Chapter 178: Advancing to Nascent Soul
Franklin arrived at a wide sandstone plain. After spreading out his spiritual sense and confirming that no humans were within ten kilometers, he summoned the Dimensional Tome.
He flipped to the page showing the three angels and examined Nymph's and Astraea's basic information carefully.
Name: Nymph
Age: ??? / Infinite
Race: Artificial Angel (Electronic Warfare)
Armor Grade: Components at 1000-femtometer density (equivalent to Great Perfection of the Wandering Realm)
Energy System: Wing system for auxiliary electronic warfare
Mindforce Cultivation: None (Soul-core missing; emotions absent)
Soul Realm: None (Mechanical lifeform; soul structure currently undetectable—requires upgrading the Eye of True Sight)
Equipment: [Ultrasonic Vibrating Particles][Particle Disruption System][Ultrasonic Particle Cannon][Hacking System][Anti-Perception System]
Artificial Talent: Pandora System (Allows Nymph to evolve; each evolution drastically changes her infiltration abilities)
Overall Combat Power: 4000
——
Name: Astraea
Age: ??? / Infinite
Race: Artificial Angel (Close Combat)
Armor Grade: Components at 1-femtometer density (equivalent to Great Perfection of the Flesh and Blood Realm in physical strength)
Energy System: Wing system for close-combat acceleration
Mindforce Cultivation: None (Soul-core missing; emotions absent)
Soul Realm: None (Mechanical lifeform; soul structure currently undetectable—requires Eye of True Sight upgrade)
Equipment: [Acceleration Wings][Area Defense Shield Aegis=L][Ultra-Vibration Photon Sword]
Artificial Talent: Pandora System (Allows Astraea to evolve; each evolution greatly increases her close-combat power)
Overall Combat Power: ——
After checking their details, Franklin no longer hesitated. A wave of his hand released three beams of white light from the Dimensional Tome. Seeing the familiar figures appear, he exhaled softly.
"How does it feel inside the Dimensional Tome, you three angelic ladies?"
"Master? Weren't we in the game?"
"Master, we waited for you for so long in the game and you never showed up. Did something dangerous happen?"
"Master, analyzing the surroundings… this isn't the Blue Star we knew. Everything here feels barren, as if all life is dying."
The three spoke over each other, overwhelming Franklin for a moment.
"Alright, hold on. Let me explain the situation.
First— Ikaros, calm down. I'm not in danger. Cancel Queen Mode for now.
Second— Nymph, you're right. This isn't the technologically advanced Blue Star. This is another world's version of it. Our goal— no, my goal here is to strengthen myself. I'm too weak right now and I need to improve quickly.
I originally planned to come alone, but it seems you're integrated with the Dimensional Tome, so you'll be following me from now on."
Nymph shook her head lightly. "That's nothing, Master. Staying by your side is what we're supposed to do."
Ikaros nodded softly. "Protecting Master is my duty."
"W-well, with two senior angels helping Master, I'll just cheer from behind!"
A second later, Nymph flicked Astraea sharply on the head.
"As artificial angels, our priority is serving Master. What are you always thinking about?"
Astraea's eyes welled up instantly.
"B-but Master is super strong! I can clearly feel he could defeat me easily! Don't tell me you seniors can't feel it too—"
At Nymph's raised fist, Astraea corrected herself instantly:
"Master, whatever you need, just say the word! I'll clear any obstacles in your way!"
Franklin rubbed his forehead helplessly. "You don't need to act like that. Sigh… We just haven't spent enough time together. Once you get used to my personality, you'll be more relaxed.
Anyway, let's not waste time. In a moment, I'll undergo the Nascent Soul lightning tribulation. Lightning will strike me. No matter what happens — even if I look like I'm dying — don't interfere. If I die, it just means I wasn't strong enough. Don't help me at all.
I wasn't planning to summon you, but I'm worried the two Ōtsutsuki might be drawn by the tribulation.
So your mission is simple: guard me so no one interrupts. Understood?"
"Master, is that an order?"
Franklin thought briefly, then nodded seriously.
"Yes. This is an order. Even if the tribulation kills me, you are not to interfere. Your only mission is to prevent the Ōtsutsuki from interrupting."
The command took effect immediately. Ikaros' eyes glowed red as she entered Queen of the Sky Mode. Astraea summoned her shield and photon sword. Nymph unfurled a cape and her transparent wings, spreading an invisible field outward.
"Now get some distance. At least ten kilometers. Otherwise the lightning might disrupt your mechanical bodies."
"Don't worry, Master. Our systems are specially reinforced. Ordinary lightning won't affect us."
Only when all three had traveled far enough for his spiritual sense to lose track of them did Franklin breathe out and enter his dimensional space.
Spiritual Energy Cultivation: Core Formation (Great Perfection) (Golden Core Condensation: 100%)
Physical Cultivation: Flesh and Blood Realm (Average cell diameter: 1000 femtometers; flight speed: tens of millions of miles per day)
Franklin sat cross-legged without hesitation. He scattered piles of supreme-grade spirit stones. His phantom avatar emerged.
As Franklin activated the Nascent Soul stage incantation of the Spatial Tyrant Physique Technique, the phantom avatar shattered the spirit stones, gathering the released energy around Franklin and converting the environment's spiritual energy into pure spatial force.
Eyes closed, Franklin pressed massive amounts of spiritual energy into his body. As the technique circulated—
The fully condensed Golden Core turned increasingly transparent. A tiny infant silhouette on its surface grew clearer and clearer.
As more energy poured in, a crack appeared on the Golden Core. It widened bit by bit—
Until the core shattered completely, splitting into two halves and falling beneath his dantian. In its place sat a golden infant.
The broken core halves drifted down. The infant inhaled lightly, and the fragments dissolved into dense golden energy, absorbed into its tiny body.
At the same time, Franklin's senses warped. Previously he had two viewpoints — his real body and his phantom. But once the Nascent Soul absorbed the core fragments—
A third viewpoint appeared.
Curious, Franklin controlled the third viewpoint, watching as the Nascent Soul wandered inside his body. Once all restraints were loosened—
The golden infant shot out of his body in an instant.
The three viewpoints immediately became two: only the Nascent Soul and the phantom remained. The viewpoint of his physical body had vanished completely.