For Dao Soldiers, the most suitable one is always the best.
From these ancient manuals on Dao Soldiers, it was evident that so-called Dao Soldiers were all forged by integrating one's cultivation techniques, internal life orifices/aperture (命窍), life diagram (命图), and Dao rhymes and laws into the process. The Yin-Yang Dao Soldiers and Fire Crow Dao Soldiers were techniques developed by peerless cultivators based on their own techniques and life diagrams. In truth, once one reaches the Life Diagram Realm (命图境), they qualify to refine a Dao Soldier.
There are two main approaches: One is to use established methods passed down by predecessors—this allows one to proceed without hindrance. The other is to forge one's own path. As long as one understands the essence of Dao Soldiers, refining one unique to oneself is not overly difficult. The key lies in one's fundamental cultivation method.
Of course, if you're a solitary cultivator without backing, even if you manage to refine a Dao Soldier, its power would pale compared to those refined by sect disciples. That's because the process involves array formations, Dao rhymes, refining techniques, and more—any gap in understanding leads to a vast difference in power.
Although one could refine ordinary Dao Soldiers on their own, Yi Tianxing had no intention of settling for less. Dao Soldiers are trump cards for sweeping across the battlefield—if he's to refine one, it must be the finest, and if possible, it must be one-of-a-kind.
It must match his status and not diminish his momentum.
"My Heavenly Emperor Dragon Subjugation Diagram (天帝御龙图) encompasses myriad powers. If I use these life orifice origins as the foundation, I might be able to nurture a unique Dao Soldier. I have no shortage of life diagrams; the foundation for the Dao Soldier can be laid using the converted humans. The rest depends on deducing a method of refining Dao Soldiers based on these manuals."
After thorough deliberation, Yi Tianxing decided—he must forge a Dao Soldier that was uniquely his. Not for pride, but to stand above all.
He began reading a Dao Soldier manual, studying its refining techniques, engraved formations, and Dao rhymes in great detail, absorbing its essence, searching for anything that might inspire him.
Unconsciously, he gained a much deeper understanding of Dao Soldier refining.
In his view, the process is largely the same: the difference lies in materials. Top-tier materials matter most. As for cultivation methods and life diagrams, those were already covered.
"To refine a Dao Soldier, a Weapon Nourishing Pool (养兵池) must be constructed within the life diagram. This pool must be built using a unique formation, engraved with mysterious Dao patterns (道纹) and rhymes."
Constructing the Weapon Nourishing Pool was the most fundamental and critical step.
"I can base it on the structure of the Chaos Dragon Transformation Pool (混沌化龙池) since my life diagram is derived from the Heavenly Emperor Dragon Scripture (天帝御龙经). This method best reflects my cultivation technique and the essence of my life diagram. Supplement it with Yin-Yang, Five Elements, and True Dragon essence, and I should be able to create the pool. Once the basic structure is built, I can continuously enhance and refine it."
Yi Tianxing began deducing it in his mind.
His expanded divine sea and powerful mental strength gave him a natural advantage in such deductions.
Moreover, this wasn't a completely new structure—just a derivation from the Chaos Dragon Pool, with a few modifications and engravings. The deduction was relatively smooth.
And since the Heavenly Emperor Dragon Scripture was a technique born of his own will, no one in the world understood its essence better than he did.
Time seemed to disappear as he immersed himself. Eventually, the deduction was complete.
"Chaos Weapon Nourishing Pool (混沌养兵池)!!"
Yi Tianxing opened his eyes, a trace of joy and anticipation flashing within them.
The Weapon Nourishing Pool was the most crucial step, now complete. Next, he had to define the abilities and characteristics of his Dao Soldier. That is what determines its power.
For example, Yin-Yang Dao Soldiers are formed by refining a man and a woman—one Yin, one Yang. If one survives, the other cannot die. They can instantly switch places and unleash seamless joint attacks, making them among the most fearsome Dao Soldiers.
