceed ten.”
Facing the original body’s questions, the clone answered fluently, voicing all the conditions Zhou Ming himself could sense.
“If my strength advances to the Transcendent Rank, or if more bloodline power is injected, your duration and strength would change as well, right?”
“That will be up to you, the original body, to research.”
The clone revealed a faint smile, then reverted into a single strand of hair again—seemingly tossing the problem back to Zhou Ming.
This peculiar method of self-questioning and self-answering ended along with the disappearance of the clone.
“It seems that the rune condensed from my own will can not only assist me in advancing to the Transcendent Rank, but can also provide additional enhancement to my exclusive spells.”
“Besides Snake Shadow Clones, Phantom Snake Hands and Snake Tide Poison Miasma—both primarily fueled by bloodline power—should undergo new transformations after integrating with the Will Rune.”
Turning the fallen strand of hair into ashes, Zhou Ming quietly analyzed the additional changes the Will Rune might bring.
However, time was limited, and he could not begin experiments immediately.
After all, the time he could remain in Tamu World was running short. If he stayed beyond one month, even a single meditation session or experiment might result in sudden accidents due to the shroud of misfortune.
Even death by accident was not impossible. This was, after all, a world that rejected outsiders.
Though a full month had not yet passed, Zhou Ming could already feel an invisible suppression—far more severe than when he had first entered Tamu World.
Without wasting further time, Zhou Ming immediately began another experiment.
On the Ninth Floor of the Secret Realm Tower, before the Ritual Altar surrounded by yellow sand, Zhou Ming summoned another Ironthread Snake.
Originally a creature surviving at the lowest level on Blue Star, relying entirely on paralyzing toxin, the Ironthread Snake now measured over two meters in length. Some individuals were even approaching three meters.
Compared to the normal thirty-to-fifty-centimeter size of ordinary Ironthread Snakes, they were practically different species altogether.
Under Zhou Ming’s control, the unlucky Ironthread Snake crawled onto the Ritual Altar, awaiting the judgment of fate.
He placed Source Crystals onto the rune nodes on the ground to drive the ritual’s operation and once again activated his experimental plan. The glow of the ritual dispelled the surrounding darkness.
“Will Rune, manifest.”
As a unique spiritual fluctuation emerged, the Will Rune condensed by Zhou Ming through the knowledge of the Hydra Rune School appeared at his fingertips.
When the rune transformed into a black meteor and descended onto the Ironthread Snake on the Ritual Altar, Zhou Ming sensed that, with the altar’s assistance, the rune formed from his will was slowly integrating into the deepest layer of the Ironthread Snake’s bloodline.
At that moment, the connection between Zhou Ming and the Ironthread Snake no longer relied on a Spiritual Thread. Instead, the Ironthread Snake before him felt like a part of himself.
Like an arm or a leg under direct control, he felt as though he could easily command it.
Yet before he could feel much joy, that sensation abruptly severed—like the most intense moment of intimacy being suddenly cut off, leaving behind an indescribably uncomfortable feeling.
However, compared to before, Zhou Ming did not feel particularly impatient this time. At the very least, his conceptual direction had proven correct.
As for how to truly integrate his will into the Snake Race, aside from optimizing the Ritual Altar’s operational method, he could also rely on the Spiritual Thread between Beast Tamer and beast, or the Descending Possession power of the Dark-gold Serpent Pupils.
For Zhou Ming, as long as his theoretical framework was not mistaken, solving the subsequent issues would be simple.
Years of research had not only granted him vast knowledge, but also accumulated a wide variety of methods.
If necessary, the Wildfolk within the camp who had committed mistakes would suffice for gradually testing various solutions.
Just as the Tower’s Master had once said, Zhou Ming and he were fundamentally the same type of person.
So long as he did not become a puppet of power, Zhou Ming did not mind using any means necessary to continuously ascend to the peak of Transcendence.
At that moment, the surviving Ironthread Snake crawled to Zhou Ming’s feet, waves of fear surging through its mind, as if seeking comfort from its master.
“You’re quite lucky. I’ll spare you from being a suicide vanguard next time.”
In a good mood, Zhou Ming gave the fortunate Ironthread Snake a promise on the spot and decided to nurture it well. Surviving the experiment indicated that it possessed decent luck.
After all, luck was also a form of strength, and even represented a kind of potential. Perhaps it might accompany him to the summit.
After briefly soothing his Beast, Zhou Ming examined the runes of the Ritual Altar again, ensuring his records were complete before choosing to leave the Secret Realm and return to the mining mountain.
Though staying a few more days might not necessarily result in accidents, Zhou Ming had no intention of testing his luck.
If misfortune truly descended and brought unnecessary trouble, he would only have himself to blame.
After packing up all his belongings, Zhou Ming left the tower and exited successfully through the Secret Realm entrance using a specific hand seal.
When sunlight once again shone upon him, Zhou Ming restrained the cold indifference in his aura and once more revealed his wickedly noble appearance. His waterfall-like black hair fluttered in the wind.