'How can Puppets have Lifespan?' was something Zar asked himself when he encountered the first squad of these mindless Therian Humanoids. 'And even now, after getting no answers from interrogating plenty of them, the best guess I got is that they're made from actual, living Therians. It would explain why their current and maximum Lifespans are the same, for they have no potential to speak of.
Because… they aren't alive.'
SHWAA!
Unleashing a hellish wave of fire with a casual hand stroke, Zar indifferently watched as the party of four Darkness Puppets were burned to a crisp. Their charred husks then broke apart and drifted into the wind as smoldering embers, filling the air with the taste of coal.
"With this show of power, they'll definitely be sending in Half-step Core Formation Realm powerhouses next," said Zar, sheathing his shiny sword into its scabbard. "They might even send the real deal. And though I'm confident in being able to single-handedly defeat one of such cultivators in a one-on-one duel, it's not guaranteed that the opposition will play by the rules."
And he would be correct in his assumptions, for at that very moment, Grandmaster Nero gave the order for his strongest Shadow Puppets to finish the job. He was not playing around anymore, with the threat of whoever was slaughtering them in the Great Forest of Jargon a perpetually growing one.
"I was wanting to wait until I had accumulated 10,000 years of Lifespan before spending a large amount of it again," Zar began. "But seeing how this situation could very well snowball downhill very fast, I really have no choice but to start making some preparations."
[Lifespan: 19/6,282]
This was Zar's current Lifespan, and though it went beyond the Lifespan of even a Nascent Soul Realm Cultivator, it could very well be drained to zero in an instant. It all depended on if he wanted to end his life early.
But seeing as how he had a good thing going for him, Zar decided to hold off on taking the suicide route.
"This time, rather than myself, let's focus on my Shadow Beasts," he said. "They're long past due for a good mass upgrading session."
To start things off:
[You have spent 500 years of Lifespan in upgrading your Maximum Shadow Beast Limit!]
[52/52 Shadow Beasts → 52/114 Shadow Beasts]
An over 60-count limit increase!? Insane!
After taking a couple of seconds to calm himself, Zar considered the upgrading of individual Shadow Beasts. As for how effective the upgrades would be, it was mostly dependent on the quality of his Spirit Roots. The System also told him that progressing their Cultivation was far cheaper than his own, for they were semi-symbiotic to his own cultivation.
This did, however, mean that their Cultivations couldn't exceed his own. But then again, it wasn't like he wanted subordinates who trumped him in terms of strength.
On a side note, the System also informed him that whenever he converted and tamed a Unique Shadow Beast of his own, that Shadow Beast would evolve independently. This was to say that they could awaken with special abilities, take their own irregular cultivation paths, and even practice Cultivation Techniques given to them.
Of course, since they were still extensions of Zar's existence, they could neither exceed his Cultivation nor betray him. They were just far more advanced and singular Shadow Beasts—ones that would also be capable of temporarily sharing their unique abilities with their Master.
"It's unfortunate that I haven't found a Demon Beast the System deemed worthy of being a Unique Shadow Beast after my death, but I doubt I'll never be able to find one," Zar said with a conflicted expression. "Well, no matter, for now, I should focus on the ones I have. And that means upgrading my Spirit Roots before upgrading the Shadow Beasts themselves."
Doing just that, he got to clickity-clicking.
*Ding!*
[You have spent 100 years of Lifespan comprehending the intricate nature of your Inferior Tier- Tri-Heaven Spirit Roots, bringing you one step closer to a higher level!]
[After 150 years of comprehending your Inferior Tier- Tri-Heaven Spirit Roots, you're able to pull upon a string of Nature, successfully upgrading your Spirit Roots!]
[Inferior Tier- Tri-Heaven Spirit Roots → Ordinary Tier- Tri-Heaven Spirit Roots]
[You have spent 250 years of Lifespan understanding the higher qualities of the Trinity Heaven, and though your Spirit Roots don't make a breakthrough, a clear path forward has been defined!]
[400 years of ceaselessly comprehending your Ordinary Tier- Tri-Heaven Spirit Roots has brought about the incredible, with Heaven resonating with your epiphany!]
[Ordinary Tier- Tri-Heaven Spirit Roots → Better Tier- Tri-Heaven Spirit Roots]
[You have spent 550 years of Lifespan attempting to uncover the mysteries of your Better Tri-Heaven Spirit Roots, and due to a random bout of luck, you find yourself on the precipice of something greater!]
[680 years of grasping at the end of that precipice has showered you with good fortune, presenting an opportunity to advance your Spirit Roots!]
[Better Tier- Tri-Heaven Spirit Roots → Perfect Tier- Tri-Heaven Spirit Roots!]
[While striving for the epitome of perfection for your Perfect Tier- Tri-Heaven Spirit Roots, you find yourself experiencing the passing of 900 years. Your comprehensions have tremendously improved, with a light becoming visible at the end of the tunnel!]
[You have spent 1000 years of Lifespan desperately searching for the beyond of your Perfect Tier- Tri-Heaven Spirit Roots, and finally, your ambitions come to fruition! The Trinity Heavens have begun to spiral, with 3 turning to 2, and 2 becoming the Dao!]
[Perfect Tier- Tri-Heaven Spirit Roots → Inferior Tier- Yin-Yang Dao Spirit Roots!!]