His Dao Soldier must also possess unparalleled traits.
"The Heavenly Emperor Dragon Diagram is built on five core life orifices, infused with my will to manifest as the Heavenly Emperor. But at its core, it remains True Dragon power. The true essence within my body is also Dragon Essence. Hence, the Dao Soldier must embody dragon nature and dragon power. That means it must be tempered with True Dragon blood and flesh."
He had already exhausted the precious dragon materials he acquired from the traveling merchant. But fortunately, the Divine-Demon Treasury had more.
He began searching within it.
Sure enough, True Dragon corpses were available—and in good quantity. But the price was outrageous. Each jin of dragon blood—not even essence blood—cost 10,000 merit points. Considering how much blood is needed, the cost would be astronomical.
Still, Yi Tianxing did not hesitate. Though he had spent over a billion merit points before, his slaughter the previous night had earned him another fortune.
Just his personal gain exceeded a million merit points—he had annihilated an entire Evernight Legion.
He only exchanged around fifty jin of dragon blood for now.
He also redeemed a wide variety of spiritual materials and divine herbs needed for the refining. Luckily, he had personal reserves—otherwise, even his current points wouldn't be enough.
"Time to build the Chaos Weapon Nourishing Pool."
On the Battlefield of Gods and Demons, every moment was precious. With only three months until the Treasure Fruit Banquet, Yi Tianxing planned to undergo a complete transformation—both in cultivation and combat power.
With his resolve firm, he once again immersed himself in cultivation.
Inside his divine sea, the Heavenly Emperor Dragon Diagram was almost fully solidified. Within the diagram, a vast inner world existed—thanks to the Dragon Nest Life Orifice, it possessed a Cave Heaven dimension. The Heavenly Emperor suppressed the void above; below, the rivers and mountains of the empire were vivid and lifelike. Every moment, the power of the land and people poured into the diagram, tempering it with Dao rhymes.
Clearly, the diagram was approaching completion.
Without delay, Yi Tianxing began visualizing the Chaos Weapon Nourishing Pool. One by one, chaotic-colored runes began to form. Or rather, they weren't conjured—they emerged directly from the Chaos Dragon Pool in his divine sea and merged into the life diagram.
It was like a seamless inheritance.
Such fluid integration allowed the pool to manifest far faster than expected. Before long, a Chaos Weapon Nourishing Pool had taken shape within the diagram. But that wasn't enough.
Next, he visualized the Weapon Nourishing Array (养兵阵法)—a set of formations for tempering and nurturing Dao Soldiers. Only with this would the pool be complete.
Otherwise, it would be no different from a regular dragon transformation pool.
This seclusion lasted three full days.
During this time, Sunset City endured three waves of Evernight beast tide assaults.
Each night, the Star Gate would reopen, unleashing hordes of ferocious monsters that assaulted the city. Those already in the battlefield would also go berserk, driven by bloodlust.
Yet when morning came, they would retreat and disappear into the wilderness—making the areas beyond the city more and more dangerous with each passing day.
Yi Tianxing did not show himself once during those three days.
Fortunately, the intense battles forged the Great Yi military stronger than ever. Each day saw new breakthroughs into the Life Orifice Realm.
Additionally, each day, one of the five armies would head out and form an Eight-Gate Locking Gold Array, engaging the enemy in the wild, slaying large numbers of monsters, and secretly capturing many Evernight humans, who were then silently transported into the Tower World.
At last, when the black night receded and dawn broke once more, Yi Tianxing opened his eyes.
A flash of brilliance glinted in his gaze.
"Good. The Chaos Weapon Nourishing Pool is finally complete. Now, it's time to add the materials."
With a wave of his hand, a ball of golden dragon blood floated up, pulled into his divine sea, and descended onto the chaotic ancient pool within the life diagram.
SPLASH!
The golden dragon blood poured into the pool without hesitation. Immediately, radiant golden light erupted, and faintly, dragon roars could be heard echoing from within.